Aesop's Tables graphic

Restaurant: Aesop's Tables

Location:
8650 Genesee Ave. #106
San Diego, CA

Phone: (858) 455-1535

Price Range: Lunch $5.50-$12.95, dinner $6.75-$17.95

Number of visits: many
Last visit before review: February 16, 2002

Randy has had: Salmon and grape leaves, arni souvlaki, souvlaki, leg of lamb, braised lamb shank, rack of lamb (special), rib eye steak (special), Greek salad, horiatiki salad, charbroiled vegetable salad, hummos.

Jeff has had: Souvlaki plate, arni souvlaki, linguini with mezithra, leg of lamb, braised lamb shank, rib eye steak (special), pastitsio, lamb sandwich, iced tea.

Rating
10 chunks
10
(of 12)
Excellent
Randy says: The salmon and grape leaves is generally quite good. The salmon is moist and flavorful with a nice marinade. The grape leaves add a nice touch of texture. The Mediterranean salsa that comes on top is pleasantly refreshing. Dinners come with soup or salad, and the avgo lemono is a nice with a good lemony flavor. The other soups are also quite good. When they have tomato soup I often get it. It's got a creamy texture, but it's not a cream (milky) soup. The salad is ok. It has a lot of iceberg in it.

Jeff says: My very favorite item on the menu is the linguini with mezithra. It's a plate of buttery noodles with shredded mezithra cheese sprinkled on. In an attempt to eat healthier meals I have kept myself away from this temptation as of late. Instead, I opt for the pastitsio. It's like lasagna but without cheese. It has layers of pasta with tomato and bechamel sauce, and it's one of my favorites.

Randy says: The souvlaki (beef shish kabob) and arni souvlaki (lamb shish kabob) are both quite good. The arni souvlaki is a very good cut of lamb — tender, flavorful, and not at all gamy. Besides the meat, the two souvlakis have other differences: the arni souvlaki skewer comes with onion, mushroom, and green pepper chunks (very much like our rating skewer), whereas the souvlaki is just the beef. The arni souvlaki comes with spanako pita. The souvlaki comes with Greek salad. Both come with rice pilaf.

Jeff says: The arni souvlaki and souvlaki are ok, but they have a charred taste I don't particularly like so I usually opt for something else. Also, the Greek salad that comes with the souvlaki is on the same plate as everything else, and its dressing runs into the rice and pita which I think ruins them.

Randy says: I was a little disappointed in leg of lamb. It had a sauce that was kind of nice, but the lamb wasn't as well marinated and flavorful as I expected. The braised lamb shank is not bad, but I really like the rack of lamb. The lamb chops on the rack are good quality, nicely seasoned or marinated, and perfectly cooked.

Jeff says: I didn't particularly like the burgundy sauce that came with the leg of lamb. I thought the braised lamb shank was too gamy. I've tried the rack when Randy's had it, and that is the kind of lamb I like.

Randy says: The rib eye steak is good steak, but I could do without the butter they put on top of it. Knowing it's there, I now ask for it on the side.

Jeff says: On the rare occasion the special is the rib eye steak, that's what I get. It's too good to pass up; tender and flavorful, and the herbed butter they melt on top only adds to its appeal!

Randy says: The horiatiki salad (no lettuce, just chopped cucumber, bell pepper, tomato, red onion, olives, feta cheese, and artichoke hearts mixed with a vinaigrette) is good. The charbroiled vegetable salad was not really to my liking because besides being a little oily from grilling, I just don't think grilled vegetables work in a salad. The hummos is really good. I'd say it's one of the best around. And of course there's always plenty of pita on the table to eat it with.

Jeff says: At lunch I used to get the lamb sandwich quite a bit. I like the jalapeño jack that comes on it, but the big roasted red pepper I could do without (and I usually remove it when I've decided it's getting between me and the rest of the sandwich). The iced tea is good, but it's very light with a subtle flavor. Maybe even weak.

Aesop's Tables is our favorite Greek restaurant in San Diego. At dinner they serve a dish of crudités containing raw celery, carrots, olives, and peperocinis plus a container of yogurt to dip it in. We like these so much we sometimes devour them quickly and ask for a second one. One time we were told there was an extra charge for a second one which surprised us, but that seems to have been the only time such as suggestion was made. The dining area is large, but it is divided up into sections by classic architectural elements such as stucco arches and wood columns. It is a popular place so the wait can be long to get a table and it can get loud inside. The service is always excellent. In the evenings we see the manager working hard to see that everything is in order and the patrons are happy. The food is excellent, and we frequently choose Aesop's Tables when we want to have a good meal with visiting friends or family.

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