The Real Greek has been the UK’s staple group for authentic Greek restaurants since 1999. Today, there are sites around the country, with the Bankside venue being the flagship, and 1 Greek On The Street site, located at BOXPARK Croydon.
Recently I was able to visit the Windsor-based restaurant to sample their new Christmas menu – available until 9th January 2022. Boasting a mouthwatering range of Aegean classics, The Real Greek’s festive menu is a winner because it remains authentic and doesn’t cater to the novelty of the “traditional turkey dinner” in the UK.
The dining experience begins with a glass of Prosecco on arrival and then guests can opt for either a three course meal priced at £24.95 per person, or a two course meal priced at £19.95 per person.
To start, diners can enjoy a Greek Meze Plate, which features a selection of classic Meze favourites, including Crudités, Flatbread, Houmous, Tzatziki, Green Pea Fava, Spinach Tiropitakia, Dolmades & Olives. The portion is generous, the dips are excellent (especially the Tzatziki) and the bread is superb. I wish there’d been more of the Dolmades (vine leaves stuffed with rice, tomato and fresh herbs) and Spinach Tiropitakia, but that would be gluttony and you need to keep room for the mains.
For the second course, the choice is challenging because there are a number of fantastic, must-tries. If you want a skewer, go for either the chicken skewer (cooked absolutely brilliantly) or the Loukaniko Beef and Pork Sausage Skewer (divine flavours). For something more traditional, look no further than the classic Greek Moussaka; it’s comforting and delicious. If you’re in the mood to push the boat out and fancy trying something altogether different, go for Tonia’s Prawns. It’s a clever dish that combines textures and ingredients that you wouldn’t think would work, but really they do. Prawns and feta cheese? I’m here for it. Jalapeños and spinach? Give me more.
Vegan dishes, specially designed by Tonia Buxton (celebrity chef and the face of Greek food in Britain) feature meat-free versions of Greek classics, like Vegan Meatballs – Soutzoukakia, and mouth-watering plant-based dishes, such as Chickpea Filo Triangles.
The second course is accompanied by your choice of a side, which includes Saffron Rice, Chips, and Aegean Slaw. For our table, we went for a classic in the Greek Salad (excellent) and something different in the Pourgouri – Bulgur Wheat, which was particularly great with the prawns.
Our superb waiter for the night not only made us feel instantly welcome, he also made a sensational recommendation on the wine. A must-try Greek red called Kanenas, which I for one will definitely be buying for my household. So if you get stuck at all on the wine menu, look out for that one.
Guests with a sweet tooth can then select from the dessert menu, which includes options like Caramel and Pecan Cheesecake, Greek Yoghurt with walnuts and Luxury Ice Cream or Sorbet. I would recommend either the Chocolate Mousse Cake for something really sweet (but not sickly), or the Baklava if you want to remain true to the authentic Greek evening.
The Real Greek menu development is led by Tonia Buxton, a celebrity chef and the face of Greek food in Britain. The menu embodies the culinary heritage of the Eastern Mediterranean, taking in the best of Greece’s gastronomic traditions, from its 6,000 islands to the fertile mainland and mountains to the latest innovations of the capital’s restaurant scene.
With all the fun and energy of quintessential Greek dining, in addition to the Christmas holiday, The Real Greek is perfect for dates, family get-togethers and a catch up with friends. Its traditional Greek hospitality always delivers a buzzing atmosphere and occasional live entertainment makes it the ideal location for birthdays, anniversaries and parties.
For more information visit www.therealgreek.com
