Cuisines: Greek and Mediterranean

My first forays into Greek cuisine began at Greek diners--perhaps not the most sophisticated of locales, but they did get me to try more interesting dishes like moussaka over the usual burger and fries. In fact, before I even liked eggplant, I loved moussaka! Along with baklava (phyllo pistachio pastry dripping with honey), they became my favorite Greek dishes. My own stumbling block to truly appreciating Greek cuisine: my utter disgust of olives.

Mediterranean food is becoming more and more popular, due in part to its healthy nature. Olive oil, a healthy fat, is an important part of the diet, along with red wine, cheese, yogurt, fish, fruits, and vegetables. Hummus (mashed chickpeas and tahini) is a good alternative to ranch dip, and Greek yogurt with a little honey is much better than sweetened yogurts. But if the health benefits don't convince you to try Mediterranean foods, then this will: they're delicious!

My recommendations:

Tapas, West Hartford: http://www.tapasonline.com/ordereze/Default.aspx

The food: West Hartford is a town blessed with restaurants featuring nearly every cuisine in the world, and out of them all, Tapas is my favorite. I am addicted to their Greek salad, particularly their "almost famous" dressing (which they sell). It's worth coming here for a salad alone, which is high praise for any restaurant. Despite the name, their dishes are not really tapas (Spanish small plates). Instead, the menu consists of flat bread pizzas and platters (including gyros, souvlaki, falafel, spanakopita, muffaletta, and other Greek classics). Their flatbread "pizzas" are loaded with tantalizing toppings; my favorite is the Basque tapas (sausage, mushrooms, ricotta, brie, and sundried tomatoes). Their pita bread gyros are also excellent and you can choose either their Madd Greek or Tzatziki (yogurt, cucumber, and dill) sauce.

The vibe: There's such a friendly, cozy, and welcoming atmosphere here. You will immediately feel "at home."

The value: The great prices have made me visit Tapas multiple times!

Go for: Family dinner with the kids


Sara's Pockets, Storrs (UConn): http://www.saraspockets.com/

The food: I first discovered this place as a freshman at UConn. Bored of bland and salty dining hall food and getting sick of the college take-out diet of pizza and wings, I found Sara's Pocket's, a haven of fresh veggies and real meat. This is healthy fast casual at its finest. They actually have a pretty comprehensive menu, but I've only ever had their grilled kebab pockets. They are chicken, beef, or lamb wrapped in a pita with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and tahini or lemon garlic sauce. Their chicken tastes just as good as chicken you could grill out on the deck at home. I love both sauces, though I prefer the garlic (tahini sauce is made from a ground sesame seed paste). Save room for some homemade baklava.

The vibe: A true, authentic family place. Every time I've been in here, the owner has been friendly and helpful. You have to walk up stairs to get to the restaurant (it's on the second floor of the building) and there is outdoor and indoor seating.

The value: Perfect for broke college students!

Go for: Quick take-out, vegetarian-friendly options