Vranas — Restaurant in Municipality of Heraklion

Auf der Suche nach etwas zu essen sind wir heute im Vranas gelandet. Und was soll ich sagen? Ich war selten so begeistert von einer Mahlzeit. Unser Ziel war es, frischen und lokalen Fisch zu bekommen, und das ist dort absolut möglich, da das Restaurant keine eigenen Fische lagert, sondern bei jeder Bestellung den fangfrischen Fisch beim Fischhändler gegenüber auf der anderen Straßenseite kauft. Die Qualität und Frische haben wir deutlich geschmeckt. Der Garpunkt beider Gerichte war perfekt, und die Würzung war sehr schön abgestimmt, sodass der Eigengeschmack nicht verloren ging. Auch die Gastfreundschaft ist erwähnenswert. Die beiden Betreiber waren durchweg freundlich und äußerst zuvorkommend. Sogar die Empfehlungen für das für uns beste Gericht waren nicht auf den höheren Preis ausgerichtet, sondern auf unsere Bedürfnisse angepasst. Ein schönes Highlight, auch wenn es vielleicht jetzt komisch klingt, war, dass man uns dazu geraten hat, den Fisch so wie die Einheimischen mit den Händen zu essen, da es mit den Gräten viel einfacher ist. Dadurch fühlten wir uns irgendwie noch stärker zugehörig. Die Preisvorstellungen für ein derart tolles Produkt waren unfassbar niedrig. Für zwei Mahlzeiten inklusive Getränken haben wir nur etwas mehr als 40€ bezahlt. In der Innenstadt zahlt man für weniger deutlich mehr Geld. Also sollte jeder, der etwas Gutes sucht, einfach mal in die Seitenstraßen gehen und dem Vranas einen Besuch abstatten.

Außerdem möchten wir uns noch herzlich für die Nachspeise und den Raki bedanken, die das Haus spendiert hat.

English:

In search of something to eat, we ended up at Vranas today. And what can I say? I was rarely so excited about a meal. Our goal was to have fresh and local fish, and that is absolutely possible there. The restaurant doesn't store its own fish but buys fresh catch from the fishmonger across the street for each order. We could taste the quality and freshness. The doneness of both dishes was perfect, and the seasoning was beautifully balanced, preserving the natural flavors.

The hospitality is also worth mentioning. The two owners were consistently friendly and extremely attentive. Even the recommendations for the best dish for us were not based on a higher price but tailored to our needs. A nice highlight, even if it may sound strange, was that they advised us to eat the fish with our hands, just like the locals do, as it makes dealing with the bones much easier. It somehow made us feel even more connected.

The price expectations for such a fantastic product were unbelievably low. We paid just over 40€ for two meals, including drinks. In the city center, you would pay significantly more for less. So, anyone looking for something good should simply venture into the side streets and pay a visit to Vranas.

Also, we would like to express our heartfelt thanks for the complimentary dessert and the raki provided by...

What determined us to eat here is that we had passed by it several times and often saw old locals eating there. Also, the place has a great location - there's a lively fish market nearby and, for some reason, you feel an authentic, laid-back vibe there. Very satisfied with the food, too - grilled octopus, stuffed vine leaves and fresh anchovies (as was recommened). The fries were definitely fried on the spot, very yummy. Our five-year- old gobbled the panaccota in two spoonfuls. The biscuit salami was the best I ever had, convinced me to try and make one at home, didn't know it could be that good! Yes, the dessert was free, which I never take for granted, so thank you very much to those two nice ladies who served us and made us feel so welcome. Bonus: a green-eyed cute white cat who loves fish and has...

The food was like a fake. For example, would a Greek call any fried cheese saganaki? Or would them eat anchovy fish if it is fried in burnt fast-food oil instead of olive oil or unburnt oil? Or 200ml sparkling-water for 2,5 euro? Or do you serve glasses that are not clean, with the lipstain of previous user on it? And the octopus served was very different, rubbery, i think it was not octopus but a seacreature that looked like it.

I don't know, I'm very confused. I am travelling all over Greece and now I feel sad.

I just feel sad and question myself.

Normally I don't give negative comments, I only share my good experiences, but this time I feel the...