Ela Restaurant - Halifax

I've been to Ela quite a few times over the years, but not really within the last two, and when I've gone before it has usually been late night dinners..so

Not sure if owner changed or chef changed The same saganakis I ate for years is changed saganakis is hard like rockNo longer melting.

Really like this restaurantThe atmosphere is unique and the service is always great.

My family and I visited this restaurant while on our East Coast road trip. A staff member at our hotel's front desk recommended it and it was just down the street, so it was perfect for us since everyone was tired from a long drive....More

Greek food is a highly subjective cuisine owing to the fact that the Greek culture spread itself far and wide after World War II. During that time, thousands of Greeks set out for North America seeking new beginnings and brought with them their rich heritage and cuisine.But as with anything, memory and local ingredients can slowly and subtly alter the original flavor signature of a cuisine over the generations sometimes yielding new variations that are surprisingly excellent and some that are *sigh* less so. Such is not the case here at Ela's as Costa has managed to stay true to the more traditional recipes and spice palate.Following a long drive, I settled into my hotel in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia and remembered that, on my way in, I eyeballed Ela! Greek Taverna right in front of my hotel and took a mental note to investigate. (See address at the end of this review) "Ela", by the way, means "Come in" or "Welcome" in the Greek language.Upon entering, the ambience was quintessentially Mediterranean with lightly colored walls mixed with sombre pastels and populated with the warmth of wood furniture. The restaurant is not enormous so it still maintains the cozy "Taverna" atmosphere that promises savory dishes and warm hospitality.Service was prompt and friendly and as I perused the menu, I noticed that the prices seemed a little higher than I was used too for some of the recipes but I want the reader to know, before you cast judgement and turn the page, that when properly executed, Greek cuisine is not a simple task. Hours of preparation go into producing the complex flavor signatures soothing to the palate. Let's take stuffed peppers, for example. In Greek, this is called Yemista and you will find them at Ela's. Now, anyone can stuff a pepper and pop it in the oven but Yemista takes quite a bit of kitchen prep or "mise en place" followed by a meticulous procedure for preparation. Not everyone has the time nor the patience to do this and, at the same time, nail the spice palate. It's this attention to detail here at Ela's that elevates what could be a boring stuffed pepper to the level of "Yemista". Do not leave this earth without trying one.I have a habit of choosing dinner in an odd way. As I scan a menu my eye will always gravitate to a dish that interests me and then I continue along to see what else is there. 9 times out of 10, I have learned that the best thing for me is to order what interested me first. The 10th time, when I stray, I regret it.Sooooo, I spotted the Lamb Yevitsa on Orzo with tomato sauce and Feta. How Greek can you get? So I ordered it and what arrived before me was a plate of perfectly prepared Orzo ( a greek style rice that borders pasta in texture) with HUGE chunks of perfectly braised and tender lamb shank cleverly hidden throughout; the lot intermixed in a rich and decadent tomato sauce with hints of cinnamon, oregano and clove.On the side, they served fresh baked bread and the requisite plate of olive oil infused with oregano and lemon. It was very nice but if you want my opinion, try the more traditional Greek version. Ask for just plain olive oil, add a dash of salt and then dip your bread in that . The only thing better would have been a dab of pesto mixed into the olive oil but, alas, I didn't ask if it was available. No matter. Nothing was diminished.The only thing missing from the menu to complete my culinary trip to Greece would have been a fresh cool glass of Retsina to go with my Yevitsa so Costa, yasou! Efharisto poli!And that's was just me thanking Costa, the owner, for a fabulous Greek dinner in his Taverna in Dartmouth. In summary; two words…..EAT HERE.Ela's Greek Taverna150 Hector GateDartmouth, NS B3B 0E6902-481-7999Happy Travels and "OPA!!!"