Santorini

 

Located at 2107 Kirkwood Street in High Point, Santorini offers Greek cuisine for lunch and dinner. It is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day except Sunday. Lunch specials are available. 

I was not pleased to see High Point Korean BBQ close its doors, and a Greek restaurant stepping into the space didn't inspire much enthusiasm. But as the signage and menu for Santorini came together, that changed. Mythos Grill was my favorite Greek restaurant when I lived in Greensboro, and Santorini is, for all intents and purposes, Mythos of High Point (they aren't affiliated, but Santorini's owner was involved with Mythos at one point).

The menu here offers everything you'd expect: gyros, souvlaki, spanakopita, dolmades, moussaka, and more. You can go light with an app, sandwich, or salad, or you can pile on the carbs with a pasta dish. Vegetarians and meat-eaters alike will find plenty here.

My wife swears by Mythos's avgolemono (lemon chicken soup), and so that was a no-brainer. I added a combination platter (gyro/chicken souvlaki/spanakopita) and fried zucchini to round out the take-out order. It was ready in under fifteen minutes, and the price was fairly reasonable.

The food was good across the board though it leaned more toward "reliably comforting" than outstanding. The soup was on-par with Mythos's version, the zucchini was fresh and generously portioned, and everything in the combination platter was nicely seasoned. That said, the gyro came in a slab that some might find off-putting, and the spanakopita could have been flakier.

There are plenty of places in High Point where you can get a decent-or-better gyro, falafel, or pita wrap, but if a Greek-specific craving hits, keep Santorini in mind.

Taste of Troy

Located at 1236 Guilford College Road in the Guilford Crossing Shopping Center at the edge of Jamestown, Taste of Troy offers Greek and Mediterranean fare for lunch and dinner. Specials change weekly and takeout is available.

I am spoiled by having decent Greek and Mediterranean options within walking distance of home, but the recommendation of a (Turkish) former student led me to give Taste of Troy a shot. While it isn’t a place I would hurry back to, it made for a satisfying lunch.

Taste of Troy can be found on the side of the shopping plaza facing Piedmont Parkway. It’s a small space though there is enough signage to avoid passing it by. There are a few tables and some counter seating inside. It’s a cozy joint, but compared to blue-and-white appointments of Mythos and Mad Greek, it comes off looking a bit Spartan (pun intended).

The menu offers little in the way of novelty, but if you’re craving a gyro, kebab, or mezes (spanakopita, baba ganoush, etc.), you’ll find it here. I went with a gyro and a side of fries and did not regret it. The gyro was well-seasoned, the meat was flavorful, and the accompanying veggies (lettuce, tomato, and cucumber) were fresh. The thick-cut fries could have done with more seasoning, but at least they were crisp. The staff here are friendly, and the food arrived quickly.

If there is one area where Taste of Troy lags behind, it is pricing. The gyro runs $7.25 if you are willing to settle for chips as a side; fries are $1.75 more, and a small Greek salad is $3.95 more. By way of comparison, Mythos offers a $7.45 lunch combo that includes a gyro, fries, and a drink. The entrees are even worse offenders. Kebab platters start at $12.95 and top out at $16.95 for a mixed combo. Nazareth Bread’s mixed grill is listed at $11.99. Tasty as it may be, Taste of Troy’s food is not far enough ahead of the competition to justify what they charge.

Food quality and service make Taste of Troy an appealing option for those traveling along Guilford College Road, but the pricing is simply not competitive.

7.75/10

Zoe's Kitchen

Located in the Shops at Friendly, Zoe’s Kitchen offers Greek influenced soups, sandwiches, salads, kabobs and more. Takeout dinners for four are available, side items can be purchased by the tub and there is a limited selection of alcoholic beverages.

A Greek-deli hybrid with a health-conscious spin, Zoe’s Kitchen sounds great on paper, but fails to live up to the promise of its concept. To its credit, the Birmingham-based chain shows some innovation with its menu. Sides include braised white beans and mayo-free marinated slaw and hibiscus green tea is available as a fountain drink. Several dishes can be prepared to accommodate vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free diners.

Unfortunately, not all of these innovations are successful. Zoe’s signature sandwich, the “Gruben” (turkey, Swiss, slaw and mustard on rye) lacks zest and will leave you craving the real thing. Though feta is an oft-utilized ingredient, Greek staples such as gyros and spanikopita are notably absent here.

Pricing here isn’t unreasonable. Sandwiches are an even $7 with one side included and the sides are generously portioned. Salads and entrees (with the exception of salmon kabobs) are all under $10.

Lunchtime at Zoe’s can be a mob scene. Show up between noon and 1 p.m. and you should expect at least a five-minute line wait. That, coupled with the garishly bright interior design and less-than-comfortable chairs, severely diminishes its appeal as a dining option.

All and all, Zoe’s Kitchen is well-intentioned and offers a few novel selections, but the food has a long way to go.


6/10