As Greek as it Gets is a new restaurant on the Earls Court Road in London.
There is something very unique about the dishes from the Mediterranean. Full of bright colours and fresh flavours, they are just what you need to combat the grey winter weather. In the cosy surroundings of the restaurant, you can close your eyes for a second and let your imagination whisk you to a land far away, where the white columns of shrines, wrapped in the subdued green of the olive trees are still remembering the echo of the times bygone. There may be no Vestals to great you on the steps anymore and no-one will ask you to jump at Rhodus these days, but the magic of the ancient ceremonies is still shrouding the peninsula with the quivering veil of mythical charm.
Behind the small but stylish façade the restaurants offers an urban and contemporary interior, which is a nice contrast to the usual Taverns, often overcrowded with plastic memorabilia – an almost childishly sycophantic nod towards the Greece’s fascinating ancient history.
As Greek as it Gets is different. Not only the interiors, but also the menu pleasantly surprises with its thoughtfulness. There are there small dishes, hot and cold, various plates to share as well as a delightful selection of main courses and heavenly puddings. Some of the dishes are secret of the Karonis’ family, with their recipes being passed through the generations. The menus covers are decorated with charming old photos from around 1950s, which show some memorable moments from the life of the owner’s family.
We started our meal with an assortment of tasty dips with pita bread (Tzatziki, Taramosalata, Houmous and Tyrokafteri – a slightly spicy white cheese dip) followed by a variety of delicious but healthy dishes such as Calamari stuffed with feta, Giant Beans in tomato sauce topped with dill, Peppers stuffed with feta and Spinach, roasted Aubergine and thin filo pastry baked with feta, a dash of honey and ouzo.
The signature dish at ‘As Greek As it Gets’s is a delicious dish of romano peppers marinated in wine, and stuffed with feta cheese and spinach. Peppers usually have such a strong pungent flavour, yet the marination process mellows the peppers, somehow adding a new dimension to the taste. The recipe was handed down through the generations and is now a welcome addition on the menu.
For our main course we chose beautifully marinated Chicken skewers and Chicken fillets with grilled vegetables… Sprinkled with Kanenas – a light and fruity Greek wine it was a feast fit for gods!
We finished our meal with a delicious Milk Pie, made out of Semolina and sweetened with honey with a dash of cinnamon, which I absolutely loved. With the pudding also came two surrounded heaps of thick creamy yoghurt, one topped with cherries, the other with honey and walnuts – a perfect complement to the dessert.
Last, but not least we enjoyed a traditional pinch-black cup of coffee, brewed in the Greek way in a small brass pot.
Before saying his goodbyes, Dimitri the owner smiles to us like the Cheshire Cat and to our great surprise offers to read our future – a wonderfully entertaining way to end our delightful culinary journey.
With a large selection of smaller dishes to share, the restaurant is a fantastic place to meet and socialise with friends but it is also a perfect choice when you are looking for a healthy lunch for yourself.
By Angelika Wirleitner
