Taverna Cretekou

The restaurant interior took me back to Mykonos summer 2023☺ the food was amazing especially the salad and lamb chops. Also the Olive oil for pita & bread was soooooo good. The staff were so nice & courtesy. 5 stars ⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐

What we ordered: Moussaka, Saganaki me Garides, Glossa Aegeou, Kotopoulo lemonato

Opa! What an incredible restaurant with crazy delicious food. I absolutely love Moussaka and I nearly devoured the food in one gulp. The shrimp with cheese was heavenly and I could eat that all day long if I could. The kabob was so tender and spiced perfectly. The flounder was moist and made for a light but filling meal if you don't want meat weighing you down. We had a couple glasses of the Greek White wine which was actually pretty dang good for not being any particular brand.

The wait staff was awesome. They were very courteous and very prompt to take care of all the customers. They greet you with smiles and even laughed at my lame jokes. The owner herself is a wonderful person. We had the pleasure of chatting with her briefly as I had asked about the dancing I remember they had. But unfortunately they stopped the dancing shows during covid and never brought them back. Another thing Covid ruined...grrrr. But she was very lovely and very much on the ball making sure all the tables were cleared off, ensuring all the customers drinks were topped off, and offered great suggestions to first timers to the restaurant. She was warm and friendly and absolutely gave the Mom vibe taking care of everyone.

I look forward to visiting again soon especially when it gets warmer and they open up their backyard patio.

Stopped in for lunch after the Old Town Farmers' Market with our pittie & they quickly found a shaded table in the lovely back patio to keep the pup cool while we dined. The owner asked if he'd like a treat & brought a bone, severs refilled his water bowl with ice water, and he lapped up the attention.

Our lunch was delicious - appetizer of grilled baby octopus to share, accompanied by fresh bread & delicious herbaceous olive oil for dipping, followed by Greek country salad, gyro, grilled salmon salad with a citrus vinaigrette, and a grilled vegetables platter.

My only complaint was the meager selection of wines by the glass - sadly, they tasted like Aldi specials rather than a nice house selection. A few more refined choices (dry Provençal-style rosé, a dry chardonnay, & maybe a Vermentino or Albariño) would better accent the fresh fish & seafood offerings.

Service was stellar - our waiter was attentive without being intrusive, water was promptly refilled without needing to ask (even for our pup), and best of all - NO dishes were removed from the table until ALL diners had finished their courses - a sign of true fine dining & sadly rarely found today. Despite a busy, sunny, Memorial Day weekend Saturday afternoon on their magical back garden, we were never rushed and enjoyed a leisurely luncheon.

It is easy to understand why Taverna Cretekou has been an Old Town favorite for so many decades. (I first discovered this Greek delight in the mid-90s.) As any true Greek knows, the owners take great pride in their business and are ever-present and involved. They have hired only the most pleasant and customer-focused staff, and have taken the time to properly train & support them - from hosts to waiters to busboys. The food is fresh & delicious, and the secret & expansive L-shaped, off-street, secluded back garden is a delight. Besides covered patio seating - making dining in the rain magical - there is lush landscaping with Greek isle touches of floral-filled amphora & blues & whites to delight the eyes.

Taverna Cretekou succeeds with a combination of delectable authentic Greek dishes, attentive & friendly service, and a lovely ambiance & setting - for both indoors & alfresco dining.

Great food. Great and friendly service. I had the spinach, feta, and pine nut stuffed flounder with light cream, white wine, and lemon sauce. It was well balanced and perfectly cooked. Even the vegetables (broccoli and carrots) were perfectly cooked and seasoned. Finished with Mythos beer...a bright lager with a clean finish. I will definitely return.

The interior of the restaurant is gorgeous, the tables are a little close together as is to be expected in city restaurants, but once we were sitting down it didn't feel like the other tables were right on top of us. The platter options meant we were able to get a few bites of several classic dishes without breaking the bank and ordering multiple appetizers. The portions were significant, the food was delicious, and the price was affordable. You could definitely spend a lot of money here (and it would be worth it!) But if you choose carefully on the menu, you can have a wonderful and unique meal without breaking the bank.

Having been fortunate enough to visit Greece multiple times and take cooking classes - my husband and I love finding new Greek restaurants and this by far blew our expectations away! Wow. We eat here multiple times on trips to DC and the staff is incredibly attentive and friendly and wonderful. If you love authenticity and a romantic environment… come on with your come on - do not miss out on this amazing restaurant. You’re all welcome in advance. And the Mediterranean diet is one of the best ones!! Love love love and we will always come back here !!!

The food was amazing, and the staff really took an interest in serving us and made some amazing suggestions. I notice the staff was very interactive with most customers. It was like real service back in Greece where they enjoy making great suggestions, and it was appreciated.

Best Greek food I've ever had in the US. Fresh and incredible. They have a huge range of authentic dishes and all 5 of us tried something different and all were fantastic. My only regret is that i didnt leave enough room for dessert. The sampler dinner was amazing and so filling... we loved it. The decor is great and the staff is friendly and attentive. We loved it! Looking forward to our next visit!

