Phyllo Bar Melina's — Restaurant in Montreal

So I was a little hungry and wanted a quick and easy bite to eat without it being too unhealthy. This place seemed to be reasonably healthy (or not too unhealthy would be acceptable too) with the tiropita and spanakopita options. So it’s small, it’s a little cute, and vary like end in its look and feel. This is not a place one goes for a hangout to me, it’s small limited indoor seating and a little larger outdoor terrace is nice but really does not do it. Service is nice but nothing overly warm or friendly. I went into the restaurant twice and the first time no one acknowledged me. The second time I was actually greeted and served.

The food is average to below average. They have cookies, baklava, and other sweets and then they offer (on a warming griddle) tiropita and spanakopita. Their price seemed reasonable given the portion size, however once you bite into the spanakopita (which I ordered) its doughy feel and chewy texture was a lacking the traditional crisp and flaky light philo dough. It was too late as I would have sent it back due to this but I was very hungry and didn’t want to start a fuss. As I bit into and chewed the spanakopita the seasoning was actually nice, but there was insufficient cheese in the filling and there was not enough filling. Growing up in a Greek community and having numerous Greek friends with Yayas who cook amazing Greek food I felt the food I ate was a travesty to Greek cuisine and at the price I believe it to be a waste of money. Perhaps a person who lacks knowledge about Greek food may enjoy it more, not me that’s for sure. So they also offer hot beverages and I didn’t try them however, if I was forced to come back again I would probably try their coffee and maybe risk a sweet. They only sweet I would not try is their baklava as it was a small little square portion that was presented in a manner that was not appetizing to me - which is sad as I love baklava.

So no I would not return not recommend parroting this place as there are many other options...

I've hesitated to write this review for a long time but today I once again tried something new and, as always, it was superb. I've been coming to Melina's for about 10 years. It is my favourite eatery in Montreal. My fear is that people will find out how amazing it is and then every time I'll try to get my spanakopita fix, I will have to elbow my way through a crowd. But I must give praise where praise is due. The owner, Joanna, is one of the kindest, most welcoming people I've ever met. Whether you're popping in for takeout or staying for a pleasant chat, you are made to feel like a longtime friend. All the other staff members are lovely too, I just don't know them by name. Everything I've ever eaten here has been consistently fresh, delicious and made with love (which, according to my grandma who absolutely knows what she's talking about when it comes to food, is the only way a meal can taste so good). Bougatsa, spanakopita, tiropita and prasopita - all never disappoint. The coffee menu is better than many actual coffee shops. Try the freddo cappuccino on a hot day: the silky frothed milk is as sweet on the eyes as it is on the palate and balances out the bitter notes of the iced coffee perfectly. Meanwhile, the Greek coffee has a fruity, aromatic taste. Something unique. It makes for a lovely sip if you're not in a rush. The ready-made counter offers great spreads: tzaziki and kafteri are my favourites as they never fail to elevate my packed lunches. Pro tip: buy the mini spreads to dab onto your phyllo snack if eating at Melina's. And finally, the portokalopita (orange cake) is so good I forget all my customer service induced woes of the week after...

They serve large portions for a good price. That being said, unfortunately I must say this place does not deserve 4.8/5 at all. They did nothing wrong per say, it's just far from "5 stars good" in my opinion. I have to admit that I am not familiar with greek phyllo, I do not know how it is supposed to be, but I know for a fact that the food I was served was very bland. The taste of the wheat in the dough was the main flavor I picked up, which tells a lot about how bland the stuffing was in the two "flavors" I tried. Also, the eating area outside is really not comfy. There is a very large space between the bench and the plank which serves of table and you cannot move either. The "table" plank is also very low, so you need to bend uncomfortably to eat. All in all, it pretty much feels the same as eating on a bench in a park: not a...