Emporios may be the delicious tavern that is still in the delicious decade of the 70s, I would say…
I ate food made by master hands, made with love, classically Greek, traditional…
Yes, I really felt like I was at home here…
The arrival
And after twenty-four hours, you finally arrive at the heroic island of Kassos — naturally, with the classic Prevelis ferry.
You disembark and dive straight into the crystal-clear waters of Emporios!
Of course, you’ll eat at Kiki’s, where she and Aspras prepare Kasian cuisine worthy of many, many awards!It’s not just that the food is excellent — it’s that you’re among smiling people who have hospitality running in their veins.
When the cook treats you to his saved portion of the day’s lunch, that’s when you know you’ve been caught in the nets of Kasian hospitality, surrendered to the embrace of the kindest smile in the Aegean, the gentlest soul of Kasos.
Even from the very moment the Prevelis dropped me off at the pier, I felt that the people here were different — warm, open-hearted, and genuinely joyful.
The duo of success
Yes, because Kiki’s smile enchants you — it paralyzes you, fascinates you, transports you somewhere else…
And right after, with just a few words exchanged, you feel that this person you met only moments ago is someone you’ve known for years — as if they were an old friend, as if you’ve shared bread and salt together, as the saying goes…!
And then, emerging from the depths of the kitchen, wooden spoon in hand, comes the other half of the duo — Mr. Michalis. More serious, more reserved, yet with the calm air of a man whose life is filled with unique experiences he longs to share with you.
Yes, indeed — here I truly felt as if I were at home.
I was eating food crafted by masterful hands, made with love — classic Greek, traditional, without pretension — served with a smile as wide as the shore below.
Emporios may be one of the few remaining little tavernas that still live in the spirit of the ’70s — or perhaps even the ’60s, I would say…
Kikis and Aspras, Aspras and Kikis
the duo of absolute success…
Of course the whole family is here, present in the difficult life of the tavern.
Their sole goal is to make you feel the best that their small heroic rocky island can offer.
Mothers who traditionally cut potatoes by hand, grandmothers who clean the roikio or andrakla.
Children who serve with a smile the people who come up from the beach to get their fill of tradition.
The foods
Here is Emporios, the delicious tavern of Kasos, forget about foreign hamburgers and carbonaras…
Goat pilaf, the traditional food of festivals, will speak to you.
Skaros fish plaki will make you smile, the makarounes pasta with sitaka and fried onion will resurrect you.
The cuttlefish pilaf will enchant you.
Pasta carbonara drowned in cream with mushrooms is blinding…
All our friends sat down and ordered everything…
First came stewed vegetables, to whet our appetite, as Kikis said with his wide smile.
And immediately after that, toasted bread with tomato, basil and galotyri cheese, local cheese, soft and fresh, and red meatballs for starters, ha ha ha…
I had already had enough of the table full of traditional Greek cuisine.
Of course, the little dolmadakia (the dormaes) steal the show.
The famous very tiny Kassiotian dolmadakia (stuffed vine leaves).
Not even half a bite each but with a divine buttery flavor.
I can’t describe the taste, but I can easily describe the speed with which the plate was emptied.
One better than the other, photos with difficulty before the attack took place…
The makarounes with sitaka cheese and fried onion, were finished before they landed on the table…
In between, a Lobster arrived, a kind gift from our friend Margarita.
He got up at dawn to wait for the fishing boats at the pier to buy their fresh goods.
He returned with two colorful skaros fish and the Lobster in the photo.
The pilaf from Kassos
And after the appetizers, the main course arrived…
The most traditional dish of Kassos, the one you will taste at most festivals on the island…
The pilaf from Kassos, with goat, and with the necessary accompaniment!
the festival-style… with dolmadakia and fried potatoes!!!
A signature dish of the island of Kassos, this pilaf is rich, aromatic, and deeply traditional. It’s usually made with goat or lamb broth, butter (stakovoutyro), and rice, giving it a silky, flavorful texture. The key ingredient is the staka — a local Kasian specialty made from the creamy layer of goat’s milk — which gives the dish its characteristic depth and aroma.
It’s typically served at festivals, weddings, and celebrations, where the Kassiotiko pilafi symbolizes hospitality and joy.
So this dish, Kassian Pilaf, is usually made with meat.
Except for festivals with fasting when it is made without meat.
Then it is called tsaitia and is served plain with plenty of cinnamon.
The cinnamon, the necessary spice, arrived and the tasting began …
Because the company was large, two more servings were needed, nothing more, but to immerse ourselves in the taste.
I have never eaten such a delicious pilaf, such soft meat …
An experience that you will only taste there, in Kassian, in Emporio tavern.
From the hands of the master, the festival-goer cook, Michalis Aspras.
Unless you are lucky and find yourself at a festival where you will understand the Kassian way of life.
And of course all of you, like me too, immediately said…
You ruined it for me with the fried potatoes on top.
But this is the authentic, traditional dish served at the island’s festivals… as my now smiling friend Kikis immediately replied!!!
The philosophy
The tsipouros were flowing abundantly and the best ones were also arriving for appetizers…
Emporios, the delicious little tavern, suddenly caught fire!
Immediately, the violins and lutes came out of their cases and the company grew and the whole shop became one!!!
The classic Kassian feast ignited within a few minutes, with the well-known mantinadomachies, the “panokalotes”.
The instruments caught fire along with the people and the dancing and singing began.
Out of nowhere, a small festival was set up, just as the people of Kass are used to in their everyday lives.
We went for a light appetizer for lunch and left, just before the crimson sun of Kassos hid behind Armathia there in the depths of the Aegean sea.
So when you decide on this trip, a trip of a lifetime, and arrive at Heroic Kassos island remember.
A dip in Emporios and then in the tavern above for the ultimate gastronomic simplicity…
A multi-star delight…
Tavern Emporios Kasos
Tel. 2245 041 586
Text and Photos by GiorgioGrigor
At #TasteLocalGreece, we taste and promote all our favorite hangouts.
The local products we discover, the places we visit, and those that fit our philosophy.
The taverns we discover in our culinary quests. Our articles have no commercial benefit. Often, the restaurants we visit are unaware that we will be mentioning them.
They are all our personal experiences, and we share them with you. We strive to highlight forgotten flavors, authenticity, and simplicity that have been lost from our lives.
We strive to highlight forgotten flavors, authenticity, and simplicity that have been lost from our lives.
The information we provide is based on the period when we visited the place.
