Parea

Parea Review

Previously known as Plaka, this Greek taverna, grill, and meze café is the best of its kind in the city. Greek music floats above the buzz of conversation, a souvlaki spit turns slowly near the door, and a refrigerated case displays an array of meze (small appetizers). Most people sit on the roofed terrace or at the few street-side tables (in summer). Start with a meze platter of souvlaki, feta, olives, cucumber, and tomato, followed by the line fish, grilled on an open flame with olive oil and lemon, or kleftiko (lamb slow cooked in a clay oven) and a carafe of wine. On weekend evenings, belly dancers perform between the tables, and Greek dancers do the Zorba to a backdrop of "controlled" plate breaking—all while patrons find it hard to resist a glass of ouzo. Even the manager is known to let his hair down and perform for the patrons once in a while. The dress is casual and the atmosphere very relaxed. Choose the set menus, ranging from R110 to R180, or the à la carte menu.