Apiri greek_eatery — Restaurant in Municipality of Heraklion

Absolutely exquisite. Incredible sensation from the cook on how to combine the ingredients, texture wise and taste wise. Simply unforgettable experience with the food. Excellent options from the menu and in reality one gem in the heart of Heraklion. In my book a must visit place! Keep in mind that you have to reserve a table in order to dine or you can risk not having one. Thought I have to mention that tables do switch around a lot and you may be lucky!

We ordered the simple tomato salad that had a very flavorful pallet of local herbs that accompanied the vegetable or as some like to call it a “fruit”, perfectly. For starters we had a great traditional “Saganaki” cheese that was garnished with an incredible home made pepper jam. Another starter that out table picked were the grilled mushrooms that were also great and full of flavor.

For the main course we ordered 3. The rib-eye steak, the rooster ragu and finally the osobuku dish. All perfectly prepared as requested both the osobuku and the rib-eye steak at “medium”. I do have to mention that the rib-eye was simply outstanding with the puree from sweet potatoes, creamy flavorful, but not very strong in terms of sweetness, just perfect. The steak was juicy and at a perfect temperature, pre cut and ready to consume. The rooster was for sure one of the best I’ve had, as a rooster fan. The gnocchi that it was served with were cooked perfectly.

The osobuku was also great but for me a touch bit too salty but it did taste great. My explanation to the saltiness is probably the creamy sauce that the wheat was served had a bit too much sodium glutamate that the rooster is marinated in before the thermal treatment.

In addition the wine selection in the restaurant or “eatery” as the owners have named it is great. We enjoyed a bottle of rose, a local one which was great!

Nevertheless we ended this fine evening with three desserts, the chocolate mousse, a cheesecake and a lemon tart. If I had to rank them the chocolate mousse is a simply world class dessert dish. Indescribable, one has to taste it to experience it, but try it! The cheesecake and the tart were both great as well.

The prices I have to consider reasonable for the quality of the meals, plus the service is great and the staff is very polite

In conclusion the restaurant is a gastronomic heaven, an...

A restaurant truly overlooked by the Michelin Guide

Having dined at countless Michelin-starred and Michelin-recommended restaurants around the world, I can confidently say this is one that Michelin has missed.

From the very first bite, the experience was exceptional. The bread alone set the tone — a crisp crust with a perfectly moist centre, paired with Greek olive oil that lifted the flavours beautifully.

I’m rather fond of beef tartare and tend to order it wherever it appears, but this version was genuinely one of the finest I’ve had. The pickled onions, a hint of acidity in the dressing, the richness of the olive oil and the thoughtful garnishes created a dish of remarkable depth and balance.

The orzo pasta with cuttlefish was another highlight. Each grain had absorbed the seafood broth to perfection, with a texture that struck just the right balance between firm and tender, reminiscent of the best I’ve had in Italy. The cuttlefish itself was satisfyingly firm without being tough.

The ossobuco ragout was so tender it barely required a knife — the meat yielding effortlessly to a fork. While the truffle cream risked being overshadowed by the richness of the meat, I found it delightful on its own (I half-joked it could work as an ice cream flavour!).

And then the cheesecake — without question, the best dessert I’ve had in Crete. Rich, creamy cheese, a wonderfully fragrant biscuit base, and a topping of what seemed to be homemade jam with whole berries. Had I not been short on time, I’d have happily taken a box of ten back with me.

In summary: refined cooking, warm and attentive service, and very fair prices. A restaurant not to be missed if you...

It's almost Spring here on Crete, so we are venturing out once again to check out places and destinations we've never seen. And what an amazing find we just stumbled upon at Apiri.

This small Greek eatery we somehow missed in the area surrounding Agios Minas, serves modern Greek cuisine, wines, and cocktails. We showed up at a slow moment for the popular upscale restaurant, and on tasting the first sourdough bread with local EVOO, began to fall in love.

This restaurant has it all, from the courteous and intelligent wait staff, to the gifted afternoon chef, and especially the head chef's wonderful gastronomy choices.

The small select menu is perfect, a departure from the one million items to choose from at most Crete tavernas and restaurants. My wife chose the goat stew, which was melt in your mouth amazing. She also had a spicy cheese that we shared, and I had friend eggs with truffles and sheep butter. The highlight for me was the best ribeye in all of Europe served with sweet potato puree. The chef should get a gastronomy award for this dish, really.

The place is not cheap, by any means, but you truly do get everything you pay for at this traditional restaurant which serves new style Greek food, wines, spirits & cocktails. Go here. It's one of the best dining...