Bringing the Mediterranean to Chattanooga
The Acropolis Mediterranean Grill has been at Hamilton Place Mall for so long (20 years!), it’s become a fixture there. But when you go inside, you’ll find that it’s fresher than ever. That’s the result of both a remodeling of the restaurant and a refreshing of the menu, all instigated by Nick Kyriakidis, son of founder Teddy.
There’s now a full bar, an expanded patio and a new menu that takes the traditions of Greek and Mediterranean cuisine and uses locally sourced ingredients to create dishes that are unique in Chattanooga.
If, like myself, you are unfamiliar with Greek food, you might be a little hesitant when first confronted with the menu at Acropolis. In that case, just ask the staff for help and they’ll happily explain what goes into each dish and help you select something that you’ll love.
In my case, it was recommended that I try the Mediterranean egg rolls for an appetizer, and the lamb for my entree. These turned out to be excellent choices. The egg rolls were very different from anything I’d ever had before (in a good way), and the sauce that came with them was fantastic.
The braised lamb shank was, in a word, incredible. Tender and perfectly cooked, it literally fell off the bone as I ate it. Even my girlfriend (who is from Bulgaria, right next door to Greece), and fancies herself a lamb “expert,” was impressed. She thought it was “spiced perfectly.”
Even the next day, when she reheated the leftovers for lunch, she informed me that, “There’s flavor in every bite. Something you can’t say about meat on the bone very often.”
So, if you are craving something different from a chain restaurant…something that’s locally sourced and family-owned and operated, the Acropolis Mediterranean Grill is highly recommended.