Review Parea Restaurant - Johannesburg

This is a lovely Greek eatery with amazing options on the menu catering for all tastes from seafood to meat dishes to vegetarian options. The service is always attentive and they manage to handle big groups well. The only drawback of this restaurant is the parking of the parking lot on the corner is closed.

Authentic Greek taverna food. Ask for Nic. There is no need to look at the menu, and he'll serve you the best of the day. When the belly dancer arrives, you will be transported to a far away land

We’ve been wanting to go to Parea for the longest time after many foodie friends raved about the fresh grilled fish, which they have become synonymous for. After a year of planning our Greek friends finally got us to commit to a date to have dinner with them at Parea. The best part of going with Greek friends is that you let them choose the dishes and surprise you as opposed to ordering what you know. And I’m glad we did! Meze and dips are always great starter options to break bread and savour the array of flavours. Our host chose an assortment of meze and dips for starters. After scanning the myriad of options in the glass counter, I also chose one of my favourites - Gigantes - giant butter beans marinated in olive oil, parsley and onion, which was outstanding. The dolmades comes with a generous portion of tzatziki, and were sublime. The next dip was a beautiful surprise and just too yummy for words. Melitzanosalata – finely chopped brinjals in a garlic dressing. A definite must try. We had fresh pita bread to mop this all up and was scrumptious. The Taramosalata – fish roe, olive oil and lemon dish was excellent, and is a firm favourite if fish roe is your thing. So as if this was not a lot of starters, we still had a divine Greek salad with amazing Feta and olives. And the final starter dish was the delightful, Brinjal Special – grilled brinjals with Pomodoro tomato, topped with crumbled feta. Another must try dish. Half way through our starter, our host had indicated to our efficient waitron, Thandi to get the fish on the grill. The whole grilled Red fish was certainly the pièce de résistance, with its firm white flesh, delicate flavour and enhanced with a generous squeeze of lemon. Now I could see what the fuss was about grilled fresh fish and Parea. Golden crispy chips went very well with the fish, as did a dish I’ve tried for the first time, and definitely not my last - the Horta – boiled wild spinach blended with olive oil and lemon juice. Chips, Horta and fish – an ideal mix for a main course – light and tasty. We rounded off the lovely meal with yummy homemade Baklava and semi-sweet Greek coffee. What a wonderful Greek meal with beautiful friends in a taverna setting with an island feel in the heart of Illovo. With such an extensive menu, we will be back to savour the other offering and would love to dine on a day where we can experience the belly dancers, live music and plate breaking! OPA!!

Always a beautiful experience. If you enjoy authentic Greek food, this is the place. It's quaint, good wine, Greek music, delicious desserts and staff who know their stuff

Authentic Greek cuisine, apparently this is exactly how it is in Greece 🇬🇷 😅 I can't say much about that but I can definitely say that the food is to die for, great for a date night, a night out with friends or just a sole date. Ask the owner for recommendations he knows his menu like no body 🤌🏽 10/10

Always wonderful. Good service and delicious food. Mainly the grilled octopus, and the whole fish. Relaxed ambience, with no pretentious vibe. You just rock up

Really lovely place. Very cosy and the staff are friendly. My partner and I went her for our anniversary. You could taste the prawns are super fresh. I love prawns and their prices are very reasonable. I had prearranged for management to do something special for dessert and put happy anniversary along the plate. My partner had chops and he was very pleased with his meal. The dessert did not taste very fresh and that is the reason I am not giving them a 5 star. I will definitely return to this restaurant and I would highly recommend this restaurant if you like seafood.

A must visit for an authentic Greek experience. From the warm welcome, decor, delicious food to the Greek dancing & plate breaking (Fri, Sat after 21h30) and belly dancing, it was a most memorable night. We enjoyed the vegetarian meze platter for two as a starter. However all five of us couldn't resist it. Definitely worth a 2nd visit.

So surprised to find this little bit of Greece on our doorstep here in Johannesburg. We enjoyed a lovely fun evening with good authentic Greek food, a festive atmosphere, friendly service and even some live entertainment. Having just returned from a holiday in Greece this definitely made us long for more. We will be back to Pare Taverna.

They gave me four lamb chops instead of two because they 'were small' but they were actually massive. Very generous. The fried whitebait was something special because you cannot get that at most restaurants, even in Cape Town. Highly recommend.

Loved this cafe/restaurant/taverna, our first visit, my husband enjoyed 2 x striped hirse beers, I had a Corona beer. He enjoyed stolen lamb (slow - 6hr - cook lamb shank) salad and roast potatoes, I chose 3 mezze plates, brinjal in tomato sauce onion, flame grilled halumi, and calamari (tubes & tentacles) in rich dark sauce, all delicious. Will definitely visit again A wide range of diners, from couples like us & young couples, groups too, music in background TV, showing sport, was my disappointment, but that was my personal dislike

Booked dinner to celebrate my bf birthday. What a lovely ambiance, soft lighting, not noisy, not crowded, waitress didn't constantly appear, large portion, good tasty fare. Affordable wine for katemba, 10/10 Waitress served us cake I had brought earlier which was sourced and a bakery. No objection, happy to accommodate me. What a nice gent, super impressed.

