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Fronimo's Greek Cafe
Categories: Restaurants Greek Restaurants Mediterranean Greek, Mediterranean [Edit]
3242 E Speedway BlvdTucson, AZ 85716
(520) 327-8321
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 10 am - 9 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
45 reviews for Fronimo's Greek Cafe
Review Highlights
"Oh and the pita bread was delish."
(in 6 reviews)
"...fries, drizzled with olive oil and feta cheese- um, yum."
(in 5 reviews)
"Best fries and onion rings in Tucson, too."
(in 5 reviews)
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45 reviews in English
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Review from Melinda C.
Tucson, AZ
1/2/2012
Had dinner here on New Year's Eve. My mom and I had gyros and the rice. Yummy! Nice amount of meat on the gyro and well seasoned. The rice was lemony and delicious.
The service was great! While it was busy, no one made us feel like we had to rush to clear the table. (No, no one was waiting for a table while we were chatting.)
On other visits, my hubby had the lamb shank. He loved it. Nice portion size for the price. The meat was succulent and falling off the bone.
We eat here often and will continue to do so. -
Review from Brian H.
Updated - 12/24/2011
Yup......Gyros still awesome. French fries(regular) - amazing.
BTW, they use the real gyro meat, not the premade strips like Pita Jungle passes off.
Their pitas are amazing, but I still think the gyro at the Park Mall(of all places) are the best.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/8/2010
I had a craving for a gyro and just happened to be driving by. I hadn't eaten there in a while, but… Read more »
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Review from Marina M.
12/1/2011 2 Check-ins Here
This is not a sit-down diner. You walk up to a counter, place an order, and wait in a table for your food to arrive. Don't let this casual set-up fool you; the food here is great.
The boyfriend is a huge fan of the lamb shank. At thirteen dollars, it is such a good deal. Large portion size and delicately seasoned so the meat itself stands out. A meal so great, it almost feels out of place in the casual environment of Fronimos. The rice pilaf that accompanies it is amazing, too. It is lemony and light, a super zesty side dish to offset the heaviness of the meat. It almost steals the show of this dish and is pretty addicting. This was also the side dish of my moussaka order and, not wanting to eat everything on my plate, I decided to forgo eating moussaka so I could eat more of the pilaf. It's that good. However, one cannot ignore the Fronimo's moussaka. It is very decadent, with layers of potato, beef, and lots of cream but at the same time not too heavy. I'd be scared to know the calorie count on it though.
I've also had the gyros here. Great, but the pita bread tends to be too cold and almost rubbery. it is definitely not the best but good nonetheless.
I really like this place and I think I like it more than Athens. Gasp! -
Review from Emily G.
Tucson, AZ
2/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
Consistently good greek food.
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Review from A K.
Tucson, AZ
2/6/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Here is what I love; Avgolemono soup, little Greek salad, and fries. The fries here are deep golden, and always HOT HOT HOT! The salad is crisp, with real Kalamata olives (watch for pits!), salty feta cheese, a little cucumber and tomato. Finally, my favorite soup-orzo pasta, chicken broth, and a pucker factor from the lemons. For $9.00, I'm a very happy girl.
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Review from Marla R.
Tucson, AZ
2/1/2012
I am glad to see that there are so many 4 star reviews, as I was surpised at how disappointing my dinner was earlier this week.
The good news is that the 2 women working there were very friendly and didn't mind that we lingered after dinner. And the fries (regular) are very good basic fries. The pita bread that our meats came on was also fresh and warm.
Now the less than good news - my gyro meat was so dry I could hardly eat it. It was cut into big slabs rather than thin slices, so maybe that was part of why it was so hard to get down. Perhaps this is the correct way to serve it, but that is not what I usually encounter.
My friend ordered the schwarma plate, and it came with 1 measly stick of overcooked, but well seasoned pork. She had to fight to get the pieces of meat off of the stick, and once she did, they just were not appealing. When you go to Opa for the chicken schwarma plate, you get a whole heap of chicken, and it's juicy and tender.
