The Real Greek (Six Locations)
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While the most expensive restaurants in London are still packing them in, those in the middle rice range are finding it harder to lure their traditional customers through the door. So I'm on a mission: exceptional food in affordable restaurants.
It's not that those of us who eat out more than four times a week are dining out less often, it's simply that with all the economists telling us we're heading for doomsday we (well, some of us) are taking a little more care.
So premier cru wines for special occasions only, and no more £150 lunches for two (unless somebody else is paying, of course).
The Real Greek chain of restaurants (there are now six of them) was started by Theodore Kyriakou in 1999. His first, in Hoxton, then a rather unfashionable part of London, became a hit with the chattering classes and very soon Theodore opened a second, a third and so on.
My most recent visit was to his restaurant in Paddington Street, set between Baker Street and London's most civilized shopping street, Marylebone High Street (and home to Daunt Books, London's most civilized bookshop).
I hadn't made a reservation, and when the Finn and I popped our heads around the door towards the end of lunch service on a rainy Wednesday I wasn't expecting to be in luck. But in luck we were and were quickly seated at a reasonable table near the front of the restaurant.
We decided on a 'Fish Sharer' with Anatolian Gambas, Grilled Sardines (enormous) Taramosalata, Fava, Toboulough, a Greek salad and pitta. To that we added a portion of crispy cheese balls and some Dolmades (the best I've tasted outside Greece). That's more than enough for any two normal appetites - and the Finn told me that it was jolly healthy too. I've never been a fan of Greek wine, but a couple of glasses of champagne won't cost you much more and is much nicer to drink.
There are all the usual Greek dishes on the menu - Lamb, Chicken and Pork plus an exceptionally nice Bifteki (basically a hamburger with spring onions and served with yoghurt) and all are cooked and presented in a way that is a cut above the average. I don't know whether it's 'real' Greek food or not but it's certainly delicious, and for around £30 a head including a couple of glasses of bubbly it's certainly very good value.
They do take-away and produce a take-away menu. However, it doesn't give you the address, the telephone number or any other information you may need to make an order. So I'll tell you: they take all the usual credit cards, and the addresses and phone numbers of the restaurants are on their site.
So premier cru wines for special occasions only, and no more £150 lunches for two (unless somebody else is paying, of course).
The Real Greek chain of restaurants (there are now six of them) was started by Theodore Kyriakou in 1999. His first, in Hoxton, then a rather unfashionable part of London, became a hit with the chattering classes and very soon Theodore opened a second, a third and so on.
My most recent visit was to his restaurant in Paddington Street, set between Baker Street and London's most civilized shopping street, Marylebone High Street (and home to Daunt Books, London's most civilized bookshop).
I hadn't made a reservation, and when the Finn and I popped our heads around the door towards the end of lunch service on a rainy Wednesday I wasn't expecting to be in luck. But in luck we were and were quickly seated at a reasonable table near the front of the restaurant.
We decided on a 'Fish Sharer' with Anatolian Gambas, Grilled Sardines (enormous) Taramosalata, Fava, Toboulough, a Greek salad and pitta. To that we added a portion of crispy cheese balls and some Dolmades (the best I've tasted outside Greece). That's more than enough for any two normal appetites - and the Finn told me that it was jolly healthy too. I've never been a fan of Greek wine, but a couple of glasses of champagne won't cost you much more and is much nicer to drink.
There are all the usual Greek dishes on the menu - Lamb, Chicken and Pork plus an exceptionally nice Bifteki (basically a hamburger with spring onions and served with yoghurt) and all are cooked and presented in a way that is a cut above the average. I don't know whether it's 'real' Greek food or not but it's certainly delicious, and for around £30 a head including a couple of glasses of bubbly it's certainly very good value.
They do take-away and produce a take-away menu. However, it doesn't give you the address, the telephone number or any other information you may need to make an order. So I'll tell you: they take all the usual credit cards, and the addresses and phone numbers of the restaurants are on their site.
Here Is The Writer : Richard Tobias
Richard Tobias brings a much needed dose of good behavior to HITC Life. His extensive career in tourism brought him an OBE in 1998. Richard is an experienced writer, lecturer and broadcaster, and is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors, the Tourism Society and the Institute of Travel & Tourism as well as non-executive chairman of World Media Publishing. His Who's Who entry lists golf, good food and Chelsea Football Club amongst his passions. His favourite dining companion is The Finn, and sometimes her daughter, The Finnette.
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