Aleko's — Restaurant in Maryland

April 6, 2021 - Imagine. . . “You’re going to the Gas Station for dinner?” “Not really, it’s Aleko’s , you know, that Greek place in Middletown (Maryland).” Imagine convincing people that a good Greek Cafe operates out the back of a gas station? I can only award Alekos 4.5 stars for quality of their “carry out” food.

If driving along Old National Pike, stop at the Middletown Exxon gas station, for authentic Greek cuisine! Our party of 6 walked up to the “take out window” to place our orders.

Quick Greek Food Guide

Greek “Gyro” is pronounced “He-ROW”

Greek Gyro, mixture of lamb & beef w/spices

Tzatziki sauce blended seedless cucumbers, Greek yogurt, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, salt & pepper, touch of dill or parsley

Souvlaki is chicken in a Greek marinade ( garlic, oregano, rosemary, sweet paprika, olive oil, lemon juice, dry white wine) roasted and served on skewers

Falafel is a fritter, made from white fava beans/ chick peas formed into a round/patty shape with herbs & spices then fried, usually covered with Tahini sauce. ( Alekos swapped Tzatziki sauce)

Souzoukaki meatballs originated in Turkey, Greece adapted later. Mix beef & pork, with garlic, onions, served in a football shape in red tomato based sauce.

Baklava is thin phyllo/filo dough layered with honey or sugar, cinnamon, and chopped nuts . . . is a common dessert in the Middle East

Our party of 6 decided to eat outside at their pergola style cafe setting, with 4 tables. Rather quaint with a Greek village mural painted on one wall. Lucky to enjoy sunshine and temperatures in the 70’s. My gyro of lamb & beef on a lettuce bed with tomatoes, olives, feta cheese, was excellent ! Robust flavors triggered by the herbs & spices ! My wife order a sampler with Dolmades, hummus, olives, etc which she liked, but her Lebanese father would often fill the Dolmades with rice & meat mix. One of my daughters ordered the Souvlaki platter, and liked the skewers of seasoned chicken. I had hoped Moussaka ( fried eggplant layered with potatoes and beef) would be on the menu? We wanted to try the baklava, but full from dinner, looked great!

Alekos performs well in tight quarters! They offer kid’s meals, and typical burgers & sandwiches for those not feeling Greek at meal time. But it’s the Greek food which draws high praise ! Hopefully Owner & Chef Joana Kontos Tsinonis will eventually offer up this good food in a “sit down restaurant” with quality ambiance & great service! (For now 4.5 stars😉)

Note: Old National Pike/Road goes west from Maryland, to West Virginia, to Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois. . . 800 miles

George Washington slept...

Honest review here - TLDR; This is the best Gyro place you’ll find in the greater Frederick area and I’ve tried all of them…multiple times going as far down as Leesburg to Big Belly’s in Point of Rocks, which was severely overrated with cubed meat instead of real lamb/beef…like most Frederick spots. This place (Aleko’s Cafe) uses real gyro meat they slice off and is run by a very authentic and genuine guy that grew up in communist Romania. Solid human being and knows how to cook Romanian Shaorma so he probably adapted it to be authentic Greek for the Fredrick/USA crowd.

Food review - look, Frederick gyro places ain’t NYC quality but this place is darn close. Their Tazatziki sauce is homemade and excellent. The lamb/beef gyro meat is authentic and sliced off in front of you, and the chicken Slouvaki is grilled and flavorful with minimal oil. The deserts and Baklava are as good as the stuff my Greek neighbor makes for me during their Apokries holiday. It’s a solid spot in Frederick if you’re looking for this kind of food. They brought the food out to us in the outdoor seating.

The vibe - the place is run by a very friendly man who grew up in communist Romania. He has been through life and is a bit of humble renaissance man - humble, wise, and accepting of the many outcomes that life can deliver. We shared a good conversation during my lunch, which was unexpected. The guy is also just one of those people who is a genuine hospitality professional - he seems to really enjoy meeting and interacting with people on a personal level rather than simply viewing gyro making as a job. I’ve been around the block myself and did not get that sales-y type vibe or fake positivity from him or his staff, they’re just real, genuine people trying to enjoy their lives.

When Amelia’s Cafe in Frederick closed, I began searching for the best gyro place when visiting my family from out of town. Aleko’s is my new spot now and I’m happy with it. If you’re in Fredrick, it’s worth the short drive to come here unless you want to settle for the garbage available in town (even that place in FSK mall with high ratings was disappointing with awful meat that was...

Wow!! I was 5 mins away and because my dogs are traveling with me and it's 85-90+ degrees out... To save time, I called ahead. I stopped by Exxon and got some gas, and the food was ready seconds after I walked in! The young lady working there was very sweet and friendly, and the staff was great! This is my first time here, and didn't know what to expect. Because I am visiting in the area, I asked to stop by the restroom because picking up the food after I already paid, and the young lady took my food to the back counter and got it for me when I returned. I ate in my car and when I opened the container, I was Wowed! So much food. The I tasted the salad, gyro and then chicken. Yummm... The gyro is one of the best I had and didn't expect it from a gas station restaurant. The chicken has a nice herbal flavor, Italian like. I got the combination gyro platter "Gyro and Souvlaki meats tossed together, served on a bed of basmati rice with tomatoes, onions, feta and tzatziki sauce". I could use extra tzatziki sauce, but fortunately the gyro and Souvlaki meat have so much flavor that they are yummy alone. If I love 💕 n the area, I would come here at least once a week!! It's enough...