Mathios

Mathios is one of the most established waterfront restaurants in Agios Nikolaos, occupying a prime position at Akti Koundourou 20 overlooking the town's crescent harbour and the distinctive Lake Voulismeni — the deep circular lake connected to the sea by a narrow channel, around which the town of Agios Nikolaos is built. The restaurant's terrace tables set directly above the water offer one of the more pleasant lunch or dinner settings in eastern Crete. The menu is anchored in fresh Cretan seafood and classic Greek dishes, with grilled fish taking the leading role. The catch arrives daily from local boats operating in the Gulf of Mirabello — the broad bay on which Agios Nikolaos sits — and from further afield in the eastern Mediterranean. The grilled octopus, marinated in Cretan olive oil and fresh herbs before being charred over coals, is the signature dish and has been ordered at Mathios by generations of visitors and locals alike. Fresh whole fish of the day — sea bream (tsipoura), sea bass (lavraki), and red mullet (barbounia) among the most common — are priced by weight and simply grilled with olive oil, lemon, and rigani. Shrimp saganaki baked with tomato sauce, ouzo, and feta is another reliable choice. A good dakos salad and classic Greek salad with barrel-aged feta round out the starters. The wine list features Cretan wines including both house wine by the carafe and a selection of bottles from eastern Cretan producers, some from the Sitia appellation a short drive east of the town. Service is warm and experienced. Reservations for harbour-view tables are recommended in July and August, when the restaurant fills from both the Agios Nikolaos resident population and the considerable stream of visitors to this popular north-east Cretan town.