The Best Greek Restaurants in Melbourne
Down some Mythos beers, share a heap of mezes and maybe smash a few plates at these Greek restaurants in Melbourne.
The Best Greek Restaurants in Melbourne
Down some Mythos beers, share a heap of mezes and maybe smash a few plates at these Greek restaurants in Melbourne.
We are pretty damn lucky to have so many outstanding Greek restaurants in Melbourne. For this, we have to thank the huge Greek population that calls our city home — they've demanded high-quality Greek food be served in their neighbourhoods, and plenty even decided to set up their own eateries.
Most of these haunts tend to keep things pretty classic, offering up generous platters of grilled meats and seafood, saganaki for days and some of the best moussaka outside of Greece. And don't look past the Greek salads topped with slabs of feta or the holy bougatsa pastries filled with warm custard and dusted with sugar. You'll want to order it all when hitting up the best Greek restaurants in Melbourne. Read on to see where that next feast should be.
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Run by two brothers, this Greek restaurant in Melbourne has some proper community feels. Step through Gracie Greco’s doors just about any day of the week to be greeted by a room full of laughter, boisterous conversation and plenty of friendly pats on the back. The smoky garlic and herb aromas drifting out of the kitchen will also beckon you further inside.
Food-wise, this Melbourne Greek restaurant specialises in seafood — with just about everything being chargrilled or spit-roasted. Get around the grilled octopus with lemon and oregano, Hellenic croquettes with potato, fish and tarama aioli and a bowl of traditionally cooked whitebait. Add in some moussaka and gyros for good luck, and there you have a proper Greek feast.
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From the owners of one of Melbourne’s best Greek restaurants, Stalactites, Hella Good is the takeaway souvlaki joint of your dreams. With three locations across Melbourne that are always busy, we can only hope it keeps expanding — as it really is hella good.
The menu is as long as your arm, so we can’t go through it all, but most people come here for the souvlaki. Rolled in warm pita bread and stuffed full of meat from the spit, lettuce, onion, tomato and homemade tzatziki sauce, the souvlakis make for a great, easy lunch or dinner. You’ll also find snack packs, spanakopitas and baklavas at each location.
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Eleni’s Kitchen + Bar has been floating around Yarraville since 1971, first located across the road from the Sun Theatre and now just around the corner on Anderson Street. The family matriarch Eleni is still around, but she’s joined by younger family members and chef Christos Katapodis — known for his mastery of the grill and for singing while he cooks (you might just hear him when you’re there).
Katapodis has worked with the family to produce a menu full of classic Greek dishes. Start off with a stein of Zeus beer and some mezes before getting around a whole host of chargrilled meats and seafood. If you’re lucky enough to visit when the Greek band Aetos is playing, be sure to stick around a little longer to participate in some good old fashioned plate smashing. It’s not a bad way to get some anger out at the end of a hard work week.
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Stalactites is a late-night Melbourne institution that’s been owned and operated by the same Greek family since 1978. It’s the number one place to head to in the CBD when you’re after a 1am gyros with fries. But there is so much more to this Greek restaurant in Melbourne beyond late-night eats.
The place is open all day from 11am, and is almost always full. If the footy is on, this place is packed with fans before and after the game. Those seeing a show around the corner will also drop by for pre-theatre dining. It’s a favourite CBD restaurant for so many people — especially gluten-free folks who can order off Stalactite’s extensive coeliac-friendly menu.
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Gringlish. That’s how chef Philip Vakos describes the cuisine at Bahari. A fusion of Greek and English, it’s a concept that’s certainly drawing crowds to its humble Swan Street restaurant. But don’t let the seemingly modest space fool you — the food is some of the best around.
Designed for sharing, the menu is best left in the hands of the staff, who will guide you through from start to finish and won’t let up until you’re happily sinking into a food coma. Expect excellent and classic Greek dishes paired with service from genuinely good-natured folks who know that the best way to anyone’s heart is through their stomach.
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Come one, come all to this Collingwood Greek restaurant that offers BYO without a corkage fee. Turn up equipped with whatever you feel like drinking, and the staff will let you pop your beers in a fridge to keep them cool. There are no menus at Jim’s — but food won’t just magically appear on your table.
Rather, the Greek-Australian waiters will run you through the options available that day. If you’re with a group, opt for the banquet and let them bring you a variety of meats and seafood — think lamb souvlaki, baked chicken, calamari and barramundi — alongside pan-fried saganaki, dips, salads and bread. You’ll eat and eat until you can’t possibly fit in any more.
Top images: Eleni’s Kitchen + Bar
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