Greek flavors one will savor

Knight Restaurant is hidden away among a plethora of other restaurants in an area of San Fernando Boulevard that was once known as “Beautiful Downtown Burbank.” The competition for both lunch and dinner is fierce, but Knight Restaurant delivers the goods.

Knight can be deceiving from the outside, but you will be pleasantly surprised once you step past the al fresco dining area and enter the clean, stylish interior. What stands out besides the food in this Greek and Mediterranean restaurant is the fast service, the ready smiles and the chatter from the owner, who obviously loves Burbank.

The menu has all the usual Greek and Mediterranean suspects — sarma, falafel, tabuleh, shawarma and a long list of kebabs. The most expensive item on the menu is a shrimp kebab for $14.95 followed by a rib-eye steak for $13.25.

My son and I started our mid-afternoon lunch with an order of sarma ($3.80), stuffed grape leaves filled with a mixture of rice and special seasonings. It is very tasty and a nice lead-in to the rest of the meal.

My son ordered the chicken gyro ($4.50). After his first bite, he said it was not as “punchably” flavored as he thought, it being marinated. As he continued to eat the sandwich, he had another opinion. “This sandwich is really good,” he said. “It has a nice garlic sauce on it and it was delivered at the temperature level at which I want to eat — nice and warm but not too hot.”

I like kebabs, so it was a no-brainer for me to order the lamb kebab plate ($11.95). I wasn’t disappointed. It was delicious — tender, with a nice charbroiled taste. It was served with rice, a stewed tomato and outstanding pita bread. I had an option of soup or salad and selected the Greek salad. It was a delicious blend of tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, feta cheese and olives.

Other menu items include lamb chops, lule kebab, lahmagin (Armenian pizza) and a falafel sandwich (a Middle Eastern delight). You can top off the meal with your choice of 10 dessert items, including baklava ($1.95).

Knight Restaurant had a nice crowd for so late in the lunch hour on a Tuesday. The restaurant also offers a nice wine list, an eclectic beer selection both bottled and on tap and specialty cocktails. They offer three tap beers — Samuel Adams, Pyramid and Fat Tire.

The restaurant can accommodate up to 60 people for private parties in a cozy upstairs dining room.

Infobox

What: Knight Restaurant (Greek and Mediterranean cuisine)

Where: 138 N. San Fernando Blvd., Downtown Burbank

When: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday

Prices: From $4.50 to $14.95

Contact: (818) 845-4516; or visit www.knightburbank.com (the restaurant does not have its own dedicated website). They deliver and take online orders.