A CULINARY TRIP AKIN TO A GREEK SEASIDE CAFÉ,
I was looking forward to visiting Mediterraneo Family Restaurant as it had been several years since we last dined there. Stepping out of the snow and into the restaurant’s foyer on a chilly Saturday in February immediately felt familiar and welcoming.
Their Mediterranean-inspired decor, combining warm yellows and deep blue, conjures up images of sitting in a seaside café with wrought-iron chairs and wooden tables. Without appearing cluttered, shelves of wine displayed on the walls, along with various plants and vases, add to the cosy ambience.
They make the most of the space available for dining. To the left of the front door is an elevated room that can be used for large groups, or divided into smaller tables. To the right is a row of tables that stretches into the back of the restaurant with another elevated area at end of the room.
My husband and I arrived quite early for dinner and were invited to choose our table. Our server delivered our menus and glasses of water as soon as we sat down. In the spirit of the setting I ordered a glass of a Greek white wine ($6.50), and my husband chose a bottle of Greek beer ($7).
As we were in no rush we decided to order our appetizers first while we considered our main courses. There are numerous Greek and Mediterranean starters so we ordered three to share.
The first to arrive was the Keftedis ($6.95) — flavourful Greek meatballs served alongside tzatziki dip and pita triangles. The meatballs were served hot, and the cold dip was a nice contrast as I felt the meatballs were a bit dry.
We then tried the Dolmadakia ($9), grape leaves stuffed with a mixture of lean ground beef and herbs served warm over an egg sauce. They were tasty, but I felt the sauce needed to be eaten quickly as it thickened while it cooled and became harder to scoop.
Last, and definitely our favourite, was the Spanakopita ($6.50). It was delicious with its perfect flaky layers of phyllo pastry with herbs, spinach and feta cheese served hot and crispy. We had a stare down over the last piece.
Our main dishes arrived in good time. I had chosen the Polo Saltimbocca ($21.95), which consisted of boneless chicken breast stuffed with pesto, prosciutto and cheese. The menu explained that saltimbocca means “jump into the mouth,” and I soon discovered that was a good description of the dish.
I tasted several flavours with the very first bite. The chicken was tender and mild, the prosciutto and pesto were salty, and the cheese filling was almost sweet. It was delicious. The roast Greek potatoes on the side are very tasty, but the rice and side vegetables were uninspiring.
My husband’s Shrimp Souvlaki ($19) came as advertised with two skewers of large shrimp that
had been marinated in garlic, olive oil and lemon sauce and charbroiled. They were well flavoured, and perfectly cooked without being overdone. The shrimp were also served with the potatoes, rice and side vegetables.
As the restaurant wasn’t busy, our server had agreed to my husband’s request to add a small Greek salad ($2) to his main course, despite the warnings about “no substitutions.” It was well prepared with plenty of fresh lettuce, onion, Kalamata olives, cucumber, tomato, fresh oregano and feta, tossed with Mediterraneo’s homemade dressing.
I had been distracted by the dessert display during most of our meal so, despite having food left over to bring home, we decided
to share a piece of Baklava ($5.95). It did not disappoint with its sweet layers of phyllo pastry, honey and finely chopped nuts, and we had no trouble finishing it.
As she visited our table throughout the meal our server was laid back but attentive, and comfortable offering advice on the menu.
We really enjoyed our return visit to Mediterraneo, and will definitely be back.