When a quiet Monday night turns into an impromptu dinner night out with my friend Karie, I am already over the moon! But then she introduced me to my (now) new favourite eatery around Jozi: Kolonaki. Literally meaning “Little Column” & named after a wealthy, vibey & upmarket district in Greece.
This is the new ‘it’ eatery in Joburg & even on a Monday night, this place was buzzing! We were super lucky to get a table on the spur of the moment.
Mykonian Decor
Instead of the usual blue & white interior that we’ve come to expect from Greek restaurants, the Mykonian (aka inspired by the stone architecture of ancient Greece) decor at Kolonaki is much more understated with beachy coloured furniture & a reed ceiling.
Have I mentioned how gorgeous the furniture is? And so are the bathrooms – I always have to check. Haha.
Welcoming Service
I’d say these guys have totally achieved their goal of creating “a warm & welcoming restaurant, full of individual character offering fantastic hospitality & great food”.
We received quick & efficient service – but not overly friendly & faffing. With a view of the kitchen, it’s clear that this is a well-oiled machine. Our food arrived very quickly.
The whole vibe is relaxing – even your fellow diners look the part! We sat down next to a family with two teenage daughters. They all looked like they were having an island holiday: mother dressed in white linen, dad sporting an island-vibe shirt….
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The Food
The variety of mouthwatering choices on every page of the menu is just YUM! Kolonaki is a Meze kitchen; meaning that you eat small plates of as many things as you can.
So, to start, we had three dips with pitas. The Hummus was good enough, but the Tirosalata (pepper & feta cheese dip) & Melitzanosalata (roasted aubergine with garlic, capers) were so good that I could lick the bowl!
Next Karie had a chicken Souvlaki & I moved on to Mezedes. I tried the Three Prawns Wrapped In Kataifi (with strawberry, almonds, Greek yogurt & cucumber) followed by the super delicious Yemista which is a red pepper stuffed with mince, cinnamon & bechamel. Although I really enjoyed the main part of the meal, next time I will stick with small plates, pitas & wine.
After our main meal we received white lemony cloth to wipe our hands – such a great idea.
After a shared Baklava & a coffee, our bill ariived – accompanied by the most delicious Turkish Delight.
Talking about the bill: I loved the experience & the food, but I have to mention that Kolonaki is best visited after payday. Having a three-course meal can easily come to R400 per person. Wine by the glass is R75, so I suggest rather ordering a bottle.
We paid for our own meal at Kolonaki. The experience & food were delightful, so I just had to share with you!
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Kolonaki serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks & coffee.
Be sure to book your table right now on the Kolonaki website.
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See you at Kolonaki friend.
Yolandi ♥
Featured Image: https://www.kolonaki.co.za/
The decor, the food – wow! I still haven’t tried this restaurant yet but it is at the very top of my list 🙂
Loren | http://www.minkys.co.za
You should. It is such a treat. It’s been my favourite dining experience of 2019 so far. xxx