Daphne's Greek Cafe, Torrey Hills

Rating: 6/10
Date visited: Twice so far
Party of two
Lunch

I am very much against fast food - especially the McD kind. There are few 'gourmet' fast food chains these days, but I do not find them too appetizing either. So far, Daphne's has been all right - it's not disappointed me as much I was expecting. Their food seems to be light and contains less fat, though I have not asked for their calorie charts and looks can be deceiving. Their food does not tax my liver and leave me sluggish and dumb. So, as far as fast food places go, this chain I will visit as often as I need to.

We have been there for lunch couple times so far, mostly because it was somewhere to get a quick lunch and without the full guilt of eating fast food and the ensuing gastrointestinal discomfort. It was more out of necessity rather than desire that we have been to Daphne's.

They serve gyros*, kebabs, pita, hummus, and other common Greek goodies like dolmas, falafel, baklava, etc. (You can find the full menu on their website) We have had their chicken kebabs, gyro sandwiches, and also the platters.

Few points to note:
1) The restaurant is clean and well maintained. The waiter and waitresses are very particular in cleaning up the joint.
2) Drinks are not served, you just have to fetch it for yourself - they give you the cup.
3) For $1, you can get a small appetizer or soup or a baklava - nice deal!
4) Portions are huge - I still keep getting amazed by portion size. I think I had forgotten all about the massive portions in the US during my stint in Oz.
5) The rice pilaf is actually quite nice - it's shiny, I have no idea what goes in it. I bet it is not freshly made, and comes prepackaged in a can/ bag to be heated and served.
6) The Pita is all right - again it's the 'processed' kind. I should not expect anything different, should I?
7) The salad really makes me sad - I cannot stand the near white iceberg lettuce. Yes, the dressing is nice, but they could do a bit better than the iceberg lettuce.
8) I have tried their Fire Feta - it's basically a somewhat spicy sauce mixed with feta cheese crumbs. One would usually make that at home as a dip for a tailgate party. I guess it's all right.
9) I am not sure why they serve french fries with their meals. May be french fries are now synonymous with fast food in the American lingo and they will not eat otherwise? Or is it that its a quick, easy, and cheap meal filler? Well , in my opinion, fries definitely does not go with the meals they serve.
* 10) Special Note For my Aussie friends: Gyros is very similar to the lamb kebab shavings you get served at your kebab shops - ground meat mix on a tall vertical rotating spit in front of a heat source. The meat is sliced vertically. But, it tastes a bit different here than in Oz. The lamb gyros here seem to have the taste of some lentils or bulgur wheat in them. Also, they do not serve it like they do in Oz, they serve the shavings here with rice and/or pita bread pieces - no special sauces or other mixings and making it in a roll. Also, in America, we do not have chicken gyros like you have in Oz.

Address: 4639 Carmel Mountain Rd., San Diego, CA 92130
Website: http://www.daphnesgreekcafe.com/
Ph: 858-720-8642
Timing:
Liquor - not served.