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ela! Greek Taverna
Categories: Restaurants Mediterranean Restaurants Greek Mediterranean, Greek [Edit]
215 Chain Lake DrHalifax, NS B3S 1C9
(902) 876-8899
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11 am - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
17 reviews for ela! Greek Taverna
17 reviews in English
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Review from Ben B.
7/2/2011
Just so that we're clear, I hate Bayers Lake. I hate driving there, I hate being there, I hate even thinking about it on a purely geographical level. From the traffic planning that I can only assume was done drunk as a joke, to the stores that no one wanted that were then made ten times the size they should have been, there are next to no redeeming qualities about the big BL.
But...if there were one, it would be Ela.
Back when I was a slave to The Man (I kid...I just worked for A man, not THE man and I was hardly a slave, I just like dramatics) in Bedford, running over to what most of us still know as Opa would be pretty much the best treat you could give me after a particularly good (or bad) client meeting. Yes, it's right in the middle of hell on earth, but once you step inside you can forget all of that.
The bright, open space isn't as quite as whimsical as the downtown location but it's still enough to help you exhale away your stresses in what feels like a Mediterranean piazza with tiled mosaics and beautiful touches everywhere you look. Frankly, the place looks like the kind where I can't actually afford lunch...but that's where things get even better.
A slew of lunchtime specials run between $10-14 and easily land you enough food for the noon-hour and a mid-afternoon snack-and-a-half that will have your colleagues bum rushing your cubicle. And even though that sounds dirty, it's not. It's just the power of feta cheese. The spanakopita plate is fantastic (obvi), but I'd recommend you go with the glorious falafel pita that basically takes all that's good and nice in the world, wraps it up in a soft, chewy wrap, and slaps it down next to only the freshest Greek salad and lemon-roasted potatoes.
Give. That. To. Me. Now. Right?
Despite the bargain prices, the service remains high end as they make sure you have absolutely everything you need, allowing you to relax over a glass of wine, or getting you back out the door and on the way to the office in 45 minutes depending on what you need that particular day.Listed in: Worldly Treats, Vegetarian Bliss, Group-friendly!, Get Me To The Greek, The BLIP.
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Review from Ashley L.
5/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
I.love.greek.food
Just thought that should be made clear, so when my friends picked me up from work asking where I wanted to go to eat, I yelled out ela! I usually head down to the Argyle St location but this time we made the trek to Bayers Lake and I have to say, I'm a little disappointed with this location compared to the downtown one.
This location has more seating - bonus - but like everything in Bayers Lake, it's more boxy and lacks the character that the downtown location has. I overlooked this because I was so hungry and excited for some food... until I had the potatoes. I really don't remember the potatoes being that tomatoey (is that even a word?). There was something off about them and it wasn't just me, the others I was dining with had the same opinion.
Besides these two flaws, the rest of the meal was AMAZING! I love the olive oil and bread they bring out as you wait for your meal, the chicken simply melts in your mouth, their wine selection is always great (skipped wine this time, but it's usually part of the meal at ela) and the service is superb.
I gave this a 4 out of 5 stars simply because my love for Greek food could not bring me to giving it a 3 and because of the potatoes and lack of real character (plenty of big-box-fake character if you like that sort of thing), I couldn't give it a 5. -
Review from Charles T.
Halifax, NS
5/4/2012
As much as I wish I was Anthony Bourdain or Ruth Reichl my culinary experiences have been extremely limited and only in recent years have I looked beyond the food I grew up with. Ela, or at that time Opa, was one of my first attempts to broaden my horizons. I sort of look back and chuckle that there was a time when I could have thought that a place like ela was adventurous, but we all have to start somewhere.
My older sister and I were down in Bayers Lake one day and we decided we would try out this new Greek place that was all the buzz back in our hometown of Truro. Seems after visiting Costco and Value Village, all the hipsters of Truro were doing it up Greek style!
We went in and all I knew of Greek cuisine was the Greek salads I would get at pubs or at Superstore back home. I must admit part of me was hoping I was going to get to smash a plate and yell Opa after I was finished my meal.
We started with kalamata olive and feta dip with grilled pita and remember thinking it was the best thing I had ever tasted. I had never had a kalamata olive, green or black is all I knew. Salty heaven for me, I wanted to order a second helping of it. Luckily my sister was not a big eater so I got the lion share of it.
