Mare Nostrum — Restaurant in Paros Municipality

If Poseidon himself opened a seaside bistro, I’m convinced it would look exactly like Mare Nostrum. Except here, you don’t need to sacrifice a goat or a trident to get a table, just a reservation and a strong appetite.

We started with the tuna tartare, which was so fresh I half-expected it to leap off the plate and swim back to the harbor. Then came the grilled squid, perfectly charred like it had been kissed by Zeus’ lightning bolt—10/10, would be zapped again.

The shrimp saganaki? Forget about it. That cheese and tomato sauce combo was hotter than a Santorini sunset, and the shrimp were so plump they could’ve had their own gym memberships. My partner ordered the linguine with shrimp, and honestly, I nearly proposed to the plate.

Dessert was “chef’s choice,” which felt like rolling the dice with the gods, but somehow we ended up with yogurt, honey, and walnuts—simple, heavenly, and just smug enough to remind me I’ll never eat Yoplait again without crying.

The view? Straight out of a Greek mythology travel brochure. The staff? Friendlier than my yiayia after two glasses of ouzo. Prices? Let’s just say you’ll pay a bit, but you’ll leave so happy you won’t care.

Bottom line: Come hungry, leave convinced you’ve unlocked a new food...

Located in the beautiful village center, which was the only saving grace of the experience. The staff was happy to sit us during a busy event but unfortunately we never were able to enjoy the food which ruined our last night in Paros.

Besides sitting us and taking our drink orders quickly, the staff was inattentive throughout. We were ready to place our food orders with the drinks but were informed that someone else needed to take the food orders. We waited patiently and asked to order 2 additional times and were acknowledged by the staff each time but no one ever came to take our food order.

After over 1 hour of being unable to order dinner, we asked to pay for our drinks and luckily the staff processed payment quickly and sent us on our way. It was disappointing to see at least 3 parties sat after us eating their dinner when we left hungry. We were shocked by our experience and it wasn’t at all indicative of the hospitality we received in Paros over our 4 days here.

In contrast to the service at Tsachpinis nearby which was larger and consistently packed it was night and day, would recommend eating there instead and the food...

I left this restaurant feeling extremely upset and disappointed. Not only was the food very average and definitely not worth the high price, but I was also overcharged. Without asking me, they added a $20 AUD “tip” straight onto the bill. When I questioned it, I was met with a smug look instead of an explanation. This felt dishonest and disrespectful — I always tip in cash, and they would have received a much better tip from me had they let me decide. Instead, it felt like theft.

The atmosphere itself is clearly designed for tourists — the boats are fake, just there for show, and the place is packed and chaotic with tourists everywhere. The food didn’t taste authentic at all, more like an overpriced tourist trap.

If you want to experience real Greek food, I would highly recommend skipping this spot and heading to the smaller villages, where the food, service, and authenticity are far superior. At best, this place is only worth stopping for a drink to enjoy the view, but even then, you’ll likely leave...