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Ouzeri
Categories: Restaurants Greek Restaurants Mediterranean Greek, Mediterranean [Edit]
500 Danforth AveToronto, ON M4K 1P6
Neighbourhoods: The Danforth, Greektown
(416) 778-0500
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
40 reviews for Ouzeri
Review Highlights
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"...I always get the greek yogurt with honey and walnuts." In 3 reviews -
"The pressed greek yogurt topped with figs and honey however..." In 2 reviews -
"...came accompanied with delightful lemon potatoes and rice." In 3 reviews
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40 reviews in English
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Review from Ashley P.
Toronto, ON
2/8/2012
I had a voucher for this place that was for a 3 course pre-fix dinner for two for $25.
I started with the spanakopita, which was delicious. My first time having this dish and I really enjoyed it. However, it was big portion for a starter, so needless to say I couldn't finish it all.
For my entree, I had the chicken souvlaki. Again, it was delicious -- some of the best chicken souvlaki I've ever had in Greek town. The tzatziki sauce was so flavourful. The portions again were huge! I could only get through 3/4 of the dish. The rice that is came with was OK, but the chicken and tzatziki were top notch.
For dessert (at this point I had no idea where I was going to put it -- I was SO full), I ordered the baklava. I had to wait a bit before I attempted to eat this and let my dinner digest first. The baklava was excellent. It was a generous piece and smothered in just enough honey. I didn't finish it all -- but I wish I could!!
I had a glass of Jackson Triggs merlot -- it was only $6 for a glass! Went great with my meal.
This place was nice, the staff was friendly and service was prompt. Just make sure you come here hungry! Good value for the $25 pre-fix menu. -
Review from Tiff L.
Yonge and Eglinton, Toronto, ON
5/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
I did not know about this place until I bought a deal from one of the deal sites. I made a reservation for 7pm and was seated almost immediately. The restaurant was very noisy, however, and I had to yell at the waitress for her to even hear me. There were many kids running around, which I thought made it very dangerous for the waiters since the walkways were very narrow.
The food was very good overall, and the cocktail special was on, so I ordered a $5 casaer. I was not a big fan of the Greek yogurt that everyone on here was raving about, but my boyfriend's baklava was amazing!
I probably won't be back again since I live uptown, and would not have visited anyways if not for the deal. But, if you live around the area and have kids, it's definitely a family-friendly restaurant that can cater to your needs. -
Review from Natalie T.
East York, ON
5/14/2012
3.5 stars
VIBE
Ouzeri is in the heart of Greektown on The Danforth. It's one of the nicer places to get your Greek fix or go on a date in the nabe. I love the big, black tiles on the floor and the rusticity of the orange paint on the walls. The walls and decor could use a little bit of a makeover. The tables could also be bigger because a basket of bread takes up half the table.
I was here to treat my mother for Mother's Day. It was the perfect place for a great late lunch. Lots of other families are here too and the Greek music videos on the TV in corner are entertaining to say the least. It's casual and we never felt rushed.
WE ATE
Currently, they have a $25 prixe fixe menu which give you good value over the regular menu (I added it up...though it's interesting that they don't have the dessert listed on the main menu). I also like that they are many options to persuade you into buying prixe-fixe.
Mom and I split a few of our dishes. We had the spanokopita, which are two generous portions and good. I recommend! The phylo is flaky and delish.
We also had the trio of dips with warm pita bread. Skip the bread basket, as tempting as it is staring you right in the face. They do a pretty good taramousalata here (and I think you can get it during taste of the Danforth as well).
I had the signature Rosemary lamb pie. It's hearty, meaty and filling. The flavour of the shank really does come out. It's served with a massive "salad" which is basically spring mix salad from the bag with some feta (at least they use real feta and not Canadian like at Mr. Greek's), red onion and a slathering of balsamic vinegar. I was craving roasted potatoes but with the prixe fixe won't pay extra for it. I wish I had the option. They should give you the option!
Mom had the salmon which came with more sides like horta (wilted greens with lemon and olive oil) and rice. The salmon was tender, cooked well and topped with feta and tomatoes. It was a great dish and one I would recommend if you're looking for something healthy with a greek twist!
We were pretty stuffed at this point!
Desserts were disappointing. The loukamades were drenched with honey and way too sweet for my tasting. They just looked like cheap, desperate pieces of dough screaming out to be eaten from the plate. And for $3 you get more than 4 pieces at Athens Bakery across the street.
Mom had the creme caramel. It was soft and sweet as well. Not bad but not mind blowing.
OBLIGATORY CATCHY REMARK
Not sure if a prixe fixe was worth $70 for two (with tax, tip and drinks) but I still consider it good value for how stuffed we were after the meal. I'm not "ouzing" to go back but it's been a mainstay of the Danforth for a reason (or they just have really good rent control). Also, this is the first Greek restaurant I've been to where the waiters didn't serve us water at all. Shocking considering it's a water refill fest at the other establishments in the hood. -
Review from J N.
North York, ON
5/13/2012
Came here for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. I tasted the following:
Saganaki (appetizer) $10.25 - a flat piece of salty cheese that is flamed in front of you with a shot of something. After the flames die down, they squeeze some lemon on it. This cheese was really good, though I've only had saganaki one other time, so I don't have much to compare to. Easily shareable among 3-5 people. It might be tough for two people to finish since its a bit heavy.
