Review Stavros Tavern - Melbourne

Great food and service. An authentic Greek dining experience. We had delicious starters, very tasty goat falling off the bone plus the grilled lamb and a solid greek salad. Menu prices are slightly above reasonable.

I have been to this restaurant several times over the last five years or so; always only going back because of a group decision. It is always the same. They cannot cook calamari properly; very strange for a Greek restaurant. The fish was beautiful, but only a tiny amount was provided. The service is always very ordinary. Only the owner said a few words to us. Most of the staff seem inexperienced or too quiet. There was zero conversation; even when placing the food on the table. The price for the banquet they provided was a bit expensive considering the very small amount of food provided; $500 for eight people is not a lot if there is a reasonable amount of food provided, or if it is of a reasonable standard. They also closed the kitchen without telling us. On a positive note, they did not charge for corkage. When we asked for the dessert menu, they started to talk us through it, when we discovered that we could not have any of it, because the kitchen had been closed 20 minutes earlier. They started packing up the place well before 10 pm, so we felt like we were being ushered out. The group had a great night because of the company, but I will never return; even if a group wants to go there.

Visited this restaurant on a Scoopon 13/07/2013. The meat was tender & tasty however serving sizes were extremely inadequate.Thinking its because of the Scoopon deal we ordered another platter & the same size was provided. Lamb & chicken on the plate would be an average serving size you would get in a kebab however the price for each serving was $25-$26 absolutely outrageous! Therefore the plate (they say platter) was $51! We didnt even get a salad which was part of the deal however if assuming the shredded lettuce or rocket or sprinkled onion over the meat was a traditional salad then thats pathetic. Definately would not recommend this restaurant unless you eat like a bird and have a fat wallet.

I love this place! The food is YUMMMMM and everything Greek cuisine should be! The banquet style menu (which we choose every time) is amazing and full of variety. If you are looking for authentic Greek food.. Stavros Tavern is the place to be. :)

The service and location is A1. All you jokers with the negative reviews have no idea. If it was that bad it wouldn't be in business for over 30 years. Go back to eating your fish and chips with your newspaper wrappers. You clowns didn't know what food was until we came in!!!! Regards, Prince of the Balkans

One star from me, couldn't move as they sat 7 to a table for 4. the waiters spilt drinks as there was not room to put the platters down. Only enough food to feed 2 people and $50 per head, to difficult to fight the way to the toilets so dare not have a drink

What a disgrace! We booked a work function for 30 people and some could not make it. We were charged at the end of the evening for 30 with the owner claiming he had staffed for 30 The service was slow and poor and the food basic This a tired business with a tired and arrogant owner Do NOT book your Christmas event with these people

Good service. Amazing food. Nice little place down by the beach. We had the sharing platters and it was fantastic. Will definitely be returning.

The best saganaki I've ever tasted and trust me I'm seasoned saganaki taster, I know what I'm talking about. Warm and authentic atmosphere with delicious generous serves. A local winner that I will be returning to again very soon.

Finally got here after living locally for years. It was okay, but i won't be rushing back. Mezze platter seemed mostly pre packaged products, I'm sure the beetroot was from a can. Chargrilled octopus was nice enough but overcooked. Lamb gyros was also okay but really salty and I think they had carved it then let it sit for a while. We got there at 8 and were finished at 845 because the food comes so quickly before your previous dish is even half done. Seems to be loads of staff looking for things to do. We were looking forward to a relaxed leisurely Saturday night dinner but were in and out, pretty underwhelmed, in less than an hour.

Finally, a REAL Greek restaurant in Melbourne! With the characteristic feeling of a taverna but clean and hospitable. The food is what I used to eat in Greece 50 years ago, superb in quality and with a very good presentation. The service is excellent and warm as well as non obtrusive. Fresh made beautiful meze and dips to make you leak your fingers and octopus charcoaled to perfection.... as a retired chef, I really appreciated the place. I can highly recommend it and I will go back soon. WELL DONE! Keep going like this, please..

Fantastic! Great food, great atmosphere and wonderful service! Catered for gluten intolerance and provided an excellent range of truly Greek food. Highly recommended!

