The food at Greek Corner Restaurant is just like its decor — bright, plentiful and unpretentious. Everything from the waiters to the wonderfully aromatic, freshly made trays of baklava speaks to the cozy familiarity that makes this restaurant a great place for a relatively inexpensive meal. There were no surprises at Greek Corner, but that's no insult — the simple presentation, quick service and friendly staff delivering the flavorful Greek food one would expect from such a family-style restaurant combined for a memorable meal.
Seating, early on a Saturday night, was quick, and the restaurant quickly filled up with families and college students alike. The menu features Greek staples like spanakopita (spinach pie) and avgolemono, a traditional egg-lemon soup. The server was quick to bring out hummus and pita, which made for a classic start to the meal. The pita was a bit dry, but the hummus was more than satisfying. Despite lacking bells and whistles, the hummus was flavorful with relatively sparse olive garnishes, but it wasn't quite as thick as traditional hummus.
Abundant hummus and pita were followed by spanakopita, which had a deliciously flaky crust. The filling, which was perhaps the best part of the dish, was tart and hearty, providing the proper balance to the delicate puff pastry. The appetizers were definitely filling. While the choice of hummus and pita was perhaps not the most authentic, it did the trick.
Entrees were quick to follow. Overall, the service was extremely fast, providing a seamless transition from the first course into the best part of the meal. The lamb souvlaki plate, with a side of Greek salad and fries, was filling, but a bit too one-dimensional. The lamb itself was a bit too lemony and garlicky, though it was both tender and plentifully portioned. The salad made for a good refreshing break from the monotony of the lamb. A side of tzatziki sauce would have been a welcome addition to the dish, yet no such treat accompanied the meal.
The falafel sandwich, featuring falafel and vegetables wrapped in pita, was not the best showing of falafel in the Boston area. The falafel itself was large and crispy, but the inside was not the beautiful bright green traditionally seen in such a dish. The best option for those going meatless is probably the combination vegetarian plate. Laden with hummus, falafel, stuffed grape leaves and spinach pies, the sheer abundance of this dish makes up for its less-than-overwhelming individual components. All of the entrees were relatively inexpensive, ranging from only $6.50 for the falafel sandwich to $10.75 for the souvlaki plate and $11.50 for the vegetarian combination plate, allowing for a reasonably priced meal no matter the dish.
The entrees were followed by the baklava that tempts customers during the entire meal. Thankfully, it was well worth the wait. The baklava was crisp and fresh, and the golden brown diamond was syrupy and sweet, but not cloying by any means. Fortunately, Greek Corner was able to maintain the crucial nuts-to-syrup ratio that so many restaurants seem to get wrong.
Greek Corner, with its simple decor and unassuming menu, is the perfect place for a casual Greek meal. It is aptly named, considering how easily one could encounter such a place on an ordinary street corner in Greece, and such a meal might just be the best kind if you're looking for solid, inexpensive fare. Greek Corner is the perfect place for a casual night with friends and, while not necessarily exceptional, delivers on its promises. Focusing on the basics of Greek cuisine, there is little experimentation on the menu and that is in no way a bad thing. It is what it is: an inexpensive, no-frills kind of place that promises good food, a friendly wait staff and an enjoyable dining experience.
