Medusa Greek Taverna - Sydney

On a long-overdue catch up with high school friends, we dined at Medusa in the City. I had my reservations about eating here because 1. it's in the city and I work super far away from the city and 2. it's greek food (and I've once been told by my Greek friend to never dine at a Greek restaurant as I don't eat lamb, feta, eggplant, pumpkin, sweet potato etc etc - ie. I don't eat any of the staple Greek ingredients).

Anyway - here I was. I was ready for anything.

Being a group of 9, we ordered the set menu ($50 each). We got 2 Mezze plates to share. The Mezze plate comprised of tarama and tzatziki dip, grilled halloumi cheese, dolmades, country-style sausages, olives, and a plate ful of pita breads. We were instructed by the waiter to attack the halloumi first - before it gets cold. Of a firm and chewy texture, it was mild yet tasty. The taramosalata is an authentic fish roe dip -pinkish in colour and really quite tasty and yummy. It wasn't too strong and it wasn't bland. The Tzatziki (which is yoghurt, cucumber and garlic) was likewise quite palatable.

Mezze plate

To be completely honest, I was not brave or game enough to consume the dolmades. Dolmades are the vine leafy green things with rice and minted yoghurt inside. As my partner described it as "it's alright" - and he actually likes Greek - I thought it was a bit too much of a risk seeing that I don't think I like vine leafs or rice or yoghurt. The country style spicy sausages were also untasted by me... partly because I was a bit hesitant about what type of meat it may be made of and partly because by the time I wanted to get to it, it was all gone :P The last part of the dish - the olives, were virtually untouched by the whole table. Not because they were bad olives. But mostly because we were all not huge fans of olives.

Mezze plate

We were also served with a greek salad. There were tomatos, cucumber, spanish onions, capsicum, and olives, sprinkled with oregano and topped with a block of feta. Drenched in olive oil, it didn't have too much taste. But I like cucumber - and it was fresh.

Greek Salad

There was also an entree of prawns bathing in thick tomato broth, baked and topped with crumbed feta to share. This was actually OK. The tomatoey stuff was very very rich and thick. The feta wasn't overpowering. However, the prawns were a little mushy-ish. Maybe a bit overcooked? or it could just be because it was soaking and baking and bathing in the tomato too long?

Prawns

Bread accompanying the prawns

In terms of mains, we had a choice between 5 dishes - 2 lamb dishes, 1 vegetarian dish, 1 eggplant thing, and one chicken thing. Interesting enough, there was an ingredient in each of these dishes that I do not eat. Hence, I picked the least threatening ingredients.

My Kotopoulo Tis Santorinis was a spinach, goats cheese and roast pepper stuffed chicken smothered with Santorini wine sauce. I'm not a fan of goats cheese and was able to squish all the filling out without it infusing into my chicken too much. I think that the cheese and the mushy roast pepper was a bit... um... overpowering. But I think that's how the Greeks like it? Nevertheless, the chicken itself was pretty tasty. The wine sauce was smooth and creamy. And there was yummy mash potato underneath it (which I could eat after I filtered out all the huge cubes of sweet potatoes which were luckily not mushed).

Kotopoulo Tis Santorinis

My partner opted for the Arni Souvlaki which was lamb skewers with tzatziki, herbed chips and spicy salad. He said that it was alright... but not excellent. He prefered the souvlaki from Stalactites (in Melbourne) and as the souvlaki here couldn't beat that of the famous 24 hour fast food joint - well... yeh. Anyway, lamb aside, the herbed chippies were really quite awesome~! :)

Arni Souvlaki

Another main that was ordered on the table was the Mousaka (as well as the vegetarian version - Mousaka Me Lahanika). The Mousaka is potato layered with eggplant and topped with eggplant and smothered in beef mince and bechamel sauce then baked like a lasagna. I had originally wanted to order this - but I asked the waiter if it would be possible to take out the eggplant and the answer was No! Even IF the eggplant was taken out, the eggplant flavour will still be infused throughout. So when it came out, I was super relieved I did not order this. So super eggplanted.

Mousaka

The last main of 5 was the Medusa's Arni Sto Fourno which was a whole slow baked lamb with roasted lemon potatoes and vegetables. It looked decent and no complaints originated from my friend. So I can only assume that the meal was fine.

