Merastri — Restaurant in Municipality of Heraklion

We are a Australian couple who have spent 3 weeks hopping the Cyclades from north to south. We started in Tinos, day tripped to Mykonos, spend time in Paros and Naxos before heading to Santorini on way to a week in Crete. We have enjoyed the warm and welcoming hospitality of Tinos, Paros and Naxos and the many and varied restaurants and tavernas along the way. In Crete we spent 5 days driving around the island but were blown away by the charm and ample nourishment provided by Charnia. We have checked into the Galaxy Hotel on our way back to Athens and having booked online with Hotels we were gifted a complementary bottle of wine. Like many Aussies we enjoy a good tipple and noticed it was called Merastri dry red. Stay with me here....the wine was rubbish! Hand to hand combat only! So we asked a English couple staying here if they could recommend some good eats. The said they had tried a resto a couple of hundred metres down the road called Merastri. We looked it up on TripAdvisor and you guessed it....its #1! Bingo!! So we headed off at 6.10 but on arrival were told it doesn't open till 7pm. So we tried to find a bar for a drink but no luck. I said to my thirsty wife " let's head back and ask for a drink while they finalise setting up. " After all now only 20 minutes till we are allowed to enter the hallowed world of TripAdvisor #1 restaurant in Heraklion. On arrival we were told there was still much work to be done so impossible to serve 2 drinks to potential suplecants. But my wife insisted we give the TripAdvisor #1 restaurant in Heraklion a try. So we did....what a tragedy! You know when you know all is not right?? As we sat regretting the decision we noticed an interesting trend. People we had seen around the pool at the Galaxy Hotel started arriving at the restaurant and we could hear that they had been sent by or had a reservation made by the said hotel. Now remember the complementary bottle of red?? Merastri dry red! So after 2 of the worst dishes we have had in 3 weeks and an in depth discussion with our host he offered a 3rd dish complementary. It was equally inedible! So we got to wondering how this restaurant in the middle of nowhere gets to be voted TripAdvisor #1 restaurant in Heraklion? Our tip after independently travelling through the Cylades.....don't believe everything you read! Happy travels. PS the one star is for our hosts understanding and graciousness, unfortunately nothing could...

Oh man. Came in here because a Google search “best food in Heraklion” brought it up. And I’ve never been so glad for technology. Had Dolmades, Saganaki and a little bread platter to start with. So flavoursome. Every mouthful was sheer bliss. Especially the Saganaki with the sweet-tomato relish it came with. Also had a Candia beer, stock standard, but ice cold on a hot day so went down well. Because the small plates were so delicious I had to test more of the menu. The mixed grill was delish, def order some veggies with it though, or share it with another meal. I kept putting it aside thinking “that’s enough”, only to inevitably seconds later go “one more bite”, till the plate was empty. Obviously I was like the fella in Monty Python’s Meaning of Life by now. But I thought a wafer-thin dessert might be worthwhile. Ordered the sweet mizathra pastries. Before it had come out they gave me a free dessert and a sweet raki. The dessert was like philly cheese with honey and cinnamon and it was absolutely delicious. The raki tasted like port and was a great pair with the desert flavours and textures. I had to get my mizathra delicacies to go because I was worried I may not be able to walk the short distance home.

I am nowhere near exaggerating when I say this was the best food I’d eaten in Crete. Nay, Greece. Nay, the whole northern hemisphere (can’t beat Dad’s lasagne back home).

The interior and exterior of the restaurant was also very tasteful, and I sure felt like a slob coming in in shorts and sneakers, but the staff were so friendly and welcoming. They even did their best to teach me some Greek haha, despite my failings.

History can go by the wayside next time I’m in Crete - I’ll be coming straight to Merastri instead. Thankyou for the wonderful...

I arrived right when they opened according to google which is 6 pm. I was told they were not open yet and to come back in an hour. I asked that if I needed to make a reservation since I wanted to sit outside. The host said: “no when you come back we will seat you outside”. I came back in an hour and a half and all of the sudden I could not sit outside . “It’s all reserved”, the host said. Despite the fact it was half empty the whole time I was there till I left. They sat me inside (One of the picture depicts how empty it was. I took the picture after they moved me from inside to outside when they realized they were not going to be busy). The waiter took his time to take my order. When he finally came, I ordered the wood-oven baked lamb and he said they are out just about 5 minutes ago. How can you be out and you just opened about 2 hours ago? 😳 Overall, so much hype but the food and service were not worth the hype AT ALL. Just AVERAGE at best. I ordered the sausage and it was so tough I couldn’t chew it. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was somebody’s else left overs and they microwaved them and gave it to me. I ordered the grilled lamb chops and they came in cold and were tough. I am a bit baffled because I am not sure about all the positive reviews. Oh I forgot to mention, there are bugs inside the restaurant . You will get extra protein with your meal ( 2nd and 3rd picture...