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Parea Review

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Parea

Address: 3 Corlett Dr., at Oxford Rd., Illovo, Johannesburg
Phone: 011/788-8777

Price range: $-$$
Cuisine: Greek
Location: Northern Suburbs

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Fodor's Review:

Previously known as Plaka, this Greek taverna, grill, and meze café is the best of its kind in the city. Greek music floats above the buzz of conversation, a souvlaki spit turns slowly near the door, and a refrigerated case displays an array of meze (small appetizers). Most people sit on the roofed terrace or at the few street-side tables; the spacious inside dining area is slightly more formal. Start with a meze platter of souvlaki, feta, olives, cucumber, and tomato, followed by the line fish, grilled on an open flame with olive oil and lemon, or kleftiko (lamb slow cooked in a clay oven) and a carafe of wine. On weekend evenings, belly dancers perform between the tables, and Greek dancers do the Zorba to a backdrop of "controlled" plate breaking—all while patrons find it hard to resist a glass of ouzo. Even the manager is known to let his hair down and perfom for the patrons once in a while. Set menus range from R110 to R180.