Kaminaki

We were out with Marie & the usual crowd at a Greek restaurant tonight. The restaurant in question was Kaminaki in Stockton-on-Tees, a place that has recently celebrated its first birthday. I wish I'd known about it sooner as it is a wonderful restaurant.

As soon as we stepped inside it just felt "right", as though we were back on Rhodes or Crete. And the authenticity extended to the food too, and everything we had was on a par (if not better) than the stuff we've had in Greece. It wasn't in any way anglicised, or tinkered with, it was all just as you'd hope it would be.

They do a quite immense and comprehensive menu, which included tons of vegetarian dishes, mostly in the starters/mezze section. All of our favourites were there, most notably Saganaki Cheese which we haven't seen at any other UK Greek restaurant.

There were so many lovely sounding dishes that we wished we could try them all, and we almost got our wish with the Artemis's Feast, a four course Mezze that seemed to just go on forever.
We had:

• Hummous, Tzatziki and Melitzanosalata, all with pitta to dip
• Gigantes, Okra and Dolmades
• Papoutsakia, Asparagus Risotto and the most wonderful Potatoes ever
• Horiatiki salad (Greek salad)
• Selection of Greek desserts
• 3 bottles of Aphrodite white wine (between 6 of us)
• Greek Coffee
• (The others had the non-veggie options, and said it was all wonderful too. Despite being a veggie I have to admit that it did all look very good).

Altogether it came to £25 per head, which was great value considering the quality and quantity of food, and the great service. And it was really the wine that pushed up the bill - miss it out and you can reduce that cost to only £16 per head - the Artemis's Feats is in fact only £12.50 per person (for a minimum of two) - exceptional value.

You're not rushed either, your table is yours for the evening and the front man/Maitre D'/Waiter keeps you entertained with his friendly banter as he brings you dishes and takes your orders. Stay till late and the (proper Greek) family emerge from the kitchen and join you in a parting glass of Ouzo.

Address: Kaminaki, 92 Church Road, Stockton TS18 1TW.
Tel: 01642 607949
e-mail: info@kaminaki.co.uk
Website: http://www.kaminaki.co.uk/

10 out of 10, I really don't think it could be any better!