A last-minute decision to go out left the dining duo pondering our choices, but we eventually decided to try once more to find a restaurant we like in Fountain Square. So far it’s 0-2, but we like the area so much we’ll try again.
The restaurant was easy to find and a convenient parking spot on the street was available, but they really could do a better job with signage – we weren’t sure if the side entrance with the awning with their name prominently displayed was really an entry or not (it wasn’t). Finally inside, we were quickly seated and given menus.
Appetizers tempted, especially the saganaki (flaming cheese), but prices were higher than we wanted to split in a month when we were both feeling a pinch in our wallets. Especially since desserts did sound tasty, and we definitely weren’t going to go for both.
After much discussion, Jennifer selected the spanokopita platter. She’s a big fan of spinach so combine it with cheese and pastry and what’s not to like? Sheila quickly chose the gyro platter – she loves the lamb/beef combo and could just about drink tzaziki sauce so always orders something that includes it. Since we both got platters, our meals came with a side salad, green beans, rice pilaf, and Greek potatoes. Yes, both rice and potatoes for a carb-lovers delight!
The salads were superb and super fast! It seems like we’d just given our orders when they salads arrived which was great since we were both ready to eat! Jennifer felt her spanokopita was very garlicy, but perfect. Sheila adored the meat, pita and sauce in her dish. We both loved the rice pilaf, thought the potatoes were merely ok, and quickly passed on the green beans. Sheila hates the texture of canned green beans, and if these weren’t canned, they had the same texture so they’re just as bad.
Unfortunately, our server was rather obnoxious about criticizing us for not cleaning our plates since we left some veggies. That’s just not necessary or appreciated. Also not appreciated was his overeagerness to clear plates – hello, one of us was still eating, quit trying to take the plates away, or his pushy pushy pushy personality for suggesting appetizers, desserts, speciality drinks etc. We don’t mind people asking, but if we say no, don’t ask again. And again. And again.
Geesh.
It’s too bad we ended up rewarding his pushiness in a way by ordering dessert. Jennifer got the galaktabouriko (say that 5 times fast), a custard with phyllo crust on top and bottom, and Sheila got the rezogalo (rice pudding). Both were fantastic! Well, we each thought our own choices were fantastic anyway. Sheila enjoyed the entertainment value of Jennifer’s custard more than the taste of it, but then again, she’s not much of a custard fan so how much does her opinion count on it’s tastiness anyway? And by entertainment value, we mean the fact that the slightest hint of a touch of the plate made the whole thing shimmy. Yes, we are easily amused. What of it?
Decor was blue-and-white-expected, but the plates were pretty. And Jennifer also very much appreciated the hot waiter who was serving a group of tables near ours. Too bad he wasn’t our server, she could have really enjoyed her meal.
Would we go back? Absolutely, especially if we can drag along our favorite companions and convince them to share some flaming cheese with us. We want to hear the servers shout OPA!
And by the way, Jennifer tried, but she’d like to report that she still hates olives.
Food ***
Atmosphere***
Service ** (too pushy and obnoxious)
Overall **1/2
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Greek Islands Restaurant « Dish–The Dining Duo Discuss // June 25, 2008 at 7:06 pm
[...] forward to lunch at the Greek Islands Restaurant. We should have just skipped it and gone to Santorini’s if we wanted Greek, and Shapiro’s if we wanted to stay in the same [...]