Roast lamb needed

[HKDave]

My parental units want to be taken out for their 40-something anniversary to somewhere that has good, old-skool Greek roast lamb. Any suggestions? I used to like Athene's on Broadway but the new owners have totally cheaped out and the food is nothing like it used to be.

We're talking big chunks of dee-lish falling-apart, oregano salt and lemon rubbed slow roast lamb, not little bits of souvlaki, not slices of crappy shanks coming out of steam trays like the cheap Greek restaurants do. I don't care if they do anything else on the menu well. I don't care about 'authentic'. It's all about the roast lamb. Baaa.

Any reports?

[Kayaksoup]

Appollonia. Super tender hunks of meat.

[Vancouver Lee]

Dave, we found the lamb at Kalamata to be pretty good. Large portions of both shoulder and chops and very reasonable prices.

[vandan]

i've always liked white tower on robson very tasty and suprisingly good value considering its location they also make very good pizza

[BCinBC]

Candia Taverna - rich and falling off the bone - W10th across from Safeway / RBC. I think it's $14 and the platter is huge. Beware of wooden bench seats though, wear well-padded pants.

[Ducky]

Maria's. 4th just off Vine. That and the Kalamata already mentioned are our favourites for slow cooked lamb.

[chocklateer]

My picks: Apollonia and Takis. I'd second the vote for Maria's but I've

never had the lamb; I have, however, eaten lots of other delicious food there.

D.

[janevm]

I second Maria's and Taki's on Davie is also very good.

[winegeek]

Kalamatas. Best roasted lamb in the city. Voted best Greek, year in year out.

[Adesso Chef]

Maria's W4th all the way, but make a reservation

[HKDave]

Thanks all, great info. Four votes for Maria's makes it the winner. I'll post a report after the weekend.

[canucklehead]

I went to Ouzeri's last night on West Broadway and came away suprisingly pleased with my meal. I have generally found greek food in Vancouver to be at best - meh and at worst - truly horrible. I know that alot of people like various greek places - but for the most part it is a joke that I don't seem to get. Overthinking things perhaps.

I had the cliche calamari and roast lamb at Ouzeri's. The calmari did not have a ton of squiddy taste - but it was hot and fresh with a crisp light batter. The roast lamb was very tender with a crispy crust (as opposed to the heat lamp refugees at other places I have tried). The food had a brightness and immeadiacy that I don't recall at other greek joints.

Now - I am not saying that I was transported to the island of Lesbos (though - does'nt that sound nice...) - sitting in a cafe beside bobbing fishing boats - but it was something that I could picture going back to and enjoying again.

[11son]

I can also vouch for both Kalamata (institution and consistenly good) and Ouzeri (only went once, but the stand out in the meal, by far were the appy lamb chops. Magnifico!)

I've tried maria's (both locations) and have never been overly impressed. It;s good, to be sure, but not excellent, and I always want Greek to be excellent. I felt the same way about Taki's, too, although the fortune-teller lady there is well worth what she charges (for the experience value alone, even if you aren't into that sort of thing to help you in your life choices. Although, I used to be a synic, but I;ve been taking her advice, and she's been spot on so far. But I digress).

I've been looking for truly excellent Greek for a while too (if the above didn't already make that fairly obvious). What's this Apolonia all about? And Candia?

There are so many great people here filled with so much good advice!

~11