The Sydney Morning Herald logo
Advertisement
Good Food hat15/20Critics' Pick

Kafeneion

Updated ,first published

Whole garfish with lemon.
1 / 12Whole garfish with lemon.Jason South
Kafeneion serves home style Greek food.
2 / 12Kafeneion serves home style Greek food.Jason South
Fava served warm, with bread for dunking.
3 / 12Fava served warm, with bread for dunking.Jason South
Offal soup is available from 10pm to 1am.
4 / 12Offal soup is available from 10pm to 1am.Supplied
Fried sweetbreads with lemon.
5 / 12Fried sweetbreads with lemon.Jason South
Baked capsicum filled with herbed rice.
6 / 12Baked capsicum filled with herbed rice.Supplied
Dry cured beef with olives and fennel.
7 / 12Dry cured beef with olives and fennel.Supplied
Greek village salad.
8 / 12Greek village salad.Jason South
Whole fish of the day, grilled and served with lemon.
9 / 12Whole fish of the day, grilled and served with lemon.Jason South
Everyone is wearing black and drinking wine.
10 / 12Everyone is wearing black and drinking wine.Jason South
Cured bonito.
11 / 12Cured bonito.Jason South
Kafeneion’s baklava.
12 / 12Kafeneion’s baklava.Jason South.
Good Food hat15/20Critics' Pick

Kafeneion

Greek$$

Flying the flag for Melbourne’s Hellenic dining wave.

When Kafenieon landed briefly on Bourke Street it was an instant classic. Now that it’s settled in the Supper Club site, it feels just as essentially Melbourne. Most of the previous decor remains (including an incongruous but delightfully retro Four ‘n’ Twenty blackboard) but the menu is now a masterclass in rustic Greek cooking.

It’s unlikely you’ll see these dishes in the tavernas around town. Not crisp-fried, oregano-flecked sweetbreads brightened with lemon, nor tomato orzo spiced with cinnamon and baked with chicken, which will take some diners back to yiayia’s table.

Pork braised with potato, leek and lemon is comfort by the spoonful. Even a simple fava dip is impressive: velvety, warm and scattered with capers, red onion, spring onion and green chilli. Service has improved since the pop-up days but, thankfully, is just as unfussy as this soul-nourishing food.

Good to know: Opt for the still-generous half-serves of mains so you can squeeze in dessert, such as filo and orange syrup cake.

Good Food reviews are booked anonymously and paid independently. A restaurant can’t pay for a review or inclusion in the Good Food Guide.

Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox.

Sign up

Continue this series

Melbourne CBD
Up next
Balinese-style pork skewers at Kata Kita.
  • Recommended

Kata Kita

Modern flair meets deeply rooted tradition.

Sate ayam (chicken satay) and iga bakar kecap (grilled beef ribs) at Kenangan.
  • Review

Kenangan

Crowd onto the communal table for bright takes on regional specialties.

Previously
Kimchi pancake at Joomak Korean restaurant.
  • Review

Joomak

Unassuming basement pub for soju-fuelled feasting.

See all stories

From our partners

Advertisement
Advertisement