VATANIA Taverna meze bar — Restaurant in Municipality of Rethymnon

If only more than 5 stars existed! The food is excellent, there was nothing left in our plates by the end of our night. We have a very picky eater in the family, yet when we ordered dessert, our picky eater shocked us and the waitress asking for a second helping of their chicken soup. I highly recommend the BBQ ribs, they are very famous here because they are cooked to absolute perfection... I never had to pick up my knife, the meat just smoothly comes off the bone and literally melts in your mouth. Likewise, the lamb is scrumptious, no knife required. You will look left and right to make sure no one is looking when you lick the plate clean at the end. We also had fresh caught sea bass you get to select before it is cooked. The waiter, Vakis, himself in front of us removed the bones with the utmost skill when we asked for help. The calamari is fresh and crispy and the baked feta is unlike any we have had (get the pita bread for this). As for dessert we had ice cream of our choice and were treated to Raki, a feisty Greek shot with flamed rizogalo (a rice pudding of sorts). Also get the orange juice, so amazingly fresh, it puts all other orange juices in the US to shame. Help yourself!

A few notes: The restaurant's ceiling is like a convertible car top, very neat! The lights are always perfectly set as the night progresses. The 3 people who waited on us (two men and a woman with her adorable young daughter) timed our courses with the utmost attention and dedication. Special shout-out again to Vakis for doting on us, he made us feel like family, it was wonderful, an absolute pleasure. We will be back...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at this wonderful restaurant, and I must say, it exceeded all my expectations. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted by a warm and friendly atmosphere that set the tone for the entire evening.

The waiters here are truly exceptional. They are not only incredibly friendly and polite, but their passion for serving guests shines through in every interaction. Vakis, the owner, and his team of waiters made me feel right at home. Their fluent English made communication a breeze, and their recommendations were spot on.

Now, let's talk about the food. The seafood here is nothing short of delicious. Every bite was a burst of fresh, mouthwatering flavors that left me craving for more. The quality of the food truly justifies the prices, making it an excellent value for money.

I must give a special shout-out to Aris and Fotis, two of the staff members who made my dining experience even more memorable. Not only were they friendly and funny, but they were also incredibly interactive. They went above and beyond by helping me with travel recommendations around the island, pointing out the best places to visit.

In summary, if you're looking for a restaurant that offers top-notch seafood, friendly and passionate waitstaff, and a great value for your money, this is the place to be. Vakis and his team have created a gem on this island, and I can't wait to return for another...

Honestly no idea how this place has this high of rating. Tourist trap at its highest. Staff with minimum interaction to customers unless they are trying to flirt with the lassies which then they are all over their table. Not a single staff member came over to ask how our food was or if we needed anything during our stay there(1 and half hours). Food took 45 minutes to arrive,while the bill took another 20 minutes. No rush from the staff whatsoever. There were staff with food going around the tables trying to find the correct table to put the food at. Food came, and was disappointing. You would expect after waiting for so long, that the food would actually be good, but no. The chicken in the ceasar salad was as solid as a rock, almost broke a tooth trying to chew it. The sauce(which you expect it to be free, or ar least say on menu) came with a charge of 3.50€ which we were unaware of, till we had the bill in our hands. Food was blunt and portion small. After 45 minutes, you are expecting to get food worth of waiting that amount of time, but we didn't. And it wasn't just us, there was 3 other tables around us waiting even longer. All in all, terrible experience, and possibly worst we had so far in Rethymno. If you can, avoid this place at all costs, just walk 15 minutes down and there's better...