Kalispera Yelp!
I…read moreneeded a shot at redemption. Earlier in the week I had wannabe Greek food that was pretty much American BBQ with a Greek twist. I was crying internally because I had just gotten back from Greece and I needed that taste of the country that may just have some of the best food in Europe outside of France (have not been to Italy, sorry!). After seeing them on Good Day New York, I decided after work to venture out to the West Village and really get a taste of what they are all about. Thankfully it is an easy subway ride and a fairly short walk from the West 4th courts to get here.
When I got in, I was greeted warmly by the attractive cashier, Hanna, and the owner, George. Not just that, but the fact that both them had extremely good know-how, and were on their game, cleaning, and making sure that the restaurant was well taken care, was things I admired. The menu is one that took me back to all the times at had gyros (sorry folks, it is not jeye-rows, it is yee-ros) when I was in Athens. I had to get myself a pork gyro with authentic Greek water (yes, they do have imported bottled water from Greece), and a sour cherry juice. In fact, several of the ingredients they use are imported from Greece, like the tzatziki, the pita, and other things. They even put fries in the gyro like they do in Greece! To me, it adds character, to others, the starch takes away from the meat flavor. To each their own, I guess.
But wait, before I could ring up, George tells me that they do not do pork gyros at this location because this location does not want it. They are too Americanized and do not understand that pork gyros are a thing. He offered me the beef and lamb gyro as a compromise, and I take it.
Sometimes, it sucks to be an American.
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When the gyro arrived, I took a bite. This is not the gyros I had in Athens or in Heraklion, but it is darn tasty. It is full of flavor, full of tremendous creativity and love and a nationalistic pride for a country full of amazing people, culture, and history. While not the same as I had in Greece, I was plenty pleased for the value of the gyro, plus the incredible service I received. While taking bites of my dinner, and eventual dessert (I ordered a caramel banana pudding and it is tremendous as well), I had amazing conversation with both Hanna and George. These are two people I could have spent all night talking with, Highly intelligent, highly introspective, highly intriguing. The whole time felt like two friends that I had known a long time. It really made the whole experience feel top notch. They made me feel less like a customer, and more like a friend. That is how Greek restaurants are supposed to make you feel. That is what makes you want to come back. That is why Greek restaurants are some of the best restaurants in the world.
I can live with the Americanized menu because the owner is authentically Greek (he was impressed with some of my Greek vocabulary) and he has excellent knowledge to make this restaurant truly be something special in a city full of naïveté people and an even more naïveté palate.
Yamas to both of you, Hanna and George. You have earned my respect, my positive review, and my business.
Efcharisto!
