Nostimo Greek Restaurant
South Brisbane
A visit to Nostimo Greek Restaurant at the Greek Club, South Brisbane, is the next best thing to visiting Greece without leaving Brisbane.
Found inside the long-time institution and heart of Brisbane’s Greek culture, Nostimo dishes up classic Greek fare with a modern twist served with a generous helping of famous Greek hospitality.
Patrons can dine inside the stunning dining room featuring worry beads cascading from the ceiling, classic white arches and terrazzo finishes, or al fresco on the terrace overlooking Musgrave Park and the Brisbane city skyline.
The menu, created by renowned Chef in Residence David Tsirekas, is a modern interpretation of a traditional Greek dining experience.
Designed to be shared amongst family and friends, small plates to start with include olives served 3 ways (kalamata olive tapenade, green olive butter and mixed marinated olives) and dips such as tarama (white roe caviar), tzatziki (yoghurt with garlic and cucumber) and tyrokafteri (feta, ricotta and red peppers) served with warmed pita bread.
Standout dishes are Saganaki (Kefalograviera cheese with caramelised figs and candied walnuts), charred octopus served with pickled vegetables and warm split pea puree, and Chef’s signature pork belly baklava.
Mouth-watering meats range from chicken souvlaki and slow cooked beef cheek to melt-in-your mouth lamb cooked on a charcoal grill and served on a bed of wilted spinach and herbed yoghurt.
As for side dishes, you can’t go past Patates Sto Fourno (oven baked lemon oregano potatoes) and Horiatiki – a traditional Greek salad of tomato, cucumber, Spanish onion, kalamata olives, oregano, extra virgin olive oil and feta.
Delectable desserts range from Kataifi pastry with custard, whipped cream and a hint of mastiha liqueur and Bougatsa of Thessaloniki (baked semolina custard wrapped in filo with strawberry coulis and mixed berries) to Nostimo Indulgence – layers of white chocolate ice cream, dark chocolate ice-cream and sour cherry preserve.
Nostimo is fully licensed with craft beer on tap, bottled beer including 4 Greek brews, an extensive wine list ranging from a Barossa shiraz and NZ sauvignon blanc to regional Greek wines, eight different ouzos, and classic cocktails.
Signature cocktails to try include Pomegranate Mojito (Pampero Blanco rum, muddled lime, fresh pomegranate, mint and soda), Lychee Martini (Smirnoff Red vodka, muddled lychees, pineapple juice, lychee liqueur, and Chambord) and Ouzo Quencher (Metaxa ouzo, Cointreau, mango puree and Schweppes blood orange).
Good to know – Nostimo provides a children’s menu ranging from fried calamari and chips, and barbecue chook and chips, to rotisserie lamb with chips, pita bread and salad.
By Deb Lidster
The menu may have changed since our visit.
See our full list of the best Greek restaurants in Brisbane HERE