It’s a well-worn cliché, whether you’re buying a house or opening a store: it’s all about location, location, location. But when I think about The Greek Spot, located on 11th street just north of U Street, it’s one of the first things that comes to mind. For all that U street has to offer, there are less counter-service restaurants for a quick, cheap bite of food than you’d expect, and The Greek Spot fills this hole with large portions of gyro, souvlaki, and falafel. Whether you’re catching a show at the 9:30 Club or DC9 or are late meeting up with some friends at the bar, The Greek Spot is in the perfect location for you to stop by and fill up.
All that being said, it wouldn’t be worth it if the food isn’t good. Now is The Greek Spot the best Greek restaurant not named Komi in the District? I wouldn’t go that far. Does it serve good-sized portions of pretty tasty Greek food at great prices? Yes it does. Chicken souvlaki here is well-seasoned, and the gyro meat is as juicy as it should be. The falafel is probably the weakest of the bunch, lacking both enough flavor and crunch; I’d recommend sticking to the meat options, unless you’re a vegetarian or just really, really craving some fried chickpea balls. With some fluffy pita to eat this all with, The Greek Spot won’t leave you disappointed.
My advice here? For the best bang for your buck, stick to the sandwiches, rather than springing for the platter. I personally prefer the taste of the sandwich, which comes wrapped in a pita and topped with tomato, onion, parsley, and a feta cheese sauce; these flavors are better together in every bite than separated out on a plate. And while the orzo pasta served with the platter is very good, it’s not quite good enough to justify the extra $3 in price. Finally, don’t worry about the portion size: the pita sandwich stuffed with gyro or souvlaki will be enough for dinner.
Whether eaten on the go, in their small dining room, or at one of their outdoor tables, The Greek Spot should become a favorite for anyone spending a lot of time near U Street. Cheap, good food in the center of the city, The Greek Spot is everything we look for in a Bargain Bite.
