Bousouki Night

Wellington On A Plate is in full swing, and we went along to a Greek night at Oikos, our local Greek restaurant, for a Bousouki Night of Greek food and entertainment. We arrived just before 7pm, and were seated at a table with another party of three. We were immediately served with a shot of ouzo, and then ordered some wine, before the food started coming out.

We had a fairly traditional Greek-style meal, with courses brought out individually. The bouzouki band were playing away – I’d like to say “in the background” but they were amplified slightly too high, and our table was next to one of the speakers, which made communication a challenge. Still, we managed.

We had olives, taramasalata, fried halloumi, prawns in tomato sauce, chicken kebabs, and lamb kleftiko, followed by baklava. The baklava, usually a very sweet pastry, was almost savoury with only a hint of sweetness about it, and more of a nutty flavour, which made it better.

During and between courses, the waiters provided entertainment with Greek dancing, and culminating in the inevitable plate-smashing. We were provided with rose petals to scatter over the bouzouki player as he went from table to table, and a plates of our own to hurl to the floor.