Ammos is the new place to see and be seen in Weston-super-Mare, the building at one time housing a high street bank has been made over magnificently to accommodate a luxurious bar and dance floor downstairs and, via large winding staircase, the restaurant upstairs. The walls are rustic bare brick with high and heavy beamed ceilings and the restaurant is open through the stairwell so it benefits from the buzz of the people in the bar drifting upwards.

It was a wild, wet and windy night outside (so what’s new) and we were glad to get into the warm and contemplate the prospect of some fine Greek food. The menu is extensive featuring meze together with traditional Greek dishes and you are hard pressed to choose; we decided to share two starters, triangles of spinach pie and grilled Greek sausage, followed by mousaka with layers of potatoes, aubergines, courgettes, minced meat, topped with béchamel sauce, and an old favourite of ours, kleftiko, so called bandit’s lamb, slowly roasted Welsh lamb on the bone served with baby potatoes and herbs.

For a restaurant only around six weeks old, word must have spread fast as it was packed with two large birthday parties, and a sprinkling of twos and fours; luckily there is enough space for all of this without the smaller tables being overwhelmed. The waiters look very smart in white shirts and black waistcoats; and are happy to explain all the dishes to you. I must say ours was a bit of a dish himself, a George Clooney look alike no less, and with a sense of humour; I made sure I had lots of questions to ask!

Our starters were delicious, spinach in crisp triangles of filo pastry and the sliced and spicy sausage in a tomato sauce, happily served with pitta bread for mopping up the sauce. The main courses were delivered with a flourish, the lamb looking very impressive and the mousaka bubbling gently in its earthenware dish, served with a Greek side salad. I tried a piece of the lamb and it was so tender that no teeth were needed and the accompanying potatoes and vegetables were very tasty too. My mousaka was excellent; despite its generous portion I finished it to the last scrap.

The bar and disco run until 2.00 pm, the sound system is first class and the DJ played a good set; apparently traditional Greek dancing is the order of the evening later on but even the promise that Mr Clooney might be performing couldn’t undo the effects of a hearty meal and the sleepiness that follows so I’m afraid we went home!

Jacquie Vowles