Orizontas — Restaurant in Municipality of Western Samos

A dinner with a view

After several suggestions we decided to visit the restaurant Orizontas in the village of Platanos. After defeating the treacherous mountainous roads to reach the location of the restaurant, we were quite astonished of how beautiful the view was. The restaurant was placed on the hillside with a panoramic view of both the southern and the northern coastlines.

At first we were greeted with the legendary Greek hospitality by a very polite waiter, hence after we were seated and presented the menu. The menu was very international and to my disappointment lacked entries from the traditional Greek cuisine in which I’m so in love.

Our attitude towards the restaurant was still positive and we decided to try the risotto and the rooster accompanied by their homemade lemonade. But hereafter the waiter seemed to have trouble grasping the fact, that we did not order any starters.

The waiting staff seemed to direct their focus to some of the more senior of their guest who was dining “appropriately.” Much like the street cats of Samos who were scouting the tables of the cities in the hope of leftovers or a courtesy. The waiting staff overtook the roles of the cats, even though no cats where to be found inside of Orizontas. But the waiting staffs opportunistic approach to the “highest bidder” seemed very apparent and made us feel not welcome or like the wrong sort of clientele.

After a couple of offers to order more food our dishes arrived. The potato purée was recklessly scattered all over the plate as if it was a pourage. The sautéed vegetables was bland and few, the white wine sauce was to thin and did not interact with the purée in a satisfactory way, all it achieved was to emulate the consistency of a pile of mud with a pinch of rainfall. The rooster was bland and like the rest of the plates lacked seasoning. The dish was comparable to what you would expect of your mother’s couldrouns but without the charm of a home cooked meal.

The first hand impression of the risotto was in many ways more positive and taste wise showed more promise. The mushrooms were roughly cut which provided the dish with a rustic look and a delicious sensation of chewing. The rice where properly cooked but I found the dish too bouliony and in lack of cream, I would had preferred that the parmigiana was incorporated into the boulion instead of served in pieced at the top of the dish.

Not convinced that the restaurant managed to live up to its reputation we left disappointed and somewhat rushed, their eyes had been glooming over our shoulders for a while cause new guests where waiting to get a table. We left the restaurant in what seemed like a walk of shame convinced that the only redeeming quality of Orizontas was it’s beautiful view over the...

Regrettably Disappointed It pains me to pen a less-than-glowing review, but I feel compelled to recount our rather underwhelming experience at this establishment. My daughter and I visited for dinner on Monday, 27th June, having thoughtfully reserved a window-side table to enjoy the sunset as we dined. Alas, upon arrival, we were shown to a table by the wall and informed that all window tables had been allocated to other patrons—despite our prior booking.

What followed was a peculiar inconsistency in service. I observed other guests being presented with the dishes of the day, accompanied by detailed explanations, while we were handed menus in silence. The water, served in a glass bottle, was merely placed upon the table without ceremony—no offer to pour, nor even to open the bottle, which discouraged us from ordering wine, lest we be required to uncork it ourselves.

Bread was offered as a starter; for €4 we received four diminutive rolls, remarkably firm to the touch and evidently not baked fresh. One suspects they were reheated, perhaps in a microwave, after languishing for some days.

We ordered the risotto and lamb shank, which were indeed flavourful and well-prepared. However, the mood had been irreparably soured by the earlier missteps, and we had no desire to indulge in dessert or leave a gratuity.

A promising evening, regrettably marred. I should not recommend this venue for those seeking a truly gracious...

Oriztonas is a MUST if you are in Samos. Honestly, I would make my way from Athens just to come back here. We spent so long researching and trying to find the best restaurant in Samos, and along the way tried some amazing home-style/traditional meals, but Orizontas is in a league of its own. The menu at Orizontas is so clever. It is modern mediterranean, but somehow manages to retain the warm nostalgia you get from the classic dishes. The food is impeccably presented, and comprises only the freshest produce. The staff are all lovely. The owner is so knowledgable and so passionate about his craft and took the time to speak with all of the customers at his restaurant. We had the freshly baked bread, Dakos salad, Sea Bass tartare, Mushroom entree, Sardine Bruschetta, Giouvetsi, Fish Special, Steak and the cheesecake. Every dish was incredible, but the stand out for me was the Giouvetsi. I didn't think Giouvetsi could possibly get better. With the in-restaurant experience alone I would have given this place 5 stars. The incredible view over Samos is an added bonus- which feels very strange to say, considering this is probably one of the best views you could get over Samos. Would recommend booking in advance to go at lunch time, or before sunset so you can see the view. Thank you to the team for your hospitality, we will...