Maria Taverna Stegna Beach — Restaurant in Municipality of Rhodes

Let me explain the rating that is so much different from most of the others for this restaurant. Every taste is different, and I don’t want to impose that all the 5-star reviews are wrong—they might be from their point of view.

We went there with high expectations, mainly because of the best ratings.

Food rating in detail: The garlic bread was tough like zwieback, the cheese on top was unnecessary, and the taste was blunt. The dolmades were okay. We had much tastier ones in other places, and there seemed to be no meat inside them. We also missed the Greek yogurt on the side that we got in other restaurants. The spaghetti with shrimp was served with a plain tomato sauce, which had no specific flavor. I had the Pastitsio, which was most flavorless, with no salt and no herbs. The grilled zucchini were similarly tasteless. The grilled calamari was ok.

That explains the one-star rating for the food.

When the waitress picked up the plates, I gave her very friendly and honest feedback. She said she was sorry and would tell the kitchen. When the waiter came for the bill, he was rude and unprofessional. He told me that “everybody else in the restaurant must be stupid” if we didn’t like the food. Friendly but direct criticism is apparently not welcome here. That clarifies the one-star rating for the service.

The two stars for the atmosphere are the closed-up feeling, the paper tablecloths, and the (very) basic paper napkin.

I’m not the one who usually writes big reviews—and definitely not lightly negative ones—but today's experience was unpleasant enough to motivate me to...

Taverna Maria in Stegna is truly a gem! During our two-week stay, we found ourselves returning ten times, and each visit was a delight. Panagiotis, with his warm personality and great sense of humor, made us feel right at home. His recommendations were spot on, and he clearly has a passion for sharing the best of Greek cuisine. Mihalis deserves a shout-out for his efficiency and helpfulness, always ensuring our bookings were smooth and our service quick. And Vasilis? His constant smile and readiness to assist with drink orders added an extra layer of warmth to our dining experience. The food at Taverna Maria is simply outstanding. Each dish is freshly made, showcasing the best of traditional Greek flavours. We particularly loved the fresh Greek salad, perfectly prepared octopus, and delicious sea bream. After trying a variety of dishes, we can confidently say that every single one was a culinary delight. Overall, Taverna Maria is not just a restaurant; it's a welcoming experience filled with fantastic food and wonderful people. We can't recommend it highly enough!...

Absolutely Perfect Greek Dining Experience! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

We had the pleasure of dining at Maria Taverna several times during our stay in Stegna and each time was unforgettable. The atmosphere is calm and authentic, just steps from the beach, with the kind of warm hospitality that makes you feel at home.

Now for the food, everything is excellent but 10 stars for the veal stifado and the shrimps saganaki! The veal was unbelievably tender, slow-cooked to perfection with sweet onions and rich, comforting flavors that melt in your mouth. Truly one of the best stifados we've ever had in Greece.

As for the shrimps saganaki.. wow! Juicy, fresh shrimp in a rich tomato and feta sauce that was perfectly balanced and absolutely addictive. We were literally wiping the plate clean with pita.

The portions were generous, the prices fair, and the staff extremely friendly, warm and attentive. This is the kind of taverna you dream about and end up coming back to every night.

Highly, highly recommended! Thank you to everyone at Maria Taverna for making our vacation even more...