New arrival claims top spot in dining charts
A VAN serving Greek street food has been named the best place to eat in Swansea on Tripadvisor.
Parked in a residential street in Manselton you’ll find Alexanter Steto’s colourful van from which he serves up fresh and authentic Greek dishes.
The 38-year-old, from Athens, only set up Greek Flavours by Alexanter in December 2019 and when lockdown struck just a few months later a surge in food deliveries saw trade sky-rocket.
So much so that his food is now ranked number one out of 531 eateries on reviews website Tripadvisor
Out of the 96 people who reviewed it 93 described it as excellent.
Mr Steto originally launched the business with the aim of travelling to different food markets at weekends alongside his other job as a cook in Singleton Hospital during weekday mornings.
But with events and festivals cancelled due to coronavirus he decided to park the van outside his home and start cooking in his kitchen during the evenings before also driving around the city delivering his meals to hungry customers.
“At the beginning I was sceptical of home deliveries because of lockdown but people seemed to like it,” he said. “Most of the ratings are five stars which has put us in first place and most of them have been through lockdown with the home deliveries.
“I bought the van in October 2019 and I did the first market in the December and by the end of March we had done several markets in Swansea.
“At the moment I am cooking in my kitchen and then it gets delivered. We couldn’t trade anymore because of lockdown but with people staying at home the demand for food delivery was high. That’s how everything started and built up.”
Offering classic Greek cuisine with dishes such as chicken gyros, moussaka, Greek salads and baklava, Mr Steto described his cooking as “healthy, tasty and fresh”.
Before making the move to Swansea in 2014 with his family Mr Steto was cooking Greek, Italian, and Mediterranean cuisine in Athens.
He relocated to South Wales after being offered a job at Las Iguanas, in Wind Street, before eventually deciding to go it alone at the end of last year.
His culinary skills have proved so popular in recent months that he’s now in the process of opening his own takeaway in the Manselton area of the city.
“A lot of people call me and ask if they can book a table but I have to say that we are a street food van,” he added.
“It’s me delivering the food and sometimes my slots are full and people ask if they can come and collect and I have to say no because I’m cooking at home.
“It’s simple ingredients and, in my opinion, cooking in smaller batches but producing it every day keeps it simple and fresh.
“People like my food because it brings back their memories of their holidays.”
“It makes me feel very happy to be rated number one because it’s like your life work is being recognised and it shows that people like what you’re doing,” he added.
“The takeaway will have more Greek flavours and a wider range of dishes and you will have the option of delivery or collection as well as longer hours of service.”
Greek Flavours by Alexanter is open Tuesday to Sunday from 5.30pm to 9pm and is based in Verig Street, Manselton, and is available on Justeat.