Simply Greek
Category: Greek and Mediterranean [Edit]
Neighborhoods: North Oakland, Piedmont Ave4060 Piedmont Ave
(between 41st St & Glen Ave)
Oakland, CA 94611 (510) 428-0588
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat 11:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. - Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: No
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: No
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Lunch
- Alcohol: None
44 reviews
Neighborhood: UC Campus Area
"Everytime I have one of their Special Plates, from the first bite it's just mouth-water delicious. From my experience, it's difficult to…" read more »
50 Reviews for Simply Greek
5 stars for flavor! Minus one star because the way you guys wrap your gyros make them impossible to eat without WEARING them. Seriously, can't you just shell out for some better paper, or (god forbid) tinfoil so that I don't have to worry about every mouthful being 25% paper? That stuff is hard to tear, man, and then when it does, it sends hot gyro juice EVERYWHERE! And nobody likes to wear hot gyro juice, I tell you what.
Yep yep and yep. I love this place, I can walk there for dinner from work. I don't dabble in lamb so I can't speak to that, however a staple when I order is the chicken souvlaki in a pita, served over their lemon rice, add a side of the yogurt sauce as dressing for the rice and you're in business for a cool $11.
The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is b/c it's miserable to eat in the restaurant and you have to walk through the galley of the kitchen to get to the bathroom.
basically, it's OK.
i've had the lamb gyro and the beef gyro. they were both OK.
both times though the meat juice was dripping from the bottom onto my clothes and i didn't notice.
it's really sloppy and the quality of the meat wasn't great.
although it did finally satisfy that gyro craving i had.
I confess to being a gyros junkie. There's just something special about all that succulent gyros meat and warm pita bread topped with some perfectly blended tzatziki sauce. Thankfully, Simply Greek gets it right on most counts. The gyros are taken directly off the skewer, as opposed to some less than savory establishments that fry or even microwave their gyro meat! The tzatziki is pretty good, too, though they tend to smother your sandwich with it. Sadly, the meat itself is some sort of beef/ lamb hybrid, instead of pure lamb meat which is what gyros should be. Still the best gyro you'll find in the East Bay though.
Service is nothing special, and the restaurant itself is tiny and cramped. Get your gyros to go and you'll be stylin'.
I love this tiny place! Its chicken souvlaki platter, complete with the lemon rice and lots of tzatziki sauce, make it a regular stop for me. Plus, the folks working there are always helpful and attitude-free. And, I like a place where I can see all the way back to the kitchen...that's a sign of faith in your product!
I can't believe it's taken me this long to write a review for this place. Maybe because I don't want anyone to know about it. I happened upon this joint when I took my friend to Kaiser one day around lunch. I work down by Jack London, so it's a bit of a drive, but it's worth it. Definitely the best Gyro I've found since living in the Bay Area.
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Ok, look. Lukes in San Leandro is only authentic Greek place I found and it's more of a sit down place - but the folks who own and run it are really Greek too. The avolemonolo soup is to die for. Just like mama's from Chicago.
That said, when I dont' want to trek down there and just want gyro that doesn't taste like its been dead for 4 years this place is great for that. everything was ok - enough that I think I will visit againto try other items on the menu.
Look, are there any actual Greeks behind that counter? I'm all for equal opportunity employers, but you know how you should never frequent a taqueria with a skinny white chick in the kitchen? The same should go for Greek food. I mean, fine, anyone can cook Greek food. But would it be authentic? Judging from the Help Wanted sign, I think they're taking anyone.
I hate the falafel. It consists of little burnt bricks that look like what McDonald's will serve once the "directors of culinary development" come up with the McFalafel sandwich. Yes, that bad.
Good pita. Dips nicely into decent hummus. The dolmas are quite tasty too, but sloppily made, probably because they're made by minimum-wage earning students. They are not the cute little leaf-poops that you normally associate with the word "dolma."
The prices are fair too, so it's a good joint to grab lunch and not spend over $10. There are a lot of combo plates that are about $8.25...if you're into spending that much for burnt bricks and sloppy leaf-wrapped turds.
