When Paddy got in touch – ‘long-time listener, first-time caller’ – with a tip to check out a new Greek spot called Kallos in Salford, he didn’t just suggest it. He insisted. And he had a checklist: lamb flatbread? Yes. Handmade feta parcels wrapped in filo, glazed with hot honey? Absolutely. A tour of the fine wines of Greece? Waaay ahead of you, Paddy.
Kallos is the passion project of Ioanna Antoniou and Ivan Milchev, who met while working the floor and cellar at 20 Stories in Manchester. She’s from Greece, he’s from Bulgaria, and between them they’ve clocked up years of experience in some of the city’s best-known spots, including a stint for Ivan as sommelier at Musu, the fire-led, upscale Japanese restaurant. But Kallos is the dream, the modern taverna and wine bar they’ve gone all in on.
“If the grandmothers back in Crete saw this, they would not be happy,” jokes Ivan.
The menu is not your standard Greek. Those feta wrapped in filo with hot honey and sesame (Paddy’s pick) delivers sweet and savoury in perfect balance. The lamb shoulder flatbread is a standout, pillowy dough layered with lutenitsa (a Balkan pepper relish), tender lamb, and sharp myzíthra cheese with a hit of chilli oil, like a Greek take on a mini, puffy Neapolitan pizza.
Then there’s the beef cheek stifado, a stunning take on the classic holiday staple, slow-cooked with red and sharpened with vinegar, onions, and spice – served spoon-soft with some pickled carrots for extra lift.
Wine is no afterthought. Ivan’s list showcases native Greek grapes like Assyrtiko and Xinomavro, which are chasing France and Italy as some of the most interesting wines in Europe right now.
The tinned seafood section – imported from top producers in Spain and Portugal – is an inspired touch. The Galician scallops are delicate and rich, and all tins come with pickled chilli, aioli and warm pita. “The story of the sea,” Ivan calls it, with a flourish of poetry that he jokes he may have seen on the back of a tin.
Kallos is full of moments like that; personal, playful, proudly pan-Hellenic but grounded in Manchester hospitality. There’s a small sun terrace for sipping a Mastiha Sour when the weather plays nice, and inside, the space hums with warmth and curiosity. It’s the kind of place where you’ll arrive for a glass of wine and a nibble, and end up staying for five plates, and maybe a bottle.
As for Paddy: he was bang on. The food is brilliant, the wine is flowing, and the couple at the heart of it all are as welcoming as the menu.
Kallos is open Wednesday to Sunday, 1pm–9pm. No bookings—just walk in, raise a glass, and say yamas.
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