Diethnes Greek Restaurant — Restaurant in Sydney

Ever wondered what traditional Greek Food really tastes like? Well if you're in Sydney's CBD next time drop in to Diethnes to find out. This place is an institution and for good reason as you simply can't go past what is arguably the best homecooked Greek meals in Sydney.

Starting with old favourites like tiropites, tzatziki, feta and halouni as starters/dips and then moving on to lamb kleftiko (an absolute must) or pasticio for the main, accompanied by a Greek salad before then finishing off with a sweet like galactobouriko, you can really taste the flavours across every dish. My pick would have to be the slow cooked lamb for the main. The meat is sooo tender and literally falls off the bone.

Entry is via Pitt St and down a set of stairs which takes you to the restaurant area. First impressions will most likely leave you feeling like you've entered a different era in time as the decor is dated. It could certainly use a refresh but in saying that is also part of the charm and character of the place which gives you that warm and homely feel. It doesn't try to be a swanky or hip place and I def like the fact the owners have kept it simple and have concentrated rather on the food being the main focus. And it does exactly that winning big in the food stakes with dishes and flavours that are simply only served and found across traditional Greek households or Greece itself.

On the weekends subtle yet traditional Greek music warms the room and blends in beautifully to add to the character and surrounds along with draped images of the Greek Islands adorning most walls of the restaurant giving it that final finish. The staff are great and only too happy and willing to assist with meal recommendations and explanations of each dish if you are unsure or having difficult making a choice.

I highly recommend this place to anyone craving or simply wanting to try Greek cuisine one night. It also has a strong and devoted following of office workers in town who frequently pop in for lunch or for...

Firstly, I looked up their reviews and this place sounded good. We booked and made our way to this little greek basement restaurant.

We hadn't had Greek food in a long time so we were looking forward to it.

Once we got there and traversed down the stairs into the restaurant, we were met by a middle-aged Greek man who was very pleasant and happy to see us.

There were around 30 people in the restaurant and it had a really warm feel to the place.

We had our pram so he sat us at a big table away from other people which we thought was nice of him. He was the owner.

Once the pleasantries were done, he gave us our menus and we ordered our food.

Now, this is where it l went pear-shaped.

My partner was not overly hungry so she ordered the half size vegetarian moussaka and the owner was happy to give us the half serve. I ordered the beef moussaka. I also ordered the grilled halloumi as well a greek lager beer.

The food came out quick, a little too quick.

My meal was quite small and it was warm at best and it came with a side salad which tasted old and had no flavour, the beef moussaka tasted good but would have been better hot.

My partner's meal was ok, her salad was a little better.

We didn't get our grilled halloumi and had to ask to get it. It tasted good but it's not hard to get it right.

We also ordered dessert but it was small and tasted a little old.

Overall the food is pricey for what you get. Also, make sure you are clear with what you're ordering.

We probably won't be back.

But what would I know, I'm just a bearded guy...

The food and service was so good that I forgot to take photos. We decided on trying Diethnes after researching places in Sydney for top notch Greek food. What appealed to me the most is that this place has been around for many years, and despite not being the most pretty venue around (i.e., not an instagrammable venue), they have survived the test of time. Diethnes delivered! The atmosphere was great, walking down a stairway revealed a large open dining room scattered with white table cloths and red-upholstered chairs. Service was warm and friendly. We had an unusual cocktail request which was no trouble for the bartender who knew exactly what we were after. I overheard our server talking Greek to the gentlemen at the table next to us which added to the authentic feeling of the place. But where Diethnes comes to life is the food. Genuine Greek cuisine designed for sharing. The roast lamb was served without the bone and was cooked perfectly. Smaller dishes like the saganaki cheese and Taramasalata are a must. Overall I am glad I chose Diethnes over other Greek restaurants in the city. I can see why they have been around for such a long time and I look forward to returning...