Oh. My. God. YES.
A few months ago, my dad ended up on a plane with someone who couldn’t shut up about this restaurant, and he’s been trying to get me to go ever since. For some reason or another, it never worked out until this weekend, and I cannot believe it took me so long to get to arguably one of the best restaurants in the Palo Alto area. Not that I’ve been to that many so far, but sometimes, you just know.
Food — 5/5
Delicious? Consistently. Healthy? Well, there are plenty of healthy options. Exotic? Mediterranean at its finest. Classy? Oh, so classy–such a step up from the Greek I’m used to at diners and delis. We ordered: Anginares Souvlaki (super-tender grilled artichokes, eggplants and bell peppers with creamy Greek yogurt), butternut squash with pomegranate and pumpkin seeds (I can’t remember the Greek name for the dish, but it was fantastic), Avgolemono (chicken-lemon-egg-rice soup… the best way to describe it is as egg drop soup without the drops, because the egg has been tempered into the broth. Unlike like anything I’ve ever had!) and Fakes (good old lentil soup — hard to go wrong here). We debated splitting Moussaka as an entrée, but it would’ve ended with busted GI tracts, and we had to save room for dessert! We took the waitress’s advice and ordered Galaktoboureko, which basically looked like egg rolls, but was actually phyllo dough filled with vanilla bean semolina custard and topped with a scoop of pistachio ice cream. No words, just happiness.
Service — 5/5
Our waitress was very friendly, engaging, helpful, relaxed and everything else you hope for in a waitress. The food came quickly, even on a busy Saturday night. We saw the owner and his wife checking in with the couple at the table next to us and (bonus!) cute Greek waiters abound.
Price — 2/5
Appetizers and desserts run around $10, and entrées range from $20-30. This is not a place to be taken lightly or patronized too frequently.
Location and Setting — 5/5
It’s on Emerson, less than a block north of University Ave. Parking can be a bummer around there, especially on weekend nights, but there are a few free lots, so just budget in a little time to find a spot. The restaurant itself was decorated beautifully; it’s very Mediterranean and atmospheric without being distracting or drifting too far towards Epcott-desperate-worldliness.
Good for… night out with the ‘rents. Or, if you’re feeling wealthy and courageous, an anniversary date. Save this one for occasions — it deserves the special treatment.
I think I’ve said all there is to say. Good night, and good food.