Elia Greek Tavern — Restaurant in Melbourne

4.5/5 ⭐️

I walked in with high expectations and I would say they were met. Upon first glance of the menu, it seems a little pricey but the portions made up for it – they were large, plenty for two people and left us very full. On top of that, it tasted great! Can’t really complain here.

The Spetsofai sausages were saturated in a delicious tomato sauce with ample amount of onions and capsicum. The seasoning was on point, it was reminiscent of a hearty home-made meal. Our waiter made a good call by recommending the house-baked bread because it was warm, fluffy and perfect to dip in the leftover sausage sauce.

The grilled octopus strangely enough tasted like lamb. I think the accompaniments of lemon and parsley reminded us of our own Middle Eastern flavours so we associated it with lamb, but nonetheless really delicious. The portion could be slightly bigger for $21 but it wasn’t too noticeable of an issue with all our other dishes.

The braised lamb shoulder was such a big serving, I dismissed my earlier thoughts of it being too expensive once it came out. It was slow-cooked to perfection, with the meat falling off the bone and the herby flavours coming through in every bite. It was so tender, melting in your mouth. I wish the portion of the dip was bigger though - definitely not enough for two.

The chips were perfection – loaded with sweet paprika seasoning, feta and herbs, we actually couldn’t finish the bowl. They were fried to perfection.

I would definitely come back to try their grilled meats and a few of their other sides. They have a great variety of dishes on their menu which intrigue me as it all sounds delicious. It’s not a place you’ll get cheap Greek food, but it is where you’ll get...

How could I not give 5 stars for this little hidden gem in Ivanhoe town. The restaurant was easily located and it has parking available which I think is an added bonus point. Lets talk about the ambiance. Woah!! I was amazed by the depth of the restaurant. Some amazing Greek music was playing in the background giving us the feeling of a real Greek authentic culture. The place was occupied and by judging by the number of filled table I assumed the food must be great. The staff was very friendly and they went beyond and explained the menu and portion sizes to make us feel comfortable in ordering. We ordered 16 hours slow cooked Lamb shoulder infused with herbs and this dish costed 39AUD. Also we ordered a Greek beer and Elia Greek Tavern Old style cocktail. Oh my God, This is the best part, Food!!! The lamb was very well seasoned with all the Greek and Italian herbs and most importantly it was very tender. The pieces i put in my mouth disappeared and i have no idea where to. It was moist and tender to the extent i craved for one piece after another. Absolutely must try dish. And it was worth the price i paid. And I have to mention the side dip they offered which I think was made from yogurt and mixed with some pickled added a different but absolutely mouth watering texture to the Lamb. And for desert we ordered Baklava with Ice Cream, Woah woah woah!!!!!! I am not going to say anything about this so try it and leave a comment below of your experience. Great place, Amazing people, Must try food, and most important best affordable prices. Make sure to book your table in advance as this restaurant filled up way quicker than...

Elia was phenomenal.

For two people we had: 2 small shares: dolmades and saganaki with fresh bread 1 large share: slow cooked lamb 1 side: Greek salad (forget the menu name) And a spritzer cocktail

We finished everything with difficulty, we didn't want to waste anything it was so nice. Glad I had a flowy dress on, haha.

I was so happy with everything we ordered. The lamb melted and was very succulent. It wasn't heavily seasoned which really allowed you to enjoy the beautiful lamb flavour. It didn't look like a lot when it came to the table but looks are deceiving.

The saganaki was so delicious with the fresh bread and I loved the fresh salad.

I've never had dolmades before but enjoyed them.

The cocktail was very pretty and really tasty. It's sweet but enjoyable.

The atmosphere is beautiful, inviting and warm.

Reservation is a must as they were super busy on a Saturday night.

The service was quick, very attentive and our waitress (I think the previous owner?) Was incredibly friendly and gave us great recommendations.

We'll definitely be...