Reading online a lot of sources suggest that Metaxi Mas is the best restaurant in Santorini. It isn't the most luxurious or having ocean views, but it is the combination of being inland and harder to get to, popular with locals and Greek tourists, a stunning view over the island and also excellent and not too expensive food.
Usually you would have to book well in advance, particular for July where 1 week is not unheard of. Luckily I booked on the same day due to only 10% tourists coming in this season. It is also quite close to the lovely Open Air Cinema Kamari and so dinner before the movie is a very good (date) night. We did rush the meal a little reading reviews that you had to queue at the cinema for 1h before opening on weekends (which again right now is completely unnecessary). Otherwise it would have been a very pleasant place to sit, shoot the gentle breeze and enjoy the view.
Staff very friendly and have their own inverted faceshield type masks. Different. Unfortunately they didn't have any lamb and Greek lamb is one of the things I would have cherished from a quality restaurant like this. Oh well, can't win them all.
A quality intro of olive oil, olives, mild cheese and bread started things off.
- Santorini baked white aubergines (in tomato sauce, feta, fresh basil) €9.5 - simple and delicious. The top sections were grilled and all edible except the stalk;
- Grilled pleurotus mushrooms (with balsamic vinaigrette, garlic) - very juicy oyster mushrooms;
- Spicy fried pork (sauteed pork morsels finished with wine, peppers, onion, garlic, Santorini cherry tomatoes, feta, boukovo red pepper flakes) €11.5 - pork very tender and full of taste, with a slightly sweet sauce with sumac.
A complimentary slice of sweetness finished us off. How thoughtful.
Even though the cinema is nearby, if I ever go back I would probably go on a different evening in order to enjoy the sunset. Or go in winter when the sun sets earlier...