Simplicity (read Marcus Aurelius, Clarice)…

The Happy Greek, that Short North staple at 660 North High Street, offered a convenient and enjoyable lunch break from the AH-Nold Sports Festival at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. The HG also boasts a location on the OSU campus (1562 North High Street), but that’s somewhat of a hike from I-670.

We tres hombres sauntered up The Street lookin’ fer eats. Initially thinking a round-up at the MoJoe Lounge would be appropriate, we ultimately decided Greek fare might be more adventurous that afternoon. After a mere eighth of a mile walk, there it was.

The Happy Greek is a study in simplicity, as is much in the Short North. For some time, this location wedged a full-service bar, dessert counter and dining room into a rather small space. It has since expanded, adding a party room seating 50, yet still retains the original bar and dining room. With the feel of a mid-town Manhattan cafe, there are few frills, yet the decor is as pleasant as it is practical. The menu is a model of the “less-is-more” credo at its best, shunning an ill-advised plethora of (mostly) mediocre dishes for a manageable selection of well-done meals.

Our server took our drink orders, two soft drinks and one Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald (that’s a porter, for you beer lovers), and we went about choosing entrees. It was decided that a Big Greek Burger, a falafel and veggie dish and chicken shawarma would suffice. We were dining on the other side of the lunch rush, so the food was out relatively quickly. First up, the Greek Burger:

Happy Greek Burgoo

Happy Greek Burgoo

It was QUITE the filling sandwich, with the feta cheese complimenting the onions and tomatoes.

Next up, the falafel and veggie lunch:

Happy Greek Falafel and Veggie

Happy Greek Falafel and Veggie

With ground fava beans (sorry, no “Kee-ANN-tee”) and the HG’s blend of herbs and spices, this dish is blended and rolled in sesame seeds. While our diner found the falafel slightly weak in flavor, it was noted there may be a significant difference between the Lebanese seasoning he was used to and the Greek counterpart here. While I have little experience with falafel myself, it was quite enjoyable.

Add some pita bread and hummus, ya got “O-pa!”, Hoss.

Finally, your reviewer dug into the chicken shawarma:

Happy Greek Chicken Shawarma

Happy Greek Chicken Shawarma

A fine dish of chicken breast strips marinated in “Mediterranean” seasonings and EVOO (damn my Rachel Ray-loving girlfriends: that’s “extra virgin olive oil”, for the uninitiated) it was whipped up with green peppers, onions and tomatoes. Adorned with that “dash of paprika” we classical guitar disciples all live for, it was DOWNRIGHT TASTY and gone in a flash.

And yet, there was room for…

(wait for it)

TRIPLE LAYER CHOCOLATE CAKE.

Happy Greek Chocolate Cake

Happy Greek Chocolate Cake

Death by chocolate, the only way to feed the beast that is choco-dependency. DAMN FINE.

Overall, the Happy Greek was a thoroughly-pleasant lunchtime experience. Reflecting on the experience (with help from the on-line menu), I further appreciate the no-frills lunch that satisfied us in all respects. Though it may be sheer insanity at lunch and dinner rushes (I have been to there at dinnertime and it can be, appropriately for the Short North, rather cramped), you cannot fault the Greek for offering an excellent dining experience. With pleasant service and excellent food at reasonable prices, you’ll have that.

The doll mobile spotted in the Short North

The doll mobile spotted in the Short North

Was he Greek or just Happy or both?

Was he Greek or just Happy or both?

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