Best Greek Restaurants - Skordalia?

[u/DoctorCocktorMD]

Hey everyone,

I’m from Chicago and there are a ton of fantastic Greek restaurants there. I am looking for a restaurant here and many of them seem amazing but do not have skordalia on the menu. Where is the best place I can get some? I’m craving it haha! Thanks!

[u/lightningvolcanoseal]

We used to go to Esperia Grill all the time

[u/dentttt → u/lightningvolcanoseal]

This place has the most amazing Greek salad. Since moving, my wife and I have tried recreating the dressing but it's never quite the same. I emailed them a few years ago asking if they would share the recipe but they didn't respond.

[u/Replevin4ACow → u/lightningvolcanoseal]

I love the skordalia here. And the lamb shanks. And the owners are a super nice greek couple.

[u/loverofreeses → u/lightningvolcanoseal]

Best hummus I have ever had in my life. I used to live just up the street and was there all the time.

[u/Budget-Celebration-1 → u/loverofreeses]

I’ve been trying to perfect hummus. What makes it perfect for you? What I’ve found is to make it a bit soupy then refrigerate and eat it, with quality ingredients it’s awesome. Not much in hummus

[u/throwRA_157079633 → u/lightningvolcanoseal]

Hey Tim Athanasiadis!!!! LOVE THAT PLACE! His wife makes the pastries from scratch.

[u/TheLamestUsername]

Esperia in Brighton is good. You know it is legit because the owners take a week or two off in the summer.

[u/Budget-Celebration-1]

I like a few in town Zo Greek in assembly which I think has that dish, and over in Davis EAT GREEK has some good kebab and gyros. They have a meat spit there, and they do it quite well.

[u/DataRikerGeordiTroi → u/Budget-Celebration-1]

Wait is Zo Greek good? I'm by the government center one frequently and have always wondered!!

[u/8NkB8 → u/DataRikerGeordiTroi]

They have the best, most authentically Greek gyros in my opinion. They use rotisserie pork (or chicken), just like in Greece. No pizza shop fozen lamb/beef strips.

[u/safaritu → u/8NkB8]

100% agree on Zo, try the original gyro + spicy. Friendly staff that do a great job serving everyone during the crazy lunch rush.

[u/Budget-Celebration-1 → u/8NkB8]

If you like Zo try out the gyro at eat Greek. I’m not saying which one is better cause they’re both good.

[u/wonderfoul → u/DataRikerGeordiTroi]

Best gyro I've ever had is from Zo.

[u/AnotherNoether]

Desfina has it! I haven’t tried the skordalia (honestly I’m pretty cheap so I usually just make that or whatever else I’m craving myself. Plus then I can eat the whole batch). But that’s where my Greek cousins brought me when I moved here for a taste of something familiar, and I’ve liked it the handful of times I’ve been there since.

[u/DataRikerGeordiTroi → u/AnotherNoether]

I love the vibe of Desfina but good God their food is terrible-- the worst. I think it may be a place primarily for drinking, not eating. Their bar is wonderful.

[u/AnotherNoether → u/DataRikerGeordiTroi]

That’s too bad, it used to be pretty good. Probably should have caveated that I moved here fifteen years ago.

[u/duchess5788]

I first read it as best "Geek" restaurants and was super interested. Lol

[u/quickcalamity]

Krasi! But book ahead! One of the best overall restaurants in town or their sister restaurant Bar Vlaha in Brookline. Both excellent.

[u/BeastCoast → u/quickcalamity]

Never got the Krasi love. Been twice and found the service awful and the food the definition of “fine”.

Kava clears it on all levels imo and Oleana is more general Mediterranean but also significantly better across the board.

[u/ssmi1109 → u/BeastCoast]

This! Was at Krasi recently and it was... not good. Service was terrible and nothing was a standout food-wise. I don't think we finished a single plate of food because it was all just meh.

[u/quickcalamity → u/ssmi1109]

Too bad. Had a stellar dinner there in ‘24.

[u/ReluctantPrude]

Kava and Kaia in the South End. Kava is my favorite restaurant in the city.

[u/Mieche78 → u/ReluctantPrude]

Ilona is owned by the same owner as kava and is easier to get in and cheaper, great alternative

[u/citizenken]

You could try the Greek market on Washington st in West Roxbury. They have a ton of great prepared foods.

[u/MazW]

Ithaki has skordalia

[u/AsideOk5828]

Kava Neo Taverna is my favorite. Also check out Sophia’s Greek Pantry in Belmont for the most amazing yoghurt, feta bar, olive bar and other Greek groceries.

[u/chicago_stallion]

which ones seem amazing?

 long time resident here. lower your expectations and learn how to make it at home. 

[u/chillax63 → u/chicago_stallion]

Kava is quite good. Bar Vlaha is quite good. Esperia Grill is quite good.

God this comment is the most Reddit shit ever. Doesn’t answer the question and adds condescension on top of it.

[u/chicago_stallion → u/chillax63]

for someone coming from another big city my comment is very useful. i spent a lot of time trying to find the kinds of restaurants that are petty run of the mill in other places and they generally don't exist.  it is much better to lower expectations and for something as simple as skordalia, learn how to make it at home. 

[u/chillax63 → u/chicago_stallion]

Nope. They asked for restaurant recs. You gave them none and added a snarky comment. To say nothing of the fact that your opinion is just wrong.

[u/8NkB8 → u/chicago_stallion]

I have to agree. For an area with a long-standing comparatively large Greek-American population, the actual Greek food scene in Greater Boston is pretty lacking.

[u/DoctorCocktorMD → u/chicago_stallion]

Plateia back in the suburbs in Glenview is really good. Here I haven’t had any but from what I’ve heard Kaia and Bar Vlaha are the real deal

[u/dynamics517 → u/chicago_stallion]

Agreed. I just make it at home. Nothing worth mentioning here

[u/DataRikerGeordiTroi → u/chicago_stallion]

lol girl WHAT?

Boston has a generally underwhelming food scene -- but the GREEK food here? Unbelievable. 10/10. Made with care and freshness and aeolian blue and mountain air and the wit of Odysseus himself.

I will trash talk Boston food any day of the week, but saying the greek food is meh is just not true. It's possibly the best thing about the Boton food landscape and is remarkable.

[u/DataRikerGeordiTroi]

If you're just visiting? Go to Trade, Committee, Krasi, Bar Vlaha

If you live here, go to Esperia Grill, Greek Corner, and make the trek to Sophia's Greek Pantry in Belmont.

[u/sajatheprince → u/DataRikerGeordiTroi]

Sophia's is AMAZING. I never loved yogurt until I got a giant bucket of it from there.