I have always enjoyed the food at Parea Taverna in Illovo. The other day I decided to try a take away meal as my wife did not feel like going out. I ordered 2 Parea Burgers and Chips. I have always enjoyed this meal at the restaurant but when my wife finished hear take away meal she said it was the best burger she has ever eaten. I called the restaurant owner later and told him about our excellent meal. It certainly deserves 5 stars

Team lunch and what an amazing place to share amazing meals! The food was outstanding an tantilised our taste buds. Such great service and vibe was fantastic. Definitely going again.

Absoluut great Vibe People Staff Recommend 🐠 …. Well done Nicko!!! Worth your time 🤩 PS- need to book table ❣️

What a pleasure to have dinner at this place!! Absolutely stunning food and service and all atmosphere was really fantastic! Thank you!

My go to restaurant every time. Amazing food!

Amazing Greek as always. We almost needed another table we had so many meze. The big screen made for an amazing afternoon of World Cup football watching. Can’t go wrong here...try it!

Always a pleasant experience. Arguable some of the most authentic Greek food in Joburg.

Great atmosphere. The Greek dancers are a night touch. And the best grilled line fish on town. The other food is also good

What a pleasure to experience a restaurant where the food, service and the owner are all so amazing.... Thank you for making our Sunday afternoon an pleasurable experience. We will most definitely come visit your restaurant again.....

Best fish dinner in Sandton, fantastic atmosphere and staff are very friendly!

Awesome food!!!! Amazing atmosphere, staff and amazing friends as well

Parea is located off the busy Oxford road. Only limited street parking is available unless you are willing to pay R30 to park in the parking lot available further up the road. We ordered a vegetarian platter to share between 3 people and it was affordable at R59 per person. The food was delicious but the presentation could be improved. The restaurant has a cozy feel but the decor could use some updating. Overall it was a great Saturday night out with the addition of the live dancing, breaking plates, and setting fires!

Parea is a no fuss type of Greek restaurant. While presentation isn’t a highlight, flavour certainly is.<br/><br/>The grilled calamari and chicken liver meze dishes were delicious. The chicken & haloumi yiro is very filling - the chicken is not as tender as it should be, it tends to be dry/sometimes burnt. The chips were not cooked properly, I wouldn’t order it as a separate side again.<br/><br/>Overall a good 3.5/5 experience, looking forward to trying more of the meze dishes.<br/>

I personally think this is one of JHB hidden gems.<br/><br/>Not everyone know about it and they are great.<br/><br/>The food is great and the service is not bad.

The most authentic Greek restaurant in Jozi (to my mind). Kitch (but cute) Greek decor and a wide variety of authentic Greek dishes. Always a buzzing atmosphere. Look out for the belly dancing!

Parea never seems to disappoint. Service is always friendly and efficient no matter how busy they are. Highly recommend the beef souvlaki (the lamb was over cooked and slightly dry) and vegetarian platters. But overall, everything on the menu is worth trying at least once! Bookings definitely essential! Great for family events/functions too

Went there for a friend's graduation. And oh my word I was not disappointed! The restaurant is beautiful! The atmosphere is very typically Greek, and the food is mouthwateringly good! Definite must if you're into authentic Greek cuisine!

Cute little relaxed place with good food. Nice vibe. Feels like a little Greece. The food was delicious. The calamari salad - yum. The dolmades - hard to swallow. Belly dancing on weekends. Nice place.

Not the greatest. Lamb kleftiko had a gravy that tasted like it came out of a packet. My wife found a plastic clothes tag in her Kleftiko. See photo.<br/><br/>Peri peri burger not great. They put it in a pita that falls apart. No taste of peri peri that I could detect.<br/><br/>Won’t be going back. Note this was an Order In meal.

This is a really lovely, unpretentious restaurant with excellent Greek food. They are especially good at doing Seafood and vegetables - the whole grilled fish, calamari, skorthalia and chopped aubergine are amazing. Only downside is the dancing that happens from about 8:30 on the weekend nights. But that’s just a personal preference (I hate dinner entertainment)

Excellent all 'round. The taramasalata is the best I have had. We also had queen prawns (yum) and fresh, delicious sardines. The sardines are even better than at Parrarheinha. The falklands calamari was perfect, in a sauce that I couldn't stop eating. Great vibe. Waitresses were attentive and friendly without being overbearing. Prices are reasonable and you certainly get bang for your buck. If you haven't been here yet, do yourself a favour.

Service is non-existent. Granted we were a big table but our food took an hour. It's by no means cheap and food is really average. Manager uninterested in rectifying the situation. He refused to come to the table, told us to come to him. We sat with dirty plates in front of us for 20 minutes with the waiters just staring at us. I have never experienced such apathy and disregard from anyone after complaining about service. If you want great Greek food go to Mezepoli.

Great authentic Greek food. I had fresh oysters, calamari and lamb souvlaki. The calamari was mouth-watering and we wiped the plate clean with pita bread lol. The lamb souvlaki was tender but it was average in taste. The service was phenomenal, I spoke to the owner(s) and the wife, Mia told me a bit about the inspiration behind the deco. I’m definitely going back soon.

