Spitaki

Family-run Greek taverna serving traditional mezze to loyal locals.

The 2019/20 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).

It’s slightly off the beaten track, but Spitaki is well worth the journey. Freshly cooked mezze dishes arrive as they are ready, with dips and pitta hitting the table swiftly after the carafe of house wine. Next come salads and heavenly discs of oregano-dressed potatoes. Octopus takes a little more time, but tastes as if it has arrived fresh off the grill in Greece, and is truly deserving of gracing tables here in the Athens of the north. Spicy baked feta packs a punch, while relief comes from fresh cabbage salad. Bean dishes are rich and filling and meat is chargrilled and served with tzatziki dressing. Basically, it feels as if you’re on holiday, even on a rainy Tuesday. The mezzanine-level table is perfect for hosting a party large enough to give you an excuse to try all the dishes, and the whole family is welcome, even the canine members.