Brisbane's West End has long attracted anyone on the hunt for awesome food on a budget. It really was high time then that I reviewed one of the best 4101 restaurants that ticks these two boxes: Little Greek Taverna.
Right on the pointy corner of Browning St and Melbourne St, this restaurant involves a lot of sidewalk eating. I've been coming here quite a bit, and I actually can't ever remember eating inside. Which is good because that would hinder my ability to people-watch, and West End is one of the best places in Brisbane for that!
Right on the pointy corner of Browning St and Melbourne St, this restaurant involves a lot of sidewalk eating. I've been coming here quite a bit, and I actually can't ever remember eating inside. Which is good because that would hinder my ability to people-watch, and West End is one of the best places in Brisbane for that!
The food at Little Greek Taverna involves home-style, honest dishes with a little bit of "wow" on every plate. This type of food is best shared with friends, and the more of you that are there, the more you can order off the extensively mouthwatering menu.
We kicked off with these two bad boys:
One reason we keep coming back to this restaurant is for the Tiropita. If you can only order a couple of things at Little Greek, make sure this is on the list.
Smeared in honey, the flaky pastry encasing the oozing cheese means you end up closing your eyes just a little bit with each forkful, to savour all of the tastiness happening in your mouth.
The meaty mushroom was a perfect little bowl for the ricotta and salsa- these two dishes took all of us to cheese heaven.
We kicked off with these two bad boys:
- Stuffed Mushroom: Chargrilled field mushroom stuffed with salsa and topped with crumbled feta
- Thea Elli's Tiropita: Crispy pastry filled with feta cheese & ricotta
One reason we keep coming back to this restaurant is for the Tiropita. If you can only order a couple of things at Little Greek, make sure this is on the list.
Smeared in honey, the flaky pastry encasing the oozing cheese means you end up closing your eyes just a little bit with each forkful, to savour all of the tastiness happening in your mouth.
The meaty mushroom was a perfect little bowl for the ricotta and salsa- these two dishes took all of us to cheese heaven.
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Other dishes squeezed onto our table included:
While the mushrooms aren't always on the menu, we asked for them and a batch came out- love an accommodating restaurant!
The seasoned zucchini and mushrooms were as moreish as chips, but a whole lot tastier and perhaps slightly healthier. They were great to dip into the fresh tzatziki.
If I could send smells through the internet, I would send a whiff of the garlic prawns. This dish came in a tiny pan but was still a head turner as it made its way through the restaurant to our table.
The prawns were cooked perfectly so had that kind of bouncy texture when you bit into them. The sauce was as rich and creamy and garlicky as it looks in the picture.
- Manitaria Tiganita: Crispy grilled mushrooms coated in flour and salt with tzatziki
- Garlic Prawns: 10 panfried prawns in a special garlic sauce
- Kolokithakia: Crispy fried zucchini with tzatziki
While the mushrooms aren't always on the menu, we asked for them and a batch came out- love an accommodating restaurant!
The seasoned zucchini and mushrooms were as moreish as chips, but a whole lot tastier and perhaps slightly healthier. They were great to dip into the fresh tzatziki.
If I could send smells through the internet, I would send a whiff of the garlic prawns. This dish came in a tiny pan but was still a head turner as it made its way through the restaurant to our table.
The prawns were cooked perfectly so had that kind of bouncy texture when you bit into them. The sauce was as rich and creamy and garlicky as it looks in the picture.
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And the food just kept on coming:
We were running out of table room so we combined the octopus plate with the capsicum plate below and then quickly demolished the food.
Again the capsicums aren't always on the menu, but are worth asking for. I sometimes find it hard to get the timing right when cooking these at home, but what we were served just fell apart and the abundance of herbs made this taste amazing.
The octopus was firmly cooked, and the fresh parsley worked to lift the olive oil it was served with.
If you're a fan of lamb, this is the place to be! This plate of meat below cost just $10 and went a long way. I don't know exactly what it was marinated in, but whatever it was worked- this was tasty, tasty meat.
- Stuffed Capsicums: Grilled capsicums filled with rice, vegetables and herbs
- Octopus: Chargrilled octopus tentacles
- Lamb Yiros: A plate of shaved marinated lamb
We were running out of table room so we combined the octopus plate with the capsicum plate below and then quickly demolished the food.
Again the capsicums aren't always on the menu, but are worth asking for. I sometimes find it hard to get the timing right when cooking these at home, but what we were served just fell apart and the abundance of herbs made this taste amazing.
The octopus was firmly cooked, and the fresh parsley worked to lift the olive oil it was served with.
If you're a fan of lamb, this is the place to be! This plate of meat below cost just $10 and went a long way. I don't know exactly what it was marinated in, but whatever it was worked- this was tasty, tasty meat.
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Finally we went for a menu special of:
Goats meat is a strong taste, so I do appreciate this may not be for everyone. I've only ever had it in curries before, so the slow cooked ribs was a really nice change. The meat just collapsed off the bone and again the fresh parsley lifted the heavy-tasting goat meat. It was a bit fatty, but we ordered ribs so that's really to be expected.
As an aside, why I don't normally cook my potatoes in lemon I don't know, but I really will have to change my ways.
- Goats ribs: Slow cooked goats ribs served with lemon potatoes
Goats meat is a strong taste, so I do appreciate this may not be for everyone. I've only ever had it in curries before, so the slow cooked ribs was a really nice change. The meat just collapsed off the bone and again the fresh parsley lifted the heavy-tasting goat meat. It was a bit fatty, but we ordered ribs so that's really to be expected.
As an aside, why I don't normally cook my potatoes in lemon I don't know, but I really will have to change my ways.
We also added a few side salads, pita breads and more lemon potatoes (who wouldn't!?!) and between the 5 of us, dinner plus BYO corkage cost under $35 a head. It was unreal.
Rather than share, you can also order your own meals which include Pita Wraps ($7.50 each) or some form of meat and salad (all around the $15 mark).
If payday seems too far away but your inner gourmet is on strike from eating yet another can of beans, the Little Greek Taverna really will help you out. And give you change afterwards.
The Particulars
Rather than share, you can also order your own meals which include Pita Wraps ($7.50 each) or some form of meat and salad (all around the $15 mark).
If payday seems too far away but your inner gourmet is on strike from eating yet another can of beans, the Little Greek Taverna really will help you out. And give you change afterwards.
The Particulars
- Little Greek Taverna can be found at the corner of Browning St and Melbourne St, West End 4101
- Open Tuesday - Sunday for lunch and dinner
- Dinner mains range from $7.50 – $17, with share plates starting at $4
