akrimios restaurant
A Farm-to-Table Cretan Cuisine Experience
Welcome to Akrimios Restaurant, where the heart of Cretan cuisine meets a true farm-to-table experience. Many of the ingredients on your plate come straight from our family farm. We nurture our land using organic farming methods, ensuring that each product is grown naturally and picked at the peak of flavor. This deep connection to the land means our menu changes with the seasons – when our farm’s garden overflows with ripe tomatoes, wild greens, or zucchini blossoms, those treasures become the day’s specials.
Traditional Cretan Cooking, Slow-Cooked with Love
Our kitchen is led by recipes passed down through generations. Traditional Cretan cooking isn’t about fancy sauces or fuss—it’s about honest, slow, and soulful preparation. We simmer and slow-cook meals the old-fashioned way to let flavors develop fully. Picture a clay pot of lamb and garden vegetables, cooking gently for hours until supremely tender. In fact, a special occasion dish like Pilafi is slow-cooked on fire for up to three hours, a time-honored method that produces meat so succulent and so flavorful that locals simply rave about it.
From classic “psitos” roasted pork with potatoes to hearty stews perfumed with mountain herbs, every dish celebrates the island’s culinary heritage. And of course, everything is cooked with pure olive oil for that unmistakable depth of flavor and heart-healthy goodness, Cretan cuisine is known for.
We also prepare a variety of Cretan meze (small plates) to give you a broad taste of the island. Try our homemade dolmadakia (vine leaves stuffed with rice and herbs), our golden fried cheese pies drizzled with honey, or a simple village salad bursting with farm-fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers. Each dish is crafted to let the natural flavors shine, highlighting why the Cretan diet – with its fresh vegetables, legumes, olive oil, and rustic cheeses – is celebrated around the world.
Akritori Restaurant
A Few Words About Us
Warm Cretan Hospitality and Atmosphere
Dining at Akrimios is more than just a meal – it’s like being welcomed into a Cretan family home. We’ve lovingly designed our taverna to reflect the island’s rustic charm, with wooden beams, stone accents, and textiles that tell stories of village life.
The moment you sit down, you might be greeted with a complimentary glass of raki or a slice of wood-fired bread as a gesture of friendship. In Crete, hospitality (philoxenia) is a way of life, and at Akrimios, we embrace that wholeheartedly.
Our staff, often members of the Kokotsakis family and lifelong friends, treat every guest like an old friend. Don’t be surprised if Ingrid and Petros, our owner and farmer, come by your table to share a laugh or proudly describe how yesterday’s cheese was churned, or how this morning’s herbs were picked at sunrise.
We encourage you to take your time and enjoy the warm, inviting atmosphere. Meals in Crete are a leisurely affair meant to be savored. Linger over a second helping of stew or an extra glass of local wine. Ask us about our traditions – we love to share the stories behind each recipe and ingredient.
Whether you’re dining under the vine-covered pergola on a summer evening, you’ll feel the genuine warmth that has made Cretan hospitality legendary.
We aim to create memories: the laughter of loved ones around the table, the clink of glasses toasting “Yamas!” (cheers), and the unforgettable taste of real farm-to-table cooking filling your senses.
Kalós órises! (Welcome!) – We can’t wait to serve you.
Reservation
The Restaurant is open from May to October.
Special events with an outstanding menu are always a possibility.
Akrimios Apartments & Restaurant
11th km National Road Chania-Rethymno
(directly opposite the turn for Aptera)
73003 Megala Chorafia, Apokoronou
Crete, Greece