Authentic Cretan Hospitality

Since 1998, we’ve been honoring tradition and good company.

Welcome to Merastri

Since 1998, we’ve been honoring Cretan tradition and good company.

Discover our flavors

A journey of flavors, rooted in Cretan cuisine

With pure ingredients from our own estate and our traditional wood-fired oven burning continuously, we create recipes that blend tradition with contemporary gastronomy.
Here, time stands still and every flavor carries the unique aroma of wood.

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Fresh, authentic flavors
Starters
Apaki

Grilled smoked pork fillet with Graviera shavings, pomegranate, arugula, and grape molasses.

Cretan sausage

Artisanal sausage from local Cretan producers, made with whole cuts of meat and a delicate vinegar note.
Accompanied by caramelized onions and dried or fresh fig pieces.

Traditional Dakos salad

A true Cretan classic! Barley rusk topped with finely chopped tomato, feta cheese, olives, extra virgin olive oil, oregano, and capers.

Cretan wild greens pies

A traditional Cretan recipe — the dough is freshly prepared upon order. Filled with wild greens sautéed in extra virgin olive oil.

Signature dishes
Mains
Traditional wood-fired lamb
(ofto style)

Our signature dish. Milk-fed lamb, slow-cooked in our oven for 2.5–3 hours to perfection.

Grilled pork tenderloin
with staka

Tender pork tenderloin fillets, grilled to perfection.
Accompanied by Cretan staka butter and wood-fired potatoes.

Goat with stamnagathi
or askolymbrous

Succulent goat, beautifully paired with premium Cretan wild greens.
Finished with a delicate avgolemono sauce served seasonally, depending on availability.

Slow-cooked goat in
rich tomato sauce

Slow-cooked goat in a rich tomato sauce with fresh tomato, onion, and bay leaf.
Served with crispy fries or pasta.

Dessert Delights
Sweet course
Sweet mizithra cheese pies

Traditional pies filled with sweet mizithra cheese, lightly fried in olive oil and served with honey and cinnamon.

Traditional sarikopites

Traditional spiral-shaped pies (“sariki”), filled with tangy mizithra cheese and gently fried in olive oil.
Served with honey and walnuts.

Warm, freshly baked galaktoboureko

Made to order and slow-baked (approx. 40 minutes), using fresh goat and sheep milk and delicate handmade phyllo. Finished tableside with chilled syrup.

Γαλόρυζο

A unique rice pudding with sweet pumpkin and a delicate pumpkin sauce — nostalgic flavors inspired by traditional home cooking.

Explore our Menu
Merastri
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Quality & Harmony
Our culinary philosophy

At Merastri, we are inspired by Cretan cuisine and guided by a philosophy of simplicity.
We carefully select pure, seasonal ingredients—many of which are sourced from our own estate—to create dishes that elegantly balance tradition with modern culinary touches.
Every flavor is designed to showcase the true quality of each ingredient.

Our Estate

Friends of Merastri

What our guests say about Merastri

This place is truly wonderful! Honestly, it was one of the best meals we had during our two weeks in Crete. Exceptional food at very reasonable prices, incredibly friendly service, and a beautiful setting and atmosphere. We highly recommend it!
Matt Smith
This restaurant offers incredible food. The quality and service are truly top-notch. I highly recommend it to anyone who appreciates great food and genuine hospitality. Wonderful staff. Thank you for an amazing experience.
Viva S.
Outstanding food at fair prices. One of the finest Greek restaurants I’ve experienced in Crete.
Adem Mecit
A beautiful setting, exceptionally friendly staff, and top-quality, fresh food. Highly recommended: the snails, saganaki, “Stavlisia” pork chop, and the salad. Excellent value for money, with a genuinely local feel — a favorite among locals rather than tourists.
Aleksandar Mladenovic
The finest dining experience we had in over two weeks in Greece. A beautiful setting, warm and gracious service, and, above all, truly exceptional, carefully crafted cuisine. I’ve found myself thinking about this meal again and again since enjoying it last week.
Chloé
Our visit was part of a professional event, so we can’t comment on pricing, but the dishes were outstanding. It felt like a genuinely authentic experience, shaped by people who grew up on the island. Highly recommended.
Minh Nguyen
Our favorite choice for a farewell dinner before departure. The lamb, in all its variations, is a true must-try. Fresh salads and delightful desserts complete the experience. For authentic Cretan cuisine in a beautiful setting, this is the ideal destination in Heraklion.
Konstantinos Kalogerakis
If I had a Greek grandmother, this is exactly how she would cook. It’s not just delicious — it’s food that makes you feel good from within. You can truly taste the love the chef puts into every dish. The staff are exceptionally kind and attentive. Definitely one of my top 10 restaurants.
Eugenia Ricardez
A wonderful atmosphere for a perfect summer evening. The food was outstanding, and we truly enjoyed the hospitality. We will definitely be back!
Papagrigoriou Christos
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We look forward to welcoming
Merastri

Flavors built on quality, in a setting that exudes warmth and understated elegance.
At Merastri, we create moments to be shared — gathered around the table.

Our location
Merastri
Merastri (1)
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Chrysostomou 17, Heraklion, Crete
281 022 1910
merastri@hotmail.com
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