Putting Geelong's only authentic Greek eatery firmly on the map, Mavs have been crowned at the Restaurant & Catering Industry Association 2022 Awards for Excellence.
If there’s one thing Greeks are known for, it’s putting on a truly spectacular spread. Healthy and hearty, boasting mezze, fresh seafood, grilled meats and colourful salads, this palatable Mediterranean cuisine has become a huge part of this country’s culinary identity over the years.
While the nation is brimming with amazing Greek taverns, street food stops and family-owned restaurants to suit all occasions and budgets, it turns out Geelong is one of the best places to sit down to a delicious Greek feast, because Mavs Greek Restaurant has just been named the best Greek restaurant in Victoria and Tasmania.
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Named from the owner’s family name Mavromoustakos and meaning ‘black moustache’, Mavs – Geelong’s only authentic Greek restaurant – has taken out the Greek crown at this year’s Restaurant & Catering Awards for Excellence.
Held annually, The Restaurant & Catering Hostplus Awards for Excellence gives restaurants, cafes and caterers across the country well-deserved recognition for their hard work, exceptional food and outstanding service in this vibrant industry. The Awards are held in each state (with Victoria and Tasmania combined into one), recognising operators in metropolitan and regional centres, and are the only industry awards with an independent judging system of 280 judges reporting to state Judge Chairs and a National Chief Judge.
After a couple of tough years for the hospitality industry, as it continues to grapple with the pandemic and staff shortages, Mavs was crowned on Monday night, July 11, at a restaurant gala in Melbourne. Offering a sojourn around the Mediterranean without the airfare, the Geelong restaurant took out the category of Best Greek Restaurant, beating out other renowned finalists Alatonero in McCrae and Eleni’s Kitchen and Bar in Yarraville.
Alongside the best Greek restaurant, the awards also recognised the best steak restaurant, best Italian restaurant, best restaurant in a winery, best French restaurant and best Asian restaurant, among many others.
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The term ‘local institution’ doesn’t even begin to describe the stature that this family-run restaurant holds in Geelong’s heart.
Hailed as Geelong’s only authentic Greek restaurant, over the last five years Milton Mavromoustakos and his wife Julia have cemented Mavs as a regional favourite. Located in Geelong’s trendy West End precinct in Little Malop Street, Mavs is broadly loved for its vibrant and authentic anything-goes spirit.
“We’ve been working hard for this for the last five years, as a family we’ve been working hard to become the best of the best and as I keep saying to people, we promote our culture through the food so day by day this becomes better and better. Everything is homemade, it’s just like we’re cooking at home and there’s more to come from us. We’re going for the national recognition next,” Milton says of the award.
“We want to say a big thank you to the people you have supported us over the last five years and a massive thank you to the team who have helped us get here.”
Milton, who is from Rhodes – the largest of the Dodecanese islands of Greece – is the heart and soul of Mavs with a commitment to classic Greek food served up with the utmost commitment to fine produce and attention to detail that hasn’t wavered since its beginnings.
Offering fresh, homemade Greek cuisine with a combination of smaller dishes designed to share alongside a bigger, heartier fare, Mavs is where you can go to experience the atmosphere of a traditional Greek gathering. Served with approachability and authenticity, the dishes here are coming from locally-sourced produce that is homemade, using the authentic family recipes to deliver top-notch Green street food. From marinating and preparing meats, to using only the finest ingredients, you can bet this Geelong institution knows exactly what it’s doing.
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On the menu you’ll find dips like Tzatziki, Taramosalata and Melitzanosalata; entrees like Spanakopita, Loukaniko, chargrilled octopus with ouzo-infused dressing and dolmades; and mains like chargrilled prawns, Saganaki seafood, Lamb Gyros, lamb souvlaki, and Steftalia. For more traditional meals, there’s also Kleftiko, Mousaka, Biftekia, and Filleto Kotas. Greek salad also features as well as calamari, seafood pasta and Saganaki Kefalotiri (aka grilled Greek cheese!).
If you’re up for a true authentic feast, there’s also platters for the table to share, offering meat and seafood options loaded with all the best bits of the menu. As for dessert, well there’s Galaktoboureko, Baklava and our favourite, the Loukoumades, which are traditional Greek donuts served with honey, crushed walnuts and chocolate ice cream.
The combination of simple, yet perfectly cooked Greek fare wrought from the best ingredients, a vibrant drinks offering, an attractive room as well as service that is both warm and efficient, has led to tables here being in hot demand.
“We want our customers to feel like they’ve been welcomed into our family and enjoy the experience of a traditional Greek gathering every time they visit us. If you’ve seen My Big Fat Greek Wedding, well, that’s exactly what it’s like,” Milton told us previously of the restaurant.
Ground zero for the best Greek restaurants in Victoria, the restaurant has been so wildly embraced and loved by locals that earlier this year Milton and Julia, who also run iconic Ocean Grove fish and chip shop Mavros, captured the spirit of their restaurant on a small scale with Souva Bar, a tiny takeaway souvlaki store in Grovedale. even your mate’s Yiayia wouldn’t turn her nose up at.
With all their venues being a labour of love, they’re clearly onto a winning recipe that even your mate’s Yiayia wouldn’t turn her nose up at.
Souva Bar, Geelong’s first and only authentic Greek souvlaki bar, opens
It’s pretty hard to visit this Greek restaurant and not automatically declare you’re permanently switching to a Mediterranean diet. So for next time the hunger pangs hits, or when you’re just in need of an indulgent night out, this moreish restaurant needs to be at the top of your must-visit list.
Mavs Greek Restaurant is located at 73A Little Malop St, Geelong and is open Wednesday to Monday. Find out more here.