La Strada, Agios Nikolaos, Crete

You may well have thought that you had now read the last of all of Gipsy Spread's birthday shenanigans. Well, you were wrong. I also can't guarantee that this will be the last post about it. But, further to the US Road trip, the Cotswolds and the Eco-camping, we also took an all inclusive trip to Agios Nikolaos. Now, I'm not going to write about the all inclusive buffet, but rather the bijou little family run restaurant we visitied the two times we at out in the Town.


All restaurants in Crete have extensive menus, incorporating both all the Greek specialities with a full range of Italian dishes. This might seem a bit odd, but does in fact harp back to the colonisation of the Island by the Italians.


So, we were ambling around the harbour and the picturesque little town when we stumbled across La Strada. The owner who spoke to us told us that, whilst the restaurant did not have the best views (it was not in the tourist centre around the lake) that it did have the best food in the town at the best price.


We took away the menu and said we'd take a look and come back. We, of course did, the menu had various options for both of us (Gipsy Spread wanted fish) and so we booked the best table in the restaurant and returned of an evening, having all ready chosen our courses. Our table was reserved for us and we sat in the centre of the rustic taverna, with the table facing outwards onto the street.

I had chosen the cheese saganaki as my starter (partly because I loved saying the name). It was on the promise of some fried cheese, which I knew would not be feta and which I thought be reminiscent of halloumi. I  was not wrong. What I had not anticipated was the size of the starter. It was huge. Gipsy Spread had the mussels al pesto as he was after a fresh fish dinner. We both thoroughly enjoyed our starters.

 

I had already ordered the vegetarian lasagne, not having anticipated the size of the dishes. It arrived and was massive. I was daunted. I, however, dug in and it was most possibly the best vegetarian lasagne I have had. The sauce was so rich (was it a reduced wine sauce?) and the pasta so fresh, it was a wonderous delight and quite a surprise to find here in Crete. Sadly I only managed, even at a push to eat half of it. If I'd been at home, it would have most definitely constituted a doggy bag.

 

 

Gipsy Spread continued his fishy feast with the white fish in a rich creamy sauce, which he also revelled in however, by that point, it was a fairly rich dish as we had both eaten too much.

 

 

The food was truly delicious and the owner had been right, the restaurants around the lake with the views had similar menus, but at a much higher price. Also, we didn't know if the food was going to be any better. So, as we had enjoyed the food, the atmosphere and the excellent service at La Strada, we returned for our final supper in Agios Nikolaos on our last night. We had learnt our lesson though and so ordered a selection of mezze dishes to share with the delicious freshly made rosemary bread and another bottle of the local rose wine. We also noted the many conversations around us, with returning and regular diners, each praising the quality of the food.

 

So, if you're ever in this sleepy little harbour town, a visit to La Strada is highly recommended. It can be found just off the main square of the town, and you will smell the delicious aromas of he cooking before you see it.