Gardens of Salonica: Greek | Minneapolis

What we ate
to start:

• large salata
• skordalia spread
• feta ric pastery
  

for the meal:

• four meats:
• gyro
• pork skewer
• lamb skewer
• soutzoukaki (seasoned beef links)
• two entrees
• ambelodomades: stuffed grape leaves with warm avgolemono sauce
• pastitsio: baked layered pasta with beef and bechamel

for dessert:

• lemon cream boughatsa
• apricot cream boughatsa
• baklava
• galaktoboureko
• baklava sundae
  

What we thought:

Without question, the food was delicious. The meats were varied and flavorful. We agreed that the gyro was the best we had eaten and the beef links were marvelously seasoned.

The desserts posed a real decision dilemma for some of us, being overwhelmed at the choices, even after our server identified his favorites. In general, the boughatsas were not as exciting as we had expected, and Janet was disappointed by her galaktoboureko. But she really favors baklava in the first place, and ordered one after realizing the depth of her loyalty. At the astonishingly low prices, more desserts isn't a bad thing at all.

The service was top notch. Our server indulged our questions and was ready with his own opinions and favorites without being pushy. He was enjoyable to interact with.

The space is nice—sort of hip in a local way (rather than being Chipotle-ed) that managed to be cozy and close without producing a claustrophobic cacophony. In a word: comforting.

All of the options were exceedingly affordable. You can view the entire menu with prices at their website:

http://www.gardensofsalonica.com/