I hope this was just an off night for Fronimo's. -
Review from Stephanie H.
Tucson, AZ
1/25/2012
I keep trying to like this place but the food, while not bad, is just bland.
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Review from Mary Ann S.
Tucson, AZ
9/9/2011
Pita Bread... Yummmm
Serving Size... Awesome!!
Location/Service... Get it, Fronimo's!
My friends and I decided that we were hungry for some Greek food, and when we are hungry, we mean it. Fronimo's happened to be the closest Greek restaurant according to our Navigation search on our phones, so once we figured out how to get to the restaurant (this can be a little tricky) we were on our way to see what this Tucson establishment was all about.
The best way to describe this place is a hidden gem. The restaurant interior was inviting and the staff were all very friendly while they waited for us to order. I love when I find local restaurants that are family owned-- and I was surprised to find out that this place has been around for 17 years!! The service was exactly how service should be- checking up on the tables often, offering drink refills even though the fountain was available in the dining room, and clearing our plates when we were finished even though you typically just clear them when you are done.
The food! Ooooh the pita bread! After chatting with the restaurant owners a bit, I found out that they make their food fresh- and you can definitely taste this in the pitas. Crispy edges, soft center... ok now I'm drooling. The Greek fries were definitely a great buy as well! French fries, drizzled with olive oil and feta cheese- um, yum! I got their chicken shish kabob sandwich with a side of rice pilaf-- for what I paid for, I couldn't believe how big the serving sizes were! I couldn't even finish the rice, even though I so badly wanted to.
This is a great place to get some yummy Greek food quickly. I will definitely be back here in the future! -
Review from Andy R.
Tucson, AZ
6/29/2011
Turn at Walgreen's! There, I just took away the only drawback.
This place is exactly what I want in a restaurant. Perfect value. It's not full service so that removes a lot of opportunity for bad service.
If you're looking for the absolute best Greek food in town, this place might not be it, but it would be close. Again, it's about value for money. It's better than the price as far as I'm concerned.
I haven't had every single thing on the menu, but I've had most of it. The highlights for me are:
Greek Salad
Gyros
Spanakopita
Souvlaki
Pita
Hummus
Moussaka
The rice and fries you get on the side with some meals are really great too.
I'm not a huge fan of the Tabbouleh, but I realize this is a style thing. I've had better, but maybe this is really how it's supposed to be. I'm from here, how can I know? -
Review from Julia C.
8/16/2011
Not my favorite place for Greek, but it's alright.
POSITIVES:
+ Greek Fries. French fries drizzled with a little bit of olive oil, pepper, salt, and feta cheese. I just love fries!
+ Grilled hot pita bread with meal
+ Good price, huge servings
+ Ample seating.
+ Ample parking
NEGATIVES:
- I ordered a Falafel, I didn't like it but I have to say that I normally don't eat Falafels. -
Review from Elaine S.
Tucson, AZ
2/6/2011
So, this was definitely a nice little find, and although the food wasn't very impressive, I'd still go back if I were really craving for some Greek and didn't want to travel very far.
The dining area of Fronimo's was very welcoming: brightly lit with tables spaced out accordingly, nice artwork and festive Greek music. The best part was that there were customers there, seemingly enjoying themselves. That's a good thing. A great place to take kids. We were quickly greeted and told how to order. You're supposed to order at the counter, and they'll bring you your food. So, it's pretty much a self-serve place because you get your own drinks, condiments, napkins, etc. It would be completely up to you if you wanted to tip.
I ordered the moussaka (beef, eggplant, and potato casserole), and my boyfriend ordered a gyro combo plate with a chicken souvlaki (kabob). My moussaka was mediocre. The first half of it was good, and then it was as though my taste buds became bored of it. The rice pilaf that was served was not particularly interesting either. As for my boyfriend's gyro, it did not have any fresh greens in it; it only had two slices of tomato and some tzatziki. His chicken souvlaki was plainly seasoned, and it was basically a strip of chicken breast grilled on a stick. It was, however, very tender. His fries were also very good, nice and hot when they were served.
