Taverna Manos
Yia’Sas – Welcome to our restaurant!
5705 W. Gulf to Lake Hwy
Crystal River, FL 34429
352-564-0078
LOCAL FOODIE WITH AN HONEST REVIEW/VIDEO OF OUR TAVERNA!
…….and yes, this is a surprise, or I would have straightened the flags and mowed the lawn!
OUR NEW WEBPAGE IS UP AND RUNNING! IT’S A WORK IN PROGRESS – BUT THEN WHAT ISN’T? THIS WEBPAGE NO LONGER LETS US LINK SITES…UNLESS OF COURSE WE GIVE THEM MORE $$$ (GO FIGURE). THE NEW SPECIALTY PRODUCTS AND GIFT WEBSITE – ALONG WITH MY NEW BLOG/RANT PAGE ON WHAT MAKES US NUTS…IS NOW ONLINE AT THE WEB ADDRESS BELOW. SOMETIMES THE LINK WORKS…IF IT DOESN’T LINK FOR YOU – HIGHLIGHT THIS SITE NAME WRITTEN BELOW, COPY IT AND THEN PASTE IT INTO YOUR BROWSER. SEE YOU OVER THERE TOO!
Click this link to go to In House Products page: New! In House Products – Taverna Manos
Check out our latest addition to the Taverna: Gifts/Baskets and food products Shop with Nick.order products here Whether it’s a holiday, a birthday, or a quiet moment of care, our custom and ready-made baskets bring warmth, flavor, and meaning.
🌟 Meet the Men Behind the Magic
Two Legends. One Table.
At Taverna Manos, every product or dish carries a story—and some stories deserve to be told out loud. This space honors two brothers – two extraordinary different men – whose lives, talents, and hearts shaped the soul of our kitchen and the warmth of our community.
Nick – The Heart of the Taverna
Nick was more than a chef—he was the soul of Taverna Manos. A talented Greek culinary artist and exceptional businessman, Nick’s passion for Mediterranean cooking began in childhood and blossomed into a mastery that shaped the soul of our kitchen. His dishes, still requested weekly, carry the warmth and brilliance that made him unforgettable. Nick wasn’t just a character—he was a force. The kind of man who could fix anything with his hands and heal everything with his heart. His laugh filled rooms, his advice stuck for decades, and his cooking? Always bold, intuitive and always unforgettable. He was also a student of science and microbiology, fascinated by all living things. That curiosity infused his cooking with precision and depth. Whether experimenting with ingredients or firing up his beloved Big Green Egg, Nick cooked with heart, intellect, and joy. Nick’s Chop Shop Magic Formula and Nick’s Hot Honey Sauces are tributes to his legacy—bold, balanced, and deeply personal – These products that bear his name also carry his spirit.”
“You were an awesome chef, Nico. Thank you.”
🎖️ Meet Major D – The Legend Behind the Coastal Crab Dip
Major D—also lovingly known as Dr. D—is a man whose compassion runs deep. From the time he was a child, he showed an extraordinary gift for empathy and connection. At just ten years old, he was honored for helping a severely handicapped classmate communicate using a newly developed sound board—becoming the only person able to reach and teach his non-verbal, non-ambulatory friend. That moment wasn’t a one-time act of kindness—it was the beginning of a lifelong devotion to helping others.
Quiet, modest, and wise beyond his years, Major D is a generous son, a devoted husband, an adoring father, and an active service member in the United States Air Force. His love for the beach and sea has been with him since childhood. We honor his service, his humility, and his unwavering regard for humanity by naming the Taverna’s specialty crab dip blend after this man – who leads with love, listens with patience, and lives with purpose. “We honor Major D not just for what he’s done, but for who he is. This is his legacy—gracious, grounded, and full of heart.”
THERE IS A NEW EMBEDDED VIDEO for those who have asked why my family was born in Turkey – but are Greek in culture/heritage and DNA – the reason for Tagine cooking in a Greek restaurant :
Click link to jump to page: https://tavernamanos.com/where-and-what-is-asia-minor-and-whats-up-with-the-tagines/
At Taverna Manos, our handcrafted Mediterranean restaurant in Crystal River specializes in unique Tagine dishes that highlight the essence of Mediterranean and Mideastern cuisine using organic ingredients.
Yay…first signs of Summer! Dragonflies, Mosquitos, Crazy Rain Storms, Beautiful Butterflies, and Gelato at the Taverna! Come try some soon!
NEWS BREAK – WE NOW HAVE COCONUT GELATO TOO!
Menus below for the Tagine dinners
Discover the health benefits of our Mediterranean and Mideastern (Asia Minor) cuisines—packed with antioxidants and organic ingredients that promote healthy eating habits!
Click Link to jump to Menu page: Menu – Taverna Manoshttps://tavernamanos.com/menu/
Beginning March, 2025
Tagine cooking classes now available
Click link to see cooking class page: Cooking Classes – Taverna Manoshttps://tavernamanos.com/cooking-classes/
Pame! Let’s Create food!
Classes are held on Sunday afternoons – usually from 12-3 o’clock and are by reservations only. You will learn basic kitchen skills along with tips and tricks from real chefs. You will experiment with spices that you may never have tried or even heard of! You may learn things such as how to preserve lemons and how to use the preserved lemons in your cooking and why…lol. These are real “hands-on” classes and therefore, you will need an apron, (and closed toed shoes. no excess jewelry -plain wedding band if possible) You will learn all the health dept rules and regulations for sanitation and food safety that apply. You will wash your hands a lot! LOL Cooking clubs and other clubs are very welcome! Great fun – learn traditional dishes from the mid-east and Mediterranean! Prepare to have fun!
