The mission brief
Four contradictory requirements, one table. The problem is logistical before it's gastronomic.
Your partner wants authenticity and atmosphere — not a neon-lit canteen. Your 12 and 15-year-old daughters want Wi-Fi and a readable menu without unknown Greek phonemes. You want non-frozen meat and an owner who knows where his lamb comes from. These four conditions are not incompatible — but they eliminate 70% of Chania's waterfront tavernas at the first filter.
⚠️ Real Talk
Don't choose the taverna on the evening itself, at 8pm, hungry, with two teens starting to bicker. Do the reconnaissance in the afternoon, between 3pm and 5pm, when the room is empty and you can talk to the owner without pressure.