So I decided to eat at the stall, marked Stavros tavern"  at the Melb International Flower and Garden Show. What a disgrace. Really! I thought I was going to get proper fish and chips for $14 for one person.  What I got was an old laden piece of frozen boxed fish and chips that were dry and had been sitting in the 'cooked chips' basket for more than 15 minutes.  $5 for a coke is wrong too.  So for 2 people we paid just under so bucks for something my dog wouldn't even eat.  Why would you disgrace your name with such poor quality crap food?  And I was thinking of coming back to your restaurant. Not now, after not only ripping me off but thinking that it's acceptable to do so.  You should be ashamed!

First time I have ever reviewed a restaurant on Zomato but this place is so bad I had to warn others. I ordered chicken, lamb gyros, saganaki and calamari. None of it was fresh and even the pita was stale. Very rare to spend $70 on takeaway and there is absolutely nothing good about the meal. If you like Greek food (as I do) go to Spitiko in South Melbourne. At least the food there is cooked in front of you and the pita won't break your teeth. Avoid at all costs.

Stavros Tavern is a hidden gem for the gluten-free and dairy-free. The restaurant doesn't specifically market its GF&DF offerings, but once you ask the friendly and attentive staff, you'll learn that much on the menu is or can be made GF&DF friendly. Afterall, the heart of traditional Greek cuisine centres around grilled or slow-cooked meats and veggies; hearty and healthy with little or no need of wheat flour or dairy. <br/><br/>On its menu and rotating specials board, several GF&DF dishes stood out for me: the lamb and rice dolmathes, spit-roast lamb, spit-roast chicken, whole-baked fish, slow-baked lamb and slow-baked rabbit. I ordered the spit-roast chicken (kota souvlas) and it arrived with GF pita and hummous in lieu of tzatiki dip. Imagine my surprise! I knew the staff was aware of my dietary intolerances, but I didn't ask for substitutions. I find omitting an item entirely rather than asking for substitutions makes life easier for both the kitchen and myself. I was beyond surprised and delighted to find the additional GF pita and hummous were all initiatives from the owner and proprietor Mister Stavros himself and they were complimentary. Mister Stavros and his kitchen really do look after their customers. I ate away heartily, happily and worry free. <br/><br/>For more than thirty years, Stavros Tavern is highly regarded for keeping with its roots in authentic Greek cuisine. I am very impressed with the restaurant, the gentleman restaurateur Mister Stavros (and his character moustache), his kitchen and wonderful staff. I highly recommend GF&DFers to check the place out and get your Greek food fix!

I came here alone while my partner was away on a business trip. I cannot tell you how amazing the serve was. The restaurant was quiet and the staff spent more time explaining the dishes and their recommendations. The servings were large and offered to cater to the fact I was dining alone. It is it very often you experience this in a restaurant and it absolutely made my night. I had wonder experience.<br/><br/>With such amazing customer service it does baffle me as to why they are so quiet. I would definitely return with company!

Stavros opened his restaurant in 1979 and has been running it for thirty-four years. It is a family business offering real traditional Greek food. As soon as you walk through the door you feel you are part of the family. The staff are extremely friendly and attentive, particularly Stavros who is quite the comedian. Isn’t his moustache impressive? We chose the banquet menu. A selection of house dips and antipasto including pickled octopus, marinated pulses and roasted vegetables are served with home made breads. I liked the dips consisting of melitzanosalata (eggplant), taramosalata (caviar) and tzatziki (yogurt and cucumber). The soda bread was a bit of a let down however we couldn’t go past the pita bread

Take me home to Greece! Just up from the beach at Albert Park is a little piece of Mediterranean heaven. Decoration is a lovely balance of a greek Taverna without feeling OTT or cheesey! The staff are lovely and welcoming and they have Brown Brothers Prosecco by the glass! The menu is fresh and fantastic classic Greek with all the faves, dips, calamari, moussaka and saganaki! I love that salt and pepper comes with a lemon ready to squeeze! There is a really nice buzz about the place with plenty of happy groups of friends and family enjoying hearty plates of grilled meats and fish and some of the best dips I have ever had! Super fresh taramosalata, baba ganoush and tzatziki with a basket full or different warmed breads – heaven!!! For mains I ordered the ‘Kalamaraki Pikantiko’ – grilled calamari, olives, and salsa…. it’s huge!! The most succulent perfect calamari, so fresh and the perfect bite to it – no rubber bands in sight! The dressing was not something I had had before and it was a

