Parea Taverna — Restaurant in Gauteng

We’ve been wanting to go to Parea for the longest time after many foodie friends raved about the fresh grilled fish, which they have become synonymous for. After a year of planning our Greek friends finally got us to commit to a date to have dinner with them at Parea.

The best part of going with Greek friends is that you let them choose the dishes and surprise you as opposed to ordering what you know. And I’m glad we did! Meze and dips are always great starter options to break bread and savour the array of flavours. Our host chose an assortment of meze and dips for starters. After scanning the myriad of options in the glass counter, I also chose one of my favourites - Gigantes - giant butter beans marinated in olive oil, parsley and onion, which was outstanding.

The dolmades comes with a generous portion of tzatziki, and were sublime. The next dip was a beautiful surprise and just too yummy for words. Melitzanosalata – finely chopped brinjals in a garlic dressing. A definite must try. We had fresh pita bread to mop this all up and was scrumptious. The Taramosalata – fish roe, olive oil and lemon dish was excellent, and is a firm favourite if fish roe is your thing. So as if this was not a lot of starters, we still had a divine Greek salad with amazing Feta and olives.

And the final starter dish was the delightful, Brinjal Special – grilled brinjals with Pomodoro tomato, topped with crumbled feta. Another must try dish.

Half way through our starter, our host had indicated to our efficient waitron, Thandi to get the fish on the grill. The whole grilled Red fish was certainly the pièce de résistance, with its firm white flesh, delicate flavour and enhanced with a generous squeeze of lemon. Now I could see what the fuss was about grilled fresh fish and Parea. Golden crispy chips went very well with the fish, as did a dish I’ve tried for the first time, and definitely not my last - the Horta – boiled wild spinach blended with olive oil and lemon juice. Chips, Horta and fish – an ideal mix for a main course – light and tasty.

We rounded off the lovely meal with yummy homemade Baklava and semi-sweet Greek coffee. What a wonderful Greek meal with beautiful friends in a taverna setting with an island feel in the heart of Illovo.

With such an extensive menu, we will be back to savour the other offering and would love to dine on a day where we can experience the belly dancers, live music and plate...

Ordered a meal for the Family tonight via Uber Eats and experienced the worst service and attitude from Manager, Josh. Rude. Interrupts. Accuses Customers. Lacks professionalism

I placed a simple order: 3 Lamb wraps, extra feta and 3 portions of chips. No drinks. No added extras or special instructions that could have confused the order.

When the order was delivered it was missing two portions of chips but everything else was there. I picked up the phone and was met with Manager Josh, who initially apologised and offered to send the missing portions.

To cut a long story short, he phoned me back and accused me of getting my own order wrong, implying that I hadn't been focused and then further went on to say that next time I should double check the receipt before approaching the restaurant but he would, however send the chips soonest and "free of charge"

Annoyed, I thanked him, put the phone down and double checked my order because I was adamant I had selected everything I needed to.

My order was right and I had just paid R450 for items I didn't receive AND I was made to feel incompetent by someone who should be skilled in problem solving, not blaming

He then went on to say he was going to prove that I was wrong by sending me a screenshot of my order and requested my number. (This is now the 3rd time he has accused me of being in the wrong)

Ironically, Josh landed up phoning me back 10 minutes later apologising because HE in fact read the order wrong. He stated he saw the price per chips and had assumed I had only ordered 1 portion and missed the big "3 x" that was next to it.

I know mistakes happen (we are only Human) and whilst I did appreciate the apology, I didn't appreciate being interrupted or accused so aggressively in the first place

I truly hope you will learn from this because I don't believe I...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Parea with my partner and I can confidently say it was an unforgettable experience. From the moment I walked in, the ambiance set the tone for a delightful meal, offering a warm, inviting atmosphere with attention to every detail.

What truly stood out, though, was the impeccable service provided by Noemi, our waitress. Originally from Italy, she brought not only a wealth of knowledge about the menu but also a level of warmth and professionalism that made our evening feel special. She took the time to explain the nuances of each dish and offered thoughtful recommendations tailored to our preferences. It was clear that she took great pride in her work, making sure that every aspect of our dining experience was perfect.

The food itself was outstanding – each dish was a masterpiece, prepared with fresh ingredients and authentic flavors that transported us straight to Greece. Noemi's suggestions were spot-on, from the appetizer to the dessert. It was refreshing to see how passionate she was about sharing the culinary traditions of Greece that she mentioned she visited three times when she was living in Europe. So her recommendations were super honest and we trusted her a lot.

Overall, Parea Greek Tavern exceeded expectations, and Noemi made the evening truly memorable. If you're looking for exceptional food paired with top-tier service, I highly recommend this place. I can't...