The food is good!
Of course there is fish and shrimp (but no clams or mussels), but there is also a surprising amount of meat. Stews of lamb, goat, and rabbit called ‘mastelo’ after the name of the earthen pot are quite common and delicious. Here’s more background on mastelo and some recipes.
Sifnos is a food lovers destination and has been that way for quite awhile. It is the birthplace of Nikolaos Tselementes who published the first Greek guide to cooking in 1932. This is a good post for background info on food in Sifnos.
These are some of the restaurants we went to, but there are plenty more to explore and enjoy.
Limanaki Fish Tavern, Faros Beach
Located right at the end of the road into Faros Beach. Fresh fish, reasonably priced and hands down the best dolmades (stuffed grape leaves) on the island. The tender, small, spring grape leaves are stuffed with a rice meat combination and served with an addictive dipping sauce of lemony mint yogurt that you will finish off with your spoon because you won’t want to leave a drop. Friendly and helpful staff. We ate there a few times and it is excellent at the end of a day for an ouzo and a plate of dolmades.
Chrysopigi – Apokofto Fish Taberna
If you are taking a taxi, have the driver drop you off at the Chrysopigi monastery and have a good look around. Set on a knoll, you have great views up and down the coastline. Then follow the trail for a 10 minute walk into Apokofto. “Our” restaurant is the first one you come to. I think its called the Apokofto Fish Taverna, but the name is in Greek and incomprehensible to me! See photo for clues! We ate the trifecta of goodness: grilled sardines, fried gravos (little fishies) and fried calamari.
Manolis Taverna
Vathi
Phone: +30 22840 7111
Right smack on the beach, or what there is of the narrow strip of sand that passes for beachfront. Further on is a larger beach with beds and umbrellas. Manolis is famous for their clay pot cooking so have some stewed lamb and enjoy.
Artemonas 840 03, Greece
Phone: +30 2284 033562