Generous serves. Will be back.. Wandered in on a weekday night - restaurant was pretty empty at 7:30.... this may be related to the difficulty finding a parking spot in Albert Park. 1/2P until 10pm? Really? Are the restaurants in the area just for those who live nearby?<br/><br/>Anyway... the restaurant itself is fairly small and a bit rustic looking. We were shown a list of special "sharing plates" on a portable white board by a friendly waiter.<br/><br/>My friend had the chicken gyros (gluten free) - a decent sized platter of chicken, bread and tzatziki that made for a good, hearty meal. The chicken was very nicely cooked.<br/><br/>I couldn't decide so I had the grilled lamb ribs and baked goat (both "share plate/entree size"). Both were very tasty.<br/>The goat was two pieces (including bone) in a nice stew with large chunks of parsnip (which I really like). <br/>The lamb ribs came as one piece (which makes me wonder how you'd share it) with some big wedges of potato. Very nicely cooked, the meat came away from the bone very easily.<br/><br/>I have to comment on the value here. Both my "entree size" dishes could have easily passed for mains elsewhere (we had to clarify that the appropriate size portion had been supplied) and for $16 each represent very good value.<br/><br/>We also ordered a greek salad (maybe a little on the small side for the price - but that would be quibbling) and were supplied with a fair amount of bread (for two people).<br/><br/>Good coverage for the gluten-free diner - they even have GF pita bread. It's a bit solid, but that's pretty much the deal.<br/><br/>My only complaint is that I found the gap between the chair and the table a bit tight for my legs. Larger people might struggle.<br/><br/>All in all, a nice place, good value, nice people... just a pain in the butt finding a park.

Love it. Gold beautiful Greek food...

Needed a coffee while I finished some work at 7pm on night. Popped in here for a long black. One of the best ones I have had in Melbourne.

My absolute favourite local Greek. Not quite as good as Seagulls in Frankston (which has recently changed hands after 28 years and is no longer worth the trip) but a good vibe, friendly staff, and delicious, traditional flavours. Can be expensive though.

Went here about a week ago and it was GREAT! The staff were happy, attentive, interactive and helpful. The food was great, and well priced. There were 6 of us, and we had the $55 set menu; we couldn't eat another bite after all that! <br/>Def will return at some stage. Thanks Stavros!

Loved it.

OVERALL OVERPRICED. Four of us went on a Sunday night after reading mostly good reviews. Some negative some positive, I would go more negative, we listened to Stavros and his suggestion was for him to chose for us. This was not a good idea, the dishes we received were okay, but at the end of the evening when we received the bill. we estimate the meat platter cost approx. $60.00 to $70.00 and included three main meals of small potions. Also when we checked on line, re the corkage it said $2.00 per bottle but charged $5.00 a bottle on the bill. The overall bill of $174.00 seemed over priced for the courses we received. Stavros and his staff were very pleasant, but the overall experience should be more than the staff being friendly. We will not return.<br/> Joe

Overall very acceptable. Celebrated a 19th birthday with 13 friends and family. Nice food on platters and lots of meze on platters. Quality of food was good and all food was fresh. Price was reasonable. Can't ask for much more!

Opa !!!! What a night !. I have been to Stavros Tavern a few times over the past few years and have yet to be disappointed.. I had a chance to visit again a couple of weeks ago and to no surprise, the food was exceptional ....and very Greek ( I am Greek after all so I should know).. All Greek meals differ as they are influenced by the province from which the chef originates. Stavros' flavours have a hint of middle eastern.. And though I may love my mum's cooking, Stavros just nails it! <br/><br/>We booked a table for 3 and ordered a la carte and shared our selection.. And let me tell you ....<br/>The dips were great, as was the bread (the home made olive bread is the best). <br/>The Kouba was more-ish .. Mmmmm .. I want some more now :)<br/>The Kalamari Pikantiko was divine with spices and sensational aroma. <br/>The Lamb Paidakia were tender and perfectly grilled<br/><br/>The staff were wonderful and accommodating.. What more could a diner ask for,<br/><br/>Thank you again Stavros and staff <br/><br/>P.S. .. The authentic Greek music played by the 2 piece band and the smashing of plates and dancing Greek just added to the wonderful atmosphere and authenticity .. Opa ... What a night !!!!!

