Downtown Fullerton has many great restaurants, yet I rarely find myself there. After trying Kentro Greek Kitchen, I might have to return more often. Kentro, the name of a city center in Greece where people meet and enjoy life, isn’t your run-of-the-mill Greek restaurant. Kentro Greek Kitchen is great for those who want to skip the typical gyro and try out new bold and modern Greek flavors.
I love Greek food. I should probably eat it more often. The food is usually fresher, healthier, and a great change of pace from all the other food I usually eat. When it comes down to it, I don’t know that many Greek places in Orange County. This has got to change.
When you first walk through the doors of the restaurant, take a deep breath. Experience all those amazing smells. You will know instantly that you picked the right place and that you are about to enjoy some delicious food.
On your left hand side as you enter a large handwritten blackboard menu cramped with an assortment of Greek dishes. The menu is divided into sections including appetizers for the table, spreads for bread, soups, flat breads, entrees, and sides.
To be honest, I’m not familiar with many of these menu items, let alone how to pronounce them. Luckily, descriptions for each dish are written just below each food item. This is extremely helpful for Greek food novices like myself.
When you decide what you want to order, pay at the counter, grab your numbered placard, and grab a table while you try to patiently wait for your food to be delivered to you.
Kentro Greek Kitchen features a modern and refreshing black and white interior with wooden tables. It’s contemporary design reminds me more of a gastropub or wine bar than a Greek restaurant. Surprisingly, you won’t find your stereotypical Greek restaurant designs here such as murals of Greek islands surrounded by a sparkling blue ocean or white doric columns found at the Acropolis.
Along with the L-shaped dining area, there is a small bar that can fit about seven people. For those who want to have a few Greek beers and catch that important sports game, there is one television located behind the bar.
Without looking at photos on Yelp before, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect when ordering the loukaniko sausage flat bread ($13). I thought to myself, would it be like a pizza or would it be more like bread with a few toppings?
When the oval shaped flat bread arrived on a thick wooden board, I was pleasantly surprised.
Turns out it was something like a pizza but the crust was much more light, thin, and crispy. I believe the dough for the bread is made onsite at the restaurant. The bread may be thin but the dish was still hearty and filling thanks to the wonderful toppings.
The loukaniko flat bread is topped with sausage, marinated tomatoes, capers, shiitake mushrooms, sliced onions, feta cheese, and manouri, an imported cheese made from goat or sheep milk.
My favorite part of this flavorful flat bread was how well it was seasoned and how all the ingredients came together so well.
The perfectly salty feta and manouri cheeses were spread out across the bread without overpowering the other toppings. The tomatoes were chunky, sweet, and added an awesome kick of acid that complemented the saltiness of the cheese.
The large pieces of sliced sausage had a nice smokey and salty flavor. My only complaint with the meat is that I wanted more.
I love lasagna, so when I saw the mousaka, or moussaka ($13), I knew I had to try it out. Come hungry if you order this hearty dish which can be described as a baked eggplant lasagna dish with bolognese, eggplant, potatoes, and a bechamel sauce. It is served with a small side of bread.
When the mousaka arrived at my table, it was still hot and bubbling in its baking dish.
As I dug my fork in through the crispy cheese on top, I began to encounter thick pieces of baked eggplant. When I say thick, I mean thick.
As you work your way through, you will be rewarded with multiple layers of flavors. You might also notice a slight sweetness to the sauce. I believe the sweetness is from nutmeg. This seasoning might turn some people off who do not like cinnamon flavors used in a savory and hearty dish.
As you reach the bottom of the plate, you will be greeted by a thick layer of sliced potatoes. Though tasty, I believe the potatoes were used mostly as filler. Just too many potatoes for me to eat.
Though not mind blowing, I still enjoyed the dish so much that I wanted to scrape off and eat the burnt bits of cheese stuck to the side of the plate.
The mousaka served here may not be traditional but it still made me a fan of Kentro Greek Kitchen. You can tell they use quality ingredients unlike other restaurants.
Pros
- Casual and unpretentious service
- Food delivered to table quickly
- Modern dishes and interior
- Different from other typical Greek restaurants
Cons
- Some menu items are a little pricey