Mega Continental Deli

Mega Continental Deli is a fantastic treasure trove of Greek and Mediterranean groceries found tucked away in the back streets of West End by the river.

Step through the old warehouse door any time of day to find a lively scene straight out of Greece: blaring bazouki music, elderly black clad women scooping fresh olives out of giant tins, religious icons doted around the deli and shelves crammed with every Greek (and some Lebanese and Turkish) cooking item under the sun.

Here’s the place to go for all types of flour (including organic, spelt and fine textured) and olive oil, all of which are sold in bulk, as well as a great variety of beans, maize, polenta and barley flour.

Whole shelves are devoted to Greek teas and coffee galore, canned dolmades, tahini, Greek jams, marinated vegetables, pickles, dates and chick peas, pastas, rice, Turkish delights, Greek biscuits and a huge range of herbs and spices including sage, mountain tea, vine leaves, Lebanese mixed spice and oregano.

Mega Continental is also olive central with the aforementioned tins to self-serve (and sample) from - kalamata, green, pited, black, dried and Golden Greek - as well as green peppers.

The deli also serves olives as well as delicious traditional  dips (caviar, Tzatziki, eggplant, hommus, beetroot or olive) , Mediterranean cheeses such as feta, haloumi and provolone, handmade halva cake and Baklava.

In the fridges can be found everything from mortadella, prosciutto, kash kaval, kasseri and kefalograviera (grilling cheese) to frozen souvlaki/pita bread, rabbits, quail, sieftalias (tripe sausages), salty fish and filo pastry.

Have all the food but not the cooking equipment? Mega Continental also stocks Greek coffee makers, souvlaki BBQ, rice cookers and kitchen implements.

Need to know: Mega Continental buys everything in bulk to keep the prices cheap.

If you wish to sample cheese, olives etc from the deli, just ask - it's the done thing.

Nice to know - There's a tiny Greek cafe in front - perfect pitstop for a cup of coffee and baklava.