Where Eat Greek gyros in bustling Davis Square in Somerville, where you might think they don’t need another restaurant, but they do.
Why There’s nothing better than a perfectly prepared pita gyro and a real Greek salad (not lettuce!).
The background story Business partners Giannis Letsis and Eva Tsiantikou, both from Greece, also own The Pizza Bar in Tewksbury. Letsis has two gyro shops in Alicante, Spain, on the southeast coast, which he says are just like the new Somerville location. He once owned a coffee bar in Athens, where he’s from. Tsiantikou grew up in Kalambaka, Greece.
What to eat A gyros wrapped in airy pita bread (you can also order it in corn pita bread, which is a bit crispier), stuffed with chips, the garlic-yogurt sauce tzatziki, tomatoes, and onions. Shaped like a cone, it tastes absolutely delicious with pork, chicken, halloumi, and other fillings. Horiatiki, the traditional Greek salad, is a brimming bowl of tomatoes, cucumbers, kalamata olives, red onions, bell peppers, and plenty of capers, garnished with a generous slice of feta, sprinkled with wild oregano. Plates of pork, chicken, or octopus are served with rice or chips and heaps of red onions and sliced tomatoes, plus a choice of sauces. Try the tirokafteri sauce, made with feta and hot peppers, spread on the warm pita bread served with the platter. For dessert, there are loukoumades, little fried balls that are a cross between fried dough and a munchkin, drenched in honey. Yiayia’s loukoumades are generously sprinkled with walnuts. All portions here are large, so remember to split everything between two people.
What to drink The wine list is small, exclusively Greek, and goes well with the food in terms of price and character. Casual wines for a casual restaurant. Someone has come up with something. The beer is also Greek, like Mythos or Fix. Letsis says he plans to mix cocktails in the fall.
The conclusion Occupying the space of the former Out of the Blue restaurant, Eat Greek Gyros offers counter service during the day, friendly table service at night, and seems to do a brisk takeout business. The food is fresh and attractive in a dining room with faux marble-topped tables, a long padded tan banquette, silk flowers, and posters of classical Greek statues. 215 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville, 617-776-5020, www.eatgreekboston.com. Gyros, salads, bowls $14.75-$20.99. Dinners $23.99-$28.99.
Sheryl Julian can be reached at [email protected].
