Greektown - Phoenix

Greektown is a perfect place to spend a quiet dinner or a Special Occasion... The service is superb, the food is perfect, and the atmosphere is elegant, yet light and airy...

My spouse and I and sometimes our children are regulars at Greektown. The owner, who also does everything from fill your water glass to recommend dishes on a particular night to dish his take on the latest movies to ask about your job or your ailing relatives--and he will remember, every single one, every single time--greets you with the kind of energy that suggests he could also be powering the place with a hand-cranked generator in the back. You will instantly feel at home at Greektown, comfortable and relaxed. Take whatever time you need; it's your dinner. And it's a beautiful place. They take excellent care of it and it shows. You can even sidle up to a small bar if that's more your speed. Of course in the end, you go there not just for the entertainment--and believe me, you'll get it, because your host is a comic genius as well as a culinary master--but for a fabulous meal. Greektown delivers. There are many delicious appetizers here, but our favorite is always the Saganaki, which is imported kefalograviera cheese baked and then flambeed at your table. OPA! It's served with hot, soft pita bread which you'd stuff on even if it was plain. The cheese itself has a distinct, strong but never overpowering flavor and this dish is an absolute must. Other delicious appetizers include the Spanakopites, the well-known spinach-filled phyllo dough puffs, and the Yialanzidolma, also called Dolmades in many places, which are the stuffed grape leaves. Both items are out of this world at Greektown. On to the rest of dinner. And by the way, you'll get the Avgolemono soup you're waiting for--the delicious lemon and rice, chicken-based soup you've likely had in a Greek restaurant before--with most of your entrees. The main difference is that here the soup is so much better than anyplace else that you may not see too much resemblance. You'll also get a fantastic little Greek side salad which is just as superior. Now, as for your main course, certainly there are many delectable pastas and pita sandwiches to choose from. Also, don't hesitate to ask about combining things you find on the menu. If the roast lamb looks great to you but so does the chicken, you might just be able to have them both. Anyway, I can best speak to our usual downfalls, so I will. Although he loves trying new things and occasionally does, my fella almost always gets the roast lamb along with the chicken stuffed with spinach. Both are so tender your knife will remain cold and lonely at the side of your plate. The lamb has light, delicious gravy with a hint of garlic that will prompt you to ignore any disapproving eyes and use pita bread for sopping. And of course there are roasted veggies on the side; nice carrots and potatoes, broccoli--just what you would expect from a comforting dish of roast lamb plus stuffed chicken, although those veggies accompany most entrees as well. For me, it is usually whatever fresh catch of the day that they have; that part is easy. The real trouble comes in how I want it prepared. Choices include having my fish sauteed in a creamy white wine sauce with fresh mushrooms and artichoke hearts; having my fresh catch baked in tomatoes and feta cheese; having the fish sauteed in lemon butter with capers and mushrooms; or even having the fish with a fra diavolo sauce, which is marvelous. You can see why my choice might be tougher than it sounded at first blush. And for dessert? Of course the traditional Greek treats like Baklava cannot be beaten at Greektown, but there are also some surprises. Thanks to our multicultural city, you can also have some of the better flan in town after your Greek feast if you so desire. Avoid the chains, and seek out Greektown! OPA!