Stalida Greek Taverna Hexham
Tucked away on Battle Hill with seating upstairs, Stalida is a genuinely family-run taverna serving up all the Greek classics — moussaka, stifado and kleftiko — alongside their own house specials. Prefer to share? Go the traditional route with a spread of mezes across the table instead. To drink, there's Greek beer, wine, ouzo and raki, and baklava waiting at the end for anyone with room left.
What's on the menu
Start things off the sharing way with a plate of Mixed Dips — tzatziki, hummus and taramasalata with warm Greek pitta — or go for something a little more theatrical with Cheese Saganaki, fried in egg and breadcrumbs, or Grilled Feta, wrapped in foil with tomatoes, peppers and oregano and warmed straight on the grill. Seafood fans are well looked after too, with crispy Kalamari (breaded or the garlic-and-rosemary version), golden Whitebait, and Shrimp Saganaki cooked in a Neapolitan sauce with feta, garlic and a splash of ouzo.
For mains, expect proper Greek comfort food: Gyros and Souvlaki plates piled with marinated chicken and pork, chips and tzatziki; melt-off-the-bone Paidakia (lamb chops); and the vegetarian-friendly Briam and Papoutsaki ("little shoe" — grilled aubergine stuffed with rice, vegetables and cheese). If you're really hungry, the Mixed Grill brings chicken souvlaki, pork belly, lamb chop, mici and Greek sausage together on one plate.
The chef's specials are where Stalida really shows its roots, including slow-baked Kleftiko (lamb baked in a terracotta pot with potatoes and vegetables), layered Moussaka, and Stifado, a rich beef and onion stew in Neapolitan sauce. There's Swordfish for something lighter, and to finish, don't skip the Baklava or the orange-scented Portokalopita, both served with ice cream.
Fancy going the meze route?
Mezes are Stalida's answer to a proper Greek feast: a rolling procession of small plates — think dolmades, garlic mushrooms, gigantes (giant beans in tomato sauce), souvlaki sticks and lamb chops — brought to the table as they're ready, rather than all at once. They're designed for sharing at tables of five or fewer, and the kitchen asks that the whole table agrees on one style of ordering: either everyone goes for mezes, or everyone orders from the starters and mains menu, since the two are cooked to different timings. As a rough guide, the team recommends around three meze dishes per adult, though your waiter is always happy to help you build the right spread.
Whichever way you order, there's a genuinely good spread of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options built into both the à la carte and meze menus, so it's an easy place to bring a mixed group.
Planning something bigger?
For hen parties, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries or graduations, Stalida offers exclusive private hire of the entire restaurant — all three seating areas across both floors, plus bar and smoking area — with a welcome drink, a large buffet of Greek specialities, and a sound system so you can pick the soundtrack in each room. It's available for groups of eight or more, with vegetarian guests and allergies catered for on request.
It's a genuinely welcoming spot too — children are made welcome, and there's a good range of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options on the menu.
Visit: 9a Battle Hill, Hexham, Northumberland, NE46 1BA
Phone: 01434 609900
Opening hours: Monday–Thursday 18:00–22:30, Friday & Saturday 17:30–22:30, Sunday closed
Please note: takeaway is not currently available.