El Greco

Having lived in Dubai for just over six months, I have to admit that I was a bit apprehensive about finding authentic Greek cooking in the city. However, a visit to Elia (Olive in Greek), one of two Greek restaurants I have heard of in Dubai, turned out to be a pleasant surprise. Located in the Majestic Hotel in Bur Dubai, the eatery is simple, yet classy. Elia does a pretty good job at bringing a little piece of Greece to the heart of Dubai. The menu is limited but consists of Greek staples with a vibrant, modern twist.

We started with a Greek salad and and my all-time favorite, Tzatziki a delicious dip made with thick Greek yogurt with shredded cucumber, garlic, fresh mint and dill. We also tried the calamari which was perfectly grilled and stuffed with tomato and cheese.  For the main course we picked the Chicken Souvlaki, a traditional Greek kebab cooked on skewers (not unlike the Arabic Shish Tawook) accompanied by Tzatziki and a roasted pepper stuffed with herbs, mince and rice. Our second main dish, was the Moussaka, a caserole cooked with layers of eggplant, minced lamb and béchamel. 

Chef Yiannis Baxevanis has clearly done a good job bringing his own take on traditional Greek cuisine to Elia's menu. We'll certainly be going back again.

Chicken Souvlaki 

The Moussaka

Did you know? The name moussaka derives from the Arabic word‎ musaqqaʿa ' which means chilled. (source: Wikipedia)