Marvel at the beautiful architecture in Syros

August 13, 2018

Although Syros is one of the many Greek islands in the Cyclades, it looks considerably different from its peers. Most Cycladic islands are well-known for a distinctive style of architecture that predominantly consists of whitewashed cubic houses, pristine windmills, cobblestone streets, and blue-domed churches.

But Syros does not have these distinguishing features. Instead, the island has its own unique architectural style that seamlessly merges elements from ancient Greece and Western Europe.

The entire island exudes an aura of neoclassical romance, with elegant Medieval-style buildings that hearken back to a bygone era. And the Venetian mansions lining the streets of Hermoupolis, the capital of the island, are beautiful reminders of a time that was both glamorous and affluent.

Hermoupolis, named after the god Hermes, was once an incredibly prosperous and cosmopolitan city. Though these days are in the past, its rich legacy continues to live on through the city’s neoclassical architecture. Throughout the years, architects from all over Europe convened to build the ancient mansions, marble paved streets, imposing marble square, grandiose churches, and superb monuments that can still be seen today in Hermoupolis.

Travelers can stroll the romantic streets and picturesque neighborhoods to discover images and experiences from the grand history of Syros. From the magnificent Town Hall building, the marble relief panels depicting Apollo and the Nine Muses in Miaouli Square, the Apollo Theater, the mansions in Vaporio, and the assorted beautiful Orthodox and Catholic churches, there is no shortage of architectural marvels for tourists to feast their eyes upon.

In fact, the architecture on this island is so stunning that Eleftherios Venizelos, the former Prime Minister of Greece, once declared that “Greece was reborn in Hermoupolis.”

Discover the breathtaking architecture of Syros for yourself.

in Greek Food

If you like falafel, then you will love our Revithokeftedes

August 11, 2018

You’ve probably heard of falafel, but have you heard of revithokeftedes?

As the name suggests (“keftedes” are Greek meatballs) revithokeftedes are balls that are typically eaten as an appetizer. However, unlike normal keftedes which are made of ground meat, revithokeftedes are made of ground chickpeas.

Revithokeftedes — which are also referred to as chickpea fritters — are the Greek versions of falafels. The chickpea fritters from Greece bear a strong resemblance to the falafels commonly eaten in Middle Eastern countries, as they are both small patties made out of chickpeas.

Despite their similarities, they tend to taste rather different. In Greece, the chickpeas are boiled to make chickpea fritters. But in Middle Eastern countries, the chickpeas are fried to make falafel. Another key difference is that the recipes for the two dishes often call for different kinds and amounts of spices.

Greek chickpea fritters, much like Middle Eastern falafels, make extremely healthy and delicious appetizers. At Nerai, our chickpea fritters are made out of ground chickpeas, red and green bell peppers, onion, parsley, cilantro, cumin, citric acid, and black pepper. They are served on top of hummus, and they are flavored with harissa.

Harissa is a hot chili pepper paste of Tunisian origin, and the harissa at Nerai is made from sweet paprika, chili powder, cumin, lemon, and grape seed oil. Lastly, the chickpea fritters are garnished with a salad made with tomato, cucumber, red onion, lemon, parsley, and extra virgin olive oil.

in Greek Islands

Dive into the rich culture and history of Chios

August 8, 2018

If you are looking for an island escape that is teeming with rich culture and history, then look no further than Chios.

The fifth largest of the Greek islands, Chios is nicknamed the “Mastic Island” as it is famous for its cultivation and production of mastic, an aromatic resin that exudes from the bark of the Pistacia lentiscus tree. In Greece, mastic is known as the “tears of Chios” as it emerges in tear-shaped droplets before drying into small pieces of resin.

The resin is brittle and translucent at first, but it softens and becomes opaque when chewed. Although the flavor is rather bitter at first, it eventually releases a refreshing and pine-like flavor. Mastic is used to make varnish, chewing gum, and flavoring.

Chios is also renowned as the home of the 11th-century monastery Nea Moni, which is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built by Byzantine emperor Constantine IX Monomachos, the monastery is an incredibly popular tourist attraction these days.

Nea Moni is particularly well-known for its mosaics, which experts consider some of the finest examples of Macedonian Renaissance art in Greece. The monastery also contains a macabre collection of human skulls.

Lastly, a trip to Chios wouldn’t be complete without a tour of the largest mastic village called Pyrgi. Pyrgi is also known as the “painted village” because of the unique decorations on the houses. Almost all of the houses are covered in beautiful black and white geometric motifs, giving the village an exceedingly distinctive and whimsical appearance.