Cute place, mediocre food, but definitely worth a try. Next time I go, I'll order something else on their menu. -
Review from Kaia C.
Tucson, AZ
8/11/2011
Fronimo's is delicious! The prices are decent (especially the gyro sandwhich) and the order at the counter method leaves room for little complications with servers. Well-maintained venue with a very cozy feel. If you're looking for cheap and delicious, here it is.
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Review from Raquelin E.
Tucson, AZ
2/9/2011
Really people? Look, I'm not that demanding, but this place was so slightly below average and ho hum I don't understand why people say it's so good.
On my hunt for the best onion rings in town, we came here to give it a shot. Family got one gyro, one falafel, one order onion rings.......
gyro was so blah boring just barely there average. Falafel was overcooked and tasted like fried rubber. Pita bread was barely hot and somewhat stiff. Onion rings BLECH! Unlike othe reviewers here, the breading on the rings was so thick and hard it tasted like unleavened bread.
Service indifferent.
No, I will not return.
By the way, so far, best onion rings?....found at UMC hospital cafeteria. go figure. -
Review from Christopher B.
Yuma, AZ
Let me preface this review by saying that I've lived in Greece. I know what a Greek Gyro looks like, tastes like, and feels like.
That said, Gyros at Fronimo's are a decent Americanized version. The meat wasn't carved. Since it has some patties, it was more like a hamburger in a pita. The Tzatziki was a bit runny, but fair. I also ordered a spanakopita, which tasted like it was fairly fresh. However, it lacked feta and was not in the traditional pastry (hand-held) form.
All in all, I went a bit out of my way while in Tucson to go to Fronimo's, but am not sure I'd go out of my way for it again. The decor and friendliness were great, and the server understood my order in Greek. However, the quality of the food was okay, and the prices were a bit high (for the cost of what is being served). -
Review from Ava M.
Charleston, SC
11/28/2011
Gyros plate was delicious! The pita was perfect, the meat was not greasy and the tsatsiki sauce was great. The fries were perfectly cooked, possibly the best you'll find.
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Review from Ingrid T.
10/28/2010
I would like to say I'm a little bit of a Greek food snob...actually I'll just say it---I am a snob. My Pastichio is fabulous...seriously I day dream about how good it is and how I could serve it in a restaurant...I have never had any pastichio as good as mine.
Fronimo's is pretty darn close it is delicious and so close to mine that I couldn't get enough of it---imagine a white sauce style of lasagna with ground meat that is seasoned with aromatic spices---it is seriously divine.
I went to Fronimo's for lunch to meet with a group on Tuesday and it was great! I had the Greek Salad and the Pastichio and I am looking forward to trying more---I'm almost scared to try anything else because I really did enjoy the dish.
Other than that the decor was meh...but for lunch this is definitely a nice treat. -
Review from mark h.
Knoxville, TN
6/25/2011 5 photos
Super fast service, tricky to find, great Greek salad, solid gyro.
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Review from Dawne R.
Santa Teresa, NM
7/25/2011
Everything is great, every time we're here. Best fries and onion rings in Tucson, too. Husband loves the patty melt!
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Review from Ammon L.
Austin, TX
7/27/2010
Very clean and attractive interior. The background music made my toddler dance all through lunch. The staff was courteous and helpful.
The location is good but parking was a bit confusing. The Guilin lot doesn't connect to the lot out back behind Fronimo's.
The gyro was pretty good but spectacularly messy, better than plenty I've had but not the best. The rice was acceptable, the fries were excellent. The salad was a salad - My wife's had one olive, I don't think mine had any.
My pork souvlaki was overdone and a bit overseasoned.
I will be back, but am looking for more consistent options. -
Review from Jim W.
3/29/2010
Fronimo's is sort of a Greek version of Chipotle. You order at the counter, take a seat at a table and wait for someone to bring out your food.