Classic Mousaka (it also comes in a vegetarian version) $15.95 - sort of like a sheppards pie. Baked with minced beef, eggplant. Comes with a salad. Good overall.
Grilled Calamari on a salad $15.95 - pretty large portion. The salad was good, nothing special. The grilled calamari was excellent though. Thick cut pieces, grilled perfectly, very soft and tender.
Lamb Pie $18.95 - lamb stew in a filo pastry. The lamb was really tender, and the filo pastry was as expected. Comes with a salad. This dish was also quite good.
Service was good, no issues.
Portion wise, I felt it was a bit on the small side. However, they do bring bread and butter before the meal. I found everything to be simple and fresh tasting.
Probably closer to 3.5 stars. -
Review from Don R.
5/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
We wandered into this place looking for a decent Greek place for lunch. The lamb kabobs were flavorful and tender. The rosemary chicken baked in phyllo was a bit on the greasy side but had tremendous rosemary flavor. The meatball appetizers were good, as were the simple salads accompanying the meal. Portion sizes were generous and the service was prompt and friendly.
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Review from Juliana H.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 4/9/2012
Had lunch here on Good Friday. Maybe in keeping with the occasion, getting our drink and food order was like waiting for the second coming. What finally arrived was less than miraculous.
I'm ready to convert to another restaurant.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/19/2011
4/5 for the food, but 5/5 for the value.
Just finished another enjoyable lunch at Ouzeri. As… Read more »
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Review from Senior V.
Scarborough, ON
5/7/2012
I'll start off with the bad our menu's were sticky, there were no paper towels in the bathroom, and we felt we were treated differently for using a groupon which is sometimes an issue, I guess they think they won't get tipped as much, we always tip according to what we would have paid without it, so they should give people the benefit of the doubt. They should use bigger salad bowls or plate it so it will be easier to eat, the salad was a good size and was good but it comes in a small salad bowl. The service I wont say was rude but felt cold and inattentive I don't like seeing my waiter leaning on the bar and having to wave him over for a water refill when he should be going around and checking these things not that I'm nit picking but he was very attentive to people ordering wine. The food I have to say was good they have some of the best baklava on the Danforth and the lamb was well prepared.
Adios Amigos -
Review from Bianca A.
North York, ON
2/8/2012
My girlfriend reserved for a party of 12 for winterlicious, and I was surprised that the service was quite fast given that the place was packed. Friday night and weather was gorgeous. Prix fix dinner I opted for was the Calamari. Fresh and beautifully fried (you can get em`grilled if preferred, so bonus for the calorie counters out there) with the tatziki sauce perfectly tangy and refreshing.
All of us had different appetizers to share and I chose the spanakopita which was delicious. Flaky and the right amount of cheesy goodness with spinach, can`t go wrong. Loukoumades for dessert this time around wasn`t too appealing, tasted stale.
But I was already quite stuffed and buzzed from wine that in the end, I can do without the extra calories anyway! OPA!!!
All in all, cozy atmosphere. Friendly staff.
Washrooms are tiny though ,LOL! Hubby almost elbowed a fellow peeER while washing his hands. The guy wasn`t too pleased with the `feeler-upper`he got. HA! Not like hubby enjoyed it either =D -
Review from Avitania B.
Toronto, ON
10/16/2011 2 Check-ins Here
The food's great - it's too bad the service is awful. Both times I've been to Ouzeri the service is perfunctory and joyless. I hate feeling like I'm being a giant pain in the ass by asking for water, or... y'know... ordering my entree. I realize that it gets really busy in there, but there are plenty of busy restaurants where the hosts and servers are swamped, but at least they put forth the appearance that they're having no less than a pretty decent day.
Anyway, the entrees are pretty damn good. The greek salad is fresh; the grouper with cream sauce was tender and delicious. My husband's rack of lamb was tender and perfectly medium-rare. Even the specialty cocktails are great.
I'm torn as to whether I'd come back. The food's great and the prices are really reasonable, but... based on the service I've gotten there so far, I'm pretty sure my money is better spent elsewhere. -
Review from Pascal P.
Toronto, ON
12/19/2011
you cant beat Ouzeri for quantity and price. A girlfriend and I went for lunch and decided to both do the $15 prix fix lunch. We shared everything. the portions were plentiful. We had Greek salad-chicken souvlaki- baileys tart and meze platter(huge)-spanakopita(fab)- loukoumades(really sweet)
The food was really good and the quantities were huge -
Review from Ayesha A.
10/16/2011
I like!!
It was smart of us to go on a Tuesday because I hear this place is packed on Thursdays, and weekends.
I had the eggplant mousaka because thats my favourite greek meal and it was yumm and each meal comes with a small greek salad beforehand which is a surprise and it was yummers. The dishes come with a side of white rice, too.
Other had the "real" mousaka (meaning with beef) and I had a taste of that too, was quite good but I did prefer the veggie one.
The waiter was kind of cute, too and I was treated to the meal by a friend so that made it that much more enjoyable :)
Definitely want to go back. -
Review from Ariel G.