And of course, like the other Greek islands, Chios is also home to many magnificent beaches, giving travelers the chance to unwind after immersing themselves in the fascinating culture and history of the island.

in Greek Food

Start your dinner with our aromatic Greek meatballs

July 31, 2018

For those who enjoy spicy and intense flavors, there’s no better way to start your meal than with soutzoukakia — delicious and spicy meatballs served in tomato sauce.

The Greek name for this dish means “spicy little sausages.” Years ago, soutzoukakia was brought to mainland Greece from Greeks who lived in Turkey and adopted Turkish culinary traditions. Nowadays, it is a popular dish in both Greece and Turkey. It typically features aromatic meatballs, called “kofta,” that have been generously spiced and served in a rich tomato sauce.

Koftas are not ordinary meatballs. They are normally oblong or cylindrical in shape, rather than spherical. As a result, they look more like miniature sausages than actual balls of meat. Commonly featured in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines, koftas are made with minced meat — such as beef, chicken, lamb, or pork — and mixed with various spices. The meat is also often combined with rice, vegetables, and eggs to create a smooth consistency.

While koftas figure prominently in many Mediterranean dishes, soutzoukakia is one of the best ways for people to enjoy the complex and rich flavors of these spicy oblong meatballs. In soutzoukakia, the meatballs are served in a tomato ragu made from ripe tomatoes — a sweet, aromatic sauce that elevates the spicy flavors in the meatballs. In the Greek version of this dish, the tomato sauce-drenched meatballs are eaten with flavorful rice.

At Nerai, our soutzoukakia is made from a mouth-watering combination of minced beef and lamb meat, rye bread crumbs, red onions, eggs, parsley, tomato juice, and oregano. The meatballs are cooked for two hours and served with a flavorful tomato ragu made from fresh tomatoes, carrots, onions, celery, and leeks. Our soutzoukakia is served over herbed and spiced rice, along with crumbled manouri cheese and fried dill.

Our Greek meatballs are little bites that are simply bursting with rich and intense flavors. It is the perfect way to whet your appetite and get ready for our larger, but equally tasty, entrees.

in Fundraising

Help GREECE Now

July 25, 2018

The images you see below are from the small town of Mati, a village just 29 kilometers east of Athens. The wildfires have already taken more than eighty lives and many have been hospitalized. It has been described as a biblical disaster. As we try to comprehend this devastation the fire still smolders and the smoke billows. People are in desperate need of our help.

Join us Saturday, August 4th 2018 for dinner as we fundraise for those affected by the wildfires in Greece.

EVERY DOLLAR spent will be donated to the Red Cross for the The Greece Wildfire Campaign.

Reservations required, Reserve your table today!

Not in the city Saturday evening? Click the link below to donate!

https://www.gofundme.com/greecewildfirerelief

in Greek Islands

Enjoy the world-famous beaches and underground lakes of Kefalonia

July 24, 2018

The largest of the Ionian islands in western Greece, Kefalonia (or Cephalonia) is renowned for its exquisite beauty. There is no shortage of incredible things to see and do on this island.

Kefalonia is home to Myrtos Beach, one of the most beautiful and famous beaches in all of Greece. This crescent-shaped beach offers breathtaking views for travelers. Surrounded by towering cliffs covered in lush vegetation, the white sand beach strikes a stunning contrast with the azure waters that crash onto its shores.

Myrtos has been described as one of the most dramatic beaches in Greece and it was even featured in the film “Captain Corelli’s Mandolin.”

Other beautiful beaches on Kefalonia include Xi Beach, a red sand beach surrounded by white clay cliffs. Ai Helis is another beautiful beach on the island. Never too crowded, Ai Helis comes fully stocked with umbrellas and sunbeds for travelers who want to relax and sunbathe. Many of the beaches on Kefalonia are also home to Caretta-caretta sea turtles who lay their eggs in the sand.

For more adventurous travelers, Kefalonia also contains several intriguing caves that are worth exploring. Melissani Cave, for example, contains a stunning underground lake that travelers can explore by boat.

From the outside, the cave is surrounded by dense forest. Once the boat travels through the stalactite-studded cave, a breathtaking sight awaits — an underground lake with sunlight filtering from above that illuminates the bright turquoise color of the water.

Another must-see cave on Kefalonia is Drogarati Cave. In this cave, travelers can explore the enormous passageways and chambers inside the cave, with orange and yellow stalactites hanging from the roof and massive stalagmites emerging from the ground. A rare geological phenomenon, Drogarati Cave is truly a marvel of nature.

Kefalonia has a dazzling variety of other caves, inlets, and hidden beaches that are simply waiting to be explored. Travelers can also visit the fishing villages all over the island to enjoy some delicious Greek food along with the island’s renowned Robola wine made from a local grape varietal.

