By Gary Nager
When the economy is still somewhat lackluster and people don’t have the disposable income they once did, it’s easy to spot businesses that have found the right niche, especially restaurants that combine great food at the right price and somehow still prosper where other struggle or fail.
In our area, one of the great success stories is the Little Greek Restaurant, located in the Publix-anchored New Tampa Center plaza at the corner of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. and New Tampa Blvd.
New Tampa owner Percy Rosemurgy also owns another of Little Greek’s current 17 (and growing) franchises, most of which are here in Florida (with just a few locations in Texas and Arkansas). Percy says that the company’s commitment to serving quality food at very fair prices, plus great service, is what’s keeping our local Little Greek humming right along.
Lunch time is till when Percy’s crew draws its biggest crowd, but the aforementioned outstanding service never seems to falter and the wait for your food is never more than just a few minutes, even during the peak lunch hour rush.
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And, why shouldn’t Little Greek be packed all the time — for lunch and dinner? When you feature delicious appetizers, sandwiches, entrées and desserts and the average customer spends only around $10, well, let’s just say that the Little Greek has found the right formula for success.
Speaking of appetizers, our entire office enjoys Little Greek’s homemade hummus, spanakopita (spinach pie), dolmades (stuffed grape leaves) and the awesome appetizer sampler, which includes spanakopita, hummus, falafel and pita bread, served with tzatziki sauce for just $7.99.
Personally, I rarely get “just” a Greek salad at Little Greek, because I usually order one as a side for my entrée — whether with my favorite steak or lamb skewers (souvlaki) or a lamb or chicken gyro platter. But, I will say that Little Greek has a great Greek salad, whether you order the mini ($4.99), regular ($6.49) or large ($10.49) size.
Little Greek also features a Village Salad (aka Horiatiki) with the Greek salad ingredients, minus the lettuce, as well as a Caesar salad and you can add grilled chicken, gyro meat or even grilled salmon to any of the salads for just $2.49-$3.49) additional.
In addition to the awesome lamb gyro, Little Greek’s sandwiches also include a chicken pita, Greek chicken pita (which adds feta cheese), steak, lamb, falafel and veggie pita sandwiches, as well as the “Olympian” pita, which combines chicken and lamb gyro meat on one sandwich. I’m also partial to Little Greek’s grilled pita burger, although I hold the feta cheese and get the tzatziki sauce on the side.
Little Greek’s “Light Meals” include your choice of dolmades, spanakopita or your choice of chicken, lamb, steak or salmon skewers served over rice and with a Greek salad, all for just $7.99 (spinach pie)-$11.99 (salmon). Larger size “Dinners” start at just $9.99 for baked pastitsio (Greek lasagne) or mousaka (eggplant, potatoes and ground beef with bechamel sauce), up to $13.99 for a dinner with three salmon skewers.
Your kids (ages 12 & under) will love the Little Greeks menu, with everything from a kids pita cheeseburger with fresh-cut fries ($5.49) to kids’ grilled cheese or mac n’ cheese for just $3.99. There’s also kids gyro and chicken skewer platters (each just $4.99).
And, save room for dessert, because Little Greek always has a variety of great pastries and cakes, with our office’s favorite being the baklava cheesecake.
Little Greek, which has made recent appearances at the Taste of New Tampa and other events, also can handle your holiday party orders, with amazing platters like the chicken skewers platter at the bottom of this page. Call the store for details.
Little Greek (19022 BBD Blvd.) is open every day for lunch and dinner. For more information, call 972-0707 or visit MyLittleGreek.com.
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