I went for the Greek Piato which had a stuffed pepper, pastitsio, a skewer of lamb souvlaki and salata. The meal was very generous, far more food then one person should eat, not that that stopped me from devouring it all, and also sampling my sisters food. In my defense I also let me sister try mine as well.
The stuffed pepper was good, although to me most stuff peppers are always a little lack luster, well except the ones I make. It was green and I prefer to eat red and I just thought the filling was a little dry. I would have liked more sauce of some sort in it and maybe something with some saltiness, olives or feta.
The pastitsio was delicious, it was the first time I had ever had it, I didn't even know what it was until I saw it one the menu. I had heard of mousaka but did not know of this variation of it. Not being a huge eggplant fan, it really appealed to me. It was creamy goodness, the béchamel was just so yummy I remember not wanting to share a bite with my sister.
The souvlaki was just okay, the lamb was overcooked and dry. I was excited about it was lamb was something we never ate growing up despite living in an area with a ton of sheep farms.
The salata was the best part of the piato, so different from the Greek salads I would get at pubs in Truro. The kalamata olives, big chunks of feta and ripe tomatoes. To this day that is the holy trinity to me of food to me, with all do respect to onion, carrot and celery. While not the best Greek salad I ever had since, at the time it made me realize these salads which were mostly lettuce with just a garnish of feta, olives, tomatoes, etc was not how it should be.
My sister went for the lamb burger and roasted potatoes. I didn't like the potatoes but then I have not liked them at any Greek restaurant I have been to, I am not a big potato person. The lamb burger was very good, the bun was tasty, a little big for the burger which through off the ratio a bit, but not too bad. The tzatziki made it, added a great flavour with the lamb and balance the bun which without a generous amount of tzatziki would have probably been too dry.
We ordered a piece of baklava to go for dessert. I wasn't a fan of it. Baklava seems to be very hit or miss with me, I have had homemade stuff I really enjoyed, while every time I have had it at a restaurant or store bought I haven't enjoyed it.
All in all it was a excellent meal. While a few things were less then stellar, I remember being so thrilled with the experience and couldn't wait to get home and share the experience with my family and friends, like I had done something special.
For that reason ela will always hold a special place in my memories. Easily one of the best places to eat out at while in Bayers Lake. -
Review from Suzie R.
Lower Sackville, NS
4/11/2012 5 photos
We walk in and the place is quite huge and very tall with large trees that keep the guests company as they eat. There is even a long bar for people who just want to hang out and have a glass of wine in this beautifully natural light-lit environment.
I had heard this was a more expensive place to go for Greek food but I was enamoured with its rustic charm juxtaposed with elegance. I felt very comfortable since both were balanced so well.
We were happy to discover the lunch menu was not only available on the weekends, you can order from it until 4 pm. We shared a plate of hummus which was meaty and delicious. Emily was worried about us getting full but I knew I was only beginning to feast.
My friend ordered the chicken breast riganato, a chicken breast which had been in a house marinade with oregano before beingcharbroiled. It came with a Greek salad and she ordered the potatoes.
I ordered the Spanakopita lunch plate with the potatoes as well. I was intrigued that their Spanakopita came with a feta dill cream sauce which sounded like a genius idea to me.
Was it ever! The pastry was perfectly baked, so crispy it shattered under my fork and then I scooped it up through the sauce and thought I had died and gone to heaven.
The potatoes were absolutely perfect, roasted until they were soft on the inside but brown on the outside. You could taste the fresh lemon juice in every bite of the potato and the salad was the quintessential Greek salad. Exactly what I wanted and so much more!
Not only was this one of the best Greek meals I have ever had, it may have also been one of the best meals of my life. I have eaten a lot of Spanakopita and made it myself but this was foodie bliss and those potatoes? Out of this world.
My only complaint? Although the staff was very cordial and professional, they were not super friendly. Also, I would highly recommend they start heating the washrooms. They were freezing and everyone in there complained about it!
We had a stunning lunch for just over $20 each and it was worth every cent. When we have a bigger budget I will be going back for dinner and dessert! I just know it will be worth the money. -
Review from Cheryl C.
4/5/2012
What the hell happened here.
Some notes from our $90-meal-that-was-no-$90-meal.
"Wow. This is the McDonald's of souvlaki."
"My jaw hurts from chewing hard meat." *cue snicker*
the olive dip starter was tasty enough - we were pretty hungry. But very very oily - enough so that it you couldn't dip the bread in it, it just zipped off the bread. We had to use a spoon.
