Vegas Values: Gyros and more!

Friday, November 6, 2009

Saganaki, also known as flaming cheese
Photo by Kellee Kunovic

I love Greek food. Appetizers, entrees, desserts, you name it – each are filled with wonderful mouth-watering flavors. I’ve never had the pleasure of visiting Greece, or tasting home-cooked Greek meals. Therefore, my experiences are limited to restaurants claiming to be authentic. Even so, I’ve loved every Greek specialty I’ve tried. Living in Chicago, there seemed to be a Greek restaurant on every other corner. So, it was a surprise to find so few establishments in Las Vegas. However, over the last few years a number of new restaurants serving Greek specialties opened their doors.

My favorite is family-owned, it’s named The Fat Greek; it’s found in the Renaissance Center at the corner of Decatur Blvd. and Flamingo Rd. It was once a quaint dining room, where tables quickly filled at lunchtime. If you wanted a seat with no wait you had to beat the rush. They recognized the need for more space, and when the opportunity came, they expanded. The restaurant was closed for a couple weeks in August this year. When it re-opened it was twice its former size, and it now offers patio seating and a full bar. Even during these lean times, the restaurant does very well at lunch. On our last visit, by 12:30 every table inside was occupied.

Gyro and Athenian Fries
Photo by Kellee Kunovic

The Fat Greek is open for lunch and dinner, hours are as follows: Monday-Thursday 11am-9pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-10pm and Sunday 11am-6pm. It doesn’t seem to be nearly as popular during dinner hours, but the food is just as delicious. Service is always friendly.

When my husband and I dine at The Fat Greek we always start with saganaki, often known as flaming cheese. However, they do not set fire to their rendition. Instead it’s simply fried until edges are crisp and served with lemon and fresh pita triangles. What it might lack in show, it definitely makes up for in flavor.

What else we order depends on our mood and appetite. We have found the green lentil soup to be wonderful. It has a great velvety texture and the perfect balance of spice – a fantastic way to warm up on a cool day. The Fat Greek salad is always fresh with crisp romaine, ripe tomatoes, cucumbers and olives dressed with a fruity olive oil, and topped with tangy feta. Speaking of feta, the Athenian fries can’t be missed. They’ll make you think of cheese fries in a whole new way.

The traditional gyro sandwiches are the tastiest I’ve found in the valley. Tender gyro meat with crisp edges, fresh tomatoes and red onions are nestled on a warm pillowy pita, and topped with creamy house-made Tzatziki sauce. Is there a better combination? Perhaps? They have a couple other varieties available – The Fat Greek which adds crumbled feta, and for something different, try the Philly gyro with mushrooms and hot sauce.

Compared to other Greek restaurants around, prices are pretty reasonable. Appetizers run $3.95-$9.95, sandwiches are $7, entrees and pastas are priced between $9.95-$17.95.

Kataifi
Photo by Kellee Kunovic

At dinner, they offer a combination plate for two that is $29.95. That comes with your choice of soup and salad, and an assortment of Greek specialties. Such as gyro, mousakka a layered casserole of eggplant and ground beef topped with béchamel sauce and kefalotiri cheese, pastitsio which is baked pasta also topped with béchamel and kefalotiri, dolmades or grape leaves stuffed with rice, meat and vegetables, tyropita buttery phyllo dough stuffed with feta cheese, and rich buttery roasted potatoes. It’s plenty for two large appetites, it fun to snack dish-to-dish trying to determine which you like best.

Napoleon cake
Photo by Kellee Kunovic

Near the register there is a dessert case filled with a bunch of tempting treats. Baklava, galaktoboureko, kataifi and Napoleon cake to name a few. Each is wonderfully delicious. However, the Napoleon cake is a favorite, since it’s not too sweet. There are a few grocery items like cookies and crackers available for sale, as well.

You’re sure to find something you’ll enjoy. Stop in for bite! The Fat Greek might just become your favorite, too.

The Fat Greek is located at 4001 South Decatur #34 Las Vegas, NV 89103.

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