Eating out in all around Greece is a national pastime and a leisurely pleasure. Whether dining at a local Kefalonia Taverna, Greeks take their time for food. The native cuisine is delightfully uncomplicated and quite different from what's found in Greek restaurants. Much of the cooking relies on simple season food and see food and fresh meat and vegetables.

Typical dishes include fried meatballs, octopus, shrimp, squid, cheese, olives, stuffed vine leaves, tzatziki (garlicky yogurt and cucumbers), sausages and beans. You can find mezedes at an ouzeri (serving ouzo, an anise-flavored liqueur) or at a mezedopolio (serving locally produced wine or beer); both of these types of restaurants are open only during the day. 

For the evening meal, whis is more common than day meal, Greek tavernas serve such specialties as moussaka (lamb, eggplant and bechamel sauce), kabobs, pastitsio (lamb or goat meat  with macaroni and tomatoes), stifado (braised beef with onions) and paidakia (grilled lamb or goat chops).