It takes more than good cooking to keep a restaurant running for 30 years. Greek and Mediterranean eatery and bar Dimitri’s has achieved exactly that, serving the good people of Manchester incredible Hellenic cuisine for more than three decades, bringing flavours from the sun-baked islands and mainland to our own less-sunbaked island. Better yet, this place manages to include the option of eating outside in almost all seasons thanks to its charming arcade terrace area. Nestled between two historic buildings, it comes complete with a flourish of greenery via creeping plants, not to mention the essential heaters.
Back inside and diners can choose between tables on the ground floor and a more intimate, cosy, and ‘taverna-feeling’ basement, primarily aimed at larger groups. Run by its namesake owner, Dimitri, who was inspired to open a restaurant after an uncle took him out for a Greek mezze dinner, along with the incredible atmosphere immediately making you feel at home, this place specialises in small plates, and is an ideal food sharing spot. Options are plentiful, and the menu excels at authenticity with dishes like Moussaka, Stifado, Kotopoulo Aphrodite, Calamarakia, Gigantes Me Feta and Papoutsakia worthy of the old country itself.
As with anything great in Greece, fish is never far away, with seabass and whitebait popular choices. One of three sharing platters is dedicated to fruits of the sea, while the other two Kalamata Platas respectively cater for vegetarians and meat lovers. Those not looking to sample many, and instead want to focus on a few, should check the grill, where classics like Souvlaki, Mixed Kebabs and Gamberoni can be found, and on Sundays a lamb roast takes centre stage. All that aside, live music adds even more ambience at the weekend at Dimitri’s, when the lower floor stays open late for those who want to continue sampling some of the excellent Greek wines well into the night