As you get close to the restaurant you can hear the most wonderful, lively dance music, upon entering you feel as if you are in the middle of a huge party where everyone is festive and dancing on the tables…yes tables! This Greek restaurant is a truly unique place where you will find generations of customers all enjoying the dancing, food and music, just as you would in the Mediterranean.

Famous for its large helpings of festive entertainment and traditional Greek cuisine, Taverna Opa marries the traditional with the modern delivering an experience that breaks dining norms.

Belly dancers, napkin tossing and table-top dancing are a recipe for fun at the Greek eatery with the cheeky slogan, “We don’t close until the ouzo runs out.”

“Guests are encouraged to dance on tables, throw napkins in the air, drink ouzo and shout Opa,” said co-owners and culinary directors Katerina Karachalias and George Papachristopoulos. “It’s all part of the dining experience and the celebration that takes place here every night of the week.”

While Taverna Opa’s festivities are eye-catching, it takes a back seat to their Mediterranean cuisine that emphasizes high quality ingredients and simple preparation techniques.

“Authentic Mediterranean cuisine is very healthy and flavorful,” Karachalias said. “We use fresh herbs and slow cooking methods and never any cream sauces. We import our olive oil from the island of Crete and our seafood and cheese from Greece.”

Traditional starters, or meze, include Dolmadakia, grape leaves stuffed with rice herbs, Spanakopita, baked phyllo with spinach, feta leeks and fresh herbs.

Other signature items include Tzatziki, a homemade yogurt flavored with cucumber, garlic and dill, and Nisiotiko, orzo served with prawns, scallops, mussels, calamari and topped with feta cheese.

Wood-fired meats and seafood marinated in olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and herbs are the most popular main courses. Rib-eye steak, snapper, sea bass, salmon, lobster and prawns are best sellers on the grilled menu.

Lamb is Taverna Opa’s specialty and is offered three ways – lamb chops, lamb shank and slow-roasted lamb. A family-style menu is also available for parties of six or more.

The Zorba martini, a vodka-based martini with a fruity flavor, is Taverna Opa’s signature cocktail. Taverna Opa’s wine list is comprised primarily of Greek varietals that have earthy and oak-like flavors and compliment most menu items.

Baklava, custard crème, rice pudding and yogurt with honey are sweet endings to any Greek meal.

Ouzo has a special place on Taverna Opa’s menu. No meal is complete without the anise-flavored liqueur that is widely consumed in Greece, Karachalias said.

Guests who want to experience a different kind of Greek spirit at Taverna Opa are encouraged to sign up for weekly belly dancing lessons and participate in the Zorba, a Greek dance played and danced to in tavernas in Greece. Belly dancing lessons are offered at the restaurant from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. each Tuesday followed by dinner. Lessons and dinner cost $20 per person.

Like the food and festivities, Taverna Opa’s décor is a nod to Karachalias’ and Papachristopoulos’ Greek heritage. The 5,600 square-foot, 300-seat eatery is outfitted with Parthenon-style columns, brick walls, wine barrel props and photographs of landmarks in the Greek islands.

“Every aspect of Taverna Opa allows guests to experience Greek traditions,” Papachristopoulos said. “Even the name is derived from the Greek words, ‘Taverna,’ meaning tavern, and ‘Opa,’ meaning excitement.”

Karachalias, who earned a culinary degree from Le Cordon Bleu, has worked in the restaurant industry for 12 years. Papachristopoulos, who has more than 20 years of restaurant industry experience, has worked in his family’s restaurant and was part owner of a five-star restaurant.

Core operating hours are Monday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. The average check is $30 per person. Taverna Opa located in Pointe Orlando at 9101 International Drive, Orlando. Call (407) 879-2481or visit www.opaorlando.com.

Peabody Hotel Orlando (407) 352-4000 www.peabodyorlando.com