You can’t find a person less of a foodie than me and yet my first port-of-call in Melbourne was the Stalactites Greek restaurant. It was 18 years since we had last dined there and the memories were strong of tasty food and a buzzing vibe.
It’s time to see if the place was as good as I remembered…
Stalactites is a bit of a tradition in Melbourne’s Greek Precinct. For the uninitiated, Melbourne has a number of quite distinct dining areas including a substantial Chinatown and the famous Lygon Street for all things Italian. The Greek Precinct is much smaller than the other food-themed areas, but no less delicious.
Eighteen years ago we set out from our Melbourne hotel to wander the streets in search of something interesting for dinner. From a fair distance up Lonsdale Street we could see a long queue snaking down the footpath and we took that as a very good indication of tasty food waiting for us inside. It appears we had stumbled across the Greek dining institution known as Stalactites. We joined the queue, waited patiently for 45minutes or so, before being ushered inside.
This time we decided we would beat the queue by planning an early dinner. Believe it or not, we still had to queue up at 550pm and we were then whisked inside quickly. I couldn’t believe that the restaurant was already three quarters full! I thought only old people like us ate dinner that early and yet most of the other diners were young things. Maybe they also had the same plan to avoid the queues?
Stalactites first opened in 1978 and has been operated by the Konstandakopoulos family since that time. That makes it one of the longest established and best-known Greek restaurants in Melbourne. Its décor is simple with the main decoration being stalactites hanging from the ceiling. Yes, a bit twee, but fun all the same. My photos don’t accurately capture their effect, so I have borrowed a couple from the restaurant’s website.
This is not a fine dining restaurant. No linen tablecloths or large white plates with miniscule servings in this establishment. The portions are hearty and the food is rustic or robust. I am probably using all the wrong words to describe the food, but here goes.
Entrée: We thought we would/should pace ourselves and ordered a Vegetarian Platter (for one) to share. We pounced on it before I thought to get the camera out. 😊 Take my word for it, it was a tasty selection of dolmades, spanakopita, feta cheese, olives, three different types of dips and pita bread. The flavours were light and tasty, and I could have made this my meal on its own.
As it turned out, we should not have ordered an entrée as the mains were huge. Obviously, my memory had faded on that score!
Mains: After we placed our order, my stomach fell as I saw the size of the main meals being delivered to other diners. Sure enough, within minutes of our entrée plates being spirited away, our mains arrived with far too much speedy efficiency allowing little digestion time. And those plates they were huge!
The Husband ordered the Greek Biftekia and I faced two large Chargrilled Chicken Souvla skewers. There was nothing for it but too dive in and again, it was absolutely delicious. I love the delicate flavours of Greek food with all the herbs and spices, and smoky cooking process.
Despite the size of the servings, we made extremely good headway. I was raised to not leave anything on my plate and I feel terrible when I do. I know this is not the right approach in these days of plenty, but old habits die hard.
Sitting and observing other diners, it dawned on me that they were much smarter than us and had adopted some far more sensible strategies when approaching the menu at Stalactites:
- Order a child’s Mixed Giro plate as your main. Still very sizeable and a satisfying serve. Or,
- Order one main to share with extra pita bread, if required. That would have been more than enough.
By this stage of the dining experience, the restaurant was full and tables were emptying, and being reset, at lightning speed. Not that we were pressured to leave, but we knew we were ‘done’. Stuffed to the gills, we rolled out the door only for someone, who will remain nameless, to roll straight into the incredibly decadent Greek cake shop right next door! I note that he saved that cake for consumption MUCH later in the evening.
While Stalactites may not be the fanciest dining experience, the food is incredibly tasty and plentiful. Hopefully it won’t be another 18 years before we return.
What is your favourite food? Are you a Greek fan too?
The Basics
What: As well as scrumptious food, they also serve a range of Greek wines, beer and regulation ouzo.
Where: 177-183 Lonsdale St, Melbourne. On the corner of Russell St.
When: These guys are hard workers and are open seven days a week from 11am.
Why: For a genuine serve of authentic Greek deliciousness.
How: There is plenty of on-street and other parking near Stalactites, but it would be much easier to walk there. The thought of driving in the Melbourne traffic, dodging trams and weird right-hand turns, makes my blood run cold.
Who: For those with BIG hungers.
Related Posts: Not quite the same sort of dining experience, but the doughnuts at Nowra are just as gastronomical.
Related Blogs: If you have a hankering for more Greek food in Melbourne, then check out what Opentable has to say.
Read About it: For a quirky, historic and sentimental picture of Greece, grab a copy of Gerald Durrell’s, My Family and Other Animals.
