The adventures of Dan and Jungdae continued this weekend with a frenzied search for a new house in Old Town Alexandria / Del Ray. Yes, we are looking to make the jump and become home-owners. And yes, the whole day was exciting and yet terribly nerve-wracking, and we ended up feeling like wrung-out children just off of a killer sugar-high from an overdose of Halloween candies. We needed a little boost after a day of house shopping, and decided to go for an exuberant meal of Greek.

Atmosphere: We wandered into Taverna Cretekou, a Greek haven in the middle of Old Town Alexandria. You are welcomed into a room filled with murals of strapping Greek men and the beautiful Greek countryside. The restaurant transports you to a village in Greece, with its decor and the waiters all dressed in Greek costumes. The whole effect could have been cheesy, but they are able to pull off a charming and fun atmosphere, putting me right in the mood for good wine and good times. I’m told that there is live music on Thursday nights, and the garden patio is open in the summer. On special occasions, they even roast a whole lamb on a spit, and if you’re a lucky carnivore and come early, you can get a slice of your choice part.

Service: The service was best described as exuberant and fun. The waiter obviously loves the food at the restaurant, and eagerly shared his insight as to what is the best thing to order from the menu. We ended up ordering everything that was recommended and had a wonderful time. When our dishes came out, another waiter stopped by to congratulate us on our selection, affirming that we are tasting the very best of Greek food. The service, like the food, was lusty and enjoyable.

Food: We ordered two combination appetizer plates and the special entree of the day. The Satyrikon (an appetizer plate for two), is highly recommended and contains large portions of a variety of Greek specialties. Ours included Taramosalata (red caviar, olive oil and lemon), Melitzanosalata (mousse of egglant, garlic, olive oil and lemon), Tzatziki (yogurt, cucumber and garlic), Fava (fava beans mixed with olive oil and lemon), Dolmadakia (grape leaves), and Spanakotiropita (Spinach and Feta pastry). The portions are really pretty large, and Dan and I were able to completely indulge and still not finish. We’ve had this type of combination appetizer at other Greek restaurants like Mourayo (in Dupont Circle), and they have not been as good (nor have they had as much quantity). The other combination appetizer we got was the Saganakime Garides, which is shrimp and feta cheese sauteed until crusty served on a hot plate. If you’ve never tried this Greek specialty, or even if you have, you must get this. The salty dish is hot and tasty and is fabulous with some Greek wine.

As the entree, we got the special of the day, which was Lamb shank, cooked to perfection such that the meat just fell right off the bone, served with some vegetables and potatoes cooked with lemon. By the end of the meal, I felt as if I had been to a village celebration where I gorged on local delicacies and somehow danced all night (although I was sitting at the table the entire time). This is definitely the place to go for good times and good foods.

The entire meal was deliciously complimented by a bottle of Greek wine. The restaurant has an extensive wine list from Greece, so I highly recommend getting some to go with your meal.

Summary: This is the best Greek restaurant I’ve been to in the DC area. Great atmosphere, fun service, and fabulous food. To be honest, I was a bit giddy from the food and drink by the end of the night. This is a great place to go for a fun time.

Restaurant Information:

• Website: http://www.tavernacretekou.com
• Address: 818 King Street, Alexandria VA 22314
• Phone: 703-548-8688
• Price Range: Appetizers range from $7 - $15; Entrees average around $20. If you get a bottle of wine, you can expect to spend from $80 - $100 for two people.