Mati Taverna + Bar

Greektown has no shortage of flaming saganaki and shouted “Opa!”s, so a newer spot on Monroe Street has to earn its place. MATI does it the moment you walk in. The room is modern and genuinely pretty, a fresh, polished take on Greek décor with the evil eye (the mati the restaurant is named for) woven throughout. It reads less like an old-school taverna and more like somewhere you’d hope to stumble into on a Greek island.

We came for lunch and started with the grilled octopus, which we gobbled up faster than either of us would like to admit. Andrea ordered a glass of prosecco; Mike went with a Bloody Mary. Andrea’s salmon sandwich arrived with a seriously generous piece of salmon, so filling that the crisp, flavorful fries beside it barely got touched, a waste we’re owning. Mike had the lamb gyro and fries and joined the clean plate club without hesitation.

Service was attentive and friendly start to finish, and there’s a patio for when Michigan cooperates. Know two things going in: this is a pricier menu, upscale Greek rather than a quick gyro counter, and gratuity is added to the bill automatically. With that in mind, it’s an easy pick for a dressed-up lunch in Greektown or for showing visitors that Detroit‘s Greek food scene has a modern side.