Greek Marina’s Mix Vege Plate

Ok, so the gang at work is going out to lunch at Greek Marina in Hawaii Kai to celebrate a coworker’s birthday. Of course you want to join in the fun at the bright, sunny restaurant with its charming Mediterranean ambiance and marina views. But as someone who doesn’t eat meat, you’re afraid
there won’t be anything on the menu for you — Greek food is all about gyros and souvlaki, right?

Actually, as many Island vegetarians already know, going Greek is a great way to veg out.

“We have lots of vegetarian dishes,” says Greek Marina owner Tarek Guirguis. “We’re very famous with the vegetarians.”

Hungry to try it out, I set out to Hawaii Kai for lunch at Greek Marina — and boy, was I in for a treat. Guirguis suggested the Mix Vege Plate ($14.95 for lunch), which provides a savory sampling of the restaurant’s most popular meatless dishes: Dolmades: grape leaves wrapped around a blend of rice, tomatoes, onion, parsley, olive oil and spices — these little packages are packed with flavor and served with a tangy yogurt sauce; Falafel, a mix of crushed garbanzo and fava beans, parsley, garlic and spices fried in vegetable oil — hot and crisy, these come with their own tahini-based sauce; Hummos, a blend of garbanzo beans, tahini, fresh garlic and lemon topped with olive oil, is smooth and satisfying; Baba Ghanouj, a blend of baked eggplant mixed with tahini, fresh garlic and lemon, bursts with flavor on the palate. It’s all served with a salad of crispy greens, sliced tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, olives and feta cheese tossed in a tasty vinaigrette, and a side of warm, soft pita bread to scoop up all that flavor. You certainly won’t walk away hungry!

So go ahead, join the crowd and veg out at Greek Marina.

Greek Marina