YAYA Greek Bistro | Toronto – 1186 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4M 1L4
Country: Greece       
Must-try dish: Moussaka 
Seating: Indoor seating only with Cafe TO tables outside in the summer. 
Dinner guests: Hilly & Millionnaire Max 
The high:. The kind and generous hospitality we received by the family of owners. 
The low: THe saganaki cheese doesn’t come out with a flame. 

In the Greek language, the word “yaya” means grandmother, so Yaya Bistro in Toronto is named after the owner’s grandmother’s home cooking. It has the feel of a home with a welcoming atmosphere led by the family who owns and runs the place. Matilda manages the front-of-house, while her husband is the chef behind all the delicious plates in the back. Their daughter also helps with serving and cleaning – it’s a true family affair. 

The menu is also classically Greek with all the favourites, and less popular traditional dishes in Canadian restaurants. Everything is  made in-house, and as a result the fresh ingredients shine in each dish down to the dips. The wine list covers most of Europe with a few Greek options available in both red and white. 

When ordering, you have to remember that Yaya’s portions are massive. This being said, left-over Greek food is never a bad lunch. 

An order of the Mix Dip Combo was ordered to snack on while perusing the menu for the rest of the meal. It includes Tzatziki (yogurt and cucumber dip), Tirokafteri (red pepper and feta spread), Baba Ghanoush (chunky eggplant dip), and switched the Hummus out for Taramasalata dip. If you haven’t had Taramasalata yet, then it’s about time that changes. This silky dip is made with fish roe, yet lacks any indication that anything from the sea is involved in its creation. It’s creamy, fresh, and addictive with warm pita or raw vegetables. 

The Dolmadakia are vine leaves stuffed with seasoned rice, and the perfect dish to share. They’re enjoyed both warm and cold by pretty much everyone who has ever tasted them as the flavouring is fresh and mild. We had high expectations for the Saganaki cheese, and although it was delicious, the ritual of pouring the ouzo on top of it and lighting it on fire didn’t happen. It’s a generous portion of the kefalograviera cheese that comes fried and pairs excellently with pita. 

An order of the Village Salad was necessary as a palate cleanser before the bigger dishes hit the table. It’s essentially all the ingredients from a Greek Salad without any lettuce, and therefore, it’s much better since you get all the best parts of it. 

To keep things simple and shareable, an order of lamb and pork Kalamakia was made. These sticks have grilled pieces of meat on them that easily fall off and taste amazing with the dips. As the other dishes all came with sides, we opted for simply the skewers as the rest of the dishes ordered came with plenty of sides.

It was difficult to pick the top dish of the night, but Moussaka won because we ate every last bit of it. You can never go wrong with this dish, and it’s something that you may not make at home so eating it in a restaurant is a treat. This is one of the few dishes that Matilda makes, and it’s evident that she’s proud of her recipe for the eggplant, potato and meat casserole. 

The Grilled Kalamari plate is gigantic and comes with two sides of your choice. We opted for the lemon potatoes and rice, but there are several to pick from depending on your preferences. They do not go cheap with the portion of squid, so unless you’re a big time squid lover, we highly recommend sharing this dish.

There were leftovers, but that didn’t stop us from accepting the complimentary Baklava at the end of the meal with a velvety pistachio filling. It’s easy to forget how amazing this dessert is until you have a bite of a fresh batch and you fall in love all over again. 

Aside from the food, one of the most special parts of this restaurant is the friendliness and care that Matilda gives to each table. It makes you feel like a part of the family, and more than anything, makes you want to return for another meal. Thank you for a lovely evening! 

Eat with you soon, 

Mandrea Bike
(Mat & Andrea)