My Saganaki Quest Through Crete
Follow my ongoing search through the tavernas and restaurants of beautiful Crete as I rate their Saganaki dishes on a scale of 1-10. From vibrant nights in Malia to the charming villages of Koutouloufari, join me on my mission to find that perfect golden, crispy cheese that matches those memorable experiences from years past!
⭐ Only featuring restaurants I absolutely love and regularly return to - even a 5/10 represents a place I'd recommend without hesitation. All restaurants here are at least 9/10 overall quality!
⚖️ What Makes a Perfect Saganaki?
✅ What Scores High
- Traditional preparation - Just perfect cheese, fried to golden perfection
- Crispy skin - Natural crispiness from frying the cheese itself
- Quality cheese - The right type of cheese that melts beautifully
- Simple perfection - No unnecessary additions, just done right
❌ What Loses Points
- Filo pastry or breadcrumb coating - Takes away from the pure cheese experience
- Seed coatings - Sesame seeds, chia seeds, etc. are unnecessary
- Wrong cheese types - Feta doesn't quite work for this dish
- Over-complication - Fancy additions that mask the cheese
🔍 My Quest: I'm searching for that perfect traditional Saganaki that matches the memorable ones from decades past. As you'll see from the scores, none have reached the 9+ range yet - this isn't about showcasing the best, but finding it!