Tzaki

📍Tzaki, Yarraville - 3.1 ⭐️ out of 5. I was looking forward to coming here for a very long time, and unfortunately did not have my high expectations met. We had the: ➖ PSOMI - FLATBREAD, SEA SALT ($10) with the feta butter ($6) ➖ SACANAKI with PEPPERED FIG ($12) ➖ TARAMAS- COD ROE DIP with PRESERVED LEMONS ($14) ➖ A LA POLITA-JERUSALEM ARTICHOKES, EGG-LEMON SAUCE ($20) ➖ SOUTZOUKAKI- SPICED MEATBALLS with TOMATO and SKORDALIA ($22) ➖ BOURDETTO- FLATHEAD with PIPPIES ($24) There is a rotating menu here which I really like, as well as the bar seating along the kitchen. You can’t book here and instead have to go on a waiting list when you arrived. We came at about 6.20 on a Friday night and were told the wait would be 20-30 minutes. We weren’t seated for about 45 minutes, and this was after we checked in with when we would be seated. Overall the food was tasty, but it didn’t blow me away and was too small for the $$. My favourite was probably the meatballs, they were tender and had a nice kick of spice to them, and I loved the sauce they came in. The flatbread was also super fluffy and warm, but we wanted wayyy more for $10. We added the feta butter (listed next to the bread on the menu) but found ourselves left with quite a lot of butter because there was so little bread. The flathead was well cooked, but we were hoping for more than 4 pippies with it. I would not recommend the Jerusalem artichokes, we were confused by this dish as it seemed like it was mainly carrot and potato. We also found it strange that the cod roe dip came with no bread for $14. Was the food tasty here? Yes. Is it worth the time to line up and the $$$? Probably not. Overall 3.1 ⭐️ out of 5.

Overall: Overpriced, overhyped, and under-portioned. Flavors are decent, but the value simply isn’t there. Good food, but honestly overrated. Yes, we’d seen reviews about small portions before going in, but this was next-level — completely unjustified given the ingredients are nothing fancy or expensive. We went for lunch. The place was half to almost full (around a dozen people inside), but there was only one person doing everything — taking orders, making drinks, serving food, and reheating dishes. Nothing seemed freshly cooked. The lamb tasted good, but for $32 we got a tiny plate with a few pieces of lamb and a couple of potato chunks. No bread. No sides. If you’re charging that much, at least offer something to make it feel like a proper meal. The prawns were a letdown — oddly sized, served with skin and whiskers on. The texture was off. To be fair, the server removed it from the bill after we raised it, but the way he banged the plate into the bin afterward was awkward and unnecessary. The bread, which everyone seems to rave about, was another disappointment. It tasted fine, but charging $16 for something that probably costs cents to make is hard to justify. It didn’t even come with butter at first — we had to ask for it — and when it finally arrived, the butter plate had water pooled in it, which was off-putting. The coffee butter itself didn’t complement the bread either. Honestly, a Turkish roll from Baker’s Delight for $1.50 would be just as satisfying. We also ordered Saganaki for $12 — the same price we’ve paid elsewhere — but the portion was a third of the size of what other restaurants serve. It tasted good, but again, another letdown. The Tina pear & lemon soda, poured straight from a can, was another miss — it genuinely smelled and tasted like dishwashing liquid. There’s no real customer service — not out of attitude, but because one person is stretched too thin to actually provide any. The food tastes good, but the value isn’t there. The portion sizes are far too small for the price, and nothing about the presentation or ingredients justifies it. We actually left and grabbed a roll from Rocco’s Deli afterward just to feel satisfied. That says it all.

the food here is delicious but as many have stated that the serving size is very small for the price you pay. i also got the fish main but didn't capture a picture, this meal was more like a snack than anything. my friend has been here before for dinner and was quite different from the lunch we got, she said it was amazing then but lunch we had was a little disappointing.

I really wanted to love Tzaki, but the experience missed the mark. The portions were small for the price point, with a tiny flatbread coming in at $10. The pastitsio was unfortunately extremely oily due to the pork being mostly fat and was more like a mac and cheese. The tarama was tasty and the chicken was fine, though the smoked saganaki arrived burnt and dry. On a positive note, the Greek red wine was excellent. Still, the overall offering wasn’t what you’d expect from a place aiming to deliver a Greek dining experience, especially with a non-Greek chef at the helm. Disappointing!

The wood fired oven cooks dishes to perfection! Definitely recommend giving Tzaki a go if you are looking for an intimate dining experience where you watch the chefs prepare each dish.

Fantastic addition to the Yarraville food scene – contemporary Athenian Greek tapas, with a regularly updated blackboard menu, all prepared in a wood fired oven. Everything is good and the baked feta cheesecake is to die for. Walk-ins only, no bookings, with limited bar, window and outdoor seating. Groups larger than 4 should probably head elsewhere or be prepared to be seated and served separately.

I first came across Tzaki on Instagram when it opened and had been meaning to try it ever since. I don’t usually visit Yarraville, but with a friend living nearby, it was the perfect opportunity to check it out. This place is honestly the tiniest restaurant I’ve ever seen – the whole space is essentially an open kitchen with bar seating wrapped around it, a few seats by the window, and some tables outside. Despite its size, the vibe is warm, inviting, and really fun. I loved being able to watch the chefs prepare each dish and cocktail right in front of us. The menu changes regularly, which keeps things exciting. On our visit, we shared the Psomi (flatbread), Saganaki (smoked cheese), Taramas (cod roe dip), Kounoupidi (cauliflower), Soutzoukaki (spiced meatballs), and Arni (lamb shoulder). Every dish was bursting with flavour and truly celebrated Greek cuisine. The cocktails were equally impressive – the feta martini was such a creative twist and paired beautifully with the food. Everything we ordered was a standout, and the portions were perfect for two people. Even though it’s a small space, the team has thought of every detail – they even have hooks for coats and bags. I’d absolutely come back again. A real gem in Yarraville!

It's the Saganaki ... and front row of the show ... You need to be committed eating here ... it's outside Melbourne, in the foodie precint of Yarraville. But the food is worth the drive ... a different twist of Greek food, all cooked in a Wood fired oven ... even one of the dessert ... Very small venue, bar seating style ... great Geeek wine list ... and Chef Shehan and team will intimately look after you.