Sunday, May 16, 2010

Greek House

Sitting in a small strip center off of Forest Park is a Greek restaurant which has been around longer than me. The Greek House moved to the Forest Park Restaurant Row (Greek House, Sapristi, Ruffino's, Grady's) years ago, but existed long before that. It's run by an older couple that I can only assume are the parents of the World's Number One Comedian - Gallagher. History, Gallagher, and good food. That's all it takes to make me a repeat customer.

This place is an example of how you can take a small strip center restaurant and fill it with interesting chotchkies and decorations to make it feel unique. When you enter, you'll see a room full of tables covered with place mats showing an outdated and very unscaled map of Fort Worth. In the back of the room, is a window leading to the kitchen which is where you place your order.

Gallagher's dad will adjust his crazy colored hat and work his way to the counter to take your order. He speaks English but I think he must be hard of hearing as he always answers my questions with "uh-huh".

"Can I get a gyro to go?"
"uh huh"
"I'd also like some hummus"
"uh huh"
"How many pitas come with the hummus"
"uh huh"
"Please stop smashing watermelons"
"uh huh"
I always get the gyro (guy-roo) when I go and they're terrific here. Since I normally eat in the restaurant, the pita is always warmand soft. The meat is generally very moist and not chewy, although there have beena few trips that required a little bit of tooth sawing to get the meat. But it always satisfies my Greek hunger - without the need to track down and gnaw on an Olympian.

Recently, I discovered the hummus at the Greek House. It may be the best flavored of the basic hummii that I've found in Fort Worth. Many places in town have some great flavors, but for your basic hummus, this one's pretty good. And to answer my above question that nobody cared about, you get one pita - so ask for more.

For some reason or another, I've always felt that the prices were high at the Greek House. That may be the case for the plates which run about ten dollars, but for a gyro its about average across town. I believe its just under six bucks which is also what George's charges. Not having tried the plates, I cannot attest to the value of the meal. At lunch there is generally a lunch special that includes a gyro, fries and drink for under ten dollars.

People have recently asked me to notify my gentle readers if a place is open on Sundays. I don't think the Greek House is open on Sundays, but that is not confirmed.

The Greek House gets a 3 on the Hole scale. Although its in a strip center, the fact that they only have two employees lends some credibility and ambiance.

I would recommend checking them out sometime. Just remember to speak loudly and wear a poncho if you're in the front rows.

The Greek House is located at 2426 Forest Park Boulevard.

Greek House on Urbanspoon

15 comments:

heather lynn said...

Too bad it's probably not open today... I am seriously jonesing for some Greek food and can't find any restaurants open. I second the idea of a list of places open on Sunday. My only other suggestion is a picture with some of these posts ;) Though your words make me drool often enough ha.

FortWorthHoleInTheWall said...

Heather Lynn, I've considered the picture idea but I've never gotten around to actually putting it into action. I'll work on the blue law list. Despite having Greek House and George's this week, a gyro sounds good to me right now so I sympathize.

Thanks for reading.

bourgon said...

Great review, glad you're back, yadda yadda. Obviously, though, you need to go back and tell us what the actual Greek food is like.

Grading a place on their gyros is like grading on their hot dog. Too many places either use the Sysco or Kronos gyro meat, which means all they do is stick it on the rotisserie, saw off meat, and collect money. Even my personal fave greek restaurant, I believe, uses that. 3 random gyros places: Greek Gyros (is that the actual name?) on White Settlement in the parking lot of the Aldi. Sammi's, downtown, who also offer a Gyro Salad. And finally: Paul's Donuts Subs & Gyros, who offer a plate with two GIGANTIC gyros, and whom also happen to have the (by so far it's scary) best Apple Fritters in town. Of the three, Paul's probably have the best, but I need to go back to Greek Gyros to be sure.

So, you need to go back and try some other stuff. Bonus points if you compare it with the food at the Greek Festival.

Heather: wayyyyyy too late to be useful, but Paul's is definitely open on Sundays.

FortWorthHoleInTheWall said...

