Many people tend to focus on two things when it comes to food: how healthy it is and how fast it is prepared. Gogos Greek Grill does a great job in combining these factors together. Although Greek food is generally healthy, this place uses only the freshest ingredients with no additives, hormones or preservatives. Not to mention, the food is delicious. Who says that eating on the go can’t be healthy? If your stomach is growling and you’re in a hurry, I recommend you skip the Big Mac and try this place out, especially if you’re a fan of Greek food.
Gogos Greek Grill, located on 4616 West Kennedy Blvd. in Tampa, is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. It all began with three childhood friends who had a vision of owning a Greek restaurant together. The place was named after their Uncle Gogos, whose grill they learned to cook on. This later lead to the development of their passion.
“I’ve been working here since February 2009 and have been enjoying every minute of it,” said Bridget, one of the owner’s wife. “It’s nice to work with family. Our most popular item on the menu would have to be the gyro and pita.”
When it comes to Gogos Greek Grill, the customer is in charge of the meal. First, you choose your pita (plain or whole wheat), wrap or salad. There’s also a low carb bowl option for those who are carb-conscious. Next, you choose your meat. You can get chicken, steak, pork or a gyro (a combination of beef and lamb). There’s a vegetarian option available, as well. The next step is to get the toppings like lettuce, tomatoes, onions, you name it. Lastly, you choose your preferred sauce which includes tzatziki, Greek vinaigrette, ranch and more. The menu also includes side items and desserts. The best part about Gogos is that it’s quite affordable. The meal prices begin at $5.95.
The first thing that stuck out to me about Gogos was the bright orange and black umbrellas in front of the restaurant. Customers can either dine inside or outside. Upon entering Gogos Greek Grill, I noticed how trendy it was with its swanky tables and chairs. Don’t even worry about being disconnected, because they have a TV and offer free Wi-Fi. Gogos is definitely the place to hang out with friends.
Also, their ordering setup is similar to Chipotle in that it is an assembly line. The workers were very timely, and every single one of them had a smile on their face. I ordered the whole wheat pita with chicken and topped it with lettuce, tomatoes, onions and the spicy tzatziki sauce. The meal came to be $6.37 in total.
The concoction itself, which was wrapped in tin foil, was pretty big. After taking the first bite, I had the urge to yell out, “Opa!” The chicken was definitely the main attraction here. The juicy chunks of meat were full of different flavors, and the veggies tasted extremely fresh. Even the whole wheat pita was flavorful, given that many wraps tend to taste pretty bland. It was soft and chewy, just how I like my pitas. The spicy tzatziki sauce complimented it all very well. It wasn’t as spicy as I expected, however, it was still delicious and they were sure not to add in too much. With that being said, I enjoyed every bite of it and will definitely be paying Gogos Greek Grill another visit soon.
Critic’s Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Madison Irwin can be reached at xoxomaddie2@aim.com