GAZI: Modern Greek with a bit of cheek

Today's late lunch catch up was at the somewhat new Gazi on the corner of Exhibition and Flinders Streets in the city.  I took an instant liking to the place when the waitress made a point of running through the cocktail menu as a matter of priority.  Winner.


Duck & chips and soft shell crab souvlakis (GF)

Alas, cocktails weren't on the agenda today so instead we went straight onto foodies and opted to share a couple of souvlakis (duck and crab), plus what we coined the 'meat salad' (baked Jerusalem artichoke, pancetta, tyrokafteri pistachio dressing) and roast bull horn peppers with chargrilled cuttlefish, witlof and garlic dressing dish from the "dirty food" items.

Baked Jerusalem artichoke and pancetta salad
The souvas were a good size and came with a gluten free option; a little tricky to share which our waitress did warn us about but we stubbornly persisted and apparently didn't have too much trouble seeing as we left nothing behind.  The duck was very good although I personally wasn't a fan of the soft shell crab; not so much a reflection of the food but more my ridiculous aversion for eating meat which resembles its original form...it was the crabs  legs that did it.


With them removed (and rapidly devoured) by my lunch companion, I did try the crab souva and it was nice; crispy, salty - crab-like.  Much preferred the duck - tender, not dry, a well balanced dressing WITH CHIPS.  Yum.  The meat salad was a tasty addition, nothing hearty but a good accompaniment.  And our "dirty food" dish was littered with evenly cooked cuttlefish (not rubbery) and delicately populated with witlof.  Nothing dirty or street food about it.


Greek wine and a "dirty food" dish
We had a couple of Greek wines to swish it down (with help from our waitress - Greek wines are confusing) and couldn't resist the impressionable Turkish delight, carved off something like a gyro.  We were told it took 2 months just for Gazi to get it in the country.  No chocolate on this
baby.  Our whole meal with a wine each came to just shy of $80.  

I did like the creative, suggestive menu - who doesn't love a good innuendo?  The Bend Over Box offers a quick lunch option, 'savoury to sweet', for $27.50pp available Monday to Friday from lunch til 3.  If you have a larger appetite you may be more up for 'Doing It Greek Style'; 10 dish sharing menu for $69pp.  Cheeky.

Turkish delight! So many pistachios and chestnuts.
With terracotta pots that hang from the ceiling, food that matches your drinks, and a good play on words, this just seems like a fun kind of place to enjoy good company and soak up an afternoon or evening (or both).

  • Gluten free friendly
  • Take away menu 
  • Bookings available - but not required 



GAZI
2 Exhibition Street
Melbourne 
(03) 9207 7444
http://gazirestaurant.com.au/