Freskos — Restaurant in Hamden

I really wanted to like this place.

First visit, and very disappointed.

The counterperson was friendly, place was clean and well lit, however, the food is subpar. We ordered the Chicken Souvlaki Sandwich ($13.50) , a Classic Gyro ($12.50), Tzatziki ($7.00..!) warm pita bread ($3.00) (the tzatziki does NOT come with bread) and 2 Baklava Cheesecake slices ($9.00..!!).

The Chicken Souvlaki was not skewered and grilled, like most. In fact, it is suspiciously the same as the frozen, precooked stuff from Sysco. That could explain the bland, flavorless taste.

I asked if they could make the gyro with just lamb, but was told it's "all put together". Ok, no biggie. But what I received was a small sandwich with 4 strips of meat. Again, just like Sysco or Restaurant Depot. It had some spice, but was lacking in any flavor of lamb.

The tzatziki was not creamy and lacking in flavor as well. Definitely a premade, purchased product. Why? It's easily made fresh. It was quite thick, and ZERO evidence of cucumber. Not refreshingly cool (like a good tzatziki is meant to be) and i doubt there's much real yogurt or lemon (it had no tang) and few spices. $7 for a side-which probably pays for the entire 3.75 pound tub they purchased for resale. One would think it would come with pita...or something at least...but for $7.00, I guess they assume you'll just scoop it out with your finger.

At least the pita were fresh. $3.00 for 3 pita.

The worst item was the baklava. Not fresh, moist with condensation, and not flaky at all. There cheesecake was light and airy, but had little flavor. It was lacking in sweetness (barely any honey) and very disappointing.

We spent $57.97 for this meal!

I am a chef and have worked in many Greek delis and restaurants. I know when it's freshly made on premise and when it's pre-purchased. I've personally made gyro, souvlaki, tzatziki and baklava. This place is no better than fast food at 3 times the price. I have no problem paying more if the quality is there, but unfortunately it can't be found here.

So...

I rarely go out of my way to post a review on my food experiences but I feel compelled posting one on Freskos for two reasons:

First and foremost because the food quality is outstanding and among the closest I have ever tasted to the real deal. I was born and raised in Greece and I must say it is hard to find a place in the US that gets it right. I lived for 21 years in NY and have gone to pretty much every great Greek restaurant in the City. And in all fairness, most of them produce incredible quality food but very few can capture the taste of the food in Greece. Recently I moved my business and my life to CT and since I tried Freskos, I have been ordering for me and my crew every single day only from them. So while taste is a very subjective matter, my opinion has at the very least the validity of having purchased from them hundreds of times for me and a dozen of people around me. The food is always fresh and tastes great, the people are amazing. My lunch time is my single moment during the day that I feel at home.

However the other reason I wanted to leave my review is because I was truly shocked by the comments of the previous review posted by Helena Marie. Just for reference, all her other reviews are 1-star super negative and involve money complains and bills that she did not think she should pay, except two reviews, one on a bagel place and one on a 99-cents Chinese restaurant that offered massive amount of food for very little money.

Marie Helen, if you can read this, you are wrong about Freskos and you know it. Actually every single word you said is wrong and unfair simultaneously. And 95% of the nearly 250 reviews here firmly disagree with you. If you wanted to make a difference, for once in your life you just did with this review, but it reflects on you so negatively just as your intentions did leaving those comments. Best advice I can give you, give Freskos another try and come back here and...

I had the worst experience ever. My husband is Greek and I use to live in a town with many Greek people. First of all staff was not welcoming at all, it was very awkward. They do not know how to interact with customers. Food is such a small portion and very expensive. I spent 95 dollars and felt like I got no food at all. They don’t have chicken Souvlaki platter if I want to get a salad with it , it is extra . Usually in every Greek place I’ve been to you get the souvlaki , pita bread , fries and salad. If you want the Greek drink with your meal it does not include that and is extra never have I’ve had that happen anywhere else. We got the lamb gyro as well and it tasted like the cheap gyro was very horrible. Food is so mediocre . I wish I could get my money back because it was such a waste . I am very disappointed and dissatisfied with my experience. Knowing how Greek food and people are this has to be the lowest standard of service and food I’ve had experienced . Expected way more. Please don’t waste your money and go elsewhere. Pictures below show the chicken gyro the bread falling off and Not edible , Greek fries they definitely use cheap feta cheese tasted like one you would get from Walmart. Those Greek cookies were so disgusting even let my husbands mother try them who makes these herself and she said they tasted so bad . The cookie taste nothing close to how Greek people make it. I am so...