Great honest Greek food (mind you my only Greek experience was a day trip to Samos), but really the food is always good... it just tastes how I would expect it to :)<br/><br/>Have been several times and the service has always been extremely friendly and personable.

Great local institution. My husband and I eat here regularly as the food is honest, simple and delicious. It is a great place for all ages, great food and service. It's close to the beach and is great for an after swim dinner in summer or a cosy feast in winter. Love this place.

Just did not hit the mark. Have been several times over the past 7 or more years so was looking forward to a good meal after my first visit in about 2 years. We were warmly welcomed and well served throughout the night however for me the food just did not hit the mark. We ordered an entree and lamb ribs and the gyros as our mains. We found the food a bit lacking in flavour and simply too oily/fatty. Would have been nice if the gyros (which I find on the pricey side) contained a bit more salad.

We had such a fantastic experience at Stavros! There were ten of us, no booking, and they quickly moved some tables around so we could fit. We were happy for them to choose a selection of food for us all, which they did (checking for vegetarian, coeliac etc first) and then brought it all out. It was so delicious, and there was so much food. We had wine and soft drinks as well and the total was $307. Extremely good value for money, awesome, friendly service - great experience all round. We will be back!!!

AWWSUM. Love the mixed grill and fasoulata!

OUTSTANDING!. My partner and I thought we'd give the Scoopon voucher a go for the first time and we had a fantastic time, not an iota of disappointment! <br/>Dips and breads for an entree, glass of vino and we had the choice of a meat or seafood platter, plus salad. We went with the meat and were delighted we did.<br/>My other half is good on the tooth but she couldn't get near the bottom of it and the food was outstanding. <br/>The staff were very good and we spent 20 minutes on the way out talking with Stavros himself. <br/>Highly recommend from two very satisfied diners. We are heading back soon with a group of friends for a Saturday night out when the music is on.<br/>Five stars!

Is Greek for awesome. Went with the Banquet menu which was a massive amount of food and despite our party of 6 dudes we were struggling towards the end. <br/>No complaints about either the quality of the food or the service which were both excellent, our group included a couple of Greek guys who were both happy with the food which I think says a lot. Although, One of them was so impressed he doesn't want to go back in case is isn't as good next time. <br/><br/>Probably one of Melbourne's best casual dining restaurants.

Disappointed. Previously visited Stavros Tavern a couple of years ago so happy to go back again.<br/>Even though we had a voucher this time for 2, we booked the table for 5.<br/>The food platters were disappointing. The meat was overcooked and beef slightly burnt. Chicken and fish were dry. Potatoes were dry and drenched in oil.<br/>The calamari and dips on the other hand were good.<br/>Even though staff were friendly, the five of us were crammed on a four person table and our food was rushed. The main course was brought out when we were half way through entrée and our requests to slow the food down were ignored. (We thought our table must have been double-booked!)<br/>Don't take the kids to Stavros because there is no kids menu and $27 mains make it very expensive if you want to bring them.<br/>I think there are much better Greek restaurants in Melbourne so even though we are locals, we won't be going back to Stavros unfortunately.

What a great night!. Thanks to the guys at Stavros Tavern for making my wife's 50th birthday celebration such an enjoyable evening. The staff were friendly and efficient. The food was delicious and plentiful as always.

Loved it!! Still full from all the food just like a Greek family dinner every time I go. Great food and cozy atmosphere, would recommend to everyone who feels like some great Greek cuisine from platters to great mains. Do yourself a favour...leave room for dessert.

What a little treasure! So glad I discovered this amazing restaurant which gives a whole new meaning to the term 'comfort food'. Every aspect of this jewel made our night a joy. The service was impeccable - the staff were friendly and professional and were willing to entertain all of our requests. The venue is warm and welcoming, and catered to the needs of our two little ones. And the food... AMAZING! The flavors were fantastic and each dish kept us in anticipation of the next. It's obvious that a lot of care is taken to ensure the high standard of the food - and Stavros hit every high expectation we had. <br/><br/>If your a lover of Greek cuisine, please, BOOK A TABLE and let Stavros tavern take you on a sensational journey that your taste buds will thank you for.

