AIOLOS: A GREEK TAVERNA IN THE HEART OF NAFPLIO
The Cost - $14 per person
The Atmosphere – Aiolos is located on an adorable pedestrian street with beautiful buildings and has both indoor and outdoor seating.
Nafplio is a scenic coastal city in the Peloponnese in mainland Greece known for its picturesque views, wines, and historical landmarks. Among the restaurants in town, there are several tavernas – small, casual no-frills restaurants serving traditional Greek food like tzatziki and eggplant dips, grilled meats and fish, and pastas. A trip to Greece would not be complete without visiting multiple tavernas so I went to Aiolos Tavern for dinner after a wonderful day of sailing.
The Order - Fava, Fish of the Day (Sea Bream), and Moussaka.
The Good – Moussaka, a layered casserole typically tied to Greek, Egyptian, and Middle Eastern cuisines, is either made with eggplant or potatoes and some form of ground meat. The Moussaka at Aiolos was made with ground lamb, eggplant, and tomatoes, topped with cheese and looked and tasted similar to a lasagna. The dish was my favorite of the evening and for the price ($9), it was a good value.
The Okay – The grilled Sea Bream, a white, mild-flavored fish, was cooked well but unfortunately, the mild flavor of the fish combined with the lack of spices and herbs left much to be desired.
The Bad – The fava bean is a common bean in Greek food and it is frequently made into a dip by adding ingredients like onion, garlic, EVOO, and lemon. Unfortunately, the fava appetizer I ordered was very bland and didn’t have the smoothest or most desirable texture to it, making it a dish I would not order again.
The Verdict - While I wanted to love everything about Aiolos Tavern from the moment I saw the lovely street it is located on, the food wasn’t the best. However, with such an extensive menu, I am sure there are some more enjoyable dishes than the few I ordered.