The Art of Meze
CHOOSING A BALANCED MEZE SELECTION
Meze isn’t just a meal; it’s a strategy game where everyone wins. The beauty of small plates lies in the variety, but if you order three types of fried potatoes and two heavy meat dishes, you’ll be heading for a “food coma” before the second bottle of Rioja arrives.
To perfect your meze choices, it’s all about contrast, texture, and tempo. Here is how to curate a meze spread that hits every note.
The Golden Ratio
A perfectly balanced table usually follows a simple formula. For a group of four, aim for about 6–8 dishes including…
1–2 Cold/Vinegary Dishes: To wake up the palate.
2 Vegetable-Based Dishes: To provide freshness.
2 Seafood Dishes: For light, salty protein.
2 Meat/Hearty Dishes: For the “main event” feel.
1 Starch Hero: Usually ciabatta or our iconic flatbread.
Think, balance. If you order our crispy fried feta, pair it with our Fritto Misto for an acid kick from the lemon.
The sharp acidity of the lemon cleanses your tongue, making the next bite of that feta taste just as good as the first.
Textures & Temps
Avoid “mushy plate syndrome.” If every dish is soft, the meal feels heavy.
The Crunch: A warm flatbread made with garlic butter, caramelised onion and parsley.
The Snap: Padron Peppers, chargrilled with sea salt and olive oil make for a great snap option.
The Melt: Try our honey pastourma. Greek cured beef sausage in delicious honey.
A great meze experience is a marathon, not a sprint. Start with cold dishes like olives, cheese, or our mixed dip platter while the Chef prepares the hot items.
This staggers the meal so your table isn’t crowded with five plates that all go cold at the same time.
We know, our menu is plentiful. It may take you a while to make your decisions. If you’re staring at it and feeling overwhelmed, try this tried-and-true combination..
The Starter – Greek olives and chillies (Salty, chewy, and gets the juices flowing.)
The Refresh – Padron peppers (Mild, occasionally spicy, and very light. A great palette breaker)
The Sea – Tempura battered squid, king prawn, haddock, aioli & lemon.
The Earth – Houmous, caramelised red onion and feta served with a warm, grilled pitta, the ultimate comfort to anchor the meal.
The Bold – Chicken Souvlaki, marinated chicken skewers with tzatziki, bringing bold flavors to round out the palate.
Ready? Let’s book that table and you can spend plenty of time perusing what you’ll have.