I had a gyro with a small Greek salad on the side. The gyro was average. Better than something you would get from fast food or a mall food court counter but not on a par with a number of other Greek restaurants I have tried. The salad was good but very heavy with dressing. Plenty of feta cheese, only one kalamata olive :-(.
The baklava was average as well. Soggy, no crispy phyllo...
I would choose Fronimo's over fast food or local chain restaurants. -
Review from Brooke R.
Bay Area, CA
5/8/2009
The best "Greek Cafe" in the area (compared to places like Ali Baba, Fat Greek, Jim's). The food here is outstanding. The meats are tender, not dry, the sauces are flavorful and the menu is plentiful.
They offer nontraditional items, such as hamburgers and onion rings, but their main focus is on Greek food. My favorite item here is the chicken gyro. I try to avoid pig and cow whenever possible so seeing chicken offered on what usually is a beef dish prompted me to try it. Every chicken gyro that I have had before has been dry. This is not the case here. The tzatziki sauce is a little on the runny side but tastes just right.
For drinks they offer Italian sodas at $2.25 each, and these can have cream added to them for that extra sweet taste. They also have standard soda, Greek beer, and specialty coffees.
The layout is typical in Tucson, order and pay at the register and your food is brought to the table. The decor does not promote savoring of your food. There are numerous ceiling fans which create shadows and a feeling of being rushed. Fronimo's sits on the edge of Speedway and the wall facing the busy street is a giant tinted window. You can see an up close view of cars speeding past as you eat your meal. -
Review from Dora M.
Tucson, AZ
3/28/2011
The staff is very friendly and the food comes out pretty fast. Im a fan of the greek salad with grilled chicken! I also love their lemon-rice soup! The baklava is a little expensive but i must say it is delicious! I wish they served wine or something other than soda. Over all a good experience!
Comment from Tracy and George F. of Fronimo's Greek Cafe 3/28/2011
We do have several great Greek wines and beers, along with… More » -
Review from Jennifer E.
Tucson, AZ
7/13/2009 1 Check-in Here
Fronimo's is good. I had the greek salad with chicken soulvaki and it was really good. The dressing was tangy, the feta cheese delicious, I will get this again.
My bff had the chicken gyro and onion rings. Both were tasty. Next time I am going to remember to add a side of tzatziki because it is really good.
I was impressed with the menu because there are more than 2 or 3 things I want to try!
Oh and the pita bread was delish! -
Review from Nicholas H.
Hollywood, CA
5/19/2009
I totally agree with the other reviews here that Fronimo's is probably your best bet when it comes to Greek food in Tucson. Unless you only get that blue-and-white craving annually (and can wait for the fabulous cuisine of the Greek Festival), come to this midtown joint for great food and friendly service.
I'm a huge fan of the gyro (what Greek aficionado isn't!) and Fronimo's doesn't disappoint. Lamb is tender and well spiced, the pita bread (which comes from a local bakery, they don't bake it themselves) is fab and the tziki sauce is spot on. The only improvement I would make is lamb of a higher quality, but at this price in this market, it's not too shabby.
The spanikopita (my personal favorite) is great, the feta cheese is always fresh and the filo dough is perfectly crispy, however I would personally prefer them to drain the spinach a bit more. It tastes too spinach-y, if that makes sense? Greek festival definitely pwns (read: is better than) Fronimo's spanikopita, but by no means is it a bad spinach pie. The baklava is also very good, though I would personally like to see less cinnamon (an American addition).
The building itself is located in a nondescript stripmall on the south side of Speedway Blvd, it's easy to miss if you're not looking for it. Inside, tasteful decor and comfy booths adorn the space, with a large enclosed meeting area if you'd like to host a business luncheon or something. Another plus, the cooks (whenever I've gone in) are always Greek!Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Anne J.
