How to find a real Greek taverna in Zakynthos, Greece

Are you looking for a real Greek taverna in Zakynthos, also known as Zante? Allow us to recommend a place we found. It lives up to the standards of Yiayia’s (that’s Greek for Granny) home cooking.

You’ll want somewhere that serves the Greek specialities, not just the versions of Moussaka that they serve up for tourists. The business card at To Kartoutso, where we ate today, had not a word of English on it. I knew this was the real deal.

First tip in finding this kind of place is to get in your car and drive away from the tourist resort. Or if you’re in town, head away from the main drag down the side streets. Of course my sister took us to To Kartoutso. But, you can always ask the Greek locals where they like to eat with their family.

What to look for in an authentic Greek Taverna

Take any recommendations from your travel rep with a pinch of salt. They may send you to somewhere that is giving them commission in return for customers. Obviously you should also look for somewhere busy with local cars parked outside. That’s a sure sign of locals enjoying their meal inside.

The second good sign when we sat down was that there was no long printed menu. The waitress explained that they have a few freshly cooked dishes each day which were written on a board.

Today the choice was slow cooked lamb with spinach and egg sauce, beef cooked with lemons and chicken stuffed with tomatoes and local cheese. Then there were meze of fried cheese pastries, garlicky aubergine dip and fried bread crostini with peppers and capers.

They were just the sort of dishes you’d expect Yiayia to cook with the produce she’d find in her back garden.

To Kartoutso
Tel 26950 53115 or 6944265235 (phone first as it may not be open all year round).
Directions: From the road between Argassi and Zante town, take the Kalamaki road. Travel 200m from the turn-off, past the newly built housing estate on the left. You’ll see it on the right hand side of the road.

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This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com

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