| You won't find Zorba in Little Bourke Street in | | | | when you taste the kefalograviera saganaki or fried |
| Melbourne. He has long ago headed for retirement in | | | | graviera cheese, enjoy fresh horta or wild greens and |
| the Cretan hills, sitting with his goats and looking | | | | melitzanosalata or eggplant dip. |
| down on modern folk with a wry grin and a shake of | | | | Kri Kri is named after the wild goats of Crete, which |
| his head. | | | | today run free protected in the mountains in the |
| You won't find him at the Kri Kri Mezedopoleion in | | | | National Park of Samaria. In Crete, domestic goats |
| Melbourne, so don't go looking for him there. No | | | | are kept for many reasons; milk and cheese being |
| swaying lines of mesmerised dancers doing fancy | | | | their primary offerings, but every now and then they |
| footwork. No loud laughter and pats on the back. Not | | | | are taken for their meat and there is goat on the |
| a blue and white colour combination in sight. No, this is | | | | menu here. Lamb is a more stable favourite of the |
| not a traditional Greek taverna, it is a modern Greek | | | | island and is also offered here. |
| restaurant serving Cretan food, but don't expect a | | | | True meze is a staple of the Greek way of dining, |
| ruddy faced shepherd to pop over to your table to | | | | with small plates of a wide variety of dishes shared |
| offer you a sfinaki of raki. | | | | by everyone at the table. The plural of this word is |
| Expect a relaxed yet modern atmosphere very much | | | | mezedes. The Kri Kri restaurant was one of the first |
| attuned to the modern sophisticate. Expect good, | | | | Greek restaurants to offer this style of dining in |
| fresh food, good yet impersonal service, true meze | | | | Melbourne and is still to this day described as a |
| dishes and an extensive wine list. | | | | ega;λεÎον |
| The Kri Kri is still owned and operated by a Cretan | | | | mezedopoleion, or a place of mezedes. |
| family, but don't expect yiayia to pop out wearing | | | | You don't have to be Greek or Cretan to enjoy |
| the ubiquitous black dress, sprouting words of | | | | good, fresh food. The diet of Crete is often |
| wisdom and pinching your cheek. Don't expect kids | | | | considered the healthiest in the world. It is a naturally |
| running around to all hours of the night and every | | | | healthy balance of vegetables, fruits and nuts in a |
| second man to be named Giorgos. | | | | wide variety, with smaller proportions of meat. The |
| Expect to find the Kri Kri in a narrow laneway at the | | | | Kri Kri serves all of these and recommends you try |
| top end of Little Bourke Street, an incongruous | | | | sharing from a collection of little plates, enjoying |
| location as it is now surrounded by Chinese dragons. | | | | some good conversation in this friendly atmosphere, |
| Expect a stylish ochre and wooden room with a | | | | without needing to search for that larger than life |
| well-stocked bar and a second floor banquet space | | | | character, Zorba. |
| ready for the next baptism party. Expect to swoon | | | | |