**Note: I have not received any payment or food for this review. I just wanted to share the Greek goodness.
#destinationvictoria #melbourne #travelinspo #stalactitesrestaurant #greekfood #restaurantreviews #eatingout #diningout #foodcoma #greekprecinct #recommendedeats #eatingaroundtheworld
Life...one big adventure 
MMMMM I love Greek food. I had hoped to have more in Turkey, but it was too meat based for me to enjoy. If I’m ever in Melbourne!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Greeks and Turks have a long history of fighting yet both their food are very similar and go so well together.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes but it’s not great for vegetarians. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, I understand. I was generally speaking. We ate very little meat in Turkey.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes, I imagine you can only eat so many dolmades… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
And they’re mostly made with meat in Turkey ☹️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Huh! I thought they were just a vego dish. I will pay more attention next time.
LikeLike
Absolutely. I remember we had a delicious meal in Marmaris when we had a flying visit there and the same in Crete. I really NEED to spend more time in both countries. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
When we left Turkey there was more unrest, and many expats were heading away after living there for years.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a bit sad, but it makes me appreciate where I live. We are both so lucky.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love all the different flavours and the ‘grazing’ nature of much of their food e.g. dips, breads, olives, cheese etc etc. And hopefully #stalactites will still have its doors open when you hit our shores.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, to Greek food and visiting gorgeous Melbourne. Food and Melbourne a heavenly combination.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Are there many Greek options in NZ? Everyone raves about your food across the ditch.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, and especially in Wellington as many Greeks emigrated there after the WW2. To be honest, we don’t go out much now due to Les’s health and I like to cook from scratch. One day 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, one day you will head out on a culinary exploration. In the meantime, enjoy all that quality home time. xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love this place when I am in Melbourne.
LikeLike
You and about a million others by the look of the bustling tables. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love Greek food and restaurants – this looks amazingly unique and the food tasty! Now, just wish it wasn’t so far away! A great post and thank you for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would like to have described it as ‘home-cooked’ as that was the style, but obviously it wasn’t. Thanks for dining out with me. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love Greek restaurants and Greek food. All your wonderful food photos made me hungry, I have to be more careful with posts like these in the future as I have a sudden desire to raid my fridge! Thanks for sharing, and have a wonderful day 🙂 Aiva xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooops, sorry about that! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
🤣🤣🤣
LikeLiked by 1 person
That was delicious looking food you had😋😋
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I haven’t eaten in many Greek restaurants outside of Greece. I like all the little pots of stuff too. Maybe I’ll just have a starter… and cake! One of those delicious honey and nut pastry efforts…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I met a lady once who always, when dining out, had her dessert first and then she ate the savoury meal if she had space. Maybe she was onto something? 🙂
LikeLike
I know a lady who can eat 7 desserts, so long as they’re not too big. Who needs mains?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Too funny! That chick has stamina!
LikeLike
And no, it isn’t me!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not casting nasturtiums, Jo!🤣
LikeLike
🤣🤣
LikeLiked by 1 person
🥰🥞🍦🍧🍨🍩🍪🎂🍰
LikeLiked by 1 person
I used to love visiting a Greek restaurant in Cape Town, the most tender lamb I have ever tasted. I don’t know of any in Cornwall.
LikeLiked by 2 people
You must be one of the most well-travelled people I know! 🙂 Is there anywhere you haven’t been? 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha.. Plenty of places! Never been to south America or central America, most of eastern Europe and Asia, Japan. There is a lot of world out there. Like many people when I had the time I didn’t have any money. Now I simply don’t have the energy or the urge to travel. Everywhere seems to be so busy now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
At least now you can travel virtually and vicariously. What did we do before the internet? 🙂 Have a good day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I can visit places without the travel hassles, the crowds and the cost. All good 🤗
LikeLiked by 1 person
Win Win Win and no jet lag! 🙂
LikeLike
Wow, your food looks delicious (I also like the herbs and spices in Greek food)! We regularly visited a Greek restaurant in Cape Town when we lived there and it was heavenly! I don’t know of a Greek restaurant where we live now, but there is a Portuguese restaurant (and I love their food … maybe time for a visit).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, definitely time for a visit and you can pretend you are walking the Camino Portuguese. 😁🙃
LikeLike
Well, dang. It’s too late for me to add Melbourne to our itinerary! I do like Greek food, though we don’t get it very often for some reason. Your post has me wondering if Australia is like England with respect to “doggy bags.” America is huge on taking restaurant leftovers home, but even though we do it when we’re in England, too, we can tell it’s perceived as a bit odd. Where does Australia stand on this system of food-saving?
LikeLiked by 1 person
In Aus, our portion sizes are not quite as large as the US although you may strike some sizeable meals at pubs etc. Doggy bags are not the done thing at ‘better class’ restaurants although most other places will provide containers etc for you to take your leftovers. Some places may have a small charge for the containers, but most are free. It will be interesting to see what you think of our fare. Many people say we are very expensive, but then your dollar is strong at the moment…more the pity for us. Have a good week.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I’m counting on our dollar staying strong… at least until we get back from your magnificent country. 😉 I took a tip from a friend and now keep a clean to-go container in my car. Used it at a restaurant just the other day. That’s me: saving the world one reusable doggy bag at a time. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good thinking, 99!
LikeLiked by 1 person