Mantelena Restaurant

this is the best  restaurant on the island the people are friendly and they gladly welcome you.They have any food that you like one of the dishes i would consider is the pork yiros wich is a spicey pork served with salad and bread.

this restaurant believe me is special not only is the food excellent as are the staff but the freindliness of the whole experience will make you want to return as we have. When we return to Zante Sarah and I will eat there again.

We ate here a few times and found the service great and the food was great it is like a tradtional greek taverna should be. Great place

we ate here many times on our two week stay and found all the dishes we had were very good indeed.

Hi, just wanted to pass comment on Simon's message of 25 August and say that yes Mantelena's is possibly the best 'eatery' in Alikanas but newcomers should try other places to eat as well - we've had some brilliant meals at Mantalena's (obviously) but also at La Caretta, Levantes' and the Alkyonis (especially since the new management took over - it was a bit 'dicey' last year.)

I would certainly say to try everywhere and make your own mind up - if you do not enjoy a meal at a particular place just put it down to experience and ENJOY the rest of your stay. 

We had dinner here about for times, service was fantastic, food was really nice, price was good and there is a nice play area for kids, my son had  lovey home made fresh chicken nuggets.

We've been eating at the Mantalena for twenty five years and it's wonderful how Tassos and the rest of the family have managed to keep the standards so high, the prices so reasonable (don't forget the first glass of ouzo is on the house!), and the service swift and efficient!   It's still the best, so it's not surprising that the competition posts irritanting "greeters" outside the door, pestering you like pimps outside a Soho brothel!  Have you notice how some of the others have ridiculous fake plastic pillars, greeters in silly costumes, and commercial photos of food that certainly never came from their own kitchens!   The Mantalena doesn't need gimmicks like their lesser rivals - it relies on good food, good service and a welcoming, vine covered, genuine Greek atmosphere!   Congratulations, Tassos - keep up the good work and thank you for a quarter century of good eating!

The Mantelena is the best restaurant in Alikanas. There isnt much more you can say.

Fantastic restaurant, everything we ate was excellent.  Not to be missed.

Fantastic restaurant serving authentic Greek food, friendly staff and no "pushers" on the door which speaks for itself! We ate there 4 times and it beats the others hands down. An absolute must

we first found mantelenas 7 years ago and it is still as good as ever. we have worked our way through the menu and every dish is wonderful.just unbeatable.

Zante was by far the best holiday my family and I have experienced.The Mantelena restaurant completed these happy memories.We dined there many times throughout the holiday,and the food was delicious,the best meal we ate.We also had a takeaway,which was very very reasonable.Our takeaway cost around 13 euro and it fed three of us,and even then we had ordered too much!Excellent service and surroundings.Thanks.

Excelent food and service.  The best Olive oil I have ever tasted

Was here on 27th May & had an excellent meal.  To confirm the previous report, the people were friendly & meal was cooked to perfection though afterwards we weren't asked if we enjoyed our meal but that is all by the by & irrelevant.  Loved the Ouzo as well !!

excellent food and service.tassos and his family make everyone very welcome.only thing didnt like was ouzo.this place is a must.

well i can recommend the food in this restaurant it was the bees knees i liked the chicken fillet and the beef stiffado and the fried squid bolgnese need i go on deffo worth try if in alikes

well hello we'd just like to say.....it is the best restaurant in alikanas and alikes, we love the rabbit and will be going in the summer to eat sum more!!! yippee!!! the grape vines in the restaurant are cool too!! aaaah such a nice atmosphere!!!

i ordered roast lamb here and got two greasy fatty chops. the sausage stew was nice though, and the waiters were very elpful and moved us quickly when it looked like rain!

