Review The Greek Souvlaki Shack - Ottawa

Wow this place is amazing! The daughter was so friendly and gave us a bunch of tips for our visit to Ottawa. Asked for medium rare beef for my pita. Very moist and flavorful. Get it with the fathers housemade hot sauce. And the tatziki is fresh and creamy. Greek salad could feed a hungry village and dressing was zesty. Would go back if we were not leaving soon. Highly recommend with reasonable pricing.

Excellent authentic Greek food in the Ottawa region. Always a go to eats while visiting Ottawa. Almost on par with Greek town (the Danforth) in Toronto. Highly recommended.

I lived in Ottawa over the summer and me and my roommates quickly became obsessed with this place! At least one of us would pickup from here every week. The food is sooo good and the staff are also really kind and the pricing can’t be beat! Seems to be run by a family so I was even more happy to support during these weird times. Next time I come to Ottawa I’ll make sure to pick up some food!

This place has become an almost weekly staple in our home. The food is always fresh and delicious and quick to pickup. I get the 2 skewer chicken souvlaki platter which has so much rice, potatoes and chicken (plus salad) that I intend on saving half for lunch the next day. Unfortunately, it's too good and I end up eating it all. My wife gets the grilled vegetable pita with spicy sauce on gluten-free pita. Let's just say that sauce is to die for! Gluten-free!! If you need Celiac safe food you are in the right place. Part of the family is Celiac and so most of the food is safe by design. If you ask for extra measures, you can be assured it's safe! Great to see this family business thrive 🙂

Tasty food! Everything was fresh. The salad was my favorite. The platter is the best deal. The chicken could have been more well done. I like my chicken a bit more well done.

We came into the city for a mini vacation. Found this place on Google, went in and realized they were operating mostly on a take out basis. They graciously allowed us to sit and eat. They were so sweet to our toddler. Even served us where we sat. Incredible people here. And incredible food! This will definitely be my go to everytime we visit ottawa.10/10 would recommend. If I could give more than 5 stars I would!!!! Thank you for your hospitality!

My partner and I have been ordering from here for years - I figured I should finally give them their 5 stars! We’ve introduced their food to my in-laws who are also great fans. Their food is ALWAYS fresh, plentiful, and absolutely delicious. You can tell they don’t take any corners and go the extra mile in their quality. I will always order from here over Greek on wheels or jimmy the Greek. Super happy they survived covid ❤️

This is definitely the best Greek food I have ever had. Portion sizes are so generous and tastes so fresh. Bonus that they have so many gluten free options for those with celiacs disease! They were super helpful over the phone to identify what is safe and the few options that are not gluten free. Absolutely will be ordering from here again!

Great little place on Bank st in Centretown.<br/>Easy to overlook while passing by (unless you are REALLY  looking, that is).<br/>Food is excellent (fresh and tasty with bold flavours), portions are generous and prices are super-reasonable!<br/>They play Greek music on the speakers which ads to the ambiance.<br/>Too bad it's closed on Sundays.<br/>Recommended!!

Food is always good but don't try to show up on any long week-end<br/><br/>The last few long week-ends (Victoria Day, Canada Day, Civic Holiday), I have tried to show up but they were closed. Seems like they are never open on long week-ends. Have also called a few times on regular week-ends only to get a message saying they are closed for the week-end<br/><br/>Very disheartening since week-ends are the only time I can go out to eat<br/><br/>I guess they should advertise that they are NEVER open on any long week-ends but also call ahead on regular week-ends so you don't show up only to see them closed.

A friend grabbed takeout for us from here, and had recommended it to me, and my opinion of Greek food in Ottawa has been fairly low typically, so I usually don't bother. I was actually quite impressed with the food though. Bang for buck, the portions are great, especially the combos, the side salad is large enough to have on it's own as lunch the following day. I usually find rice at most place quite disappointing and "meh" but the rice here was actually quite flavourful. I'd highly recommend this place!

yeah so the gyro at this place was terrible.  Chewy, fatty meat.  Terrible.  Not sure how they fancy themselves a  greek place with this garbage.

Excellent Food Always !!! Eat here twice a week for 5 years +. Staff are excellent and Terry the owner works the grill will with awesome staff. All family and friends I have taken there love it !

Was very pleasantly surprised by this tiny place. Grilled calamari cooked to perfection. Very tasty Greek dressing. A hidden gem in Centretown.<br/>

Most amazing meal. Skewers are perfectly seasoned and served fresh. The moussaka (special of the day) was unlike any I've ever had in a restaurant: it comes with generous and delicious layers of eggplants, zucchini, beef, topped with a gooey egg - based (?bechamel) sauce. Their salads and rice dishes are soaked in a very light and fragrant olive oil that make simple dishes taste 10x better. Don't forget to pick up a bottle of olive oil at the restaurant!

