Brisbane, like Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Darwin is home to a large Greek community. The benefits of having such a large ethnic group entrenched into the local culture is obvious: they are now part of the mainstream. Show me another country where Greek yoghurt is ubiquitous, to the point of being available at local supermarkets from normal dairy providers. Greek salad and baklava are now part of the Australian diet, as much as baby bok choy and Vegemite.

According to Brisbane Greeks, there are no good Greek restaurants in Brisbane. I disagree. They are not what you would call restaurants, sometimes, but the food is authentic and home-made style. My favourites are The Greek Club in front of Musgrave Park and Hellenic House on Rupert Street. Both are West End institutions, known to third and second generation Greek-Australians but virtually ignored by the general populace, except for the Koreans. Out of some strange nostalgia for the days when the first generation of Greeks arrived in Australia and were unable to find employment, other than with fellow countrymen, Greek business owners are happy to hire international students with a shaky command of English, simply because they understand their predicament. As a result, Hellenic House is staffed by Koreans and one or two wizened old Greek cooks. This does not make it less authentic. The skordalia is the best in Brisbane and at $10 a plate, it is a steal. Both Hellenic House and The Greek Club are social clubs, with membership fees, but they will still serve non-members in their dining rooms. The Greek Club has possibly the cheapest mains you can get in a proper dining room, with a full bar.

If you prefer buying your own Greek foodstuffs to create a culinary masterpiece, there are quite a few delis around Brisbane that will serve your purposes:

[1] The European Deli, on Rupert Street, West End;
[2] Deltas, on Vulture St, West End;
[3] Samios, on Annerley Road, Woolloongabba;
[4] The Continental Warehouse, Balaclava St, Woolloongabba;
[5] Continental Deli, off Kurilpa Street, hidden in a little warehouse near the river in West End, on the street closes to River Terrace.

The Continental Deli has the biggest range of cheeses, cold meats and grains of the lot and it is the cheapest. They also boast a cafe and a roastery, hidden away behind their loading bay. It is not the prettiest deli you've ever seen but it more than does the job. It provides obscure goods that you might otherwise have to order from Melbourne.

The olives on the other hand, are best from Deltas, who make their own.

Don't go looking for good baklava in any of these, because you may not find what you are looking for. The holy grail of baklava is made at Tek Caffe, by Lou, the owner. It drips syrup, melting in your mouth, avoiding the need to even chew.