Where: 5 W. Haley Street, 805-560-0809
What: Authentic Greek to go right off of lower State Street
How much? Chicken gyro $5.75; lamb gyro with salad $8.75; lemon chicken souvlaki $7.99; moussaka to go, serves 6 $32.95
The dish: Specializing in the foods of northern Greece, The Greek House Cafe is a tiny hole in the wall off State Street that serves authentic family recipes on the go. The menu centers on the gyros (pronounced yee-rro) and souvlaki (kebab) plates, which are easy options for a quick lunch to take back to the office or down to the beach. The gyros are the real deal, patterned after owner Stellios Nicolaides’ research after touring a countless number of gyro stands throughout Greece. About four ounces of non-processed meats are wrapped in a pita with tomatoes, tzatziki (yogurt-cucumber sauce), red onion, rosemary red potato, and hot peppers on request. Choose from thinly sliced boneless, skinless chicken breast, beef, lamb, or falafel (baked chickpea balls), and add a Greek salad for only $2 more. Don’t miss the frappe, which blends coffee, sugar, and condensed milk ($1.75). The Greek House also has a section of specialty items such as cheeses, loukaniko sausage, preserves, cookies, oregano bunches, and olives. Host a Greek dinner party and order from the take home Greek menu (call ahead, heat and serve) where you can get the fixings for a make your own gyro party (serves 4 or 6) or Moussaka (serves 6).