Mamakas Taverna

What is Mamakas Taverna? Occupying 80 Ossington Avenue at Humbert Street, Mamakas Taverna is restaurateur Thanos Tripi’s flagship homage to modern Aegean cooking. The whitewashed dining room channels a breezy Cycladic courtyard with exposed pale brick, soft ambient globe lighting, a lively bar counter, and sidewalk patio seating during warmer months. It remains one of the strip’s quintessential dining hubs, pairing high-energy communal taverna vibes with sharp, attentive service.

Mamakas Taverna Menu & What to Order Start with freshly grilled pita alongside house dips like creamy taramosalata and spicy tirokafteri before slicing into a true horiatiki layered with imported Greek feta. For mains, order the charred grilled octopus (oktapodi) and the tender paidakia (charcoal-grilled lamb chops), or split a whole grilled lavraki dressed simply with lemon and olive oil. The beverage program leans entirely into regional authenticity with an outstanding all-Greek wine list spotlighting crisp Santorini Assyrtiko and earthy Xinomavro reds.

Know Before You Go Dinner reservations are essential on Ossington, especially for prime evening slots and weekend seatings. Walk-ins have the best shot at snagging a bar seat right when doors open at 5:00 or 5:30 p.m. Ossington street parking is notoriously limited, making the 63 Ossington bus or 501 Queen streetcar your smoothest transit bet.