We visited the restaurant here in 2018 and how hugely different it was back then! It has gone up in the world today, and that is all thanks to the chef. With his deliciously elevated Greek cuisine, playing with different textures- All that belong. Alongside this, the food itself feeds you in a sense that leaves you really satisfied. There is not just technique here, chef brings the taste and gluttony factor to go with it. Call this a sin… Not in my book, this is how the food made me react. I wanted to carry on eating it and eating it but not forgetting the refinement that was present. I let myself go tonight- Mopping up every inch of sauce left with the pitta bread, clanking the cutlery down on occasion (sorry for that) I was like a vulture swooping down to take the bait, before anyone else could. I was very hungry due to a terrible lunch earlier, (story coming soon) plus a mammoth bike ride, so this is part of the reason. Then throw in the waiters, serving some irresistible plates filling the table, you have a recipe for a wonderful disaster.
The small menu enticed me so much that I had to take two starters. I tried to add on another main course, and if it were not for my guest reminding me that it was too much food, we would have gone way over the top. Gluttony strikes! The bread that came first was a good opening to the menu- The crust had the exact crispness and colour, served steaming hot, with a perfectly aerated crumb inside- An excellent bread. They had tried with the gluten free as well, so guests with an intolerance do not miss out.
Everything arrived at once for the signature spreads: (Tzatziki, Tarama, and spicy feta cheese cream) Alongside with some pitta bread (The one and only for this) You will be familiar with these Greek items but here they are not as you would normally recognise them, they were taken to a new level. I love Tzatziki but the version here made me love it even more- The chef has a real knack for combining different textures. The spicy feta cream cheese was an electric shock of flavour, bolting through your mouth, with those pops of sweet peppers that surround, which were mandatory to go with this. Good call to put them on the plate. The tarama wasn’t left out to go and sulk in the corner- It was texture filled as well, and they didn’t just plonk some on a plate and ask you to dip your bread in it- This one had class and demanded respect.
The starters that followed spoiled us, really, they did, and this is where greed rears its ugly head. (Or shall we say beautiful head) The five kefetedes were not five any longer, I took the whole plate for myself. Oops-I couldn’t help it. The tomatoes were spectacular, and you do not even find ones like this when sat in a 3-star restaurant. The lobster saganaki is where the magic continued, it was perfectly cooked, I was a sucker for the sauces, they made me want to pick up the plate at the end to get every last mouthful. (Of course, that is not how one should behave in a nice restaurant) The deliciousness is here, combined with a strong commitment to technique. When you get both right, amazing things happen.
For the mains, the chef continued to show us he was solid. As always with aubergine, it takes skill to get it spot on, the skin AND the flesh was superb, the plate polished. To finish the main courses the stuffed calamari made the night, filled with black rice, prawns, ouzo and a French touch of beurre blanc. This dish was winning the race… Beautifully prepared black rice, sitting snug ‘stuffed’ inside dainty rings of calamari. Sweetness from the prawns coming through, and the richness of the beurre blanc being an intelligent use on the dish, and a subtle nod to France. A strong contender for their menu. The tzatziki inspired dessert to end was excellent, the chef brought this out to us personally, and he did well to introduce us to this.
For Greek cuisine this is the best you will come across in Kranidi, Porto Heli and the surrounding areas. It is the place to go if you want something higher level than all the tavernas in the area. No offence to any of them, they all have their place, but if you have a higher expectation and want an evening in beautiful surroundings with the food to match, it is here at Aman Zoe. See you next week!