I have been to the Greek Souvlaki Shack several times (eat in and take out )and I LOVE the grilled veggie pita wrap. The large chunks of delicious eggplant, peppers, onions, etc. are wrapped in a warm, fresh pita, with just the right amount of tsatziki sauce. The baklava is amazing. The service is very friendly and fast. People who discover this gem become repeat customers....like me!!

Ordered the chicken souvlaki platter to go. It was ready really quickly and the food was amazing. Generous portion sizes, was really happy to have the large side salad in the meal, and that it was packaged separate from the hot food. Everything stayed hot during my walk back to the hotel. Will return if I'm back in town!

We came here because of the rating and it did not disappoint. This is a very small restaurant with sophisticated decor. We were here for lunch on a Friday and it was packed. <br/><br/>We ordered the calamari to start, and a pork gyro and chicken souvlaki platter. The food came put rather quickly but the quality was not compromised by the speed. The calamari was fresh and hot, and it was a very good portion as an appetizer. The chicken souvlaki skewer was OK, but the side dishes were delicious! There was lots of feta on the salad and the lemon roasted potatoes were great. <br/><br/>The service was kinda lacking as it was pretty busy and there was only 2 servers but overall a very positive experience. I'd recommend this place. <br/><br/>

Great lunch today ! Based on Zomato reviews picked this restaurant; and group of us were all happy. Salad had a light zesty dressing and sufficient feta sprinkled all over, we all ordered chicken dishes and it was noted that it was good quality, cooked well, and tasty.

Dropped in based on the rating here and it was well deserving of the reviews! It's a quiet little joint tucked away in one of the busier sections of Bank Street with incredible service, a quaint atmosphere and incredible food. I was offered the grilled calamari platter as the special, and I was blown away by the flavour. The calamari tasted fresh and the sides were also delicious. Both came in large portions as well (see photo). I highly recommend this place if you love Greek food - you won't regret it!

Ordered from UberEats.. Food was tasty and were very fair portions. Will order again for sure! Had the pork souvlaki which was a little overdone but still tasty, loved the rice and the salad was great.

Greek Souvlaki Shack is a small restaurant serving affordable authentic food on Bank St. I haven't had bad Greek food yet in Ottawa. In the higher end, there is EVOO Greek Kitchen which wowed us with their flavours and use of fresh local ingredients. You can go to Greek Souvlaki Shack for a more affordable option. I read a lot of positive reviews about this place. I tend to ignore the negative ones because they tend to generalize the whole menu based on one item they ordered. I rarely dine alone, I always have friends with me to try a variety of dishes, then share with you the hit and misses of their menu.

Small restaurant but super quick, fresh, tasty and great price! Can't beat that. Side note: I've only ever had the souvlaki platter. Best I've ever had

Tasty food for a good price. My husband and I tried this place by chance a few years ago, and we were pleasantly surprised. We used to order from Greek on Wheels frequently but found the quality of the food was not great, especially for the prices they charge. The food at the Souvlaki shack is much tastier, more authentic, and homemade. They don't use frozen souvlaki from a box like Greek on Wheels. And everything I've tried there is good, especially the homemade gyros which are the best I've ever had! Even at the end of the day when the meat has dried out a little bit, it's still better than any preformed meat gyros I've had. And I dream about the lemony, delicious potatoes! Their prices are great too, especially considering the freshness and quality of the food! We usually get take out and we get a ton of food for a reasonable price and it's always delicious.

Not the best.. Food was okay. No pita with the platters? I dunno if they forgot it or not. <br/><br/>Chicken portion was small. Potatoes were plain. Rice was bland. Salad was the best part. Could have included real Feta and not shredded stuff from bag.

Loved it. Service was excellent and prompt. The food is very authentic Greek which we expected when regulars appeared and began speaking Greek with the wait staff. Me and my girlfriend both had the authentic gyro plate which had delicious spiced pork and Greek salad but I was pleasantly surprised at how flavourful the rice and tzatziki sauce was. I would recommend this place to anyone who loves Greek or Mediterranean food.

Kinda ehh. I ordered the chicken souvlaki platter with 3 skewers. food was really good. the chicken was great. the rice reminded me a lot of some uncle bens though, but maybe thats just me. serving was large, but mostly salad.

Best Greek food in Ottawa. I've been there many times and the food is always great! The owner makes a point in being around and cook fantastic meals for his customers. The service is also great. Smiles are present all around in that place.

