Axia Margaritas in an authentic Greek setting
The Real Greek has been on my radar for many years now. The restaurant was founded in 1999 by celebrity chef, Theodore Kyriakou and his team. I first visited their Covent Garden branch when small sharing plates weren’t the norm, but they soon become very popular in the London restaurant scene. I loved the communal vibe and enjoyed the opportunity to try a wide selection of classic Greek dishes and dips, which are served tapas style on high racks.
On this occasion, I went to their Soho branch, where Athens meets London on Berwick Street, right in the heart of Soho’s buzzy neighbourhood. It stands out by its signature blue and white striped awning. The interior has a modern rustic feel to it with wooden tables and chairs burnt orange banquettes black and white photos of Greece on the walls and a large model of a sailing boat so you can imagine yourself sailing around the Aegean Sea.
We started with a frozen Margarita, where, unlike the classic recipe, ours was made with Axia spirit, the world’s first extra dry Mastiha spirit. Axia forms an entirely new spirit category; it has been created using the resin of the Mastiha tree and can only be harvested on the Greek island of Chios (the UNESCO-protected snake island in the Aegean Sea). ‘Axia’ comes from the Greek word ‘value’ in Greek, clearly, these trees are now highly valued for producing this fantastic new spirit which can be drunk by itself or mixed in a variety of different cocktails. Tasted on its own over ice it has an authentic, distinctly Greek flavour with an aromatic nose, balanced with earthy pine, bergamot and citrus notes.
We enjoyed our Margaritas, which, along with the Axia, were mixed with triple sec, lime and ice. These are now being served at Real Greek restaurants across London.
The Real Greek works with Tonia Buxton, an ebullient chef from Greece who produces delicious recipes and special menus for the restaurant. We were keen to accompany our cocktails with some authentic Greek food, so we ordered from Tonia’s selection menu for two (£38) available every day, with options that are suitable for both meat eaters and vegetarians. We feasted on a selection of small dishes to share – Greek flatbread, perfect for dipping in the creamy spicy feta dips some Santorini fava – a traditional Greek dish which is very flavorful and nutrient-dense made of yellow split peas, onion, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, and lemon, juicy prawns, small pastry parcels of spinach tiropitakia, sticky BBQ chicken wings, some excellent nutty falafel and saffron rice.
Other options include the Santorini menu for two, the Filoxenia dinner menu or alternatively you can order a selection of hot and cold mezze, souvlaki wraps and sides from an a la carte menu.
For pudding, I couldn’t resist indulging in a moist slice of portokalopita, a delicious traditional orange cake with layers of fine filo pastry baked with Greek yoghurt and soaked in sweet orange syrup served with vanilla ice cream.
The Real Greek has an informal neighbourhood feel to it and serves authentic Greek dishes at affordable prices. It works just as well if you just fancy a quick drink and a bite after work or a relaxed lunch or dinner with friends. It’s also very family-friendly, with a special kid’s menu. And, I really recommend trying one of their Axia Margaritas!
The Real Greek – Soho
50 Berwick Street,
London
W1F 8SJ
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