Episode Ten/Week 2- Daphne's

mmm-yoso is on vacation.  The part usually played by Kirk will be played by Cathy in the interim.

So, as I am getting hungry (again) and looking for something relatively inexpensive, I check my email (because in September, The Mister and I share birthdays seven days apart and I let everyone at my spam email address know this) and there are a few e-coupons with some good deals:
Rubios sent me a coupon for a free chips and guacamole with purchase (worth $1.99)
Sammys Woodfired sent me a coupon for a free "Messy Sundae" (worth $7.95, which I would never pay that much for, but we ate it anyhow)
Pat and Oscars sent some sort of two for one coupon, have until Oct 15 to use..
and then there was Daphne's;

Yes, it is a chain. They call it  "contemporary, casual, delicious Greek food".  The owner, George Katakalidis, is a former San Diego Socker who also played for other Professional Indoor Soccer teams and also was the Captain of the National Youth Team of Canada. He was born in Greece and adapted the foods for Daphne's to be Greek, but also consistent throughout the chain.  There are presently 65 locations throughout  California and Arizona. This is a photo of the one in Santee, next to the trolley station.

So, when you sign up on the Daphne's website to be a VIP member of their e Club, you get a few benefits...one of those benefits is a monthly coupon for something...This month it was for the gyros pita, fries and beverage for $5.49 which is $6.99 as a lunch special or the sandwich by itself is regular $5.29.  This is incentive for us to go. (No, I did not get any coupon for my birthday).

The pita is fresh, the gyros meat is moist, tender, sliced thin and plentiful.  It comes with lettuce, tomato and tzatziki sauce, which is made with yogurt, cucumber and dill. It is a good, filling sandwich.

The menu is simple, also on the website and prices are consistent throughout the chain.

I usually get the vegetarian platter which has a nice spanakopita, falafel, dolmas and hummus and is served with a Greek salad, rice pilaf, tzatziki and pita bread.  ($8.29)

Today the Mister wanted the Greek chicken salad with avgolemono soup ($6.49 at lunch).

The soup is creamy, rich with chicken stock and rice and with a good lemon overtone.

The salad is a plentiful Greek salad with mixed greens, tomatoes, red onions, cucumbers, pepperocini, feta cheese, kalmata olives and a home made Greek dressing.  The marinated chicken placed on top is warm.  It is served with more tzatziki and warm pita.

Daphne's offers a "Fire Feta­®" cheese, which we have tried.  It costs 79¢ more and it just isn't that thrilling and doesn't add anything for either the Mister or I..but I see lots of people buying it.

You can always add rice pilaf to any salad for no extra charge here and it is good.

The eclub has its benefits in addition to the monthly coupons.  You register with Daphne's and can either get a card or give them your phone number each time you order and after you have ordered $200 of food, you get a coupon/gift card for $25.  This is a good deal if maybe you are ordering a lot or go there regularly, maybe for an office. 

Yes, it is a chain.  Yes, you have probably seen it. Go and try it.  The food is not bad and always fresh.

Daphne's- 65 locations in California and Arizona

Check the  website for specific locations.

Comments

[April Ordonez]

Is that the Daphne's over in Mira Mesa?!
I prefer Greek Bites over at the Sorrento Valley shopping area (by KFC and Burger King).
Spanakopita rocks! They get that tsatsiki sauce JUST RIGHT :)

[cathy]

Hi April- The one thing I have noticed about Daphne's is that all the locations are consistent in flavors, kind of like McDonalds. It is good Greek style food. (the Mister has had occasion to be in Greece, and nothing matches the Real Thing) I will have to try Greek Bites in Sorrento next time I am up there.

[Ted]

I got to say that when I saw "Daphnes" in the title, I cringed. Having grown up with Greek parents and having been to Greece several times, I got to say that it's not authentic. A gyro in Greece is a million times better. Tzatsiki also shouldn't have dill. Period.

BUT...

My Greek cousins from OH came to town, and they saw Daphnes and wanted to try it. I tasted the chicken souvlaki, and I got to say, it was REALLY good and tasty. Is it authentic Greek? No, not even close. Does it taste good? Absolutely. So I think that people should go there as long as they know what they are getting. Ok my rant is done.

[RONW]

the co-founders of "Six Apart" (parent of TypePad, Movable Type, Live journal, ect.) had birthdays "six days apart" from each other. Just chewing the fat....not meaning to wander off the topic of your post :>

[cathy]

Hi Ted- Yes, I thought about it...and maybe I should have called it "Greek Style" food... George Katakalidis does try to keep the restaurants and foods to a certain standard (he walked into the Santee store when the Mister and I were having our lunch the other day, checking out the back of the store, then coming out front and speaking to those of us eating for a moment) as well as maintaining the consistency...which is not easy to do with certain types of food. It is good "food" and if you think of it that way, you won't be disappointed...but I do know it isn't "Greek" per se...

Ron...There was the new thing I learned for today...and its early! Thanks...I am trying to make a 'complete picture' with each of my posts...as to the reasoning why I thought it would be interesting to eat at a place, or why I went there...like Kirk does...not just a formal 'here is this place, go'...so the coupon thing, being a reason, worked out... {P.S. the Mister is only 7 days older, yet more than a foot taller than me...life is so unfair...}

[honkman]

If you are in the area try Luna Grill for pretty good Greek food:

http://www.lunagrill.com/