Ermou Gyros
Head to this Swan Street hang-out for traditional souvlakis, Greek club sandwiches and moreish fries with feta and oregano.
Overview
If you're looking for a real Greek feed, head to Ermou Gyros on Swan Street for the kind of meal you'd expect on the streets of Athens. Generous portions, tasty meats, fresh ingredients, and warm, welcoming service are the name of the game at Ermou.
The owners, born-and-bred Athenians, grew up running gyros bars and souvlaki shops in Greece, and when they moved to Melbourne, they noticed souvlakis just didn't have the same sought-after taste as the ones they grew up eating and serving in Greece. So they set out to change that.
The meats at Ermou are cooked upright on a rotating skewer, and never over charcoal, just like they make them back in Athens; hence, they are called gyros, which literally means to turn or spin. The meats are sliced thin and stuffed generously into a thick, fluffy pita. The pork gyros comes with tomatoes, onions, tzatziki and chips — don't ask for lettuce or garlic sauce, that's not the way here.
The Athenian wrap is inspired by the meals the owners' grandfathers loved in Athens and Piraeus back in the 1950s. Traditional beef patties are smothered in a spicy red sauce with tzatziki, onion and chips. If you're not into meat ("What you mean he don't eat no meat?" IYKYK, and if you don't, go and watch My Big Fat Greek Wedding immediately), you can get a haloumi wrap with Ermou sauce or a pita filled to the brim with zucchini fritters, chilli feta dip and sweet potato chips.
Once you've tried one Ermou gyros, we know you'll be back for more, but next time we implore you to try the chicken skepasti. This Greek version of a club sandwich is a modern favourite among Athenians. Chicken gyros is layered with bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese and sauce, and sandwiched between two thick pita breads.
If you somehow still have space, go for the classic Greek orange fillo cake topped with Greek yoghurt ice cream for dessert. It's as sweet as the deals you're in for at Ermou, with the massive wraps coming in at around $16, and most of the entrees and sides available for less than $10.
Images: Supplied.
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