By J1 Reviewer Sophia Losole 

“Click, Sizzle, Opa!” These are the sounds of the famous Flaming Saganaki from The Greek Islands Restaurant. Located at 3821 Center St, in Omaha NE, this restaurant is filled with tradition and delicious Greek food. The Flaming Saganaki is Greek cheese cooked golden brown and served flaming at your table. Before serving this, the server ignites the cheese with a lighter and yells “OPA!” Then the server squeezes lemon juice to put out the roaring flame. The server will also give you a basket of Orsis bread to put the Flaming Saganaki on. This dish melts in your mouth and is…fire!

 When you first walk in, you instantly smell the garlic and feta cheese from the kitchen and are greeted by a painted scenery of Greece which feels like you are actually there. I have always wanted to visit Greece and going to The Greek Islands Restaurant feels like I am really there. 

The front of the Greek Islands Restaurant located at 3821 Center St, in Omaha NE Photo Courtesy of Yelp

Brothers Laki “Bill” and George Sgourakis came to America and immigrated to Omaha in 1966. They started working at a meat packing plant in South Omaha until they saved enough money to open the Greek Islands Restaurant on August 8, 1983. This is so special for their families and Greek community. My own grandma immigrated from Italy and started a restaurant so I totally empathize with the Sgourakis brother’s and their start to fame in America with their family owned restaurant.

This restaurant is a fan favorite in my house. We like to go to celebrate birthdays or when we just are craving some authentic Greek food. As someone who knows what it takes to own a restaurant, it is so important to have good service. They represent who the restaurant is as a brand. The Greek Islands do just that. Their waitresses and waiters are polite and friendly but also quick with getting refills or more Orsis bread for your table. 

Another plus to this local restaurant is the price. As someone who currently doesn’t have a job, it is affordable for me to purchase. With prices per serving being $10-20, the price is right when dining at The Greek Islands. Their hours are Monday-Sunday starting at 11am until 7 or 8:30pm, depending on which day you go. During this time, you can order take out and enjoy some good Greek food in the comfort of your home while maybe watching “My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding.” 

There is only indoor seating which is also nice. When I am craving a warm gyro with seasoned steak fries to soothe my stomach in the winter, I can easily head to The Greek Islands and eat it inside while staying warm from the coldness of Omaha. On the topic of food, they have kid menu items, vegetarian dishes, and daily specials. The portions are good size, meaning one person can finish a meal by themselves. 

If you are someone who worries about what to wear to a restaurant like this, I got you! I normally wear a crew neck with leggings when I attend. But if you are going for a Birthday Party, Baptism or Confirmation party (held in their back room/party room), you can wear a dress or a cute top with jeans. And if you wanted to, you could wear your most ugly outfit and they wouldn’t care. There is no dress code which makes going here for lunch or dinner effortless. 

With a 4.3 out of 5 star review on Google, I personally give it a 10/10! I have gone to this restaurant for multiple occasions and it does help being family friends with the owners. The owner’s children grew up with my Dad and his siblings and are very friendly people. Starting a restaurant from the ground up is not easy, but the Sgourakis brothers have made this restaurant a success. Today, over 30 years later, they continue to believe in the same concept of serving authentic Greek food to everyone in the Omaha community.