ALONNISOS-BLOG.PONDERCENTRAL.COM: The Ostria Café and Estiatorio in Patitiri

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The Ostria Café and Estiatorio in Patitiri

The restaurant we visit most often in Patitiri is called the Ostria Café, and it is operated by Eleni Anagnostou-Cupcea and her husband Victor. Her mother, Maria, also plays a big role in running the business. We originally met Eleni in 2000 when we spent the entire summer in Alonnisos so that I could work on my first book, and over the years she has become a dear friend to us.

Based on the number of tables, the Ostria Café is one of the largest restaurants in Patitiri, but just because it can serve so many people at once doesn’t in any way mean that you won’t get high quality meals. On the contrary, all dishes are cooked to order and are, in our experience, always very delicious. In addition, since Eleni has worked in this restaurant since she was a young girl, she knows how to run it very efficiently, and works very hard to make sure that high levels of customer service and food quality are always maintained. Victor is the head waiter and there’s none better on the island. When we first met him a few years ago we were very impressed with his command of multiple languages, including his native Russian, Greek, English (very fluent), some Italian & German, and perhaps even more as I write this! (The picture above of the four of us was taken in the summer of 2007.)

The Menu

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the Ostria Café has an expansive menu, so large in fact that I’m amazed Eleni can make so many different types of food available on a daily basis! Breakfast meals include ham and egg dishes, a wide assortment of omelets, juices, and more. The lunch and dinner menus include hot and cold appetizers, numerous salads, and pizzas as well.

As for the entrees, it is in this area that Eleni’s fantastic cooking skills are most apparent. Her oven-baked dishes, including some lamb and chicken entrees, are simply wonderful. She also prepares traditional Greek dishes such as Moussakas and Pastitio if you have a preference for those. In addition, once dinner is over there are various dessert options, and the Ostria Café also has a wide selection of aperitifs, coffee and tea as well.

Atmosphere

The Ostria Café (pictured to your right) is located right on the waterfront in Patitiri very near to where most of the hydrofoils and day-boats arrive, so it is very centrally located and offers a great view of the harbor. It is also a Wireless Access Point if you are traveling with a laptop and need Internet access. The location also makes this restaurant an excellent place to sit and people watch. At night the opportunities to do just that grow exponentially as numerous tourists typically flood the area looking for a place to eat.

In 2007 we celebrated my 51st birthday at the Ostria Café and had an excellent meal, a delicious birthday cake, and plenty of fun as well. Assuming you take our advice and visit this brilliant estiatorio, please do ask for Eleni and let her know that Jeff & Andrea from Chicago sent you! Whether you do that or not, I’m certain you’ll be glad you stopped to eat there, and I have no doubt you’ll want to return for more of Eleni’s superb cooking and the entire family's sincere hospitality.

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