As a child I learnt a very important lesson about eating out. Look to see where the locals eat! This is spot on when you are abroad as the locals will always steer you to the restaurants serving the best food and with the most reasonable prices in the local area. The same can also be said at home. I live in London where there is an abundance of restaurants. The problem there is finding the good ones amongst the mediocre and plain awful. Not as simple or pleasant an experience as one might think. For me a good quality is a must, especially when I go out for Greek food (I am Greek Cypriot in origin).
There is no shortage of Greek restaurants in London but I tracked one down that all the Greeks and locals to that area rave about and visit often. This restaurant now gets so busy that you have to fit into two hour time slots on certain evenings and times.
Along I popped for a meal with my husband and mini ones to find out what all the fuss was about. The menu had a good range of food that was not excessive. The only item missing was sheftalia which is skinless sausages that are normally served with salad and chips and are very popular because they are yummy! We ordered the meze which of course is the most popular item on the menu and contains numerous dishes including hot and cold starters, a Greek salad, seafood and then a platter of meat. We ordered meze for 2 and a portion of chips and it was enough to feed my husband and I, both my daughters and Mr Squisy.
Cold Starters
I love this part with the small dishes and a basket of warm pitta bread because you get a great variety of textures and flavours that really bring the taste of the Mediterranean to life. The salad is always served with the starters and as you can clearly see the ingredients are fresh. No half dead wilting leaves in this bowl.
Hot Starters
This feta, herb and courgette ball tastes amazing. We were served two but someone just couldn’t wait for me to take a photo! Possibly my favourite hot starter.
If you have never tasted grilled halloumi before then you really haven’t experienced one of the joys of Mediterranean cooking. Why not pop some under the grill at home and see what I mean.
One of Mr Squishy’s favourite dishes. We all love the squid rings. Just a little tip make sure you squeeze a generous amount of lemon and sprinkle over a little salt and your tastebuds will be over the moon.
The Swordfish and octopus were served on the same dish. I personally find the swordfish a little boring but lucky for me hubby didn’t even realise there were two items on the dish and he ate my portion too. I know quite a few people that really do like the monkfish so it just comes down to a matter of taste with that particular dish. The octopus though is another story. OMG!!! This tastes fabulous. The soft tender flesh combined with the smoky flavour from the charcoal make this taste divine and I plan to have their main dish of octopus as a meal one day soon. I am extremely excited about that I must admit.
Having eaten so many prawns before I have become a master at cleaning these with a knife and fork. These were a bit overcooked making them harder to peel but the garlic butter accompanying them was a nice touch. Don’t forget the squeeze of lemon to help break up the fat in the butter and to create a great flavour combination too.
The mushrooms and meatballs are yummy although the latter did need a touch of salt.
Just when you think you can’t eat any more food the skewers with chicken and pork arrives. Can someone order us some wheelbarrows to take us home please.
I must admit this isn’t my favourite part of the meal as these normally come out a bit dry for my liking although the solution for this would of course be in the cooking time and in the marinating process.
Either way the children and my husband polished it all off and somehow still miraculously had space for the complimentary Greek sweets and ice cream. As you can see Mr Squishy was straight in there waiting for no one to assist.
He of course had the right idea as those ice creams are amazing!!!!!
This is one of the best Greek restaurants that I have been to in London. The staff are always friendly, polite and accommodating even if you do turn up 15 to 20 minutes early. and they are great with children and like most Greeks love babies! A word of advice do not fill up on bread or you will have no chance of finishing this. On the plus side if you can’t finish they will always pop the remaining food in a takeaway container for you to take home.
A winner with the children and with us, we will be going back again soon and I plan to work my way through the menu.
You might also like:
The Highland Angus Steak House: Southgate
Bramleys Restaurant Oakwood (review)
Flavours of Italy Winchmore Hill
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oh my this looks all so amazing looks as if you had an amazing time sampling the food
It was a lovely evening and nice that the children enjoyed themselves too.
I love Greek food and this looks so yummy! It looks like you had a fab time 🙂
I sure did, next time I’m having Octopus!!! Yummy.
I have never tried greek food. If this is in London then may have to check it out x
This restaurant is in Southgate which is in North London. Enjoy!