Is there something wrong with me? Everyone likes this place, but here I am, giving it three stars.
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Simply Mediocre. I am used to Greek restaurants in NYC and Baltimore's Greektown, so perhaps my expectations were a bit high. But the gyro meat was so dry and bland. I was hard pressed to taste any lamb at all, and find it odd that they mix in beef. Jack-in-the-Box could probably make a better gyro is they put their minds to it. OK, perhaps that's overdoing it.
The tsatziki was nice and garlicky, but lacked nuance. The lemon rice, though simple, was surprisingly good.
Finally, I ordered the "Gyro Plate" expecting a platter of meat, pita, and condiments that one assembles oneself, but instead was amused to find that it is simply a wrapped gyro on a plate, with choice of rice or fries and a salad. Again, perhaps this is my East Coast bias, but that doesn't seem very traditional.
I try to eat here at least once a week. I love their spanikopita and believe their tzatziki to be the best in the area. Their dolmathes are also terrific! I took off one star because about every third time I order, they do not have spanikopita--like last night--I called at 5:30pm and they wouldn't have it for the rest of the night. Not right. But...for dinner under $10, it's a steal!
This place is actually better than I thought. I had the gyro plate that came with salad ( a nice size portion) and fries. The sauce that it came with was really good, a lot of garlic. The plate was only $8.95. After eating all that food, I was soooooo full that I was falling asleep at work. My co-worker got the flank steak gyro plate, I tried it, and it was good too. This was on a Friday and all weekend, I've been wanting another gyro from this place. The next time I go, I'm getting both gyros.
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Simply Greek is probably my favorite place to get take out on Piedmont Ave. (other than Lococo's). Eating in Simply Greek is kind of claustrophobic because it is so skinny and sound echoes oddly off the walls and hard floor. But the food is great, so I love to get food to go from here. Great flat bread, killer gyros and grilled chicken, really tasty fries, and their Greek-style rice is completely amazing. I wish I knew how to make rice that good. The salads are nothing to write home about, and the lettuce could be better, but they are adequate for a side of green stuff. The portions here are ample, the staff is pleasant. The rave review from members of Green Day on the wall also adds an interesting touch.
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3.5 stars... went there last night for about the 10th time, but the first in a long time. They still have the best gyros around that I know about, and the one I got lost night was bad, it was just dry. A previous review mentioned that they put too much tzatziki on their gyros, but the one I got with lamb and beef had barely any. I also got one with slouvaki chicken which had more on it, and was pretty good.
As for the discussion of "real Greeks" working there, I can say that when this place first opened about 5 years ago, and a few times I've gone there since then, the owners, who are 100% Greek, were working there.
So far it's the best Greek food place I've liked in Oakland. I need someone to refer me to another one cause it's good, but not great. It definitely satisfies the craving for a gyro though. The meat seems to be a little dry than I like, but the flavor is still good. The guys behind the counter have always been very friendly and quick to prep the food. Seating is very limited though (10 tables maybe), and it is a fast food type of atmosphere, so usually I just take it and go.
Worst falafel pita I ever had. The pita was good, but the rest was bad. Where were the cucumbers? The falafel were hard as rocks! The tzatziki sauce tasted like ranch!
This place is hella good! their feisty feta is soo good.. quick and cheap.. and tasty...
Good thing I don't live in this neighborhood, otherwise I'd be eating at Simply Greek everyday. The gyro plate was delicious - the meat was very flavorful and much leaner than other places I've tried. We also had the chicken souvlaki which was also delicious. Hands down, one of the most affordable and best restaurants along Piedmont Ave.
Although this place is hardly open, it's muthafuckin bomb. I love the gyro plates and the fact that I can onion rings with my yogurt infused meat is fantastic. They are super fast and nice as well. Not a lot of seating though, it's more of a to go place unless you want the creepy dude in the glasses with the personals section bumping your chair every thirty seconds.
