With its pastel-hued houses and iconic vintage flea market, you might say that Portobello Road is about as far away as you can get from the sun-bleached villas of the Greek islands. Well, that might have been true, if it weren't for Tavernaki. This contemporary Greek restaurant aims to bring you the traditional flavours of this much-loved country, but in a fresh way.
The restaurant is family run and boasts a tight-knit team with not only years of experience in hospitality, but plenty of native experience, too. While means flavour-led, authentic dishes, cooked in a traditional way. The team is led by head chef Stavros Christou who says that he only uses the best, freshest ingredients to deliver the true taste of Greece.
So, let's get stuck into the menu and start with some smaller plates to share. Why not try the Greek courgette fritters with homemade yoghurt sauce, perhaps alongside grilled pork and wild boar sausages from Olympus and crispy squid with garlic-lemon sauce, ideal for picking at.
When it comes to mains, the menu is split into oven roasted recipes, dishes cooked over the grill or ingredients from the sea. If you're feeling hungry, the slow-cooked lamb with rosemary, thyme, garlic and feta cheese sounds amazing, and is served with baby potatoes. While, you can't beat pork belly pancetta marinated with Greek herbs and served with hand-cut fries and pita bread. Or, if pescatarian is more your thing, check out the grilled octopus served with fava and caramelised onions - you'll feel like you're on holiday.
As for dessert, those with a sweet tooth will enjoy the homemade Greek syrupy orange pie, or the Mastiha flavoured ice cream, served with biscuits and homemade sour cherry spoon-sweet. Delicious!