Lets Eat Out at...

Corfu Restaurant
48 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre

Corfu owner Vic Satainian is on hand to welcome guests and assure their dining enjoyment.

Sierra Madre is a charming community just northeast of Arcadia, with attractions such as the largest blossoming plant in the world, according to Guinness Book of World Records, and one of the seven horticultural wonders of the world that was planted in 1894.

But that is not the only reason to visit Sierra Madre. Recently while attending a play, we dined at Corfu Restaurant, which is under new ownership.

The new owners, Vic and Amy Satainian, and Raffi Fournouzian are serving delicious, homemade Mediterranean food all day. Corfu offers traditional American breakfasts, including Belgian waffles, pancakes, omelets, eggs Benedict and oatmeal from 7 to 11 a.m., Monday through Friday and until 1 p.m. on the weekends.

Lunch services are from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and feature a lovely variety of hot or cold sandwiches, salads and soups. The special lunch plates served with hummus, tabbuleh, onion-parsley mix, rice pilaf and pita bread include such entrees as beef, lamb or chicken kebab, pastitso (macaroni casserole with ground beef), moussaka (eggplant casserole) and stuffed cabbage.

The dinner menu features a nice assortment of Mediterranean appetizers, including dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), cheese boreg (pan fried cheese in pastry), Kofta (minced beef, onions and pinenuts in a wheat crust) and Spanakopita (spinach pie in baked filo dough). The combination platter gives you a wonderful sampling of assorted appetizers and is always a good way to become familiar with the Mediterranean cuisine. This serving is so generous that if you add a nice Greek salad, you will have a delicious light meal.

The salads at Corfu are also interesting offerings. The Fattoush salad, with sliced cucumbers, tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, parsley, fresh mint and toasted pita bread, is delicious. The Raya’s salad, a combination of diced chicken, lettuce, cheddar cheese, scallions, corn and avocado served with a salsa and Greek house dressing, is fresh and exciting.

The wonderful homemade main entrees (all made to order) include pastas, seafood, poultry, and meats. My favorite is the Lula kebab with seasoned ground beef, but I also like the flamebroiled filet mignon kebab that is tender and succulent. The shawarma (marinated beef, broiled and served with onions, tomatoes in a tahini sauce) is hard to resist. For lamb lovers, don’t pass up the rack of lamb. Also delicious is the chicken with pesto and for cheese lovers, try the Roquefort chicken. For a fish entrée, consider the poached mussels, blackened snapper or the shrimp Diane.

After finishing a meal, enjoy the Greek coffee that is so rich and flavorful. There is a variety of homemade fresh pastries for dessert to compliment your coffee.

You can eat in or take out, and the restaurant also caters. There is a back room for private parties.

I enjoyed the homemade food at this restaurant and appreciated that it was all prepared to order, not pre-made and reheated as is so often the case. I also enjoyed the friendly service and the warm welcome from the owner, Vic. If you venture to Sierra Madre, plan to eat at Corfu Restaurant and enjoy some delicious homemade Mediterranean food. The restaurant is small, so I advise reservations. For more information or to make a reservation, call (626) 355-5993.