Olympia Cafe — Restaurant in Melbourne

Olympia Cafe- Melbourne- 5 Stars

Top 5 - Lunch

"Saturday's Child works hard for its living" -- Anonymous

Teddy the Greek has run some form of this awesome restaurant for nigh onto 30 years now. Why would anyone buy a gyro (pronounced Yee-row for us rednecks) from a non-Greek is beyond me. The Olympia Café, manned by Teddy and Adrian, know the secret to success: Keep it simple and flavorful. Viola, it's that easy. There is no magic formula. Teddy has been cooking for over 50 years, but he refuses to take shortcuts or cheat his customers. He stands head and shoulders over his contemporaries. Looking like he just stepped off the lot as an extra in Zorba the Greek, Teddy has a bushy walrus mustache and a Greek sailors cap ever present on the top his head. Teddy knows all of his customers by name. He greets everyone and asks how they are doing while never missing a beat cooking. It is so refreshing to eat his appetizing and gratifying food, because I am a long standing patron I get the same thing every time. I order a Yee-Row NOT a Jai-row. It comes fresh cut from the standing rotisserie right in front of you. He piles on freshly cut onions and tomatoes. Guess what else? Teddy makes his own Tzatziki (a Greek cucumber and yogurt sauce) and generously applies it to the Gyro. I also order a tabouli salad. If you look at the photos you will see the delectable chunks of tomato carefully folded into the salad. Food wise there is nothing bad at this restaurant. It's about the food and nothing else. Big Boy says....Opa! You...

Rude. The first time I came was to pick up an order. There was some minor confusion about the order as it was called in by someone else. As I tried to clear it up, the owner/cook was resistant to correcting the order even though all I was asking was to add some grilled chicken to one of the salads. He appeared rude and angry the entire time. Luckily, an employee came to the rescue. She was super nice. I didn’t write a review then.

This second and last time we came, he was still rude and angry! My wife ordered a salad and I brought a sub from elsewhere. He rudely asked if I was going to eat my food inside. I replied yes if that’s ok with him. He was reluctant but accepted us staying. There was only one other customer sitting inside with like 15 other tables open. There is a newspaper article hanging up on one of their walls with a heading stating the business makes their customers feel like they’re home. That was far from the truth for us, for me both times. We didn’t stay.

Great food but terrible customer service. Gyro meat isn’t really for me. Even their gyro meat isn’t really for me but theirs is the...

To the point?

Teddy and his wife Adriane bring authentic Greek flavors together in a fresh way. The real deal.

Yours truly and my co-diner both ordered the Teddy's Greek Salad. THE most flavor-fULL dressing ever to grace a bowl of nature's plenty. A flavor explosion co-mingled with feta's tarty sweet taste.

Munch on or dip a pie-shaped pita into the pool of liquid gold oil-soaked salad castaway nuggets. Okay, I think I will!

And a slender slice of watermelon to freshen your mouth.

Teddy AND Adriane were treating us not only like friends, but almost as honorary Greeks. VERY cordial, accommodating and likeable. Fact.

Watching Teddy in the kitchen was entertaining. Cone-shaped Gyro meat revolving on a vertical skewer, a meat feast cooked to perfection. Teddy slices or shaves simply succulent chunks of that juiciness for sandwiches. For salads.

I give a huge shoutout...