4/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Entrance at the back; order and sit, but it's quick. Warmly decorated, very clean setting. I had the Greek salad with a chicken souvlaki. The thick oregano made the chicken fantastic, and the greens were fresh and GREEN (not iceberg!) The oil and vinegar dressing was not overdone until I got to the bottom of the very generous small salad. Good solid stuff - I'll be back.
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Review from Jerry J.
San Francisco, CA
11/14/2008 1 photo
This is probably one of the best Greek restaurants in Arizona and by far the best in Tucson. They also have a very good selection of traditional American diner staples; made from scratch and very well prepared.
The traditional Greek dishes (gyros, spinach pie, kabobs, lemon chicken) are all worth trying. This isn't Dio Deka or Kokkari, or Greek Isles; in Arizona you have to expand your menu a bit in order to survive. The owner is incredibly nice, and his waitstaff are very friendly.
A great local business. A+++ -
Review from Jaime F.
Washington, DC
6/30/2010
It was ok, but nothing special. Had a gyro special...the gyro was good, but not great. I couldn't wrap the meat with the pita, which was not good. I got the rice and fried as sides. The rice was not very good...the fries were really good. Spent 9 dollars with tax.
The place is nicely and simply decorated and service was good. It wasn't bad, but not sure if I would go again. -
Review from Jill S.
Chandler, AZ
7/13/2009
I have been going here with my family for over ten years and have never once been disappointed by a single menu item. These guys just recently moved a few doors down from where they used to be and the new location is great. The decor is much more than you'd expect from a self-proclaimed fast food restaurant--pretty murals, a trellis with fake vines, and a small room for private parties.
I order the same thing nearly every time I go: chicken gyro with a Greek salad and then my family shares both an order of fries and an order of onion rings because they're so incredibly yummy. The food is primarily pretty heavy.... you kind of have to search for something a little lighter on the menu, but they do have items for people who are a little more conscientious than my fried food-eating family. You can also substitute a salad or Greek rice for fries on any of the meals without charge.
This last time I stopped in for an afternoon snack with my mother. We've been in often enough that a few of the employees know us (one of the main managers died a few years back and we've really missed him), but the girl behind the counter this time was new. She held up 100% to our high expectations, going out of her way to pull out a fresh piece of Kataifi because we'd never tried it before. It ended up being delicious, and she checked in on us twice--pretty impressive, for "fast food."
We also shared a plate of hummus with an extra pita and an order of fries. We both went in hungry when we went in, but by the time we were done we could barely climb out of the booth to leave!
One of the things I like best about Fronimo's is that they have a special water filter, which is great for water snobs like me... even the charcoal-filtered stuff you find in most soda machines tastes funky to me.
I would recommend this place highly to just about anyone. They're kid-friendly, student-friendly, and simply could not get better (unless they moved up here to Phoenix!). -
Review from Jordan P.
San Francisco, CA
3/28/2011
This place is fantastic! For a little more than $20, you can get enough food to keep you full for days. The appetizer sampler is pretty great, though the hummus needs a little more flavor. The Greek fries are a happy upgrade. The staff is super friendly, too, which is always a bonus. Happy eating. The only downfall of this place is the fact they use styrofoam plates.
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Review from Katherine O.
Tucson, AZ
8/19/2011
It's more of a casual greek place, but the food is top notch. Family owned and operated, the staff are all very friendly and helpful every time I go. their fry sauce is like heaven. My all time favorite place to go for greek!
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Review from Stephen G.
Tucson, AZ
10/30/2010
The best Greek food you'll find in Tucson at a fair price.
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Review from Destroyer Z.
Tucson, AZ
6/2/2007
Yum! Fast food that's not fast food. You order at a counter and your food is brought on trays, but that's where the fast food aspect stops. The service is always friendly and fast.
They have your typical Greek fare- gyros, souvlaki, spanakopita, and more. If you order just a gyro, or souvaki it comes with fries on the side. I recommend the platters that come with a salad, otherwise this isn't very healthy fare. -
Review from surranna v.
