Eating out in Greece is a way of life for the local Corfiot people and they spend a lot of time socializing either outside their homes or in local tavernas / restaurants sharing a meal with friends and family.
You will find that Greek Tavernas or Resturants are very simple and straight forward offering a selection of classic Greek or international & Greek food.
Eating out in Corfu as in many other holiday destinations is totally different to eating out in the UK, so don’t expect to arrive at a taverna / restaurant be seated, food ordered all within half an hour as this just won’t happen because the Greeks don’t do the McDonalds style of serving food!!!
All I can say is when eating out in Corfu be prepared for a little wait, relax and enjoy the atmosphere of the restaurant / taverna and the company you are with and rest assured that you’re not going to be kicked off the table to make room for the next person.
A good and fun way of passing time is to “people watch” to see if you can spot a James Bond look alike or a top model or a TV star etc etc you will be surprised who you’ll spot!!
Children are always more than welcome at the Resturants / Tavernas day or night even if they run riot all over the place, some tavernas even have facilities for children like in the Rose Garden in Moratika they have a small park to the side of the restaurant with swings, slider, see-saw and a round a bout and its safe and contained away from any roads, Also you will notice there are a lot of cats on the Island, and you will find that they do tend to wander around the tables looking for scraps of food, I know it sound harsh but I will say please don’t feed them in the Resturants / Tavernas, I know they are cute but please don’t, If you feel you have to give them a little something then please do it outside or away from the restaurant / Taverna, Some of the Cats are quite wild and desperate and if they catch you with there claw as your dangling a morsel of food in front of them you will need to visit the doctors for a tetanus jab!
Breakfast in Corfu you will find it basic and normally consists of juice, toast, butter, honey or jam and tea or coffee
and will also offer a full cooked breakfast at an extra charge, the same would apply if you were self catering you will be able to find a taverna offering cooked breakfast etc.
A good way or the traditional way to start your meal is with a selection of “Mezes” and Mezes” roughly translates from Greek to English as “appetizers” but in this translation it dose not do it justice to the fundamental role “Mezes” plays in Greek Tradition.
Mezes are served on small plates and placed in the centre of the table so all the family or people in your party can share and enjoy olives, calamari (fried squid) dolmades (Stuffed vine leaves) Tzatziki (yoghurt & cucumber dip) Taramosalata (fish roe dip) Meat balls, Saganaki (fried cheese) Feta cheese, Pickled vegetables, Melitzanosalata (eggplant salad).
You will find that most of the Greek appetizers are slightly salty to the taste and at times are accompanied with the odd ouzo or two.
Appetizers should be eaten slowly, they are very tasty and the sole purpose of appetizers is to make the drinking easier. (So say)
Mezes means to share, enjoy, and live life to the fullest!!
Lunch time is very good for trying a selection of mezes and is more than sufficient as a full meal!!
One thing you will find is that in most Greek tavernas or resturants there is a limited dessert menu which normally consists of fresh fruit, yoghurt & honey at times with walnuts, Ice cream and if you’re really lucky you might find some traditional Greek desserts like “Baklava or Gadaifi” these are very very rich and served dosed with lots of honey or syrup, to many of these will have you pilling on the pounds!!
Greek tavernas / resturants range for the very basic small intimate places by the sea, so you can eat your meal with the waves lapping the shore or to the really large establishments with very large menu’s but one thing you can be sure of when eating out in Corfu that the food is very good, fresh home cooked food.
Some tavernas specialise in fresh fish & lobster where you pick the fish or lobster you want from chillier cabinets or fridges others specialise in Casserole dishes and lastly grill rooms that specialise in grilled meat dishes.
If you’re a vegetarian you may find that the main courses are a bit limited, but more then enough on the starter / mezes menu to satisfy or if you prefer meat & fish you can be sure that the Greek menu will cover every type of eating habit.
Another thing you will find is that a lot of tavernas / resturants will also have entertainment in the form on live music or at times Greek dancing or Greek party nights as some people like to call it, these are great fun, with plate smashing, traditional Greek dancers and you will be dragged up to join in, I hear you saying I’m not doing that, I tell you now it is Great Fun for all the family!!!!!!

Listed below is an average cost per dish, also lobster, shell fish and local fish is sold by the kilo.
A bottle of house wine costs around 7-9 euros and a glass of house wine costs around 3.5 euros.

Humous                               2,50 - 3,00 euros
Taramosalata                       2,50 - 3.00 euros
Tzatziki                               2,50 - 3.00 euros
Beans in tomato sauce         3,50 - 4.00 euros
Calamari (squid)                   5,00 - 6.00 euros
Village sausage                   5,00 - 6.00 euros
Greek Salad                        4,50 - 5.00 euros
Moussaka                           6,00 - 7.00 euros
Sofrito (Veal stew)              10,00 - 10.50 euros   
Pastitsada (Beef and pasta)  8,00 - 9.00 euros
Chicken Souvlaki                 6,50 - 7.50 euros
Ice cream                           3,00 - 4.00 euros
Baklava                              3,00 - 4.00 euros
Yoghurt & Honey                 3.00 - 4.00 euros

I think Zorba the Greek sums up the essence of Mezes the best:-

” On this coast I felt for the first time what a pleasant thing it could be to have a meal.
We started eating and drinking, the conversation became animated.
I at last realized that eating was a spiritual function and that meat, bread and wine were the raw materials from which the soul is made”