A laidback island with plenty of natural beauty and rich biodiversity, Kefalonia is the perfect destination for your next holiday.

in Greek Food

Don’t miss our seasonal special: Zucchini Flower

July 20, 2018

If you’ve ever wanted to eat a flower, this is your chance. Next time you come to Nerai, make sure to order our delicious zucchini flowers before they’re gone. The zucchini flowers are being offered as a limited-time special on our seasonal menus.

While some might find it strange to eat flowers, zucchini flowers have a unique flavor that make them ideal for snacking. Unlike other flowers, which tend to have a rather bitter taste, zucchini blossoms have a light and delicate flavor.

With their bright orange color and whimsical appearance, zucchini blossoms are also extremely pleasing to the eye. Therefore, zucchini flowers are often fried and stuffed and served as dishes. As a matter of fact, fried and stuffed zucchini flowers are considered a specialty in Italian and Greek cuisines.

Light and flavor-packed, the zucchini flowers at Nerai are gently fried and stuffed with feta and manouri cheeses. The blossoms are then presented over sumac yogurt and topped with fresh lemon zest. These crunchy and crisp morsels, with their soft and cheesy fillings, are dainty and tasty snacks that are ideal for the hot summer months.

However, zucchini flowers are an extremely seasonal dish since there are only two opportunities to harvest the blossoms — during the spring and again at the end of the summer. Therefore, zucchini flowers will only be available on our menus for a limited time.

Come to Nerai and try our delicious fried and stuffed zucchini flowers. They are perfect as a snack on their own, or as an elegant way to start a chic and sophisticated dinner. Either way, sample this unique delicacy before the summer ends — or else you might need to wait a full year before they’re back in season!

in Greek Islands

Admire the splendor of the first Western civilization in Crete

July 18, 2018

For history buffs, a trip to Crete would be a dream come true. Located on the southern side of the Aegean Sea, Crete is the largest Greek island and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean. It is also home to some of the most impressive ruins and archaeological museums in all of Greece.

Historically, Crete was a melting pot of cultures from all over Europe, Asia, and Africa. Thousands of years ago, Crete was home of the first Western civilization — the Minoans. The remnants of the ancient Minoan civilization remain on the island of Crete today, and tourists can explore the many archaeological sites and museums on Crete to learn more about the fascinating history and culture of the Minoans.

Crete’s most famous historical attraction is the Palace of Knossos. Knossos was the ceremonial and political capital of the Minoans. It has been called Europe’s oldest city. Archaeological evidence suggests that Knossos had been occupied by humans ever since 7000 BC. During the peak of the Minoan civilization, around 1700 BC, the city of Knossos boasted a population of over 100,000 people.

The Palace of Knossos was first excavated in 1878 by a Cretan archaeologist, and later British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans. Evans reconstructed Knossos by adding deep red columns and vibrant frescoes to evoke the antiquity and former grandeur of the palace. Thanks to his reconstructive work, the structure now occupies 20,000 square meters. Tourists can visit the ruins of Knossos and explore the impressive ruins of a once-great city.

Another top attraction in Crete is the Heraklion Archaeological Museum. One of the largest and most important museums in all of Greece, this museum contains many well-preserved remnants from the ancient Minoans. From pottery to jewelry to sarcophagi, the artifacts paint a vivid picture of the splendor and sophistication of the Minoan civilization.

Crete is also home to dozens of other attractions — such as the archaeological site of Phaestos, the Palace of Malia, and the Hania Archaeological Museum — that are sure to delight anyone who has even the slightest interest in learning more about Europe’s first civilization. And with an abundance of gorgeous beaches, impressive mountains and gorges, and hiking paths, there are also plenty of non-historical sights and attractions for tourists who just want to relax by the sea or trek through a canyon.

in Greek Food

Savor the hearty taste of kakavia, or Greek fisherman’s soup

July 12, 2018

Kakavia is a delicious fish soup that is perfect for the summertime. The most ancient of Greek fish soups, kakavia is also known as “Greek fisherman’s soup” because it was usually something that Greek fishermen would quickly throw together right on their boats.

Similar to the French bouillabaisse, kakavia is prepared with a flexible variety of fish. It is a very liberal recipe, with no set rules or ingredients. A fisherman would typically use the smallest fish from his catch of the day — or whatever was left over after he sold the bulk of his catch — to prepare kakavia for himself at the end of a long and tiring day.

