Dionysios Taverna — Off the Strip, Worth Finding

Laganas is not generally celebrated for its food. The main beach strip delivers overpriced English breakfasts and generic tourist menus, and most people accept this as the price of being in a resort town. Dionysios is a few streets back from all of that, operating at a different pace and a different price point.

What to Expect

A standard Greek family taverna: checked tablecloths, a terrace shaded by a pergola, a menu in Greek and English. The owner has been running the same kitchen for years. The cooking is home-style — the kind of food that gets made in quantity in the morning and gets better as the day goes on, as the flavours develop.

There are no surprises and no disappointments. This is comfort food territory.

The Food

Pastitsio is the dish that puts this kitchen above the average. It’s the Greek pasta bake — cylindrical pasta in a meat sauce, topped with a thick layer of béchamel, baked until golden. Dionysios makes it from scratch each morning and when it’s good, it’s the most satisfying thing on a Greek menu. It’s often not listed on the English version of the menu; ask for it.

Moussaka — the standard version, properly made with layers of aubergine, potato, spiced mince, and béchamel. It takes time to do right and Dionysios doesn’t cut corners.

Lamb souvlaki — skewers of marinated lamb, grilled over charcoal, served with tzatziki and pitta. Simple and exactly right.

Grilled pork ribs are the meat eater’s choice — long-marinated, cooked slowly, finger-licking in the best possible way. Order a portion between two and let the kitchen bring napkins.

The Value

Dinner for two with starters, two mains, house wine, and dessert comes in at around €30–35 total. In a resort where comparable food goes for double that on the beachfront, this requires no further justification.