Greek Palace

30 John St. N. - (905) 524-2929 - www.greekpalace.ca


Hi everybody! I know it's been a while, but I'm back now!

This week I submit for your approval: The Greek Palace!

As I'm sure I've mentioned to you before, I grew up with, and was heavily influenced by Greeks. I spent almost four years working in a family-run Greek restaurant. Where the cooking was done by old Greek men who continually called me bella and told me to make them very small, strongly flavoured, Turkish coffees while they chopped and sliced. Where the sauces and baklava where made by a woman who insisted that I call her Grandma Sophie. Where I was one of the family, and invited over for the home cooking during the holidays.

Anyway, the point to all this exposition is: I know Greek food.

I know good, homemade, Greek food.

And the Greek Palace? My friends, this is good Greek food.

The place is not fancy. The interior and service is cafeteria-style. The food is the equivalent to fast food, Greek-style. The tables are formica, the floor is basic beige tile, and there are travel prints of the Greek coastline hanging on the wall. Much like many of my favourite places to eat, you have to get around the decor. The entire place is scrupulously clean, just not the most stylishly decorated. But the food, which is what we're all there for anyway, is amazing.

My very favourite thing to eat there (as I go often enough to warrant a favourite meal) is the Greek fries, with the large Greek salad with meat (chicken souvlaki is my personal fave). And yes, I put them in that order on purpose. 

Greek fries, for the uninitiated, are fries which have been topped with feta and their special mayo-based sauce. It's creamy, with just the tiniest hit of spice. I've also had this made with ketchup or tzatziki instead of the special sauce. When I tried it for the first time, it wasn't a standard, but now seems to have gained enough in popularity that it shows up on a lot of menus. And I order it at all the Greek places I go. Because, yum.

Their Greek salads are the good kind, y'know the kind with lettuce (as opposed to the kind with just tomatoes and cucumber). They make them to order re: which veggies you want. And they don't skimp on the feta or the olives (which, let's face it, is everyone's favourite part of Greek salad), and then they add a vinegar based dressing and a little tzatziki. 

As I said before, their food is basically the equivalent to fast food. For the most part, They have the classic favourites, gyros, chicken and pork souvlaki, and falafel. It's all cooked fresh when you order it. The messy foods are as messy as you want them, full of meat and sauces; and the full dinners you want to eat with a fork and knife are loaded with the traditional yellow rice, potatoes, and meat. And those dinner plates, by the way, are enough food for two full dinners.

They also have garden salads, Caesar salads, and grilled chicken for those who want to mix in something less Mediterranean. 

The prices of the dishes range from around $5 to $13, so you can eat extravagantly for less than $15. Which I encourage you to do. Often. 

So the last thing I will leave you with is the thought that this is one of my top three places to eat in Hamilton. Oh, and of course, happy eating!