Pireaus Blues

Oh Melbourne, how I love you. Pireaus Blues is one of those quintessential Melbourne institutions that epitomises what this city is all about.. So impressive in fact, that I was busting to go back there again after my first amazing dinner there, that I revisited six days later. I just don’t think there is anything this good back in Brisbane. A couple of weeks ago, my friends K, S and myself arrived all rugged up on a wintery Saturday night. A short tram ride from the city, Pireaus Blues is situated in the eating and drinking cultural boiling pot of Brunswick Street in Fitzroy. We walked into the cosy, bustling restaurant with sunny yellow walls dotted with framed snaps and memorabilia. Each of the delightful wait staff greeted us with warmth and laughter from the tables of people echoed through the restaurant. Something tells me that this was a great find.

It was almost half past eight and the place was brimming with diners and exuded a fantastic, familiar atmosphere. I almost felt as though I had gatecrashed a big Greek family dinner. Well, that probably wasn’t such a great stretch of the truth. Pireaus Blues is one of Melbourne’s longest-running Greek restaurants and if there are two things I know about Greeks: it is their love of family and their love of food.

For meze (the Greek word for appetiser), we ordered the Pireaus Dips Platter which included five enourmous servings of Tzatziki, Beetroot, Taramosalata (fish roe & pureed potato), Eggplant and Skordalia (garlic & pureed potato) dips and a generous stack of traditional grilled pita. In the centre was a ramekin filled with Kalamata and Volo olives drizzled with Greek olive oil and oregano. All of that for only $19.95 and we hadn't even started on the entrees! The tzatzki was a stand out favourite on our table, with the cucumber's texture and the tangy lemon and garlic flavours really complimenting the creamy (goat's milk?) yoghurt. Tzatziki is often used as a sauce in popular greek dishes like gyros and souvlaki but it can also be served as a side for a meat-based dish. The tzatziki's acidity cuts through the fat of the meat, making it the perfect accompaniment to a perfect greek feast.

Next up, we had the Htaponi Sta Karvouna (Char grilled octopus), the Dolmades (vine leaves stuffed with rice and herbs) which came with a beautiful minted yogurt dip and a serve of one of the evening's entree specials: Seared Scallops in a red salsa. The virtually melt in-your-mouth tender scallops were perfectly contrasted by the classic aciditic tomato flavours and was my favourite pick of the entrees.

Despite being absolutely stuffed to the point of an almost unbuttoning of the jeans, we couldn't leave without trying the Paidakia. We decided to share one between the three of us, after realising we'd gone a bit overboard with the starters! All worth it though, of course! Out came our Paidakia: our main (and final!) course. This translated as Frenched Lamb Cutlets with lemon and olive oil dressing, served with zucchini, mushroom, fresh tomato and fetta and topped with a potato fritter. Oh. My. God. I never knew it was possible for lamb to taste that good.

Without a doubt, Pireaus Blues is the most brilliant dining experience I have had in Melbourne so far. On my second trip back there, I couldn't resist ordering those divine lamb cutlets again, just to prove to more friends how absolutely phenomenal they are. And they were exactly that, even the second time around. I also paced myself in the entree stakes this time and managed to squeeze in enough space for the Loukoumades, which are sticky little Greek Doughnut balls served with honey, cinnamon and crushed walnuts. Okay I'll admit, I am a huge fan of any kind of doughnuts, including those cheap and nasty ones from Donut King... but to make something so plain and simple into something so lush, left me delighted and left us all fighting over the last one! It may or may not have seen me waking up drooling after a recurring daydream about those sweet little suckers. Mmmm. Delightful indeed!

 

Pireaus Blues

310 Brunswick Street

Fitzroy

Melbourne

Ph: 03 9417 0222

Chinese on Brunswick

I curled up in bed for a power nap on Saturday afternoon after a slightly boozy Friday evening. I awoke in a fluster, realising I had slept through my alarm that was set to wake me in time to be refreshed and ready for dinner with friends at 7.30. I hurried out of the house, hopped on a couple trams and made it from my bed in East Melbourne to the restaurant in North Melbourne, only an hour-and-a-bit late. Okay, to clarify: anyone that knows me would appreciate that getting ready in that record amount of time was pretty much a miracle for me. Despite being proud of my own ninja-like speedy efforts, my friends had admittedly finished their meals (and a bottle of wine). Not the best of starts to a night out, but at least I was in a great mood after a long, revitalising sleep!

Anyway, back to the point. Dinner was at Mao's, a small licensed and B.Y.O Chinese restaurant - bordering on daggy - in Brunswick Street: Fitzroy's main dining and bar-hopping precinct. I was warmly greeted by the waitress and my bottle of wine was promptly opened and poured. I was ready to eat my own arm by this point, so I picked three tasty-sounding entree items off the extensive menu so I could sample as much as possible, as soon as possible.

Fried bean curd arrived shortly after ordering and was presented in some sort of amazingly flavoursome, sweet Chinese sauce (almost like a soup). I wish I had noted down what it was! Alongside this, a generous serve of tender parcels of vegetarian dumplings (I had a serious craving for these) were perfectly accompanied by my favourite Asian veggie: bok choy.


The third dish was a bit naughty: fried calamari pieces that were served battered and crispy, which complimented the soft flesh of the calamari. This dish was the greasy one of the three, but I loved that about it - it was perfect with my wine and the girls couldn't resist stealing a piece!



My experience at Mao's was entirely satisfying: it was 'simple - done well'. Flavoursome food at affordable prices, a buzzing yet relaxed atmosphere and friendly, attentive (yet not annoying) service. I'm not usually a huge fan of Chinese food, but I think Mao's may just have converted me.


Mao's Chinese Restaurant
263 Brunswick Street
Fitzroy
VIC 3065
Ph: (03) 9419 1919