If you are looking for a Greek restaurant in Shoreditch, there is a new Greek List member to put on your list: Yayacas, a small Greek kitchen tucked away at 1 Bath Place, just off Rivington Street, a short walk from Old Street station. It is open every day from 12pm to 11pm, which makes it easy to fit around work, shopping or a night out in East London.
The name says it all. Yayacas comes from the Greek word for grandmothers, and the restaurant was started by two best friends from Northern Greece who both grew up on those home recipes. Their idea is simple: healthy, homemade Greek food, cooked fresh every day with original Greek products, and served with a warm smile rather than a lot of fuss.
That matters in a part of London where it is easy to find a trendy plate and hard to find a taste of home. Here the focus is on the dishes many of us grew up with, plus a few street food style wraps and grilled favourites for people who want something quick and filling.
The menu on the Yayacas website is built for sharing, so it works well for a group. A good way to start is the Mix and Match of four spreads: tzatziki, hummus, spicy feta and the house aubergine, with warm pita. Then add the Honey Filo Feta, the Cretan dakos salad and a Greek village salad.
For the main part of the table, look at the skewers (chicken, lamb, pork or halloumi with vegetables), the beef meatballs, the Greek sausage with leek and the spinach and feta pie. Moussaka is on the menu too, and there are roasted potatoes on the side. If you want something lighter, the lentil salad is a good vegetarian choice, and halloumi is never far away.
Finish with something sweet. Baklava, kataifi, bugatsa and revani all appear on the dessert list, which is exactly what you want after a cold evening in the City fringe.
Good to know: prices on third party sites show wraps from around £14 and dips from around £6.50, but check the current menu before you go, as prices can change.
It is late October, and that is when December diaries start to fill. If you are planning a team dinner, a catch up with friends from Greece, or a family meal before the holidays, booking early is the smart move. Greek food is made for tables full of plates, and Yayacas describes itself as a place where Greeks and food lovers can meet, share and celebrate together.
The restaurant also invites people who want to host a Greek gathering to get in touch, so if you are thinking about a birthday, a name day or a small celebration, send them a message through the Greek List listing and ask what they can do for your group size.
Greek stop: Yayacas, Authentic Greek Cuisine, 1 Bath Place, Rivington Street, EC2A 3DA. Open daily 12pm to 11pm. Phone 020 3340 7246.
Yayacas is in the heart of Shoreditch, a short walk from Old Street, so it is simple to reach by Tube, bus or bike. You can reserve a table through the restaurant website, and the restaurant is also listed on OpenTable, where diners currently rate it 4.7 out of 5 from 31 reviews. OpenTable also lists a lunch set menu for groups of 1 to 8 people, which is worth asking about if you want a good value midday meal.
The restaurant caters for different diets too. There are vegetarian and vegan options and several gluten free dishes, but if you have an allergy, always tell the staff before you order.
Getting there: Old Street station is the nearest. Address: 1 Bath Place, Rivington Street, London EC2A 3DA.
Yayacas joined Greek List this month, and we are glad to have another Greek kitchen in the community. Every time you find a business through Greek List and mention it, you help Greeks and Cypriots in the UK keep finding each other. When you visit, take a photo, tag the restaurant and tell them you found them on Greek List.
Ready to book? Open the Yayacas listing for the address, opening hours, social links and a quick contact form.
If you like Greek food and you like to plan ahead, keep an eye on our events page for Greek nights, parties and community meetups across the UK. Many of them are free to join, and a table at a Greek restaurant is the perfect way to end the evening.
Greek List runs the most complete list of Greek events in the UK, and organisers can list their event for free.
The businesses featured here are Greek List members. More than 100,000 Greeks and Cypriots in the UK read us every month through the site, the newsletter and the Ellines sto Londino group, and member listings rank first on Google.
Been to Yayacas, or have a favourite Greek spot in Shoreditch? Share it in our Facebook group Ellines sto Londino.
