Opening a Greek taverna menu for the first time can be confusing. There are a lot of small plates, some names you have never seen, and nobody tells you how much to order. Here are five Cretan meze from our own menu that we suggest to guests on their first evening in Crete, with a word on what each one is.
First, what is Cretan meze?
Meze means small plates, put in the middle of the table and shared. Nobody orders one dish for themselves. You order a few, taste everything, and add more when you want to. Two or three dishes per person is a good start, and you can always ask us how much is enough. If you would rather have it all decided for you, there is our Greek Meze for 2, and the story of the tradition is in our meze guide.
1. Dakos, the Cretan salad on a rusk
Dakos is the dish most people remember from Crete. A hard barley rusk is topped with fresh grated tomato, feta, capers and olive oil. The rusk softens a little under the tomato and oil but keeps its crunch. It is fresh, a bit salty and very easy to like, which makes it a good first order.
2. Cretan snails
Snails (chochlioi) are a real island dish, and a braver first-timer's favourite. Ours are fried in extra virgin olive oil with sea salt, fresh rosemary and garlic. They taste mostly of the rosemary and the oil, not of anything strange, and they arrive hot and crisp at the edges. If you are curious, this is the one to share and try.
3. Graviera with honey
Graviera is one of the best-known cheeses of Crete. Ours comes with local thyme honey and toasted sesame seeds. It is nutty and a little sweet, and a good plate to put in the middle of the table next to the dips.
4. Tyrokafteri, the spicy feta dip
Tyrokafteri means "spicy cheese". It is a creamy dip of feta, garlic, olive oil and chili, and it is the one with a kick. Scoop it up with warm pita, and balance it with the cool tzatziki. If you do not like heat, ask us for the milder dips.
5. Grilled talagani
Talagani is a traditional Greek goat cheese that we make ourselves and grill until it is warm and slightly squeaky. It is rich and salty, so it pairs well with something fresh like a Cretan or Greek salad.
How to put your Cretan meze together
For two people, a simple order could be: dakos, a dip with pita, graviera with honey, and the snails if you feel brave. Then add a grilled main to share, such as our Black Angus steaks. Ask us for a Cretan white or red wine to go with it, and see the wine guide if you would like to choose yourself. The menu guide and the What to Order builder can also help you plan the whole dinner.
Frequently asked questions
What should I order first at a Cretan taverna?
Start with a few meze to share, such as dakos, a dip with pita and graviera with honey. Add more as you go.
Are Cretan snails safe to try?
Yes. They are a traditional dish, fried with olive oil, rosemary and garlic. If you are unsure, order one portion for the table and taste a little.
Is there a vegetarian meze option?
Yes. Dakos, graviera with honey, the dips and the grilled cheese are all vegetarian. Please tell us about any allergy when you order.
How much should we order?
Two or three meze per person is a good start. We are happy to help you at the table.
Whatever you choose, Cretan meze is best shared slowly. More answers are in our FAQ.