Wow what an amazing place! I went on Saturday night with out a booking and was amazed at how busy this small restaurant was (the only busy place on the street). We were greeted by the manager who was more than willing to make room for us and make us feel welcome. The staff were friendly and so attentive. The food, well my taste buds are still dancing by the flavours that they left. I am honestly recommending this to all my friends as I am pleased that some friendly places exist still. I give the chefs a 10/10 and the FOH staff also a 10/10. Well done and look forward to returning soon. Thank you for making our wedding anniversary memorable.

The evening started out nicely with a warm, friendly welcome, swiftly followed by a trio of dips and a slice of saganaki. The saganaki was very nice. I loved the tsatsiki and the eggplant dip, but not really a fan of the taramasolata. We then tried out one of the specials: artichoke stuffed with prawns and scallops, however it came with the prawn perched on top and the scallop had gone AWOL. I always order gyros at Greek restaurants and tonight was no exception. Unfortunately it was quite fatty and not that crunchy. <br/><br/>The bill arrived with a $25 over charge. OK mistakes do happen but it puts the diner in the awkward position of having to bring it up. To top it off we had to ask for our $30 change as it didn't appear!<br/><br/>I wanted to like it but it didn't happen :(

Very disappointing after having it highly recommended by a local in the hood.....dips were average, artichoke special was missing the scallops, fatty gyros, saganaki at nearly 20 bucks a pop....overcharged, forgot to give change a whopping $30 how does that happen....in short having experienced some fantastic Greek restaurants in Melbourne I wouldn't even come here for a takeaway souvlaki if they had one......boo hoo....

Delicious. Went here with a scoopon. Great value for money, I am a very big eater and was very full afterwards.<br/><br/>Generous portions of delicious dips with amazing pita bread. Fish (forgotten variety) on the seafood pltter was heavenly. I dont normally tip on top of a scoopon but this was the exception!!

Good food. Went with a scoopon voucher, which consisted of an entrée of dips followed by a meat platter. The eggplant dip was particularly tasty, along with tzatziki and cavier, which along with the bread were plentiful for two people. The meat platter was also plentiful of which the highlight was the lamb cutlets but unfortunately only one each. The spit roast lamb and chicken were also nice with a bit of tzatziki. The service was reasonably good. The ambience was nice, though got a bit chilly when people left the door at the back open (if only they had a fire going on cold winter nights). I think if I went back again I'd definitely have the lamb cutlets.

The best Greek food in Melbourne! The service was impeccable - like nothing we have experienced. I can't say more great things about this place than that. First time we have been after finding them on this site. Absolutely well worth every cent. I would question any prior negative review as I can't imagine this place being faulted in anyway shape or form. <br/>Booked online, friendly greeters, super quick and attentive service, generous servings and tasty fare. Both Stavros and his staff stopped to chat and engage with customers and were genuinely involved in conversation.<br/>We can't wait to go back :)

Great for group. They have a 2 piece band. We had banquet $55 per head. Very good. <br/>Shame it isn't in the entertainment card 13-14.

Institution!. I love this place- Melbourne has a very competitive greek dining Scene and Stavros always stands out as being authentic and delicious.<br/>It's got a comfortable family friendly atmosphere and never seems to disappoint<br/>i could eat my body weight in Gyros and always leave happy!

Best Greek in Melbourne. I met a Greek boy, Kostas, at Melbourne Uni. After 3 months of trial and error I was still looking for some good Greek food, so I asked him where to go. "Go to Stavros in South Melbourne", he said, "it is the best Greek food in Melbourne, just like my Grandmother makes". And he was right! It was delicious, and such a short ride on the number 1 tram from the city. Well worth the visit. Must try - the Gyros! Best I have ever tasted - including in Greece!

Voucher deals - not worth it. I seldom complain about things but I had to write about this deal. Firstly the staff were absolutely lovely. However, the food was ridiculous. We got sufficient dip. We each got 14 rings of calamari between 4 persons. Average 3.5 rings per person. We got one salad. The lamb and chicken TOGETHER was less meat than a hamburger patty per person with less than one pita cut into triangles.???? The desert .... were 4 cubes, 4cm x 3cm which is a 'generous' measurement.<br/>NOTHING like the photos which show skewers of lamb and a large piece of baklava We did not even get the wine. I think the ACCC needs to crack down on advertised value....because even if you HALVE the advertised value ie. $379.50 down to $190.... It was nowhere near that value. The up to value is based on full price product with full sized portions... On a voucher they divide it between a number of persons, they probably give a quarter size of a normal portion. It was probably equivalent to 'possibly ' - and that is being generous of one and a half of normal portions.<br/><br/>So, the place, the people are great (We left more than a 10% tip)...but I am just saying, on a voucher deal, we felt ripped off and a voucher is not a good deal.

