FACT revisits the winner of our ‘favourite Greek restaurant in Dubai 2019’ for a taste of the Cyclades.
Located at The Park in Cluster P, Jumeriah Lakes Towers, Mythos Kouzina & Grill offers a charming and authentic dining experience that really stands out in the crowded JLT food scene. The quaint and unassuming restaurant is accessed via a somewhat covert walkway that leads guests from the bank of hotel elevators, through the basement car parking, and into a venue full of surprises.
As the name suggests, Mythos Kouzina & Grill offers one of the most authentic Greek menus in town, full to the brim with items for every dietary requirement and palate preference. The dining room is intimate yet inviting as natural light penetrates through the large windows that look out onto an appealing outdoor terrace complete with olive trees and colourful bougainvillea. Embracing the traditional aspects of a Greek Taverna, simplicity is key. The ceiling is made up of light wood panelling, while scattered floor tiles can be found underfoot. Exposed filament light bulbs illuminate the tabletops covered in simple brown paper to soak up any spills.
The menu at Mythos is designed with the Greek way of eating in mind, offering a sharing concept of hearty portions placed in the middle of the table to be enjoyed amongst friends and family. It’s important to note that the menu celebrates the very best of fresh, hand-selected produce alongside cooking methods that are light and healthy.
For appetisers, we started with tzatziki (AED 26), a cool blend of greek yoghurt, cucumber, garlic, dill and olive oil, served with warm pitta bread; baked feta (AED 46), a perfect balance between the slightly acidic tomato sauce and seductively sweet bell peppers; and the Santorini salad (AED 41) which brings Greek summer flavours to the palate with sweet cherry tomatoes, capers, roasted bell pepper, spring onion and a sweet vinaigrette.
Our mid-week lunchtime visit coincides with a very busy dining room, so we’d suggest making a reservation to guarantee a seat. As we leisurely work our way through the menu, it’s easy to see why Mythos remains so popular, and that’s due to a winning trifecta or proficient service, consistently excellent food and a welcoming atmosphere.
From the sea, we cannot resist the grilled octopus (AED 81), a beautifully tender tendril served with fava, a robust tomato paste and chutney made from capers. The fish marinato (AED 85) is another winning dish, serving a sustainable local yellowtail tartare prepared with chives, garlic, oregano and lemon. It’s beautifully fresh, and for those who love raw fish, you will not be disappointed.
The piece de resistance for us, undoubtedly, was the beef stifado (AED 118), a jaw-droppingly delicious dish of short ribs cooked overnight and served with caramelised shallot onions atop carob bread. The dish is homely, memorable and altogether hearty, one that you brag about the next time you see your friends as the tender meat falls apart in front of your very eyes with a feathered touch of your fork.
Just when we thought we couldn’t devour anything more, we were persuaded into ordering dessert! The rustic chocolate tart (AED 45) offers up contrasting textures from the valrhona abinao 85% chocolate, dulcey 32% chocolate, caramelised hazelnuts and beurre noisette powder. The resulting dish is much lighter than expected and we would return to Mythos for this alone.
Mythos Kouzina & Grill is a wonderful choice for a romantic date or a nice meal out with friends – either in the spacious dining room or on the delightful terrace (once the weather cools down). From the minute we walked in, right up to the point we left, the staff were attentive, extremely polite and made us feel part of the Mythos family. So when it comes to Greek dining in Dubai, look no further!
GO: Visit www.mythoskouzina.com for reservations and more information.
