Review: Big Fat Greek Kuzina
This review is actually the result of two visits over the period of a year. The Big Fat Greek Kuzina is a restaurant that we had been visiting on and off for a few years, one that at one time, we absolutely loved and visited regularly. I’d go way out of the way to get their dipping sauce and pita, Greek salad, and souvlaki as takeout. So when we visited last year and had a less than stellar experience, we chalked it up to possibly a bad day and decided to give it one more visit before writing a bad review.
The restaurant is nestled into a little strip mall near the border of Hilliard and Upper Arlington, at the corner of Fishinger Road and Riverside Drive. You kind of have to keep your eye out for it, since the sign is on the building rather than the road.
So some of these dishes are from last year, some are from this year - some we ordered one time only, others we had both times we went. In the case of the dishes we had twice, we’ll compare last year’s to this visit and let you know if (and how) things have changed.
Both times we visited we sat outside and dined al fresco. During dinner hours there’s just a loudness and busyness to the atmosphere inside that is just a bit too frenetic for our tastes. And both times, service suffered a little as a result, with our server sometimes forgetting we were out there as we were left waiting for refills on our drinks more than once.
One of the big draws, at least for us, is the dipping sauce and pita that they offer as bread service. The green sauce is a heady mix of basil, garlic, olive oil and a few other things, and was and still is absolutely delicious.
The saganaki doesn’t disappoint either - we slathered its browned, salty, melty goodness onto pita bread and chowed down. Consistently good both times we had it.
The dolmades, however, were a disappointment each time. The lemon sauce they were served with is flavored with an herb that just doesn’t work, and the sauce ruined the dish for us. Your mileage may vary.
Although the quality of the salad has declined in the past year (it was much fresher, more chock full of veggies the first time), we still do enjoy their Greek salad, because the creamy Greek dressing is a thing of beauty. There are very few places I’ll order Greek salad, because I’m very picky - this is one of the exceptions to that rule.
Although the serving size of their moussaka was substantial, but the flavor profile was off - there was the addition of dill or something else that doesn’t belong in moussaka, and it was too distracting for us to enjoy their version of it.
The Keftedes (along with the accompanying gravy) were quite good, but the potatoes were ruined by more of the overwhelming lemon sauce, this time dosed with a bunch of dill.
The Stuffed Mushrooms appetizer was a hot mess. The “stuffing”, which was supposed to include seafood, was 99.9% bread crumbs. If there was any crab in here, it was chased through, because even the essence of crab lacked presence.
The Grecian Chicken was a bit underwhelming - the sauce was basically marinara with some feta sprinkled on it, and the chicken was served with more of those potatoes with lemon sauce. It wasn’t quite what we were expecting, and didn’t live up to our expectations.
In closing, the dishes at Big Fat Greek Kuzina can be hit or miss - with careful choices you can get a good meal, but there are too many misses for me to recommend it. We’ll stop here in the future for takeout of the “safe” choices, but that’s about the extent of it. I’m huge on consistency, and there’s a lack of that here.
If you’d like to go: Big Fat Greek Kuzina, 2816 Fishinger Road, Upper Arlington, OH, 614-457-4733
More reviews by swampkitty can be found online at ColumbusFoodie.com.
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November 18th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
I absolutely LOVE this place. I eat there about once a month. That green herb dipping sauce is highly addictive& I think their lentil soup is hands down the best in the city!
November 18th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
“there was the addition of dill or something else that doesn’t belong in moussaka”
Greek cooking is not homogenous and dill is extremely common in many versions of dishes. I suspect it is mostly due to regional variations, but haven’t been able to discern a pattern. While you may not have a preference for dill in these dishes, it is not fair to say it doesn’t belong.
As an aside, moussaka as it is configured is not exactly a Greek dish. The layered construction with the bechamel top was introduced in the 20s by a Greek chef who was systematically modernizing (ie Frenchifying) Greek cooking.
A.
November 18th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
SJT - this is one of those places that people either really love or really hate. I think it depends on what you order…but agree that the green dipping sauce is TDF.
A. - agree that dill has a place in Greek cooking, but not in the concentration that they were using. And newfangled or not, I love my bechamel. Their moussaka LOOKED right, it just didn’t taste right.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
Agree with everyone that the pita and dipping sauce is amazing. I’ve not had the Mousaka, but I can tell you that the Pastitsio is fantastic and I have recommended this restaurant to folks based on that dish alone. I have a 2nd generation Greek friend who claims that this food is about as authentic Greek as it comes in Columbus.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
I always like My Big Fat Greek Cuisina. Good food, and really nice servers, too. I love the horyatiki salad, the calamari and the gyros (if a gyro is on the menu, it’s hard for me to resist) but the seafood dishes are pretty excellent, too. The only low spot for me was those Dolmades - the sauce isn’t necessary, and they’re too darn big!
November 18th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Add me to the ‘Love It!’ crowd. It’s a regular stop for my friends and I. I do agree the lemon sauce is very hit or miss, though.
The escargot is very good, and I’m a big fan of their braised lamb.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
I’m in the “loving it” crowd as well. I routinely take people here due to the great service, yummy mystery pita dipping sauce (which has changed a little over the years), and calamari - it’s addictive.
November 18th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
I’ve had some pretty good food there, but Anna’s is still my fav.
November 18th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
I’ve only been there once but really enjoyed it. The friend I was with had told me ahead of time that the ’saganaki’ the was sex in food form. He was correct.
November 18th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
On a somewhat unrelated side note (since I’ve never been to MBFGK), I learned through a previous journey that flaming saganaki was a dish invented in Chicago. The original Greek version was pan-fried, and the Partenon in Chicago first lit saganaki ablaze tableside. That’s all I have to add to the discussion.
November 18th, 2009 at 10:46 pm
We love this place. I always get the salad topped w/ gyro, lots and lots of fresh herbs, it’s delicious.
November 19th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
I’m AK and I approve this restaurant
November 20th, 2009 at 9:42 am
I always sit at the bar, better service that way, they I hear may open a place @Polaris in the old Bob Evans
November 23rd, 2009 at 1:13 pm
I work nearby, and eat here about once a week. One thing no one has mentioned is their seafood — it’s always cooked perfectly, and fantastic. You owe it to yourself to try Nikki’s Scallops – unbelievable!!
November 23rd, 2009 at 1:40 pm
I have eaten at MBFGK several times and will continue to go back for more great greek food. The Niki’s Scallops are to DIE for, the same ones I used to get at Fisherman’s Wharf in Bexley. I love the pita and green dip and you’re always safe getting a gyro or a greek salad. I went to their website and looks like they are opening a Fisherman’s Wharf location on Polaris Pkwy!
January 7th, 2010 at 1:12 pm
I went to MBFGK for the first time just after Christmas after friends telling me to try it. I got the Pastitsio and was amazed at how good it was. I wish I knew what was in it because I wish I could show off some skills and feed my friends this delicious dish. And I did not go home hungry.