Olympia Kebob House & Taverna in St. Louis: An Authentic Greek Dining Experience

When I think of Greek food, the authentic cuisine of Greek Town in Chicago comes to mind. This is where I devoured my first savory gyro at the age of eleven. And even though the lamb meat didn't settle well with my mother, who essentially spent the next 24 hours gracing various Chicago porcelain thrones, I've never been deterred from the delectable flavor of the tender and spicy meat, soft pita bread, and unforgettably creamy tzatziki sauce. It was for this reason that when I was old enough to seek out the flavorful delight myself, I began my trek for the most authentically appetizing Greek food experience I could find in my own hometown of St. Louis. And I found just that with Olympia Kebob House and Taverna, St. Louis' premier authentic Greek food establishment.

Located only minutes (highway minutes that is) from St. Louis' downtown center, Olympia makes its home in South/West St. Louis' Dogtown, a traditionally Irish-American neighborhood and treasure within its own right. Upon arrival, guests will be pleasantly surprised the by the two sizable parking lots purchased by the establishment to accommodate its visitors; both positioned directly across the street. Once you cross the street and head toward the building you notice beer signs hanging in the window, which gives a unique feeling of comfort for those thinking they were about to engage in an uppity dining experience. There is also outside seating to take in the old-time pleasantries of the surrounding neighborhoods.

When you walk through the doors you enter the first of two rooms in the restaurant - the bar room - which is a seat-yourself area to get your take-out orders or dine-in at the small selection of tables and booths. The bar itself sits at the back of the room and is gorgeously framed with a tall mirror and wooden columns. But if you don't like looking at yourself while you sip on a cold one or wait for your order, you can watch the televisions sporadically hung high around the room. The second room is customized for those intending to stick around for the longer dining experience. The lighting is dimmed and the seating is plenty - tables are surrounded by booths on both walls. This is where you can catch up on the latest news with your family or friends, or settle into the Greek experience while gazing around the room at the old paintings and pictures of Greece on the walls.

Though a Greek family owns the taverna (another word for a small restaurant serving Greek cuisine), the waiting staff is not all Greek, but don't let that deter you from asking them about specifics of the menu -- trust me, they are all knowledgeable on the various authentic appetizers and entrees. For example, I've never been led astray on the fabulous appetizers, which range from the Flaming Cheese (Kasseri cheese flamed in brandy right at the table), the Hermes Hot Wings (spicy chicken wings served with tzatziki dip) and the fantastic Pita Pizza (pita bread topped with feta cheese, green pepper, onions, and a spicy sauce). But my favorite starter dish is actually considered a dip, not an appetizer: the Hummus. Hummus, a dip served with piping hot pita bread, is made of ground chick peas and sesame seeds, with what seems like pounds of garlic per teaspoon - perfect for a girl like me. But if you want to pull back on the carbs, you might want to consider the salad menu with its three crisp varieties: Greek Salad, Gyro Salad (excellent choice), and the Grilled Chicken Breast Salad, all in the $5-6 range.

These mouthwatering delights are only the beginning of your enchanting dining experience, however. Because if you still have room in your stomach after your filling appetizer (you will regret it if you don't, by the way), you can choose a meal from two parts of the menu, one labeled "Entrees," the other labeled "From the Grill," which is where you'll find the Greek classic, the Gyro. Ahh, the Gyro, my favorite taste of Greek dining; the reason I scoured the streets of St. Louis for years trying to satisfy my taste buds' constant urging for some seasoning lamb and beef, and cucumber-flavored tzatziki sauce. You and I are both lucky because Olympia offers two versions of the Gyro: Gyro on Pita, and Deluxe Gyro, both fabulous, both appetizing, and both reasonably priced. Gyro on Pita is described on the menu as "a mixture of lean ground beef and lamb, vertically broiled on our rotisserie, thinly sliced and served on pita bread with onions, tomatoes and tzatziki sauce." Fabulous! So fabulous that it could only be outdone by the Deluxe Gyro, described as "Above gyro with the addition of shredded lettuce and feta cheese." Okay, so the description isn't as beautiful, but I guarantee, the meal is even more so, and both are beautifully priced falling in the $6-7 range. Not bad for a VERY filling meal.

But if you're not into the Gyro like I am, there are plenty of other options on the menu, from the namesake Shish Kebob Plate (marinated cubes of pork, chicken or lamb, served on rice pilaf and garnished with pita bread), to the Mousssaka (tender slices of eggplant and potatoes, layered with seasoned ground beef, onions and tomatoes). They even offer more "American-styled" dishes such as Chicken Tenders, Steak Burgers, and a juicy 16 oz. Porterhouse. "But what if I don't eat meat at all?" you say. Don't fret! They offer a reasonable vegetarian selection, ranging from the Spinach Pita - considered the Kebob House Specialty (a butter-rolled, filo dough pastry made of feta cheese, spinach, onions and herbs) to the Vegetarian Gyro (a meatless gyro sandwich with the works - lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, green peppers, mushrooms, feta cheese and tzatziki sauce). They also offer spicy Spinach Rice, Taverna Potato Peels, and a vegetarian favorite, the Eggplant Parmesan, which offers slices of fried eggplant and tomato sauce, sprinkled and baked with parmesan cheese. Yummy!

But wait! It doesn't end there! You still haven't had dessert! So before you leave, you might want to try the Galatobourako, a highly recommended custard pastry topped with honey syrup, or the Kourambeathes, Greek wedding cookies coated with powdered sugar. But if you want a more familiar-sounding treat, you have to try their famed Baklava, a fabulous pastry topped with chopped walnuts and a cinnamon-flavored honey syrup. And, of course, the Rice Pudding is always a sweet treat. They also serve a unique Greek Coffee (this is a non-dessert, of course) that I hear is potent but very tasty. Unfortunately, I don't drink coffee, so I can't advise. But if you do, it may be for you!

So now that I've exhausted you with this incredible menu of Greek cuisine, I hope you will make an effort to find your way to Olympia Kebob House and Taverna when in St. Louis. And if you already live here, you have no excuse! What are you waiting for? My mouth was been watering for a Deluxe Gyro with a huge helping of tzatziki sauce on the side the entire time I've been typing this (hopefully convincing) plea to satisfy your taste buds with some great food. But I don't think I can wait any longer. So hopefully I'll see you there!

Olympia Kebob House and Taverna, located at 1543 McCausland, is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. For more information on the fabulous Greek experience, call (314) 781-1299.