Retsina

A world away from your standard image of a rough-hewn whitewashed Greek taverna (all rustic knick-knacks and plate-smashing), this long-serving Hampstead restaurant looks a cut above with it smart Hague Blue exterior and hand-painted, gold-plated amphora. Share one of the multi-plate meze feasts with your mates or dates, or take a trip through the carte, moving from falafel, grilled sardines and louvi beans to kebabs, chops, Greek lamb casserole, moussaka, king prawns or grilled octopus, with baklava and kataifi pastries for afters. If something special is required, pre-order the leg of milk-fed lamb or whole suckling pig. Wines include some fancy French vintages and champagne, as well as a few rustic Greek-Cypriot tipples for those who want to make merry.