Somerville Greek Festival

[BBHound]

The annual Somerville Greek Food and Music Festival will be on Sept. 7-9 at the Dormition Church on Central St. Great Greek chow. Mark your calendars. There is a menu on the web site.

www.dormitionchurch.org

[FinnFPM]

Has anyone else been this year? I went this afternoon -- SO enjoyable.

We got there pretty early, around 1pm, and there was almost no line yet. The food was totally delicious -- amazing moussaka (could've eaten pounds of this), delicious souvlaki, very good spanakopita and grape leaves. It's not "cheap" per se (basically standard restaurant prices -- a hunk of spanakopita that's like 5"x5" is about five bucks) but it's totally worth it. The old ladies that serve you are all smiles (and a number of them apparently only speak Greek, so if you've got yourself a translator, you're in luck!) and it's just very charming overall. A fantastic meal.

Make sure you don't miss the pastry tent outside -- the galaktoboureko made my girlfriend's head explode. No joke.

Go!

Get appetized -- http://mypict.me/upload/0/9/91/909190...

[enhF94]

Seems appropriate to bump this old thread rather than start anew. The website for the Dormition church, host of Somerville's Greek Festival with lots of food (buffet line, gyros, many many pastries) is down. Anybody seen advertising for the Fest? It's usually just after labor day ish.

[BBHound]

The website is working now but details are a bit scarce. The dates are Friday through Sunday, Sept. 11-13. The menu looks like last year's menu, and does not have any prices. It looks like they repeat what they did the previous year.

http://www.dormitionchurch.org/joomla...

[enhF94]

So it is. Thanks!

[eatanddestroy]

One of my favorite Greek Fests. Thanks for posting the info.

[SaraASR]

Food was good but the atmosphere was not at all "festive". There was no live music or dancing or anything. However, I had the fish entree... very good. Took some spanikopita home which was great, too. What type of Greek festival doesn't have baklava? Apparently this one didn't. Got some of the walnut bread dessert and it tasted like Crisco. Gross.

[Bob Dobalina]

When I was there on Saturday, they had a couple different kinds of baklava and plenty of it, along with lots of other desserts - it was in a separate area, up the hill under the big tent, and not where you get the entrees inside. Maybe that's why you didn't see it?

Italyinmind, you're right about the layout - only reason I knew was because I've gone in the past. Also, I thought they advertised some live entertainment, though we only had recorded music when we were there.

[SaraASR]

Maybe they ran out... I went to all the food areas including the big outdoor tent. That's where I got my desserts, but no baklava.

[italyinmind]

I got baklava on Saturday evening as well. I had never been to this festival, but did find the layout a bit confusing. I was just getting a gyro and baklava to go, so I never actually went inside where the bulk of the food was, but did enjoy what I got and was pleased to avoid huge lines.

[Bob Dobalina]

Went on Saturday evening, just as bands of rain from Hanna were hitting.
Was perfectly dry under the big tent!
Had a gyro - the lady selling them ($8) mentioned that Friday night, the lines were an hour and 3/4 long to get one. We, however, were winners at weather roulette and strode right up to the cashier - delicious flat bread, generous gyro meat off the spit and lots of toppings - scrumptious!
Then a sample of a few desserts - baklava was good, loukoumatos were yummy, if a little cooler than the zeppolis we had at St. Anthony's the other day. The other desserts looked fantastic, but we were saving room for more at Highland Kitchen after.
A pint of draft beer for $4. Good value all-around and would definitely go back, especially when the lines are low.

[Taralli]

Buzzed over Friday afternoon, arriving at 3:30pm. Gyro canope set up w/everything in foil covered trays. Everything else in church basement rec room. Had the lamb shank spec'l, rice & salad for $12. All were at just room temp. Ended up eating the shank Flintstone-style, as it was impossible to cut off w/plastic k & f. No baked lamb in sight, probably holding off for evening crowds. Food was filling - did not have any preconceived expectations this time or in past years - just wanted some folksie Greek food.

[yumyum]

Way too hot to check it yesterday so I swung by for lunch today. Noshing on some pretty good roast lamb as I type (wish it was more garlicky). I would say it's fairly standard Greek fest food, but the variety is good -- both the moussaka and pasticchio looked tempting too. Gyros and such outside, food line with cafeteria style seating inside. For $7 - $12/dinner (with rice or potatoes and greek salad and bread) and most items available a la carte, I think it's pretty reasonable. I never go to the greek festival for a bargain but this one seems to be a better value than the Arlington one has become. I need to check out the Brookline one just to do the full comparison ... I've heard good reports.

[BBHound]

Bump up and reminder: this festival starts tomorrow!

[Taralli]

Have been in the past & it was Ok, but I'm really partial to the spit-roasted whole critters at the earlier fests this year. Any hounds meeting up here - when & where?

[enhF94]

where I discovered Finikia last year! (a pastry with walnuts, orange zest and, often, booze.) yum!

[Bob Dobalina]

Last year, they had a spit grill going outside, for gyros. Inside the church basement, they had plates of chicken, moussaka, other Greek dishes - under the tent near the stage, sweets including those fresh-made honey-infused balls of dough of which I clearly don't know the name.

Thanks for the update, BBH - I was looking forward to a stroll over on the Friday night of the fest.

[emilief]

the dough balls with honey are loukoumades.

[Luther]

What's the price:quality like? Worth going out of one's way?

[Bob Dobalina]

Personally, I don't think it was worth a special trip, like say I live in Lowell and am driving in. Let's set the attendance radius at 5 miles.

[eatanddestroy]

My drive there is not as far as yours, but this is one of my favorite Greek Fests around Boston, so to me, it is definitely worth the trip. Make sure to go at night when it is a bit livelier.

[itaunas]

And with a little bit more driving, folks can make it a feast double-header by going to the East Cambridge Italian Feast that same weekend or a triple header by going to the Brazilian festival in Brighton (Sunday only). Greek Fest probably more chow oriented.

East Cambridge:
http://www.cosmas-and-damian.com/scheule_2002.htm

Brazilian in Brighton:
http://0036d81.netsolhost.com/program...

And for those actually in Lowell I think there is only a "raising of the Brazilian flag" event, although usually Nashua (I think) has a festival. Quincy also is having an international festival on the 9th.

[yumyum]

Thanks for the reminder ... I'm planning on checking this one out this year since I was away during the St. Athanaius festival. Has anyone been before ... any tips on the food?