Great quality food and service. This is the best Greek restaurant in Ottawa. I have been many, many times and will continue to go back. The gyro is delicious and I also love the lamb skewers. The sides (rice, potatoes, greek salad) are all very good. They use quality ingredients at fair prices and are always super nice. What more could you ask for?

Best Greek in Ottawa!. This is my favourite place to go to for Greek food. I am never disappointed, both eat-in and take-out. Everyone who works here is so nice and they always make you feel welcome.

Delicious. I am Greek, born in Montreal living in Ottawa, and i cant get enough of this place. Ive learned to just not bother ordering Greek food from most places.. often the place is run by non greeks and/or the food is a westernized interpretation. Here the owner is Greek and knows what he is doing. They make their own dressing and tzatziki, Portions are generous and everything is delicious. Ive worked my way through the entire menu and its all good but my favourite items would be the chicken pita if im on the go, or any platter with their signature potatoes when im eating in. Id also recommend upgrading the salad, all tomatoes and cucumbers with onions feta and olives.<br/>Just as good as home sometimes better... just dont tell my mother i said that :P

A pleasure!. The salads were fresh and the portions were generous. We had the lamb souvlaki and it was delicious. They also had new desserts, like the Greek yogurt one, which is one of their healthy choices; we did not try it yet because we were too full. But we will definitely go back and next time we'll have dessert and coffee as well. The menu also had low carb versions for the traditional Greek meals.<br/>It is a small restaurant nicely decorated and the service was prompt and very friendly. Prices are reasonable.

Excellent

Fantastic Greek Restaurant. We recently celebrated our son's birthday at the Greek Souvlaki Shack. The food is amazing and very reasonably priced. We really enjoyed the warm hospitality of Terry the owner and head chef. Our server was very pleasant and attentive as well. If you like Greek food you have to try this restaurant. We would highly recommend this cozy, friendly restaurant.

Such a gem!. Found this place thanks to Urbanspoon, and had dinner there on our last night of a week's trip to Ottawa. This place is small, but perfectly formed. Maybe 8 tables on the Friday night we were there.<br/>Having been to Santorini on our honeymoon, Greek food has a special place in our hearts and this place was so tasty!! I had the chicken souvlaki plate and my other half had a chicken and beef souvlaki skewer, as well as the Greek fries. The chicken souvlaki was so good that I ordered another one half way through the meal! And the Greek fries (with feta, oil and oregano) were simply delicious! The chefs (both of whom came out to ask how our meal was - very nice touch) will be the first to confess that this is hardly a traditional dish but who cares when it's that good?!? Just order the Greek fries and thank me later.<br/>Limited alcohol selection, but the option of Greek or local lager, as well as a range of wines (including the Santorinian Atlantis white), was still quite impressive for such a small restaurant.<br/>In conclusion, great little spot, with friendly and knowledgeable staff and great Greek food. So glad that Urbanspoon helped us find it and hope that this review will pay it forward.

Deborah Higgins. I have eaten here twice the chicken pita greek fries are awesome!!

The Greek Souvlaki Shack Best Food Ever. Best Greek Food in Ottawa, always serviced with a smile! Food always fresh and tasty. I highly recommend the Gyro, meat is always fresh and tender! The Tzaziki is to die for the best I've ever tasted! This has been a wonderful experience, I am going to recommend this restaurant to all my coworkers, family and friends. Looking forward to the next time.

Used to be my favourite Greek spot. But today, it was terrible. Almost no cheese and not enough dressing for the salad. I think they may have changed the salad dressing, that used to be the highlight, but today it was slightly sour. The potatoes were barely cooked and had no flavour, same with the rice. My pita had some tomatoes on it, but no lettuce or anything. The tzatziki also tastes different... mostly just like yoghurt.<br/><br/>It's been quite a few months since I was last there, and something has significantly changed for the worse. I won't be back any time soon. I'd go to Jimmy over this.

Gluten-Free Friendly, and Just All-Around Friendly.. I've eaten here twice now, and both times I've enjoyed excellent service and very good food. The waitstaff is friendly, knowledgeable on their items, and considerate of food allergies. After informing my waiter that I can't eat gluten, he came out to double check that only my food needed to be gluten free, since my order was gluten-free but my friend's was not. On top of that, during my meal the chef came out from the kitchen to assure me that I'd never have to worry about things being gluten-free there, since he was very knowledgable on the subject. This extra bit of care is something I really appreciated.<br/><br/>My first time there, me and my friend had both ordered a souvlaki platter and a side. The waitress asked us if we'd been there before, and when we answer no, she kindly informed us that we had ordered a lot of food. This was great. In my experience, many servers would gladly have you order more food than you can eat if it will increase their bill and tip, but she was concerned that we would be overwhelmed with all the food we'd ordered. Even with this knowledge, we didn't make any changes to our order, and even though we couldn't finish it all, we thoroughly enjoyed everything we got.<br/><br/>It's these extra bits of customer care, and the delicious food (especially the tzatziki), that make me able to guarantee that I'll be returning again and again to the Greek Souvlaki Shack.

