Zeus Restaurant Review - Ancient Greece gave the world Socrates, the Olympics and some of the loveliest ruins around. Modern Greece, however, has bequeathed us something considerably more delicious. Aegean cuisine is a tempting, sensuous blend of surf, turf and olive grove. From mezze to moussaka there is plenty to share and even more to indulge your own palate.

Zeus Restaurant & Bar, (named after the king of the Olympian gods), is ideally suited to the warm climate of FNQ. Not only is it a clean, cool spacious place, but its Mediterranean fare is tailored to hot weather conditions. In addition, the hospitality is warm; with Billy the proprietor leading the charge.

Before long though, it’s the food that takes centre stage. The entrée selection is designed for sharing, though you may want to keep the saganaki cheese all to yourself. On the night my partner and I visited, we were also tempted by a classic Greek salad, (tomato, cucumber, feta, olives, red onion), and by the divine spannakopita (feta and spinach in filo pastry).

By that stage, Billy had already tempted us with a crisp, fruity Pinot Grigio.  Fortunately there was enough left in the bottle to enjoy with our mains, the highlight of which was the avowedly Hellenic lamb souvlaki. The meat was marinated and lightly seared, presented on skewers and smeared with feta. It was a tangy, more-ish dish; an old favourite redressed but still redolent with traditional flavour.

Elsewhere, the menu features, amongst others, octopus, barramundi and the spectacular sounding saganaki prawns. There’s also a pasta selection, including a scrumptious Napoli style vegetarian dish. Or there’s Billy’s specialty, the marinated lamb cutlets. Outrageously good.

With the wine supply dwindling, it was time for dessert, a French inspired crème brulee and the very Greek galatabouriko.  The brulee is a toffee crusted, creamy delight, while the galata is a light semolina style treat that fills the mouth with sheer pleasure. (And yes, they do have baklava too.)

Zeus Restaurant is not the most traditional Greek taverna, with its modern styling and somewhat ‘fusion’ approach to food, but it positively oozes the old school Greek values of warmth and the joy of good eating. However, there is no plate smashing in evidence.

Be warned, though, you may well wake up in the night fantasising about the saganaki cheese.  (If you’ve never tried it, it’s addictive.)

Zeus Restaurant - Port Douglas Australia