Irini's Tavern & Grocery Store — Restaurant in Municipality of Folegandros

I'll start this review by saying I'm Greek. This doesn't mean I'm better qualified to review a highly rated restaurant, but at least I know a thing or two about Greek food. I had read about this place in more than one articles in Greek magazines. Friends who go to Folegandros often had also recommended it, so I was really excited about coming here and my expectations were very high. We visited at perhaps an awkward time, around 5.30 pm. The only person sitting in the shop was on her phone, but she waved that they are open so we went in and sat at one of the tables. The place itself is really cute, it has kept the style of the original shop which opened back in 1952. It's like a small mini market / taverna / local hangout. But as far as I'm concerned this is where it ends! We ordered two portions of food, the famous matsata ("the best on the island") and a portion of gemista (stuffed tomatoes and peppers), my all time favourite food. I tried to make conversation, and ask a few things about the famous place and the life on the island, but the girl wasn't too interested in chit-chat. This is perfectly fine, I am sure she gets the same questions all the time. And then the food arrived. Seriously, in my 46 years in my country, this was the worst gemista I remember having. The rice in the top half was almost inedible, it was probably reheated in the microwave so it was burnt? Uncooked? Hard to tell. And the taste was quite bland too. OK I get it, people don't come here for stuffed tomatoes, but still. As for the matsata, I can't compare with any other matsata, as we didn't dare to order them again. Still this dish was just mediocre in our opinion, especially comparing it with other local pastas from all over Greece. Note - if the girl was any chattier, or if she seemed more interested, I would have actually explained to her that the stuffed tomatoes were bad, but in the end I didn't see the point. I always find it a shame when a place can't live up to its reputation, and I seriously hope they will do...

We had heard good things about Irini’s so went for dinner , it maybe it was just an off night but it was a slightly awkward experience. The good - the surroundings of the shop / restaurant are authentic and it’s a lovely spot to sit. The food was hot and freshly prepared . The portions were generous . The not so good - we had not booked which might have been the issue but when we arrived we stood for a long period while the staff sat and it felt quite uncomfortable, the service was abrupt at times . There is no menu which is not necessarily a problem but you have no idea of prices and we paid slightly more than we expected but it was still not overly expensive We had the zucchini balls and meatballs in tomato sauce with pasta . Both were deep fried and quite greasy , there was no tomato sauce with the meatballs . I wonder if the main cook had a night off as reviews...

I have frequented Irini's restaurant for many years the great food and the kindness and friendliness of Irini made it a place almost magical for me.

But I went yesterday, Irini was not there, The food is still excellent but the waitress is the worst I've seen in a long time: unfriendly, noisy, indolent and very unprofessional. In the middle of the service she went outside to smoke and we had to go find her, she cleared the tables making all the noise she was capable of and talked on the phone at full volume, and many other things that we didn’t like. Comparing to all my previous experiences at this restaurant it was very disappointing....