Brighton, MI
8/13/2009
As I was looking over the reviews for this place I was wondering if I was in the same place. Don't get me wrong it wasn't bad but the gyro wasn't even from a loaf, it was premade pieces. The Greek salad was good but I must say the dressing was very acidic and tart, too much vinegar. The rice was the best thing about this place, delicious. I have had better Greek in Tucson like Athens so I won't be back. The number one turn off for me was the super cheesy decor. I felt like I was in a village inn or coco's not to mention the entrance to this place is behind a walgreen's just weird.
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Review from Josh F.
Pacific Palisades, CA
8/2/2009
After spending 2 weeks in Greece, I came back to Tucson with a hankering for some Greek food. Thinking that there is no way I would be able to find good Greek to compare, I decided to stop by Fronimo's, a restaurant I would pass every morning for 2 years straight. Greeted immediately by who I am pretty sure is the owner, a nice older Greek woman, she helped me out by offering to try some of their Gyro. Sliced me a piece and I knew right away I would be a frequenter of this place. Just to be sure, I ordered the Greek Combo of Souvlaki and Gyro and a side of Spanakopita, which are these flakey spinach feta pastries. I was happy AND I had enough for lunch the next day.
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Review from Marie S.
Tucson, AZ
10/2/2010
Super clean, friendly, best gyro in town
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Review from Bill M.
Tucson, AZ
9/13/2010
We've been going to Fronimo's for years, even when they were at their old location a few doors down. I always get the gyro plate with Greek salad (dressing on the side otherwise the salad will swim!) and fries. Sometime the avgolimono soup calls my name -- very tasty. The rice with lemon & chicken stock is deelish. I like the gyro meat much more than what is served at Opa! on Campbell. The gyro meat at Opa! is too salty, almost dessicated, where Fronimo's gyro is very tender.
My wife loves their other dishes that involve a bechamel sauce.
Good food and good prices - always a pleasure. -
Review from Leo B.
East Patchogue, NY
1/15/2008
Just good Greek food done quickly and well and for a decent price.
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Review from Laura R.
Tucson, AZ
8/21/2010
First of all, there was a bug in my Greek salad. Little guy, if I hadn't noticed it, I would have eaten it. There was a huge line at the counter, so I didn't tell them about it. It was the small side salad, so it wasn't a total waste of money. My boyfriend got the Athens chicken, it was just okay. Swimming in chicken juices and over-seasoned. Fries were luke-warm. I was turned off that all the food was served with disposable plates/utensils. What a waste of plastic when they could have had real dishes like most other non-fast food places do.
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Review from Alysia W.
11/4/2010
Came here for my first Tucson Greek food experience and was kinda disappointed ]: I don't really expect great food from this city in the middle of the desert so maybe my expectations were too high! The customer service was extremely friendly and they get your food to you quick.. I ordered a regular gyro (beef/lamb with tomato, onion & tzatziki sauce on a pita) with fries, a piece of baklava, and a snapple for $12. The fries came with their "fry sauce" which is just another spin on a thousand island dressing.. If you eat the fry without condiments it's pretty bland and not even salted, but with the sauce it's better.. The tzatziki sauce was runny and I prefer it more thick and yogurty in texture.. The gyro was good but there were no bold flavors present to make the dining experience memorable.. It was just boring! If you're hungry and looking for something to eat then it will suffice but if you're a true foodie on a flavor hunt then I wouldn't bother coming here. The baklava was good but overpriced, a common trend at any Greek restaurant.. I was only able to eat a few bites because it is so overwhelmingly sweet! I used to enjoy this dessert so I'm not sure if it's because I prefer salty foods over sweets now or because they made it extra syrupy/sweet.. For now, I think I will pass on returning to this place.. Maybe Athen's on 4th or Fat Greek will live up to my standards? We'll see.. So far nothing beats the eats from California!
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Review from Claudia Q.
Las Vegas, NV
4/20/2011
Great Food! Great Prices! Family friendly. The moussaka was fantastic! Have a kids menu of non greek food too if you have rugrats who won't enjoy Greek.
