Greek food - along with the French is not my forte and before I write this review, I put my hands up to say I know very little about the cuisine. I am however, ALWAYS intrigued and curious about food from cultures different from my own and was truly excited to finally be tasting what I believe to be authentic Greek food (if you are Greek and have been to Halloumi - let me know how accurate this statement is, or better still, if you cook Greek food, invite me over for dinner, I make a bloody good dinner guest!).
So yes, Halloumi. Super excited. The dining area of the restaurant is well thought out - clean lines, tidy, beautiful duck-egg tiles throughout, interesting patterned floor tiling and hanging plants (which were unfortunately fake - plastic is not fantastic but that's just my preference). The eating area is overall, inviting.
Welcome was prompt and friendly and the meal's service was generally good and well timed. The servers appeared to be in good spirit and enthusiastic which is always a good sign of how healthy a business is. Grumpy, sloppy staff? I give it 6 months. Happy, spirited staff? You're onto a winner!
The food. I am not a shy food-orderer, in fact think of me as the fat kid in the sweet shop - one of everything-type, please! Here is the table order: Grilled Octopus with Smoked Paprika, Lamb Souvlaki, Spanakopita, Vegetable Dolmades, Grilled Asparagus with Hollandaise, Grilled Halloumi with Pomegranate Salad and finally Toasted Pitta. Accompanied by a glass of red and a glass of fizz.
Grilled Octopus with smoked Paprika: Pleasant to look at - this was the first time I ordered octopus served grilled in a restaurant; I wasn't sure what to expect but secretly hoped the tentacles (which part of Mr Octopus am I getting served?) would be presented in all its macabre glory, not tampered with, not sliced or dressed to make it look more palatable and that is exactly what I got - two fat muscly tentacles slapped on a plate! Perfect! With the rows of suckers "staring" at me I stuck my knife and fork into it. Great bounce - that means it is not overcooked but cut 2 mins off the grilling time and it would be most ideal - juicy and succulent. This guy was just a bit over but that is okay; grilling is much like barbecuing - its all about the soul and less about finesse. It was smokey - a little bitter towards the tapering end of the tentacles as it was basically charred little crisps, served with a smearing of houmous and a sprinkle of paprika. I suggest including an acidic but sweet dip with this dish to help cut through the char and pronounce the sweet flesh of the octopus. It was an interesting dish - was it the best octopus I've eaten to date? No. But I was grateful to be served something that felt it had soul. You know, a certain love for the craft.
Lamb Souvlaki: This was the star of my Halloumi dining experience. Simplicity on a skewer. Juicy lamb cubes skewered and grilled to near-perfection. Tip - eat it as soon as it arrives on your table lest you risk it cooling and getting tough. It was succulent, meaty, sweet and with minimal seasonings and spice the lamb really shone through in all its natural integrity. Sometimes, you just want to eat something pure and this was it. Sorry I can't remember what garnishes was served with this as I was too busy in my mind frolicking in a grassy Spring time field with bleeping lambs dancing around me. Tasty as the lamb was, this dish also felt unfinished. Now perhaps this is the Greek way of being - simplicity, unfussy, and few ingredients but a subtle dressing, a dip, a slight drizzle of sauce - nae, maybe even a glaze would have elevated this dish to the next level. Bleeping lambs - great, bleeping lambs with a little ceramic dipping pot of reduced pomegranate vinegar glaze - even Zeus can't argue with that!
I enjoyed my dining experience in Halloumi from the service, to the interiors and finally the food and drink. However, it wasn't a standout but I do look forward to seeing this business grow from strength to sauce, I mean, strength! read more