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Restaurant

Bani's Restaurant & Bar

10 Thompson Ave, Cowes VIC 3922, Australia

Recommended by 17 people

Updated

Find Bani's Restaurant & Bar

10 Thompson Ave, Cowes VIC 3922, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 3 5952 3106
HoursMonday: 12:00 – 2:30 PM, 5:00 – 9:00 PM Tuesday: 12:00 – 2:30 PM, 5:00 – 9:00 PM Wednesday: Closed Thursday: 12:00 – 2:30 PM, 5:00 – 9:00 PM Friday: 12:00 – 2:00 PM, 5:00 – 9:00 PM Saturday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM Sunday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About Bani's Restaurant & Bar

Tucked steps from the beach in Cowes, Bani's plates up hearty Greek coastal feasts framed by upstairs bay views. Locals head straight for the second-story tables, catching water breezes through open windows while carving into slow-cooked lamb shoulder that falls apart at the tap of a fork. The kitchen leans into generous mezze spreads—blistered saganaki balanced with apricot, charred octopus over fava puree, and platters built for sharing across the table. Between attentive floor service and a drinks shelf stocked with traditional mastic liqueur, dinner winds down over crisp galaktoboureko dusted in cinnamon.

  • Upstairs Bay Views: Second-story dining room features wide open bay windows with direct views looking out over the water.
  • Signature Lamb Shoulder: Slow-cooked to fall-apart tenderness and served in generous portions alongside classic mezze plates.
  • Authentic Greek Spirits: Traditional digestifs and pours including imported Greek mastic liqueur, ouzo, and tsipouro.
RestaurantGreekVeganVegetarianRestaurant

What's On at Bani's Restaurant & Bar

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Dine at Bani's Restaurant & Bar

Authentic Greek cuisine, panoramic bay views, and attentive island hospitality in Cowes.

  • Slow-Cooked Authentic Greek Specialties

    Traditional Greek cooking shines with signature slow-cooked lamb shoulder that falls off the bone, paired alongside authentic moussaka and house-made dips.

    Special mention to the lamb shoulder which was fall apart tender and the saganaki which comes with apricot for a hint of sweetness

    Clare Rose

  • Traditional Greek Spirits & Digestifs

    Complementing the authentic culinary offerings, the bar features traditional digestifs and spirits like Mastiha, Ouzo, and Tsipouro.

    They also have a range of ouzo, tsipouro and mastic liqueur (my favorite digestive!).

    Andrew

  • Elevated Dining With Bay Views

    The elevated second-floor dining space provides open bay windows overlooking the beach and ocean, providing a scenic backdrop for dining.

    We sat upstairs looking over the bay, with the bay windows open.

    Mark Lee

  • Welcoming Late-Evening & Walk-In Hospitality

    Accommodating service welcomes visitors arriving late in the evening or seeking last-minute walk-in tables after regional touring.

    These guys were happy to let us in even though it was quite late and a last minute booking.

    Sabrina Brook

  • Dedicated Milestone & Family Hospitality

    Attentive, thoughtful service ensures milestone anniversaries and family occasions feel celebrated and stress-free.

    We do not go out often and this meal was very special The team who attended to us were so friendly and kind.

    claire lang

  • Generous Feast Platters Built for Sharing

    Generous multi-course sharing platters and Mezze selections make group dining easy and convivial.

    We had a fantastic dinner of shared plates for our group of 5. The food was delicious, generous and fresh.

    Shelley Gasperino

Signature Greek dishes celebrating traditional recipes and slow-cooked favorites

  • Lamb Shoulder

    Special mention to the lamb shoulder which was fall apart tender

    Clare Rose

  • Saganaki

    The saganaki was packed with flavour and was definitely one of the highlights of the meal.

    Ruby Star

  • Moussaka

    The moussaka was just as impressive layers of tender eggplant, savoury filling, and a smooth, velvety experience highly recommended

    Jade Robinson

  • Octopus

    The octopus was cooked perfectly and complimented expertly by a fava bean puree

    Tori Traut

Other favorites

Authentic desserts, traditional Greek spirits, and classic sides

  • Galaktoboureko

    as a Greek, the best galaktobureko I have ever had at a restaurant.

    Andrew

  • Mastiha Liqueur

    We tried the Mestika - a Greek spirit. Definitely worth a try and added to the Greek cuisine experience.

    Rowie Wong

  • Baklava

    And for dessert you cant miss out on the Baklava and Galaktoboureko

    Rowie Wong

  • Tzatziki

    Best tzatsiki sauce I've ever had

    Jenny

Beyond the menu

Thoughtful hospitality touches that elevate dining in Cowes

  • Personal Owner Engagement

    The restaurant manager and owner personally takes time to visit tables for one-on-one conversations, discussing culinary authenticity, recipe techniques, and guest experiences.

  • Attentive Family Care

    The floor team sensitively accommodates diners' unique family requirements, including discreetly allowing portable pet crates indoors and engaging playfully with young children.

  • Welcoming Walk-In Hospitality

    Servers provide low-pressure hospitality, warmly welcoming guests who only want a light bite after hours without judgment or rush.

  • Curated Greek Digestif Pairings

    Traditional spirits like Mastiha (mastic liqueur), Ouzo, and Tsipouro are presented and recommended tableside to provide an authentic Greek digestif ritual.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the signature dishes to order?

Guests highlight sharing plates such as the Mediterranean Feast, seafood sharing platter, and dips with pita. Standout signature mains include the slow-cooked lamb shoulder, moussaka, grilled octopus, and saganaki, finished with traditional desserts like galaktoboureko.

Is there ocean or bay view seating available?

Yes, the restaurant features an upstairs dining area with open bay windows overlooking the beach and bay, offering panoramic ocean views while dining.

Do you need a reservation, or are walk-ins welcome?

While walk-ins are often accommodated when tables are free, bookings are accepted and recommended, particularly during busy dinner periods and weekends.

Where can guests park when visiting?

Yes, dedicated parking is available directly at the back of the restaurant, alongside free street parking options nearby.

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