If you’re looking for decent Greek fare in a traditional ambience then Parea is your place. Menu is varied and the food good. It’s not a fancy restaurant but it attracts a loyal crowd.

I ordered via Uber Eats, so I can only describe my take away experience. <br/><br/>I ordered falafel and halloumi in a pita. Some restaurants send their take away food in foil lined, branded boxes. Parea send theirs in a white plastic bag, polystyrene hot dog box and a brown paper bag. For me the packing and presentation was not appetising or visually appealing at all. <br/><br/>I’m not sure if this is a hot/warm dish or a cold dish? Mine was ice cold anyway. <br/><br/>Maybe the packaging influenced me but I found the meal to be bland, boring & the pita hard to bite & cut. Maybe I chose poorly but really this meal was nothing interesting or special. Very bleh to be honest. It left a granular aftertaste as well. So much so that I won’t order from here again. <br/><br/>A disappointing lunch time take away!<br/>

Tremendously vibey and packed on a Saturday night<br/>Had meze platter to share. Enough to qualify as the main meal. All the Greek goodies you could ask for.<br/>For mains we had lamb with cabbage, lamb with beans and chicken espetada <br/>Great portions. Service was also good.<br/>Then came the belly dancers 💃 and the 🎶 <br/>Entertaining ( a few patrons joined in)<br/>Great evening

Defiantly one of the best Greek Restaurants I’ve been to, there were 3 separate functions last night and the service was great - outstanding food, lovely Greek red wine and belly dancing on top of that - great evening

I took my mother to the famous Parea in Illovo the other night and we had a great time. We went on a Saturday as a friend recommended that is the best time to go. And he was right, it was packed and there was a festive energy in the air. There was also a belly dancer and a traditional Greek dancing duo who danced between the tables and got the restaurant to all clap along to Zorba and other Greek folk songs. It turned into a bit of a party.<br/><br/>I had a Long Island Iced Tea and mom had a margarita. I know, not really Greek, but they were really strong and had us talking in Greek.<br/><br/>We decided to do the meze option of eating, allowing us to taste bits of the menu. We started off with the dip platter with lovely warm pita. Followed by my favorite, grilled haloumi. We then had the tasty brinjal special followed by my new favorite, calamari yemista. This was calamari tubes stuffed with feta, peppers and onions, grilled in a dark garlic sauce. These were delicious. We then tried their famous lamb chops. They were juicy and thick. And a greek salad to keep it healthy.<br/><br/>For dessert, we had to have baklava with ice cream. And a shot of ouzo. Wow - if the cocktail didnt warm me up, the ouzo definitely did.

I have always recommended Parea Illovo as my favourite authentic Greek restaurant in Joburg but after my recent Mother’s Day experience I shall refrain. I think they got it all wrong with their pricing and I have NEVER felt so “ripped off”. We were charged R46.00 for a chicken wing size piece of chicken souvla..... (same price as for lamb) . We paid R375.00 per head for Mezethes and souvla each before alcohol was ordered......and to make matters worse..... the service was struggling because they were just too busy. Food was average this time, souvla lamb was dry and I unfortunately won’t be back just because of how much I was charged.

Excellent authentic Greek food. Braaied whole fish is fresh and succulent. Grilled prawns are the best I have eaten in a long time. The restaurant is vibey and full - definitely need to book in advance. Can’t wait to go back<br/>

Excellent authentic Greek food. Not a fancy setting. It’s very chilled with a good vibe with delicious Greek cuisine. <br/>I am vegetarian - tons of options for vegetarians. Platter for one is huge and a great starter. <br/>I ate the aubergine dish which was full of flavor. <br/>Everything is freshly made and delish. <br/>We will certainly be back.

Authentic Greek experience. Tasty food, friendly service. Some live greek dancing on the Friday night we visited- if I only I had a plate to break!

What a fantastic place to spend an afternoon. The food is authentic and fresh. A typical Greek food experience. The place is run like a proper family run restaurant. A great find. Will certainly be back.

Wonderful authentic Greek restaurant. The vibe is unlike any other I’ve experienced- a true gem.<br/><br/>The decor has been left underdone, giving the sense that you’re there for food mainly. Superb

Vibe: buzzy even on weeknights, which is nice in SA <br/><br/>Food: totally Greek and not a knock off. Pretty good stuff. The menu has depth and there’s something for everyone. Portions are appropriate. <br/><br/>Service: no complaints but not memorable <br/><br/>Pro Tip: try the platter for a little bit of everything and add meat on the side if you must

I'd been meaning to try out Parea for ages because I had heard such great things about it from my friends. It did not disappoint! By far the best beef gyro in town, and the ambience is inviting and cozy. <br/>Definitely worth booking in advance, whenever I go the restaurant is packed!

The ultimate Greek experience.<br/><br/>Walked in to an empty restaurant and it soon picked up before I could finish my 1st drink. <br/>The staff and owner were very friendly, the food came out quick and it was divine. <br/>Ps. My favorite was their fish 😍<br/><br/>I was told there would be entertainment right after 9pm and boy was I entertained. From the tradition of breaking plates to belly dancers-<br/><br/>My colleague from Athens recommended it and now I know why he thinks it’s the best Greek restaurant in Joburg!

