Mezze, moussaka, and much, much more

We love Greek food and are longtime fans of Mykonos in Sea Point and the old Marika’s in its previous premises in Bakoven. But when well-known Capetonians, Jane Raphaely and Karen Roos, put Maria’s Greek Restaurant on their list of favourite Cape Town restaurants, we decided to see what all the fuss was about…

Maria’s on Dunkley Square is a warm and comfortable taverna-style restaurant that serves authentic Greek food, and has been doing so for years, to loyal locals and nearby office workers. It seats around 40 diners in a light and airy whitewashed interior, with an upstairs section that can be used for special occasions and private parties. On sunny days and balmy evenings, chairs and tables flow out onto tree-lined Dunkley Square.

Friendly staff greeted us as we arrived for lunch on the same day that Jos Baker was doing a review for The Cape Times, and we watched in awe as owners Cleon and Kate Romano brought out plate after plate for her to sample, while we perused the blackboard menu deciding what to order.

Maria’s is popular, so you need to book a table and get there early (as they have been known to run out of certain dishes). We started with two glasses of the house white, brought in small tumblers (as they do in Greece), while we pondered the menu. Our waiter explained the philosophy behind the food – organic, green and free-range where possible. We chose a selection of mezze to start – taramosalata, tzatziki, and mucver (a deep-fried feta and baby marrow ball similar to falafel but cheesier), delicious deep-fried halloumi served with lemon wedges, dolmades, and the obligatory pita bread to mop it all up, followed by Patagonian grilled calamari tubes in garlic, chilli and lemon. The slow-cooked lamb with an ouzo-and-artichoke cream sauce and potato wedges – a signature dish – sounded wonderful, but we were too full to try it. The lamb moussaka and lamb-filled pita served at the table next door also looked appetising.

Sweet Greek pastries filled with honey and nuts, and served with Greek coffee, are the perfect end to a Greek meal. We opted for the cigar-shaped baklava accompanied by coffees (requested medium), which didn’t disappoint.

The mezze range in price from R18 (bowl of olives) to around R60 (mussels), with salads from R55 to R75. Filled pitas cost around R80, with the most expensive dish on the menu, the slow–cooked lamb for R135.

Date Ongoing
Time Monday – Saturday, 8am – 10.30pm