Western Oregon Journal

[Click to enlarge]

Variety may be the spice of life, but it is food that makes life worth living. Lucky for the Western Student there is reason to live nearby.

Salem may be many things: A state capital? Yes. Home to a variety of ethnic and diverse restaurants to tantalize any appetite? Also yes. One of the more fruitful streets, in this respect, is Court Street.

Court offers a slew of choices: Thai, Indian and Starbucks (to some, a food group all its own), as well as Greek.

Located in the old Opera House, Macedonia offers a treat to the taste buds.

This Greek venue offers visual as well as tasty treatment to the senses. Macedonia intertwines conventionally Greek décor with pictures of Greece, traditional Greek music as well as visually stimulating colors.

The ambiance brings great promise to a diner upon first entering, however, don’t be fooled. The boisterous personality one might expect after watching “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” is not copied in this establishment. The employees are friendly; however, Macedonia exudes a quieter atmosphere.

There are numerous reasons other than the atmosphere to visit this fine business: the number one reason being food! Greek food is absolutely divine. It is unlike any other ethnic option, and once tasted is practically good enough to convince the lucky consumer to switch to a Mediterranean diet.

Greek food incorporates a variety of spices, olives, tomatoes and cheese in most dishes. A traditional Greek salad consists of tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, feta cheese and a tangy dressing, rather than the usual blend of lettuce and such. Though this combination may sound intimidating at first, the flavor is definitely worth taking the first bite. There are many other differences to the Greek style, yet all are tempting as well as tasty.

Macedonia’s menu is a testament to Greek variety. They offer a diverse assortment of dishes; ranging from sampler plates to individual favorites. The sampler plates are an excellent approach to narrowing down the menu for future consumption. Macedonia offers a few different sample plates to best gage all the choices offered to the dining guest.

Sample plates, however, are not the only type of dish offered on the menu. There are a variety of options incorporating a specific type of entrée. The chicken shish kabobs are an excellent choice. This dish is served with two sticks stuffed with spiced meat, rice and traditional Greek vegetables. The meat is seared to perfection and carries a slight zing to it. The rice actually tastes sweet. Not overly sweet, but sweeter than the typical rice encountered in most establishments. The vegetables consist of a different breed of cooked carrot, a tomato slice as well as a cucumber slice. Accompanying this dish is the obligatory small chunk of feta cheese, as well as a round of pita bread.

Another celebrated aspect of Greek culture is their talents with the spirits. Macedonia does not fall short of its heritage as they offer a full wine menu. Many of the wines have their origin in Greece, as well as other European countries. The house favorite is Kouros Patras, a Greek wine, which has an excellent flavor which finishes off with a pleasant aftertaste. It is worth every penny of the $7.50 per glass or $29 per bottle.

Macedonia is an excellent restaurant to dine at; however, it is a little more on the expensive side. The chicken shish kabob plate costs $12.50, and is one of the least expensive choices. Despite the cost, however, the food is superb and Macedonia is a can’t-miss attraction!

Article Tools