10/27/2011
To start our meal we shared the 3 dip combination. The skordalia was excellent, the tarama salada good, and the roasted red pepper and feta excellent. However the portions on the combo do not equate to these dips served on a stand alone basis. So the 'savings' were not there.
The salad that came with the main course were horrible. This lost this restaurant 1/2 star. The lettuce was sitting around for long time and the flavor was just not there. In addition the feta was crumbled a bit too much.
I had, as a main course Al's Lamb which are lamb skewers taken from the leg accompanied with roasted potatoes and rice with the feta and pepper dip. Unlike other reviewers, I found the potatoes very small making a skimpy but ok tasting side. The lamb did not disappoint at all it was medium rare and totally delicious.
My wife had the 2 chicken breasts which were tasty, with the same accompaniments.
For dessert she had a baklava which was very good, and I had a Yogurt with fig compote, walnuts and cinnamon.
We did use a Groupon Now coupons which was gracefully accepted. As a small additional points the tables were clean but 'sticky' and they are granite....I guess the were not clean enough....
I will return but they have to be have to improve a few things particularly the side salads, the sides and cleanliness of the table. -
Review from Howard H.
9/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is one of those instances where my expectations were simply not met. In some ways, I feel that Ouzeri SAW my expectations from across the room, averted their gaze and avoided them all night.
The food was uneven - the dips were all fresh and first rate - the bread was of the oven warmed commercial variety (seriously, in Toronto?) the spanikopita was great (although I am personally done with it for awhile). Things dropped precipitously at the grilled veggies which were nether grilled nor varied sufficiently . The marinated octopus was an abomination; I love my Cephalopods and this stuff just wasn't right. Funky, chewy - yucky! Yes, I know I should have ordered the grilled squid - but after one bite it was too late to fix.
Perhaps the place was suffering from a long weekend hangover - perhaps it was just the proverbial bad night... whatever it was, it will be awhile before I venture in again. -
Review from Linda M.
8/9/2011
Summerlicious Round 4! I've been wanting to go to Ouzeri since summerlicious last year, so I was really excited when my dining group decided to go there for dinner. The location is pretty good, not a far walk from Chester station, and the décor was nice - nothing special in my mind.
I think between the six of us, we ordered just about everything on the menu - and nothing really impressed me THAT much. It was all good, but not amazing. The best part of the meal for me was the mussels. It's pretty hard to go wrong with mussels, but when they're in a yummy tomato based sauce (albeit a little overly salty) and there's warm bread on the table for dunking, I get excited. It was the highlight of my meal for sure. The spanakopita and the meze looked just okay to me, although both were very generous.
For mains, I ordered the chicken rosemary pie. I was disappointed. Maybe I ordered the wrong thing, but I figured I'd try something besides souvlaki since that's what I always get at Greek take out places. The chicken was pretty dry, and the flavours fell flat. It was, again, a large portion and I couldn't finish it after having so much bread with my app. The salmon looked delicious, although two of the three that were ordered weren't cooked all the way through and had to be sent back to be reheated. The Patitsio looked like a mac and cheese sort of dish, and my friend didn't seem overly impressed with it. Ironically for me, the souvlaki looked the best and was served with a TON of tzatziki - my favourite part!!
The desserts were pretty good, I'll admit. I tried all of them, and I definitely think I ordered the best option - the Greek yogurt. It wasn't what I was expecting, but was really tasty. The baklava, a favourite of mine, wasn't the best I've had. I'm picky about what types of nuts are used. The Bailey's crème caramel did not go over well. The girl who ordered it thought it tasted like egg. The loukoumades were pretty good though.
All in all, this is stereotypical summerlicious in my mind - some hits, some misses.Listed in: Dining group!, 'Licious List
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Review from patricia l.
Toronto, ON
5/10/2012
calamari standard. tzadziki very good. baklava - worse i have ever had... crap service - waiters are rude - will never go there again...
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Review from Mel C.
9/20/2011 7 photos
I came here for one of the Summerlicious.
My table got artichokes lemonato, fasolada, mousaka, lamb rosemary pie, kalamari skaras, homemade baklava and Bailey's crème caramel. I don't have much experience with Greek food but I did enjoy my meal here. The service was nice here, the portions were nice, the food was not too salty and although the baklava was very sweet (like most baklava), it tasted great.
I would come here for a nice sit down Greek restaurant but if I was really craving Greek food, I would be satisfied with just Jimmy the Greek fast food. -
Review from Lilliane G.
Toronto, ON
7/11/2011 7 photos
Hit their patio yesterday for a $15 Summerlicious treat! There were 3 of us and we ate well.
I had the bean dip appetizer while my two table mates ordered the steamed mussels. The dip was delicious, but I have to admit that the waft of dill made me just a teensy weensy bit jealous that I to had not ordered the mussels. My friends assure me that the mussels were divine.
Main courses? I ordered the fried calamari with rice pilaf and their infamous potatoes - Lauren M had the spanakopita and Nicola ordered the grouper. All three plates were well portioned and tasty! The grouper looked absolutely divine.
