Loui's Kouzina — Restaurant in Markham

Full disclosure; I am not the biggest fan of Greek food. With that said, here, we, GO!

Loui’s Kouzina is a relaxed environment Greek restaurant located in the plaza at Woodbine and 16th Avenue in Markham. In step with the Greek theme, much of the decor features bold Greek blue and white colours. The feel of the space is brightened, literally, by the welcome amount of natural light that flows in. These guys have been in the area since 2008, so they must be doing something right.

To be honest, my favourite item to get here is their trio dip appetizer. You'll be served several slices of fresh nan with which you can scoop up tzatziki, hummus, or taramosalata. Taramosalata is a blend of red fish roe, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice. There is nothing mind blowing about this dish, but for me, the flavours are relatively simple, while at the same time vibrant. It's a great way to get me on board! My personal favourite is the taramosalata :) I also tend to get the small pork souvlaki. All of their small plates are served with salad, tzatziki, and one of: fries, assorted vegetables, rice, or roasted potatoes.

In general, this restaurant aims to please with simple ingredients, which is highlighted by these two dishes. To their credit, I've always been satisfied eating here, and I'm sure you would be too. Don't expect life changing flavours, but do...

These pictures are from a pre-covid dining experience but I have also purchased takeout from them a few times during the pandemic as well!

I really liked going here with my coworkers when I used to work nearby because the pottions served here are HUGE 🥳

-[TARAMOSALATA] $7.50

It looks like a pink paste/goo haha but don't be scared! The reason for its color is because it is made out of a blended combination of red fish roe, extra virgin oil, garlic, and lemon juice!

It is also served with grilled pita slices 🤤 This is definitely a saltier dish that they serve but I honestly love how much of the taramosalata that they give! I love spreading it on a freshly toasted piece of bread 🍞

-[CHICKEN SOUVLAKI-SMALL PLATE] $14.50

So THIS is the "small" plate but I am 99% sure I was unable to finish this in one sitting 😂 because of the aforementioned large portions! Comes with TWO skewers of chicken souvlaki, a greek salad and your choice of one of the following: fries, mixed vegetables, rice, or roasted potatoes!

(I highly recommend their roasted potatoes 🥔🔥)

They are extremely flavorful and just warm me right up when I eat them 🤤

Definitely give this place a try if you're looking for delicious Greek food for a...

TLDR: The platters are a great value for three people, but a must need side dish will cost an additional $5.

Regarding the appetizers, The Trio, which contains three sauces - hummus, tzatziki, and chickpea - was unique and had a sweet taste. The tzatziki was particularly good and was the highlight of the meal. However, the spinach pie was disappointing and not as good as what I've had from other places.

Moving on to the entrees, the gyros were excellent with a great balance of spices and the tzatziki sauce. It had a flavor similar to Chinese lap cheong sausages. The lamb chops were good, but I mistook them for steak due to the lack of bones. The gaminess was still present but the spices helped to cover it up. The pork slavosky was standard and nothing particularly noteworthy.

On the downside, the chicken was dry and lacked any chicken flavor. It tasted more like tzatziki sauce than actual chicken. The quail was hard and dry, and frankly, not edible. Additionally, we ordered a side dish which cost $5 for a small plate, but it was good...