My friends and I went to Stavros Tavern for a Saturday night dinner a few weeks ago. We all decided to do the banquet and were left disappointed. <br/>The food was ordinary with stale bread, bland dips, and dry and overcooked meat. The service was also poor and our table was forgotten, with an hour wait between entree and mains. We couldn't even get a hold of waiting staff to order drinks.<br/><br/>Having been to several Greek restaurants around melbourne, Stavros is by far the worst. Look elsewhere.

Not impressed. The quality of food was good however the quantity lacked. The banquet consisted of large dips with a lot of bread and salad but when came to the main course they were very small portion. It was very overpriced. Stopped at McDonalds on the way home!

Frustrated bitter Suzie and her other friend that have never been to the tavern should not be allowed to review with the venom in their lies . 33 years on we have more than proven our hospitality skills .

Bad Service-go elsewhere. Bad service. It was dreadful and ruined my night! Horrible.

Lovely food, exceptional service (the staff went above and beyond!) and an overall great atmosphere!! Can't wait to go back.

I took my friends for a Greek experience an all loved it, great value, delicious good and amazing people

Good food and atmosphere. We ate here last Wednesday night using vouchers and we were welcomed as if we were there to spend a lot of money instead of being voucher customers. Owner even took our coats for us - we've been in 'better' restaurants where you have to drape your coats over the back of a chair. Service and food was excellent, however dessert was a bit light on. Even though it was pretty quiet the atmosphere was good and you could tell that on a busy night it would be really something. The waiters were young, friendly and professional. Would eat there again and again. Wine was very reasonably priced.

For a restaurant that has been operating Under thar same management for 33 years,Stavros is unmistakably a fresh vibrant and very welcoming Greek restaurant.last night we dropped in for quick meal and we were positively surprise by there variety of food and reasonable prices. The seafood packed "pilafi" was the the best risotto I've ever tested.big thank you for the wine suggestion:):(:)

Enjoyed. Enjoyed a fabulous meal with my lady on a cold night. The warm welcome and great service was just the start of a great experience. Food was delicious and generous and the prices very reasonable. WE WILL BE BACK.

No love here!! For a Greek institution that cooks 'homely' food there is absolutely no love in the cooking! We had the banquet with seafood and meat! I don't eat meat so was focused on the seafood! The dips were pretty standard fare - not enough salad ( with hard anaemic tomatoes) one prawn per person and very sloppy fish and rice! Staff seemed young and at a loss! They should all be wearing L plates! Yes stavros was welcoming but this is not enough if the food is terrible & at $55 per head outrageously expensive! Personally cook better food at home! There are way better Greek restaurants in Melbourne!

Lovely meal. We visited the tavern on Tuesday night and had a very enjoyable meal consisting of tender calamari, delicious grilled lamb and chicken and yummy dips to start with.. The service was great, the host was very friendly and the ambience was relaxed. Well done Stavros. Love the location close to the beach.

Great meal. Enjoyed a "buffet" here with friends. Food was fantastic (lamb was unbelievable-crispy yet tender). Owner (Stavros) very pleasant, staff were great & service terrific. Highly recommended

Better value Greek Restaurants out there. I heard this restaurant was great years ago so thought we'd try it out. $17.50 for Saganaki was a little ridiculous! The souvlaki was very overpriced at $27 for what was on the plate. The specials were hand written on a little POS stand which you had to turn around yourself to see the other side. After dining at Pireaus Blue and Hellenic Republic in the last few months Stavros Tavern was an expensive disappointment.