Now onto dessert! Though two of us didn't actually finish our mains (perhaps it was the heat bearing down on us as we sat on their sidewalk patio), we vowed that dessert would not suffer the same fate. Lauren ordered the Loukomedes, Nicola had the Yaourti drizzeled with honey, nuts and figs, while I stuck with my favourite - baklava! All three were delicious and despite feeling immensely full from the previous 2 courses, we all finished our desserts.
I must say that this was a spectacular meal for $15.
My only negative comment was that the service was mediocre. Our individual appetizers arrived between 5-10 apart, however the mains were all served at the same time. For dessert my friend Nicola was served the wrong dessert, but the bonus part is the server let us keep it and didn't charge us. It was a creme caramel, and nothing spectacular when compared to the loukoumedes, baklava and yaourti. -
Review from Mariko M.
Updated - 7/16/2011
Came here last night for dinner with a friend and her colleagues. It was a warm Friday night and the place was p a c k e d !!
The bread that came out before our meal was delish. I usual avoid the bread before meals, but I'm glad that I had one. I had their grilled calamari appetizer as my main. It was f a n t a b u l o u s ! I'm coming here when I'm jonesing some grilled squid.
My experience last night totally upped this place from a 3-star to a 4-star in my books ~1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/31/2011
Came here for a birthday dinner the other night.
For a table of 16, the staff were very… Read more »
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Review from Vivek S.
Was it seriously $15 for all that Greek deliciousness? I came to the Danforth for the incomparable Lauren M's Winterlicious UYE (Unofficial Yelp Event). Just a stone's throw from Chester subway station, Ouzeri is a spacious and friendly restaurant that seems built for group and family dining.
Ouzeri accommodated our baker's dozen or so (what a stupid numerical grouping amiright?) with aplomb. The lunch prix fixe is a KILLER deal. You chose an appetizer, an entrée, and dessert. Apps included simmered artichokes, meze, fasolada and a traditional Greek salad. Looking around the table I noted the hefty portions. Tony F's meze came with a fist-sized scoop of hummus and two (count 'em two) whole pitas. I chose the artichokes which had an enjoyable tart flavour. But there were too many for me to finish. I wanted to save room...
...for the mains! There was moussaka, a rosemary lamb pie and calamari (which came either grilled or fried) to name a few. I'm not a chump so I got the lamb pie. It was really nice. The lamb was flavourful and the phyllo crust was brilliant. The rice and potatoes that came with every entrée was a bit of a snoozefest in my opinion, and I barely touched mine.
And then came dessert. Simple options: homemade baklava, a Bailey's Creme Caramel (zzz) and Yiaourti. While my neighbour slowly climaxed to the baklava, I opted for the "pressed Greek yogurt." I was told it packs a punch and I'm not one to step down from a dessert-related challenge. When I received a plate with two little scoops of yogurt (ice cream consistency) covered with nuts and honey, I had to laugh (probably haughtily). But I got served: this dessert is 1.5 times denser than Osmium and 1,700 times as delicious. After all the prior food it was tough to finish. But I did. Not only was it an incredible mix of flavours and textures, I had a point to me.
Five stars for solid service, amazing food and solid value. I will come back.
Obligatory Title Pun: OUZ-ing with solid Greek eats.
Menu Readability: I can't remember. Can I just mention that with an 'e', the word 'yiaourti' would have all the vowels in the English alphabet?
Need to mention: Osmium isn't that bad in small doses, like in a sorbet or something.
What this place teaches me about myself: I may have met my dessert nemesis, and her name is Yiaourti. There will be a re-match.Listed in: Eats on the TO Subway Line, My Big Fat Greek List
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Review from Jennifer M.
Toronto, ON
On my recent travels through Greece I completely fell in love with Greek salads, fresh thwacked & grilled Octopus and oregano potatoes with Tzitki. I never knew that I loved Greek food THIS MUCH until then, and I had been just waiting to have a solid Greek meal since my return.
So Lauren M. (review below) sets up a lunch at Ouzeri during the infamous Winterlicious. Looking at the menu online, there was a good variety of options and it was only $15 so I thought I'd give it a try.
SO glad I did. Usually Winterlicious is a nightmare, even at lunch (at least in my experience -- looking at you Bistro 990) And the quality of food and service is usually lacking. Not here. We were given really generous portions and efficient service.
Appetizer was some lovely artichoke hearts in a garlic sauce. Good! Not spectacular, but solid for artichoke lovers. Main was a vegetarian mousakka which was tasty and hearty. Served with rice and potatoes, I could barely finish half of the plate. Lacking a bit in the Béchamel area but forgivable. Dessert was a utterly fantastic two scoops of thick Greek yogurt with Greek honey and walnuts. Again, I could barely eat half.
The feature wine (which also is usually a Winterlicious disappointment) was a pleasantly full bodied and tasty red and priced at $7 a glass.
My only regret was not getting the Kalamari. I had serious grilled seafood envy as it looked soo ooooo tasty.
Will return.Listed in: Leslieville, Riverdale &…, BOOM ROTD!
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Review from Simon S.
6/28/2011
People, please. Notice how all the good reviews are from the "Elite"?
Unfortunately this place is crap. I loved our waiter but the food was just too terrible to rate any higher than a 2. I had the regular salad with chicken souvlaki and she had the moussaka. Mine was WAY overcooked and tough as leather. Hers was undercooked and still very cold (frozen?) in the middle. Sent it back. Waiter seemed ashamed of the food altogether.
