Spartan Greek Cafe and Restaurant is a family-run central Christchurch venue that aims for the warmth of a neighbourhood taverna rather than a formal dining room. The intimate space uses traditional decor and an hospitable approach to frame a menu grounded in Greek and wider Mediterranean cooking. Fresh ingredients from nearby suppliers give that tradition a Canterbury setting, while reservations and takeaway ordering let diners choose between settling in on Colombo Street and carrying a meal home.
A meal can begin by treating the table as a shared spread. Breads, dips and salads have their own menu section, followed by entrees that include spanakopita, grilled octopus and stuffed vine leaves. The combination brings pastry, char, herbs and tangy accompaniments into play before a main course arrives. Greek salad, roast potatoes and meatballs with rice add familiar supporting dishes, so a group can assemble a varied mezze-style opening rather than commit immediately to individual plates.
The central dishes are built around recognisable Greek comforts. Moussaka layers minced beef with eggplant, béchamel and cheese, while slow-roasted lamb is served with tzatziki and potatoes. Souvlaki platters give grilled meat a more informal format and make sense for sharing, and the menu also names grilled octopus among its classics. These plates favour slow cooking, direct grilling and generous accompaniments, giving the restaurant a clear identity without forcing every diner towards the same style of meal.
Spartan also separates out banquet and dessert menus, useful when the visit is a celebration or when a group would rather let the kitchen set the progression. That structure allows a casual lunch of small plates and souvlaki to coexist with a fuller dinner that moves through dips, entrees, mains and sweets. The result is a flexible Greek restaurant whose strongest appeal comes from abundance and familiarity: traditional dishes, a close-knit room and enough sharing options to make the table itself part of the occasion.
Address: Unit 2, 574 Colombo Street, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand
Moved or closed? Tell us: Moved·Temporarily closed·Permanently closed
Spartan Greek Restaurant Menu
Breads
(V) – VEGETARIAN (GF) – GLUTEN FREE. Please let us know if you have any food allergies or dietary requirements. Most of our dishes can be done gluten free. Please let our staff know.
Pita Bread
(V)
Gluten Free Bread
(V)
Garlic and Herb Pita Bread
(V)
Greek Bruschetta
tomato, spanish onion, feta and olives on pita bread (V)
Dips
(V) – VEGETARIAN (GF) – GLUTEN FREE. Please let us know if you have any food allergies or dietary requirements. Most of our dishes can be done gluten free. Please let our staff know.
Tirokafteri Feta & Capsicum Dip
(V)
Tzatziki
yoghurt, garlic & cucumber (V)
Hummus
chickpeas, tahini, garlic, & lemon (V)
Skordalia
potato, garlic, & lemon (V)
3x Small dips with pita bread
(V)
3x Small dips with pita bread and chips
(V)
4x Small dips with pita bread
(V)
4x Small dips with pita bread and chips
(V)
Salad
(V) – VEGETARIAN (GF) – GLUTEN FREE. Please let us know if you have any food allergies or dietary requirements. Most of our dishes can be done gluten free. Please let our staff know.
Horiatiki
tomato, cucumber, onion, capsicum with feta cheese and olives (V)
Mixed
mixed leaves, tomato, cucumber, onion, capsicum, feta and olives (V)
Entrees
(V) – VEGETARIAN (GF) – GLUTEN FREE. Please let us know if you have any food allergies or dietary requirements. Most of our dishes can be done gluten free. Please let our staff know.
Yia yia’s chips with feta and oregano
(V) (GF)
Olives
(V) (GF)
Dolmades
rice stuffed vine leaves (V) (GF)
Spanakopita
Spinach & feta baked in filo (V)
Mizithropita
cheese, mint and lemon baked in filo with honey (V)
Haloumi kypros
Haloumi, hummus with toasted pita bread (V)
Haloumi meli
haloumi, figs, ouzo and honey with toasted pita bread (V)
Crispy Broccoli & Feta Fritters
Herb-packed broccoli fritters with feta finished with truffle oil served with tzatziki (V)
Keftedakia
cumin and mint meatballs topped with napolitana sauce
Loukanika
sausage, onion, capsicum, and garlic (GF)
Kalamari
breaded squid with lemon and tzatziki (GF)
Garlic Prawns
prawns white wine & cream served with rice
Saganaki
mussels, napolitana sauce, ouzo, and feta with pita bread (GF)
Patates
pan fried potatoes with onion, garlic and oregano (V)
Greek Orzo Bowls
Prawn Orzo
Sautéed prawns with garlic, tomato, and herbs, tossed through tender orzo, finished with lemon and feta.
