Tholos — Restaurant in Municipality of Chania

WOULD GIVE ZERO IF I COULD THOLOS.

We wanted an early dinner at 5pm and made a last minute decision to try tholos restaurant. I appreciate that this is before peak hours but surely, how bad can it be?

Well, First impressions made me almost walk out...we got to the second floor and asked if we could have a table with 4 seats because it was seated in a nicer location. The waiter on the day told us "no" and that we had to sit at a two seater as other tables were reserved "a week in advance" which sounds to me like a dirty lie. This was soon followed by "you can sit where you like". Once seated at a two seater table, a mother and son sat at a 4 seater table without question! Something strange going on there...

We ordered pork souvlaki and Greek salad. The pork souvlaki was average, nothing amazing but it was okay. One skewer with seasoned pork, but the pork pieces were large and filling. One of the selling points for me was that all the meat dishescame with a salad. However, to my disappointment it wasn't the fresh Greek style salad I had pictured but rather pickled shredded lettuce and cabbage and pickled carrot slices. Again, edible but very disappointing...Something you'd expect to buy for cheap from a jar in a supermarket. Potato wedges were firm in the middle, close to being undercooked. There was also no salt or pepper on any of the tables to season to ones liking.

The Greek salad was okay, not the best and the cheese lacked strong flavour and was more creamy and soggy in texture than previous places I had eaten.

Now for the worst part...The atmosphere at the time was very cold. In fact, I'd go as far to say it was awkward sitting there. For a start, there was no music playing, so myself, partner and 4 other tables seated with guests were eating in silence with one waiter walking around the tables silently (similar to how you'd imagine a prison guard walking around a prison). Any conversation that had started soon sizzled out as he strolled past quietly. If they would have put some music on and lit some candles then it would have improved the situation. I've been to other local restaurants in Crete that have been quiet and as a result of this, they have more time for better service for their guests, (ie. Smilling, getting to know you and asking about your holiday) but at tholos it felt like they simply didn't care.

Lastly, to top off an already terrible experience. They then, after finishing the dinner, told us without apology that they weren't accepting card payments. So, my partner was taken to an ATM by one of the waiters to withdraw cash. Why this wasn't made clear before eating there I do not know.  It should be made obvious to all guests before being seated but this just highlights their lack of professionalism.

This was the one restaurant that really disappointed me, so much so I was close to walking out without paying. I'm sure others have had a nice experience here, but for me personally, this is top of the list by a mile for the worst places I've eaten in Crete.

This all happened on 14th October 2021 at 17:00 to 18:00.

My recomendations: kentikron, Ela (Eaa) taverna,...

If you find yourself in Chania and fancy a dining experience that doesn't require climbing a rope ladder to get to your table (if you want you can), Tholos is your place, we lucked out with a fantastic spot on the second floor of this rugged, intriguing outdoor restaurant.

Our youngest daughter picked Tholos for its schnitzel, and let me tell you, she was so pleased with her choice that she polished off every last bite. When a kid finishes their plate without any coaxing, you know the food’s a winner.

The service? Top-notch. The staff were lively and engaging, making us feel right at home. They definitely added to the overall vibe of the place.

Now, about the food. Apart from one chicken dish that was a bit on the dry side, everything else was spot-on. It's a minor quibble in an otherwise brilliant meal.

As a fun fact, a tholos in ancient Greek architecture is a circular building with a conical or vaulted roof. This unique architectural style added to the character of the restaurant, but I admit that I mostly experienced it while at the toilet.

All in all, Tholos proved to be one of the best restaurants we've dined at in Chania so far. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys great food, excellent service, and a dash of adventure.

Update: We went to this restaurant and had both a mixed experience and a then again a good one. There was a mixup of sauces, so they had to take two dishes back, and a pie that we ordered came frozen. They took it back, but when they brought it again, it was the same pie but had been heated in a way that the eating experience was not so good. The third time was similar to the first time, but they felt understaffed and stressed. One of those...

Location +++ The restaurant’s location is super sweet - we had a good table upstairs (please mind that it’s warmer upstairs and that air isn’t moving at all).

Food +++ Food was very good. The Appetizer Plate was super delicious, the seafood pasta was filled with a lot of mussels which definitely were freshly made. Highly recommendable.

Service - Shoutout to the staff who is able to speak German - you were by far the unfriendliest person we talked to during our trip. If your guests ask for the way you cook the dishes, please be so kind and simply help them to understand what they’re ordering. Also, when your guests order something and try to pronounce dishes in the Greek way, please be so kind and don’t laugh at them. This is just a disaster (we were so annoyed!). And when guests confront you with their feelings, maybe respond. Luckily your colleague did a good job and changed our mood a bit, but surely no tip for you. Next time try harder.

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