We both had souvlaki - me pork and he chicken. Both were dry, incredibly over cooked and hard work. They tasted as if they had been marinated in ...um...air? No flavours from marinade and the lovely flavour of the meat cooked into next week.
And the rice was barely warm.
As I thought back to my friend's homemade souvlaki, or even Greekfest souvlaki, a small tear snuck down my cheek. So much missed opportunity here...so much pork frittered away.
We departed and I bemoaned the fact that the one place I thought we could stop for decent food in BLIP was now gone.
"Hm.." I mused, "they deserve to be out here. That's sad."
Farewell Ela. -
Review from Sorren I.
Dartmouth, NS
2/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
I can't help it, I'm prejudice; I just like the downtown location best. I feel as though their food is always top-notch and their ambiance can't be beat. That being said, Ela Greek Taverna in Bayers Lake was delicious last Friday night when I went for a friend's birthday.
It seemed as though they have made décor additions since the last time I was there, making the ambiance more cosy and intimate. The service was great and the food delicious. My only complaint was that my mousakka was slightly overcooked and burnt on top resulting in the béchamel layer being harder than I would normally like - however I t was still delicious.
Dear Ela, no matter what your name may be or where your kitchen is located, you will always hold #1 in my heart for HRM greek. -
Review from Ashlee F.
I love Greek food!! Love it!
And that is what Ela! does best; clearly, they are a Greek restaurant!
From the moment you walk in the door Ela! will win you over. The décor is amazing; like my (sometimes-less-then-smart) roommate said "they really made it look like Greece in here huh?!" They have a large (fake) olive tree in the middle of the restaurant too, which he couldn't stop talking about. That being said, the décor just makes your Ela! experience that much better!
We started with saganak; which is pan fried cheese flambéed at your table, served with pita bread. I ordered the souvlaki dinner. It came with one skewer of chicken, amazingly delicious lemon Greek potatoes, Greek salad and calamari with tzatziki dipping sauce. The portions were great for me, but my roommate ordered the mousaka, which he said was very tasty, but the serving with quite small. For the price I think it should have come with a Greek salad or something. -
Review from Tiffany T.
Halifax, NS
12/11/2011
It will always be Opa! to me. Anyway...
Gah 3.5, can we get some half ratings, please?
Lovely decor and atmosphere, the place is gorgeous although the seating is uncomfortable. The chairs most definitely could use some cushion. Service has always been on par and I prefer lunch over dinner here because the price range varies greatly.
I have eaten at Ela many times, it used to be my go-to spot for all kinds of occasions.. This was before I was a little more versed, and new to the Greek food world. So, anytime I tried different Greek restaurants I would compare my meal to previous ones at Ela. What I began to notice was that I was enjoying the new places more than what I was comparing the meals to.. hmmmm, that threw me for a loop. I'm not saying the food is bad,( it's not bad at all) however I am saying that there are better Greek restaurants than Ela, as much as it kills me to say so.
I have had a number of different items from the menu; spankopita, dolmades, yemista (stuffed pepper and tomato), I have shared the Greek Platter which includes pastitsio, mousaka, yemista (again) and rotisserie lamb. I have also had a Greek Garden Fusilli salad; which no longer seems to be on the menu. The point is I have had it all (almost). Everything is rather delicious, but yet still find others in comparison better especially the rice and potato sides that accompany the main entree, maybe it's just one spice.. sigh...
Although it seems that Ela lacks something (for me anyway), it does have some great menu items that are farely tasty and I will continue to dine there. I hate Bayer's Lake too, which makes Ela a great place to get out of the zoo-like atmosphere of the park, especially this time of year. -
Review from Mel H.
11/7/2011
I've been to the downtown location several times and have always enjoyed my meal. I try to avoid the BLIP like the plague, but I found myself roped in to an impromptu trip to here for a lunchtime client meeting/ biz lunch.
Service was fantastic- not too all up in our face, but she cracked a joke at the expense of a co-worker which was a good way to break the ice with the table. From there we had just the perfect amount of interaction. Food was freaking delicious- super fresh, super flavourful. Can you really go wrong with any meal that starts with olives and flaming cheese as a appetizer? The answer is no my friends. -
Review from Jill M.
11/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
When I first heard that my beloved Opa (OK OK, Ela...but it was Opa back then) had opened another location in Bayer's Lake, I was disgusted. I'm a downtown girl through and through, and the idea of one of my favorite restaurants being BLIP-ified felt like a travesty.