Absolutely love this place. The owner is a character and makes you feel like you are dining at his house. The place was packed and had a good atmosphere - a bit noisy but not an issue. The only criticism is that the chairs are too hard! The food is incredible and must be tried. We went for the full banquet at $55 a head. There was mountains of food and top quality. We started with a platter of 3 dips (hommus, tzatziki, salmon), octopus, beetroot, capsicum, 3 bean mix and olives. This came with a variety of fresh breads (don't fill up on the bread!). We then had dolmates, calamari, saganaki (so good but so bad!) Greek salad and fish which were all super. Then when we probably didn't need any more to eat the main meat dish came out. Greek lamb and pork served with a tzatziki sauce, salad and pita bread. The dish was enormous and even though we were full we managed to finish it off. The lamb was some of the best I've ever had, crispy outer yet tender inside. Dessert and coffee followed which put us well over the edge - baclava was good. The night was a success ad the restaurant definitely gets the thumbs up on all fronts. I'll be back soon I hope...

A memorable Greek evening. Where do I start! The trio of drips and antipasto and the bread basket with the trio variety of bread were well presented and yummy.<br/>The Saganaki?.......One of the best I have had for a very long time, plump and well cooked. The grilled Octopus was so tender and remarkably juicy, again amongst the best I have experienced in any Greek restaurant both here and overseas inclusive of Geece.<br/>The meat & Chicken platter again juicy and nicely marinated. A nice Mousaka and a tender lightly fried Calamari was enjoyed by our group of 14.<br/>Together with 2 other well presented desserts we had the Chef's signature dessert. An amazing rice ball with cinnamon toffee on top, presented on a dessert spoon. It was literally heaven on a spoon!<br/>The waiting staff were professional and quick on service. A nice touch was a young waiter with a little yellow and black L - Plate on his uniform.<br/>It was a complete evening. Did I mention the prawns served in a light salsa? Yummy!<br/>Oh, and the band was not overpowering so we held a normal conversation.<br/>A positive 10/10 experience.

Always enjoy the hospitality experience with friends at this "institution". Good food and drinks at reasonable prices,great host!!<br/>Cruiser

Birthday. Bit disappointing had phoned and asked about the plate smashing particularly as was using my Entertainment book. No plates! Band good, small dance floor, menu ordinary and expensive.

We went with a large group for a birthday and ordered banquet for everyone. For the cost ($50pp), I thought it was terrible. A mountain of incredibly low-quality greasy meat, everything else pretty average standard greek fare. Nothing I couldn't make at home for far less than a fraction of the cost. We eat at restaurants a lot and from my one experience I cannot understand why anyone would eat here!

Greek Greatness. Stavros Tavern remains my favourite restaurant to visit for the all around experience. fabulous food, and lots of it, friendly people who really do make you welcome and a great atmosphere. The welcome is like being part of a family, only better. <br/><br/>So then to last night’s banquet. Remembering of course just three of us were sharing this feast.<br/><br/>You (well I) cannot begin an evening at the Tavern without having the meze platter consisting of three dips, three house made breads and a mixture of pickled vegetables, like beetroot and capsicum, and a little pickled octopus on the platter. The accompanying entrees were the best Saganaki you will have and a new dish for us, char-grilled octopus (Ochtapothi Skaras) which was excellent. Even my partner, who is usually averse to octopus enjoyed this treat.<br/><br/>The village salad arrives with the first of the main dishes, the incomparable fried calamari (Kalamaraki Tiganito) with Greek potatoes. This truly is the best calamari I have ever had. Somehow the kitchen gets the calamari to such a beautifully tender state that it almost melts in your mouth. Joining the table is a prawn dish from heaven. Skillet fried prawns (Garithes) are in a divine tomato and ouzo sauce with feta. I could eat the sauce alone. Actually I mopped it up with some bread from the meze platter.<br/><br/>Baked rockling fillet with potatoes also was presented and was cooked in a way that provided a strong flavoured fish that was most enjoyable.<br/><br/>Hang on, we’re not quite done yet. It’s dessert time. A small platter arrives with Baklava and Loukoumia for everyone surrounded by some fresh fruit. Of course coffees (Greek for me) were also enjoyed.<br/><br/>Stavros continues to excel and you know it matters to him that you enjoy your food and enjoy visiting. <br/><br/>Stavros Tavern wins again! Now I just need another excuse to go back.

Outstanding!!. 18 of us came for dinner and everyone had nothing but compliments for the food and service. Happy and energetic waiters kept the delicious food coming. We did not have the set banquet but decided to make up our own share feast. We will go back soon!