Medusa's Arni Sto Fourno

For dessert, we each got a Galactobouriko and a Baclava. Both desserts were sitting ontop of a pool of syrup. The Galactobouriko was nice and warm. The puff pastry was crisp and completely gorgeous - the custard on the inside was something I didn't adore though. Hence, I simply just ate the warm outer crust :) The Baclava was super super sweet. A bit too sweet. Most of us could not stomach this.

Galactobouriko

Baclava

In addition to all this, a few of us also ordered the Greek coffee. This came in a small cup. Strong and slightly too sweet. Near the bottom was residue. As it was so sweet I thought that the bottom residue stuff may have been of the chocolate variety. Boy was I wrong. Warning - DO NOT TOUCH the muddy murky brown stuff at the bottom of the cup. It tastes like sand and mud. And it definately ought not be eaten/drunk. The waiter definately should have warned us about it earlier!

Greek coffee + mud residue

All up - this dining experience was better than I expected. BUT - it wasn't overly awesome either. If you wish to dine here, remember to book in advance - apparantly it's always booked out!

Ratings:
Food - 7/10
Service - 7/10
Ambiance - 8/10
Value for money - 7/10
Overall - 29/40

Medusa Greek Taverna
2 Market Street
Sydney
NSW 2000
Tel: (02) 9267 0799

Stalactites (2) - Melbourne

Stalactites

Our last meal before we were due to leave the enchanting city of Melbourne just had to be none other than at our favourite souvlaki shop - Stalactites. Sitting on busy Lonsdale St in the heart of the city, the shop was packed as for lunch on a Sunday. And unfortunately that translated to quite a long wait before our meals came out. Also because the shop was bustling with people, the waitresses were slightly unattentive.

Nonetheless, the food was still quite awesome. We ordered a mixed dip and pita bread ($1.50 each). The mixed dip comprised of tzatziki (yoghurt, garlic and cucumber dip), hommus (chickpea), tarama (caviar and lemon), and melitzanosalata (eggplant and garlic). I think that the tzatziki and hommus was the best. The other two were average.

Mixed Dip

Pita bread - $1.50 each

We also ordered a meat platter for two ($18 x 2). On this plate of meat was ...erm... a bit too much lamb for my liking. But my partner and two of my friends loved every single moment of this lamb infested plate. :P There were marinated lamb skewers, lamb cutlets, lamb giro, homemade Greek rissoles, hot sausages and last but not least, my yummy yummy chicken giro. Mmmm.... I love the chicken. It was so tender and herby-infused. Yum~

Meat platter for two - $18 x 2

Last but not least was our large bowl of chips ($7). Crunchy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. Super hot and tongue burning. Awesome!

Large chips - $7

Well, despite the crappy service and the long wait for the food, I know we will be back. (must be the 24 hour yummy chicken factor :P )

Ratings:
Food - 8.5/10
Service - 6/10
Ambiance - 7.5/10
Value for money - 8/10
Overall - 30/40

Stalactites
177-183 Lonsdale St
Melbourne
VIC 3000
tel: (03) 9663 3316

Stalactites - Melbourne CBD

No trip Melbourne would be complete without a trip down to Stalactites Melbourne CBD. Mention the word Stalactites to anyone in Melbourne and they think 'souvlakis' and not dripping speleothem.

Stalactites is situated on the bustling Greek precinct of Lonsdale Street. I've been told this family business has been in the same location since 1978. This place is open 24 hours, so you'll see a huge mix of crowds throughout the day. This restaurant caters for early breakfasts, lunches, dinner after work, supper and food(or drinks) after a big night out. I think in my short period in Melbourne, (2 months) I've been here for all the reasons listed above.

The fresh gyros souvlakis, their trademark, and equipped with 24 hour operations, this place is the "must go" place after a night out in town.

Chicken and Lamb Souvlaki (open with Hommus) - $11.50

I had the open chicken and lamb souvlaki with extra hommus. Sometimes I like to add double the meat for an extra dollar, Bargain!

Chicken Souvlaki $9.5

My friend had the normal chicken souvlaki with basic garlic sauce. He claims these are the best souvlakis.. I wouldn't argue with him, these are most excellent.

I've already been here a few times and I love the food here. Highly recommended due to the buzzy atmosphere, great food and great value.


Ratings:
Food - 9/10
Service - 7/10
Ambiance - 7/10
Value for money - 8.5/10
Overall - 31.5/40

Stalactites Restaurant
177-183 Lonsdale Street (Crn Russell Street)
Melbourne VIC 3000
Tel: (03) 96633316