Anyone else got an embarrassingly large collection of Greek Island photos saved on their Instagram? Us too—and it doesn’t look like we’re going to be able to see them for real anytime soon. But here to fill the gap—albeit with slightly less sparkling azure ocean views—is Opa Bar & Mezze, the latest eatery to land at 123 Eagle Street in the city.
A newbie from the team that also brought us Massimo Restaurant, Rico Bar & Dining, Fat Cow Steak & Lobster and the iconic , Opa is all the Mediterranean escapes we’ve been dreaming of turned into a restaurant. Sure, the water views might be of the Brisbane River rather than crystal clear seas, but right now, we’ll take it, especially with the vibes this breezy spot is dishing up.
Taking over the old site of Jellyfish Restaurant, Opa is jaw-droppingly beautiful—you’ll want to ‘Gram everything immediately. The best-looking seats in the house are undoubtedly the cosy white booths with arched windows and futuristic looking u-shaped lounges lining the back wall, but the large group tables with curved wooden bench seating by the river boast the most impressive views. In the bar area, large white lounges are matched with soft pouffes and low tables, perfect for a cocktail before dinner, and the whole venue is adorned in stone tiling, white walls and vibrant greenery, reminiscent of every Mediterranean restaurant you’ve ever dined in.
Does the menu match the styling, we can hear you asking? You bet it does. From mezze bites to larger plates, your every Greek food craving will be sated at Opa. Start off with soft pita bread and tzatziki dip before you move onto shared plates of flash fried calamari, grilled octopus, halloumi chips, grilled oregano lamb ribs, capsicum stuffed with herbed rice and, of course, cheesy grilled saganaki. Seafood also plays a sizable role on the menu, from fresh oysters and scampi caviar blini to honey bugs and chilled king prawns with taramasalata.
Don’t go too hard on the small plates, because you’re going to want to leave room for mains. It’s lucky we’re coming into baggy jumper season is all we can say—there is no way we won’t be coming back multiple times to sample epic comfort food like wagyu beef moussaka loaded with eggplant, potato and bechamel; beef and pork pastitsio dripping bechamel and cheese; flaky spinach and cheese spanakopita; and slow baked lamb shoulder (you might need a big crew for that last one). Don’t even get us started on the chargrilled lobster and bugs—see why we’re going to need several trips?
If you can’t decide what to order (we get it), you can always opt for a banquet and save yourself the trouble—for $68pp you’ll get a heap of signature dishes, including that lamb shoulder, so we reckon it’s a pretty good deal.
As for the cocktails, well, we’ll let you find out what’s on the list for yourself—we know you’re already booking a table regardless. You can find out everything you need to know about Opa Bar & Mezze right here.
Meanwhile, here are five of the best dishes to eat next door at Eagle Streer Pier.
Image credit: Alexander Baker