Oh well. Next! -
Review from Keith C.
1/27/2011
Ever wonder how so many Greek restaurants all lined up on the same street in the same neighborhood can survive? Probably because they all serve very good food. The Winterlicious menu is a steal. I usually spend more than $25 on dinner at these Greek restaurants (not including booze) so having the option to do this is fantastic.
The Sfyrida Moustardolemono was fantastic. I love how the Greeks cook their fish. I was never a big fan of fish until I tried the Greek fish. A nice decent sized Grouper with lemon sauce and topped with shrimp. That alone I would pay $25 for. But now I also get to throw in the three dipping sauces as an appetizer and Greek yogurt for desert???? No way. Absolutely fantastic. The fish alone made the meal.Listed in: Going Greek?
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Review from Yvonne T.
***1/2 stars
Ouzeri is one of the landmark restaurants located on the Danforth, otherwise known as Greektown. Its $25 prix-fixe menu is no doubt a big bonus, although upon leaving dinner and walking along the strip, I noticed many other restaurants had the same type of promotion!
The decor is typical of any Greek restaurant, although I did like the dim lighting, and two-tiered seating arrangements. My favourite would've been the ornate candle holder which illuminated an iron-like nook in the wall. Well enough about the decor already... how was the food?
Adding to the bonus of a $25 prix-fixe menu was my voucher which would entitle me to 2 prix-fixe meals for the price of one. What what?! But what's a good Friday night without a glass of wine, or two? Those of you who know me know that I am not a fan of red wine with its tannins and all, so I opted for a glass of the E.J. Gallo White Zinfandel and my dining companion (DC) ordered a glass of the Kouros Nemea which is supposed to be a lighter red wine. I had a sip, and it didn't leave that dried-out feeling in your mouth (you know, the same one you get after drinking a cup of Orange Pekoe?)To my surprise, my DC had never tried Saganaki... And being the cheese lover that I am, I just had to order it! It was like eating a pizza minus the empty carb-laden crust... The cheese itself was nicely crusted, and was served with their ever-so-flaky dinner rolls which were pillow-y soft on the inside. Yummy!
Appetizers consisted of Mussels steamed with garden veggies, fresh herbs and garlic and dowsed in a Mediterranean red sauce - which is especially good for dipping if you have any of the dinner rolls left over! The Spanakopita was equally yummy, though I found the filling to be a bit on the cold side.
For mains I ordered a feta and sundried tomato crusted salmon. I have had a lot of bad experiences with salmon at restaurants (e.g. they overcook the salmon and its dry) but Ouzeri has renewed my confidence in putting salmon back on my list of orderables! It was served with horta (wilted greens with lemon and olive oil), which, would give any child the right not to eat their vegetables as the greens were bitter. The rice was delicious, no doubt infused with a broth of sorts.
My dining companion opted for the Spatstisio which was baked in a bechamel sauce and layered with spiced ground beef. The pasta was velvety smooth, and the Ouzeri mixed greens salad was equally delectable.
For dessert we ordered the Loukamades and the Yiaourti. The Loukamades were disappointing and I didn't quite enjoy the texture nor the taste of it. I cannot put into words what it was, but the syrup tasted "funny." The pressed greek yogurt topped with figs and honey however, OPA!!! I may just give up ice cream because of this! The greek yogurt was extremely creamy and dense. Being plain yogurt, it was a bit sour, but that's where the figs and honey go to work. I am so glad I ordered this. I haven't had a good dessert in a long time, and lest you underestimate the power of simple ingredients - lesson learned.
Verdict:
I enjoyed my experience at Ouzeri. Although service is a bit lacklustre, the food makes up for it. I cannot wait to come back to try more of the savoury foods that Ouzeri has to offer, not to mention ample portion sizes. The ambiance is great, and I would definitely recommend it if you're looking for a place to eat on a Friday night. -
Review from Tony F.
1/31/2011
Ouzeri
A solid OmNom! A SOLID Winterlicious lunch menu. I've stopped going to Winterlicious pretty much because most restaurants really alter their menu and the service is just plain awful. Why lure people in there only to give them something they're not expecting?
Ouzeri on the other hand was fantastic. We did go off hours at 3pm for their lunch prix fix so not sure how they handle a regular service. The Meze dip sampler was awesome. Two Pita breads with enough dip that after I shared there was still enough for another two pitas!
I couldn't resist the grilled Kalamari even though the Lamb Pie sounded awesome. It was cooked to perfection and couldn't ask for more.
I was going to get the custard for desert but got talked in to the Greek Yogurt. It was nice, but a bit too tart for me however everyone else enjoyed it. It was super thick, and the honey nutty yummy goodness that went with it was awesome.
Looking forward to going back soon.Listed in: Omnomeriffic Yum! (TM), Date night
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Review from Lauren M.
*OOOOOOOOOOOOooooouzeri*
Solid 4.5 star, but 5 star during Winterlicious, Summerlicious or whenever they are offering a prix-fixe menu (which is quite often).
