Named after a fairy-tale, Like Salt restaurant is a popular choice on Greece’s Tinos island.
With a menu illustrated by the test-of-truth folk tale ‘The King and the Salt,’ husband and wife team Vasilis and Maria Plakias have developed ‘San to alati’ (Just Salt) over the last 12 years into one of the most popular restaurants on Tinos island in Greece.
The restaurant’s name is borrowed from the story about a king and his daughter, who when asked how much she loves him, replies ‘like salt’ as opposed to her sisters who say gold and silver to impress him.
My companion and I sat at a square table on a terrace on simple yet comfortable wood and rattan chairs with a floor of natural stone and a nearby wall adorned with framed colorful scenes from the fairytale. Even the salt and pepper shakers were designed as regal crowns.
Reflecting a marine theme, overhead lampshades are shaped like sea urchins and decorative octopi are created from entwined ropes hanging from the walls. Being so close to the Aegean Sea with an outcrop of partially submerged rocks facing us and the islands of Delos and Mykonos on the horizon, my companion was inspired to say “so close, the breeze adds salts to your food.”
Inside is a wooden floor with an open kitchen at one end from which dishes are delivered outside by friendly young servers. While the terrace accommodates about 100 people, another 20 or so can be seated inside. The atmosphere is best described as informal and casual, and service efficient. It’s as relaxing as a cosy family setting.
While primarily a seafood menu, there is also an impressive mezze of vegetable dishes. My companion and I decided on starters of traditional island delights, soft zucchini flowers and a generous portion of artichoke pie. For mains, we chose octopus on the grill and sardines tenderly cooked with a mix of potatoes, almonds, capers, oil and vinegar.
For a sweet ending, we tried the house mousse halva, a delicious homemade dessert with caramel nougat. To top off our leisurely lunch, we sipped on a classic Greek digestive – the aromatic mastica, harvested from tree resin, served with ornate glasses and mini decanter.
There are many other choices on the menu at ‘San to alati’ including taramo salad from salted and cured roe of cod, carp, or grey mullet, herring dip, marinated anchovies, salted sardines, grilled shrimp with oil, lemons and caper dressing, lightly smoked aubergine salad with garlic and parsley, pickles on toasted country bread, local spicy cheese called kariki aged inside pumpkin and pickled artichokes. Other seafood dishes include fried calamari with yoghurt, codfish fricassée and steamed clams.
For meat lovers, there’s veal from Tinos and Greek pork rolls grilled with tomatoes, peppers and cheese.
Interestingly, this restaurant located right next to the beach of Agios Fokas and close to the harbor town of Chora, also sells a variety of souvenirs including hats, T-shirts, tumblers, mugs, bags and puzzles, all linked to the popular fairy tale.
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