Demitasse Demi-sel: Opah!

Hi, my name is Jessi, and I am addicted to Greek food.

*Hi Jessi! Nice to meet you!*

Nothing makes my ears perk, eyes widen, and tummy grumble faster than the mention of some Greek eats. It may not be clear in the photo below, but this is the signage for a Greek restaurant in Cronulla. It is right near by where Sophie lives in Sydney, and she is an angel for enlightening me of its existence just in time for our late lunch / merienda. It says:

GREEK YUM CHA

$ 35

ALL YOU CAN EAT

You can all assume I'm salivating as I write this.

Opah Bar & Restaurant overlooks such a delectable part of Cronulla. You're right in between beach and buildings, literally overlooking the cross-section onto the final street before sand. The setting was perfection.

Sun. Sea. Breeze. Check.

Sophie. Jessi. Drinks. Check.

We ordered a pitcher of white peach sangria to share: 42 Below Passionfruit and rose wine built over ice with fresh mint, orange, pineapple and passionfruit topped with soda. In truth, that was the menu description for their usual passionfruit sangria. But their special that day was white peach sangria.

So get cracking with those imaginations, and have a good think about how intensely sublime a white peach sangria can be. Bewitchingly sublime.

We shared three mezedes, generally appetisers to complement drinks. Choosing three quintessential dishes... Firstly some assorted dips and pita bread.

You guys know I cannot resist taramasalata in any situation. Below are an eggplant dip, taramasalata, and tzatziki. Savoury, saline, and excitingly tangy. In that order. Exceptionally good.

They are called dips for a reason, so I excused myself of the pleasantries and dug straight in!

Some lachandolmades - cabbage rolls stuffed with rice typically, and sometimes meat. We loved these. Soft, wrapped packages of goodness. The lady attending to our table informed us that every morning, a Greek woman makes a big batch of these for the day, and they trust nothing but her authentic hands to do so!

And of course some fried calamari for Sophie. This kind isn't the more commonly recognisable covered-in-batter-and-breadcrumbs calamari you'd get in your run of the mill appetiser menu. No confusion here!

These were lighter. Fresher. Cleaner. These were cooked to let the squid shine through, as it should be! These, I miss eating. They have lightest hint of dredging to add some texture, then are seasoned honestly with salt and pepper.

I could not have been happier in this moment! The atmosphere was generously bright and airy. The restaurant was full of the welcomed blues and whites of Greece. The staff were friendly. It's quite a spacious venue. No hints of claustrophobia in sight, despite that being a charming by-product of many of my favourite quaint restaurants. Ample space to sit inside, or settle in their outdoor balconies.

If you're ever in Sydney, and the weather permits, make your way to Cronulla - you will be delighted by even just strolling through the area, I promise!