Tavern Androulidakis — Restaurant in Municipality of Rethymnon

A Google search of Tavernas near to our villa in Prines highlighted this Taverna in the next village up the hills. We fancied a change of scene and Taverna, so drove up, parked Greek style on the roadside about 30m away from the Taverna. Entered and found a free table. Taverna was not busy as at the end of the season. Owners close at the end of October. The place is nicely done with two fire places at each end of the main room with additional space outside the door for outside tables. We were greeted warmly by the owners and provided with a smallish menu and the offer of a special for the day, Lamb in red sauce. My wife presented her laminated card explaining her Gluten intolerance, which seemed to make sense to Mrs Owner who pointed to a few dishes that she couldn't eat and said all meat dishes were cooked on the grill so no wheat in the making, however cheese pies and local sausage was not for her. We ordered the usual Greek salad with feta, Tzatziki and bread for me. Mains were a selection of the local meats, a giant pork chop and chicken from the grill arrived with fried potatoes. The local area house wine is more like sherry, very heavy and syrupy, the white crisp and dry. Bottled wine also on offer,as is a selection of beers and soft drinks. We tucked in and although the chicken was tasty there was not enough of the meat, may be the chick was a bit thinner than our local chicken. Chop cooked well, a plate sized offering. Food and chat took up about an hour plus and after a decent time elapsed we were presented with Greek delight and for me, a filo pastry in honey as well as a glass of local raki. One Greek coffee and the bill, very reasonable. The wife chatted to us a bit, explaining local dishes, Taverna, family history, and local traditions etc. A very pleasant evening. Two other visits over a fortnight saw us try other items on the menu all presented well. Other patrons were a German family of 4 and a few Greek families. Obviously the Taverna is well liked by locals and tourists who find it. Each time we tried the Taverna we had good food and a nice dining experience, laid back and a pleasant. We would recommend this...

Tavern Androulidakis is the kind of place that makes you feel right at home the moment you walk through the door. This charming family-run restaurant nestled in the heart of the village offers not just amazing food but an experience of true Cretan hospitality.

From the first bite, you can taste the love and care they put into every dish. The menu is full of local, authentic cuisine – each meal prepared with fresh ingredients sourced from the surrounding area. The flavors are rich, traditional, and comforting.

But what really sets Tavern Androulidakis apart is the atmosphere. The family behind the restaurant goes above and beyond to make you feel welcome. It’s as though you're a guest in their own home – with warm smiles, genuine conversations, and a real passion for sharing the best of Cretan culture.

If you’re looking for a place where food is not just delicious but also comes with a heartfelt experience, Tavern Androulidakis is a must-visit. We left with full stomachs and even...

An excellent food experience. Pork chops the size of a small child, well cooked fritters, delicious oregano bread, juicy meatballs...it's all here. We have been twice, 6 years apart, and both times we had an exceptional meal.

The location is just on a village street, so there's no view to speak of but the owners have made up for that by creating one of the most picture perfect courtyards on Crete. Your photos look great from every angle because every inch of the restaurant has been made beautiful with lights and foliage.

This attention is also lavished on the food, which is straightforward and unfussy, but is perfectly cooked. The fare is unlikely to get a Michelin star due to the simplicity of the menu. However if the true intent of those stars was to tell you 'it's worth driving out of your way for' then this place deserves 5 of them.

Meander up the mountain and judge for yourself, you...