Have been meaning to try this popular restaurant for a while and it did not disappoint! The food is incredible! It comes quickly and is steaming hot! We had the veg meze platter for two to start and four of us struggled to finish this delicious smorgasbord! We had the grilled red snapper (a must try), leg of lamb (smaller than expected, but delicious), meat balls (rich but super tasty) topped off with the best greek salad I have had in a good while! <br/><br/>And they do corkage! With great music and greek dancing, plate throwing later in the evening!<br/><br/>Not as expensive as I thought either!<br/><br/>Only downside was service is rushed and not personal... waiters hurriedly put food on the table and rush off again... but if that doesn't bother you - this is a must try!Doug Livingstone-Blevins

Restaurant is quite a bit larger than would meet the eye. Book in advance or come early as it seems to get busy quite quickly.<br/>Extensive menu so you will be spoilt for choice.<br/>If you like whole cooked fish, be sure to order this early. All food was tastefully prepared, fresh and bursting with flavour. Be adventurous and try menu items you normally would ignore like the pickled octopus.

Really disappointed , traditional Greek salad (meant to be known for the fresh vegetables) soggy and warm . Off oysters and powdery potatoes . Overpriced

The food is exceptional. Fresh warm pita bread, hummus and calamari. Such a winner! The restaurant looks amazing and authentic and it's easy to forget you're actually in Johannesburg! <br/><br/>Would've got full marks if not for the lacklustre, disinterested staff and no management checking in on us.

Great food, prime location and quaint feel. You're neither in a fancy place where you feel like you should've dressed up, nor somewhere where you feel like you could do a bit better. You feel at home, but taken care of.

Quite disappointed with parea. Have been eating there over the years and have noticed a steady decline in the quality of the food. I recently had the kleftiko main and found the meat tough and under seasoned. It came with a luminous yellow sauce that was thick-almost slime like, that was equally lacking in flavor. The chips were wet and soft and didn't have an ounce of salt to them. I really enjoy Greek food but this restaurant should be avoided

Love everything about this restaurant. From the food to the service to the atmosphere.<br/>It's one of our favourite places to go and never disappoints

I haven't been here for a while and I visited Parea over the weekend for a birthday party - it was a busy Saturday evening. This Greek restaurant is a good choice as they also have live entertainment such as belly dancers - I would recommend booking here otherwise you may miss out. <br/><br/>From the service to the ambiance it is consistently good so there is nothing I can think of which was or has previously been problematic.<br/><br/>This restaurant accommodate very well for vegetarians as there is a good selection of items which includes salad (with a tasty dressing), falafel, hummus, pita, grilled halloumi cheese and don't forget the chips. The portion sizes here are more than adequate, very good quality and authentic.<br/><br/>I would also recommend trying their baklava for dessert which is accompanied with good portion of vanilla ice cream.

What a delicious meal. Parea is my new favourite restaurant in Joburg. The restaurant is home styled Greek food that fills your heart with love. We had fresh oysters to start, then shared an order of the Sheftia (pork sausage) meze. For mains I had the chicken souvlakia. We gobbled our food up too quickly and didn't get to take photos!

My first time at Parea restaurant was a great experience, which can be attributed to the delicious food, great ambience and friendly service. We ordered a few tapas type dishes including the lamb wrap that was by far the stand out dish, great flavor, tender meat and fresh ingredients. We also had some cocktails to go with the meal that were tasty and what you would expect from a restaurant of this type. Overall it was a great experience and I will definitely be returning.

This is, hands down, the best Greek food in Joburg. You have to start with the assorted dip platter (taramasolata, humus, tirokafteri) with fresh hot pitas. Their chicken livers and calamari and yiro starters is to die for. And for mains, you have to try the grilled baby chicken, in your choice of peri-peri or lemon and herb. Made to order, so always perfectly fresh and tasty. The lamb chops or lamb kleftiko is always a hit. <br/><br/>And if you live in the area, drive by for a quick take-away, the feta burger made in pita. Friday night yumminess.<br/><br/>Only reason they don't get a 5/5, is the service, The waiters are just totally DISINTERESTED to say the least. They all just stand around one of the arches and chat, and wait to be called constantly.

Food was great, setting cozy and more "cheap and cheerful" rather than fine dining. Good for kids in the early evening. Choose "terrace" seating for a more festive feel.

Absolutely delicious Greek food. Ordering a variety of meze plates is my favorite way to enjoy a meal at Parea. Delicious all round, very authentic too. If you have space I'd recommend yiayia's homemade yoghurt as dessert, it's incredible. <br/>The ambience is homely and festive, and the service is friendly and quick. <br/>A little piece of Greece, definitely the best Greek restaurant I've found in Jhb, I'd highly recommend it.

Always love this restaurant, been an institution for years! Great authentic Greek food, great vibe - they are always busy so advised to book!

