Stratford has welcomed a new restaurant named after the Greek Goddess, HERA.  The restaurant champions Greek cuisine with a focus on seasonal ingredients reflecting the variety of what Greek food has to offer. 

HERA’s menu is easy to navigate with dishes split between garden, land and sea plus the mezze section, of course, such as tarama, tzatziki, melitzanao salata, moussaka and other Greek classics.

From the starter section what stands out the mostis the Feta Sagnaki wrapped in ‘angels’ hair’. Traditionally it’s fried feta, but in some rarer locations they wrap it in different styles of dough.

In HERA’s case it’s angels hair.Thin and delicate, it breaks at any given opportunity. The dish is drizzled with Greek honey. It’s simple yet magical, the creamy slightly salty centre bonds with the fruity sweetness of the honey.

After I first tried sagnaki 10 years ago in Greece, I’ve attempted to recreate it a few times at home but it’s too complex to get the dough to the right crisp, not burn, form while still melting the feta inside. Also, you need a good feta, the UK supermarket feta here doesn’t quite do it. Best pay a professional to do it in a good restaurant.

Following our lovely feta we move onto the starters section, which predominantly has vegetable dishes with a few fish ones. Yellowfin tuna and seabass carpaccio are particularly good.

Both are great portions created with a bit of a Japanese flair, the citrusy ponzo on the tuna brings a Mediterranean touch, although it’s Japanese originally. While the seabass is more sour with a distinct yuzu dressing, a little bit like ceviche.

And at only £15 both make for a competitive starter for such fresh fish. While at the mezze section we’re also recommended melitzanao salata.

It’s smoked aubergine with thyme Greek honey. Even those not partial to aubergine will fall in love with this one. Aromatic and moist, it’s a great starter to dive into while waiting for mains.

And it isn’t long before those arrive, I divert to land and go for steak while my guest stays in the sea with grilled seabass. Like the starters HERA offers a good selection of fish, including red mullet, octopus and prawns for mains.

The seabass is butterfly style and the mullet is fried whole ticking the boxes off for picky diners and those liking to pick between the bones.

The seabass is simply grilled with lemon oil, nothing overpowering just fresh fish as you’d get in the Greek islands. This seabass actually comes from Greece, s we are told. Its delicate meat is prepared to perfection.

My steak on the other hand is a little disappointing, although grass fed and grilled medium rare the meat itself lacked flavour . But the sides compensate on my main. Courgette chips are exceptional.

Again a simple dish, just round slices of courgette fried in batter. The batter is crisp and thin fried in good fresh oil, it’s something different as  side.  

HERA also has a tempting cocktails list inspired by Greek flavours, inclduing oyzu, yogurt, cucumbers and honey. But on this occasion we fancy wine, I couldn’t miss out on an opportunity to enjoy some Greek wine.

It’s not everyday that I come across such a good selection of wines from Greece, there is even an orange wine from Attica, Greece.  As our dinner today mostly consists of fish and lighter dishes our wine pairing is white.

Probably the most known white Greek grape variety is Assyrtiko also from Attica, and full of blossom aromas with a citrus hint that makes for a very enjoyable glass or two.

Before handing back the menu I had my eye on a basque cheesecake. It’s not exactly Greek dessert I know, but hey it’s the ‘It’ dessert of the current food trend and to my delight it can now be found outside of Donostia region.

HERA patisserie chef nailed it, gooey middle and burnt top served in a generous slice to enjoy the sweet goodness. Make sure you get two though, despite the good portion I was not willing to share it.

As we left HERA, I couldn’t help but reflect on how seamlessly it balanced simplicity and grandeur. The dishes rooted in humble ingredients, feel refreshingly honest.

Yet the setting tells a different story, one of indulgence and escape, with its olive tree centerpiece and live plant wall making you forget you’re in Stratford. It was a brief, beautiful getaway I didn’t know I needed. 

HERA, 4 Arber Wy, London E20 1JS