Jim's Greek Tavern — Restaurant in Melbourne

Melbourne is the third largest Greek city in the world, behind Athens and Thessaloniki - it has a vibrant Greek community that goes back a long way.

There are no menus at Jim's. You can opt for the set menu, or let them know if there is anything you don't want and see if they'll throw in another serve of chicken or lamb.

As always you start with fresh bread that is still warm and a selection of dips including tzatziki. The first option is if you would like horta, a cross between dandelions and spinach, served with lemon. It's really good, and you should definitely try it. Then some salad, and the entree of calamari and bbq char grilled octopus. Everything is fresh.

At this point you begin to wonder if you should have opted for less, just as they bring out the saganaki - cheese, but fried. Amazing.

Then it is on to the mains. Firstly the fish, cooked fresh, served with lemon. It is light and delicious. Lamb cutlets served with lemon and fresh onion. Chicken on skewers, seasoned, served with lemon and fresh onion - one server of chicken does about three or four people. A plate of roasted spit roasted lamb, served with lemon and fresh onion.

In amongst all the meat is the option of hand cut potato chips. Good if you are eating with a 4 year old who just really wants chips. Well prepared, no seasoning, but a safe option to skip, stick with the meats.

Deserts include turkish delight, baklava and galaktoboureko - a semolina custard in filo pastry. And you always have the option to finish your meal with a greek coffee.

So, why not 5 stars? The food, 5 stars all the way. The atmosphere - noisy, but in a good way. It is just the sound of people enjoying a meal in a social setting, often in large groups. The settings - simple. There are no wine glasses, just small glasses you use for wine, or water. The service - efficient and limited, but friendly. The food will just continually arrive - you'll never be left waiting for more food. Just don't be afraid to yell out for more water if you want some.

It is always a...

Ok 2 stars may seem harsh but when everyone was feeling a little off afterwards you have to call a spade a spade. We were s group of 9 adults and 3 children. They said they would charge us for 10 adults and provide some extra meat for the kids. Mind you, there was no menu, and we had no idea of the cost per person. Waiter said he'll bring out whatever is cooking. ok. 3 plates of hot bread and three dips was nice. The eggplant dip had plenty of garlic and was the star. The tsaziki we should have kept for the lamb, but it wouldn't have saved that dish. Taramosalata dip is not my favourite. So no comment. Three small plates of calamari, was nice, not chewy. Three plates with 2 fish fillets on each, nicely grilled, Barramundi, yum. Three plates of King prawns, shelled with tails and heads on. Very delicious.I think the adults got one each. So far so good, then the meat come out. Black burnt extremely salty, almost ineditable lamb. The pork skewar was grisly salty and not pleasant. It's a pity as it seems we got the first cut and all we could taste was burnt marinade. There were risols/meat balls, even these were too salty to enjoy. Each plate had 2 lamb cutlets. Also salty and ruined. 6 cutlets for 9 people. Hmmm. No chicken, I read praying for some chicken off the spit. The poor kids got 1 plate of roast potatoes... When asked about the chicken they bought out 2 slices of roast chicken pieces. It read actually very nice, but the kids had barely enough between them. Desserts were dehydrated skinny empty dry filo pastry with no nuts the Turkish delight is nice and sticky and nutty. The galaktobouriko was creamy, pity there was only 1 per plate for 12 people. Now the bad part was once we got home almost everyone was feeling a little ill. I blame the salt.. Note there was no alcohol so the place is 100% byo with no corkage. But 60 a head was a surprise. Bit expensive. Would have been happy and 4.5 stars if the lamb was editable, succulent and juicery...

I recently dined at Jimmy's Taverna in Collingwood, and while the food was undeniably delicious, the overall experience left a bitter taste in my mouth – primarily due to an unjustifiably hefty bill and the absence of a proper menu.

Firstly, let me address the positive aspect – the food. The culinary offerings at Jimmy's Taverna are undoubtedly well-prepared, with a diverse range of flavors that showcase the chef's skill. The dishes were fresh, flavorful, and a true testament to the kitchen's talent. However, any joy derived from the delightful culinary experience was quickly overshadowed when the bill arrived.

To my disbelief, the total came to a staggering $250 for two people and two small kids. I expected a premium price tag given the positive reviews I had heard, but the astronomical figure on the bill left me questioning the value for money. While I understand that quality comes at a price, the lack of transparency regarding the pricing was disconcerting. It felt like an unwarranted dent in my wallet, especially considering that there was no indication of exorbitant pricing on the non-existent menu.

Speaking of which, the absence of a proper menu is a significant flaw in Jimmy's Taverna. Instead of being presented with a comprehensive list of dishes and their prices, patrons are left to navigate an unclear and somewhat confusing system. This lack of transparency extends to the pricing, leaving customers vulnerable to unexpected and unjustified costs.

I feel compelled to warn potential diners to exercise caution when considering Jimmy's Taverna. While the food may be delectable, the overall dining experience is marred by an unjustifiable bill and the absence of a clear menu. Be prepared for a potentially costly surprise, and consider exploring other dining options in Collingwood that offer both quality cuisine and...