Greek Food with Grandma

Libby Dulski

10/21/16
Restaurant Review: Part One

I would say that I have had a sophisticated taste in food for my age for most of my life. I have been eating raw fish in sushi since I was an infant, I had my first taste of foie gras when I was eight years old, and escargot has been one of my favorite dishes since I was eleven. Therefore, I would say that I am not afraid to try and experience new foods and look forward to eating foreign foods. However, I have never really eaten Greek food. Therefore, my grandmother and I have decided to make the ten-minute car drive from her house in Glenview, Illinois to go to the restaurant Plateia Mediterranean Kitchen. For me, eating this Mediterranean- Greek inspired meal will be a new experience that I hope will expand my perception of food.

            Plateia’s website says that it wants its guests to experience the hospitality of the Greek culture with the taste of the Mediterranean. The website also states that it uses the best Non-GMO ingredients the Greek tradition can offer. I honestly have no if I will enjoy this meal; the menu contains many names of dishes that I have never heard of and that I struggle to even pronounce. I notice that there are many different dishes containing chicken, perhaps chicken is a signature dish in Mediterranean food. I plan to ask my waiter which entrée he/she recommends because I have no idea which dish would be the best to eat.

            I am worried that the unfamiliar foods will overwhelm me and that I will not be able to decide what to eat. However, I am convinced that no matter what I order it will be delicious because my grandmother assures me that Greek food is “even better than Chicago-dogs” (if that is even possible). I am also more at ease with this Greek meal because my grandmother eats Greek food relatively often. My grandmother and I plan to share the dishes we order so that I can experience as many dishes as possible. We plan on ordering an appetizer, two entrees, and a dessert (or two).

            I am also worried that I will appear rude as I conduct this food review. Throughout the meal I will have my phone out so that I can take short notes on different aspects of the meal and note the atmosphere of the restaurant. Plateia is a “fancy” restaurant, and I hope that I do not appear to be too rude as I take notes on my phone and take pictures of my food like a silly-tourist. Perhaps I will tell my waiter/waitress that I am writing a restaurant review. I have not yet decided if I will disclose this information to the waitress/waiter yet. I also have yet to decide if I should ask the waitress/waiter for information about Mediterranean and Greek food to see if they are well-informed about the food they are serving. There are many aspects that I will decide in the moment while I am actually at the restaurant.

            I hope that I enjoy the meal and that I leave wanting to eat more Greek food in the future. There is nothing worse than leaving a restaurant and feeling disappointed about the food and the experience as a whole. Overall, I am optimistic and excited to visit Plateia and taste (hopefully) good Greek food.