Feasting at Bahari Greek Restaurant in Richmond A Winner
Looking for excellent Greek food in Melbourne? Fancy a casual night out with friends and authentic Greek food? Wanting a warm and hospitable venue? Bahari ticks all the boxes. The World Loves Melboure was invited along to sample the new menu. Clearly a popular restaurant we dined at the earlier sitting on a Wednesday night - this place is popular!
When you get afforable, highly rewarding dishes and an intimate appealing atmosphere, you are on a winner. We enjoyed everything about Bahari and look forward to returning.
Bahari's charismatic head chef, Philip Vakos, is an ex-Masterchef contestant who serves up some favourites as well as new and experimental Greek (or Gringlish as they like to call it!) dishes. The menu features new specials regularly; think share foods like Haloumi Cigars, Stuffed Baby Squid, Pork Jowl Croquettes as well as regular favourites such as Prawn Stuffed Zucchini Flowers, grilled Octopus, Slow Roasted Lamb Shoulder and many more options!
We arrived just as service was starting but the place was soon full.
A Greek beer to start is a must...
Swan St has developed into a food mecca and one of th enew darling precincts of Melbourne. Bahari is a major player in the rise of Swan Street and is the favourite of many regulars. If i was a local I would no doubt frequent Bahari. The food is rustic, almost comfort food. It's fresh and somewhat playful; this is a menu for the punters rather than a menu for the chefs (if you know what I mean).
Haloumi cigars are addictive!
The way to go here is first order a drink, then order up a selection of small share plates; then you can experience a number of highlights on the menu, before order a few mains for good measure. This is Greek so it's about community and family - food to share and enjoy together.
The Pork jowl croquettes had the right amount of crunch outside and soft inside - with an extraordinary amount of pork (more than we've ever seen in a croquette). So good.
Stuffed calamari - is there anything more rustic? Not only was the calamari a standout but we loved the sauce (and mopped some of it up with pita bread).
Chicken skewers! Again, this is a menu for the punters. No confusion over menu names here - we loved how the skewers were perfectly cooked (a bit of char) and also served up with decent presentation.
The tour de force is the slow cooked Lamb Shoulder - a must have on the menu. Melt in your mouth lamb!
Perfect with a beetroot salad!
A feast!
And with some crunchy baked potato...
We found the wait staff to be attentive and engaging, a little humorous, and happy to be there.
Decor is modern with plants and white walls, and the lighting (naked light bulbs) is dimmed down at night. You can also enjoy a few tables on eclectic Swan St - near a lively intersection.
Bahari feels like your best friend; a favourite you love to hang around. A great example of the best of the Melbourne foodie scene.