Ouzeri has become my new favourite Greek place on the Danforth. I have been here 5-6 times now, for both lunch and dinner. They often offer 3 course prix-fixe lunch for $15 and dinner for $25. It's an absolute bargain for the quantity of food you get and the variety is great too!
This place goes beyond the usual souvlaki, greek salad and spanakopita served up by every single Greek restaurant. They do a lot of traditional seafood dishes.
My favourite appetizer is the Mydia (mussels steamed with mediterranean sauce), but the various dips, dolmades and saganaki (OPA!) are all great choices. Skip the greek salad, you can have that shit anywhere!
The mains come served with traditional rice and potatoes, but if you're a carb-ophobe like me, you can upgrade to grilled vegetables for an extra couple bucks. My favourite main is the Kalamari Skaras, which is grilled (not fried!) If you're not into seafood, the rosemary pie and mousaka are A+ too.
For dessert, I always get the greek yogurt with honey and walnuts. Better than crack cocaine! This authentic greek yogurt is the thickest, creamiest yogurt you will ever taste. It's heavy, more like cream cheese than yogurt.
The decor is dark and romantic, currently done up very nicely for Christmas. Service is usually good - always friendly but can sometimes be a bit slow when it gets busy.
Winterlicious is coming soon and I'm pretty sure I'm going to post a BIG FAT GREEK UYE here!Listed in: Lauren M's BIG FAT GREEK LIST
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Review from Angela L.
12/30/2010
My sister and I had an itch to scratch...an itch for some great Greek, that is. After my sister put in countless hours poring through reviews on Yelp, we finally settled on lunch at Ouzeri. After reading all the rave reviews, we couldn't help but have high expectations.
We hurried to make our reservation, but upon entering an almost empty restaurant a little past noon, we realized there had been no need to rush. A disinterested looking server, who appeared to be the only one working, eventually drifted over to seat us and present us with menus. We had decided beforehand that we were going to order off the $15 lunch prix-fixe menu, but our quick decision making was not rewarded by quick order taking.
Once our orders were finally taken, it then took another 20 minutes (*warning: hyperbole alert*) for the server to punch it into the computer, and then another 10 for him to bring us our water, then another 10 to bring us a basket of (cold, dry, uninteresting) bread. Meanwhile, I killed time by gazing over at what the kitchen staff were doing. To my horror, I watched my Greek salad be assembled and dressed before my sister's hot appetizer was even fired. When we received our appetizers, mine was predictably soggy, not only from sitting around but also from being drenched in oily, flavourless dressing. The iceberg lettuce looked sad and brown, the tomatoes, in contrast, were freakishly red, the cucumbers were chopped in large, uneven portions, the feta was surprisingly bland, and the two kalamata olives dropped on top just looked lifeless.
After being thoroughly disappointed with our appetizers, we waited some more for our mains. We filled our time by imagining the comments we would write in our Yelp reviews and watching our server shuffle around incredibly slowly. Once our mains finally arrived, there was a bit of redemption. My chicken souvlaki was a lot more "appetizing" than my appetizer (hehe), and all in all I would say it was worth breaking my vegetarian streak for (especially given that my sister was displeased with her vegetarian moussaka). The rice pilaf was tender and delicious, and the tzatziki was tasty and served in a generous portion, but we both found the potatoes a bit too tangy.
I was already pretty stuffed at this point and couldn't finish my main, especially since dessert was included as part of the prix-fixe. At least I can say that the value is there. I had ordered the Baileys creme caramel for the grand finale, but there was very little that was Baileys about it. In fact, I have a sneaking suspicion is was one of those Dr. Oetker's prepared packages of creme caramel, or just a clone in both taste and appearance. The lackluster food, coupled with the slow and disinterested service, left a lot to be desired. Perhaps the head chef was off when we went? Either way, the itch remains unscratched... -
Review from Phillip Jessie j.
Toronto, ON
2/1/2011
Came here for winterlicous for the $15 lunch
my and the buddy got
artichokes/meze (dips and pita)
fried kalamari/mousaka (sort of like shepherds pie but with eggplant and zucchini)
and for dessert the Greek yogurt and the creme caramel
most other reviews are right on track. I liked everything however the creme caramel tasted (and probably was) the same as something you could get in a grocery store.
My personal discovery of the visit was the mousaka, its like Sheppard's pie but with zucchini and eggplant instead of potatoes.
Usually I hate boring-ass Sheppard's pie (potatoes, peas and meat? blah) but the mousaka was great
Overall the food was good and I would eat here again for Greek food. -
Review from Giuliana B.
SCARBOROUGH, ON
9/11/2010
YUM YUM YUM. Had lunch there and it was absolutely, friggin, finger licking delicious! I brought my mom here for lunch today, and we left feeling happy and stuffed.
The place is big, nice and can easily fit larger groups.I vaguely remembered having been here before with friends, and having drank flaming shots and watched a belly dancer contort and move in ways I can only ever dream of doing.
On this occasion we were greeted by a friendly waitress, who told us to choose were we wanted to sit ( at 2:30pm the place was pretty empty save for a couple other tables). We were handed our menus and left for a few minutes to decide what to get. We decided on the Lemonato dolmades ( grape leaves stuffed with ground beef and creamy arborio rice with a creamy lemon and dill sauce), and banana peppers stuffed with roasted red peppers and feta cheese. For our mains we chose the moussaka and grilled calamari dinner.
