Tasos Taverna, Gerani, Chania
Gerani is one of those small little, traditional villages that manages to punch above its weight when it comes to tavernas, cafe bars and restaurants. Tasos Taverna is found in a central location just off the crossroads in the very heart of Gerani and is a popular place to eat for locals and international visitors alike who are looking for good food at reasonable prices.
When we turned up the night was already in full flow with every table being filled with enthusiastic customers enjoying their evening. Luckily we had booked a table and we had a prime spot overlooking the road and benefiting from the little evening breeze that was very welcome on one of the warmest days of the year. Because it was so busy we waited a little while for a drink, but with every table full and the waitresses working hard to cater for everyone, this wasn't much of a problem. As soon as we had our order taken everything came quickly and with 14 of us on the table it is always a great thing to see competent service for such a large group.
As always with a group the size of ours there was a large mix of different foods ordered, both from the grill and from the 'casserole' menu. We certainly put Tasos and his family through the paces in his kitchen. There were chicken souvlaki, lamb chops, pork chops, spaghetti bolognese with garlic bread, gemista (stuffed tomatoes), pork fillet, stifado and even a salad or two for those watching their weight. Each dish is of a good size and very filling, especially after the toasted bread given as a starter. Our drinks order included the house red and white wine, romeiko wine and a few beers.
After the meal we were given some delicious homemade galaktoboureko ( a superb sweet pastry with custard filling) and of course a carafe or two of raki for the table. The total cost with tip came to 14 euros per person which was very good value for such a great meal.
Tasos and his family who run Tasos Taverna are justifiably proud of their food and Tasos will even take you up to his garden to show off his prized vegetable plot where he grows the majority of fresh food that is used in his kitchen. One of the features of Tasos Taverna is the array of huge squashes, cucumbers and other vegetables that adorn the walls bordering the taverna's entrance. These are all grown by the man himself and he tries to outdo his record each year. If you take a look at his Facebook page you can see him weighing in some of his produce which includes a 6Kg+ cucumber!
PROS
Traditional taverna run by a local family and Tasos loves to talk about his family history. (Ask about the local area during the Second World War for a rare insight into these terrible times for the Cretans) Good value food Great portion sizes
Very nice local wine
CONS
Get's very busy, which can mean a little wait...but it's worth it!
OVERALL
Tasos Taverna is everything you want in a traditional family run restaurant and it delivers in every aspect. Ring ahead or contact Tasos on his Facebook page (www.facebook.com/Tassostaverna/?ref=br_rs ) to book a table to avoid disappointment.