As a result, different recipes for kakavia will vary wildly. You can add whatever you want to the soup — small fish like rainbow wrasse and saddled sea-bream, fillets of larger white fish, shrimp, clams, mussels, and so on. People will often visit local fish markets in Greece and buy any of the small fish that were caught by accident in the fisherman’s net at extraordinarily low prices. While the fish are too small to properly eat, they would be able to lend rich flavors to the kakavia broth.

Kakavia is a simple and tasty soup that only consists of three basic components. The base consists of a variety of vegetables, potatoes, and herbs thrown together in a soup. The second component is a whole fish that is poached in the broth, lending its seafood flavors to the stock. And the third component is the medley of assorted small fish and seafood that is added at the end of the cooking process — the actual “meat” of the soup. After all of these different kinds of fish and vegetables are added, all you need is a little seasoning and the kakavia is ready to eat.

Despite its simplicity, kakavia is a hearty fish soup that will give you a real taste of the sea. It also pairs exceptionally well with wines — according to the New York Times, kakavia goes very well with clean-cut and acidic wines that have hints of melon and tropical fruit, such as rieslings.

At Nerai, our kakavia is made with Mediterranean stone bass poached in fish stock and carrot, potato, pearl onion, and potato puree. The dish is flavored with fennel confit in grapeseed oil, coriander seeds, fennel seeds, garlic, and thyme. And the fish broth itself is made with corvina bones, mirepoix, saffron, and black pepper.

Make a reservation at Nerai today to try our delicious kakavia.

in Greek Islands

Uncover the mystery behind the famous shipwreck of Zakynthos

July 10, 2018

Off the western coast of Greece is a stunning island named Zakynthos. The third largest island in the Ionian Sea, Zakynthos was once nicknamed “the flower of the Levant” by the Venetians who ruled the island from 1484 to 1797. And it’s easy to see why — the island is incredibly lush and fertile, and it is home to over 7,000 species of flowers.

Zakynthos boasts an incredibly diverse landscape, from fertile valleys to sandy beaches to rugged cliffs. Its most famous natural feature is Navagio or Shipwreck Beach, which many consider the most iconic beach in Greece. Some travel guides even say that Shipwreck Beach is the most photographed destination in Greece, ahead of the Acropolis and the Parthenon.

Shipwreck Beach, also known as Smuggler’s Cove, features vivid turquoise water surrounded by towering white cliffs, giving the beach a secluded and isolated feel. Nestled deep within the exposed cove are the remnants of an abandoned boat rusting on the soft white sand.

The story behind the famous shipwreck is that the boat, the MV Panayiotis, was a smuggler ship in the 1980s that was carrying illegal contraband — cigarettes, alcohol, and even humans. Rumor has it that the ship was cornered into the cove when it was pursued by the Greek Navy.

The real story, however, might be less thrilling. According to the captain of the ship, Captain Charalambos Kompothekras-Kotsoros, his ship was not carrying any illegal goods. The ship washed ashore in on October 2, 1980 due to poor weather conditions and mechanical failures. Once the ship landed on the beach, thieves stole from his shipment.

After prosecuting the people responsible for stealing his possessions, the captain finally returned to the beach to remove his vessel. However, he was so astounded by the majestic sight of his rusting ship against the dramatic cliffs and bright blue waters that he decided to simply leave it there.

Nowadays, Shipwreck Beach is an immensely popular tourist attraction who flock to the beach by boat to take photos of the decaying shipwreck, splash around in the unreal aquamarine water, and sunbathe on the pristine white sand.

While Shipwreck Cove is the most famous beach on the island, and arguably in all of Greece, Zakynthos contains dozens of other beautiful beaches all along its coast, including Gerakas, Kalamaki, and Laganas. Zakynthos is also home to a marine park where sea turtles lay their eggs in the sand, as well as a number of museums, castles, and historic churches.

We welcome you to experience our impeccable attention to service and genuine hospitality. We look forward to hosting you and your guests soon.

Hours of Operation
	Days	First & Last Seating
Breakfast	Monday - Friday	7:30 AM – 10:00 AM
Lunch	Monday - Friday	11:45 AM – 3:30 PM
Dinner	Monday - Thursday	5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
	Friday & Saturday	5:00 PM – 10:30 PM

Marvel at the beautiful architecture in Syros

If you like falafel, then you will love our Revithokeftedes

Dive into the rich culture and history of Chios

Start your dinner with our aromatic Greek meatballs

Help GREECE Now

Enjoy the world-famous beaches and underground lakes of Kefalonia

Don’t miss our seasonal special: Zucchini Flower

Admire the splendor of the first Western civilization in Crete

Savor the hearty taste of kakavia, or Greek fisherman’s soup

Uncover the mystery behind the famous shipwreck of Zakynthos

Haute Greek Cuisine

Nerai Blog