One place worth venturing out to Ios for? Then it’s definitely Drakos taverna set idyllically right next to the water of Mylopotas beach, serving seafood and fish delicacies throughout all summer.
It’s a scorching August summer day and we’re off to visit Ios for a day trip. The itinerary is loosely defined but we know for sure we’re going to be having lunch at Drakos taverna – right by the beach.
We visit for a dry-run a couple of hours before lunchtime to reserve the fresh fish. Today’s catch is seabream, along with sea urchin right off the water! Whilst we wait for Ms Chrysa, George Drakos’ high spirited wife, we order a tomato salad with capers along with a few shots of tsipouro on ice.
The place is still quiet, fishermen are tending to the octopus that has also arrived fresh from the fishmonger and we dive straight into small talk with the owners. It’s refreshing to visit these hidden gems of the Cyclades and really delve into their everyday life.
When we come back for lunch, the table is set right by the water and the place is starting to liven up. Thankfully, we enjoy good service from the family-run crew that is tending to every single request we have. The starters include plain and simple marinated anchovies, a tasty potato salad, steamed mussels drizzled with ouzo and some fresh lightly boiled almyra seaweed.
In between the summer chit chat and the little bottles of tsipouro, we take note of the young travelers that flock Ios this time of the season. It’s comforting to see they have some taste and not go only full out at the beach clubs. Later on, our main courses arrive and Ms Chrysa presents to us two finely-grilled seabream and a juicy spaghetti dolloped with a handful of sea urchin – yum!
If this is not called Greek summer, then what is?
