Zorba’s Tavern

This cozy Greek BYO in Fairmount is ideal for celebrating medium-deal special occasions: middle school graduations, your grandparents’ wedding anniversary, meeting your partner’s parents for the first time. Owned and operated by multiple generations of the Kravvaritis family since it opened in 1997, Zorba’s Tavern has a menu full of Greek crowd pleasers, like ultra-gooey saganaki and melitzanosalata, a chunky and garlicky eggplant dip served with warm pita. Yes, Zorba’s has tender lamb shanks, a whole branzino, and lots of charcoal-grilled meat skewers, but the restaurant’s real stars are the vegetarian options, like the imam baldi — eggplants stuffed with an aromatic mixture of tomato sauce, feta, and sauteed onions — and lemon-y artichokes hearts prepared in broth not unlike the base of matzo ball soup. With the right wine, lots of baklava, and a group that likes eating family style, Zorba’s can be a real party.