Just returned from Alykanas and ate at Mantelena for 6 of the seven nights { made the mistake of visiting one of the other restaurants midweek !! } I must say that having eaten all over europe this is one of my very favourite restaurants.
The Fishermans Meze starter for 2 { sardines, whitebait, prawns, squid and cod } was excellent, and try the items from the charcoal grill { stuffed chicken, lamb chops, steak and of course Gyros } for a treat. The traditional greek dishes of Beef and Lamb Stifado, and Moussaka were also mouthwatering. A 3 course meal for 2 with a bottle of the best wine on the menu averaged ~35 Euros { brilliant value ! }

Probably the best restaurant in Alykanas....superb food (especially the lamb cutlets and anything else from the grill). Excellent value for money although the service could be a bit indifferent though. However, when in Greece...etc so no complaints! Small play area for the kids too. Excellent for a take away meal too if you fancy a change.

Superb food, service, price & atmosphere, try the Lamb Cutlets - magic !!! & a free ouzo to start your meal.

Simply excellent Greek food. We ate their several nights because it could not be equalled for the quality of the food, all at a reasonable price. Try the Yoris - spicy pork, Fantastic. I'd go back just to eat there!!

We went there on our first night and liked it so much that we had breakfast and dinner there every day of our holiday. Excellent restaurant, superb food and local wine, really friendly staff, beautiful setting.... We just can't praise it enough and highly recommend it to any lover of Greek food.

We enjoyed both the food and the setting below the grape vines, reasonably priced and got free shots at the end of our meal.

just got back yesterday and missing the mantelena already. Had at least four meals there and could not fault on anything we had, loved the pita gyros. The staff where friendly and never stopped for a minute. highly recomend

We visited this taverna on our 1st night in Alykanas and enjoyed the food, atmosphere and prices! A really authentic place and the staff couldn't do enough to help us. We liked the place so much we went back on the final night of our holiday. Fantastic!

mantelana had a great atmosphere and the staff were very friendly. the food was lovely especially the gyros with pita.
it was great for all the family and we will be returning again

Excellent traditional cooking,smart friendly service.We ate here alot,and tried most of the menu and enjoyed ALL of it.Our chidren of 12 and 15 loved the pita souvlaki and it was only 2 euros. Our only regret there was no room for dessert.

Excellent taverna! Good greek food, pleasant staff and not at all expensive.

Let's face it it, Tassos Pylarinos and the rest of his family have set a standard that nobody else in Alikanas, or the rest of Zakinthos, can match. They've tried for over a decade, but not yet managed to reach his standards. The food is genuinely Greek, the speed and efficiency of service matches that of really good restaurants in north west Europe, the dishes are delicious, and, in the middle of all that, there's still time for a free ouzo and a chat! What more could one ask for - oh, yes - it's not expensive!

Probably the most authentic Greek restaurant in the area. Always busy, they also do take-aways.

This is by far the most authentic taverna in Alykanas so much so that one half of the restaurant on our last night was full of locals eating there.
Complementary Ouzo helps and is backed up by an excellent menu with good local wines ( Callinico Verdea pretty good ).
Spicy Pork Yiros and Moussaka superb and the Royla Special desert worth a go.
Owner and staff really friendly, this is a must go to place in the resort.

We loved this restaurant and once we tried it we wouldn't eat anywhere else. The meze for two at 7 euros is wonderful as they cram on dolmades, spinach pie, cheese pie, big beans, pitta, tzatziki, taramasalta, olives, spicy sauasage and a few other things too. My son loved the pita gyros and my little girl (5) had a childs portion of moussaka a couple of times and cleaned her plate! We tried pork in lemon sauce,roast lamb, stifado,moussaka, souvlaki, papoutsakia and really couldn't pick a favourite as they were all beautiful. You really have to try this restaurant or you won't know what you've missed!

Excellent is an understatement. There is some good food on offer in Alykanas, however this restaurant really stands out. We ate there five times in one week. Two people can eat and drink excessively for 25 to 40 euros.

