Greek / Middle-eastern Restaurants

Da Big Boyz: Olive Tree Café any day for Greek foods, while both Casablanca and Pyramid's are fun, very cultural dining experiences.

Greek

Olive Tree Café. 4614 kilauea Ave. next to the Kahala Mall S.C. in Kahala. 737-0303. Dinner nightly. Parking outside store or on street. Prices: $$. Map. A Closer Look.

A loyal following inhabits the grounds at Olive Tree Cafe in Kahala, attracted to Greek dishes like this mussels ceviche and lamb souvlaki.

There is a sort of cult-like following here, mostly younger hipsters and college-educated types who congregate and feed off each others eclectic energies. You won’t find barely any service at all, as this place is always crowded and they don’t have to play nice to get business. You even have to order yourself at the self-service counter. Dishes like avgolemono soup, falafel, fish souvlaki, stuffed eggplant with tomato sauce and sheep cheese, and spanakopita, a spinach and cheese-stuffed filo, are all great. The restaurant is byob, but right nextdoor sits the Oliver wine shop, which is also operated by the owners of the Olive Tree.

The Fat Greek. 3040 Waialae ave. in Kaimuki. 734-0404. Lunch and dinner daily. Parking outside store. Prices: $$. Map.

I love splitting a plate-for-two with da wifey, because she weighs about as much as a tweety bird. Three for me, one for you.... That's what happened with this lamb and shrimp plate from the Fat Greek. I also like splitting a six-pack with her, too.

The Fat Greek is the newest addition in this section, sporting a decent sized dining area with both indoor and outdoor sections. You’ll have to pick up and order at the counter, but never mind standing around hoping for them to call your name, as little electronic buzzers are given out so you can relax at your table while waiting. They don’t stick strictly to Greek and have a kind of mixed Mediterranean menu, with such offerings as beef shawarma with a spicy tahini sauce, balls of falafel, rack of lamb, garlic shrimp, hummus w/pita bread, and tasty, thick-cut wedges for fries. The parking lot is sometimes challenging, as the cramped lot is also shared with another popular restaurant, Sabrina’s (Italian).

The Greek Corner. 1025 University Ave. in McCully/Moiliili. 942-5503. Lunch and dinner daily. Limited parking outside store, on street, or nearby public parking areas. Prices: $. Map. This is the place to be if you want economical gyros, which they serve with thick-cut French fries. There are also mixed vegetarian plates for all you grazer’s, tabbouli, baba ganoush, lamb kabobs, and warm pita slices.

Leo’s Taverna. 2 locations: 801 Kaheka St. in front of Don Quijote store in McCully/Moiliili (map shown); and 1116 Bishop St. in Downtown Honolulu, 550-8443. Prices: $. Map. Leo’s is a simple, no-frills eatery famous both for their good-sized lamb and beef-filled gyros and their whole-roasted chicken (one serving is a half-chicken). The kabobs are also packed with flavorful herbs and spices. They can all be ordered with sides of spicy fries, hummus, and salad. The downtown location is only open during daylight hours, and the Kaheka store is take-out only, and housed in a mini-food court outside of the Don Quijote superstore.

Greek Marina. 7192 kalanaianaole Hwy. at the Koko Marina S.C. in Hawaii Kai. 396-8441. Lunch daily except Sunday, dinner nightly. Parking in center lot. Prices: $$. Map.

Middle-Eastern/Central Asian

Casablanca. 19 Hoolai St. in Kailua. 262-8196. Dinner nightly except closed Sunday and Monday. Parking outside store or on street. Prices: $$$. Map. This Moroccan-flavored Kailua hide-away is a step into a different world – there are Persian rugs, Morrocan lanterns, silk-like embroideries serving as walls, deep-colored leather sofas, and of course, the exotic smells of saffron, cardamom, cumin, and other herbs and spices mixed with the smokey aroma of grilled meats. You’ll love the hand-washing right at your table, where servers pour warm water over your hands as it trickles down into another bowl, a practice common throughout Africa and the Middle East and something you’ll need to do, as utensils are taboo. Ok, ok - they do provide utensils if you want, but don’t be a wimp – enjoy the experience as the Morrocan’s do! The menu is fixed, except you can choose from main menu items such as lamb, seafood, beef, chicken, and other meats. You will be delighted at the variety of dishes, like a creamy hummus dip, tabbouleh salad, harira soups, Cornish game hens, and lamb tagine with eggplant, along with several different dessert choices. The meal concludes by another washing of hands. A great experience out in Kailua town!

Pyramid’s. 758 Kapahulu Ave. right outside of Waikiki. 737-2900. Lunch daily except Sunday, dinner nightly. Parking on street. Prices: $$. Map. The food may not be just as you would find in Turkey or Egypt, but this little restaurant has been pleasing local diners for many years, and has quite the reputation around here. During lunchtime the restaurant converts to an all-you-can eat buffet. In the evenings there are exotic, but tasteful belly dancers every night of the week, and they love to get the crowd going but not to the point of singling anyone out for embarrassment. The food is a mix of middle-eastern treats, some of which are the hummus, falafel, spanakopita, moussaka, and meaty kabobs. An ethnic experience, that’s for sure, though not quite as involved as Casablanca.

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