Simply Greek is one of those Piedmont Ave. spots that I'd been meaning to try out for some time, and when I finally did, I kicked myself for not doing it sooner.
A small, hole-in-the-wall of a place, they have counter service and self-serve soda, and seating, though bountiful for the space, is still limited.
Don't let the small size and snazzed-up cafeteria decor fool you. The food is delicious. I had the gyro, with lamb and beef, onions, and tzatziki on pita; my girlfriend had the chicken slouvaki, a skewer with peppers and onions that came with french fries. We split the humus and pita appetizer.
Everything was delicious -- not too heavy, properly seasoned, generously portioned without being excessive. The pita and humus was especially good; the bread was soft and warm, and the humus tasted fresh, had a nice consistency and an amazing flavor.
I'll definitely be going back.
From Truly Med. in the city to this place is a jump. I like to look on the bright side though. I'll say that eating pita bread instead of the traditional "sandwich" bread is a change but still pleasant. I like the tightly wrapped packages of falafal sandwiches and chicken swharma's though. I need to try a few more dishes but so far so good. The falafal balls are "petite" and not greasy and the white sauce on the pita bread is light.
Simply Delish is more like it!
Perfect for a yummy snack. I ove their gyro and the atmosphear is nice too! It would be a whole lot better if it had a larger menu.
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i ordered the gyro a la carte and it was excellent, from the soft and fluffy pita to the flavorful gyro meat to the delicious garlicky tzatkizi sauce. i would definitely go back to try their other menu offerings, although i didn't see falafel on the menu (but it seems like other people were able to order it so maybe i just missed it?). it's a really casual, small place where you order at the counter so don't expect anything too fancy. i'll have to try the gyro at the pleasanton location too, just to compare. :D
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***Update 10/8/07*****
I'm not changing my rating-- yet. But I've had two recent experiences at SG that have been sub par, and I really hope this doesn't turn in to a trend:
1. The other day we got to SG at 7:42. As noted at the bottom of my review, they close at 8. Which is, we might note, a good 18 minutes after we got there. Nonetheless the girl at the counter told us we could only order take-out, which was totally not an option as our food would have been cold, soggy and gross by the time we got it home.
I don't mind places that only let you get take out right before closing, as long as that policy is clearly posted, which it is not at SG. I also think almost 20 minutes before closing time is a little early to be turning away customers, which is exactly what ended up happening.
2. Today SG served me one of the worst spanikopitas I've ever had in my life. I don't know if they microwaved it or if it had just been sitting under a heatlamp, but either way it was not at all flaky or crisp but was instead chewy, oily and highly unappealing. The spinach and cheese was also a mash of overcooked, under seasoned goop. All in all, it was NOT good.
So, there you have it. As I said, I really hope these two experiences have been exceptions and not a downwards trend.
And now, on to your regularly scheduled review....
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There's a singular lack of Greek places in the Bay Area, which sucks. Chris' joint is one small step to righting that huge wrong.
Gyros are good-- whoever on here said they were the strips from TJ's apparently hasn't seen the huge spiral of meat they're taken off of. At times they can be overdone, which might have been that person's problem. The one time that happened to me I asked them to fix it and they did. Some people like them cooked hard and crusty, so I'm not sure that's a real complaint, just a preference. Anyhow, regardless they were more than willing to make it the way I wanted it.
Their dolmas (or dolmathes, depending on where you're from) are served hot, which I find weird. That being said they're tasty and come with tzatziki. The tzatziki is traditional greek style and is very yummy.
The chicken soulvlaki is good, but can be dry at times. My boyfriend just had the beefteki and really enjoyed it. He's also raved about their chops.
I'm not a huge fan of their moussaka-- they don't use tomatoes, and I like it with tomatoes-- but it is well put together. See if you can get some out of a fresh pan, and don't bother ordering it if you're expecting something red underneath the crust.
If you're hungry, getting a plate (instead of sammie) is worthwhile. The lemon rice served with plates is addictive (much preferable to the fries, which are fine but in the end are just fries).
