By Kate Nanavati

Spanakopita. Photo credit: Kate Nanavati.

After a long virtual learning Monday back in November, my mom and I agreed that we were not in the mood to cook dinner. We reviewed a few options of what we could pick up and finally decided to get takeout from Greek Cuisine, on Patterson Avenue in the Tuckahoe Village Shopping Center. 

The restaurant is quaint and understated. The physical restaurant has six tables each, with a maximum of four chairs. Upon entering, you first see a glass case filled with Greek pastries, and right behind is the kitchen, which is open and accessible to observe the food being made. A single table stands with a tip jar and an old cash register that I’m not sure they use anymore. Our food was sitting on the table beside the cash register when I walked in, fifteen minutes after calling. 

When we got home, a delicious smell filled the air. Although our dishes couldn’t be presented too creatively because it was take-out, this did not stop my mouth from watering. Our order consisted of a spanakopita, a Greek salad, a lamb gyro, and moussaka. Everything was delicious.

Greek salad. Photo credit: Kate Nanavati.

Spanakopita served as our appetizer. In its container, the spanakopita was accompanied by a tzatziki-like dipping sauce and assorted vegetables. The phyllo dough was flaky and golden brown; however, it was soft along the bottom. The perfect ratio of the filling made up for this. On the inside, the cooked spinach and feta paired harmoniously together. I could taste both flavors without one overpowering the other. Additionally, when I dipped the square-shaped dish into the sauce, it made it even better. The yogurt-based sauce had hints of garlic and other spices, which gave the spanakopita an even more pronounced flavor.

Next, we tried the salad. It consisted of crisp iceberg lettuce topped with sliced tomatoes, long, thin-sliced green bell peppers, pitted black olives, diced cucumbers, chopped white onion, and crumbled feta. The Greek dressing was separately served in individual containers, and all of the vegetables were fresh. The lettuce had an admirable crunch, and the sizeable amount of feta was heavenly. The dressing is what made the salad stand out. It was mostly made of olive oil, vinegar, and spices, but a hint of sweetness characterized its distinctiveness. The restaurant sells large containers of their homemade dressing, and I will be sure to buy one to bring home the next time I visit.

Lamb Gyro. Photo credit: Kate Nanavati.

We tasted the lamb gyro next. When I opened the container, the seasoned meat was overflowing from the warm pita holding it together. It was difficult to cut and serve because the gyro was packed with filling. On the inside, seasoned lamb, shredded lettuce, tomato, onion, and tzatziki were all wrapped together. Because of the copious amount of lamb, the other ingredients in the pita were difficult to taste. Also when eating the dish, it is almost guaranteed that the majority of it will fall out and land on your plate. Overall, it tasted delightful, but it was not very enjoyable to eat. 

The final dish we ordered was new to me. It is a very traditional Greek dish called moussaka. It resembles lasagne but does not consist of the same ingredients. It is a dish that has layered eggplant, potatoes, and zucchini, topped with tomato meat sauce and bechamel cream, and it is very filling. My favorite part was the sauce on top, which seemed very similar to a bolognese sauce. The zucchini wasn’t for me. It was cut into thick slices, which I did not enjoy. However, when my bites consisted of eggplant and potato, it was delectable. This warm and comforting dish was pretty heavy, so only after a few bites I was full.

Moussaka. Photo credit: Kate Nanavati.

On Yelp, Greek Cuisine has four and a half stars. The majority of the reviews are positive. A review written by Don S. reflects many of the same observations I made during my experience. He wrote, “Although there is limited seating here, there is a reason this is a great TAKEOUT place. The food is super delicious… the best Greek food I’ve eaten in Richmond. If you’ve never eaten here before, don’t order too much the first time. The platters are plentiful! You will not be hungry.” He rated the restaurant five stars.

My mom Julie Nanavati shared that her favorite dish was the moussaka, “It was rich and delicious. We could taste the hints of cinnamon, nutmeg, oregano, and paprika.” My brother Charlie Nanavati (’23) has been to the restaurant multiple times. He remarked that his “favorite menu item at Greek Cuisine is the Mega Lamb gyro. Their gyro has a perfect ratio of lamb to lettuce, onion, tomato, feta, olives, and tzatziki sauce, because they go heavy with the lamb and tzatziki sauce, and they are my favorite ingredients.”

Overall, this experience was satisfactory. I have been to Greek Cuisine previous times, and this visit gave more proof of its consistency. It is a quaint place but serves many dishes that cater to anyone’s taste. The service is always timely, and their serving sizes are generous. I would recommend Greek Cuisine to anyone who wants to get some superior Greek food in Richmond. 

Featured image photo credit: Greek Cuisine West End via Yelp.