Christos Greek restaurant in Minneapolis great for vegan/vegetarian

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os-for-great-vegetarian-Greek-in-Minneapolis

I fell in love with Greece and Greek food while studying abroad during college.

Upon returning, I found Christos to be the most authentic Greek restaurant in

the Twin Cities, capturing the warmth of the culture and the spirit of the

cuisine. I've frequented the Minneapolis and St. Paul locations for 20 years,

and am now a regular at the Minnetonka location. I've probably had most items on

the menu over the years, but currently stick to several veggie favorites.

 

Starting with the starters, the dips are all wonderful, served with pita and

heavy on the garlic, as they should be. They offer hummus ($5.95);

melintzanosalata ($5.95) which is roasted eggplant pureed with olive oil, lemon

and salt; skordalia ($5.65) sort of cold version of garlic mashed potatoes; and

tzatziki ($5.95) the traditional yogurt cucumber dip. You can try them all in a

dip sampler for $7.95.

 

Christos Greek salad (small $5.45; large $8.45) is a crisp and fresh assortment

of greens, cucumber, tomato, red onion, capers and olives – you can hold the

feta, if you like. For those who eat cheese, the tomato soup with feta is

fantastic. Dip some pita and it's like a sophisticated grill cheese/tomato soup

combo.

 

If you eat seafood, Christos has the best calamari in town. Offered as an

appetizer ($7.25) or an entrée ($12.35), they serve up sizable pieces of a

calamari filet (not a ring or strip) lightly battered and fried. The octopodi

appetizer of chilled marinated octopus pieces ($6.95) is crazy good.

 

Falafel, the delicious croquettes of ground herbed garbanzo beans, are served

either in a pita pocket with tabouli and tahini ($5.45) or as an entree

($10.75). Christos falafel is crisp on the outside and tender on the inside with

a spicy kick. Their tabouli is crisp with tons of fresh parsley and garlic.

Vegetarian entrees include dolmathes (stuffed grape leaves, $11.95), spanakopita

(feta and spinach baked in phyllo pastry, $11.35), and vegetarian mousaka

(onions, peppers, mushrooms, and tomatoes baked between layers of eggplant and

potato topped with béchamel, $11.35). You can choose two as a vegetarian sampler

for $11.95. Entrees come with a cup of soup or house salad and choice of side:

fried potatoes, oven roasted potatoes, rice pilaf, carrots with dill and

broccoli. All entrees are available at lunch for reduced prices.

 

The Minnetonka location has a wood-fired oven -- a holdover from when the

location used to be Sidney's. They offer a number of pizzas or you can build

your own, which we've done numerous times – Greek olives, capers, tomatoes,

artichoke hearts, roasted garlic, roasted red pepper and mushroom – no cheese.

The ingredients are flavorful and the pizza crust is perfect.

 

Owner, Gus Parpas, is everything a restaurateur should be – gracious, kind and

welcoming and becomes a friend to frequent customers.

 

Christos has three Twin Cities locations: 2632 Nicollet Avenue South in

Minneapolis, 15600 Highway 7 in Minnetonka and in the Union Depot at 214 Fourth

Street East in St. Paul.