Kastraki-Meteoro — Restaurant in Municipality of Kalamata

We booked a dinner table for three, five days in advance, and specifically requested a nice table with a view since we were celebrating. On the phone, we were assured that every effort would be made to accommodate us. Unfortunately, upon arrival, we were seated outside of the actual restaurant area, at a significantly smaller table with different seating from the main dining room. When we asked why, given that several tables inside were empty, the hostess explained that the restaurant was “fully booked,” that they had extended the dining area due to the number of reservations, and that our assigned table supposedly had a view. In reality, the table we had reserved in advance was dismissed as not having a “front-row view.”

The small table made it difficult to fit even the three starters we ordered to share. Even more frustrating, there were no designated waiters for this makeshift “extension,” meaning we constantly had to flag someone down from the main restaurant area. Midway through our main course, the hostess returned to offer us an empty table inside, but by then it was too late, as we were nearly finished with dinner.

On the positive side, the food itself was tasty. The eggplant, shrimp croquettes, and beef carpaccio were delicious. For mains, I had the crayfish bolognese, which was flavorful but overly salty. My husband’s chickpeas with lamb was good but under-seasoned, while my daughter’s rigatoni with short ribs was very enjoyable, though it lacked Parmesan cheese, which never arrived despite being requested. Dessert, the so-called “tiramisu sphere,” turned out to be more of a white chocolate ball filled with mocha mousse and a biscuit, not really tiramisu.

Overall, the experience was disappointing. Parking was difficult despite having a reservation, the venue was overcrowded, the music uncomfortably loud, and the atmosphere far from elegant or relaxing—especially in the area where we were seated. While the food had strong points, the overall service and ambiance did not live up to expectations. Unfortunately, I...

I don't write reviews unless I feel I have something meaningful to say. 'Kastraki' is the open space bar that usually operates in the sommer. 'Meteoro' is the inside lounge. They are located next to each other at Verga, the most celebrated suburb of Kalamata on the way to the mountain Kalathi with breathtaking views. The twin Kastraki-Meteoro belong to the highlights of the area. Meteoro had a costly but worthy gastronomic cuisine with a dedicated chef. That is why my friend and I decided to go today Dec 28, 2018 for a fine dish at an 'elevated' place. To our great disappointment the main dish menu had been reduced to 3 choices of burger. We were hungry and we wanted to enjoy the view on that sunny and tranquile Saturday so we stayed for a burger and a glass of wine for €28. Then came the second disappointment: The burgers were average but still edible and the red wine (€5 per glass) tasted sour (we only had a sip from our glasses). When we mentioned that to the waiter and then to the manager of the place they both exhibited the most unprofessional response saying that they had just opened the wine flask which they get from a local winery and it should be ok (btw that wine they mentioned you buy at the market for 1 €/lt ). They did not exhibit the elementary sensitivity to offer to replace it with something else. We paid and left with a sour after taste. We were sad knowing that one of the best places in town had been transformed into one "we don't care if we do our job right, we just want to get your money" place. We would have enjoyed the view better lingering at the side of the road, taking some pictures and going to some other more agreeable place for food. Bottom line: If you are at an exceptional location and people are satisfied they will come again. If you treat them miserably they may never show up again. I see other people have similar complaints. Has the management...

If you are in Kalamata then you MUST visit this place. Imagine that there is a castle built on the side of a mountain that overlooks the sea. Next, imagine that this castle literally has no walls or roof - it is an open air castle. Then pretend that it is night time and that there is a DJ playing music and people are dancing on a stone dance floor and there is this amphitheatre style seating surrounding the dance floor with people sitting on cushions watching the people dancing against a backdrop of the nighttime view of the bay in Kalamata. Can you imagine that? Of course you cannot - that is why you have to go here to see it yourself because I swear that this place is actually a castle with no walls that is a nightclub! Then to top it all off, the bartenders at this nightclub aren't just pouring drinks for people, they are "making" drinks. The difference between pouring a drink and "making" a drink is that when they are "making" a drink for you they are basically putting on a show for you. I don't drink alcohol, but can appreciate an actual bartender so I ordered a Shirley Temple and I was not disappointed. The bartender squeezed the orange slice, he twisted the orange slice, he rubbed it on the rim of the glass, then he rubbed it on the outside of the glass - I think at one point he might have zested some of the rind into the Shirley Temple. I could't keep track of it all, nor do I remember how much it cost, but I do remember that I was taken aback by the process. Honestly, if you don't check this place out whilst in Kalamata you will be missing out. Just don't try to walk here because it is on top of a really steep hill and taxis are...