The Best Greek Restaurants in Cabbagetown, Toronto, Ontario

Greek cuisine is based on Mediterranean foods and food sources, with culinary traditions that go back thousands of years in some cases. Contemporary Greek food incorporates many flavours of the Mediterranean that have been staple foods in that region since ancient times. These include olives and olive oil, fresh vegetables and herbs, wine, fish and various meats such as lamb, chicken, pork and beef. Greek restaurants everywhere follow these traditions closely, making minor changes based on seasonal availability of ingredients but preserving the integrity of this cuisine.
Greek cuisine has heavily influenced contemporary cooking in many ways. The first known cookbook was authored in Greece more than two thousand years ago, suggesting that cooking has always been an important part of Greek society. Additionally, the tall white hats worn by contemporary chefs can be traced to the monastic brothers who prepared food in Greek Orthodox monasteries.
The most classical ingredient in Greek cuisine is olive oil. Used in most dishes, the Mediterranean climate is ideal for growing olives and they can be found growing in abundance throughout the region. Other important crops include eggplant, tomato, potato, green peppers and onions, all of which are commonly served with Greek cuisine. Greek dishes are commonly served with particular combinations of herbs and spices that are native to the Mediterranean region, especially oregano, mint, garlic, bay leaves and basil. Thyme and fennel seed are also commonly used as seasonings in Greek restaurants.
An authentic Greek meal should always start with an appetizer and there are plenty of traditional Greek appetizers to choose from. Well-known appetizers include pita served with hummus, a spread made from a mix of chick peas and other herbs and spices such as tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and garlic, Tiropita, a layered pastry similar to Spanikopita but stuffed with a salted mixture of cheese and egg, and Loukaniko, a Greek sausage dish made with pork or lamb. Some restaurants may serve Florina Peppers - roasted red peppers stuffed with feta cheese and herbs or a traditional Greek soul like Patsas, made with tripe, or Fakes, a lentil-based soup served with vinegar and olives.
Meat and seafood dishes form the backbone of Greek cuisine, and entrees are typically based around a heavy meat dish. The best known meat and seafood dishes are Souvlaki, Gyros, Paidakia, Moussaka and Kalamari. Souvlaki is a dish that translates very well for the Western palette. It consists of seasoned lamb, pork or chicken, skewered and grilled. Souvlaki can be eaten directly off the skewer or removed from the skewer and served on a pita along with fresh lettuce, tomato, tzatziki sauce and onions. Gyros is a dish made from lamb roasted over a spit. Chunks of lamb are shaved from the roast and heaped generously onto pita bread with garden vegetables, tzatziki sauce and sometimes hot sauce. Gyros may also be plated and served with salad, potato and rice. Paidakia is something of a restaurant specialty and never served as street food. It consists of lamb chops seasoned with lemon, garlic and oregano and grilled to perfection. This tender and juicy meal is a restaurant favourite. Hungry for eggplant? Many restaurants serve some variation of Moussaka, an oven-baked eggplant casserole made with meat and a savoury custard. Variations on this popular dish can be made with either rice or Zucchini but the Eggplant version is by far the most popular (and authentic).
Kalamari has found its way into the Western diet as a relatively common restaurant appetizer. Fried and breaded squid is often enjoyed before a main course and is at its best when served with a drizzle of lemon juice over it. Other seafood dishes like Chtapodistischara are less well-known. This dish features octopus grilled in vinegar, oil and oregano and is often served with Ouzo, a traditional Greek liquor whose flavour resembles liquorice. Ouzo, Tsipouro and Tsikoudia, a trio of Greek liquors, have been designated by the European Union as products with a Protected Designation of Origin, meaning that nations other than Greece and Cyprus are prohibited from making these traditional liquors. Any traditional Greek liquor which you order in a restaurant is likely to have been bottled in Greece and imported.
Feta cheese is a staple of Greek Cuisine although there are many other local and artisanal cheese that are less well-known outside Greece. Feta Cheese is a popular ingredient for its flavour and versatility. It can be incorporated as an ingredient or topping in a variety of dishes. Feta cheese is often served in Greek salad alongside fresh lettuce and onions, juicy tomatoes, and a generous drizzling of balsamic and oil. It is also a primary ingredient in Spanikopita, a traditional Greek appetizer that combines spinach and feta cheese inside a phyllo pastry along with onions and some egg. Ricotta cheese may accompany the feta cheese in this dish. Many Greek restaurants serve Spanikopita as an appetizer and it is commonly served in bakeries or delicatessens where pastry is being made for desserts.
Other Greek desserts include Bougatsa, a pastry consisting of custard or cheese between layers of pastry and Fanouropita, a sweetbread made with ground cloves and cinnamon. Butter cookies, olive-oil cookies, and walnut cake are all traditional Greek desserts that can be found at many Greek bakeries, especially on the Danforth. Greek Baklava is another well-known dessert made from layers of pastry filled with chopped nuts and held together with a generous drizzling of honey.
There are many common elements that define Greek cuisine: Firstly, the generous use of herbs and spices that give all of these dishes a distinctly Mediterranean flavour. Secondly, the use of traditional local ingredients such as olive oil, oregano and feta cheese. These flavours are pervasive throughout Greek cuisine and are seen in entrees, appetizers and desserts, defining the culinary spirit of the food. Menu Palace has listings for Greek restaurants and bakeries across the GTA where you can sample these deliciousdishes of Greek cuisine for yourself, along with many other unique and exotic dishes. What are you waiting for?