No matter what time of year it is, a hint of the Mediterranean can be just what you need to add some warmth to your life! Whether you take a winter holiday to soak up some end of year sun, or you just fancy a taste of the spice and heat from the east in the spring, there’s something quite special about immersing yourself in a culture that focuses on food and getting together.
Over the last few of years, I’ve had a couple of great trips over to the greek islands, and the cuisine has become one of my favourites. Whether I’ve been eating out, or scrolling through food blogs for inspiration on what to cook at home – the simple, fresh flavours in greek cooking are versatile and delicious.
With my birthday at the end of November, I often find myself dreaming of a sandy beach and a touch of winter sun to celebrate the day, but each year comes around and I always neglect to make plans. This year, I decided to celebrate my birthday with a catch-up meal at Glasgow’s up and coming Mediterranean restaurant – Mezzidakia on St. Vincent Street. Unfortunately, the restaurant has now closed.
About Mezzidakia, Glasgow
While other restaurants in Glasgow’s city centre with a similar menu lack a sense of individuality and atmosphere, Mezzidakia breaks this trend with enough personality to make the cosy venue feel more like a friend’s holiday villa rather than a restaurant in Scotland’s food and fashion capital. From the moment you walk through the door, you feel at ease, comfortable in the relaxed environment – with the attentive and knowledgeable staff on hand to provide recommendations and keep the laughter flowing.
I usually have reservations when it comes to mezze or tapas style eateries, but the variety on the menu at Mezzidakia is great – you’ll be able to find your standard dishes of feta wrapped in filo and pork souvlaki, alongside more adventurous Middle Eastern and Persian flavours. Even with the biggest of appetites, you’ll struggle to make your way through every dish your taste buds are asking for in the one visit.
In terms of the layout of the restaurant, there’s a good mix of quiet booths upstairs and by the main kitchen, as well as a number of tables at the front for couples and larger groups. It can get quite busy in the restaurant in the evening, and even though there is a dedicated bar area – this usually fills up with diners as well.
My Review of Mezzidakia, Glasgow
I’m no expert food critic, but the distinctive mix of flavours and textures on the menu is really exciting, and that’s the main reason I’m looking forward to my next visit to the restaurant – though I might stop in for a quick lunch one day to make the most of the lunchtime gyros and kebab specials. While the small plates menu is great for an evening of food, drink and chatter – you can’t beat a gyros pitta when you’re feeling peckish during the day.
There’s a few hidden gems on the menu, such as the lamb borek filo parcels served with a warming harissa yoghurt and the lipsi mussels in an ouzo sauce. No matter what you enjoy, with a great selection of high quality seafood and meat choices as well as plenty of vegetarian options, the mezze style menu offers a great way to share and taste the different cuisines. A personal favourite is the traditional keftedes – a greek meatball dish with the best tasting tzatziki I’ve had outside of greece.
Summary:
Staff – Excellent – all very welcoming and a great knowledge of complimentary dishes for anyone unsure what to try first. Attentive and chatty.
Food – Great variety and fantastic flavours, the evening mezze style menu is great for a family catch up where people have different tastes.
Atmosphere – Vibrant – with great personality and an intimate feel thanks to the great restaurant layout and seating options.
Value – Great – with mezze dishes costing between £4 and £7 – you can eat quite a lot without spending a fortune, for those on a budget, visit at lunch time for a gyros or kebab.
Star Rating – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This post is not sponsored by Mezzidakia or any related companies and reflects the personal opinions of the writer only.
For information and bookings please visit the website: www.mezzidakia.com