Binging in Bakalo

Thus far in our experience we have had a feast of seafood and Italian tastes. But we’re in Greece! Greek food should hold its own!

Like in many other cultures, Greek cuisine thrives on the successful transfer of traditional recipes from one generation to the next. Hence, the best example of this food would come not from some big restaurant, but from small eateries. Eatery? Yes, that’s how Bakalo — our stop for Greek traditional food — bills itself. And with its unique touch, Bakalo manages to delight.

The View

Bakalo is located away from the hustle and bustle of the main tourist points. Hence, you won’t get drowned in the activity of milling people as you eat. Aside from this, the place is also quartered in a traditional 18th century Mykonian house! The house is an attraction itself, with a neat little courtyard garden and even a wishing well.

The interior of the house is a mixture of the traditional and the modern. It is not a restaurant masquerading as a house. It is a real house, with various parts where you can eat! You can also see jars and containers of ingredients lining the shelves and the walls, where they sometimes look like grocery aisles. Overall, it is a very nice and welcoming atmosphere.

The Food

Bakalo bills itself as serving dishes that would appear in a traditional Greek household. They even say that they use the kinds of secret recipes mothers claim to have! And while that’s a nice way to promote your menu, the proof of the pudding is always in the eating. And what a hearty eating this was!

For appetizers, we had traditional Cycladic Cheese Dumplings with Tomatoes and Lemon Relish. The lemon really brought out the flavor! This was followed by Baked Mushrooms stuffed with Port and Gruyere from Naxos. They were excellent, and the authentic Naxos cheese is perfect with the pork.

The have octopus, too! The Marinated Octopus (coming from the island of Syros, no less) was the highlight of the meal. No wonder it’s one of the most recommended dishes around.

We had Moussaka with Aubergines, and that was a delight too. It’s definitely one of the best I’ve tasted in my travels. Then there’s the Shrimps Saganaki with Feta and Tomato, which was bursting with flavor! The sauce only made it more lovely. These are definitely the kind of dishes you can binge on at any time.

The Drinks

For the wine, we had something unique. Bakalo makes its own wine, made from flowers and sugar! It was the perfect ending to a meal. You could also get to take home some of this wine so you can enjoy it on your own. Or, you can just go back to Bakalo and enjoy it in the flair of the atmosphere!

Chances are you will first encounter Bakalo as a recommendation from the locals. It’s somewhere they go to if they want food with real homemade tastes. Amidst the beautiful ambience, the wonderful service, the attention to detail, and the incomparable food, you will find that locals really do know where to find the best food in town.