Terrific food!. Had the greek lasagna. It was very good. My two friends also enjoyed their meals very much. I will definitely be back when I'm in this end of the city.

Great authentic Greek food! Get a reservation for lunch or just do the take out - it's always packed for a reason!

Love this place. The food is delicious, easily the best Greek food restaurant in ottawa. On top of that the service is amazing they are always friendly and seem happy to be there.

Try it!. I love this place. Always fresh, very reasonable prices, friendly staff and owner.

Fantastic Food. Fantastic Prices. I work in the same neighbourhood as this wonderful little hidden gem of a restaurant so I have gone to this place many times now. It's definitely at the top of the list whenever my coworkers and I are looking to go out for lunch to celebrate a birthday or an office departure. My coworkers and I have tried many things off the menu and I'm telling you, all of the food is amazing. Surprising fun fact: the chocolate chip cookies are delicious so be sure to order at least one! And order it when you order your meal because you never know when someone will come in and purchase the entire cookie bin! No joke! I can vouch for the souvlaki pitas, souvlaki plates, greek fries and moussaka. SO GOOD! Only thing is it's a pretty small restaurant, I think the biggest table they have seats 8. If you're not grabbing takeout, making a reservation, especially at lunch time, is key! Corner of Bank & Cooper, go check it out, you won't be disappointed :)))

Wonderful food, sincere service. Called ahead to reserve a table for four on a Tuesday night based on the superlative reviews this small restaurant has earned. Let me start by saying everything that you read about this place is justified! While the decor is very plain, the food speaks for itself. Service was prompt and informed; pre-dinner drinks were served up quickly. While my 3 companions all went with the lamb souvlaki, I chose the chicken which was absolutely delicious. Portions are ample; rice is done to a turn and not sticky. Even the green salad was noteworthy: what a nice light dressing! Of course we couldn't resist having a little pastry to finish our meal. Prices for all items are very reasonable, particularly considering the high quality food. All in all very good value and an enjoyable experience; we'll be back the next time we're in Ottawa!

My family and I were visiting from Calgary and had a craving for Greek. We luckily stumbled across the shack. Absolutely amazing food. I'm bringing my wife there when we come back next summer. Excellent service and dinner.

Excellent restaurant. Had cheese pie aptz. Very light and flavorful. I had the Lamb Souvlaki Signature plate. Portion was very big. Lots of greens. Lamb was cooked just right. To top it off all, I had fresh Baklava. Nice sweet taste to finish our meal. Service staff is great. Great price would recommend you a visit. The place is small, so make a reservation. And, they take AMEX!

Babies unwelcome!!?. Yesterday, I decided to bring my mom to the Greek Shack, with my 8 month old son, so that she could discover a new place that my significant other and I had enjoyed on occasional take-out nights. <br/><br/>We arrived shortly before noon, awkwardly squeezing through the doors, with the stroller... to a waiter waiting for us at the other end without offering any help. He didn't waste any time in making us feel unwelcome! He wasted time trying to figure out how he was going to accommodate us, with a baby and a stroller, so that we wouldn't be a problem for some unexistent customers. I had to ask to be seated near the window instead of being asked to sit in a dark corner, which still seemed to be an issue. Finally when we chose a table, I pulled myself in and removed a chair so that I could have my little one close to me, conveniently, so that I could undress him and get him out of his stroller. Without my consent, he takes the stroller with my baby in it fully dressed, still tied up, and pulls him in under the table as if he was just a chair. I had to ask him to stop and explain to him that I planned to take my son out. He seemed quiet surprised and left. A minute later, he comes back, thinking he's found the perfect opportunity to get rid of the stroller by asking if he can take it to the back, while apologizing for not having a high chair.... ummm let me think about this... NO! ....No need to write down the rest of my explanation; I'm sure you all get it, especially if you have kids of your own. This waiter and staff obviously didn't. <br/><br/>When it came down to ordering, he was very eager to have us order quickly so that we could leave asap. My mother and I were so appalled and she was fuming. We both couldn't believe how we were treated for having a baby in a stroller compared to all the other wonderful restaurants in the city that accommodate you with open arms and a HIGH CHAIR! I had to ask my mom to calm down, stay and enjoy a meal... what was I thinking?! Let me add that the restaurant never got crowded during our stay; nor was anyone sitting at tables in proximity to us. Most clients came in for take-outs (!!) and were kinder to us than the restaurant staff. <br/><br/>Needless to say, this was a very unfortunate negative experience. I will never recommend this place to anyone, especially those with a baby and a stroller; nor will I ever order from the Greek Shack again. <br/><br/>Greek Shack, I hope you're reading this... It is my wish, for future parents who wish to venture to your restaurant, that you invest in a high chair!

