Olga's Kitchen: A Taste of Something Different

If you live in the great state of Michigan and have visited a mall of any type you are more than likely familiar with the restaurant name of Olga's Kitchen. The first Olga's was opened by Olga Loizon in 1970 in Birmingham, Michigan in Continental Market. In 1976 other locations began opening.

Today, Olga's Kitchen has restaurants in Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio. Most Olga's locations are in malls whether they be strip malls or those that are fully enclosed. A few Olga's locations are stand alone restaurants, though those are outnumbered by the mall locations.

Olga's doesn't offer common fast food or casual dining restaurant fare. What they offer is something a little different. They offer patrons their wonderfully flaky Spinach Pie. Spinach Pie is traditionally a Greek restaurant specialty. Olga's Kitchen does not call itself a Greek restaurant, even though their Original Olga bears a striking resemblance to a Gyro. The difference between a Gyro and the Original Olga is the fact that the Original Olga is made with seasoned beef and lamb and is served with Olga sauce, while a Gyro is made with seasoned lamb and tzaziki sauce which is a mixture of Greek yogurt, cucumbers, and dill. Also the Olga bread that the sandwich is served in is not a traditional pita bread as it is not intended to be split open and filled as a pocket as pita bread is. The Olga bread is thin and is used to wrap all of the Olga sandwiches.

Besides the Original Olga you can order a BLT, A Three Cheese Olga, A Turkey Club Olga, Grilled Chicken, Asian Chicken, and Tuna Salad, among others. You may order curly fries to accompany your sandwich as well. If you are more of a salad person you can order a side Olga salad with your sandwich. The Olga Salad is made with lettuce, tomato, olives, onions, feta cheese, and Olga's dressing.

If you choose to order a salad as your entree you have choices there as well. Among your salad choices are: The Olga Salad, which you may have with or without chicken, a Caesar salad, also with or without chicken. You may also choose a Southwest Chicken Ranch salad, Apple Pecan Chicken, Mandarin Chicken, or Chicken Blue Cheese salad as your entree. Most of their salads come in full or half sizes, and is served with your choice of snackers or Olga Bread.

You may choose to begin your meal with either a bowl or cup of one of the soups and chili that Olga's offers. Olga's offers Peasant Soup and Cream of Broccoli in either a cup or a bowl. As an accompaniment to your soup, salad, or chili you can choose snackers or Olga bread. Snackers are wedges of Olga bread served with Almond Cheese spread.

You can also order a basket of snackers as an appetizer with either the Almond Cheese, or a Parmesan Marinara sauce. Olga's also offers Three Cheese Balls and Spinach Pies as appetizers as well.

Besides Olga's signature sandwiches, snackers, spinach pie, and salad they also offer a signature drink, the Orange Cream Cooler. The Orange Cream Cooler reminds me of a liquid version of an orange creamsicle.

So, if you are looking for something a little different stop by Olga's Kitchen and enjoy one of their many wonderful offerings.