Kryfo Limani — Restaurant in Municipality of Hydra

This is the second restaurant we went to on Hydra. After our first meal we decided to have dinner here every evening (we stayed on the island for 6 nights). NB/Let op/Attention: they only take cash!

It's just off one of the main streets, a few minutes from the port. It's like a small garden or courtyard; it can be warm in there but they have a couple of huge electric fans; they have a total of 14 tables, but they can accomodate groups of 6 to 12. Seems to be good for families. Make sure to reserve if you're eating from 8 onwards; if you want to dine early, say at 7pm, no reservation necessary.

The place is frequented by tourists; from our observation, plenty of French speakers come here. But locals patronize the place too. The two male waiters speak English. Service is fairly fast when you eat earlier. But when it's busy, expect to wait a bit as the servers also prepare the food. What another reviewer said seems to be true: some of the dishes (like the stews) are pre-prepared and are simply warmed up before being served--but these dishes take hours to make.

The restaurant offers traditional homecooked Greek dishes. My Greek partner liked all of the things that we tried: lamb stew (in egg sauce; there's potatoes and carrots in it), beef stew (in tomato sauce and wine; fries on the side); taramosalata (fish egg dip in a small saucer with an olive in the middle), horta (steamed radicchio; dark green and bitter; served in olive oil and lemon juice), pastitsio (not pictured; long tube pasta with minced meat and beschamel; oven-cooked; served as a square portion); fried shrimp (served with lemon slices); calamari in rice pilaf (not pictured; brownish).

If you order bread, you pay 1 to 2 euros. A 1.5 liter of water costs 1.50 euros. They won't bring those to your table unless you ask for them.

Note that the menu in the pictures uploaded by somebody else here is about 3 years old. Some of the prices have slightly increased. But this restaurant remains the best option if you want to enjoy affordable, quality, and delicious Greek dishes.

(At the first restaurant we went to, we paid 36 euros for 2 main dishes, a side of feta cheese and 2 33cl beers; at Kryfo Limani, the most expensive bill we got was 33 euros for 1/2 liter of their house wine, 2 main dishes, bread, 2 sides, and 1.5...

The best authentic Greek food in Hydra(Ydra). Delicious, Tasty and served in eatable portions. The best value for money. The family run Taverno ( away from the tourist strip in a backstreet) where all the Locals eat ( only 12 tables)so friendly, Yorgo speaks lovely English - helpful and guides you through the menu when unsure - portions are large. The ambience and vibe make for s fabulous Greek evening and experience under the canopy of a huge Lemon Tree The fish( red mullets) perfectly grilled; the Greek salad so fresh and garlicky with oodles of olive oil , the best Dolmados - they melt in your mouth, the Aubergine starters with the Wow factor, the Meatballs in fresh garlic/ tomatoes sauce and plenty more. The best recommendation we ever got from a Local for eating authentic home cooked cuisine Absolutely a 10 out of 10 - you would be missing a wonderful Greek experience if you didn’t make this...

This place has fantastically good food and a great atmosphere that makes you truly feel you're on a Greek island. It's like it was designed to be in movies.

I had the fish soup and this has replaced my favorite fish soup experience I had 6 years ago. I'd come back just for the soup.

Also had the beet salad - which was also delicious. They grill the bread here so it comes as toast. My only regret is not coming here hungrier so I could taste more of their dishes.

Note this place is popular with locals, expats as well as tourists so book in advance. The service is also spotty - there are two waiters that double as grill cooks. They missed a couple who sat down at a table that wasn't cleared yet and they may have mistook them as having been there all along. The couple left after about 15 minutes, but they also never attempted to get the attention of...