> This is world class food, this is world class wine, this is world class cheese. The next big thing is Croatia.
This was in 2012, before Croatia joined the EU, but the culture of quality cuisine doesn't change in a decade.
I can't speak about the prices, but I'm sure there are affordable restaurants and markets outside of touristy zones. Go to any popular place in the world, Greece included, and you'll pay the tourist tax.
There is a lot of quality perhaps. But two things I noticed about Croatia (and maybe wider Europe) food:
1) They don't know coffee. There is no equivalent of the American half&half creamer.
2) I find that there is not that much in the way of vegetables when eating out. I wonder if perhaps it's a cultural thing where you give your guest the best, i.e. most caloric/tasty food possible. The tavern/grill places are especially like this.
Starbucks coffee is an abomination too, don't get me wrong. But I do miss the half&half and could not find a substitute; I was kinda surprised because there was a great variety of milks, heavy/whipping/cooking creams as well as all sorts of non-dairy creamers both in powder and liquid form.
> I find that there is not that much in the way of vegetables when eating out
Here in (northern) Spain is pretty much the same. Outstanding meats, cheeses, wine, etc. but you'll be lucky to set your eyes on a salad, and the only actual vegetable on most menus is grilled peppers.
I do forewarn vegetarian friends before they come to visit, but in general I don't think "light on veggies" translates to "bad". Most European nations have gone through low veggie diets at various times.
Anthony Bourdain disagreed[1]:
> This is world class food, this is world class wine, this is world class cheese. The next big thing is Croatia.
This was in 2012, before Croatia joined the EU, but the culture of quality cuisine doesn't change in a decade.
I can't speak about the prices, but I'm sure there are affordable restaurants and markets outside of touristy zones. Go to any popular place in the world, Greece included, and you'll pay the tourist tax.
[1]: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8h8rqf