Michael, I've gotten away with greek reviews of gyros only for three years - don't start expecting quality or thoroughness at this late point in the game.

In actuality, I don't know what greek food is. Give me some insight and I'll greek it up in a non-gyro way.

Thanks for reading.

bourgon said...

Ha! Touche, man.

In other news, my coworkers said I came off as a d*ck. I apologize if you read it that way, definitely not intended.

For Greek food, I'd say the things to try, the ones most people know about, are:
Moussaka (eggplant, tomato, ground beef and a bechamel sauce)
Pastitsio (ziti/macaroni, meat sauce, bechamel sauce)
Dolmas (ground beef & rice, cooked in a grape leaf)
Gyros (obviously, eh? :) )

And, come November, make sure to hit the Greek festival in west Ft. Worth (http://www.fortworthgreekfestival.com/). All the dishes there are made by little old Greek women, and the food is awesome. Plus you can get frozen trays of the stuff to cook at home in the future.

Don't get me wrong; I love me the gyros. But very few places actually make their own, most use the aforementioned Sysco or Kronos, which means that judging a place on them is a tricky proposition.

But I digress... glad you enjoyed the Gyros! I've been meaning to go there for a couple of years, but I've always heard it's pricey, and I have my own faves that I'm quite happy with.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Michael- Paul makes good gyros. Give it a try- you can pick up breakfast & lunch in one trip!

FortWorthHoleInTheWall said...

Michael, no worries. I didn't take any offense. You posted despite me being gone from the bloggin world for over a month so I'm just glad everybody didn't abandone me. I've had dolmas and moussaka but only once - at the old Scampi's. i'll start trying those items out now that I've had enough gyro in the week for any one man.

I've only had a breakfast plate at Paul's so I'll give them a shot as well.

Clay Aaron Clifton said...

Let it be known that King Tuts also has some Greek Items... and Im not talking about FratBoys. The Dolmas at "KTs" (as the cool kids call it) are outragious.

your mom said...

Michael is right about judging gyros....the greek place in Hulen Mall food court has gyros just as good as Greek House. The hummus is pretty good too, maybe too much garlic (if that's possible) and they actually serve beer. Pour your beer in a cup and it can make shopping at the mall almost bearable.

bourgon said...

Clay: thanks for that. Next time I go (they do have awesome sharmas) I'll have to get some of the dolmas. And King Tut may have the best hummus in town.

Heather Lynn said...

Michael Bourgon- thanks for the tip on Paul's! I'm bookmarking it for the next time a Sunday Greek craving strikes me. Greek Gyros- I don't consider any Greek place worth my time that doesn't have falafel on their menu.

I just tried King Tut's for the first time. I had the Mezza Plate. It was really good! The veggie dolmas were my favorite part too.

Has anyone heard of Celaborelle? I haven't been yet, it is my plan for this weekend. All you can eat baklava! I am sooo there haha.

As well as hitting this place:

http://www.paciugo.com/html/locations/location_details.php?store=28

Texas Pecan Sea Salt Caramel Gelato?!? yes please!

I think I'm going to gain 10 pounds before this weekend is out...

Anonymous said...

gyro 2 |ˈyērō; ˈ zh irō|
noun ( pl. -ros)
a sandwich made with slices of spiced meat cooked on a spit, served with salad in pita bread.
ORIGIN 1970s: from modern Greek guros ‘turning.’

It is not guy roo

Yes Paul's is great. King Tuts & Chadra Mezza also have some great greek items. At Chadra try the Feta Salad with watermelon instead of onions.

FortWorthHoleInTheWall said...

Look at the tough anonymous guy/gal - using "facts" and "proper pronunciation mechanisms". I bet you feel tough now.

JK!! LOL!!! XOXOXO!!

But seriously, are we still on this? Check out the review on Pak a Pocket and my comment of contrition.

And thanks for reading.

T.J. said...

Do you know if the gyro meat is cut from a rotating spit, or is it packaged pre-sliced and heated up on a grill?

FortWorthHoleInTheWall said...

TJ, there's no reason to question the origin or history of meat at a restaurant. But its probably shaved off the back of a hot goat.