Signature Dishes
Kleftiko from Ioannina. The dish the whole room smells when it arrives.
Lamb sealed in parchment. Slow-roasted with garlic, lemon, and bay for hours. When it opens at the table, the whole section notices. It is our most celebrated dish for a reason.
Sealed and slow-roasted
Kleftiko is lamb wrapped tight in parchment with garlic, lemon, bay, and herbs, then roasted low and slow until the meat pulls away from the bone without a fight. The parchment traps everything: steam, juice, the smell that fills the restaurant when it opens at the table.
The Ioannina version
Ioannina is a city in north-west Greece, lake country, cooler than the islands. The cooking there is more mountainous and slower. The kleftiko here follows that tradition: long in the oven, generous with the herbs, served in the paper it cooked in.
The most celebrated dish on the menu
Ask the kitchen or the regulars what to order. The answer is consistent. Not because it is the safest choice but because it earns that response every time it arrives.
Built for an evening table. Good enough to plan a visit around.
Kleftiko works best as the centrepiece. Start the table with dips, halloumi, or a few meze plates. Then order this as your main. It arrives in the paper it cooked in. The smell alone is worth the booking.
Questions about kleftiko
What cut of meat is used in the kleftiko?
Lamb, slow-roasted on the bone. The long cooking time is the whole point. It is not a quick plate.
Is kleftiko available at lunch?
Yes. It is available at both lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Sunday is lunch only. Given the cooking time involved, it is worth booking so the kitchen can prepare properly.
What does kleftiko mean?
Kleftiko translates roughly as stolen. The story goes that mountain bandits in Greece would cook lamb in sealed pits underground to avoid detection from the smoke. Whether that is entirely true or not, the sealed parchment method is real, and the result makes the story worth repeating.
Where is Jars Meze in Bath?
6 Northumberland Place, Bath, BA1 5AR. Two minutes on foot from the Roman Baths and Bath Abbey.
Should I book?
Yes. Especially for evenings and weekends. This is a small restaurant in the middle of Bath. The best tables go early.
Come and try it.
Jars Meze is at 6 Northumberland Place, Bath, BA1 5AR. Book online or call us directly. We are open Tuesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner, and Sunday for lunch.
Other dishes worth trying