Vivilaki 35, Chania 731 00, Greece. Phone: +30 2821 051136
Worth visiting in a 30 mile radius.
Dining at Thalassino Ageri is an experience I’ll never forget. The tables (which are all outdoors) are set right up against the calm waters of the Mediterranean. In the evening, diners watch the sunset over the town of Chania, which is about 2 kilometers to the west. The restaurant building, where bathrooms are located and dishes are washed, seems to be the only one alive in the neighborhood. The others are decayed shells of old tanneries in what used to be a booming industrial area. As diners enjoy their seafood, cats slink around their feet meowing for a morsel of swordfish here and a bit of oyster there. At most restaurants such an amazing location would make the customers forget about the food. At Thalassino Ageri, the food makes the customers forget about the location.
Thalassino Ageri’s extensive menu features seafood and salad options, with everything from cuttlefish to sea urchin to beetroot salad. However, they have exactly one meat dish one the menu (pork cutlet), so if you do not like seafood, don’t bother making the trip out here.
My favorite appetizer of the three we ordered was the fried anchovies. The light batter did not mask the taste of the anchovies, and it gave the fish a nice crunch. I also enjoyed the grilled octopus, which is done very simply; it is served in a vinegar sauce with a wedge of lemon. These two ingredients enhanced the octopus meat by adding a delicious sour touch. The octopus itself was fresh and cooked well: crispy on the outside without being overcooked. The final appetizer was steamed mussels in olive oil sauce. These mussels were among the most plump I’d ever had.. The flavor was really brought out by steaming the mussels.
The main entree that my family and I ordered was two whole snappers cooked fresh. They looked lovely as they arrived on our table, garnished with herbs and tomatoes and not filleted as is found commonly in America. Although the whole fish was quite bony, what meat we did get was flavorful and rich with herbs and olive oil.
For complimentary dessert we were served a square of custard topped with chopped nuts, which was delicious and lemony. We were also served a plate of wonderfully juicy watermelon (seeds still in!).
Thalassino Ageri is a seafood lover’s heaven. Although it can be a bit pricey, the quality is well worth it. There are really no drawbacks to this beautiful restaurant.
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