When you walk into Greek House, the first thing that hits you is the aroma. The air is heavy with spices, signaling that what you’re about to indulge in is flavorful.

With a menu that ranges from the traditional to the unique, Greek House is the place to satisfy your cravings.

The cravings got the best of him

John Katerelos opened Greek House in June 2013 after moving to Tucson. He missed the traditional cuisine that he had grown up with and Greek House was his solution.

His parents—who own local Italian restaurant Dolce Vita—taught him how to make his favorite Greek dishes. Once he had grown familiar with those, he began to place a modern spin on the food.

Signature creations worth ordering

“We take authentic recipes and see what we can tweak, and give our own twist to,” says Katerelos.

One of those original creations is the Hercules Burger. A house-made burger patty, weighing in at half a pound, is topped with gyro meat and a creamy feta garlic dressing.

Another popular signature dish is the Wildcat Gyro, which includes avocado, hot sauce, and tzatziki.

Last but not least are the Mega Fries, which include french fries topped with gyro meat, feta cheese, onion, tomatoes, and a feta dressing.

These modern takes on classic Greek food have proven to be incredibly popular with the U of A crowd, both students and faculty.

A modern twist without compromising authenticity

If you’re more of a purist, there are lots of authentic dishes on the menu to enjoy.

The Spanakopita consists of layer upon layer of flaky phyllo dough, spinach, and cheese.

The Souvlaki Platter includes a choice of chicken, pork, beef, or gyro, and the Falafel is a great vegetarian option.

“When people think of the best Greek food, we want them to think of us,” Katerelos said.

Scratch-made dessert is a sweet way to finish up

Katerelos’ mother Irene makes everything from scratch. The Baklava and Rice Pudding are comforting staples, and the Ozou Cake, heavy with walnuts, is a Greek specialty.

Future plans are looking promising

“As we grow year [after] year, we know we are doing something right,” Katerelos says.

The pride and enthusiasm that he has for Greek House has him looking to open a second location, where he will continue to share his family’s recipes with Tucson.

Operating hours

Greek House is open from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday and from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Greek House is located at 1710 E. Speedway Blvd. For more information, visit azgreekhouse.com.