Meatball Orzo
Greek-style beef meatballs in a rich tomato and herb sauce, served with orzo and feta.
Mushroom Orzo
Pan-seared mushrooms with garlic and herbs, folded through creamy orzo, finished with feta and truffle oil. (V)
Mains
Cumin Chicken
chicken breast, cumin greek yoghurt, orzo and potatoes (GF)
Kotopoulo
Chicken breast, Lemon, rosemary, garlic, white wine, orzo and potatoes (GF)
Moussaka
Minced beef, Eggplant, bechamel, cheese, salad and potatoes
Stefado
Traditional pork stew with tomato, cabbage, red wine, orzo and potatoes (GF)
Roast Greek Lamb
12hrs slow roasted lamb rump with tzatziki and potatoes (GF)
Chef special
ask our friendly staff Price: $?
Sides
Seasonal vegetables, baby potatoes, orzo
Souvlaki Platters
two skewers served with side chip, salad, pita, bread and tzatziki
Chicken (kotópoulo)
Lamb (arnáki)
Prawn (garídes)
Pork (choiríno)
Vegetarian (lachanıká)
Mixed (trela)
One Extra Skewer
Kids Souvlaki
souvlaki skewer served with chips and sauce
Desserts
All the desserts are served with ice cream and cream
Baklava
Galaktoboureko – Somolina
Custard in Filo pastry
Extra ice cream (one scoop)
Home-made Greek Halva Ice Cream
Home-made Greek Ice cream
with figs and ouzo
Date pudding
served with ice cream and caramel sauce
Dessert of the day
(please ask our staff) Price: $?
Affogato
Espresso, Ice cream, Ouzo
The Full Greek
MINIMUM OF 2 PEOPLE. $59.95 PER PERSON – WHOLE TABLE ONLY.
4 Dips with Pita Bread
Olive
Dolmades
Village Salad
Spanakopita
Roast Greek Lamb
Roast Potatoes, Garlic, Rosemary
Baklava
Yia Yia Feast
GROUPS OF 4 OR MORE. $69.95 PER PERSON – WHOLE TABLE ONLY.
4 Dips with Pita Bread
Olive
Dolmades
Village Salad
Spanakopita
Kalamari
Yia Yia Chips
Roast Greek Lamb
Roast Potatoes, Garlic, Rosemary
Cumin Chicken
Orzo
Baklava
Galaktoboureko
Spartan Warriors Feast
GROUPS OF 4 OR MORE. $79.95 PER PERSON – WHOLE TABLE ONLY.
4 Dips With Pita Bread
Olive
Dolmades
Village Salad
Garlic Prawns
Spanakopita
Kalamari
Keftedakia
Yia Yia Chips
Roast Greek Lamb
Roast Potatoes, Garlic, Rosemary
Cumin Chicken
Orzo
Mouaska
Baklava
Galaktoboureko
Beer
Mythos Beer (Greece)
Heineken 330ml
Steinlager 330ml
Peroni Azzuro 330ml
Craft Beer of the day
ask your friendly host 330ml
Heineken 0%
Spirits
Vodka
Bourbon
Whisky
Gin
Liqueur (Ouzos)
Ouzo Barbagianni Blue
Ouzo Barbagianni Green
Katsaros
Juice
A selection of juices available
A selection of cold drinks available
Sparkling Wine
Ruggeri Argeo Brut Prosecco (Italy)
Fresh and delicate, light and fruity.