Best greek food in ottawa and the only place where you can find authentic greek gyros. Owner/chef surely knows what he's doing.

Great Fresh Food. This place is always delicious and fresh!! Great for take out or a quick sit down meal! Only thing that I would change is if they had an appetizer platter with a few items on it, ordering all the different appettizers is just too much!!

Delicious. I live in the area and have worked my way through the entire menu, its all good.

Excellent. Wow , first time in, picked up a take out. $ 11.25 all in ... 1 skewer -chicken souvlaki plate,,Greek salad, potates and rice.. Tzatziki .. iI can eat a lot .. however I 'm glad i didn't go for the 2 Shewer plate ;-) .. ... .. I thought all was very fresh , and I very was impressed... 5 out of 5 .

Had the lamb souvlaki and it comes with Greek salad , rice and roasted potatoes. Everything was excellent. I will definitely be back.

This is my favourite Greek restaurant in Ottawa. The Greek salad with souvlaki is so tasty, and the souvlaki platter is an enormous amount of delicious food. Also, the homemade gluten-free chocolate macaroons are a definite must (if you've managed to save any room).

Food was delicious, well priced and fresh. The service was fantastic with a personal touch. Highly recommend dining here if you are in Ottawa. Will definitely return.

Get.yuur.garlic.on. Been here a few times now. Great little place. Opa!

A great restaurant with a personal touch. We only have great things to say about this restaurant. My wife and I worked on a 8 month contract in Ottawa and this place was our favourite place while we were here.<br/><br/>The food is consistent and very good. The platters are very well prepared and seasoned (Greek potatoes, Rice and Salad) and the mains like Calamari, Souvlaki skewers or Greek lasagna are delicious. And we discovered Bougatsa there, which is a dessert pastry with custard, sprinkled with Cinnamon and Sugar. Yum.<br/><br/>The best thing about this place is the family feel. The owner/chef greets each customer and the staff are great and friendly. We definitely recommend this place. A hidden gem in downtown Ottawa.

Great food / faire price / great service. One of the best Greek resto in Ottawa-Gatineau - Try it

Why is there no review?. I headed to the restaurant after reading the glowing review on Apt613 blog. The server was very friendly and the chef came out to check on us during our meal. They just got licensed to serve alcohol yesterday, and it will be interesting to see this place grow! The food we ordered included a gyro pita, chicken plate, and bougatsa to finish. They were all reasonably priced, generous in size, and delicious in taste. I will be returning for calamari and some local beer!

Assis à l’une des quelques tables de cet espace au décor moderne sans artifice, on savoure une cuisine grecque bien réalisée. Mes coups de coeur : le pita à l’agneau (« Pita Ami ») et les frites grecques («Elinikes Patates ») avec fromage feta, huile d’olive et origan. Le prix est abordable – pita et frites grecques à moins de 5$. Conseil : En semaine, à l’heure du midi, arrivez tôt car l’endroit est populaire auprès des gens d’affaires.

Friday evening my wife and I thought we found a Greek restaurant we could enjoy in Ottawa.  Since moving from the Toronto area last October, we had been looking for a Greek or Mediterranean restaurant to enjoy some Souvlaki at.  Previously we had enjoyed Jonathan's Fine Foods in Aurora with delicious Souvlaki served alongside potatoes, rice and salad.   Mr. Greek in Richmond Hill also provided a decent Greek inspired meal.  Turns out we were a little spoiled and did not even know it. Searching through the various online restaurant review databases, we discovered there is not one single restaurant specializing in Greek food that many Ottawa restaurant eaters had labelled as "outstanding" or "definitely go here!".  That is until we saw the Greek Souvlaki Shack ( 258 Bank Street, Ottawa ) which currently has a 94% approval rating on Urbanspoon.com . Lots of general positive comments but nothing mentioning the food as being outstanding.  But with 199 votes and a high approval rating, there