12/06/08

****************THIS RESTURANT IS NO LONGER STANGING*************

by djbugs

It was a sad day when i got the phone call from my mother that she had stopped by the restaurant that I have been eating at since cellular mitosis was closed. Grecian Gardens was the BEST Greek restaurant in the state of Utah. Most people think the Greek Souvlaki is, but that's Greek fast food, and not really the way I have been raised for Greek food to taste. But now my restaurant is gone, and the only other place to go is "the other place"

10/14/08

Grecian Gardens was the very best most authentic restaurant/entertainment location in Utah!

by Chiraya

I grew up in Grecian gardens; I learned to belly dance through Kismet when I was just 5 years old, and the 1st place my tribe of sisters and our mom danced at besides the Liberty park was here at Grecian Gardens. Jimmy used to always offer me free candy. He took care of us, the staff was great, the musicians were very talented. I looooo~ved the lemon rice, the vegi's were good! the desert was awesome. They were a warm & friendly "staff" they weren't just staff, they were friends.

My mom Linda Aullman, your old time friend (Rex Aullmans) daughter,and I ( Amanda...A.K.A. Princess iina, and Nolena , & from now on, CHIRAYA) were very dissapointed to find that you guys closed down the restaurant! I miss the whole concept and feeling of this environment. But you guys were in business for very many years, longer than I have been alive! It had to come to an end some time I guess..

Well, if you read this, thank you for being such a huge influence in my life. This is a massive reason I am a belly dancer today and I am taking my career to the next level, I sing, I am now signed through a record label, and I have you guys to thank for being an inspiration in my life. I want to invite your whole entire family to my wedding to spice up the event, I will keep you posted. I don't know how to get ahold of you, so visit my email at ( rythmbaby16@gmail... ) I will give you my phone #!!! you have so much energy Jimmy! i know you'll show the young crowd what it is to be ALIVE! The best of luck and blessings to you, Mary & your whole family ;) Love~ Amanda A.K.A Chiraya

• Pros: food is good, entertainment is awesome, warm friendly inviting staff
• Cons: not very busy during the week days

06/28/07

Grecian is now closed:(

by darthlaurie

Sadly, Jimmy and Mary decided to close the doors on the Grecian and retire. It happened quite abruptly a couple weeks ago in the middle of June. I didn't particularly care for the food, especially the canned vegetables they served with the entree, but it was one of the most fun places to go.

I only danced there a handful of times, but I know I'm not alone in saying a lot of local belly dancers did their first solos or troupe dances at the Grecian and it was a memorable experience.

Thanks for the wonderful times, Jimmy and Mary. You'll be missed, not only by the belly dance community but by everyone who came in to your restaurant. Have a wonderful and well deserved retirement!

• Pros: belly dancing
• Cons: canned vegetables

05/30/07

Best Gyro in town and the music makes it even better.

by therhythmelite

I have tried every greek restaurant I can get my lips on and if you are in Salt Lake City and looking for an authentic greek experience, Grecian Gardens is the place to be! If you can make it on Saturday night there is usually semi-live music (a background track with three live musicians) with a true Greek flair. The lemon rice soup is probably the tastiest thing I can think of. It is a taste that is strange at first so give it more than one spoonful and you will love it. It's a little tart with a great texture. Excellent! If you're new to Grecian Gardens the Liga Apa Olla (greek for "a little bit of everything" or so I'm told) is a great deal about 8 bucks and you get to try a salad (greek dressing highly recommended if you like vinagrettes), the lemon rice soup, bread, the best gyro in town, good souvlaki (kind of like a kabob), a dolmadakia (corned beef hash wrapped in a grape leaf and covered in lemon sauce), lemon rice, and some sort of vegetable. It's tons of food. Saturday night also usually has dancing (either belly dancing or traditional greek) and makes for a great cultural experience. Even if you don't dance, if they invite you to dance with them GO! they will teach you and it is a lot of fun and very easy!

• Pros: Inexpensive, true greek feel, great gyro, LEMON RICE SOUP!
• Cons: Kind of scary looking from the outside.

This place is a little rough around the edges--but where else can you get a hip swivel with your spanakopita?

by Robyn Galbos

The Scene
Like something out of a David Lynch movie. There is vinyl everywhere--tablecloths, chairs, booths--and a small stage where you'll often find a man keyboarding anything from Sinatra to Zorba. Greek paintings and photographs hang on the walls and there are plenty of plastic flowers. But the main attraction is the entertainment--belly dancers perform nightly on the dance floor in the center of the dining room.

The Food
Inexpensive Greek fare that is hit and miss. The appetizers are good bets--try the fried calamari (squid) or the spanakopita (spinach pie wrapped in phyllo). The avgolemono (lemon and rice soup) is tasty, too. As for entrees, the gyro (an open-face lamb sandwich served on pita bread) and the souvlaki (marinated pork or chicken on a stick) are excellent. Skip the pastitsio and the moussaka--the bechamel sauce is unnaturally yellow and unappetizing.