Alpha Domus Beatrix
Sparkling Rose (Hawkes Bay) Perfect Summer drinking, strawberry, Lychee and Turkish delight flavours leap from the glass.
White Wine
Tsantali Retsina (Greece 500 ml)
Traditional Greek wine aged in pine vats, giving subtle piney characters.
Avarino Nestor (Greece)
Light, citrus flavours with great drinkability
Ant Moore Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough)
Tropical flavours with hints of mango & lime with subtle herbaceous notes.
Starborough Pinot Gris (Marlborough)
Elegant wine with peach & nectarine flavours with rose petal hints.
Guerrieri Rizzardi Pinot Grigio (Venezie, Italy)
Apple & Pear flavours underly the hidden depths that only Italy can conjure.
Ant Moore Chardonnay (Marlborough)
Brioche, stonefruit characters combine with subtle oak in this dangerously drinkable style.
Rose Wine
Terra Sancta Rose’ (Bannockburn)
Classic New Zealand Rose’, Dry, Refined and quite simply stunning.
Chateau L’escarelle Rumeur Rose’ (Provence, France)
Elegant, gorgeous French Rose’ great with Summer waters.
Red Wine
Avarino Nestor Red (Greece)
Dry Red from Greece exhibiting dried herbs, think warm sea breezes and rolling thyme covered hills.
Mysterious Diggings Pinot Noir (Bannockburn)
Bright cherry & Raspberry flavours with a hint of dried herbs in a silken, charming style.
Alpha Domus Syrah (Hawkes Bay)
Violets, cherries and dark fruits combine with spicy nuances in an uncomplicated style red.
Vivanco Crianza – Rioja (Spain)
This winery is one of the most highly regarded in the world. A mixture of modern and traditional. The wines are amazing.
Lava Cotes du Rhone (Rhone, France)
Classy, Rich, red with aromas and flavours of crushed berries and plums.
From Happy Menu members
Reviews from locals: every member has confirmed a New Zealand mobile.
Been to Spartan Greek Cafe and Restaurant? Be one of the first to rate it.
+ Log your visitFeatured in our guide
Best Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Restaurants Near Me In Christchurch
Spartan Greek Cafe and Restaurant is in this guide. Here are the others.
-
The Athens Yacht Club
Christchurch · 1.9 km ·$$
Greek · Mediterranean
-
ROCA
Christchurch · 580 m ·$
Latin American · Grill
-
Costas Taverna
Christchurch · 5.3 km ·$
Greek · Mediterranean
- European D Delilah Christchurch Christchurch · 530 m ·$$ European · Cocktail Bar
- New Zealand T The Grill House Christchurch · 2.9 km ·$ New Zealand · Grill
- Mediterranean B Burj Christchurch · 2.4 km ·$ Mediterranean · Middle Eastern
Around the corner
Within 1 km of Spartan Greek Cafe and Restaurant
-
Bessie
Christchurch · 90 m ·$$
Steakhouse
- New Zealand T The Mud Bar & Restro Christchurch · 100 m ·$ New Zealand · Bar
- Italian C Ciao Christchurch · 110 m ·$$ Italian · Mediterranean
-
Café Valentino
Christchurch · 120 m ·$
Italian · Pizza
-
Saigon Centre Vietnamese Restaurant
Christchurch · 130 m ·$$
Vietnamese
-
Winnie Bagoes City
Christchurch · 170 m ·$
New Zealand · Pizza
More Greek nearby
Within 10 km
- Greek M Mediterranean Taste Christchurch · 230 m ·$ Greek · Mediterranean
- Greek S Sabry's Souvlaki Christchurch · 410 m ·$ Greek · Mediterranean
-
Mythos Greek Souvlakis
Christchurch · 620 m ·$$
Greek · Mediterranean
- Greek R Redwood Souvlaki Christchurch · 7.3 km ·$ Greek · Mediterranean
- Greek S Souvlaki King Christchurch · 7.5 km ·$ Greek · Mediterranean
- Greek H Hapsun Souvlaki Christchurch · 7.6 km ·$ Greek · Mediterranean