Greek food in Cincinnati?

[dumas]

Hi, hounders,

Does anyone know of a good greek restaurant/cafe that serves food that is fun and 'fresh' ?

The only remote possibility I can think of is Andy's (and I cannot remember if that's actually Greek).

But surely there must be some other start-ups that feature fresh mediterranean-greek style cooking?

Any ideas??

Thanks.

[Niki in Dayton]

This won't help until next summer, but the Panegyri Greek festival in Jun probably has excellent Greek food in Cincinnati. I know the best Greek food in Dayton OH is found at our Greek festival, but of course, that's only once a year. In case you're willing to travel for good Greek, it's the weekend after Labor Day and is at the Greek Orthodox Church behind the Dayton Art Institute. We almost always stop by for lunch or to pick up a box of the yummy home-made Greek pastries that weekend (or both!).

[dumas]

Thanks for the tip about the Greek festivals. We will watch for them next year!

[JohnE O]

There's the European Cafe in Montgomery. It's still mostly a gyro joint, but there gyro's (especially the black & white) are REALLY good.

[intuitive eggplant]

Uh, I think the above list of “four” locations for Mythos may be suspect. I can confirm Mythos has a restaurant downtown at Fourth and Walnut and a smaller, primarily take-out venue on Vine between Fourth and Fifth, but not so sure about those others that popped up. Meanwhile, was sad to see that Jordan Valley had closed when I trekked over there on my lunch hour last week.

A couple of other thoughts of a more general Middle Eastern nature:

Café Mediterranean in Anderson Towne Center (http://www.cafe-mediterranean.com/con...). Really enjoyed it the first time I went; second time (early this year) not quite as impressed. Not sure the difference was based solely on the arc of the restaurant (although I’m thinking they’ve omitted some things from their original menu). Had an exceptionally good server our first time out (who even warmed our desserts); on our second outing, it seemed everyone was distracted by photographers in the kitchen.

I also believe I heard recently that Café Istanbul is leaving Newport on the Levee and supposedly looking to reopen elsewhere. Come to think of it, wasn't Café Mediterranean opened by former Café Istanbul folks? If anyone has any updates or other thoughts, I’ll be interested.

[Fibber McGee]

Despite being busy, Cafe Istanbul didn't quite make it in Dayton. That is a shame. I hope the Newport location finds a new spot.

What is a black and white gyro?

[JohnE O]

Black & white is a half regular gyro meat and half chicken gyro meat.

I think Newport on the Levy is having problems retaining a bunch of business.

[Fibber McGee]

That sounds pretty good, a black & white gyro. I'll have to try that, thanks.

[dumas]

Thanks for all the good ideas. There are a few choices although none seems to be what I had in mind...Not exactly 'authentic' ~~ just focussed on fresh food well-cooked, maybe on a charcoal grill, using 'greek' spices~~a sort of 'nouvell greek' if there is such a thing.

Mythos is good, too. I didn't realize they had 4 locations. And thanks for the tip about Gyros in Kettering. We will definitely try it when we pass through Dayton.

I had to laugh about the chili reference. Of course the chili joints are the most successful greek owned restaurants around Cincy. Maybe that's where all the energy goes.

(Maybe somebody should create a new restaurant?)

If anyone thinks of another one, please post.

[Fibber McGee]

Are you willing to travel? In Dayton (Kettering, actually) there is a place called Gyros, located at South Dixie and Dorothy Lane. Smallish menu, but pretty good. They use lamb, not a combo of lamb and beef, for their gyros and souvlaki sandwiches. I thought they had a website, but couldn't find it.
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&...

[Fibber McGee]

Mythos-several locations.

-----
Mythos
410 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Mythos
100 E 4th St, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Mythos Restaurant
650 Walnut St, Cincinnati, OH

Mythos Grecian Grill
250 E 5th St Ste 220, Cincinnati, OH 45202

[BookFarmer]

Used to be a couple of places downtown besides Mythos, but don't think they are there any longer. One was Jordan Valley, a real dive, but the only all-lamb gyros I've ever had. The local police came for the cheap burgers...it was next to the Scientology storefront.

[cresyd]

The Jordan Valley, and Andy's, are both Lebanese restaurants. But you can get some Greek similar variations on a theme at both places. At one point there was this Greek dive in Newport across from the Hofbraus House. Not sure if it's still there or how long it lasted.

[Fibber McGee]

That was a Mythos. It moved awhile back.

[Emm]

Ate there once, it was subpar.

[Fibber McGee]

The one thing I remember is the Avgolemono I had to was a little light in terms of flavor. It was decent for chicken rice soup. It was not good for chicken lemon rice soup.

[intuitive eggplant]

Jordan Valley has, alas, closed.

[TJ Jackson]

Mythos is very mediocre.

Best gyro in town is at Sebastians on the west side

There are few if any truly greek restaurants in Cincinnati, and of the ones I know of, I cannot recommend any of them. Most are either gyro joints for the most part or are not exclusively greek ("middle-eastern" or "mediterranean") or both

[JohnE O]

Well, Cincinnati chili is technically a Greek creation, but I suspect you want more than that. With Cincinnati, Greek seems to mean double decker sandwiches and prefab gyro meat (which I love anyway). There was one Mediterranean place in Montgomery that closed a while back and is now an El Rancho Grande. I'd be interested in any suggestions as well.