10 Aug Good Appetite at Orexi San Francisco

The first time I heard “kali orexi” was when I went to Greece for my first time. “Kali” means “good” and “orexi” means “appetite.” Before every meal in Greece, they say “kali orexi”, just as they say “bon appetit” in France and “boun appetito” in Italy. The point is to wish all diners a good meal and that is exactly what was had at the aptly named Orexi in San Francisco. Located in the West Portal area of San Francisco, Oreki has been open for five years. Chef-owner John Loufas and his wife, Effie, along with their friendly staff, run this family-run neighborhood restaurant. The space is warm and inviting with honeycomb artwork along one wall and a large communal table down the center of the room. As tasty as Greek food is, there are not many wonderful examples available in the U.S. There are many quick-serve Mediterranean spots and also those old-school Greek restaurants where the dishes error on the side of a bit too greasy. But at Orexi, traditional dishes are served with fresh, seasonal ingredients and clean flavors. Mezes – Mezes are a great way to start the meal. Order a few for the table and share! They are all delicious! Housemade Spreads – Tzatziki (cucumber and yogurt), Taramosalata (fish roe dip), Melitzanosalata (eggplant dip) and Tyrokarfteri (feta dip) served with homemade pita bread. Psito Oktopodi – grilled octopus served over arugula and dressed with Orexi dressing Saganaki – fried kefalogravyera cheese finished with lemon and oregano Entree – You cannot go wrong with any choice! Ippoglossa psiti – wild Alaskan halibut served over sauteed mushrooms and finished with lemon caper sauce Moussaka – traditional baked dish with layers of eggplant and ground lamb and beef, topped with bechamel Paidakia – seasoned grilled lamb chops served with Greek potatoes and roasted butternut squash Sweets – Do not miss the dessert! Galaktoboureko – semolina custard in filo Baklava – layers of filo filled with chopped nuts and honey Flavorful food and a warm and inviting atmosphere, I definitely had a good appetite at Orexi and will make it a point to go back on future visits to San Francisco. Orexi 243 West Portal Avenue San Francisco, CA 94127