Tired of going out to eat at the same places? Located in a strip mall across the street from South Coast Plaza, Thasos Greek Island Grille offers unique Mediterranean gourmet and décor. Although Thasos was one of the favored places to come to in order to taste Greek gourmet, my reaction upon my initial visit to this place still remains rather mixed.
The atmosphere itself is nearly authentic. The lights are dimmed and the place is small and cozy, creating a nicely intimate environment. To enhance the classical Mediterranean vibe within the restaurant, the walls are covered with Pompeian style mural paintings with soft Greek music playing in the background and a panoramic view of the Parthenon is shown on the TVs. Although I thought the music and murals were an interesting touch (ironically the murals weren’t even Greek; they’re Roman artwork), the Parthenon shots seemed a tad excessive. This place is ideal for small groups and couples because of the size and the atmosphere of the place. Don’t try coming here with too large of a group. The largest table here seats only up to 8 people, maximum.
The service during my visit was subpar. It may have been due to the fact that the restaurant was packed that day, but the waiters had the memories of sloths. Granted, they were gracious and attentive when business was slow. However, once time passed and the customers grew in number, their charm and courtesy became forgetfulness and inattentiveness. They’d take our numerous requests with an amiable smile and a professional demeanor, but upon leaving our sight to tend to other customers, they’d forget all about our demands. I’m hoping that my group just came in on an off day and that the service is normally more obliging.
The food was acceptable, given its cheaper price. I tried the moussaka, which is similar to eggplant based lasagna. It didn’t suit my tastes (I’m not a zucchini and eggplant person), but a person who enjoys layered minced meat and eggplant may find it more appetizing. I’d recommend ordering other dishes such as the souvlaki and the bifteki instead. Their soups and salads are a tad sour. However, their Greek island fries make everything else worth the visit. Seasoned with various spices and parmesan, these little plates of heaven are served with both ketchup and tzatziki sauce. Ironically enough, these fries are the appetizers. Water refills are given to customers in clear glass vase like pitchers, complimenting the arrangement of flowers placed on every table.
All in all, Thasos Greek Island Grille is a decent restaurant. Its unique environment provides an intimate atmosphere perfect for becoming closer to whomever one is dining with. The service is friendly when the place isn’t crowded. The menu offers a wide arrangement of dishes targeted at people with different tastes. I’d give this place three out of five stars. Happy Eatings!
