Acropolis Cuisine
3841 Veterans Memorial Blvd, Metairie, LA 70002, USA
Metairie 2: Orleans Line To Houma Blvd
Anecdotes & Analysis
A peculiar new evolution is occurring among ethnic restaurants in New Orleans. And, I suspect, everywhere else. We are enjoying a wider range of international cuisines. Twenty years ago, if you wanted to eat Korean, Colombian, Turkish, Peruvian, or Ethiopian food hereabouts, your choices were between few and none. Now we have all those, and their numbers are increasing. The strange part is that the ethnic cuisines that have been here a long time have faded as other styles from the same general part of the earth moved in. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the market for Greek food. I remember when we had ten or twelve. Now there are two. Why? Because the similar Middle Eastern restaurants, now numbering two dozen, have lured that particular hunger of yours from the Greeks. It's almost like the Trojan War. Fortunately, those two Greek restaurants are pretty good. I covered Mr. Gyros here a couple of years ago, and here's the other one.
Backstory
The Acropolis is the current manifestation of a tenuous string of restaurants going back to an old cafe and taverna called Teddy's Grill, in the CBD in the 1950s. The present owners (there have been several) still have a few dishes from the old days--notably the six-onion soup under a pastry crust. Acropolis opened its present location in 1999, and caught the attention of those of us who love the cuisine. (Greeks, curiously, are not especially good customers, because they cook this kind of food at home and think they do it better than any restaurant does.)
Dining Room
The tables are a little crowded into a small, usually full dining room. The restaurant and its strip mall are a little hard to see unless you know exactly where on Veterans it is. (Does "a block before Cleary" help?) It appears that there are virtually no parking spaces in front, but there are more behind the restaurant (and a rear entrance, too).
Why It's Essential
Although New Orleans is home to a large, active, long-term Greek community, it has never had many good Greek restaurants. Despite its small size, Acropolis has a large menu of the Greek standards. Meanwhile, the presence of pizza and pasta makes it family-friendly.
Why It's Good
In both the Greek and Italian sides of its menu, Acropolis brings familiar, homestyle dishes to an unusual degree of sensual goodness. The best way to go is to order the daily complete dinners, four courses long, for between $20 and $25. How you can get four courses of the size they serve down is your problem.
Most Interesting Dishes
<em><strong>Starters</strong></em><br /> »Roasted garlic and potato soup<br /> Soup of the day<br /> »Fried calamari<br /> »Hummus<br /> »Spinach and cheese pie<br /> Baba ghannoush<br /> »Stuffed grape leaves<br /> »Cheese pie<br /> Fried ravioli<br /> Appetizer sampler<br /> »Acropolis salad<br /> »Traditional Greek salad<br /> Caesar salad<br /> <em><strong>Sandwiches</strong></em><br /> »Gyro pita wrap<br /> California pita wrap<br /> »Souvlaki pita wrap<br /> Veggie pita wrap<br /> <em><strong>Entrees</strong></em><br /> »Moussaka<br /> »Lasagna al forno<br /> »Roasted Mediterranean-style chicken<br /> »Pizzas<br /> Rosemary filet of chicken<br /> »Chicken parmigiana<br /> Veal parmigiana<br /> »Gyros platter<br /> Char-broiled double cut pork chops<br /> »Braised lamb chops<br /> »Slowly grilled chicken kabobs<br /> Shrimp kabobs<br /> »Pork tender kabobs<br /> Combo kabob<br /> <em><strong>Desserts</strong></em><br /> »Baklava<br /> »Bread pudding<br /> »Tiramisu<br /> Baklava sundae<br />
Deficiencies
Many Greek dishes that never turn up in New Orleans would be nice to find here. The staff needs to visit Chicago's Halsted Street, which has fifty or sixty Greek eateries.
For Best Results
The markerboard with its table d'hote lunch and dinner specials offers the most interesting eating here.
Bonus Ratings
2
Attitude
1
Environment
1
Service
2
Value