If you've ever been to Greece, eaten where locals eat, you've probably heard it's the highest compliment to say that a restaurant's food is spitiko (homemade).
So, if you want to experience the calibre of genuine Greek food that would be lauded by Hellenes in the community, look no further than Sfinaki Greek Taverna, a beloved institution in the Heights—consistently offering delicious, homestyle Greek cuisine.
It's a well-known fact that Greeks show their love with food, think My Big Fat Greek Wedding, if you have no other barometer. They take food quality, preparation and freshness seriously.
It's this unwavering passion that's been on offer from the Karamessinis family ever since husband and wife, Tom and Pam, opened their 55-seat restaurant in December 1995 on Hastings Street.
You may have your own favourite reasons for frequenting Sfinaki, the menu alone provides dozens; however, here's three more to add to your list:
1. Local, family-owned and operated
Since Sfinaki's inception, Tom and Pam's four children, Eva, Niki, Bia and Denny have been hands-on since age 14 to 21. The sisters mostly work in front of house, Denny, in the kitchen.
"Denny learned everything from working alongside my parents," says Eva. "Lately, it's just him and mom, my dad is mostly retired now and still comes in daily for dinner and to support us wherever he can. Mom shared all her family recipes and my dad's family recipes, too, which Denny took over and tweaked."
A sense of camaraderie permeates throughout "the casual eatery, the gathering place," as Bia refers to it. "We're very welcoming, recognizing first-time customers and questioning how they discovered us. We always recommend places in the Heights to new people in the neighbourhood."
This kind of local support is the backbone to Sfinaki's success.
"We support the people that share the Heights with us," says Eva. "We live in the community, we work in the community, we give back to the community."
"We're beyond grateful for, and to, our community," says Bia. "I feel blessed to have family time with my parents and siblings, almost like forced visitation," she says through a laugh.
"It might have been my dad's secret way of keeping us all together," says Eva. "If that was his goal, it worked."
2. Homestyle, Greek food
Bia defines their food as homestyle cooking, "some street food, some comfort food."
It's hand-crafted, prepared from scratch, a lot integrated from their trips to Greece.
"Like the skewer meze—flat pita, souvlaki, with French fries in the mix—we loved eating that as kids in Greece and always wanted to incorporate it into the restaurant," reveals Eva.
"The big thing is share plates (meze); you don't typically get one meal per person, it's not the way you eat in Greece, everything's family style, in the middle of the table."
Tuck into a shoulder of lamb—if you're among the lucky—their most popular main. "It sells out fast," admits Eva. "It's slow roasted, four to five hours, and just falls off the bone."
The bougatsa, uniquely Sfinaki, is baked to order. "Served piping hot and oozing yumminess," describes Bia. "It's custard cream in crispy buttery pastry, honey drizzle, cinnamon and dusted sugar on top. People love it."
Sfinaki also offers Oceanwise seafood, proteins that are locally sourced, and serves local rotating drinks in cans or bottles. "We try to give people the best, what we would want to eat," says Eva.
"We like to use the butcher, the baker, the market-type people, whenever we're shopping for supplies," Bia says.
3. Authentic atmosphere, true takeout
The ambiance is casual, inviting, décor has a familiar taverna feel, and the food served is an extension of a feast at their family home.
"Everything is either from Greece or mom's house," says Eva. "From grandpa's walking canes to grandma's copper pots and pans on the walls; nothing's bought, it's all inherited."
If you opt not to dine-in, takeout is prepared in small batches made daily. "We've been doing takeout for 25 years, but with Covid, we perfected it," admits Eva. "We do everything possible to make people's food experience just as good at home as in the restaurant."
For more information, visit their new website Sfinaki.ca.
