Restaurants

Greek Affair’s tucked away location (just off hectic Notting Hill Gate) and cliché-free interior give it an appealing neighbourhood bistro feel. The crowd on our Tuesday night visit was definitely local: fashionably dishevelled trustafarians ordering ‘just one more bottle’ for the third time, and suits talking business by candlelight. Service proved slow but helpful – perhaps overly so when the waitress explained the chef had left the garlic out of one of our side dishes to aid romance later in the evening (we weren’t on a date). Of our starters, only the spanakópitta (spinach filo pastries) passed muster. So-so melitzanosaláta (aubergine purée), limp calamares and a greek salad that was 90% iceberg lettuce held very little appeal. Mains, however, were much more successful – hearty pasticcio (a lasagne-like dish of layered pasta and minced beef) proved a solid choice, while baked fish cooked with tomatoes and herbs was punchy and flavoursome. Fuss-free decor adds to the appeal (simple wooden tables, vases of lilies dotted about) making this a great place to linger over after-dinner drinks, if not the mezédes.

Time Out Eating & Drinking Guide 2009