As Greek As It Gets (Menlo Park) 

If you’re looking for a taste of Greece in Pretoria, As Greek As It Gets is the place to go,  because as the name suggests, the dishes on the menu are prepared according to family recipes that are not only nutritious, but mouth-wateringly delicious. Run by Stefano and Dalene Oroni for the past three years, the restaurant boasts a classy, beach-like, laidback atmosphere, personalised service and hands-on management. Once a month, patrons can experience a Greek evening of belly dancing and plate breaking, while the restaurant also hosts a Souvla Braai Day with live entertainment on the first and third Saturday of the month. From the menu, the calamari giro and pork souvlaki in pita are firm favourites, while other popular options include the beef, chicken, halloumi and calamari giros and the chicken souvlaki in pita, all of which come with Greek-style pita, red onion, tomato and tzatziki, plus a side of potato wedges or chips.  

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by As Greek as it gets Pretoria (@asgreekasitgetspretoria)

Mythos (multiple outlets) 

Established in 2006 by George Kutra, Mythos has closely followed its founder’s vision of providing an exceptional Greek culinary experience to patrons for the past 17 years, with the same high quality and consistency being maintained across its nine outlets in South Africa. The idyllic, warm and welcoming atmosphere of each restaurant, attention to detail, efficient service and the wide-ranging menu of traditional Greek dishes has led to Mythos winning multiple awards, with customers flocking to this Greek food haven. Souvlaki in pita and gyros are ever popular with patrons, with the chicken and halloumi, falafel, and falafel and halloumi being the top picks. Other ‘pita-in-hand’ options include beef, beef and feta, chicken, pork, calamari and lamb, all of which come with red onion, tomato, cucumber, tzatziki (or hummus for a vegan version) and a side of fresh-cut chips.  

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Mythos Greek Restaurants (@mythos_greek_restaurants)

Prosopa Restaurant (Waterkloof Heights) 

Started 19 years ago by chef Dino Fagas, Prosopa is a fine-dining Mediterranean restaurant that is known for its appetising Mediterranean cuisine, as well as for its classy, romantic ambience that is perfect for a candlelit dinner or a casual meal with family or friends. While the menu draws on the varied gastronomic heritage of the Mediterranean, the dishes are prepared using local ingredients, with the wine list also featuring a range of local South African wines that are served by the glass. From the Greek section of the menu, the souvlaki in homemade pita is a huge draw with customers – the chicken and beef souvlaki wraps being the most popular. All the souvlaki wraps come in pita with onion, tomato, cucumber, tzatziki and a protein choice of either beef fillet, chicken, Greek meatballs, calamari or halloumi, accompanied by a side of chips.  

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Prosopa Restaurant (@prosoparestaurant)

Mezetaki (Hazelwood, Pretoria) 

Starting out in 2000 with Meze Emporio, a Greek deli in Senderwood, Johannesburg, entrepreneur Taki Betsakos eventually opened Mezetaki in 2010, a sit-down restaurant serving traditional Greek food – with the deli still attached to the restaurant. In 2022, Mezetaki opened in Hazelwood, Pretoria. The cosy and welcoming Mediterranean-themed ambience with lively Greek music is popular with patrons looking for a light meal or a relaxing dinner with family or friends, with a mandatory pitstop at the deli which stocks a wide range of Greek products. The menu features a variety of classic Greek fare, as well as Mediterranean dishes. Yiros are a hit with customers, with options that include beef, chicken, pork, bifteki, sheftalia, calamari, halloumi and falafel, all wrapped in a pita with onion, tomato and tzatziki. Vegans can enjoy the deconstructed yiro, which comes with a choice of falafel or halloumi, with vegan or rye bread, onion, tomato and hummus.  

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Mezetaki (@mezetaki_cafenio)

Filos Kitchen Coffee Bar Deli (Brooklyn) 

With a tagline that proudly states, ‘Nothing brings people together like good food’, Filos has been dishing up authentic Greek cuisine based on traditional family recipes since 2017. Run by South African-born Cypriot Nicolas Paphitis, the Mediterranean-Greek-themed restaurant is known for its high-quality food, with his mother personally supervising the kitchen staff. The friendly vibe, attentive customer service, spacious indoor and outdoor seating areas and its deli with imported Greek items that customers can pick up after their meal, are bonus factors that make Filos so popular. From the menu, the souvlaki wraps are a crowd favourite, with the chicken and pork wraps being the most ordered. Patrons can also opt for lamb, beef, beef kofta, halloumi, falafel, chickpea, Agean or Cyprus souvlaki wrap options, all of which come in homemade pita with onion, tomato, parsley and tzatziki (or hummus).  

Toula’s Greek Restaurant (Shere) 

Known for offering ‘Greek food with a twist’ – a selection of traditional Greek, as well as fusion Greek dishes, Toula’s Greek Restaurant was opened in 2015 by Paul Fagas and is named after his godmother. Situated in a lifestyle centre in Shere, the restaurant has a modern Mediterranean theme, but the warmth of a village atmosphere. The casual dining family restaurant has no mains on its menu, but offers a wide range of ‘mezedes’ or sharing platters, to encourage patrons to come and feast together, in keeping with the Greek dining style. Souvlaki wraps are hot-sellers on the tapas menu, with the lamb and chicken being firm favourites. Customers can also choose between the beef fillet, bifteki, pork, chourico, calamari, halloumi or roasted mix veg souvlaki wraps, all of which come in homemade pita with onion, tomato, salsa, herbs and tzatziki (or an alternate choice of sauce).  

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Toula’s Family Restaurant (@toulas_silverlakes)