Warm, crusty yet soft bread rolls were brought to our table while we waited for our starters, which came only a few minutes later. The lemonato dolamdes were delicious, and a very generous portion for a starter, the stuffed banana peppers were spicy and also very,very tasty. We were just finishing our starters when our mains came out, unfortunately at this point I was pretty much full from having stuffed my face with warm bread and the generously sized starters.
Both the moussaka and grilled calamari came with Greek salad,roasted potatoes and rice. I had some of the grilled calamari and it was incredibly tender and delicious! Some of the best grilled calamari I have ever had. The moussaka was also very good, however I was really full and could only handle a couple of bites before I asked for the rest of my dinner to be packed up.
The service throughout our meal was attentive, and friendly, and our waitress checked on us a few times to make sure were doing fine, and to pour water on our glasses for us. All in all very friendly without being overbearing or annoying. Our two starters with mains and a large bottle of sparkling water came to a little over $60.00. Very reasonable for the amount and quality of food we had.
My only recommendation when coming here would be to wear pants with some extra room in them, because at the end of my meal I was about ready to loosen my belt by a couple of notches in order to accommodate my "food bump". -
Review from Samia M.
Toronto, ON
12/31/2010
This food was good. I ordered the meze for my appetizer and it wasn't bad. The mussels almost had an odd hint of something not quite greek, although my husband says they were good. Adequate.
I went to the clutch chicken souvlaki for my entree, and boy did old faithful come through. Chicken was well seasoned, piping hot and came accompanied with delightful lemon potatoes and rice. The tatziki sauce was normal.
My husband ordered the angus steak. He almost ate himself to an accident. He seemed content.
For dessert, I ordered the greek yogurt with honey and walnuts. It was very rich, the honey was tasty. No complaints. The hubby got the creme caramel. Normal.
Overall, the ambiance was great, abundant seating, drinks were reasonably priced and wait staff were alright. We'll definitely go back in the future! -
Review from Alena B.
10/16/2011
THis place is great. My friends and I were on a trip to Niagara and couldn't pass up an opportunity to see TO. Being Greek we made our way to Greektown and combed the streets looking for a place to eat...we found Ouzeri. The food was AMAZING! After eating the crap surrounding Niagara we were in heaven. Authentic, exciting and just plain good Greek food! I could totally move here (okay not to the actual restaurant but to TO) if this is the kind of good I can expect. Dolmades were excellent as was the Avgolemono Soup. Great beefteki and mousaka. COME HERE!
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Review from Ktimene G.
6/12/2009
I agree with Wendy. Ouzeri is the kind of place you go once, and then just don't want to risk any lesser Greek food when walking on the Danforth.
Let's start with the details, then work our way out to the general picture.
1) They even make potatoes taste really like a delicacy. I am racking my brain trying to remember my entree because I can't forget the taste of these tender young things.
2) The tzatziki is thick and creamy and has enough onion & garlic to heal the world.
3) The dolmas are perky and not overly oily
4) Oh yeah, the grilled calamari was my entree. I've never had bad grilled calamari in Toronto (Spuntini, 5 Doors North, and Ouzeri some of the best), but what impressed me was the doppelganger serving.
5) The rest: the waiters are cheeky. The wines are aplenty by the glass and good value. And the open air terrace is very pleasant.
I've never gotten so far as desert. Maybe because by the time I finish I see some nearby table order the flaming cheese, and get a bit queasy. Typically Ouzeri dinners require long, long walks afterwards just to forget that such a thing as flaming cheese exists. -
Review from LeeAnn E.
Winnipeg, MB
11/27/2010
If you are looking for to Kallitero Greek joint to hit on Danforth, pate sto Ouzeri!
First, the ambiance was enchanting. Low lit, with nice Hellenic nick-nacks but tastefully put together, with some light bouzoukia mousiki in the background.
The food was amazing across the board. We had the saganaki, spanikopita, horiatiki salata, kalamarakia, however the piece de la resistance was the octopus. Boiled, then grilled, with a near perfect consistency on the palette, and served up with lemon and olive oil.
Lastly, the service was excellent, and despite the late hour, the staff (some of whom speak fluent Greek) acted like true Greek taverna owners and waited until our party was ready to depart at well after 11 pm. . .on a weeknight.
Efaristo para poly!!! -
Review from Leslie J.
7/10/2009
First, I would like to say I absolutely love Toronto and Danforth.
I went to Ouzeri for my cousin's wedding reception and it was perfect!
They had a long table reserved for all of us and we ate like one big happy loud Greek family.
I think we had a bit of everything from the menu. All three dips: humous, tzatziki, melitzanosalata with pita bread. Octopodi toursi, saganaki, kalamari, gigantes, octopodi skaras, etc.
Our service was quick, consistent, and friendly. Wine was flowing. It was truly a lovely meal. Overall great dining experience for me.
Opa!Listed in: Oh Canadia!
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Review from Wendy H.
Toronto, ON
6/10/2009
I'm not gonna sit here and call myself some kinda greek food expert, nor have I been to all of the Danforth hot spots. But I do know that Ouzeri is all kinds of *drooool*.