Below is my personal tagine at home on my day off – what restaurant owners and chefs cook for themselves on time away from the commercial kitchen…chicken browning in my favorite tagine…a Kook cast iron bottom! This is similar to the set up for the cooking classes. Come learn and see how great of an at home chef you can become.
Let’s talk the Restaurant’s standards for quality:
Click link to jump to foodie news: Foodie News! – Taverna Manoshttps://tavernamanos.com/foodie-news/
A quick note regarding ingredients and availability: Most of the items we purchase are as organic as possible to reduce possible chemical toxins. We do not buy anything with Apeel on the label. We do not knowingly use tomatoes/citrus/ oranges/grapefruits shipped with additional chemical sprays to keep them from rotting. Unlike the FDA – We do not think eating carnauba wax is okay. We source our pasta, orzo, noodles, rice outside of the US – usually from Italy – because of the flagrant overuse of chemicals used on American wheat and grains. Our cheeses – Parmesan, Mozzarella, Feta, Gorgonzola come from the EU – Greece, Italy, Spain. Our lamb is from New Zealand only. Our beef is often Argentinian, and our Salmon is Norwegian. Many items are not easy to get, and we ask your patience if we are out of supply. Currently we have been unable to get Saganaki cheese from Greece. Until our Ag laws become different in America – this is how we continue to source our food to make sure we reduce as much bad ingredients as possible. Visit our “foodie” page on this website to read more about food quality.
The symbols on food in the United States are shown below. These different stickers placed on packages DO NOT MEAN the same thing. Please do not buy the “verified” products. We don’t either. Stay safe. Eat healthy. Be well:
Foodies – Unite! Are you tired of the same old/same old corporate chain restaurants in Citrus County? Tagine menu below:
Check out the page titled “Let’s see what’s cooking” on the menu bar or just – click here – Let’s review for a visual Citrus County food experience!
We heard you – and we listened! Something unique and different! Check out our new fare in addition to the regular menu! Tagine dishes from Mideastern and Mediterranean Countries. All served in your own tagine to your table – the way you like it. This is not typical American food – so it may not be for everyone!
Our veggies are super fresh and totally different – our tomatoes are heirloom – which means they may not necessarily be red – they might even be purple! Our carrots can be purple, white, or orange! Our peppers are orange, red, green or yellow! However, good news! our lemons are lemon yellow…and yes, they might be included in your dishes. All veggies are non-GMO!
All natural and organic – Vitamin rich foods are used to prepare our dishes – especially those with antioxidants. Beta-carotene and multiple vitamins A, B, C and D are on our menu in the form of fresh, lightly steamed produce! We may include portabella mushrooms, olives, pomegranate seeds, figs, apricots, raisins, grapes, walnuts, parsley, broccoli, Fresh Greek-only Feta cheese and other fantastic ingredients! It’s time people – it’s time!
Let’s Make America healthy again a reality!
Boaters – scallopers – tourists
Over an acre of Boat/Trailer or RV grass parking right behind the restaurant off Haggerty Point! Easy access – easy turn around! Park it, then come on in or call 352-564-0078 and get it to take out
Call to reserve your table today:
352-564-0078
It’s true! You asked and we listened.
Our days of operations are
Thursdays through Saturday
Our Dinner hours are:
Thursday – Saturday
4:30 pm till 7:30 pm.
Reservations call 352-564-0078:
(As always reservations are preferred as seating is limited.)
“Why do you need reservations?” – Well here’s the scoop:
Reservations gives us the opportunity to concentrate only on you and your party/guests. We can give all our attention to you during the time frame we have reserved just for you. Groups are not walking in simultaneously demanding service – trust us – this works better for everyone! It’s a total win-win for you as the customer and for us as the restaurant/staff.
We accept parties of up to 6 -14, only unless we have discussed party reservations in advance – min one week notice for parties of more than 8.
Thank you Citrus County for making us the
Best of the Best
We appreciate you all so much!
Follow us on Facebook for the latest news, specials, recipe ideas, and upcoming cooking classes!:
http://www.facebook.com/tavernamanos/
Reserve your table at our handcrafted Mediterranean restaurant today by calling 352-564-0078
Take out orders:
For reservations, please call or text using this number: 352-564-0078. If you’re looking to place a takeout order, we recommend calling rather than texting. During busy business hours, we prioritize serving our customers at the restaurant and may not immediately see text messages. Calling ensures that your takeout order is placed without any issues.
We Prefer to be “reservations only” Because of limited seating, and because we book to our capacity quickly, those without reservation may not be able to be seated – so please call before arriving.
Our location is:
5705 Gulf to Lake Highway
Crystal River, Fl 34429
See you soon!
Apricot Pork Modena
find more pics like this and specials at the Facebook like below:
http://www.facebook.com/tavernamanos/
and…yes that’s Despina in the reflection above 🙂
- Unlike home kitchens, commercial stoves and ovens take a long time to cool down. Therefore, we cool our equipment for at least 30 minutes before closing to prevent accidental fires. The insurance and fire departments appreciate this, and it helps keep our prices low. This means that our kitchen closes 30 minutes earlier than the restaurant with no seating or service after 7:15.