Urban Greek

Urban Greek in Hobart is a contemporary restaurant that refreshes Crete classics with a Tasmanian twist. By Jo Cook.

When the Kakkos family took over the beautiful site that was home to Garagistes restaurant in central Hobart, they decided to share generations of recipes from their homeland, the island of Crete. The walls have been painted with bold imagery from Greek mythology by local street artist Jamin Kluss, the atmosphere is social and share plates are the way to go (there are seats at the bar if you’re dining solo). The saganaki cheese (grilled kefalotiri with lemon, oregano and housemade fig jam)

is a perfect combination of salty, sour and sweet. Pair it with a Volkan Santorini Blonde pilsner and from there, move onto the tsigariasta (sautéed spinach, silverbeet, leek and fennel with egg) or Pirates Bay octopus cooked over charcoal then dressed with olive oil and vinegar. The indecisive should take the banquet path; the Minotaur offers seven share plates or, for eight, see the good doctor Hippocrates.

103 Murray Street, Hobart  (03) 6109 4712; urbangreekhobart.com