The space itself is lovely - great for patio dining but their indoor seating feels comfortable and intimate even though it's quite full. Service is wonderful - knowledgeable and friendly, with a family-run feel (maybe they are?).
The menu is dense and delicious. Good wine selection and it's next to impossible to order less than two apps. The saganaki might make you wet your pants; the octopus is worth eight hugs (I had to demand a location to buy their olive oil). If you go for the generic souvlaki dinner, you won't be disappointed; I could lick the plate clean of that tzatziki. And if the rosemary pie didn't have lamb in it, I'd order it (just cause it's called rosemary pie. Come on!!).
So far, this is my top Greek spot in the city. Got any other suggestions to top it? -
Review from Mark C.
Toronto, ON
12/28/2011
We live in the neighbourhood and thought we would bring out guests for lunch. Everyones mean was cold and burned. Even the kids mean was dried up. Service was horrible. My guests were being pollite and didn't want to send back their plate. But for certain this will be a restaurant neither one of us will be returning too. There are plenty of other great restaurants just around the corner.
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Review from Nicole M.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 2/6/2011
I went this Saturday night for an early dinner with some friends. I didn't have a reservation and was told that they were completely booked with reservations for Winterlicious. No biggie - I figured I'd wait for my friends to arrive and we'd go elsewhere. While I was waiting, the hostesses figured out a way to squeeze us in - really appreciate it ladies! Now that's customer service!
Listed in: Worth the trip to the east end
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/11/2010
My bf and I went here on our very first date over a year ago and we decided to return tonight for… Read more »
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Review from Julia L.
Toronto, ON
1/2/2011
I had a hankering for some good Greek food for quite some time, and I turned to Yelp to help me satisfy my craving. Ouzeri seemed like a good pick, and I promptly made a reservation for lunch on a Thursday for my sister and I. Walking in, we quickly realized that a reservation was completely unnecessary, as the place was nearly empty.
The service was slow and lackluster, and particularly disappointing given the number of diners in the restaurant. We were a bit tight on time, and I found myself anxiously watching the clock while simultaneously watching our server shuffle about as our food sat on the counter getting cold. Frankly, Ouzeri seems to exemplify inefficiency at its finest. To add to my sister's review below, the food also failed to make up for the poor service. I did not enjoy my appetizer (Artichokes Lemonato), although this may have been more of a personal taste preference and I can't speak much to the authenticity of the dish. I ordered the Vegetarian Moussaka as my main, which came with rice pilaf and lemon roasted potatoes. The potatoes tasted more like salty lemons disguised as potatoes, and I've had better Moussaka elsewhere. I think the fact that the rice pilaf was the most-eaten part of my plate speaks for itself. By the time dessert rolled around, however, I was stuffed and could only manage a few spoonfuls of Greek yogurt before rushing out the door.
Overall, the $15 prix fixe lunch menu is cheap, filling, and relatively satisfying, but with all the Greek restaurants lining the Danforth, I likely won't be returning to Ouzeri again. -
Review from Tara Z.
2/7/2011
I'm always impressed when a restaurant offers a vegetarian menu during Winter/Summerlicious. You'd think it wouldn't be such a big deal, but if you've ever tried to join friends for dinner only to be faced with the same generic pasta dish that's every restaurant's fallback option, you'd understand. So any place that even tries to make a vegetarian dish that isn't covered in tomato sauce earns points from me, and a place that actually gets it right--as Ouzeri does--definitely impresses me. In short, try the chickpea moussaka. Seriously, I'm still thinking about it.
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Review from simone t.
Scarborough, ON
2/6/2011
We went for Sunday lunch.Service was slow except for a couple that were Greek and were well known to the staff.They came after us but got expedited service and more then one server attending to their needs.
The food over all was good, though slow .The two women who came less then five minutes after us had even slower service then us.Appetizers came out fast but that was it . We waited a while for our entrees as it seemed that they were still attending to making entrees for guests who came way after us .
We felt sorry for the two women ,because they were drooling over our food when ours finally came and started gobbling up their table bread , which my nephew had done the same waiting for the entrees.When we finally got our deserts which we had to remind the waitress of and finished it ....the same two women were just getting their meal.I noticed though that every one were swarming around the Greek couple behind us .Honestly I would not even care if he was the owner that many to attend to the two of them while the rest of your patrons are bitting their nails and gobbling the bread on the tables!
The Backlava although sweeter then others I have tried was the best desert .The Bailey's cream caramel was okay .
As for the Yiaourti...well let's just say the three of us at the table took one spoon to taste it and abandoned it to the crows.
It's an okay restaurant but Fantastic ? would I go out of my way to go their , due to the slow service .The answer is no .Sorry -
Review from Heather M.
Toronto, ON
11/2/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Overall a 3/5, but admit I'd give them 4/5 for a warm atmosphere and delicious food--gorgeous green olive oil, moist tasty salmon and dolmades to die for! But that's not all there is to a meal, right? We found the staff had no personality and were very inattentive. We had to stack our own appetizer plates because they didn't come to clear for sooo long. And if we hadn't flagged them for more water, for the next round of drinks and for the bill, we would still be waiting. Not cool.
