Pantheon Restaurant – 407 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4K 1P1
Country: Greece    
Seating: Indoor seating with a small patio in the front. 
Must-try dish: Pantheon Shrimp 
Dinner guests: Cam the Man, Nic Jr., Pornstar Sam & Roxy
The high: The old-world style of service is direct, efficient, and often funny. 
The low: The Greek Salad is disappointing, so fill up on other dishes on the menu. 

When you can’t get to the Mediterranean in the summer, make the Mediterranean come to you. That’s a fairly easy concept in Toronto’s Greek Town, where both sides of the street are lined with Greek restaurants, bakeries, wine shops, and more. There are also Italian cafes and Spanish grocers for good measure. 

Despite there being several Greek dinning spots, all of them are constantly busy. Pantheon Restaurant stands out from some of the other more popular Greek places because they take reservations, whereas the majority of the others on the street don’t. Another highlight is that the restaurant is wholly Greek from the dishes to the wine, and finally to the serving staff. If you’re lucky, you can chat with your server about the old country. 

The beauty of Greek cuisine in the Summer months are the fresh ingredients. It’s also a sharable style of food that allows for getting small tastes of many dishes. 

Pantheon Dips Pikilia (large)
It’s not a Greek feast without dips and pita. We opted for the platter that allows a taste of every dip on the menu: Skordalia, Taramosalata, Melitzanosalata, Tzatziki, Tirokafteri, and Hummus. The obvious favourite was the Tirokafteri – a roasted red pepper and feta puree. But let’s be serious, you can never go wrong with the delicious Taramosalata. This dip is made with red caviar, and trust us when we say it’s addicting. 

Saganaki
This flaming piece of cheese is perfect for sharing. Kefalotiri cheese is squeaky, and barely melts despite being on fire. The performance that accompanies this dish is worth the order – lemon is squeezed on the cheese followed by a shot of ouzo and then it’s lit of fire. It’s almost a certainty that you’ll hear a few loud “opas!” around the restaurant. 

Greek Salad
This is usually a highlight, especially while island hopping around Greece. However, this salad is mediocre in comparison. It was nice to consume a few vegetables but the ratio was heavy on romaine lettuce, and not the rest of the ingredients. 

Grilled Calamari
You better like calamari if you order this dish since the portion is massive, making it another great sharing option. It’s also not chewy in case you were wondering. A simple lemon drizzle makes the dish light and fresh, especially if it’s paired with heavier proteins in later courses. 

Patheon Shrimp
One of the restaurant’s signature dishes, as well as the favourite among our guests. There are several textures and flavours that blend into an exceptional (and also very large) dish. It all begins with the jumbo shrimp that are sautéed in butter, garlic and vegetables, then topped with a zesty tomato sauce then melted feta and saganaki cheese are aded over rice. By the time all the ingredients mix together, it’s impossible to only have one bite. 

Fresh Paidakia 
The Greeks mastered lamb dishes. These barbecued lamb chops are cooked at medium rare and come in individual pieces so that each person can grab their own lollipop. We opted to order extra to ensure we each got our fair share. 

Mousaka
This classic dish gives the impression of being a lasagna but with completely different ingredients. It’s made up of layers of potato, eggplant, zucchini, ground beef, and then doused in a bechamel sauce. It’s heavy. It’s rich. It’s delicious. Unless you have the appetite of a Spartan warrior, it’s best to share Mousaka. 

Pantheon’s menu is stacked with dishes that look and sound incredible, but only so much can be consumed in one meal. It’s the type of place that each visit will bring about different combinations of dishes. As these portions are immense, it’s recommended to go with a group and share, or to be prepared to take leftovers home. But who ever said that’s a bad thing?! 

Eat with you soon, 

Mandrea Bike
(Mat & Andrea)