Greekman’s

Greekman's feels like a remnant of summer that never really left. The Silver Lake restaurant originally launched as an outdoor pop-up in June 2021, eventually becoming a permanent replacement for Freedman's, the Jewish comfort food spot whose Reuben sandwich we truly adored. And though we still miss Freedman's, we like what the current concept brings to the table: good souvlaki, cocktails, and lots of natural Greek wine. Sure, the Greek decor clashes with the leftover Jewish deli aesthetic like a Christmas tree in July, but no one seems to care, including us. 

photo credit: Andrea D'Agosto

Greekman's isn't the type of sceney Mediterranean spot that tries to emulate a Mykonos beach club. Instead, it leans into kitsch: miniature Greek busts, dangling vines, and blue tableware to keep with the color scheme. There's even a blue and white front patio in the parking lot adorned with lots of fake leaves. It's all a bit on the nose, but it doesn't detract from the food, which is quite good. 

The menu here focuses on small plates, which are great to share for a fun, family-style dinner, but not so great for keeping things affordable. If everyone in your group expects to leave stuffed, a meal here can get expensive fast. We prefer to use Greekman's as a place to begin or end the night with a white negroni and a few dishes to split. Everything we've eaten here has ranged from delicious to good enough, including juicy lamb chops on a bed of tangy tzatziki, tender grilled octopus, and a feta-stuffed phyllo pocket that we'd happily order ten of if they didn't cost $12 a pop. 

We often complain about the lack of Greek options in LA, and while Greekman's might not be the divine answer to our prayers, the food and atmosphere are seductive enough to briefly place us in vacation mode. We're not saying you'll feel like a euphoric, sunkissed backpacker who spent their last ten euros on shots of ouzo at a beach bar, but dinner at Greekman's, when done right, can feel like the next best thing: a casual, festive spot where you can unwind with good wine, solid small plates, and a sense of escapism that makes you forget you're dining next door to a laundromat. 

Food Rundown

Feta, Phyllo, Pomegranate

You're expected to share this small $12 phyllo pastry, which is sad and unrealistic. We want this flakey, delicious, feta-stuffed pocket for ourselves, especially when combined with its refreshing pomegranate seed topping.

Kolokithi Salad

The raw zucchini in this salad comes thinly sliced, making it a light, crunchy bite that doesn't taste like much but is satisfying to eat. What gives this dish personality is the tangy green dressing and its generous amount of fresh dill.

photo credit: Andrea D'Agosto

Very Lemony Potatoes

The name of the dish is a very accurate description. However, it doesn't mention the bed of delicious aioli the potatoes sit on that, yes, is lemony, too.

photo credit: Andrea D'Agosto

Giganti Beans

This warm bean dish was one of the best things we ate here, with its savory tomato sauce that gets cut with sweet honey. The slice of feta on top is roasted in the oven until it looks like a charred campfire marshmallow, adding the creaminess and salt this dish needs.

Grilled Octopus

There's an unspoken rule that every Mediterranean spot in LA has to serve an overpriced, charred octopus tentacle, but the one at Greekman's is actually good. It's expertly grilled to tenderness with a little smoke flavor that pairs beautifully with just a squeeze of lemon.

photo credit: Andrea D'Agosto

Lamb Chops

These lamb chops are very juicy and come served over a refreshingly tangy tzatziki, though the lamb could use a bit more salt. It's also three small chops for $25, which is a little hard to swallow (unlike the lamb).

photo credit: Andrea D'Agosto

Lamb & Wagyu Kefta

This skewer's ground lamb and beef blend was juicy, a little grassy, and well-seasoned. It's also not too heavy, so we could easily order several of these and call it a night. But it's worth exploring the menu's other souvlaki options, like grilled oyster mushroom, chicken, and prawns.

Honey Balls

These honey-drenched donuts are a bit dense, so we suggest adding on a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a couple bucks extra to help soften them up. It's also just a really delicious flavor combination, so please do it.