Dining pick of the week: Great Greek

PICK OF THE WEEK:

GREAT GREEK

1275 W. Warm Springs Road at Julia Street, 547-2377

Greek and other Mediterranean-style restaurants have been opening throughout the valley, and this is a good thing. The Mediterranean diet is not only healthy, it tastes great. Popular sandwiches are Athenian grilled Angus burger with feta, falafel pita, gyro with beef and lamb or chicken, Greek salad wrap (add chicken or tuna) and chicken santorini, where chicken breast is baked with feta, spinach, tomatoes and oregano. Among the traditional plates are grilled garlic shrimp, Mediterranean rice bowl with grilled chicken, pasticcio (ground beef and pasta casserole) and grilled souvlaki, skewers of marinated steak or chicken with rice pilaf and salad. Favorite appetizers are hummus, dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), roasted eggplant, avgolemono soup (chicken, lemon, rice) and spanakopita, spinach and feta in puffy pie dough. The classic Greek salad has romaine hearts, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, Kalamata olives and crumbled feta. Several desserts are Greek-style yogurt with honey and crushed walnuts, shamali (Greek semolina cake with orange zest), rice pudding and baklava. Sandwiches start at $5.95 and plates at $8.50. Great Greek is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. -- Jack Bulavsky