LOCATIONFive minutes from the Mitcham shops, cinema and library.
PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIAAsk a pedestrian in the stately suburb of Hawthorn where Astros is and they could guide you there to a tee, however, they may be unenthusiastic to do so. The local gentry have been hiding it under their hats for years, having feasted on the Spartacus-sized serves of Greek food. Adrian, the self-appointed doorman may greet you, then rejoining his table of fellow Astros cronies, animatedly solving the world’s problems. With a simple décor, Astros’ warmth shows in the camaraderie shared between its owners and guests. If the walls could talk, having been plastered with happy snaps, they would celebrate the good times had by all.
Chef Sam Antoniou relaxes diners with smiling brown eyes and playfully kicks out the regulars who stick their heads in the kitchen to say hi. One feels however, that mother Toula (and every good Greek family should have one) takes control. Gather your own family, and summon a platter of the house specialty – lamb, chicken and prawn souvlaki. Up the meat-anti with a mixed plate of char-grilled
chevap chi chi sausage, lamb yiros, quail meat and lamb cutlets. Seafood lovers should reel in the catch of garfish, whiting, prawn souvlaki, whitebait, calamari and pickled octopus. Heavenly-golden slices of salty saganaki please all, and should be snaffled up from the takeaway menu for the ride home.
Roz Taylor