Downtown Cafe & Pizzeria

User Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Just ate here at 8pm Fri, Jan 2nd 2008, a dreary cold and wet night and the first three places we tried were closed. We were the only people there, but they didn't close early! Took about 5-6 minutes to get there from the highway.

*For those with no GPS, go into town, turn left at the light (befpre) when you see the police station, go one block, turn left on Main st, and its on your left in the middle of the block

There were a number of Greek and Italian specials not on the menu, and a $12 massive (1 pound I think!!!!) steak. If the steak is as good as the beef souvlaki, it was tender, jucy, and tasted great. This is a good basic Italian/Greek/Pizza restaurant, in a very small town, where you don't expect it. Good grilled meat dishes, the sandwich menu looked good, as did the Stromboli and pizza menu's. VERY INEXPENSIVE, about $8 for a dinner entre with salad, and cheaper Stromboli, sandwiches, etc!!! The menu was very big, soups, meals, pizza, and sandwiches.

Our party had:
Gyro platter with Greek salad and "Greek" seasoned fried potato wedges. The Gyro meat is cut into narrow strips, not sliced from the skewer, is well seasoned and you can taste both the lamb and beef. The platter is massive, and costs about $8.

The tsatkziki sauce is sour cream or ranch based, not yogurt based. The let you substitute extra salad for potato's if you wish.

The house salad was a romaine (yes!) and iceberg (boo) lettuce mix, tomato, cucumber, pepperoncini and Greek olives. Greek salad dressing had a little feta cheese in it, and is closer to an Italian than a lemon Greek dressing.

The Greek salad was pretty much the same with lots of crumbled salty-creamy feta cheese! No soggy substitutes here!

Italian Eggplant parmesian platter, same 'house' salad as above, two large breaded thin slices of eggplant, topped with a slightly sweet basil? maranara sauce and lots of melted motzrella cheese. Large portion of spaghetti with an oregano based maranara sauce that wasn't sweet tasting. Very good, but I don't prefer the sweet tomato sauces (like most prepared sauces) but the kids really liked both. Garlic bread was a good quality French loaf, with some type of spread and probably powdered garlic. It was okay, but I really prefer fresh garlic and either real butter or olive oil.

Chicken souvlaki platter: same good house salad, dressing, and pita; with cubed chicken instead. Same excellent flavor as the beef souvlaki, tender and not dried out, but browned lightly. Very nice.

Beef souvlaki platter: same good house salad, dressing, and pita; with cubed steak for meat. Excellent seasoned flavor, tender and juicy, well seared on the outside. Very good too.

Service was great, we were the only ones there!

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User Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Best Italian Food Around: This little Italian-Greek Cafe has the best Italian food in the area. Don't miss it if you are in town.

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User Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Good Food: Downtown Cafe's menu is a good mix of Greek and Italian food, and everything I have had there has been good. My favorite meal is the Gyro platter. I do want to mention that now that it has changed ownership there is a marked difference in the food and wait staff. The Greek pizza is not as good as it once was. The management is also not as on the ball as they once were: One day they were out of cheese (at a pizza place?!) and one day they were out of Coke. There is one waitress in particular who really don't seem to enjoy her job, and goes about in an automaton fashion, barely remembering your order and showing very little personality or friendliness, let alone happiness. But for the most part the food is good, the wait staff is happy and friendly. You have to eat at Downtown Cafe if you're in Lavonia.

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