Scirocco Restaurant & Cafe Review Naxos, Greece
Location
Scirocco Restaurant & Cafe is located on the island of Naxos, Greece in the tourist city of Chora. Chora is a small town filled with shops, restaurants, and charming Greek streets. Scirocco Restaurant is located directly in the main square and is open every day for lunch and dinner starting at 12:00 PM.
Type of Restaurant + Menu
Scirocco Restaurant & Cafe is a must-visit restaurant when visiting Naxos. The cafe was established in 1995 by the Roussos family. Scirocco translates to southeast wind and to me, they blew in some of the best food on the island! This is a family ran restaurant by Nikos, Michalis, and of course their mother Katerina. We met Michalis during our visit and he welcomed us with open arms.
The cafe reminds me of a summer picnic with black and white plaid table cloths, green plants, and bamboo ceilings. It has an organic and clean feel, there is even a wine tree in the back! The menu at Scirocco is filled with Greek Aegean cuisine. Each dish uses fresh local ingredients that are made with love by the one and only Katerina.
“A restaurant founded in the dreams and enthusiasm of two young people who simply want to offer honest food and enjoyment to their customers…”
– Nikos and Michalis Roussos
What we Ordered
House White Wine
It was a hot fall day on the island and after strolling through the narrow streets of Naxos a nice cold glass of wine sounded delicious. We ordered up a carafe of the house white wine and it was the perfect refresh.
Scirocco Salad – €8.00
We started our lunch with one of the best salads I have ever tasted. This scirocco salad is a popular dish with fresh romaine lettuce and arugula. It is topped with large juicy grape tomatoes that burst with flavor. Roughly chopped walnuts are mixed throughout adding a nice crunch and pairing well with the salty Naxos hard cheese. This fresh flavorful ensemble is topped with sweet local honey, tangy mustard sauce, and dark balsamic cream.
“Saganaki” with Naxos Hard Cheese
Scirocco puts their own spin on the Greek dish Saganaki. Saganaki is a pan-fried cheese usually with simple ingredients of lemon, flour, and olive oil. Scirocco does theirs a bit differently – made with local Naxos hard cheese. The nutty Naxos cheese is battered then fried to a golden brown. Immediately after the sizzling hot ‘saganaki’ is done frying, Katerina tops it off with sesame seeds and thyme-infused honey.
This was one of the best bites of our trip. The cheese oozed, the pastry crunched, the seasonings shined, and the honey laced throughout. I would go back to Naxos just for this one dish!
After the first two courses, I could not wait to taste the main dishes. Two large bowls of Greek pasta (orzo) came out steaming out and wafted with cheesy deliciousness.
Shrimps with Greek Pasta €12.00
The shrimps with Greek pasta had an acidic tomato base with Naxos hard cheese and basil. The orzo Greek pasta was cooked to perfection with tender shrimp mingling throughout. The fresh basil added freshness and balance to this indulgent pasta. I specifically enjoyed the acidic tomato sauce, it was everything luxurious with the Naxos cheese mixed in.
Beef Scallopini with Greek Pasta – €13.00
The beef scallopini with Greek pasta was a bit more indulgent and rich than the shrimp one. This dish had a white sauce with salty Naxos hard cheese, earthy sauteed mushrooms, and fresh thyme. The thin beef had gorgeous grill marks and fell apart with my fork, I didn’t even need a knife! There were many mushrooms dancing throughout allowing for each and every bite to be as good as the one before.
Portokalopita – €5.00
Portokalopita is a traditional Greek orange cake made with phyllo dough, orange, yogurt, and eggs. It reminded me of a cake filled with baked custard, with a unique inside texture. Scirocco makes their in-house tops it with vanilla ice cream and salted caramel sauce. This was one delicious dessert!
Rating
This was one of the best meals thus so far on our two-month trip traveling through Europe. Thank you for the amazing lunch!
The Gem Society Hotel Athens, Greece
