Mezethes Greek Taverna

LOCATION
In Salamanca Square in the heart of Hobart.

PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIA
Housed in one of Salamanca Square’s beautiful historic old warehouses, with tavern-style indoor and outdoor seating and obligatory paintings of white-washed churches against the blue Mediterranean decorating the walls, this is the city’s only true Greek restaurant. The menu runs the full gamut of Greek specialties from dips like the particularly good taramasalata and skordalia, to dolmathas, octopus appetisers, grilled meats and seafood mains, to typical sugary desserts.

Good too are some nicely spiced keftethes and the generously-dressed salads that garnish or accompany each of the dishes. It is also good to see whole grilled fish – a rarity in Tasmania – on the menu. In this case imported snapper and local flounder, both frozen, but in the hands of grill chef, Mario Dellis, none the worse for that. He also turns off some very tasty octopus and char-roasts – things such as souvlaki kebabs of chicken, lamb and vegetables – to perfection. And the roasted “chips” are soft and deliciously infused with olive oil. The wine list is adequate with a reasonable Tasmanian representation, a small selection of wines by the glass and some Greek options adding interest. The menu also has a small Greek glossary so you can yiamas each other over your ouzo.

Graeme Phillips