Grecian Delights offers a tempting array of delicious Greek dishes
By ON-KAY WONG, ANNIE HASTERT, and GWEN SCHMIEDEBUSCH
Scene Restaurant Critics
Grecian Delights, a small restaurant, combines a pleasant atmosphere, an assortment of Greek tunes — in addition to more familiar pop tunes — and delicious food at a decent price. The service was a little slow, perhaps because of the amount of food ordered, but the waiter was very friendly and eager to please.
The meal began with sourdough rolls and pita bread, as well as butter, Feta cheese and Kalamata olives, a tasty treat for those who enjoy strong, slightly bitter foods. The appetizers offered were an assortment of dips for the pita bread, salads and cheeses. `The Sampler,' consisted of three appetizers chosen from the menu. Revithosalata is a dip made with chickpeas, tahini, garlic, olive oil, cumin and lemon. It tastes similar to hummus but slightly spicier. Htipiti, made with red peppers, feta cheese, garlic and jalapenos, is definitely for people who like tangy foods. Lastly, Melitzanosalata combines eggplant, garlic, cumin, lemon and olive oil, and has a bean-like taste to it. Overall, the appetizers could have been skipped, especially since most of the entrees at Grecian Delights come with a choice of any three sides.
The sides were wonderful, especially the soup. Faki tasted like a spiced up version of American lentil soup and was delicious. Avgelemono is basically a chicken and rice soup with eggs and lemon, and was strong but surprisingly tasty. Out of the three salads offered, the garden salad was the best selection. While the other two had a bland "secret dressing" on them, the garden salad came with a selection of three dressings: Balsamic Vinaigrette, Lemon Tahini or Tarragon Mustard. It is best advised to stay away from the Lemon Tahini, but the Balsamic Vinaigrette and the Tarragon Mustard are solid choices.
By the time the entrees arrived, it seemed impossible to eat any more. The Garithes Portobellos, Chicken Souvlaki and Mediterranean Makaronia were chosen as entrees. The Garithes Portobellos, Portobella mushrooms with shrimp and a zesty hot sauce, were a little much for someone who doesn't handle spicy foods well. However, the Chicken Souvlaki and the Mediterranean Makaronia were both excellent dishes. The Chicken came with rice pilaf and Tszaziki, which is a dipping sauce made from yogurt, sour cream, cucumbers and dill. The sauce is highly recommended for sour cream lovers and the rice pilaf was outstanding. The Mediterranean Makaronia is pasta with sautéed veggies, garlic, Kalamata olives and Feta cheese on it. It was the best of the three dishes, and well worth the $12 price.
Dessert, of course, was necessary to finish off the meal, and pineapple sorbet, a lemon bar and floyetta were chosen. The floyetta was a little too sweet, but the pineapple sorbet and the lemon bar were delicious. At just $2 apiece, the desserts are relatively inexpensive and won't double the cost of the whole meal like they tend to do at some restaurants.
Grecian Delights was a very pleasant dining experience, an ideal place for a casual lunch or dinner date. Overall, with its excellent food and first-rate service, it is well worth the trip off campus. Grecian Delights is located at 2349 Miracle Lane, in the Town & Country Shopping Center in Mishawaka. Hours are Thursday through Saturday 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 5 p.m.-10p.m.; Sunday noon-8p.m.
All Scene Stories for Wednesday, February 12, 2003