When in search of great, traditional Greek food - Parea is definitely the go-to-restaurant. The restaurant itself is done out in the old 'taverna' style, and boasts no airs and graces, because after all - it's definitely the food that matters, and that's exactly what keeps people coming back time, and time-again. <br/><br/>The menu is extensive enough to cover everything from salads, to Meze, main meals, pitas, burgers (for the unadventurous) and of course desserts. The Parea 4-seasons dips and pitas are a great way to get the meal started, with the Skordalia as must-have! The calamari is absolutely melt-in-your-mouth sublime, and pairs beautifully with the grilled halloumi and the pickled cabbage salad for a bit of crunch. Finish it all off with the Rizogalo (rice pudding), and you'll be rolling out of there.<br/><br/>The wine list is sufficient and fairly priced, and our waitress Primrose was lovely and attentive.<br/><br/>For a relaxed dining setting, with excellent food for sharing - Parea is the way to go.

Been wanting to visit here literally for years! Always drove past and it always looked busy! <br/><br/>Finally had the privilege one Friday evening! Unfortunately the Greek dancers didn't perform... <br/>food and vibe was awesome! Loved trying some dishes I haven't had before 👌🏻

Parea is always a family favourite, great comfort food. Service is always good and the atmosphere transcends. Would highly recommend Parea if in the mood for greek or Mediterranean food.

This is one of my favourite restaurants in Joburg. Not only is the ambience (including the weekend belly dancing) great, but the food is exceptional! It's rare to find a place that is consistently good, both with their quality of food and their service, but this place is! The owner and his son are very welcoming and attentive, and make you feel right at home. Everything I've tried on the menu has been delicious! A must-try spot.

It's always a celebration at Parea which is why it remains a firm favorite in the neighborhood. The service is consistently friendly and attentive.<br/><br/>The wine list is fairly priced (don't bother bringing wine and paying corkage) yet the food menu with the exception of the light meals are a little pricey given the meze portion sizes. <br/><br/>Peri peri baby chicken is delicious along with the calamari Parea style.

They serve the best Greek food, especially the vegetarian platter and falafel! Service is friendly and efficient. A great vibe! We often have large tables and the bill is handled with ease.

The veg platter for one is a terrible waste of money: onr falafel ball, one dolmade, a sliver of eggplant and a slice of beetroot sloshed in a few dollops of dip and olives. Certainly not worth R115! The potato dip is also not worth the R50 it costs. Very disappointed! :( <br/>Previous review: All veg options very yumm! Loved the texture, consistency and flavour or the falafel balls. Hummus not bad. Butter beans really creamy inside. Pita a bit stodgy but good. Especially love that they are not stingy with the cucumber in the salad. All ingredients fresh, good quality and ample. So much nicer than Plaka! Craving this again already, is going to become a staple in our veg house - please add more options!

Opa! Parea Party Style! This has to be the most festive restaurant in Joburg!! From birthday singing to plate smashing and beautiful belly-dancing shimmering & rippling, Parea has it all! Definitely a great venue for a meal & celebration!<br/>I'm always a big fan of Greek food for its large variety of non-meat options, however feel that there are better place to indulge in these Mediterranean delights in terms of taste & presentation. I find Parea's food a little too oily, sloppy and salty in comparison to her counterparts, but for food Plus fun, she wins hands down!

Amazing food. Authentic look. Very nice owners and staff - easily my favorite Greek restaurant. I love eating here and ordering from here via Uber eats. You can't go wrong here!

This family run restaurant is on our favourites list. It does not matter what day it is, they are always busy. <br/><br/>I love everything about this restaurant. From the traditional Greek look, to the food and service. We have never had a negative experience here. The servers are always attentive. <br/><br/>I have tried so many of these dishes and all of them are absolutely scrumptious. My mouth waters every time I think of Parea's menu. <br/><br/>Go feast on what they have to offer. You cannot go wrong here.

I have dined here several times and I have never been disappointed. From oysters to dolmades.<br/><br/>At atmosphere is always great and the staff are always willing to help.

Hopa! Vibey greek eatery . Come in a group to experience the full onslaught of family style dining. Meze platters are great and so is the show on weekends.

First walked in and thought this might be a dodgey spot - couldn't have been more wrong. Great food, service and atmosphere. Had the calamari starters with pitas and various dips (very good). For mains a giant whole fish (to share) and chicken - both made perfectly. Had a great time here and would love to head back again.

Pares is our favourite Greek restaurant in Johannesburg. I have only had great experiences there with good food and an awesome atmosphere. It is really festive and great for groups. Their meze options and taramasalata dip the best.

Not great, was really looking forward to it had the kleftitko, sorry about the spelling! Lamb was tender but the gravy I am sure the gravy was made with bisto, not to be expected from a traditional Greek restaurant .<br/><br/>had bisto in it! Completely tasteless!