Haven’t had Greek food this good since we were in Greece. Actually a few things were better than Greece, tbh. Lovely patio, classy but laid back vibe. Has that family owned, cared for touch.

As a Greek, I could not recommend this spot enough. Incredible food, incredible atmosphere, and great staff!! Their patio is fantastic as well.

Authentic Greek food from a family owned restaurant that takes pride in presentation, atmosphere and their dishes. That is the best and only way to describe Taverna Cretekou. The whole experience was beautiful. They have an outdoor seating area which is an oasis in the back of the restaurant. If the weather is nice please take the opportunity and request to be seated in the back garden. The atmosphere makes you quickly forget that King St. is on the other side of the restaurant. The Staff are warm, professional and attentive. When ordering food, take the time to look over the menu because they have so many delicious appetizers, soups, salads and entrees that you don't want to overlook a dish you really might want to try. Once you feel that you have decided, ask your server about the dish but also ask for their recommendations. I found this to be really helpful and went with the recommendation. The food is delicious and so is the wine. The portions are perfect size and have such good flavor. Every bite makes you look forward to the next. So if you are looking to go on a date or reserve a large party this place will ensure you will leave with some special memories while enjoying a little piece of Greece.

Fantastic restaurant in the heart of Old Town Alexandria. The staff is friendly, and provides an experience that makes you feel at home. The food is great, and stays true to traditional Greek cuisine. 5 stars, definitely recommend!

I've been here twice now, and I will continue to go back. I would preface I've been both times right after opening for lunch, so there was no wait and at one time we were the only table there.
I would love to dine here for dinner, it is absolutely beautiful inside, and when it's warmer I would love to be on the outside terrace (you only get a glimpse of it from the inside).
Everything I've eaten here has been fresh and delicious, and I will continue to bring people from out of town for a dining experience here.

My boyfriend and I went to dinner at Taverna Cretekou last week and we are STILL talking about how good it was.

The atmosphere is amazing. Very well thought out, romantic, relaxing and just overall fun. The indoors feels like you are in a true Greek cave, but we sat outdoors in the garden. In the Garden they have unique lights and have strung 'twinkle' lights through the branches of the trees. the tables were well spaced out too.

The service was beyond lovely. Everyone working there was kind, thoughtful and just seemed like they truly cared about us having the best time we could.

THE FOOD WAS INCREDIBLE. We enjoyed every last bite of EVERYTHING we ordered. The portion sizes were perfect - we felt full by the end, but not over-full.

We got the OUZERI MEZEDES for an appetizers which came with Tarama, Tzatziki, Fava, and Dolmades served on sliced cucumbers. It also came with chilled Ouzo.

For our mains, we enjoyed a classic Greek salad (with chicken added) (ELLINIKI SALATA), and the PASTITSIO (Baked Ground Sirloin and Ziti Pasta. Topped with Parmesan Cheese and Bechamel Sauce.) They were both amazing.

We also got the Baklava but accidentally ate the entire plate before snapping a photo.

Overall, 11/10 we cannot wait to come back!!!!

The ambiance is very beautiful and chic, creating a fun, open and cozy environment. I tried the eggplant mezza and it was smooth and delicious! A perfect place to come for a Greek Meal and good hospitality.

It's so nice to have lunch in the garden or sitting on the porch in the shade, Greek music playing in the background. The all-you-can-eat buffet is no longer available, but the menu has a large selection Greek favorites. My Souvlaki Kotopoulo ($16.95) was loaded with large chunks of chicken breast, tomatoes and onions with tzatziki and salad greens on the side. A lovely, relaxed lunch with excellent food and service.

This was without a doubt the best Greek food I've ever had. Maybe best restaurant of any kind. I started with their thick red gazpacho which was wonderful. Absolutely amazing. Then a simple Greek salad and then a gyro. Simple but beautiful and delicious. Great service and atmosphere. Loved it. 5 stars.

It has the best Greek dishes we fell in love with when visiting Athens and Santorini twice! Our waiter "Louis" was excellent and all of his selections greet! My favorite was the grilled baby octopus 🐙 and my wife was the veggie entra. We will be revisting when the garden is refreshed in the late spring!

I had a very lovely time dining with friends. The menu offers not just Greek but Turkish and other dishes throughout the mediterranean. Very authentic food made with love.

Charming, delicious, and authentic. Had my wife's birthday meal here, and we had an excellent time. The array of Greek dishes here is excellent, all with their own flare. We had the lamb and salmon specials, which came out excellent. The menu is full of great warm and cold mezes, along with great entrees. The service is friendly, attentive, and helpful. The back patio area is extremely enjoyable for outside dining, staying cool in heat and dry in rain. We had a great time, with some great wine, and finished with the rice pudding which was amazing. Absolutely recommend!