And then I got a job in Clayton Park.
Suddenly, I found myself saying "Do you want to go to Opa for lunch? I'd do anything for some complimentary bread, stuffed mushrooms and spanakopita." or "Doesn't today feel like a chicken souvalki pita day?" And wouldn't you know it, with that I was on board with the Bayer's Lake Opa.
The atmosphere is lovely - it's spacious and well-decorated, so I can actually *almost* forget that I'm in the most rage-inducing industrial park in the world. The service has always been great, and the food is on a par with the downtown location.Listed in: Global Goodness
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Review from Joel K.
10/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
ela! will always get points from me for consistency. I've had a couple bad experiences over the years, but the service is usually speedy and pleasant, and the food is always quite nice.
Not a ton of options for the non-dairy veggies of the world, but the few that they do have are delicious and hearty.
The most amazing thing about ela!, though, is what they've been able to do with their strange, large spaces. Every location feels warm and cozy, even if two of them are basically in warehouses. That's pretty incredible. -
Review from Kimberly W.
Halifax, NS
6/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
In a city filled with ample opportunity for Greek dining, I have to say that Opa Greek Taverna has always been my restaurant of choice. That's not to say that there isn't another great Greek restaurant in the city. Opa just happens to be the one I invariably find myself at when the craving hits me. It doesn't hurt that a second location opened up near my neck of the woods in Bayer's Lake Industrial Park.
Considering the dining options in the area consist either of fast food or big box chains, Opa has brought a little bit of class to an otherwise grim sea of mass consumerism. It also turns out to be a perfect option for dinner and a movie. -
Review from D B.
Halifax, NS
4/4/2011
Opa is a no brainer for getting great food! My family went there this past Sautrday after a movie. We were seated promptly and our server was fantastic and very knowledgeable in the food selections, how it is prepared and very friendly - my definition of a perfect server.
Food was amazing and made to order. Hubs and I each had a pasta dish and my DD a kid's meal (chicken wrap with home made fries - yes home made and not the bagged kind!) Only slight complaint I have is that I found my pasta a little salty but all in all not too bad. Next time I come here I want to try the chicken soulvakia - saw it go by to other diners on a nice heap of fresh Greek salad - YUM!
All in all Opa is a great place to take someone special that you love or care about and share how great life can be. Enjoy! -
Review from Cassandra M.
Moncton, NB
Updated - 2/12/2011
Birthday supper on a Saturday night. The place was full of people and we hadn't made a reservation. Not to worry though, the staff at Opa! found a way to seat us anyway. Within 5 minutes of walking in.
The food was amazing. Each visit comes with surprise at how they are somehow managing to improve food that already seemed too good to be true.
So amazing.Listed in: Adventuring for the sheltered.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/28/2010
So delicious. Service is always fantastic. The prices are on the higher end BUT you can opt for the… Read more »
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Review from Bethany J.
Halifax, NS
3/9/2010 2 photos
Opa! is one of those fabulous restaurants that you have to experience at least once.
The Bayer's Lake location is one of the most recent sites to open under the Opa! name. From the moment you step inside the door, you know that you're in for a special time. The restaurant is decorated as if you were eating on a Greek patio, under the spreading leaves of a large, shady tree. The service is impeccable and the dinnerware is sparkling.
The menu is varied; dishes of mediterranean origin abound. Opa! sources much of the menu locally; the lamb you enjoy in your kleftico was probably raised right just down the road in the Colchester County while the beef and chicken hail from the Annapolis Valley.
Opa! provides a stellar experience. Everything I've tried has been amazing - unique interpretations of classic Greek cuisine make for an interesting night out. If there is one drawback, it's that the prices are a little high - but it's definitely worth a try if only for special occcasions.
Here's to you, Opa! -
Review from Jessica R.
Halifax, NS
4/30/2011
Love love love this place...the atmosphere is fantastic, the service was amazing and the food is incredible! One of my favorite places in the city!
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Review from Darren G.
Lower Sackville, NS
6/5/2010
My wife and I went for a late lunch on a Saturday. Place was at 30% capacity. We loved the place, the decor and food were awesome. Our waitress, Amy hit all the marks and was a gem. I had the pork souvalki pita and my wife had the greek salad, both were very fresh and delicious. Just the right portion size also. Although Bethany thought it was a little expensive I did not given all the factors. Highly recommended and we will be returning customers. Like Bethany said definitely worth the try. I say you have to try...:-)
Listed in: My Favourites
