Culinary Adventures in Greece: Rhodes vs. Symi
Choosing a Greek island for a gourmet escape poses a delightful dilemma. To refine your decision, consider traveling within a small area for optimal enjoyment. In this guide, we spotlight two captivating Dodecanese islands: Rhodes and Symi, each offering distinct culinary experiences.
Situated just a 50-minute express ferry ride apart, Rhodes and Symi present contrasting atmospheres; Rhodes is nearly 25 times larger. While both islands offer tantalizing cuisine, continue reading to discover which island might capture your culinary heart.
Seafood or Meat? Fine Dining or Rustic Meals?
Both Rhodes and Symi thrive on the freshest seafood, yet their food scenes vary significantly. Do you prefer innovative tasting menus in upscale hotels or casual waterfront bistros bustling with locals and possibly celebrities? Or are you up for a countryside adventure that includes breaking a homemade terracotta pot to unveil perfectly roasted goat? All these experiences and more await you.
In Rhodes
You can enjoy excellent meals all over Rhodes; hence, renting a car is advantageous for exploring diverse regions. Travel south to Lindos and visit Mavrikos restaurant, a historic taverna adorned with grapevine leaves, operating since 1933. Conveniently located in the village center, this charming restaurant is the perfect spot for a casual inquiry about seafood provenance, often resulting in a plate of freshly caught red mullet served with flair. Keep an eye out for David Gilmour, the Pink Floyd guitarist, who owns a nearby home and has ensured the restaurant’s decor stays unchanged since the 1970s, adding to its appeal.
At Five Senses, located within the luxurious Lindos Blu hotel, experience culinary innovation from executive chef Manolis Platellas and pastry chef Lazaros Chatzisavvas. Their ‘Art Kouzina’ tasting menu epitomizes the intersection of gastronomy and art, featuring memories, stories, and inventive presentations with a modern twist on Greek cuisine. Delightful dishes include snail caviar stifadho, a watermelon-vibena-lime sorbet designed to resemble a mini watermelon, and a stunning Greek yoghurt ‘coral’ dessert created with liquid nitrogen—perfect for adventurous food lovers.
Venture inland to the village of Apollona, which, although small with a population of just over 1000, presents two fantastic culinary attractions. The Apollona Women’s Agritourist Cooperative has devoted itself to preserving traditional island cuisine since 2005. The cooperative is easy to identify with its picturesque aquamarine fence displaying a woman with a basket. Inside, amidst blooming wildflowers and pomegranate trees, you’ll encounter a vibrant bakery setting, perfect for sampling melekouni, a Rhodian energy snack made of sesame seeds and honey, crafted daily at 11:30 am (don’t miss the fresh bread baked each noon!).
Another attraction in Apollona is renowned chef Giannis Efthymiou at Paraga restaurant. As one of Rhodes’ hidden dining gems, Giannis has innovated wood-fired ovens, reviving traditional cooking techniques passed down through generations. Enjoy your meal served in beautiful hand-painted ceramics by local artisans. You’ll be welcomed with a bowl of trahana soup, accompanied by delightful wood-fired pita bread enhanced with local herbs like mint, pistachio, and sage. To witness Giannis’ creativity, order the goat with chickpeas, presented to you with a hammer. He masterfully molds fresh terracotta into a cooking vessel that encases the meat, chickpeas, and spices. After slow-cooking overnight in the wood-fired oven, the terracotta is cracked open at your table, revealing the tender meat. Spending an entire afternoon here, sampling numerous Greek delights while inhaling the fragrant breezes from the herb garden, is an unforgettable experience.
If you’re seeking a closer connection to Rhodes nightlife, consider dining at Noble Gourmet Restaurant, located just outside Rhodes Town near Kallithea Beach. This fine dining option, situated above the lavish Elysium Resort, is best experienced indoors to maintain an elegant atmosphere, as a rock cover band performs nearby. Here, Executive Chef George Troumouchis utilizes culinary lessons learned from visiting 42 villages on the island to reintroduce forgotten recipes, exclusively presenting tasting menus (offering five, eight, twelve, or an ambitious twenty-two courses!). His elaborate presentations showcase Michelin-level creativity, like the Kakavia chowder served in a carved-out bottle, complete with a calamari ‘net’ and bread as a cork.
In the heart of Rhodes Town, you’ll find Marco Polo restaurant, known for its serene garden setting and charming ambiance. This establishment is a perfect choice for enjoying a small yet delightful menu in a historic knight’s residence. Here, you may also have the opportunity to sample a deconstructed baklava, a unique treat to savor during your visit.
In Symi
If you prefer a more relaxed dining experience, where you can become ‘a regular’ recognized by friendly waiters, Symi is an ideal choice. The dining options are more condensed compared to Rhodes, largely centered around the charming harbor of Gialos. Here you’ll find numerous simple tavernas and bakeries offering delectable choices, including freshly baked spinach pies. Seafood reigns supreme here, particularly the local specialty, ‘Symi shrimp,’ known for their tiny size and sweet flavor, typically enjoyed whole like soft-shell crab.
One of the paramount spots to indulge in these shrimp is Pantelis restaurant, owned by local legend Pantelis Kalliaros. His expertise ensures the freshest ingredients: he knows precisely where to gather the finest capers, access hidden coves for rare seafood, and raise pigs and chickens for his restaurant. Expect a plethora of fresh dishes with inventive twists, drawing from Pantelis’ prior experience aboard cruise ships, such as warm octopus with truffle oil, mango, and ginger.
Wines and Cocktails
Familiarize yourself with the Greek toast Yamas, celebrating good health: both Rhodes and Symi boast a vibrant drinking culture. Whether you prefer sophisticated cocktails featuring local spirits or a classic glass of ouzo enjoyed the local way, you’ll find plenty of options.
In Rhodes
Head to Embonas, nestled on the slopes of Mt. Ataviros, approximately an hour’s drive northwest of Lindos. Look for little grape symbols on road signs marking the wineries. The most charming is the Alexandris Family Winery, located in a family home. Make reservations in advance for a tasting tour led by third-generation distiller Panayoutis, where you’ll enjoy organic wines paired with delicious food (the croissant with strawberries pairs perfectly with Petra, a ruby red rosé with robust berry notes). This boutique winery, spanning only 14 acres at altitudes between 400m and 700m, doesn’t export its offerings, making them the perfect souvenirs from your journey.
At Lindos Blu, cocktail enthusiasts can savor the Greek Old Fashioned, crafted with tsipouro aged in oak barrels for two years, paired with Roots Diktamo, a herb liqueur from Crete rich in flavors such as vanilla and nutmeg, topped with an Italian vermouth.
In Symi
The drink scene in Symi may be simpler, but it remains delightful. While upscale cocktails are available at places like Vapori Bar or while perched at a stone bench at Tsati Bar, the focus here is primarily on unwinding by the water with a classic glass of ouzo, enjoyed with sophistication, which is a refreshing departure from other regions.
Getting Around
In Rhodes, you can conveniently hire vehicles (consider requesting a GPS) from Rodos Cars. Ferry tickets to Symi are available through Dodekanisos Seaways, with purchasing kiosks located at the Kolona Port departure point in Rhodes Town.
Supported by Discover Greece, Karyn embarked on a journey across Rhodes and Symi, taking a flight with Aegean Airlines. Contributors to iBestTravel do not accept complimentary offerings in exchange for favorable reviews.