Spend the extra and get the Horiatiki Salad instead of the regular-- especially in the summer when tomatoes are in season. They aren't shy about giving you feta, which is awesome.
Whatever you do DO NOT skip the Yiaourti Me Meli for dessert. Excellent greek-style thick yogurt covered in honey and walnuts. Delightful!
The menu changes from time to time-- a bummer when they take off the totally cheap calamari appetizer. Here's hoping one day they add Avgolemono soup.
The space is really small and can get crowded, but the tables turn over at a good rate and there's generally a good vibe. The staff, from Chris, the owner, on down are friendly, nice and interested in making sure you have a good meal. They're also fun to talk to.
My only real complaint is they're only open until 8 on weeknights, so if you're a late eater keep it in mind.
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Simply Greek = Simply F**king Awesome
Great gyros and souvlaki, and the lemon rice that you get with the plates is very tasty. It's a teeny tiny place, but when it comes to greek food it is a really good deal. The salad that you get with the plate is basically just iceberg lettuce with dressing (classic!), but since most plates are under $10 it's just an added bonus. I had the beefteki, which was a LOT of meat for one sandwich, but the gyros sandwich is much more flavorful.
Nice touch: they grill the flatbread so that it is soft on the inside and toasty on the outside.
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First off my 3 stars is given because of the size if this place. Its super small and gets super crowded during lunch time. I like this place, its not the best that I've had but it is good. I like to come here every now and then for lunch. I love the falafel plate. Its my favorite..and I don't feel guilty eating it.
I'd give 4 stars but the restaurant is small and cramped.
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Best gyros outside of Greece!!
Highly recommended.
Small, but great ambience. It actually feels like you're in Greece. The Mexican staff is very pleasant and keep with the theme.
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Thanks Yelp people, I picked up tonight and it was great. It's basically healthy and a nice change of pace--can't say it's the best Greek ever but it's pretty great summer take-out.
Do wish they stayed open 1/2 hour later though.
*burp*
I just got done eating the best gyro of my life. It came from Simply Greek. I am lucky enough to live less than a block from this place, and yet despite several of my friends saying it's the BEST EVER and I SIMPLY MUST GO IMMEDIATELY, it's taken me 6 months to get there. I guess it's because I work in a different part of town and gyros are such a lunch thing.
I actually had been there once before about a year and a half ago, but I got the falafel plate that time. I can't say much about specifics but I do remember it being very tasty--though not sublime like I was expecting. Now I know I just ordered the wrong thing. Get the gyro, all the way. It was perfect and succulent. I don't know how they make that seasoned lamb/beef combo meat, but damn is it ever good. The tzaziki was cool and creamy and tangy and AMAZING. It definitely made the dish--and they were generous with it too! (Though, I could've stood to have more of it leak down into the meat. As it was it was mostly on top, and when I got to the extra meaty part, there wasn't quite enough. But we're splitting hairs at this point.) The bread was fresh and soft and warm. Add tomatoes and cucumbers (I asked them to leave the onions off) and you've got a wrap made in heaven. They even wrapped it up perfectly tight. It was the first gyro I've ever eaten that didn't fall apart on me and become a huge mess within three bites. YAY!
I had mine to go, but the service was awesome nonetheless. I was there at a particularly slow time and the cashier, who was also one of the cooks, was extremely friendly, fast, and didn't rush me when I was trying to decide what to get. He even brought my food around the corner to me rather than making me reach over the counter!
I was going to give Simply Greek four stars only because it's not exactly high-class fine dining, but fuck it, who says a meal has to cost a day's paycheck and be made of exotic ingredients in order to get recognition? I say we overthrow the pretentious food reviewing hegemon and give props to the cheap, delicious, fast, and filling food establishments. They deserve it!
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We go here for takeout a couple time a month, and the gyros are amazing, the tzatziki and pita and the salads and the hummus are good as well.