We tried here early on in the holiday and were a little disappointed with the main meals - we had roast chicken, which was OK, but the sliced roast pork on pitta bread was very disappointing. However the starters were excellent, and this prompted us to go back and try a second time. Well, what a difference ! It was the night of the power cut, and the place appeared to be the only one with any light. we chose the same starters as the first night, and once again were not disappointed, but the main meal of pork in lemon sauce was out of this world !! You really must try this dish. Good wine and a nice little touch with the ouzo apperitif, and very reasonably priced too !!

We ate here twice during our recent holiday. The service was very friendly and very quick. Couldn't fault the food it was tasty, hot and very plentiful. The menu included some Greek dishes that I had not heard of before but had a good description of what they were which was very useful.I can thoroughly recommend the beef stifatho which I had on both visits as it was SO good. You get a free glass of ouzo to drink whilst you are choosing from the menu. The atmosphere was great and you have a choice of sitting inside, on the verandah area or under the grapevine (if the grapes are ripe you can have them as a desert).

Ate here most nights.Authentic Greek food served, unlike the pizza and burger fare served elsewhere.Recommend their beef stiffado and Greek salads. Their takeaway food area does excellent giros,kebabs etc.Manager and staff friendly and efficient.

Excellent, ate here twice in a week. Feels very authentic, which is quite rare in alykanes! Staff were lovely, especially Nikos, who gave us free wine!

Glass of free Ouzo to start with, big amounts of food, great quality

All that needs to be said is that a lot of locals eat here , very well run and very good prices. Take aways as well!

Fantastic Taverna best in the resort. We ate here lots of times and the food was always superb. The owner was very friendly and he was so impressed with our 5 year old son speaking little bits of Greek he gave him free ice-creams, which as you can imagine my son thought was wonderful. This was our favourite taverna very Greek and not at all pushy like most of the other ones.

Great restaurant, food excellent, kids play area a bonus. Loved sitting under the vine leaves.

Must recommend a Pork Yiros as it is the best one i have ever tried in there. One of the best traditional greek resturants in Alykanas!!!

This is one of the best restaurants in Alykanas, wide range of excellent greek food, great friendly service and the location is ideal. We actually rented an appartment through the owner (Aug 03 after we had one disastrous night in Laganas, he has a superb villa (Santa Monica)very near the beach which he rents rooms out for a very reasonable price. You could save a fortune in holiday costs if you phone him direct, we worked out we would have saved over £500 if we had organised the holiday ourselves. If we ever went back we would definitely stay here again!

Great restaurant and probably the best ambience of all the ones we visited.

Went here twice and found the food great.The locals were calling here buy the Kababs. recommneded

With so many to choose from, it is a recommendation that we returned to the Mantelana. The food is good a reasonably priced with a pleasant atmosphere that you do not fell rushed in. The ouzo aperatif might have helped.

Very friendly and efficient staff. Good choice of food in a very pretty setting. Nice kebabs to take away at a very good price.

been to Alikanas 9 times and never eaten there til this year because of no child menu. Can now recommend it

Most extensive menu of all the places that we ate in .The food was very good and was as we remembered .Very child friendly .

Thanx ruth!!!!!!!

sorry forgot to add the food service and price comment right

in my opinion the mantelena and the apollo are the best restaurants in alykanas.i had the mousakka-very nice. waiters and waiteresses very friendly but dont speak good english.apollo-very good meals. service speak very good englishand very friendly. TO RACHEL PAGE----that waiters name in the mantelena is michael.speaks a bit like a girl and very good english

Hello! I have just got back from alykanas with my family, been a week, not enough tho!!
And we thought Mantelena was a great restaurant, lovely food and really friendly faces. Especially the youngish waiter with quite spiky hair,quite short (speaks good english) dont know his name, if anyone has been there a few times and knows his name, please let me know as we r hopefully going back in summer. Thanx xx

As always, Tassos is innovative! the colzone pizza is bread dough, stuffed with cheese and herbs, and deep-fried. it is a starter called psomitiri, and is a speciality of Patras on the mainland.

