Words by Karen Watts
Lamb Fillet image courtesy of Andreas at Taman www.tamamrhodes.com
In the summer of 2020 I moved out of the centre of my beloved city. The almost worldwide paranoia that affected so many had me fleeing from my home of 10 years as soon as tourists began arriving wearing masks on their elbows. Greece’s first lockdown was more severe than many other countries and so many bars and restaurants did not make it through the endlessly changing rules and regulations.
Now in 2024, I am back in town, loving it and I want to share all of the best of food that I can with you.
The Rhodes town restaurant scene has definitely upped its game. While you can still find much that is designed to trap tourists and feed them crap, there is now a lot more truly good food coming from adventurous and creative chefs. Somehow, Rhodes town, has, in the intervening four years, become a magnet for these rare and wonderful creatures.
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One of these fabulous people is Maria of Tamam. She has always been a genius chef, but this year she is even better. Those of you who have read the original blogs will know that I have always loved Maria‘s food and Tamam‘s ambience. Yesterday I went for my first visit of the summer and was as impressed as ever. While Maria’s staple dishes are all still there – the prawn dishes, the pastas, the bream, the steaks and chicken dishes, her famed pork and lamb shanks, one of which I saw coming out of the kitchen looking mouthwateringly soft, she has added a few new dishes to her Greek specialities including Cuttlefish stew with baby onions and Beef Giouvetsi with orzo and smoked cheese.
Also new this year, I chose the lamb fillet with a sweet balsamic, garlic and honey sauce served with broccoli. The sauce perfectly and delightfully works with the medium rare lamb. And because Maria is all about the love I got a pot of her awesome mash on the side, just because she knows how much I like it.
This was followed by complimentary cherries in syrup and a Masticha.
Last year Tamam introduced a policy that I wish more restaurants would adopt… Every wine on the wine list is available by the bottle or single glass. While this is obviously good for those who don’t want to consume a whole bottle, it also enables those who want to experiment in the varied, and frankly, great wines that Greek and Rodian growers are producing.
This year there is new furniture and the plants have matured meaning that pavement side tables are hidden from the street.
The service is efficient, friendly and respectful.
Except for Andreas who is still beaming out his performance on the stage that is Tamam with aplomb.
And finally, the ladies toilet is impeccable and incredibly thoughtful, if a little small… I banged into a waiter washing her hands with the door – so open the main entrance door cautiously.
Go . Feel the Love.
Karen
Tamam
G. Leontas Street, 1.
Rhodes Town.
694 804 2154 (they do not take reservations).
Kalliopi Kitchen in 2025 notes:
I have gone back through the blog and Pete and I have fixed the changes and made updates across every one of them.
If you have never been to Rhodes, and this is your first time at VLK, it could be worth reading this blog from the beginning, it might even make you laugh and hopefully give you some ideas. There is some beautiful imagery and some great recipes that might interest you too.
The Kalliopi Kitchen blogs are all lovingly collected HERE – the most recent ones are always the first displayed. So if you wish to read them in order go to the bottom of that page, navigate back to the first pages – and enjoy!
Or simply select my blogs at random when a title or photograph catches your attention.
