Business Bites

The Greek Gourmet, located just across from Naples Community Hospital on U.S. 41 next to Dairy Queen, serves up genuinely good Greek food.

Although parking is hectic-you might have to wait for a spot-the food is worth the hassle. We joined doctors and nurses from the nearby hospital, local professionals there for a quick lunch, and visitors taking a brief break from shopping.

The atmosphere is dramatic, with murals of the gods and trompe l'oeil columns and grape vines enlivening the walls. There is plenty of space inside the recently expanded restaurant and a choice of table or bar seating, but your best bet is to order at the counter and take advantage of the pleasant weather at one of the tables outside.

I wasn't hungry for a huge lunch, so I checked out the mezethakia or "small plates" section of the menu, with prices from about $6 to $11. These low-priced items paired with a salad are just right for a satisfying but not-too-filling lunch. The Greek side salad arrived first and was bigger than I expected, very fresh and accompanied by two dolmadakia, the grape leaf-wrapped rice so many Greek-food fans love. My spanakopita, a tasty triangle of spinach and feta baked in flaky phyllo dough, was warm and flavorful.

My co-worker chose the weekday lunch special for $9.95: any pita wrap (warm flatbread wrapped around a generous helping of grilled or marinated vegetables or chicken, or a traditional gyro) with a salad or side dish and fountain drink. She couldn't finish her large chicken pita, as they come with extremely generous helpings. We both liked the sweet and buttery oven-baked garlic-oregano potatoes as a side.

But a barrage of honking and yelling distracted us from our Greek delicacies, as cars trying to exit the parking lot and entering from U.S. 41 almost collided. The Greek Gourmet is a great place to grab a casual lunch with a co-worker and sit back and savor the food, but don't aim to have a working lunch as it's bound to be busy and noisy outside during season.

-Katie S. Betz

Greek Gourmet, 390 Tamiami Trail N., Naples, 403-7003. (Also in Bonita, 24611 Production Circle, 390-7676.)