Gyro sign

Greek could possibly be my favorite type of food. It’s simple, relatively healthy—and who doesn’t like to see a whole lamb on a skewer roasting in the window? Allie and I joined some friends at a Greek Town restaurant called The Parthenon—it was a nice place, with the expected overly-Greek interior decorating and busy managers running around yelling  to each other in Greek.

We sat in the back, trying to dodge three-deep flaming cheese along the way and, because I’m pretty sure it’s required that you order Saganaki in Greek restaurants, we promptly ordered our own serving of the flaming kasseri. The cheese was great but the Opa! lacked enthusiasm. However I don’t think the waiter’s lack of passion affected the final flavor of the cheese. I ordered the gyro, which is served (traditionally) disassembled with the lamb on top of an onion parsley mixture. The tzatziki sauce and pita are served on the side. Allie ordered a vegetarian dish called Pastitsio, which tasted like a spinach pie made with noodles instead of phyllo dough. The meal was delicious and the gyro was by far the best I’d ever had.

Before we left I joined Andy in a Greek coffee (Ellinikos Kafes), which is a strong, unfiltered brew that served in a small narrow cup. The flavor is good, but the texture is grainy and the closer you get to the bottom the thicker it gets. According to Andy, when the cup is almost done you flip it over into the saucer and then look inside the inverted cup, watching how the mixture slides. If it looks stringy, you could be in for some good luck—at least that’s what I think he said. After his came out as a giant glob, I opted not to check my own fortune.

This was my first trip into Greek Town and I’m glad I finally got down there for a meal—it won’t be my last.

The photo in this post is licensed under Creative Commons by moriza