Greek Bistro Northampton

Walk into Greek Bistro and you're getting the real deal: whitewashed walls, that specific Mediterranean warmth, and a kitchen that knows what it's doing with a charcoal grill. You'll find yourself sharing plates of saganaki (the kind that squeaks between your teeth), grilled octopus that doesn't taste like rubber, and lamb that falls off the bone without trying. The meze selection is proper generous—enough to make an evening of it with mates, or perfectly sized if you're just after a quick dinner. St Giles' Street's seen its ups and downs over the years, but this spot's doing real work keeping proper Mediterranean food accessible without the pretence.