Some of Sydney's best Greek Souvlaki is being served up by this Assyrian-Iraqi refugee

Many Iraqi refugees travel through the Mediterranean en route down-under, including canny Iraqi-Assyrian entrepreneur Maher Sadik, who is now capitalising on the diaspora’s little-known, but insatiable, demand for Greek cuisine.

Maher Sadik, an Iraqi Assyrian refugee, at work in Fairfield West’s 'A Taste of Greece' restaurant Source: Dimitrios Kametopoulos - SBS Greek

Fairfield West, in the western suburbs of Sydney, is not known for a large Greek population compared with other Sydney Greek hotspots such as Earlwood, Marrickville, and Brighton Le Sands. 

In fact Fairfield West’s Greek-speaking population is just 0.3 per cent according to the latest 2016 Census data. Yet one little restaurant here is churning out some of Sydney’s most authentic Greek food – and, like many fellow migrants in the area, its owner is actually Iraqi-Assyrian.

With his passion for Greek culture and food, refugee Maher Sadik is promoting Greek cuisine to the broader non-Greek population in the wider Fairfield area, by serving up souvlaki and yeeros that are uncannily similar to the ones served in Greece at his restaurant 'A Taste of Greece.'

"I wanted to open a Greek shop because there are no others in this area," Maher tells SBS Greek.

"And [yet] we have many Iraqis who have passed through Greece and that is the reason we decided to open up a Greek store."

Source: Dimitrios Kametopoulos (SBS Greek)

Maher came to Australia in 2014 as a refugee having had a highly unique experience along the way– an epic odyssey spanning across multiple continents and 12 years from the time he left Iraq at the age of 19 in 2002.

The reason he fled was the same as many others during this period, leading up to the Iraq  war – safety from persecution, for belonging to the Christian Assyrian minority – but also an ambition to succeed.

Maher’s love for Hellenic culture began before he ever arrived there.

“Even before I went to Greece and staying in Germany we went to a bouzouki place where I fell in love with Greek," he says.

Maher’s intended destination when fleeing Iraq was Greece - but as time would soon tell, it was not going to be easy to reach.

"We have many Iraqis who have passed through Greece and that is the reason we decided to open up a Greek store."

Maher first passed through Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania and the rest of the Balkans, ending up in Germany and then back down to Italy, before finally reaching Greece at the age of 22.

Maher found himself in the capital Athens for several years and then in the second largest city of Greece, Thessaloniki, in the northern Macedonian region of Greece, which he loved even more. He ended up staying in Greece for over a decade.

Maher says he rebaptised he himself with the name “Thomas” whilst in Greece, due to the fact that ‘maheri’ in Greek means ‘knife’ and he did not want to be targeted by people who may have mocked his first name.

It wasn’t a problem though – Maher  was well-received and accepted by the local Greek peoples, being offered work, respect and hope for the future.

“I loved everything in Greece,” Maher says. “The Greek people are so nice!”

Source: Dimitrios Kametopoulos (SBS Greek)

While living there he worked hard in the food industry, sharpening his knowledge of Greek food, its preparation and enjoyment by all.

His love for Hellenic culture, spanning music, customs and food, grew fast until the next stage in his life that brought him to Sydney, Australia, had proven to turn out to be a lifeline for him and for his drive to succeed.

It was here that Maher managed to finally realise his Greek dream, opening a tucked away Greek culinary corner on a stretch of Rawson Street in Sydney’s quiet Fairfield West and naming it aptly, as 'A Taste of Greece.'

Source: Dimitrios Kametopoulos (SBS Greek)

Coming to Australia was not an easy step either but he is very happy to have settled here.

“It was difficult of course,” he says. “It is not easy changing countries as you are used to a different lifestyle and everything changed."

In store, his Greek-style roast lamb, baked vegetables soaked in olive oil, Greek salads, baklava and other tantalising delicacies recreate the culinary experience of Maher’s many years living in Greece.

Source: Dimitrios Kametopoulos (SBS Greek)

His walls are adorned by images, mainly of Santorini Island in the Aegean Sea and its famous sunsets, whilst bouzouki music and various Greek songs are played in the background.

The décor in the shop is so Greek that his customers are inevitably taken on a trip to the Greek islands as they wait to be served at the taverna-style seating.

Maher continues to credit his "Greek Odyssey" with transporting him from desperation to hope and getting him to where he is today.