Strogili — Restaurant in Municipality of Thira

I really liked this restaurant. It was one of the only meals I had while out in Santorini and I chose it because I really wanted to try the Santorini spaghetti, since the capers here are so delicious. I would highly recommend the spaghetti and also the mango daiquiri which was recommended to me by my very kind waiter. The food and the service I could not complain about. The restaurant also has a lovely view of the Caldera and you can see the sunset depending on where you’re sitting. However, I wanted to warn other solo travellers that you may be a little embarrassed if you try and reserve a table online through their booking system. The system only allows for two people or more to book a table, but I just assumed it was an outdated website so I went ahead and booked my table even though I am alone. When I got to the door the woman who greeted me told me that it’s not possible for one person to book online and I was too embarrassed at the time to ask what the reason for that would be but I wish I had. The restaurant was still happy to honour my reservation and accommodate me but it was still a really awkward experience for me, and I just don’t really understand why that’s the rule. I paid close attention to the tables around me with two or more people, and I definitely spent just as much if not more than the tables around me, considering I ordered multiple drinks, an appetiser and a Main. I don’t know if this is standard in Europe but I’ve never encountered it anywhere else and I’m wondering would the same be true if I hadn’t booked and just walked in and asked for a table? I really don’t understand why it’s any different if you’re alone and I hope that the restaurant isn’t making assumptions that one person bookings aren’t as profitable. So if you’re solo travelling here, maybe call them up first or go somewhere that’s more willing to take one...

Ah it looked like it had so much promise, reasonably broad menu, gorgeous views of the Caldera, but sadly it just fell really short on any quality.

We're aware these diamond view restaurant bars are a dime a dozen, but we really looked out in Fira the day before and thought we'd hit the jackpot again. We had the choice of a few spots which would give us a nice view and scaled the menu. We both opted for cocktails, mine being a tall tequila drink with grapefruit soda and my partner the strawberry Bellini. Both were pretty disappointing. The tequila cocktail (the name escapes me) was really flat and non-eventful and was garnished with a few ice cubes and a wedge if lime. The Bellini was worse. Wasn't crisp, cold or anything. It was like it was from a bottle of champagne which had been open for a week.

On the food front, things continued along the same vein. I went for the chicken gyros and my partner the moussaka. The latter actually wasn't that bad, although it wasn't dished up piping hot at all. Still obviously very edible. The chicken was a bit rubbish. It looked like it had been carved earlier in the day and left to sit, so there was a combination of good chicken and some a bit stale. Again edible, but not very pleasant.

Listen, it was my no means a disaster, but really the view was the only thing saving it. The two Laurel and Hardy type characters who were serving us were a bit useless as they trudged around in their trainers, one of them failing to deliver a glass of wine on one occasion (we didn't bother asking a second time). It's fair to say the 86€ bill was not worth it.

The only saving grace was we were able to divert two American ladies from starting the ascent up the stairs, "I'm sure there's better places for lunch", of which they were...

Please note when you book a reservation at STROGILI that it is not just a restaurant (at least on the rooftop)…it is a tourist attraction. Throughout my dinner with my wife to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary, we were asked to take photos by some diners, as they lined up in front of our table like they were at the latest Disney World ride just before closing. For the beautiful sunset we hoped to view together, it was blocked by hoards of people clamoring to get a selfie at the perfect position of the sun. And then they sat only to return moments later in their Instagram frenzy to capture the next phase of the sunset right in front of us. Silly us, we planned to spend the evening together and remained seated, but our view was blocked (see photo). Ultimately, we spent $175 for a $50 bottle of wine, bread and a salad and to escape the madness. Our main entrees remained in the kitchen as we escaped what the server and other adjacent diners agreed was madness. Note to management: You should rope off a place for photo-seekers or advertise the experience as an immersive one…not for someone just wanting to celebrate and talk with his wife and celebrate a special occasion. The aggression around getting photos completely ruined the moment. Yes, the staff said we could move downstairs, but ultimately I had booked months ago to just have a good meal and view…so no….it was ruined. If management reaches out to rectify the situation, I’ll update the review. We ultimately paid for another meal...