6 Dishes You Must Try When Visiting Greektown

1. Gyro

Gyro is probably the most famous Grecian dish served in Greektown. Gyro is made of beef/lamb skewered through a rotisserie. It is then shaved off into thin slices and placed in between pita bread with a dollop of yogurt sauce.

2. Saganaki

Saganaki is a very exciting dish served at most Greektown restaurants. Saganaki is a flaming cheese. Yes. Flaming! The cheese is breaded, splashed with brandy, and lit on fire to give it a crispy outside and warm gooey inside. Saganaki is a traditional Grecian appetizer that is very common in Greektown.

3. Greek Salad

Greektown restaurants are famous for their Greek Village Salads, made of sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, onion, feta cheese and olives. It is then seasoned in salt and oregano and dressed with olive oil. Greek Salads are typically served mid-day but are also popular appetizers for dinner. Their fresh flavors are a tasty and healthy way to experience authentic Greek culture!

4. Dakos

Dakos consists of a soaked dried bread or barley rusk. It is then topped with diced tomatoes and feta or mizithra cheese, flavored with oregano, olive oil and pepper. Dakos is very similar to a Greek Salad in taste, except it it placed on a slice of dough like a pizza. Dakos actually means “pup-bread” because Greeks would often feed it to their dogs.

5. Lentil Soup

If you are a health nut, Lentil Soup is for you! It is made from a variety of colored lentils and other vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, celery, parsley, tomato, pumpkin and onion. The ingredients are melted down in a pot after the lentils have been de-hulled which creates a very thick soup. Lentil soup is a good source of protein, dietary fiber, iron and potassium. Hippocrates, a Greek physician, prescribed lentil soup as an amenity for patients with liver ailments.

6. Spanakopitakia

A versatile traditional Greek treat, Spanakopita can be a starter, mid-day snack or light dinner. A finger food, this is prepared with crumbled feta cheese and mixed with two different kinds of yellow cheese for extra flavor. The cheese is then wrapped with phyllo pastry forming a mini triangle, and then brushed with melted butter or olive oil and baked until crispy. Delicious!

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