A comfy, casual Greek kitchen

Westown Square, situated at 600 Kassier Rd in Shongweni, is home to Kalamata Kouzina, a casual Greek restaurant. Open from Monday to Saturday between noon and 10pm, and on Sundays from 11am to 6pm, this vibrant eatery offers a relaxed atmosphere with an abundance of color and bougainvillea. The friendly staff promptly served ice-cold beers on a pleasantly warm day, making us eager to explore the extensive menu.

The starter options were vast, featuring Greek pies, meatballs, cheeseballs, a variety of halloumi or calamari dishes, grilled octopus and fried anchovies with lemon, and a selection of meze dips, including a spicy feta cheese dip. Regrettably, they were out of octopus that evening; however, we decided to try the kolokithotiropita, little zucchini pies stuffed with feta and spring onions – a delightful alternative to traditional spanakopita.

For our main courses, we savored the tiropita, a feta pie drizzled with honey and sesame seeds, as well as the dolmades, which boasted a rich depth of flavor enhanced by a squeeze of lemon. Mains included traditional Greek baked dishes like mousaka or pastitsio, a variety of souvlaki – meat or seafood cooked over an open fire, chicken and lamb chops, pork crayfish and prawns, or various fish options. We opted for grilled lamb skewers accompanied by a generous tzatziki and either roasted vegetables or Mama's slaw.

Our dining companions chose lamb skewers with a good tzatziki and a side of roasted vegetables, while I indulged in pork ribs glazed with apricot (R298) served with chips. Both dishes were succulent, meaty, and not overly sweet, with the chips being freshly handcut and expertly cooked.

After an enjoyable meal, we took a substantial amount of food home for the next day. The experience was enhanced by the restaurant's warm, comfortable, and quick service, making it an appealing choice for a casual Greek culinary adventure.