Kalamata Kouzina (Sunningdale Shopping Centre) 

In 2018, Alec Manganas opened Kalamata Kouzina with the aim of sharing his mother’s delectable home cooking with South Africans at large. Today, the restaurant (which gets its name from Kalamata in Greece where Alec’s father was born) still has Alec’s mother running the ‘kouzina’, training the kitchen staff in family recipes passed down through the generations. It is this traditional, homecooked Greek food, coupled with the attention to detail, personalised customer service and Greek vibes that keep patrons flocking to the restaurant. Evocative of a typical taverna in Santorini, Greek culture is celebrated to the fullest with daily Greek dancing and breaking of plates. Gyros are one of the most popular items on the menu thanks to the homemade pita bread. While the lamb, chicken and pork gyros are firm favourites, other options include calamari, halloumi and the vegan veggie gyro. All gyros come with onion, tomato, tzatziki and chips.   

Saders Kitchen (Northwood Crusaders Sports Club, Durban North) 

Since 2021, Nick and Katia Papadopoulos, former proprietors of Eat Greek, have been the resident caterers at Northwood Crusaders Sports Club, serving up flavourful, home-style Greek meals to patrons who keep returning for the consistently good food, as well as the welcoming vibe. With indoor seating, a well-stocked bar, as well as outdoor seating on the veranda, beer garden or Bedouin tent out in the fields, customers are spoilt for choice when it comes to ambience, while the kids have ample space to play. The casual, relaxed and family-friendly atmosphere with hands-on management and efficient service is as much a draw as the food. Gyros are a popular choice, with the lamb gyro being the top pick. Other gyro choices include chicken, beef, pork or falafel, all of which come wrapped in pita with onion, tomato and tzatziki (or hummus), accompanied by chips or salad.  

 

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NIKOS (Durban North) 

True to its tagline ‘NIKOS Coalgrill Greek’, NIKOS is famous for its coal-fired Greek grills. Since its inception in 2017, NIKOS has strived to maintain the quality, consistency and authenticity of its Greek food across its outlets in South Africa. NIKOS’ focus on sharing plates, healthy Greek food and impeccable service is what keeps customers returning. At the Durban North branch, the casual, cosy, comfortable and family-friendly restaurant is also popular for its Greek night that is held on the last Friday of every alternate month, featuring live Greek music, dancing and breaking of plates. Yiros are one of the top-selling menu items, the chicken yiro roll being the most popular. Other yiro options include pork, beef, calamari, lamb kofta, pulled lamb kleftiko, falafel, halloumi, and roasted brinjal and chickpeas. All yiros come in pita with chopped tomato, red onion and your choice of dip (hummus, tzatziki or tahina).  

 

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Delfi Greek Taverna (Windermere) 

Owned by sister-duo Maria and Doddy Teranes, Delfi Greek Taverna was started in 2002 at the same location where their parents owned a supermarket-cum-café for 35 years. True to their Greek heritage, the restaurant resembles a typical Greek taverna, replete with Greek décor and Greek tablecloths adorning the tables of the 30-seater restaurant. The cosy ambience is enlivened with Greek music, dancing and breaking of plates, which often spills over onto the veranda outside. The food is authentic, home-cooked traditional Greek fare, with souvlaki wraps being hot-sellers. While the chicken souvlaki wrap is a house favourite, other options include the beef souvlaki wrap and a vegetarian kebab souvlaki wrap with halloumi. All souvlaki wraps come in pita with red onion, tomato and tzatziki, accompanied by chips or salad.  

FÁBRICA (Sunningdale Shopping Centre and Glenore Centre, Durban North)  

For the past five years, FÁBRICA has been diligently providing customers in Durban with their daily coffee fix from their own unique coffee brand that has become a household name. But it’s not just the coffee that sells – patrons swear by the warm pita gyros filled with red onion, tomato, coriander, tzatziki and a choice of lamb, chicken, pork or halloumi – lamb being the favourite – accompanied by chips or salad. The ambience is lively with upbeat music, with an added draw being the friendly atmosphere and great customer service, where patrons are made to feel at home. On Thursdays, FÁBRICA hosts its ever-popular Ladies Night, while on Fridays, patrons can enjoy live music from 6pm to 9pm.  

 

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