Salonica Feature

Author & Photographer: Arushi Mukherjee

rice & beans

burger

Welcome to…

Salonica

Hyde Park is studded with student favorites, from all-you-can-eat sushi at Shinju to the feel-good food of the Med. And although anywhere feels homey with enough friends by your side, few establishments between 57th and 53rd St. embody the cozy, family-friendly feeling of Salonica.  Nestled on the corner of 57th and Blackstone, the entrance is a quaint door that leads into a retro dining room, a 50s diner with the flair of a southern Greek town. The walls are decorated with nostalgic photos, and the vinyl booths, wooden tables, and smell of fries evoke a sense of comfort upon arrival. Yellowish overhead lighting washes the space in a subtle vintage filter. A long counter at the back of the main room serves as an inviting place for customers to enjoy their favorite breakfast classics: freshly brewed hot coffee, eggs and bacon, or french toast. At the heart of Hyde Park, Salonica feels like the iconic Friends cafe Central Perk - a place where neighborhood regulars and new visitors alike can gather and relax. 

The menu is expansive and features a wide variety of hot, cold, sweet, and savory options. All day breakfast entails a number of classic options, all basically different combinations of toast, potatoes, eggs, bacon, and sausage. The menu also boasts pancakes, waffles, French toast, steak and eggs, as well as omelets with different regional preparations. Beyond this, customers can choose from an array of cold sides that complete the breakfast menu. The salad menu is strikingly unique – offerings range from a Horyiatiki Salad (a fresh Greek style salad) to Curry Chicken Salad (which includes marinated Indian curry chicken with chutney) to the classic and simple Caesar Salad. Following the salad section, we return to more classic diner options: burgers, patty and tuna melts, Reubens, grilled cheeses, and wraps (buffalo, garden, and pesto chicken). In the final section, we move to the house specialties. Some highlights include the Gyro Sandwich, Chicken on Pita, Spanakopita, various cuts of meat (including pork chops, T-bone, and sirloin), fried shrimp, broiled salmon, and Souvlaki/other kebabs. The menu combines Greek classics with diner favorites. There truly is something for everyone. 

spanakopita

The Greek options like Spanakopita (flaky pastry dough encasing a spinach and feta cheese filling) and the Gyro Sandwich (fragrant lamb in a soft, buttery pita) are well-seasoned and on the richer side. The breakfast items are a little greasy but will certainly satisfy your cravings. The burgers are juicy and tender and have that classic char broiled diner taste. The fries come on the side of quite a few of the dishes in indulgent quantities – they taste like the best kind of fried food, the kind you eat on the boardwalk or at a theme park on a hot summer day.

Salonica is the family-owned place to go for comfort food in Hyde Park. The experience you get is one of nostalgia, home cooking, and community. The friendly and fast service makes the experience all the more smooth, and the laughter emanating from the leather booths makes the food taste even better. Salonica is a Hyde Park staple for a reason, and sitting down for just one meal in the restaurant makes it clear why. It serves as a transporting escape from the pressures of the quarter, the bustle of campus, and a world that doesn’t always allow us to slow down for a hearty meal with good friends anymore.