Latest Reviews
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Went here last night was my first time the food was amazing everything was fresh some produce is grown from there garden . Had the Banquet which 3 of …
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We dined here with friends last night. We were given the perfect table, right by the roaring fire. The food was delicious and fresh. The moussaka, jus…
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Laidback Sunday lunch. We obviously all packed extra stomachs as we seemed to order just about everything on the menu. Zucchini flowers, saganaki, sau…
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Philhellene is open for Casual Dining. Philhellene serves Greek and Mediterranean dishes. Incorrect or missing information? Make a report, or claim the restaurant if you own it!Details
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10 Reviews on “Philhellene”
We love the dips for two in entree. Great variety on menu as well as special menu on board – ordered a seafood platter on the special and it was great, worth the money as they serve lots of calamari instead of chips to fill you up!
Melbourne has a large Greek community, and has done since the wave of Greek immigration after the Second World War. Not unexpectedly, this has resulted in a large number of Greek restaurants cropping up in various locales–Lonsdale Street, Oakleigh, Swan Street, and so on. Philhellene is located right in the heart of Skip Town–Mt Alexander Road Moonee Ponds, but from that now-very-trendy location, John and Susie Rerakis dispense the best Greek food in Melbourne. Of course, this part of Melbourne is not without its own dining history. I wonder how many readers are old enough to remember the Chung On, Coconuts, or–even more obscurely–the legendary Chinese Hamburger Shop?
John and Susie are Greek restaurant icons in this city, having owned Piraeus Blues and Birdy Num Nums previously, but Philhellene is their flagship, and you get the impression that this is partly a labour of love (as well as being a very successful business).
Philhellene occupies a large, rustic, friendly, and welcoming space, and you are always warmly welcomed on arrival, often by John or Susie. The staff here are young, knowledgeable, and efficient, and there’s plenty of them, so you’re never waiting too long for service.
Philhellene’s food is Greek provincial, and there is a strong Cretan influence in both food and wine. The wine list offers a range of wonderful Greek (often Cretan) reds and whites that are excellent value and complement the food perfectly. There’s also a range of Greek beers.
A range of banquets are on offer here, and they’re great; all of the dishes are carefully prepared, nicely presented, and wonderfully tasty. The lamb will melt in your mouth, and bread is fresh and warm, the saganaki perfectly fried (without the addition of sweet stuff, thank God), and the calamari as tender as you could imagine. A lot of classics turn up on the banquets, but they’re often just that little bit better than what you would find at other places–the eggplant dip is a little smokier, the octopus just that little bit more tender than anywhere else.
But if you go beyond the banquets, you’ll really get a chance to enjoy some of John and Susie’s specialities. Look to the specials board and you might see vegan mousaka, broad beans with artichokes (one of the restaurant’s signature dishes), and stuffed zucchini flowers. Philhellene prides itself on being seasonal, and there will always be dishes reflecting both what’s fresh in the market and a current Greek holiday or festival; for example, over Greek Easter they feature a range of vegan dishes that would tempt even the most committed carnivore. Just make sure you include the char-grilled octopus, and the goat with potatoes and peas on any visit.
Desserts here are a mix of the traditional (Greek doughnuts) and the regional and aren’t too overpoweringly sweet.
Phihellene offers good value for money. It’s not cheap eats, but there’s never any excuse to walk out of the place not feeling full.
I’d like to imagine that the food at Philhellene is what you might expect from a skilled and generous Cretan home chef. It really has that feel.
As I said, this is the best Greek restaurant in Melbourne. If you’re looking for good value, generous, tasty, hearty regional Greek food, well-served in a warm setting, look no further.
Ive been wanting to visit Philhellene for many months, from the enticing pictures on their Instagram, and many recommendations from friends, it was on my list for a while then finally got the opportunity to visit tonight.
It didnt disappoint at all.
The service was friendly and anyone we spoke to was able to talk to the menu, describe the ingredients and produce, offer recommendations and offer modifications for dietary needs.
Zucchini flowers- filled with herbs and rice, they were cooked to perfectly caramelised perfection (and vegan!).
Fava was flavourful and was finished with quality olive oil (you can taste the difference).
Took the vegan feta option for the horiatiki salata. You have to try it even just for the experience of eating Greek feta. It got a big tick of approval from everyone at the table.
Desserts are all home made- two thumbs up for the baklava, but personally I couldnt go past the baked figs, perfectly sweet and soft with a delicate consistency and delicious flavour.
Unpretentious dining with food that speaks for itself, in a setting that offers a unique and homely dining experience.
Not great if you are more than a few people. They cannot handle a large group consistently and will force you to ‘upgrade’ to a set menu even if you don’t want it.
In this area say that we can call it the best Greek. But the last 2 times, the service was not attentive, if you go after 8 the risk and not to eat everything I wrote on the Menu, the same night. I would give a 6 out of 10. do not eat octopus too hard and without flavor. hopefully they change way of doing or need to find another good Greek restaurant in Moonee valley
Lovely local joint, enjoyed our meal here! The lamb was so tender and juicy, the mousaka was beautiful as well. The octopus entree so/so, slight chewiness and lacked the charred flavour and smell we were hoping. Prices very reasonable. A nice family orientated vibe.
My partner told me about this place and we decided to give it a try and I wasnt disappointed. The restaurant is very cosy and the staff are very attentive. The good was excellent and the mixed platter for two was very generous in size. We will be back.