Heard alot about this place. So I tried it as a takeaway.<br/>Delivery was 30 mins (I'm about 1.5km away) but the time was estimated for 45 mins so I was happy about that.<br/>I ordered tapas: the stuffed calamari yemista -tasty ,swimming in this garlic sauce accompanied by a wedge of lemon mmm mmm mm! Absolutely delighted with this choice! 8/10<br/>Lamb skewer-100g of lamb done medium, tasty n ample. Accompanied by a wedge of lemon. I ate it with the sauce from the calamari because it got dry but still good.<br/>And finally the prawn,and I'm saying prawn because I literally had 1X queen prawn for R24. Not sure if that's the going rate but I felt a bit cheated. the menu on the order site didn't say its 1 prawn for that price so I was surprised when it came. Having said that the 1x prawn was delicious. 8/10  ...So I had to eat it slowly.<br/><br/>My critique: the cabbage side they gave me was off. I made the mistake of biting in to that first, and then proceeded to throw it away. ( a bit Yuck)<br/><br/>All in all a good eating experience. I had the meal with a Greek salad, hummus and a glass of wine.<br/>I will definitely eat here again.

After a very long day, I ended up here on Sunday evening for one of the most authentic Greek meals that I have had to date and some very good service to match.<br/><br/>Bright, bold colours everywhere you look showing beautiful seaside scapes and the interiors have an almost rural Greek feel to them. <br/><br/>To eat, I selected several sharing plates and the dips to accompany them were Tzatziki, Skorthalia, Houmous, and Taramosalata. For me, it is always the dips that make the meal, but the Calamari Yemista (Falkland) was out of this world!!! Think calamari tubes stuffed with feta, peppers and onions grilled in a dark garlic sauce! I am still thinking about that plate. <br/>To finish up the evening it had to be a shot of Ouzo, my favourite anise-flavoured aperitif courtesy of the manager.<br/> <br/><br/>*Recommendation: For a taste of Greece, if you are a seafood lover, you have to try their Calamari Yemista!!

The best place to go for Sunday lunch! Warm, inviting and an ideal family vibe. It's a great spot to sit with the wind breeze on the veranda and chow some tasty Meze morsels of goodness. Dips are sumptuous and The rizogolo (rice pudding) is man made heaven. They need to up their game and offer spanakopita. Dolmades have too much leaves and not enough rice. The owner, Nick, is friendly and welcoming such that you feel at home.

Really enjoyed my experience at this restaurant. The restaurant was packed on a weekday evening so booking is a must. The decor and atmosphere gets you in an almost festive mood and the food is just divine. We ordered meze and loved everything. I came with my two year old and the staff were so welcoming and friendly and entertained her while we ate. Recommended!

So I ordered Parea via Uber Eats and Uber cancelled my order after two hours. Parea then called me and delivered the order themselves within 5 minutes! <br/><br/>Really good service :) And food of course!

Very good, very efficient will definitely go back there for a fine dining experience, haloumi and Lamb cooked to perfection, desert absolutely mouth watering

I've been here twice before, once for a birthday party and once for dinner. Both times we shared a bunch of different meze dishes betwee the bunch of us and it was a really fun time. The food is delicious, and the restaurant has a great location with a nice, laid back atmosphere. <br/><br/>I'd definitely be back soon

The best falafels I've ever had. Dolmades are as great as the ones I had in Greece. Chicken is perfectly cooked. Portions are generous. Service sucks.

Been going here for years! Never ever disappoints. This is a real Greek restaurant. Everything about the restaurant is authentic. <br/>Very family friendly and suitable for big tables.

Excellent and vibey but above all they sever fantastically authentic Greek food. Unpretentious, hearty and delicious. Quick and friendly service.

Atrocious service!! Parea is not the first greek restaurant we have been..we love greek food n thus have a very good idea about the taste, the feel, etc. Food was just about ok..keftethes is never fried with corn flour n that's exactly what these guys had done...lamb chop was well done where as I usually like my meat medium..the least they could have done was to ask how I like my meat! I have honestly not seen poorer service..it took someone 45 mins to take order for our drinks!! They were extremely rude, not paying any attention n all they said when confronting was a mere sorry n keep repeatinflg what they have been doing..I wud never recommend this place..

An area landmark really. Friendly and attentive service adds another layer to your meal in this cosy Greek restaurant. The menu is wide ranging with many platters and sharing plates available. Probably one of the largest #vegetarian menus in JHB. Try to leave space for pudding and of course a sweet Greek coffee.

Parea is a hearty, salt of the earth Greek taverna nestled in Illovo.<br/><br/>The delicious homemade Greek cooking is amplified by Greek music, glass tumblers and live entertainment. <br/><br/>Ordering can be overwhelming as their menu is vast. Sharing is definitely recommended to avoid any food fomo. Their dips are too gorgeous to miss out on. Most notably the Skorthalia (R 42) and the Tirosalata (R 44). Ordering a Parea Vegetarian Platter is the perfect way to sample an assortment of their dips and vegetarian meze.<br/><br/>For seafood lovers, try their calamari (R 64). Pair it with a small Greek salad (R 54) for zesty freshness. <br/><br/>Parea is not haute cuisine but it is tasty Greek comfort food, with a happy atmosphere. <br/><br/><br/><br/>

The food at Parea is not only consistently good, it is also mostly reasonably priced. The Hummus is the best I've had in Jhb, the Kleftiko is as Greek and tender as it gets and their pita burger is a nice grab and go option, especially the peri-peri rendition which suits my taste buds to the tee. This is backed up by attentive management.<br/><br/>It is a pity then, that it is all let down by a predominantly dirty restaurant and poor waiting staff. Slow,  lacking knowledge of the menu, and generally quite unconscious. And how you bring someone pitas they are supposed to eat with their hand, without so much as a serviette, boggles the mind (especially if you really need those serviettes to clean your cutlery). <br/><br/>Lastly, red wine is NOT served at room temperature. Stop ruining the red wine experiences of the uninitiated by serving it that way.

