Greek To Go: Georgie’s Place Has Great Food Without Frills

As has become the ritual over the last several months, last Wednesday Cliv and I decided to eat at another restaurant that we had never been to before heading to the studio for our weekly spot on Swoop’s World Radio. Because neither of us live all that close to Bixby Knolls or Cal Heights, there are always plenty of fresh options for us to choose from. This time, at the recommendation of a few friends, we decided on Georgie’s Place, a classic do-it-all charbroiler in much the same vein as Fantastic Café or Golden Burger.

The beauty of a restaurant like Georgie’s Place lies in its versatility; a family of four can eat here and each diner can choose from a diverse menu covering everything from breakfast staples to Mexican comida to deli sandwiches, burgers, and chili dogs. However, Georgie’s Place bills itself as a Greek and American Grill, and they do a better job than many other places of maintaining a steady Greek presence on their menu. The selection includes Lamb Chops, Gyros, Beef Brochette, Chicken Kabob, and Georgie’s ½ Charbroiled Chicken, as well as the requisite Greek salads and sauces.

For our first visit to Georgie’s we decided to stay true to the place’s roots and we both went for Greek dishes. Cliv ordered up Georgie’s ½ Charbroiled Chicken, and while the name explains a good deal of it, it does not tell the whole story. The half chicken is seasoned with lemon and pepper and served in one piece, with the skin crisped but the meat still moist and tender. It comes with a Greek salad and a side of french fries, which was more than enough to fill up the big man.

I chose to go the Gyro route, because I am a sucker for amalgamated meat on a rotisserie. Georgie’s serves up an impressive gyro on a large pita, stuffed full of meat, lettuce, onions and tomatoes all bathed in tzatziki. Despite the fact that we were there toward closing time, the slices of gyro meat were moist and juicy, nicely browned on the outside but not overdone. The Gyro plate came with a side of french fries that almost overshadowed the rest of the plate because of the sheer mass of potato, but all in all it made for a very satisfying meal.

Most dinner plates range from $8-$10 and are large enough to quell a fairly ambitious appetite. Georgie’s Place accepts credit cards, has a private parking lot, and has an outdoor patio dining area facing Atlantic Avenue that should be very enjoyable during the monthly First Fridays events in Bixby Knolls. On my next visit I believe I will be ordering the Lamb Chops as I work my way through their menu. If you’re going for dinner, get there early because they close by about 8PM, but check out Georgie’s Place the next time you’re in the neighborhood.