It's Greek for Me!
By Amie Lara
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Located just blocks from the UT campus, El Greco has plenty to add to the city’s multicultural dining landscape. Greece-born owner and chef Jake Konstantinidis came to the Austin area from New York, and wants nothing more than to bring the taste of his homeland to Texas. Forget about keeping Austin weird; Jake wants to make sure it’s all Greek to you.
Entering the establishment, I’m drawn to the fabulous photographs on the wall, taken by two of Jake’s friends. The photos — beautiful shots of the Acropolis, the temple, the crystal water — really give one the feel of what Greece would be like to visit.
But the vacation begins right here, with Jake’s eggplant dip ($6.99) as a fabulous starter. Eggplant, spices, walnuts, and feta served with fresh, warm pita slices makes for a very refreshing summer dish that feels right at home in the available outdoor seating area.
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For lunch, I try the Spanakopita, which is a spinach pie ($4.50 for two pieces). This is superb, with feta cheese, sautéed spinach, onion, herbs, and spices baked in a fresh and fabulously crusty fillo pastry that melts in my mouth. Another popular item is the Appetizer Plate ($12.99), which comes with four dolmas (stuffed grape leaves) and one grilled stuffed piquant pepper drizzled with extra virgin olive oil, Greek spices, and balsamic vinegar. There’s also the El Greco Trio ($15.99), which comes with your choice of three dips and a grilled pita. Naturally, the dishes are made fresh daily.
As I’m enjoying my light lunch, my attention is drawn to the music playing. “Greek music is always played,” says UT student and server Rebecca Salas, noting that this adds to the enjoyment of the Greek experience.
As I’m about to order dessert, Jake brings out a surprise for me to try. This includes a serving of Pastitsio ($11.99 for dinner), which is a traditional Greek lasagna, made with tubes of pasta, ground beef, cheese, and spices, topped with béchamel sauce, and accompanied by a house salad. With the daily lunch special, one can get this mouthwatering combination for only $9.99 with a salad and a drink (other lunch specials are as inexpensive as $6.99). The béchamel sauce has a creamy texture and an exquisite flavor.
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Moussaka ($12.99) is an eggplant beef casserole with ground beef and tomato sauce, sliced potato, and the same exquisite béchamel sauce. It employs the special spice blend used in so many of Jake’s traditional family recipes, yet has a flavor all its own. It’s definitely a dish I’ll want to taste again.
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For dessert, I decide to go with a traditional favorite, Baklava ($3.99). This one is a shade away from traditional, though, as this is Jake’s grandmother’s recipe. Topped with a homemade honey syrup, with walnuts and cinnamon, this goes quite well with the café au lait. The pastries are baked daily by Jake’s mother and aunt, who co-own the posh Greek establishment. In addition to a large variety of pastries, El Greco also offers a nice selection of coffees that include Greek coffee in a shot glass, Frappés, Mochas, and Cappuccino.
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Jake makes me promise that on my next visit I’ll try his signature Char Grilled Lamb Chops ($15.99). With a lemon-pepper, olive oil, garlic, and oregano marinade, they sound like a great reason for a second trip.
El Greco has full service catering to the entire Austin area and can have this accomplished with one to two day’s notice. The catering menu is available on the website, but is not limited to those items; Jake and his staff are more than happy to make suggestions for customers. Customer service and fine food seem to be El Greco’s philosophies, and the catering service exemplifies this: Customers have even been able to bring in trays of their own and have Jake prepare certain delicious dishes such as Moussaka, Pastitsio, and Chicken and Orzo. “Customers then take the dishes home and cook them as their own meal for family and friends,” says Jake.
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Happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 2–7 p.m., with bottled beer available for $2.50, and wine by the glass for $5.00. El Greco will open on Sundays for parties of twenty or more people. Reservations are taken for 10+ people during regular business hours as well.
Free parking in the busy campus area is another plus to this fabulous restaurant. If fabulous food, amazing customer service, and convenience are at the top of your list, I highly recommend pledging your Greek loyalties to El Greco!
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