One of the best reasons to visit Greece is the delicious food. I spent five nights on the island of Donoussa (also spelled Donousa) in the small Cyclades and these restaurants did not disappoint! If you are visiting in late September, as I was, many of the tavernas will be closed. But even so, you won’t have a problem finding both traditional Greek cooking and delicious fresh seafood in these Donoussa restaurants.
Iliovasilema Restaurant
If you’ve been following along, you know that a crispy whole fish is one of my favorite meals. Iliovasilema did not disappoint! Their options for fresh catch included dorodo, swordfish, and parga (snapper). When I asked about the size of the fish, the server took me back to the kitchen where the owner allowed me to select my meal from his pan of fresh catch! I chose the parga. It arrived perfectly cooked with delicious crispy skin and really flavorful meat. It was served with a rather uninspiring salad, so I recommend choosing the potatoes instead. The rose wine was decent and the atmosphere was lively. After this meal, Iliovasilema ranks as one of my favorite Donoussa restaurants!
To Kyma
To Kyma is the taverna near the port that doubles as a café and a general store. I ordered the gigantes beans cooked with eggplant and tomatoes, and the meal was absolutely delicious. The eggplant was melting into the beans to make a perfect slow-cooked stew. The flavors were all identifiable, yet melded together seamlessly. To Kyma has their daily menu written on the blackboard outside so you can always walk by and see what they are serving. They are for sure on my list of repeat Donoussa restaurants to sample more of their home cooking!
The Bakery
The Bakery in Stavros gets rave reviews and you should believe every one! I picked up a slice of pizza, a bacon and cheese pide, and a Bougatsa to have on hand for breakfast. The pizza was really the star of the show–chewy and flavorful and delicious even when cold. Bougatsa is a traditional Greek pastry filled with sweet cream and dusted with powdered sugar. Eating this on your patio in the morning sunshine with a cat at your feet is guaranteed to make you feel like a true Greek! Check out all the reviews and put The Bakery high on your list of Donoussa restaurants to visit.
Which of these three meals would be at the top of your list on a visit? Drop your comment below!