You’re going to be mad at me when I say this…but the first time I went to the Greek Deli, I wasn’t a fan. But my office neighbor said that I had to go back and try it again, so I agreed. Their menu can be downloaded here.
- Food: Before I tell you what I ordered, I want to tell you what my office neighbor ordered because it looked SO good (and she said it really was). She ordered the meatballs in this cream-like sauce. The meatballs were the size of baseballs (alright, a little smaller but not much smaller!). I went on the safe side and ordered the chicken gyro. First, the bad. The chicken was dry. But there was enough feta cheese that made it juicy but the cheese was very thick so there was no dripping. There was an abundance of dill and that added a great flavor to the gyro that most Greek places don’t add. This was one of the better chicken gyros I’ve had in DC.
- Service:The line, when you go at 12 noon (or anytime after), is out the door and a quarter of a mile. It’s crazy. But what I love is you can tell they know and remember their regulars. The chef, Kostas Fostieris, is always at the front and is the one who assembles your meals.
- Atmosphere: With Greek food items on either side of the line, the restaurant isn’t very big. You order and pay with the cashier. To try to help speed up the line, once you’ve paid and ordered, move to the left. You can eat outside, but there’s not a lot of tables so most people just grab and go.
- Attire: Casual
- Price: $
- Overall: I’ll definitely go back and branch out to other items. But seriously, I’ll only go before 12 noon so I miss the line.
Details:
- Hours: Monday through Friday, 7am-4pm; Closed on Saturday and Sunday
- Address: 1120 19th Street NW; Washington, DC 20036
- Ph: (202) 296-2111
August 25, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Your office neighbor made a good choice – those meatballs are seriously amazing…and they give you enough food in the platter to last 2 meals.
You should definitely go back and try other items. While their gyros are easily the best in the city, the daily specials are what really shine. I’m also a big fan of the spanakopita and their moussaka.
Can you tell I love this place?? I actually have to limit myself to one visit a week so I don’t get fat, haha.
I enjoy your blog – it has helped me find so many good lunch places in the Golden Triangle area!
August 28, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Ha ha, I’m going to have to go back and get those meatballs! Thanks Tracy for your feedback and kind words!
April 5, 2009 at 6:49 am
I was surprised to see your posting. I thought everyone on the east coast knew about Atilla’s in Virginia, the best gyros and creamy pudding on the planet. You are missing out if you haven’t been there. It’s in Arlington, just across the river!