A Non-Review Of Yia Yia Mary's
What follows isn't a restaurant review. We have some excellent writers on food in this town (Robb Walsh and Alison Cook). What they do are reviews. In comparison, what follows are some observations.
This past weekend, I finally tried Yia Yia Mary's, the relatively new Pappas family effort at a Greek restaurant.
I wasn't expecting much from the place, but despite the low expectations, I was really underwhelmed.
The food itself was okay. Callie and I started with an overpriced appetizer tray of a spanokopita, tiropita, and 2 dolmathes. The spanokopita was pretty good, actually. Callie panned the tiropita (it had blue cheese, ewww). I don't know who wound up having the dolmathes, so I can't speak to those. For my main dish, I ordered a beef and lamb gyro dish, with a chicken souvlaki skewer. The beef and lamb was not bad. The chicken souvlaki was so-so. The salad (no dressing or oil/vinegar, hardly any feta?!) and potatoes that came with the meal were sub-par.
The service was terrible. One person in our large party didn't actually GET her main dish until it was pointed out she was still waiting. Callie and I had hoped to try a Syrah that was on the wine list. Unfortunately, the waiter brought out some gawdawful blush wine and held the bottle out for our approval. Umm, no, that's not a Syrah. Some time later, he returns with the Syrah, which he tries to open. And tries. And tries. He claims a cork malfunction (!?), and departs once again. MUCH time later, he returns with another bottle, at which point I tell him we're nearly done with our meals, and maybe he could just bring me a glass of the house merlot. Very poor execution.
The atmosphere was terrible. I *think* there was charming Greek music on the PA in the background. Unfortunately, the room is so sonically harsh and therefore SO LOUD that I could never tell for sure -- or even hear the person on the other side of Callie talking. It's entirely too common for Houston restaurants to be annoyingly loud, and this one is one of the worst I've been in. Furthermore, the man bellowing "ORDER!" every time the waitstaff needed to pick up an "ORDER!" didn't add much to the atmosphere. Perhaps if he were an aged Greek man, it would. But he wasn't.
In short, the overall experience was well below average.
That said, I'm sure the gawdawful place will win the Chronicle's Ultimate Houston nod, which seems appropriate.
Houstonians who want a far better combination of Greek food (mmm, the Mousaka!), service, and atmosphere (beautiful live bozouki on Friday and Saturday nights) should patronize Alexander the Great Greek, on Sage and Hidalgo in the Galleria area.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/02/05 23:56 | Houston | Technorati
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Comments
Do you have any observations on Mykonos? I'll have to try Alexander.
I'm a big fan of Divino, because it has a wonderfully quiet and intimate atmosphere. But the service hasn't been quite up to par lately.
Posted by Evan @ 03:34 on 08/03/05
He claims a cork malfunction (!?),
http://www.robbooth.net/200...
Coincidence?
Posted by Rob Booth @ 06:35 on 08/03/05
I will say this about the place...their version of karidopita (walnut cake) is one of the best Greek desserts I've ever tasted.
Posted by callie @ 19:50 on 08/03/05
Yeah, gotta agree on the noise factor. The bank of large-screen TVs didn't add to the ambience, either.
I had pretty good service the two times I've been there. I went once on a whim, then went back to get more of the <i>skordalia</i> and <i>taramosalata</i> and to try the pastitsio.
I'll probably return for drinks and the appetizers, but not the entrees.
Posted by El Capitan @ 09:28 on 08/09/05
I agree wholeheartedly about the noise, but I've had nothing but delicious food there. I especially like the grilled salmon, the beef souvlaki (I've never been a fan of chicken dishes, so I can't confirm or deny the chicken souvlaki for you), and any of the oreganatto (sp?) dishes, sometimes not on the menu.
The avgolemono sauce is my favorite accoutrement, but any of the three offered choices has been well prepared, in my experience. I am not fond of the lemon "grilled" potatoes (probably because they have the taste and texture of boiled potatoes, although they assure me that they are, indeed, grilled at one point in the preparation process), but find the alternative rice accompaniment to be exceptionally flavorful and light.
I choose my salad dressing on the side because I prefer a very small amount on my salads--and have had to remind the waitstaff to bring it, when it did not accompany my salad to the table, but all in all, I adore the place.
Posted by Liz @ 11:38 on 08/29/05
I didn't much care for the lemon potatoes either.
Have you ever been to Alexander the Great Greek? Go there on a Friday or Saturday night (there is beautiful live bozouki), and try the Mousaka and THEIR roasted potatoes. Mmmm... let me know what you think by way of comparison. :)
Posted by Kevin @ 12:35 on 08/29/05
Haven't yet been to Alexander the Great, but will do!
Posted by Liz @ 13:10 on 08/29/05
you want real good greek food. there is only one place for that in texas. it is a small greek cafe and bakery in live oak,texas. that is north of San Antonio. that is one mile from Randolph AFB. its off i35 and and 1604. its name is yia yia & papou's and they make the best dolmades, the best baklava, the best gyros, the best moussaka, the best tiropita, etc. give them a try. you will not be disappointed. they are 8088 pat booker road. their fone number is 210.637.5639. need more instructions? go to yiayiascafe.4t.com
Posted by john @ 00:17 on 03/27/06
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