Georgetown’s newest spot is serving up fresh, fast and casual Greek street food.
Greco is located on the bustling corner of Wisconsin Avenue and Dumbarton Street, an ideal spot for a quick lunch break, coffee or treat. The close-to-campus location, which opened Jan. 15, is the sixth location of the Greek franchise and joins spots in Union Market and around Boston.
Once I walked into the restaurant, I was met with the soft chatter of customers enjoying their food. Even on a Sunday evening the restaurant was bustling.
My friends and I approached the counter and ordered our meals off of the menu hanging on the ceiling. The setup was similar to a Chipotle, with all the ingredients and sauces in containers sitting on the counter for customers to pick and choose. Different types of meat were spinning on vertical rotisseries on the back counter, waiting to be cut for wraps, plates and salads.
I ordered a pork gyro ($12.50) that came with a thick layer of tzatziki, onions, tomatoes and seasoned fries. There are other options for proteins, including chicken, lamb, bifteki (baked beef patties) and loukaniko (leek and pork sausage). Vegan and vegetarian options are available, with choices of halloumi, squash fritters or pea protein meatballs.
Another contender was a plate ($15.50) that includes protein, pita bread and a side. Other menu options include souvlaki ($5.50), skewers with pork or chicken, as well as various salads, including a Greek Caesar ($15.50) and lamb chops ($19.50) that come with salad, fries and pita.
My gyro came wrapped in paper with the dark blue Greco logo all over. I also purchased an Epsa lemon soda, a fizzy lemonade drink ($4.00) though their homemade orange blossom lemonade ($4.50) and frappe Greek iced coffee ($4.00) looked tempting. After paying for my meal, I walked to a white table on the heated and covered back porch area.
Floor-to-ceiling windows covered the sides of the room while black and white overhead lights lit up the space. White tables accompanied by benches and wicker chairs were available for seating. Potted plants hung around the porch, giving the room an outdoorsy and industrial vibe.
The pork was teeming with spices, seasoned with rosemary and oregano, to name a few. Tomatoes and onions added acidity and crunch, joining the other umami flavors. Tzatziki was spread all over the fluffy pita bread with Greek yogurt, dill and cucumbers, integrating a tang and coolness. About five or six french fries were included in the wrap and were seasoned with oregano. All of the components together created a tasty combination of saltiness, tang and texture. Meanwhile, the fizzy lemon drink was sweet and refreshing in between bites.
My friend got the same ingredients as me but on a plate, similar to a Chipotle bowl. She mixed everything together and used the pita pieces to scoop up all the ingredients, kind of like deconstructed Greek nachos.
I hope to visit Greco during the day to grab a Frappe ($4.00), a Greek iced coffee and my favorite Greek treat, loukoumades, Greek doughnut holes with cinnamon and honey ($8.00). As the colder weather has been dragging on, Greco is a top-notch spot to get a taste of summer with delicious Mediterranean food.
