I’d walked past the restaurant a countless number of times until I decided to pop in
Jamie Greer is the under-35s writer for the Liverpool Echo and other Reach titles. He mainly covers stories relevant for 16 to 35 year-olds, along with general and breaking news. He focuses on young entrepreneurs, property stories, health and interesting places to visit in Merseyside. Jamie studied History and Politics at the University of Manchester and completed a Master’s Degree with an NCTJ qualification at the University of Salford before joining the ECHO. He has worked with other media publications covering news and sport.
I visited the restaurant last week as temperatures soared (Image: Jamie Greer)
In a big city like Liverpool it’s easy to miss historical places right on your doorstep. For years I’d made the walk down Leece Street on my way to Bold Street and not given much thought to what looked like a small Greek restaurant on the corner of the busy junction.
That was until last week, when I realised this was Zorbas, which the owners claim is the oldest running restaurant in Liverpool. Run by Haralambos and Louisa Michael, it first opened its doors in 1974.
After visiting Liverpool in the early seventies, Haralambos Michael, known to many as Michael, decided to take his love of food and talent as a chef to make a venue specialising in traditional Greek-Cypriot cuisine.
Popular with Liverpool’s student community over the years, as well as performers visiting the city from the world of art and music, the family have had customers return to Zorbas from across the globe.
Last week, my friends and I decided to visit the restaurant ourselves amid scorching temperatures. The first thing that stood out to me was how big it was. There’s plenty of tables of all different shapes and sizes, so you shouldn’t be struggling to find a table if you fancy popping in.
Drinks wise, I was delighted they had some ice cold beer. My bottle of Mythos, a Greek larger, isn’t one you see in shops everyday but it was exactly what I needed on a hot summer’s evening.
For starters, I opted for the hummus. It was definitely superior to hummus you’d buy in a supermarket and came in a huge bowl. Surprisingly, the flatbread with it was very hot, which caught me by surprise when I picked it up.
The hummus from Zorbas came in a big bowl(Image: Jamie Greer/Liverpool Echo)
For my main, I chose the mixed kebab and was not disappointed, with both the chicken and lamb cooked to perfection.
But it was the vibe of the restaurant that impressed me the most. It was a very calming place to be. They had a musician playing and in some restaurants live music can be too loud and mean you can’t hear the person you’re sitting opposite.
I was glad I picked the mixed kebab (Image: Jamie Greer/Liverpool ECHO)
The gentle chimes of a man strumming his guitar added to the restaurant’s relaxed vibe. It felt like I had been transported to a classy venue in the Mediterranean.
The main dish came with some rice and chips, which meant I was too full for dessert. If I go again, I’d love to try the baklava. Speaking of the chips, they were a particular highlight – they were hand cut and doused in rosemary salt.
My bill came to £29.50, which I feel is a reasonable price for a meal out these days.
The location is also a huge plus point, especially on Friday night. You can either head up Leece Street and experience the delights of the Georgian Quarter or cross the road and into the bustling nightlife of Ropewalks.
You might have missed Zorbas as you quickly make your way through town, but it’s definitely worth a trip there.