I decided to mix it up a bit as of late and was very disappointed in the pork souvlaki (way overcooked), beefteki (boring) and Greek burger (I don't know how they beef and onions and blue cheese could taste so bad!)
Stick to the AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS gyros and you'll be a happy camper. They're also really nice and that's got to count for something.
Best damn Gyros.
HELL YESS
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Olympiacos or Panathinaikos?? Either way, I love this place. They have the best-est, flavorful-est gyros. They're simple but always meaty and so damn good. It's like a big ass Greek taco but with a toasty pita bread instead. Being the slob that I is, I get my tadziki sauce on the side, so it doesn't end up all over my face. The greek yogurt with honey and walnuts is awesome. It's as thick as ice cream, so order a small tub. The ordertakers are friendly and courteous despite how busy it can get. My coworkers and I once trekked across three cities just to eat lunch here. They always play cool Greek music. Not sure what the hell they're singing about but it's probably about the Olympics or something. The restaurant is a teeny tiny rectangle with just a few tables. Kinda cramped but who the hell cares when your gyros are the bomb. I'd sit on anyone's lap just to eat here.
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The gyro lunch special is unfuckwithable. A giant gyro (best I've had in the Bay Area), fries and a soda for $6. DUDE.
Fried zucchini sucks ass though.
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Excellent gyros. Good moussaka and hummus. Avoid ordering salads here.
This small (seats for roughly 16) restaurant focuses on serving decent food quickly, but avoid bringing a group. The gyro meat is quite tasty, although some of the other meats suffer from a lack of flavor. Avoid ordering the meals as they feature below-average salad with either poorly done french fries or good rice pilaf. Gyros are generally very light on vegetables; in general, I order gyros with extra tzatziki to offset the large amounts of meat in the pita.
Overall, recommended with serious reservations.
I love this place! As a vegetarian, I can't vouch for the meat items served here, but there Falafel and Veggie Gyros are fabulous. I've also tried their hummus and fried zuchinni... yum. definantly plan on trying more. The quality of the food is always consistent. And the people who work there are super nice. I've even seen them in other parts of the city and they've remembered me and said Hello.
There plates are huge and come with a salad and your choice of rice or fries.
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Since I don't like onions eating Greek food is often hard for me to do, Simply Greek understands this, and does not judge me for it. Instead they manage to figure out a way for me to enjoy those gyro an souvlaki style lamb and chicken pita treats without any of those flavor hogging onions slipping in.
But the real secret here is that as good as the Greek food is - the non-Greek food is better. Simply Greek makes the best burger on Piedmont Ave, (although I haven't been to Dave's yet - which looks like it has the potential to at least match), and when your burger competition includes Barney's and J's Hamburgers & Such, which both boast about their burgers, having the best burger and boasting about Greek food? That's something special. Not only is their burger that good, but they follow it up with nearly perfect fries (and from what I've been told onion rings - although since they feature onions I can't vouch for 'em).
Lastly, nothing at Simply Greek is over eight dollars without morphing into full plate form, which totally fits their hole in the wall theme. Not always the easiest place to eat in, but always a simply great choice.
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love simply greek.
friendly, casual atmosphere.
lengthy menu.
delicious.
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was turned onto this place by my greek "wanna be god" friend. The beef teki is slammin' , their spicy feta spread is screamin', and the Dolmathes are perfect. I've racked some frequent fliyer miles and always get love when I visit. highly recommend it if your lookin' for a kick back spot. headed to Kokkari in the next few weeks..will send a report card
My wife does Greek. She is happy and I'm real happy. She says it was her first time, but I recall trying it a while ago. Maybe we were drunk at the time.
She just loved the hot beefteki with that white yogurty sour cream all over it.
Definitely doing Greek again in Piedmont.
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Only in the BA could you open a restaurant, paint it blue and white and call it a Greek restaurant. Neither the Gyro or the chicken souvlaki is very good. The gyro was made with those frozen strips of meat-like substance hat you find at Trader Joe's. But with the dearth of Greek restaurants in the area, I guess you can't expect too much.
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This place is the shit.
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