Famous Greek Kitchen

On one of the recent "coldest nights of the year," we risked the ice and ventured out to Greenwich – near Byram- to sample a family-owned Greek restaurant that received raves from a friend. The hostess was happy to grant our request to be seated well away from the door, and we found ourselves in a cozy booth with white leather banquette seats, shielded from any wintery air that could find its way in through the front door.

The restaurant was warm as was our greeting from our waiter who offered us drinks and a nice overview of what should be ordered from the extensive menu. It turns out that Famous Greek Kitchen opened thirty-three years ago as a pizza and souvlaki house. The owner's children have taken the restaurant into new directions. Steve Karipides is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and has expanded the menu way beyond pizza and souvlaki. His sisters Maria and Sophia are also involved and assure diners a good experience.

So what is there to eat? Lots --and many appealing choices from which to choose – both Greek, Italian and continental. The choice of appetizers had quite a few tempters so we went for a bunch of those and shared our main courses. Baked shrimp saganaki with tomato, feta and fresh herbs was irresistible: tangy, hot melted cheese and delectable seafood in a flavorful tomato sauce. On the night we were there they were offering this dish with lobster and scallops – making it even better. Zucchini pancakes with tzatziki was another special appetizer and the pancakes were light and not greasy and came with homemade cucumber and yogurt sauce. We downed that quickly too. Friends loved the Oktapodi, char-grilled octopus drizzled with red win marinade. Other good options are the dips – roasted bean, melitzanosalta (roasted eggplant,) hummus, skordalia (potato, beets and roasted garlic), tyrokafteri (feta and hot peppers) or a sampling of any three for $14.95.

When in Greece ... order the Greek salad – and we did that too. The Horiatiki salad – is a lettuce-less priced at $10.95 with chopped tomatoes, feta, cucumber, onion, olives and peppers tossed in a red wine vinaigrette. Even though we are suffering through the bleakest of winters, these vegetables tasted like they came from sunnier climes.

Though there are many Greek entress on the menu – including souvlaki platters, moussaka, pastitsio, grilled lamb chops and grilled fish, my husband got a whiff of steak from the grill and ordered a rib eye which was enough for three. It was grilled on the outside, juicy on the inside and served with creamy potatoes. Also on the menu were beef and lamb burgers and fresh made pizzas. I wanted to try the lemon-herb organic chicken and the rigatoni with creamy beef and lamb ragu, and a dollop of ricotta – that that will have to be on next visit.

We didn't have trouble getting in on a weeknight and heard weekends are busy but not impossible.

When we finished, I turned to the waiter and asked him why Greek food in the U.S. is better than Greek food in Greece ... and I meant it!

Check out Famous Greek Kitchen and let us know what you think in the comments sections below.

Famous Greek Kitchen
10 North Water Street
Greenwich, CT
203-531-6887
www.famousgreekkitchen.com