Head to Troy for the best of Greek food
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (April 26, 2023) — Since Yanni closed at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Concord has been without true Greek cuisine. Local diners have had to be content with gyros and falafels from Middle Eastern fast-food establishments.
With the exception of a small part of the menu at Jack’s in Pleasant Hill, those who crave Greek cooking have had to travel to Troy in nearby Martinez to experience a complete Aegean meal.
Established in 2008, with current owner Masarweh taking over five years ago, Troy reminds one of a café in Athens.
“We want to create a wholesome environment where families can enjoy a good meal and escape with their pocketbooks still intact,” says general manager Ramsey Sharif.
Coming from a culinary family in San Francisco, Sharif is not surprised there are so few pure Greek restaurants in the area. “The food prep and cooking process takes longer than most people in the restaurant field want to deal with,” he notes.
A good way to start at Troy is with the meza platter for two, which includes creamy hummus, falafel, dolmas, melitzano salata, feta cheese, kalamata olives and pita bread. House-made spanakopita dipped in tzatziki sauce and fried calamari pair well with a beverage from the full-service bar.
All the flavors
Good dishes to split are Troy’s Greek or Athenian chicken salad. Walnuts, feta, chicken and apples on a bed of lettuce with a house vinaigrette bring out all the flavors of the Athenian salad.
For lighter appetites, wraps have proven popular. The gyros meat on a spit, from a supplier in the Midwest, is especially tasty.
Troy’s entrees don’t disappoint. Lamb souvlaki, kefta kebab and lamb kapama all feature meat sourced in New Zealand. Similar dishes utilizing chicken and beef are also on the menu, with grilled salmon and seared ahi tuna as good choices.
If diners wish to have their lamb, beef or fish cooked on the rarer side, they should tell the server when ordering.
My favorite entree at Troy is the incredible mousaka. It features eggplant, ground lamb and tomatoes covered by a bechamel sauce. It also includes rice and tzatziki on the side.
For dessert, Troy’s baklava is a terrific choice. Layers of honey-drenched phyllo dough rest on top a sweet pistachio mixture. It’s delicious.
Troy Greek Cuisine is on 720 Main St., Martinez. They serve food 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. daily. For more information, call 925-293-4077 or visit troygreek.com/Martinez.
More choices
You can find several other Middle Eastern style restaurants locally, giving diners an alternative to the “bun and run” fast food.
One excellent choice is The Mediterranean on the far side of Park and Shop. This Turkish style restaurant has been around more than 30 years. Their tabbouleh, Greek salad, bakdonsieh and ghannouj with pita are among the best in the area. I prefer to have the food to-go, as all dishes are served in Styrofoam containers.
Sam’s Kebabs and Gyros at 1895 Farm Bureau Road in Concord does an excellent job with a small menu primarily of gyros and falafel wraps. Sam’s friendly service enhances the in-house dining experience. This is a great place to get a good meal with a Middle Eastern flair at a fair price.
Another local Mediterranean restaurant to consider is Aga Grill, 4691 Clayton Road, in Concord. Outside of the usual gyros and burger fare, they offer tasty chicken and beef kebabs served with salad and pita bread. While a bit pricey, this dish is of high quality and most enjoyable.
Contact Richard Eber at rjerje@pacbell.net
Rich Eber
Rich Eber is a local journalist and long time resident of Concord. His diverse topics covered go from politics to gourmet food. He can be reached at rjerje@pacbell.net