Mezes

What is Mezes? Anchoring the Danforth strip at 456 Danforth Avenue, Mezes is an enduring family-run taverna that popularized communal, small-plate Hellenic dining in Greektown. The dining room pairs warm exposed brick and whitewashed Mediterranean touches with lively energy, alongside a popular front sidewalk patio for warm-weather people-watching. Seating revolves around group tables and an intimate bar well-stocked with Greek wines and spirits.

Mezes Menu & What to Order Start with the kria poikilia cold dip platter—featuring house tzatziki, smoky melitzanosalata, and salted carp roe taramosalata with warm pita—before ordering the table-side flaming saganaki. For mains, the chargrilled chicken and lamb souvlaki dinners come loaded with lemon-oregano roasted potatoes and crisp horiatiki salad, while seafood fans should look to the tender grilled kalamari. Round out the meal with a carafe of Greek Assyrtiko and end on a sweet note with the house-made chocolate fig baklava or citrus-infused galaktoboureko.

Know Before You Go Mezes fills up rapidly most evenings and weekends, making advance reservations via their website a smart move over waiting in prime-time walk-in queues. The restaurant is a brief stroll from Chester subway station on Line 2, with several Green P parking lots located just north of Danforth Avenue. Service runs continuously from 11:00 a.m. Monday through Saturday (opening at noon on Sundays) until late.