Mati... Does That Sound Greek To You?

It has always been Geni Psinakis’ lifelong dream to open a Greek restaurant. And just recently this half-Greek entrepreneur won the favor of the Gods of Olympus and finally fulfilled her aspiration. Enter Mati in Rockwell, the hottest restaurant slash bar in the Makati scene today.

MAIN COURSE

Mati offers taverna food. A taverna is a small eatery, the Greek equivalent of the Filipino carinderia. To ensure that you will enjoy only the best and the real flavor of these tavernas, Geni sent a chef to Greece to learn the "secrets." He, in turn, taught the techniques to the staff at Mati.

And exactly what kind of food will you find at these tavernas? Greek cuisine is comprised mostly of lamb dishes. If you’re not a big fan of lamb or if you’ve never even tried it, open your eyes (or should I say mouth) to a whole new world.

"You learn to appreciate it," Geni says of Greek food. For the main course, she suggests the Youbetsi—lamb over Onzo pasta. But first, warm up the taste buds with an appetizer; the fried eggplant with Tzatziki (which is yogurt, cucumber, and garlic sauce) is highly recommended.

DESSERT

Good food is matched with good ambience, of course. Designer Migel Rosales planned the place to be cozy and inviting…perfect for the breezy Rockwell area it’s at.

SIDE DISHES…

A date with Dionysus…

It says a lot that they have a deity for it. Greeks makes awesome wine, so try a glass at Mati.

It’s all Greek to me…

Mati means eye, and the word commonly refers to a glass amulet worn to ward off the evil eye.

Rush hour…

The place fills up during dinner time and is the busiest around 8:30 p.m. On weekends, the crowd tends to come a little later and stay a little longer.

No need to pawn your watch…

You can get a good meal at Mati for about P400-600 per person.

Second helpings…

"People come back," Yorgos Psinakis of Mati says. "I recognize faces in the crowd. The place is welcoming and people really enjoy that."