Souvlaki in an actual restaurant. Yes, that's right. No longer the post-pub 2am food of shame, Jimmy Grants has made eating souvlaki a legitimate life choice (thanks George Calombaris). I don't really know much about Jimmy Grants but I think this Ormond one is relatively new and I was excited to head there for dinner. You can book online (for this restaurant only) and the space is really interesting - kind of bright and futuristic which isn't really what I'd expect a souvlaki place to look like but that's ok. We were seated at the back and my only complaint was that the table & bench seat made it a little hard to get in and out of, but then maybe I need to stop eating all Melbourne's most delicious foods.
The menu is simple - souvlakis, sides/dips, salads, a couple of plated options and desserts. I was excited to eat ALL the things so ordered:
Taramasalata - served with a couple of pieces of pita (four would be better for the amount of dip) it was lush, creamy and the perfect flavour. One of my favourite dips in the world (I got hooked on it from trying it at The Press Club bar years ago!)
Dim sims - OBVIOUSLY. Why isn't this delicious food available in the UK? It's kind of like a dumpling but bigger, and eaten with lashings of soy. These were pretty damn good but I like the old school ones with thicker pastry. No big deal, I'd get these again.
Chiko roll - I know, by this point I was in Aussie-food-nostalgia heaven. Chiko rolls are only on the menu here in November. When they arrived there was actually two in the portion which was exciting, I was giddy enough to think that for $8.50 I was just going to get one. They weren't fat like a normal chiko roll but had the right taste. If you're wondering what a chiko roll actually is, it's an Aussie version of a spring roll and the pastry/skin is quite thick and chewy. Yum.
Chicken souva - the main event. I can't remember the last time I had a souvlaki, I suspect it was around 2006 on Smith Street. So as you can imagine, this one was always going to be amazing. I don't know why but it's a George thing to put chips in the souva (I think they do this at Hellenic Republic too) and I really like it - sure, it's weird but it works and who doesn't want extra carbs?! The only thing I didn't love was the mustard aoili so I might get a different souva next time instead. (A souvlaki is a pita bread with a filling of lamb/chicken smothered in some delicious Greek sauce).
Service was a little slow and haphazard but we were catching up with friends so it didn't bother me too much. I did want to get dessert but as I said, service was all over the place so we didn't bother. My only other complaint is that the loos are unisex - please Melbourne, stop doing this. It's just not ok. Prices were good - about $70 for two with some wines and all those dishes so I would definitely go back. read more