Georgia's Koutouki

Restaurants like Georgia’s Koutouki down Norton Street are the often unsung champions of Sydney’s rich Greek heritage; but it’s restaurants like this that are an absolute joy to discover. Not content with simply laying on Mediterranean cuisine as so many other eateries do, Georgia’s Koutouki (a ‘koutouki’ is a chilled out taverna-style bar and restaurant) is a Leichhardt cultural embassy that promises mezze and music, courtesy of Georgia’s network of local and touring Greek blues musicians. Here, you can take in traditional and contemporary laika and rembetika tunes while you indulge in the communal dining experience.

Georgia’s Koutouki is often best enjoyed – as faith in its proper moment always is – blind. Simply make your reservation and turn up to be greeted with some of the warmest smiles to be found in a Sydney restaurant. The menu at this top Leichhardt Greek restaurant consists primarily of mezedes and meze platters, all prepared fresh at the Georgia’s Norton Street premises. In addition to these there are weekly specials, and we highly recommend going for one of the set meze menus, especially if you’re new to the Georgia’s Koutouki experience. The last word is to never forget that Greek cuisine is best enjoyed shared, with plates passed around the table.

A good default way to begin your meal at Georgia’s Koutouki is to order up some pita bread and dips – tarama, tzatziki, eggplant and capsicum melitzanosalata, spicy feta cheese tirokafteri – and something from the drinks menu. You’ll find many of the musicians playing on the in-house stage galvanising their singing spirits with ouzo, but you’ll also find a selection of domestic Australian and lesser-known Greek wines on offer. The main event at this refined Sydney Greek restaurant is of course the delectable food. A shared meat, seafood or vegetarian platter for two or more people is an ideal place to start if you’re indecisive or simply want to (quite rightly) put your faith in the capable hands of the restaurant’s chefs. You can also make a meal out of the smaller mezeolakia. As ever, and importantly when the Greek musos make their way to this Leichhardt nightspot, you’ll want to make a booking well in advance to guarantee a table.