The village complex of Zagorohoria has the surrounding nature as their prime supplier for food. Local farmers for meat and vegetables as well as the endless forest, will yield superb meat delicacies grilled on charcoal, delicious homemade savory and sweet pies characteristic to the wider region of Epirus, traditional cooked meals and freshly cut salads. For those of you looking for more modern and jumbled culinary versions, there is a plethora of restaurants to accommodate your needs.
Suggestions
Spiros & Kostas Tsoumanis
Spiros and Kostas grow their own animals and their own vegetables such as cabbage, lettuce, rocket etc. and -most importantly- they are very good cooks, so ask them for whatever you fancy and they will prepare it for you either grilled, roasted or cooked. Try the meat soup, the pumpkin pie, the village sausage, the roasted lamb in wine sauce, the roasted sheep and the spinach & radish salad from the garden topped with a sauce of parmesan, balsamic oil and orange. Open all day everyday, prices start at 12-14 euro / person (Megalo Papigo village, tel. 26530 42108)
Kanella & Garifalo
This restaurant’s delicacy is definitely its great selection of different mushrooms which the experienced owner, Mr. Vassilis, personally picks and serves in your plate. Try the black mushrooms fried with cheeses, the veil in brandy sauce with royal mushrooms, the pasta with 3 different sorts of mushrooms and many more. If you are not a fan of mushrooms then the rest of the menu will surprise you in a very pleasant way too. Open all day everyday, prices start at 15-18 euro / person (Vitsa village, tel. 26530 71671)
Sopotseli
We will find Sopotseli (dating back to 1901) at the main square of Dilofo village. Possibly the oldest all-in-one store / cafe / eatery in the area of Zagori. Nowadays it will whet your appetite with deer in wine sauce, traditional staffed sausage, juicy chopsticks and orange pie for a sweet finish. Open all day everyday, prices start at 12-15 euro / person (Dilofo village, tel. 26530 22629)
Sta Riza
Restaurant with a view of the gorge, the central villages of Zagori and the snow toped Mount of Astraka...Hurry and book your table by the large windows and make sure you are very hungry to taste as many of the tremendous variety of dishes as possible. Do try the baby lamb with tomatoes and aubergines, the rooster in “lazania” noodles, the veil in white vegetables sauce and pasta, the mushrooms marinated in wine and the - as many as - 9 different handmade pies! Open daily except Wednesday and Thursday, prices start at 15-18 euro / person (Elati village, tel. 26530 71550)
Margarites (Daisies)
This is a very posh restaurant which you will absolutely adore for its French belle epoch inspired decor and its amazing dishes. Do try the traditional meatballs with leak, the little fillets with herbs from the mountains, the veil served in a clay pot and the variety of elaborate pasta dishes and risottos. After your lunch or dinner, enjoy a steaming cappuccino with a piece of chocolate soufflé, almond pie or the Greek dessert of “ekmek”. Open all day everyday, prices start at 15-19 euro / person (Kipi village, tel. 26530 71410)
Pita tis Kikitsas (Kikitsa’s Pie)
This restaurant is famous for Kikitsa’s pie which will be served in its atomic baking pan, staffed with white “feta” cheese and a crispy edge. Equally mouthwatering, the freshly cut salads, the well done meats and the local cheeses. If the weather allows, prefer to seat at a table outside and gaze at the people passing by on their way to the Monastery of Agia Paraskevi. Open everyday, prices start at 12-15 euro / person (Monodendri village, tel. 26530 71340)
