Author: Gary Nager

EVERY year around this time, we always seem to be writing something about Acropolis Greek Taverna, located in the Oak Ramble Plaza on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., south of Tampa Palms in New Tampa, only 15-20 minutes (despite the traffic on BBD) from most of Wesley Chapel.

The reason is simple — Acropolis is always highly rated among our readers in our Annual Reader Dining Survey & Contest (results to be announced in our December 16 issue) and usually even higher-rated when I tell you my favorites for the year in our January 13, 2017 issue.

Never resting on its already-impressive laurels (it also recently was voted the Best Greek Restaurant by its peers in a recent Tampa magazine survey), Acropolis, which now has five Tampa Bay-area locations (including South Tampa, Ybor City, St. Pete and Riverview as well as the BBD location) continues to add new menu items.

The most recent additions are a new Ouzo mussels appetizer, a new feta cheese dip called Tirokafteri, a new Castoria chopped salad with chicken (none of which are pictured here) and an all-new weekend brunch menu.

I’ll be honest and say that, at our press time, the brunch was so new that I haven’t had time to sample any of the new items before we went to press. But, rest assured, I will. After all, this is one restaurant that never disappoints with its Greek cuisine, so I expect that the brunch items — like waffles, omelettes and baklava crepes — will also be outstanding and not overpriced, just like the rest of owner Sam Waez and general manager Tarek Armoush’s New Tampa menu.

The brunch, which is served Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., also is offered with bottomless champagne or mimosas for just $15 per person and $5 Bloody Marys. That alone is enough to make me want to sample it this weekend.

And of course, Acropolis — which has consistently been ranked in yours truly’s top-three restaurants in New Tampa every year since it opened — still has so many of my favorites (and yours) that it’s always a pleasure to write about the place.

The restaurant’s elegant bar area has been revamped a couple of times and of course, there’s what I call Greek-line-dancing servers and bartenders, entertainment and lots of plate-breaking every weekend evening.

So, here are some of my favorite dishes. For starters, you can’t beat Acropolis’ Greek salad. Although the zesty dressing is more of a creamy vinaigrette than a traditional oil-and-vinegar Greek dressing, it’s a perfect complement for the salad. The spinach dip appetizer is served with these amazingly crisp Lavash crackers and topped with Tirosalata, which is another feta-based dip with garlic, oregano and olive oil. More adventurous tastes will enjoy the grilled octopus appetizer and the delightfully different fried calamari. And yes, there’s still house-made hummus, baba ghanouj, tabbouleh salad, dolmades and even a great Saganaki appetizer, which is grilled Kefalograviera cheese flambéed with Cognac that is as much fun to eat as it is yummy.

If you’re into pastitsio, or Greek-style lasagne, Acropolis offers it with meat or without and both are excellent. There’s also mousaka, which is similar to pastitsio, but with potatoes and eggplant.

Favorite Entrées

My two favorite entrées at Acropolis haven’t changed since the place opened. The grilled Greek-style lamb chops are always tender and tasty — they rank up there with the best lamb chops in our area — and the pan-fried Athenian fish is simply to die for.

The Athenian fish is flaky and white and comes with a crispy coating, topped by a small dollop of homemade pesto. I always order an extra side of the pesto because, really, how can anyone spread that one dollop out enough to give you pesto in every bite without it?

My only “complaint” about these entrées is that they’re always served with the same grilled veggies — primarily zucchini and squash with onions. I’ve asked Tarek to maybe add sautéed spinach or broccoli to the mix or at least offer a few other veggie options to go with these superb main dishes.

I’m also partial to the steak and chicken shish kabob entrées, especially the tenderloin medallions. There’s also a Greek meatballs entrée, as well as dolmades, a mixed grill (with steak and chicken kabobs, pork souvlaki and gyro meat), as well as the chicken Santorini (sautéed tenders in a creamy Santorini lemon wine sauce mixed with mushrooms, onions, pesto, green and red peppers over penne pasta, topped with shaved parmesan cheese), chicken Manitari (which is sort of Acropolis’ own Alfredo-style pasta) and chicken Rhodes, which is grilled chicken breast in a lemon white wine sauce with artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach and olives, topped with crumbled feta.

My other fish favorites include the Psari mahi-mahi (blackened and topped with pesto and red peppers) and the grilled, fresh, whole red snapper (although it is messy to eat) . Other seafood entrées include charbroiled Siros salmon, a mixed seafood pasta and shrimp Mykonos (sautéed in a creamy lemon wine sauce), but of course, I can’t eat shrimp because I’m allergic to it, so I can’t personally vouch for these last two choices.

There’s also a nice selection of unique wrap and other sandwiches on the menu, as well as gyro, pork and chicken souvlaki platters. I don’t usually order a sandwich at Acropolis, but I have enjoyed their American burgers (there’s even a Crete burger topped with feta), as well as the Athenian fish, mahi-mahi and fried Fira fish sandwiches. Other sandwiches and wraps on the menu include the Mediterranean chicken wrap (with spinach  leaves, onions, grapes and candied walnuts), a (vegetarian) falafel wrap and the Thessaloniki wrap (another choice for vegetarians), which has Mediterranean roasted vegetables, sliced feta and hummus.

For those who enjoy a glass of wine with their meal, Acropolis has a nice variety of unique Greek red and white wines, as well as popular choices like a malbec, a chardonnay, multiple sparkling options and a cabernet sauvignon. Please ask for samples of the Greek wines; I know you’ll find one to your liking.

Acropolis also features a nice kids menu, with options like pizza, meatballs, chicken skewers and a kids gyro or chicken gyro.

And, save room for dessert, because Acropolis has some great ones, although my favorite is probably the baklava cheesecake.

  Acropolis Greek Taverna’s New Tampa location is open every day for lunch (and weekend brunch) and dinner and is located at 14947 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., at the north end of the Oak Ramble Plaza.

For more information, call 971-1787, visit DineGreek.com or Facebook/DineGreekinNewTampa. And, don’t forget to check the website for Acropolis’ other great locations, including the newest one opening soon in Sarasota.