Cheapeats, Inc. Blog

When I lived in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn, there was a tiny cafe at the corner of 86th Street & 4th Avenue, right by the bus stop. I’d glance in the window all the time and see the cook prepare gyros and shish kabobs but never think to stop in. This went on for years. Then one day when my craving for a gyro kicked in, I decided to give them a try. The experience was memorable and kicked myself for not doing it sooner.

Plaka Taverna is a tiny restaurant with about 10 tables serving up authentic Greek food in a kitchen that is about the size of a closet. The waitresses have probably been working there since the beginning of time and speak little English. I used to order take-out from there all the time. My favorite dish was the chicken shish kabob platter. It was cubed pieces of chicken grilled with onion, peppers, lemon and olive oil. It was served with yellow rice, string beans with potatoes and tomatoes and a large Greek salad. The portions were so huge that I had dinner for 2-3 nights. The cost $5. For years, this was go to spot and my go to dish. But then I left Brooklyn and moved to the big city but never forgot them.

I was recently in the area on business and wanted to see if they were still in business. They were with the same waitressesstill working there. I thought I’d grab lunch for old times sake. The menu hasn’t changed but the prices have. My favorite dish is now $13 but still as delicious as I remember. As usual I ate half and took the other half home. The sound of the waitresses speaking in Greek, the smells from the kitchen and the food on my plate brought back great memories of growing up in Brooklyn.

It’s not often that a restaurant can withstand the test of time and the changes in a neighborhood but Plaka Taverna has. So if you’re shopping on 86th Street, waiting for the bus or glance at the cook in the kitchen, do yourself a favor….walk in, sit down  and grab a bite. Your stomach and wallet will thank you.

Happiness, $25 and under.

Tags: Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, cheapeats, Greek Food, Gyros, Plaka Taverna, Shish Kabob

This entry was posted by Rosemarie on Monday, October 25th, 2010 at 11:00 am and is filed under Brooklyn, Greek. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.