Restaurant: Zakia’s Greek Cuisine
Location: Northwest Austin, 8701 W. Parmer Ln Suite 1125, Austin, TX Map
Phone: (512) 670-1000
Price: $8-$14
Hours: Mon-Sat 11am – 3pm, 5pm – 9pm Sun Closed
Food (8/10)
(9/10) Gyro Pita
Spit-roasted and double-grilled Gyro meat with fresh tomato, grilled onion, and tzatziki cucumber sauce wrapped in a toasted pita bread. The pita is generously stuffed with gyro meat and tastes fantastic! There is a perfect amount of tzatziki sauce inside. This may be one of the best gyros we have had in Austin.
(8/10) Chicken Souvlaki
Seasoned white meat chicken breast kabobs served skewered with lemon wedges and served on a bed of roasted pita bread. Platter comes with a side of Greek salad and choice of seasoned french fries or saffron rice. The salad is pretty good – the feta sprinkled on top is a nice touch. The chicken is soft, juicy and has a delicious authenticity to it. The pita is a bit soggy, only because the chicken rests on top of it. The saffron rice is nice, but not for foodies who prefer subtle flavors. It is kind of tangy. Overall, this dish will have you smiling and wanting more.
(8/10) Beef Souvlaki
Marinated Black Angus sirloin butterfly-grilled and served on a bed of roasted pita bread. The platter comes with a side of Greek salad and choice of seasoned french fries or saffron rice. Hallelujah! Zakia’s really knows how to cook a mean beef souvlaki! The beef was tender and robust with flavor. Wrap the beef in a piece of pita and dipped into the tzatziki sauce for mouth-watering goodness in every bite!
(5/10) Lamb Souvlaki
Marinated Australian lamb loin, butterfly-grilled and served on a bed of roasted pita bread. The platter comes with a side of Greek salad and choice of seasoned French fries or saffron rice. To be unbiased, we must mention we ordered this dish and asked for it to be made with less salt. We’re not sure if that was the only factor resulting in its blandness or if the lamb is not seasoned as much as the other meats. Although it is juicy, it is definitely lacking compared to the other platters.
(8/10) Chicken Shawarma
Seasoned white meat chicken breast, thinly sliced and grilled with Romaine lettuce, tomato, onion, garlic pickles and tzatziki cucumber sauce wrapped in a toasted pita bread. This Shawarma is not like your average one. There is plenty of meat inside, but the chicken in the souvlaki tastes better. Normally shawarmas leave us desiring more because they tend to be plain, but this one delivers!
Service (7/10)
We dined at Zakia’s on a busy Saturday night, but were seated promptly since we had reservations. Surprisingly, the waitstaff consisted of only one waiter and the owner. It took some time to get our water, however, they did service several of our requests in a timely manner. We were disappointed that our food did not come out at the same time, which reminds us of fast-food chains. At the end of our meal, Zakia apologized for not spending time at our table and chatting with us due to the crowd.
Ambiance (7/10)
Zakia’s Greek Cuisine is a small, casually elegant restaurant that recently opened in Northwest Austin. If you are looking a step up from the cafeteria-style Tino’s Greek Cafe, this is the place to go. Depending on the night, Zakia’s offers entertainment such as CD music, belly dancing, and live music. Given the price of the food and the type of ambiance, it is odd that patrons must pay at the cash register. The prices are a bit steep, so don’t expect to pay $5 for a wrap. Since seating is limited, this restaurant is not good for large groups. Zakia’s is BYOB, so don’t forget to bring a bottle to enjoy with the delicious food!