Built in 1846 and re-imagined in 2024, Lamda Casual Dining inhabits an adoringly brought back home with a sun-faded stone exterior, situated directly at the water’s edge in the heart of Vasiliki. The history of the structure is there for all to see but what’s happening there now is anything but old-fashioned. Instead, it’s a culinary reboot of Greek tradition: reverent, but not sentimental. Greek food with a modern-day twist– and possibly a touch of theatre.
The food Meals showed up with downplayed drama– never ever pompous, however constantly made up. And served with the utmost care and attentiveness We started procedures with the cornbread sourdough– fragile and warm, it was accompanied with salted fish roe and citrus-marinated olives– a nod to custom, yet with a gently defiant note. 
My favourite meal of the night was the lentils, among the humblest of pulses, elevated with the most delicious smoked eel, cauliflower purée and fragrant oil.
Feta cheese, usually a rustic staple, was served breaded in polenta, sprinkled with a thyme honey from Lefkada and a generous sprinking of black sesame.
Don’t also miss the grilled octopus, perfectly tender, paired with a carrot purée, pickled pearl onions, rice chips and a tarragon oil– a textural masterclass.
Also worthy of reference is the crispy mozzarella, set on a canvas of eggplant and tomato marmalade, and laced with basil oil, and the rich and comforting shrimp saganaki, reimagined with a touch of sweet chilli, Metsovone cheese and basil.
For me, the standout main was my seafood orzo, sparkling with shrimp and squid, in a tomato and basil decrease that struck simply the ideal chord of simplicity, whilst still being packed with flavour.
My wife swore by her Black Angus burger, served with marinaded cucumber, Cheddar, onion mayo, and crispy potato rocks. And the indulgent deconstructed pastitsio– with layers of beef ragu, pasta, béchamel foam, and seared parmesan, even got the better of my boy’s enormous cravings. Desserts didn’t dissatisfy either, from the deconstructed lemon tart with blueberries, caramelised Aegina pistachios and chocolate flakes, to the chocolate fondant, served with crème anglaise, Madagascar vanilla, yuzu, dried increased, and ice cream.
Decadent, dreamy … and rather probably more
calories than we should have had, but nothing that a run the next morning couldn’t figure out.