From Greece to Long Beach

West End GR
1042 W. Beech St., Long Beach
(516) 432-7147

       Reminiscent of a café one might find on a Greek island, West End GR opened its doors in August. Maybe a dozen tables fill this little spot, which is crisply bedecked in blue and white. A traditional vertical rotisserie hosts fresh beef and lamb gyro that rivals the best. Foods, dips and sauces are homemade …. and you’ll notice the difference.

         What we have here is truly fine authentic Mediterranean cuisine. Manning the open kitchen is Nicos, who was raised in Cyprus. His partner, Jennifer, hosts and manages the restaurant. After years of owning and operating Greek restaurants in Astoria, Queens, they have brought their expertise to the west end of Long Beach.     

         Classic dips are served with warm grilled pita bread. Order one or get a trio, your choice of three. Hummus was hearty, with a bit of a spicy kick. Melitzanosalata, a blend of eggplant and herbs was superb. Tzatziki, a sauce of yogurt lush with cucumbers, garlic and dill was better than most; you’ll find it served with gyros and other dishes. Homemade soups were a warm welcome. We enjoyed Yankee bean and lentil.

        A first for me, grilled Haloumi, was a thick slice of Cypriot made from goat and sheep milk served on whole wheat pita. This cheese, we were told, is eaten raw with watermelon in Cyprus. Zucchini croquettes were amazing — a light interior made of zucchini, cheese, dill and mint, fried to crunchy perfection. Greek salad, a shredded mix of romaine, parsley, red onions, and scallions, was tossed with tomatoes, cucumbers, olive and feta. The “small” was quite large.

         Chicken souvlaki, served over pita, offered a generous amount of white meat with grilled zucchini and broccoli. I cannot rave enough about the beef/lamb gyro … it’s simply a must-try.

         With excellent coffee we enjoyed Galactoboureko, a traditional Greek pastry of phyllo, custard and honey. We noticed that Jennifer was handing out gratis desserts to customers. Offering a free treat, she told us, is something they like to do.