Opa! Melbourne’s best Greek restaurants

With one of the biggest Hellenic populations in the world, Melbourne naturally punches above its weight when it comes to quality Greek food. Here’s our top five Greek restaurant picks.

Any discussion about Greek food in Melbourne is likely to produce the oft quoted ‘statistic’ that there are more Greeks in Melbourne than any other city outside Greece.

While not strictly correct, Melbourne is home to one of the six biggest Greek populations in the world and certainly has the largest Greek Australian community in Australia with migration to the city dating back to the gold rush.

No wonder, then, that there is a plethora of choice when it comes to Greek restaurants.

Historically speaking, Oakleigh and Lonsdale Street established themselves as hubs for Hellenic food and, while Oakleigh’s Eaton Mall still retains its Little Athens title and has a pedestrian mall filled with Greek cafés, delis, cake shops and gyros outlets, Lonsdale Street (apart from the iconic and long-established Stalactites, famous for its late-night souvlaki queues) seems to have passed the baton to Swan Street Richmond where a number of Greek venues are making a name for themselves.

Narrowing the field proved a difficult task but here are the five restaurants that we reckon tick all the boxes when it comes to serving up consistently delicious and authentically Greek fare, be it home-style cooking, street food or more refined dining.

JIM’S GREEK TAVERN

Grilled lamb from Jim's Greek Tavern in Collingwood. Picture: Hamish Blair

Grilled fish from Jim’s Greek Tavern. Picture: Hamish Blair

No list of Melbourne Greek restaurants would be complete without Jim’s Greek Tavern in Collingwood, where there are no menus and waiters deftly weave between white clothed tables deciding for you a selection of meze, dips and pita, saganaki in the pan and platters of salty slow-cooked lamb and smoky seafood. The food is unfussy, simple and delicious. Don’t leave without a slice of baklava and some Greek coffee. ‘Jim’ is actually owner Leo Panagopoulos, and he and his family have been running the busy 200-seater tavern since 1982. It’s noisy and fun and you can bring your own wine.

Address: 32 Johnston Street, Collingwood

Jim’s Greek Tavern on Facebook

SALONA

A selection of delicious dishes from Salona in Richmond.

Salona’s logo (a cross and a fouled anchor over a heart) is a proud nod to the heritage of the family which started this restaurant 50 years ago. Current owner Stavros Konis is committed to keeping his grandfather Tony Atherinos’ Kastellorizo origins and vision for the restaurant alive and says Salona’s food is not taverna style, but restaurant versions of things that his mum and aunties cooked; classics with a modern twist. Expect share-style plates of ouzo cured kingfish and grilled octopus served on fava, spit-fired lamb and chicken riganato. With Greek-inspired cocktails, you’ll think you’re in Athens.

Address: 260a Swan Street, Richmond

Salona website

BAHARI

Former MasterChef contestant Philip Vakos's eight-and-a-half hour slow-roasted lamb shoulder with Horiatiki Salad and slow-roasted rosemary and lemon potatoes at Bahari in Richmond. Picture: Hamish Blair

Growing up in Tasmania with two Cretan grandmothers, Philip Vakos was immersed in all that is magical about the combo of excellent Australian produce with Greek flavours and techniques. Having taken part in the second season of MasterChef in 2010, Vakos moved to Melbourne. His experience on the show cemented his desire to work with food and he opened Bahari in 2014. Bahari means spice with Vakos describing his food as ‘gringlish’, a Greece meets Melbourne vibe. Share haloumi and thyme cigars, pulled lamb shoulder and the Pantzarosalata beetroot salad, but the tender beef moussaka with fluffy potato is just for one.

Address: 179 Swan Street, Richmond

Bahari website

PHILHELLENE

Moussaka and doughnuts from Philhellene Greek Restaurant in Moonee Ponds.

Provincial Greek with Cretan influences, Philhellene is owned by John and Susie Rerakis with both their mothers quite literally behind the dishes they’ve been serving since 2008. Depending on what John brings in from his garden, or from foraging, Katina, Nikki and Susie could be cooking freshly picked saffron milk cap mushrooms, lamb and fresh artichoke fricassee, silver beet dolmades, zucchini flowers with herbed rice, or roast kid goat with vegetables. With its exposed brick walls, black and white family photos and live Greek music on Sundays, Philhellene is a little Moonee Ponds portal to Crete.

Address: 551 – 553 Mount Alexander Road, Moonee Ponds

Philhellene website

KALIMERA SOUVLAKI ART

A selection of gyros from Kalimera Souvlaki Art in Oakleigh.

If you want to eat souvlaki, Kalimera Souvlaki Art just down the road from Eaton Mall is the place to eat it. In Greece, souvlaki is marinated meat, grilled on a skewer over coals and is a popular street food in the north of Greece, where it is served with pita bread, lemon, sauces, tomatoes, onion, and chips - which is exactly what Thomas Deliopoulos and his wife, Sylvia Gabriel, offer at Kalimera. While other venues often serve lamb, Deliopoulos sticks to the smoky pork he grew up with, or chicken, with the pita from a local bakery and oregano imported from Greece.

Address: 41 Chester Street, Oakleigh

Kalimera Souvlaki Art website