On one particularly cold winters night we found ourselves happily stumbling into the warm, relaxed atmosphere that is Parea. It's cosy, renovated-home interior reminiscent of a family run business (I'm not sure if it actually is!). <br/><br/>I've only eaten here a couple of times and although the food isn't mind-numbingly incredible, it's hearty, delicious and, well, Greek. <br/><br/>On my last visit here I ordered the kleftico which, I will admit, wasn't the best I've ever had, but it did melt in your mouth and fall off the bone and was everything a kleftico should be. My boyfriend ordered the Yiro which he said he'd happily order for lunch every single day during his work break... Not an idea I'm thrilled with but I think it's probably because their prices are so reasonable. <br/><br/>Thanks for a good, grounding dinner Parea. See you soon!

Always the most delicious humus and kleftiko but I really wish the tables weren't covered in plasticky table cloths and sometimes sticky cutlery.

Fresh, hella flavorsome food (in true Greek style) set in a really comfortable and modest restaurant. Reccomend the fillet beef kebabs as well as any other tapas (I love the grilled feta though) . End your meal off with a grilled halva and Greek coffee- you'll leave a very happy chappie.

Best Greek food I've had outside of Greece! Lovely service,food was incredibly fast and altogether been a wonderful experience. We had the calamari and vegetarian platter. Recommend this place to anyone looking for a slice of Greece.

Parea is the perfect place to enjoy a relaxed meal. The decor is basic but cosy.  The waiters are engaging and polite. The food is tasty, with an emphasis on freshness. There is a good meze selection, which is ideal for sharing. Some of the menu highlights include the falafel, grilled haloumi and lamb slouvaki.

First time at Parea. Went for a quick Friday lunch. Very Greek Taverna. Wine list is very basic, could use some updating by addition of some affordable new botique wines. The food however is very delicious. Authentic Mediterranean dishes, try the Calamari Yemista! Generous portions and friendly service. Will definitely be back for a festive dinner.

This seems to be The Spot if you're celebrating your birthday in Joburg. It's such a festive place on Saturday evenings with belly dancers and plate breaking that happens a little later into the evening. The food was exactly what I expected: very Greek and really yum! The ambience is wonderful and it's hard not to get into the swing of things when you're there.

Great atmosphere and usually very busy. Entertainment is lively and worth the outing alone. Food is pretty good and the service is efficient.

I have mixed feelings about Parea. They are certainly not perfect - but I have been twice and would definitely go back again. The restaurant does feel a bit cramped and was pretty busy both times I went - but I suppose you cannot fault a place for being popular. The first time I went I had the falafel and halloumi in a pita - a really delicious dish. The second time I opted for the chicken and halloumi in a pita, but preferred the falafel version as the chicken pieces had bits of skin on them which i personally do not care for.  I also got their phyllo pastry filled with custard for dessert - it was ok, but the portion was a bit small and it did not taste as good as I had hoped. My friend ordered the falkland calamari which was undercooked, but the manager who attended to her was wonderful and the chef cooked her another plate. Always refreshing to have courteous service when a mistake is made and to have it swiftly resolved with a smile.

We first ate at this resturant for my Gran's 70th birthday in December. We now decided to have a family meal here on a Tuesday night. The food was great, but the service was shocking! We were a table of 7 and had a 10% tip added to our bill as we were a table larger than 6. Normally this would not be a problem, but the waitress was not on top of her game. She left us for ages without taking meal or drinks orders and when she did, the order was wrong on a couple occasions. When we tried to voice our concerns to the owner, he just could not have cared less!!<br/>Unfortunately although the food was really lovely, the service and blasé attitude of the owner have left a terrible taste in my mouth and I don't think I'll be coming back!

Ive been to many Greek restaurants but for some reason left this one out. I absolutely loved everything about this place. Divine meze especially the dips, calamari and grilled haloumi. Our mains consisted of grilled baby chicken, sardines and kleftiko lamb. All absolutely fantastic! Reasonable prices. Will be back very soon!

Hands down my favourite Greek restaurant in the city! Coming from a Greek family it is tough to impress me when it comes to Greek food. Have been here many times and last year my uncle actually had his wedding ceremony and reception at this lovely restaurant. The lighting was sadly too dim for me to take decent photos but everything was delightful.<br/>The service here can be a bit slow but otherwise I cannot fault them.<br/>The food is authentic Greek cuisine with the classics done really well. Their lamb fell off the bone and I'm addicted to their dolmades and baklava. <br/>Can't wait to come back again and again.

We came here for a girls dinner, it was nice and cozy. The staff were friendly and pretty efficient- I think coming early was key. <br/><br/>We ordered the veg platter for four, some calamari, livers, beef and lamb skewers to share. These were all delicious and definitely worth trying. I'd like to come back to sample some of their other dishes.

