As the cold, wintry weather starts to make its presence felt, lots of us feel like battening down the hatches and hibernating indoors. But, we all need something to lift the spirits from the biting winds and grey skies, and stepping outside and going for a meal can act as a real tonic.
If you’re looking for some food that will warm you up and bring back memories of your summer holiday in Greece, then you can’t go too far wrong with Greek dining. Here are some of the top Greek restaurants to sample if you’re out and about in London this wintertime.
The Real Greek
This chain of restaurants to be found at various locations throughout London offers an extensive menu of traditional Greek meals served in contemporary surroundings. As well as the usual salads, meze dishes and Greek staple mains, you can share platters and enjoy sampling a selection of different flavours. There are plenty of options for dessert, if you still have room.
Lemonia
Located in fashionable Primrose Hill, Lemonia has been serving up traditional Greek/Cypriot dishes for around 30 years. The atmosphere is thriving and busy, with specialities on the menu including sea bream, grilled tuna, veal, rabbit, calamari and artichoke and broad bean meze. It’s the kind of place you’d need to book to ensure you get a table.
Andy’s
Don’t let the very un-Greek name of this restaurant leave you doubting how authentic your eating experience will be. In fact, this smart Camden establishment is well-established and has been providing Hellenic dishes for over 40 years. The interior is cosy, inviting, rustic and quaint, providing the perfect setting for retreating to on colder days. The food is classic Greek, based on simple ingredients, but also offers an interesting and varied selection of vegetarian dishes.
Retsina
This family-run restaurant in London’s Belsize Park has been described by celebrity chef, Gordon Ramsey, as ‘authentic and delicious’. Little wonder then, that it gets quite busy. The interiors are urban chic inspired, with muted colours and suede chairs, providing a relaxing environment to sit back and soak up the surroundings. The dishes are varied, with an enviable selection of specials and fish mains, including milk-fed lamb, suckling pig or pheasant.
Vrisaki
This popular Greek eatery is situated in North London’s Wood Green. Whilst from the outside it might appear to be little more than a kebab shop (you can get a take out meal), once inside you’ll find a warm, friendly and relaxing restaurant atmosphere. The mezes are particularly notable, with portions erring on the very generous side. The lamb and calamari are favoured by many, as are the lemon butter potatoes.
Fantasia Palace
Located in the Paddington district of London, this popular Greek restaurant claims to often be referred to as a ‘jewel’ of a restaurant. Offering the diner an authentic Greek experience with a menu boasting a wide array of Greek dishes, there is also entertainment in the form of music and belly dancing. If you don’t fancy heading out of the house this winter, then this restaurant also has a take out menu, so you can order online and enjoy your Greek experience in the comfort of your own home.
This post was written by Crispin jones for The Gourmet Society. They have both a card and an app that allows you to get discounts across a multitude of restaurants. Crispin is a fan of Japanese and Thai food and can often be found at teaching at his local cookery class.
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