Free ouzo arrives with the menu (which my wife doesn't like so 2 for me).
Everything we had was superb, especially the Fisherman's Meze and a huge cheese pastie thing - I can't remember the name, but I was a bit like a calzone pizza.
Very large portions, but I was so good we mangaged to eat it all, including helping the kids with theirs.

Wow

Stifado, briam and local wine were fantastic. Friendly family run restaurant.

I've been visiting this taverna for the last 11 years and never once have I had a bad meal. The service has been second to none. My family and I really look forward to eating in the Mantalena, it's such a friendly atomsphere and theres also a childrens playground. Keep up the good work Tassos!!

My wife and I shared a Fisherman's Meze and it wasn't the least bit greasy - it was delicious! The cover charge isn't exorbitant when you consider the ouzo, the bread, the butter and the standard of service. We had about eight meals at the Mantalena last fortnight and there were no disappointments. At least Tassos doesn't have to stand outside soliciting custom!

We had a great meal here, with my wife saying it was one of her best meals. I actually had the moussaka and it was the best one I had all holiday. I guess the restrnt would'nt have lasted over 15 years if it was poor!

The Fishermans Meze was greasy. The Moussaka was bland tasting and the cover charge of E1.3 per head excessive as you appear to be paying for the complimentary ouzo. If the Greeks ditched their cover charge they'd probably get a better tip!

Well worth a visit. We went there on anumber of occasions always to find the food good, staff pleasant and helpful. Would recommend it for the average night out.

We found the food at the Matelana good and ate there on a number of occasions. We had: roast lamb, yros, spit chicken, chicken fillet and the mese starter (can't remember the rest)and it was all extremely tasty.

we went twice service not that friendly in there food was good and children can have any meal half price my husband liked the spicy spit pork.We also liked the spit chicken.

is there a kareoke if not plz tell me where there is one cheers

Very good - lovely mixed meze and spicy spit roasted pork. Service a tiny bit slow, but a good atmosphere and clean. Less on the menu than some restaurants, but good quality instead.

Kathy,thanks for the info re the high chairs-it sounds as if we would be safer bringing one with us.We have requested one at our apt.but the travel agent said it was not definite that we would get it.Would be interested to know what trips you would recommend would be suitable for us with a 20month and a 6 year old? Thanks.

HAVING BEEN TO ALYKANAS FOR THE PAST 6 YEARS (OUR CHILDREN ARE NOW 7 AND 3) WE HAVE NEEDED A HIGHCHAIR ALMOST EVERY YEAR!! FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS WE HAVE TAKEN OUR OWN HIGHCHAIR AS THE RESTAURANTS THAT SUPPLIED THEM WERE VERY RARE! LAST YEAR WE DID NOTICE THAT MORE RESTAURANTS DID NOW HAVE 1 OR MAYBE 2 HIGHCHAIRS WHICH IS NO GOOD IF THERE ARE ALREADY 2 OTHER TODDLERS EATING THERE!! "THE GREEDY GREEK" RESTAURANT IS THE ONLY RESTAURANT WITH PLENTY OF HIGHCHAIRS BUT YOU CANT EAT IN THERE EVERY NIGHT!! IF YOU WANT ANY OTHER ADVICE RE ALYKANAS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME: khollyhead@onetel.net.uk

We are going to Alykanas for the first time at the end of May 2002-we will have a 20month old girl with us and would like to know if restaurants generally have high chairs?Have been to Greece many times before but had no need of high chairs before-high stools yes!Hope someone can help.Thanks.

Brill woncerful atmosphere lovely greek food1

A super place to eat the best food on the island. The staff are super friendly and the taverna is lovley.

I can't say enough about this Taverna. We end up returning there time and time again. Everything about the restaurant is spot on. Great atmosphere combined with great food and wine makes for a great night out.

Really terrific restaurant - the best I've found in over twenty years of going to Greek islands!