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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
Kolokithi Salad
photo credit: Andrea D'Agosto
Very Lemony Potatoes
photo credit: Andrea D'Agosto
Giganti Beans
Grilled Octopus
photo credit: Andrea D'Agosto
Lamb Chops
photo credit: Andrea D'Agosto