Kostas Olive Bar

This Greek/​Mediterranean style olive bar does exactly what you would expect — sell olives. But not just any olives rather many different kinds and really good ones. The proprietor is a friendly Greek man willing to have a bit of a chat whilst he dishes up olives. He also sells wonderful sun dried tomatoes in olive oil, usually a luxury item not frequently purchased in the regular weekly shop.
I have, on occasion, walked by and been slightly put off by the metal music blaring out from behind the counter. I was also slightly amused to see recently a large sign about the barber having moved stalls. Did the barber used to work amongst the olives I wonder, or was he the previous owner?

Kostas Olive Bar do sell the delicious fruits in abundance. Marinated in different oils, and stuffed with garlic, almonds, pimento and anchovies, they are all sublime. After seeing the owner of the stall being interviewed on local news earlier last year, I complimented him on his performance and received some olives for my flattery! He is a really friendly guy, who loves all things Greek.
The stall offers a wide range of cheeses from manchego to feta, parmesan to mozzarella, cut to your specified weight. The houmous, tzatiki and taramasalata all make delicious dips, sold in pots alongside juicy sun blushed tomatoes and ready prepared Greek salad.
One of my favourite lunches is from Kostas Olive Bar, and comes in the form of spinach and feta pie. Beautifully delicate filo pastry wrapped around the moist spinach and feta filling is just exquisite. And, if I’m feeling naughty, I trouble them for some of their finest baklava for dessert. Yum.

Sat in the middle of the Kirkgate market is Kostas Olive Bar, a popular stall selling Mediterranean antipasti, but mainly specialising in olives of all colours and sizes. The man, I presume to be Kostas, is absolutely lovely, a smiley Greek (or Cypriot) who seems to be content with his deli style business. The olives are magnificent, and much cheaper than you’d be likely to find in a deli outside the marketplace. I highly recommend.