The food was beautiful, we chose to have a banquit and for $50 dollars a head we had around 7 courses including dessert. Good value for money, make sure you try the saganaki!

My bad experience at Stravos. I decided to celebrate my mother's birthday at Stavros only to be very disappointed with the whole experience.The food was average and not enough for a group of 10 people.I had to ask for extra saganaki so everyone could have a decent bite.The meat at the end was cold,probably from the day before and on top of everything at the end I was overcharged.I am not going back,,,

I love this place. Staff are awesome, Stavros himself always remembers us and has time for a chat. The food is amazing! The saganaki is a must as a starter. Everything on the menu is delish and portions are on the big side. Make sure ur hungry, the food will not disappoint. Great vibe here any night of the week, this place is an all rounder for any occasion. Highly recommended.

Don't Bother. Staff are rude and on our last (and final time) there made a complete mess of our large group booking, and were unapologetic. We have eaten here several times now and the food is standard for a Greek restaurant. On previous occasions we have found dessert did not taste fresh, like it was made a day or two before. The restaurant space is small and feels over crowded even when the night is quiet. Don't bother.

Traditional Greek & Yummy!!. We love Stavros - warmly welcomed by the man himself. Fantastic food and fantastic value. Make sure you try the Saturday night banquet, great for groups or special occassions - if you're the guest of honour you get to smash plates, gotta love that! Plus it's BYO which is rare in Melbourne

Hard parking. Been there a few times in past 2 years and been quite happy with the food. Very tasty. Intend to go back all the time. Owner is quite friendly and we found the service ok. Would not recommend for large parties since very tight squeeze. Prefer dining there during the week since very busy & definately have to book for Friday/Sat. Parking is a bother being in Albert Park so have to persevere.

Greek Let-down. I booked a get-together of friends to celebrate my birthday on Friday March 25 this year after having experienced the good service there trying their desserts and coffee which were very good. Having been informed by the staff that there is live music on Fridays and Saturdays, and reading some of the reviews, I thought it would be worth the $50 per head for the banquet. However, while the food didn't disappoint and the service was efficient, the entertainment factor was noticeably absent and we learnt that their musicians had cancelled for the night. Considering that restaurants normally charge more for entertainment - which we still had to pay - this was made only more disappointing by the lack of apology from the owner.<br/>There was also a lack of consideration and respect for my vegetarian guests who were not asked whether or not they would prefer the bean stew as a main instead of the Moussaka which I was informed by staff, including Stavros when I made the booking, that they would receive. When I asked about this, I was told they would have to wait for ten minutes for the Moussaka to heat up if they wanted it, so only one of them got one to share . <br/>This poor service has deterred us from returning to the Tavern, despite Stavros stating he would give us a discount the next time after we expressed our disappointment. We were not really asked for any details so this was not exactly inviting, and deprived of good customer rapport. This is a shame as the food that we DID get was rated well and the place has a warm, contemporary atmosphere.

For two young girls we were put off by the advances of the men dining outside with the staff who made us feel Uncomfortable. Food was average, think they rest on the fact that they've been there so long... It was nothing to write home about.

Huge Dissapointment. We went to Stavros Tavern for a function and where quite dissapointed. <br/><br/>I can not say the food was fantastic, but can not say it was bad. It was ok. <br/><br/>However, as a person who does make parties and functions in the restourants quite often, this place will not be on my list. For the number of people the servings on the set menu where quite poor and it felt like the owner took a short cut and decided to cut out a plate from each cource hoping that no one will notice. <br/><br/>This place is no longer on my list of the places to visit or do a function.

Authentic Greek tastes, very friendly staff, homey feel to it since it's retained the same owner for 30 years (only 1 of 2 restaurants in Melbourne can proudly claim that). The "large" Greek Salad was quite a small serving for the price; also, the 3 scallops (blackboard item) only had one scallop in each and the rice was dry. The meat platter for two (blackboard item again) had lamb, sausage, rump & chicken. It was good but one of the meats had a balsamic vinegar glaze which definitely didn't suit the greek taste. Also the mashed potato was mediocre. We (three adults, two kids) had 3 entree dishes all up and 2 of the mains with a salad which was a perfect serving when split up. Overall a wonderful, authentic Greek experience. Maresi!