Kozi Restaurant, Naxos
One of the things I enjoy most when travelling is discovering places that were never part of the plan.
Before catching our ferry to Mykonos, we had some time to spare near Portara and decided to have a simple lunch at Kozi Restaurant. There was no grand expectation. Just a meal to fill our stomachs before the next leg of our journey.
What made the lunch memorable was not the food alone, but the people.
We were looked after by a warm and attentive gentleman from Pakistan who had moved to Greece with his wife in search of a new life. Throughout the meal, he served us with genuine hospitality and an easy smile. It was one of those encounters that remind me how travel is often about human connections as much as destinations.
The food was straightforward and comforting. A refreshing tomato salad bursting with the sweetness of ripe Greek tomatoes, proof that simple ingredients often taste best. We also enjoyed a colourful salad topped with creamy cheese, nuts and raisins, adding both texture and freshness to the table.
The grilled lamb chops were exactly what one hopes for in Greece. Smoky and full of flavour, with nothing more needed than a squeeze of lemon.
My favourite dish was unexpectedly the stuffed chicken. Filled with ham and cheese, it looked simple but delivered plenty of flavour. Our server explained that the chicken was wrapped in pork caul fat before grilling, an old school technique that helps keep the stuffing intact while gently basting the meat as the fat melts away. The result was tender, juicy chicken with a rich savouriness that paired perfectly with the chips, rice and salad on the side.
As we sat there enjoying our final meal in Naxos, it felt like the perfect ending to our stay on this beautiful island. Good food, warm hospitality and the iconic Portara standing proudly nearby as if bidding us farewell.
