Mykono's Grill serves food worthy of Greek standards

The Achilles' heal of most Greek cuisine served in the Triad is the disregard of Greece's true Mediterranean flavors. It is a travesty that overly simplified, monotonous, and generally bland dishes are being served up in a town with such rich Greek heritage. The problem is further aggravated by restaurants serving small portions of unpalatable, sauce-drowned food at exorbitant prices. These truths represent flagrant misrepresentations of the "Opa!" exclaiming, food loving people of Greece. In the Mediterranean, food and wine are synonymous with togetherness and generosity.

The Greeks could easily be the most ardent Foodies on Earth. Case in point, even in Homer's Odyssey, the Greek zeal of the culinary arts is evident. After surviving the Battle of Troy, Odysseus' crew does not succumb to the villainous Lotus-Eaters, Cyclopes, or the Sirens. Their demise came in the form of their perfectly legitimate lust for beef. The temptation of Helios' heavenly red cattle was too much even for the strongest army on Earth to reject. In retaliation, Zeus massacred the men for their lack of obedience. These brave souls gave their lives for a single opportunity to taste upon the most delicious meat ever conceived.

Always in search of hidden culinary treasures, I consulted my friend, coworker, and fellow Foodie, Kelvin Clark. When posed with the question, "Where does one go to have godly Greek in the Gate City?" Kelvin responded instinctively. Spur of the moment people that we are, we instantly set out on our Greek adventure. Mykonos' Grill, which takes its name from the famous Cyclades Island and vacation hot-spot to Europe's rich and famous, is Greensboro's only choice for the authentic tastes of Greece.

Upon first entering Mykonos Grill, I was impressed by the number of patrons passionately enjoying their Grecian fare. Glancing around the dining room made my mouth begin to salivate. Golden brown pitas overstuffed with gyro meat, skewers of sizzling chicken souvlaki, and crispy falafel patties served with generous portions of creamy hummus all contributed to an intoxicating aroma in the air. I was greeted by customer-turned-employee Becky Frahm, to whom I explained my inability to decide between the gyro and the souvlaki.

Like the loving Greek sister I never had, Becky was quick to recommend the special of the day, which included not only gyro meat and chicken souvlaki, but spanokopita, fries, and a giant Greek salad as well.

Mykonos' gyro meat is a hybrid of beef and lamb, smothered in Greek herbs and spices, then meticulously slow roasted on a rotisserie spit. In Europe, this is the one and only way to enjoy this Greek national dish. But in the United States, it is a rarity. The meat is then cut thickly and served piping hot. The result is a gyro that has flavor and character unlike any other.

The chicken souvlaki is made using all-natural, white meat chicken breast, which is marinated overnight and seared to order. This process allows the meat to be slightly crisp on the outside, moist on the inside, and savory throughout. Hints of bay leaf, garlic, and oregano are easily recognized elements of an otherwise secret family recipe. The spanokopita, a Grecian specialty of alternating layers of seasoned spinach and fresh feta cheese, gently tucked between brittle, paper thin layers of buttery phyllo dough, was truly divine. Not knowing embarrassment, I even licked my finger in order to capture escaping shards of crusty dough remaining on the bottom of my plate. I typically detest sauces, but Mykonos' tzatziki, a cucumber and yogurt condiment, is so intricate and zesty that I found myself applying it to pretty much everything. Mykonos' has several alcoholic options, including one of my long-time favorites, Aris Beer. With its subtle honey undertones, I highly recommend this unique Grecian import to complement their exemplary meals.

Just as Tiresias and Circe warned Odysseus to avoid the cattle of Helios, I have made similar plans to avoid the Americanized food of Greensboro's other Greek options, including Jack's Corner. Do not be fooled by its convenient location; continue west on Spring Garden to discover Mediterranean dining worthy of the gods.