To review, and in case you missed the chapter before this all about our touring of the Ancient Ruins of Olympia, Greece, we had just spent several hours wandering around the grounds and archeological site of Ancient Olympia and the museums that housed so many amazing ancient Greek treasures. But now, we were all pretty hungry. As I’m prone to do, I had spent many hours researching the various options there were to have lunch before we needed to catch the 3:00 train back to the port area at Katakolon and board our ship.
I settled on a very picturesque, off-the-beaten-path little Taverna called “The Symposio Taverna”.
https://symposiotaverna.gr/en/taverna-estiatorio-arxaia-olimpia-
The menu was full enough that it could accommodate all of our tastes and we could have the opportunity to have a nice variety of tastings of Greek food. The best part of it all was that the price was right. Here is what I could find online for the current menu: (which isn’t really a menu, but a photo gallery of things they might have the day you go)
https://symposiotaverna.gr/en/taverna-estiatorio-arxaia-olimpia-TO-MENOY-MAS
After a bit of trying to figure out where my folks were by way of very, very expensive texts (we’d fix this issue after we got off the cruise), we met up and made our way to this charming little eatery. Which reminds me, I need to go back and give my Google review! I fell in love with The Symposio at first sight! The vines growing up the entrance area, the checked tablecloths, and antiques-turned-conversation pieces made for a simply charming setting for lunch.
Being the only party around (it was late in the season now, and all of these restaurants would be closing for the remainder of the season in just a couple of weeks) we were told we could choose any table. We made ourselves comfy and were given menus and left to make our choices. It was helpful that they were in English as well as Greek.
In the end, we placed our order with the proprietor and ended up with a veritable smorgasbord of goodies including some lamb gyros, chicken gyros, hummus with garlic bread, a HUGE Greek salad with homemade feta cheese, and a pile of fries which was all far more than we could possibly eat.
Over the course of our exercise in futility to finish what we’d ordered, the owner’s son began to take over serving us. At first he would shyly come over and re-fill our drinks, then a little more boldly came to ask if we would like anything more, each time he added a few more words, sometimes used accurately, sometimes a bit off. But every time as endearing as it could possibly be. We asked him about school, his restaurant, what his favorite subject was (PE, of course!), and his family farm. He smiled as he brought me a shot of Ouzo. (I mean I HAD to try some, no?!) Imagine that; booze served by 13-year-old!! When you travel, you learn things.
He began to clear the dishes of unfinished food from the table and asked with an incredulous tone, “You didn’t like our food?!”
“No, no, it was all so wonderful, but it was just too much!”
“Okay, because we need to know if our food is bad, or you don’t like it.”
His face lit up with pride as he brought our last course. We didn’t order this, but I guess that’s how things work in rural Greece.
“This is Greek yogurt with honey! My grandmother makes the yogurt every day and this honey is from our family farm!”
And it was amazing! Seriously, although everything was absolutely delicious, it was the highlight of the meal… aside from this charming 13-year-old desperate to please and impress with his English skills. Before we left, I asked him if we could take a photo together. And this is what I got. It might be a favorite from the day.
Elias, your family restaurant is truly a treasure in Olympia! It set a high bar that would be very difficult to reach for the remainder of the trip. Will we come close? Stay tuned for more Greek adventures, Friends!
Αντίο!