Visited Parea on a Saturday for a late lunch. Restaurant was close to being empty as they were preparing for dinner service, We nontheless still received excellent service. Food was fresh and delish. Will visit again.

The old classics is always a hit and it's comforting to see the elderly Greek owner stroll up and down and attend to the madness at the grill. The atmosphere a buzz with happy patrons, great food and good service.

Will not come back . Never been before and had been looking so forward to the dinner as we had only heard good reviews . Cold flavorless kleftico and the attitude of the manager was appalling. Too loud too noisy and there are far better Greek restaurants in jhb

WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT!!! The food arrived cold and flavourless as if it was boiled and just topped with gravy from yesterday, we all had Kleftiko which is a Greek classic. To top it off the manager could not care less and upon sending it back he asked "what he must do" and said he was too busy and walked away. he did however come back with a whole host of desserts and apologised so he did redeem himself slightly. It was not a great experience and I may give it another try in the future.

Came to Parea for a birthday dinner......oh what a dissapointment!!!!<br/>The table ordered 5 Kleftiko which all came cold and absolutely tasteless. It was if they boiled the meat and threw gravy over it. I ordered the stuffed calamari which also came to the table cold. When we went to call the manager he said he is to busy and cannot come to the table. When he did arrive he turned around very rudely and said "what do you want me to do"!!!!<br/>Sad as this was a first time for some of our party and we certainly will not be back.<br/><br/>

Nico never fails to deliver! This authentic Greek restaurant has had the same chef for more than 20 years and the food never tires. We popped in for a Souvlaki a couple of weeks ago with the whole gang and were treated to the most amazing haloumi starters ever. Feeling stuffed I thought I'd just have a small chicken liver starter for mains only to be served with the most generous full portion of livers I've ever seen. I ate them for 2 days after and could have gone on eating them for weeks. Absolutely delicious. <br/><br/>The souvlakis were huge and very tasty and the baklava was as yummy as ever. Definitely a place I'd recommend to anyone wanting a quality greek experience.

This place takes me back to Greece !The kefi(vibe )here is kicking especially on Friday and Saturday  nights when they have the bellydancers .The food is authentic and really tasty and as Greek I really appreciate that but more portions for the dips ,loved all the mezes we ate ,places is quite cozy and small and gets booked out quickly ,the place is quite busy sometimes and service is slow

Love love love this spot, definitely the best Greek restaurant in town, consistently busy and popular over all the years, this restaurant is a winner and a must!

Always great food and good service. Pricing is very reasonable. As soon as I sit down I immediately order the grilled houloumi. This is by far the best Houloumi in town , drown in extra lemon and you have a taste sensation ! The dips and pita are also very good

Parea is an institution.<br/>Authentic Greek dishes done well. Happy, warm, receptive vibe. The belly dancers are and plate breaking is an added treat.<br/>Salads, chicken livers, breads, dips, skewers, Fish and prawn dishes were awesome.<br/><br/>Will visit again and again !

I have been going to this restaurant since it was called Paros, and it was good to start with and can only say it's gotten better. I speak for the food. The service fluctuates.

One of our favourites! <br/><br/>We've been driving past Parea for years (yes they've been around since the beginning of time!); then we popped in one afternoon to wait out traffic; and have been back once a week ever since. <br/><br/>Amazing (authentic-ish) Greek food. I'd recommend ordering loads of Meze, pita bread and a whole grilled fish; and sharing all the dishes. Ask for extra sauce on the side with the fish. Thank me later!<br/><br/>The dip plater (selection of all the Meze dips) and the vegetarian platter are both great value for money). Both the grilled calamari (fried option also available) and calamari yemista (calamari tubes stuffed with feta and tomato) are delicious! <br/><br/>The baby octopus is a MUST HAVE!!!<br/><br/>Be selective in what you order though, I find the servers tend to steer you to over order; and your bill for 2 people can easily stack up to R1000. (On average, when ordering selectively, a dinner for 2 will be around R600 to R800, with wine and a dessert).<br/><br/>When ordering the whole grilled fish, make sure to ask for the smaller sized fish (they have two sizes available, R290 and R390); if having other dishes the larger fish will just be too much! Yet another thing the servers omit to mention and you'll be served the larger fish if you don't specify... ! Service is friendly but at times a bit slow!<br/><br/>Nico; the owner is always there, always happy and ALWAYS smiling! (I would also be smiling if my restaurant was full all the time! Hahaha)<br/><br/>It's advisable to reserve a table as they are always fully booked!

No no! We had a birthday dinner and Parea and boy were we disappointed!! The service was terrible we could never find the waitress and she took forever to come check on us! Our food took an hour (after asking) to arrive and it was so underwhelming! Because it took so long it was warm, some meals didn't have the complete ingredients that we written on the menu!<br/><br/>I'll never go back

A few corporate evenings out here with zero concerns.<br/>Always a great atmosphere with a lot of crowd participation.<br/>The food is plentiful and delicious.<br/>The service is efficient and on time.<br/>Very well worth the effort.

Have nothing much to say about the setting itself: quite unassuming, authentic authentic Greek restaurant <br/>The food is so well cooked and the owner greets you on site. I would really recommend you don't leave without trying the fish.