Little Greek Fresh Grill Opens in Tarpon Springs: A Firsthand Taste of What’s on the Menu
Sometimes you walk into a restaurant not knowing quite what to expect. That’s how I approached my first visit to Little Greek Fresh Grill in Tarpon Springs.
I’ll be honest. Foodie Mob usually focuses on locally owned independent restaurants, so visiting a franchise was a little outside my normal routine.
But when Nick Vojnovic, President of Little Greek Fresh Grill, personally reached out and invited me to sample the food before the grand opening, I was interested.
Nick wanted my honest opinion. Not the polite version where everything is wonderful, and everybody gets a gold star. He wanted to know what I really thought.
Well, Nick, you asked for it!
So let’s get to the food.
A Little Taste of Greece
First up was the Spanakopita. If you enjoy Greek food, you probably know this classic spinach-and-cheese-filled phyllo pastry. It was very good. That flaky pastry and savory filling made a nice first impression.
Next came the dolmades.
Now, this was my third time trying dolmades at three different restaurants. I’m starting to feel like I might need to keep a running scoreboard!
Little Greek’s version was enjoyable, and the lemon sauce was particularly good. Every time I try it, I develop a better appreciation for this traditional Greek dish.
Then came the fried feta cheese. The flavor was very good, but I’ll tell you what: that’s a lot of cheese to munch on as an appetizer! I found it a bit heavy. If you’re a serious cheese lover, though, you might feel differently.
The traditional Greek salad was another part of the tasting. Nothing fancy or complicated, just a classic salad with one important thing going for it: everything tasted fresh.
Sometimes you don’t need to reinvent the salad. Just give me fresh ingredients, and we’re good!
The Burger That Brought Me Back for More
Now let’s talk about one of the two items Nick originally wanted me to try: Nikos Famous Flamebroiled Chopped Cheese Steak Burger.
Served on pita bread, this one caught my attention.
The burger was actually very good. The combination of chopped steak, melted cheese, and pita bread worked nicely together.
And here’s where things get interesting.
I liked it enough that I went back and bought another one on a separate visit.
That’s right. I went back for seconds!
You know what they say: the best way to give a food review is to try it twice. Okay, maybe nobody says that, but I’m sticking with it!
Something Sweet: Costas Frozen Greek Yogurt
Of course, we can’t finish a Greek meal without something sweet.
I tried Costas Frozen Greek Yogurt with Greek baklava pieces.
I really enjoyed this one. It had enough sweetness to satisfy my sugar cravings without being overly sweet. The texture was especially good, too.
The baklava pieces added a nice touch, making this a dessert I’d happily order again.
But I have one very important public service announcement:
DO NOT EAT IT TOO FAST!
I learned that lesson the hard way when I got a brain freeze. Apparently, I was enjoying it a little too enthusiastically!
Consider yourself warned.
From Tasting to Grand Opening
After the tasting, I returned for the official grand opening of Little Greek Fresh Grill in Tarpon Springs.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony, a gathering of guests, and plenty of excitement surrounded the new location.
Nick was understandably busy welcoming people and handling everything that comes with opening a restaurant. He still took the time to introduce me to some of the people attending.
It was nice to see the community come out and celebrate another restaurant opening in Tarpon Springs.
A Peek Behind the Counter
During the grand opening, I also got an opportunity to step behind the counter and take a look inside the kitchen.
I got to see the grill, the cooking equipment, and the vertical gyro spit. It’s always interesting to see a little of what goes on behind the scenes.
After all, we spend plenty of time looking at what’s on our plates. It’s nice to see where some of that action takes place before the food makes its way to the table!
I even got a few pictures of the kitchen and the team at work. That’s something I enjoy about visiting restaurants: getting a glimpse of the people and activity that make the dining experience happen.
What Did I Think?
So, what did I think? For a franchise restaurant, the food was actually very good!
The Spanakopita was a favorite, the dolmades were enjoyable, and that lemon sauce was pretty good. The fried feta had great flavor, although it was a little heavy for my taste. The Greek salad was fresh and traditional.
But the real standout for me was Nikos Famous Flamebroiled Chopped Cheese Steak Burger. I enjoyed it enough to go back and purchase another one. That should tell you something!
And Costas Frozen Greek Yogurt with baklava pieces was a very enjoyable way to finish the meal. Just remember my warning about eating it too fast. Nobody needs a brain freeze while enjoying dessert!
Would I go back? Absolutely. There are items on the menu I’d happily order again, and I’m curious to try more.
Sometimes you have to step outside your usual routine to discover something you might enjoy. This was one of those times.
Final Thoughts
My visit to Little Greek Fresh Grill was a pleasant surprise. I went in curious, not quite knowing what to expect, and came away having enjoyed several dishes.
It’s always interesting to experience a restaurant that’s part of a larger franchise, especially when you can try the food before the doors officially open.
I also appreciated that Nick wanted genuine feedback, not just compliments. That’s a good way to learn what customers think and what they enjoy.
Tarpon Springs has another restaurant option for people looking for Greek-inspired favorites, and it’s always nice to see another business opening its doors in our community.
That’s another day at the table with Foodie Mob.
Keep It Local. Keep It Mob.℠
Editor’s Note
Little Greek Fresh Grill invited Foodie Mob to sample several menu items before its grand opening at no charge. Foodie Mob later returned for a separate visit and purchased additional food. As always, this article reflects our honest opinions and personal dining experiences.
