There are more than 5 places to find Greek food on the Jersey Shore, but are they all worthy of a visit?

Some of them are just ok, then there are Greek joints that are outstanding. More on that later.

I am a huge lover of Mediterranean food in general. Greek food is my first choice because there are no restaurants the serve Greek cuisine exclusively, so it’s always a treat because I don’t normally travel more than 25 miles unless the food is outstanding or comes highly recommended.

I’d travel 100 miles if someone told me that a restaurant is among the best they’ve ever been to.

My husband and I have traveled nearly 70 miles roundtrip to eat at one of the best Greek restaurants we’ve ever experienced. That’s a little more than an hour each way.

The place is called, “Faro’s Greek Cuisine” on Applegarth Road in Monroe, Township, New Jersey. If I had time to travel that far more often, I’d eat there once a week.

Greek Food On The Jersey Shore!

Sure, I can go to my favorite local diners and get a gyro or chicken souvlaki with extra tzatziki sauce, but it’s nearly impossible to get certain Greek dishes at a diner like a hot bowl of Avgolemono, which is a silky, rich, fragrant chicken soup, prepared Greek-style with a lemon-egg mixture.

I also can’t get my favorite appetizer which consists of a variety of dips and spreads accompanied by pita triangles. Some of my favorites include, a smoky eggplant dip called, melitzanosalata, or  tyrokafteri which is a spicy feta dip.

Now that my mouth is watering from all this food talk, I thought there may be a handful of people like me who absolutely adore Greek cuisine. I thought it would be a nice idea to share a small list of places on the Jersey Shore that serve good Greek food.

• Yianni's Greek Taverna - 645 Mantoloking Rd, Brick Township, NJ 08723

  The decor is simple with aqua and neutral tones. The staff is friendly, and the food is delicious. They have the Greek spread and dip appetizers that I wrote about above. Seafood options include grilled octopus, salmon, branzino, as well as the seafood variety platter.

  Serving a variety of meats, including grilled lamb chops and a lamb shank over orzo that is to die for.
  Kebob sandwiches, platters, chicken a few different ways, and a nice variety of side dishes to choose from .

  

• Anemos Greek Cuisine - 333 US-9, Manalapan Township, NJ 07726

  My husband and I have dined at this lovely BYOB Greek-Mediterranean restaurant a few times and were impressed with the service and the food. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming. This is the place that convinced me to keep a bottle of Greek olive oil in my pantry. It’s so fruity and robust. It’s always a show when we order the Saganaki, a pan-fried Greek cheese that they flambe using brandy.

  This is another place where the slow braised lamb shank over orzo is just delightful. There’s also a magnificent pasta dish called, “Aphrodite’s Pasta”, Linguini tossed with shrimp, Kalamata olives, capers, cherry tomatoes, basil, roasted garlic, lemon confit, and a touch of cream.

  Also recommended, the Sea Bass with artichokes. peppers, onions, garlic, tomatoes, olives, capers, and feta. The Red Snapper is also an excellent choice. If you’re a going for just a simple but hearty meal, the beef and lamb gyros are a good choice as is the pastichio.

  Home - Anemos Greek Cuisine

  Anemos Greek Cuisine is an authentic, cozy, Mediterranean atmosphere infused in the aromas of delicious Greek and Mediterranean delights.

• Kostas Grill - 161 E Main St, Tuckerton, NJ 08087

  This place came highly recommended by my trainer and another member of my gym. Kosta’s made my list of “Best Under The Radar Burgers” in Ocean County for their Saganaki burger.

  The place is a big bright ball of sunshine. They serve all of your favorite Greek dishes, and nothing is cooked with preservatives or artificial ingredients. Everything is cooked fresh and many of the items including a variety of cheeses and olive oil are imported from Greece. Items to try are: Greek mac & cheese, lamb souvlaki, and just about any seafood dish. The lemon potatoes were suggested as a must try.

  Kostas Grill - Online

  We're proud to provide you with superior service and the most authentic homemade rustic Greek cuisine and atmosphere around.

• Lemon Mediterranean Restaurant - 3475 US-9, Freehold, NJ 07728

  We like this place a lot. We’ve even taken friends to this BYOB place and have always had a great time. The lamb tagine and the lamb shank are superb. This place isn’t exclusive to Greek cuisine. It’s more of a Mediterranean – African mix featuring cuisine from Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, And Egypt. Your meal starts with house made hummus and warm pita bread. The last time we were there, I had a braised lamb shoulder that was outstanding. The grilled octopus, grilled hangar steak with those divine lemon potatoes, and the wild cod with braised artichoke hearts, tomatoes, preserved lemon finished with ouzo sauce will knock your socks off.

  Finish off the meal with baklava, or the warm caramel covered dates accompanied by vanilla ice cream and you’ll be in heaven. Lemon also offers cooking classes, for $65 you get to eat the finished products.

  Lemon Mediterranean Restaurant

  Welcome to Lemon Mediterranean Restaurant in Freehold, NJ. Come delight your senses on an unforgettable culinary journey to the Mediterranean!

• Mr Greek - 821 Belmar Blvd Unit 5, Belmar, NJ 07719

  Tucked in the corner of Belmar Plaza, this unfussy place with fantastic food should not be overlooked. Most people I know do take out from Mr. Greek, but you are welcome to grab a table and enjoy a generously portioned meal at this hidden gem.

  The Gyro platter, pork souvlaki, falafel, and just about any shrimp dish are highly recommended. A large variety of salads that include the Mandarin salad filled with Spinach, Arugula, Mandarin Orange Segments, Walnuts, Cranberries, Graviera Cheese, &Basil Pomegranate Dressing will satisfy just about anyone.

  The Feta Truffle Fries, Lemon Potatoes, and the Mixed Mushroom side dish are dishes I will have again and again. It’s an absolute pleasure to have such great eateries in the town I’ve worked in for the last 28 years.

  Mr. Greek - Discover Authentic Mediterranean Experience

  Indulge in the authentic Mediterranean experience with our Greek cuisine. Enjoy vibrant flavors and nutritious ingredients.

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