Elli's Taverna — Restaurant in Municipality of Chersonissos

If I could give this place 10 stars I would! My family and I stumbled upon this restaurant after trying to dodge the tourist strip of restaurants down the road from this gem.

We were all a little confused on how to order at first, but the owner was so very polite and friendly and did his best to walk us through it.

Out of all the places we ate in Crete over our stay, this taverna was my favourite. It’s not a heavy tourist spot, but there is a menu in English, however, they show you what has been cooked that day and you choose from that. The food is sourced locally, and the ingredients are very fresh. When you eat here, you feel like you’re eating a home cooked Greek meal. We were given complimentary bread at the start of our meal, and watermelon at the end. The portion sizes are quite big and although we only ordered three dishes to share, we were all stuffed by the end.

The owner was warm, welcoming, and hilarious. He even did a shot of Raki with us and wished us a lovely holiday. The wait staff were friendly and accommodating. The only downside of this place is that we didn’t find it sooner! If we ever make our way back to this part of Crete, this is one of the first spots...

Elli's Taverna is a true local treasure if you're looking for authentic, home-cooked Greek food. Every day, the owner and chef freshly prepares a small selection of traditional dishes, usually around 3–4 options, all made with care and full of flavor.

We specifically came for the Moussaka, and it absolutely lived up to our expectations – rich, delicious, generously portioned, and very affordable. This is not touristy food – it’s the kind of place where locals eat, which says a lot about the quality and value.

A little tip: Go for lunch rather than dinner, as some dishes may already be sold out by the early evening. The chef cooks a limited amount each day, and once something is gone, it’s gone – no reheated backups or shortcuts here!

By chance, we visited on the name day of the chef, and were kindly treated to a free dessert, which was just as tasty as the main dish – a lovely personal touch that made our visit even more special.

If you want a true taste of Greece in a simple, honest setting, Elli’s Taverna is highly...

Having had this on my list of places to visit, I came here after doing my shopping at the supermarket as it was so highly rated and I was excited to taste the food. However, the owner was a raving misogynist, staring at my chest and behaving entirely bizarrely, shouting, making gross comments and making me feel thoroughly upset and uncomfortable before I had even had the chance to sit down. Would not let me go when I made excuses to eat elsewhere and continued to shout after me. Another customer had to intervene to ask if I was okay. I would hate to think how any woman younger than myself would have handled it. It shook me and it’s unfortunate as overall there is incredibly lovely, warm and respectful service from the vast majority of the other eateries in Hersonissos. No one is allowed to make you feel unsafe, might I suggest instead Rosemary Bar Restaurant, 7 mins walk away and absolutely delightful food and...