Greek Food - Spanakopita, Greek Salad, Medium Rare Lamb Souvlaki with Brown Rice & Potato Halves

It was clear that we were in GreekTown. City lights now announced it, arching from one side of the street to the other, and “Welcome to Greek Town” was the slogan used in this district. (So, when in Greece, do as the Greeks.) This meant that an authentic restaurant was in order and Astoria Shish Kebob House was recommended as just that.

A burly Egyptian waiter showed us the way to our seats. He confirmed that the chef and cook were in fact Greek. That same claim was soon proven true, as the two were in view on the way to the table.

The appearance inside the restaurant was dim and romantic. It resembled an enclosed patio. It was overgrown with hanging vines, trellis, recessed ceilings and windows with archways that had clear plastic tarp over them to stop any winter draft.

On each table, either a bottle of white or red wine waited. My order included a glass of water and one Ginger Ale. The appetizer was Spanakopita with Spinach, Feta Cheese and fresh herbs ($8.99). The main plate was a large Lamb Souvlaki with Brown Rice, Potatoes and Tzatziki Dip ($20.99). The large was recommended by the waiter as a leaner cut of meat, with less fat.

 

 

 

Minutes later, a Greek Salad appeared. It was filled with fresh Lettuce, Onions, Oregano, Tomato, topped with a vinaigrette sauce, Feta Cheese and an Olive. This was accompanied by the spanakopita. However, one bite of the large filo snack proved difficult. The inside of it was hardened and tough. It was too dry to chew. Fortunately, the salad was there.

Next, the entrée followed within minutes. It was more promising. The lamb was succulent; yet, the potatoes and rice were at different temperatures – both were no longer hot. Once having tried all of the plates, I told my server of the inedible spanakopita and he removed it immediately from the bill with the approval of his manager – no questions asked. Finally, Astoria Shish Kebob House was busy late that night, serving many guests. It was possible to make a mistake at some point. The manager’s quick thinking recovered the restaurant’s reputation in some form when a mistake did happen. But, if quality alone was judged, it’s safe to say that the presentations of the two plates did not live up to Greek food standards. The normal energies in these two meals were turned off.