I love “Greek” food and while working in Long Beach, CA often visited George’s Greek Cafe for great falafel pita sandwiches and the most delicious Greek salad.
I loved to start with George’s smooth hummus and warm, pillowy pita bread. The hummus is really creamy and smooth, made with the usual garbanzo beans, tahini, lemon juice, salt, olive oil, and garlic.
I don’t think I ever deviated from my usual order of the falafel sandwich with salad in the ten or fifteen times I visited George’s Greek Cafe. The freshly fried falafel are encased in soft pita bread and topped with tomato, cucumber, red onion, and creamy tzatziki sauce. The falafel sandwich is accompanied by french fries, rice, or salad and I always ordered the Greek salad. The Greek sandwich was always generously heaped on the plate with the falafel sandwich and consisted of Romaine lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, feta cheese, kalamata olives, cucumbers, in a tangy Greek vinaigrette. The salads are always fresh, have tons of feta cheese, and large chunks of tomatoes. I could eat this salad everyday.
George’s Greek Cafe
5316 East 2nd St.
Long Beach, CA 90803
562-433-4648
Driving from San Diego to Las Vegas with friends back in 2009, there was one place along the five-hour route that could make the drive less dreary: a stop at The Mad Greek in Baker, CA.
Located about fifty miles from the Nevada/California state border, Baker, CA is home to the world’s tallest thermometer.
I love American Greek food. I love the combination of red onions, briny kalamata olives, tart vinaigrette, and salty feta cheese of Greek salad, I love the simplicity of pita bread and hummus, although I love pita bread with creamy tzatziki sauce just a little bit more, and I say I love “American” Greek food because I love falafel, which is a Middle Eastern street food, but is often served at American Greek restaurants.
I ordered the falafel plate which came with a buttery, but very salty rice pilaf, falafel and fresh vegetables wrapped in pita bread, and a side of tahini. The falafel were dense and salty, nothing memorable.
I also ordered a large chocolate shake, which was a behemoth size. Luckily, there were four of us to share this enormous drink. It was very creamy, topped with whipped cream and a festive orange umbrella. I would try this shake again, but the falafel were mediocre, especially for the price.
The Mad Greek
72112 Baker Blvd.
Baker, CA 92309
760-733-4354