Wow, this looks so lovely! I always love finding new places to eat, but it’s definitely a trial and error process!
It sure is which is a shame. It’s a waste of money if I don’t enjoy the food.
Oh wow that is one amazing looking meal! It looks just WOW I totally want to give it a try. x
It’s really nice but you might need to ask for a doggy bag.
This all looks so tasty! I would love to try this out, I think it’s a really fun way to eat 🙂 H x
It’s a great way to eat as you get to sample a range rather than just one or two things.
I have never been to a Greek restaurant – this one looks amazing, what incredible food! Kaz x
You really should go and try this one the food is lovely.
Grilled halloumi is all I lived on when I used to go to Cyprus when I was younger, and calamari yum yum. You’re right eat where the locals eat is a great philosophy x
It’s almost like being in Cyprus as loads of Greeks eat there.
Squid rings are one of my favourites too and this looks incredible! I really want to branch out and try more restaurants around London so I’ll make a note of this 🙂
This one is worth trying, enjoy!
everything looks delish! and you cannot go wrong with squid rings. nom
The food here is of a good quality but I have been to places that I would never blog about as they were not worth a mention.
Oh wow, how delicious does the food look? Why are there no nice places round here like that, jealous haha
It’s really yummy, well worth a visit.
This food looks fantastic – totally agree with your tip about eating where the locals eat.
Glad it’s worked for you too. Make sure you pop in and try them, the food is great.
Ah good to know you had an amazing time. Food looks great.
I have visited here a few times now. Love that octopus.
Will have to visit this restaurant when we next visit my brother in London
You really should just make sure you book!!!
This sounds like my sort of place, I definitely need to head over there!
Enjoy. Make sure you try those vegi balls, yum!!!!!!
This looks so yummy! We have Greek friends and I’m always begging them to cook for us!
The food was nice and the added bonus is it is healthy too.
This is my favourite kind of food. I love getting lots of little dishes so I can try everything.
I absolutely love greek food although I haven’t found too many good restaurants in the UK so will definitely have to try this one out; the food looks lush! xxx
This all looks fab! Even better that its healthy too!
Thank you so much for this Melanie! I’m London at the end of May & have been wanting to find nice Greek eateries so I will be visiting here I think 🙂
I love Greek food, it looks like you all had a great time x
We sure did and for the first time we managed to finish the meze for 2. Lucky we brought the kids lol 😉
The presentation of these dishes is amazing. This sounds like a restaurant worth checking out.
It’s a good restaurant and you will see many of the locals there.
I like eating at restaurants that are locally popular. They’re usually the best!
They can be much better, I like to look for where the locals are before I chose a restaurant.
This sounds like a brilliant restaurant. You are so right about eating where the locals eat! It’s the best way to discover authentic cuisine when abroad. We have a restaurant in my town which is really overpriced and no local ever goes there but the tourists love it. I often see them eating there and think “why are they paying so much? They could get better food at (wherever)?”
This all looks amazing really like the hot cheese starter will have to look this place up next time I’m in London
It’s lovely cooked I love it straight off the bbq or under the grill.
That looks seriously amazing! I love the look of the squid plate, and halloumi is always a favourite! I love Greek food. x
I do love Halloumi and this was a good one. I think I need to do a post about choosing halloumi in supermarkets.
This sounds like a fab place to visit, the food looks super yummy!
It is nice, worth a visit if you are in the area.
Yes, totally agree with that philosophy and so true. Looks lush and I love the Greek cuisine. I’m going to Spain in a few weeks time and then to Greece in July so I can’t wait to eat more Mediterranean food. 🙂
That sounds like fun, enjoy their food is yummy!
This sounds like a great place. I envy you all in London with your wide variety of places to choose from! Where I live there are very few restaurants.
That’s such a shame you don’t live closer.
This looks like a great place to visit. My partner would love this restaurant
It sure is, make sure you book before you go.
Oh wow that food really looks amazing
xx
Oh wow, the food looks absolutely delicious and the restaurants sound awesome too. Definitely need to check it out
The dishes at the beginning are my favourite part. I love to have a selection of foods.
The food looks great and this is near to me so i might go there, thanks for the review x
No problem, enjoy Natalie x