Greek Souvlaki in Salt Lake City: Famous for Gyros

Greek Souvlaki restaurant, located at 404 E. 300 St. in Salt Lake City, Utah offers quality Greek food quickly and at good prices.

During a recent trip to Salt Lake, my brother-in-law suggested we check this place out. It was definitely worth the drive in the rain to get there, as we got there right when they opened. The food was hot and fresh and the service was friendly.

We both had the gyro plate, which consisted of a gyro, fries, a Greek salad and a side of lemon-butter pilaf rice. For a mere $8 we were eating in style.

First, the gyro was made on a nice, fluffy, warm pita and it was packed with lots of lamb -- always a plus. There was ample lettuce, but not too much as many other places do to cut back on the meat. It had tomatoes and the creamy white sauce (cucumber sauce) rounded this puppy out to be a major contender. One wouldn't dare remove the wax paper wrapper from it until the very end, lest one end up with half the gyro in their lap. This bad-boy was packed that full!

The one thing I will definitely have to try next time will be the mysterious "red sauce" the lady at the counter asked us if we wanted. Who has ever heard of red sauce?

Fries are usually superfluous with platter-style meals, but these were fried to a nice golden color and were actually crispy, not soggy. They were nice and thick, and not think like the usual shoestring potato.

The Greek salad could've been a meal in and of itself. The lettuce was crisp and fresh. It was no-frills, but good nonetheless. And the Greek dressing on it topped any other I've ever had prior. Most other Greek dressings I've had were all oil with a little seasoning. The ratio of this dressing was perfect, and I hardly minded smelling it the rest of the day as I somehow managed to get some on my shirt. I thought of it as a pleasant reminder of the occasion.

Last, but not least, the pilaf was superb. Again, this dish could've been a meal in itself. The rice was cooked perfectly and the lemon flavor was pleasant, but not overpowering. A different, but righteous addition to the plate is what sums this one up.

For $8 and a little tax on the side, this was definitely a worthwhile meal and rivals anything on the burger menu in a fancy bar and grill. The concept of the $8 gyro in this case is way more appealing than the $6 burger.

And don't forget to grab a slice of Baklava that's drenched in oh-so sweet honey!

Greek Souvlaki is open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday.