Only minutes away from Sacramento State is a restaurant called Opa! Opa! This restaurant features Greek, Mediterranean and vegetarian-friendly food that’s perfect for anyone on any budget or who wants to try something new.

Owner Mariann Isola said the idea behind opening the restaurant was trying to find the right combination of Middle-Eastern food and to make Greek food modern. Isola wanted to bring those two combinations together in one location.

“We still have a long way to go on educating people on Greek food,” Isola said. “It is the healthiest food one can eat.”

As soon as I walked in the restaurant I could smell the aroma of the food. The environment of the restaurant was festive in Greek decorations such as different abstract paintings that represent the culture. The restaurant also had festive Greek music playing in the background.

It was my first time eating Greek food at Opa! Opa!, and I didn’t know what to order. Isola recommended the gyro pit. This gyro has 80 percent beef and 20 percent lamb, and is topped with tzatziki sauce – a yogurt-based sauce with cucumbers and dill – and lettuce, tomatoes and onions. The whole thing is wrapped in soft and light pita bread.

The gyro boasted both savory and tangy flavors with the meat and tzatziki combining for a great combination. The meat was moist and tender and the tzatziki was creamy and cool, with just enough tartness to cut through the fattiness of the meat.

Gluten-free or vegetarian diners might be pleased to see options for their dietary needs, including hummus with cucumbers, fries, dolmas and souvlakia. Dolmas are traditional stuffed grape leaves, which can be prepared with or without meat, and souvlakia are skewers of meat and vegetables.

Samantha Urias, an Opa! Opa! employee, said the best thing about the restaurant is the people.

“Most of the customers act like friends and have been coming here for years,” Urias said.

For those looking for traditional Greek food or who want to try something new, take a short walk, bike or drive over to Opa! Opa!

Jane Park can be reached at [email protected]