Guest article contributed by Tiffany Lu ’15
Having a very nondescript exterior, South Side Yanni’s can be easily missed if you’re not paying attention. Located in downtown Binghamton, it blends in very well with the rest of the buildings in the area. The storefront however, is in no way an accurate representation of the atmosphere and food. I arrived at the restaurant at approximately 1 pm and upon entering, I was greeted by a giant mounted elk head on the wall. The restaurant was decorated with wood paneling and warm lighting; very homey and relaxing indeed. For just $10, you can get a 3 course lunch or for $20, you can get a 4 course dinner that will be well worth your money.
Vegetarian Quesadilla
Served with a side of sour cream and salsa, a blend of red and green peppers, onions and cheeses were grilled inside an herbed tortilla.
Photo by Nguyen Le
Greek Platter
Similar to an antipasti platter; the Greek platter was very colorful and came with tzatziki yogurt sauce, blocks of feta cheese, kalamata olives, pepperoncinis, fresh sliced tomatoes and cucumbers accompanied by warm pita wedges.
Photo by Nguyen Le
Greek Salad
This was your stereotypical Greek salad consisting of crumbled feta, olives, lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes and olive. The dressing was an herb blended vinaigrette that accompanied the salad components very well. A slice of bread with butter was also included with the salad.
Photo by Nguyen Le
Chicken/Beef Gyro
Tender, seasoned strips of beef topped with diced red onion, tzatziki sauce and lettuce wrapped in a fluffy warm pita. The gyro is served with homemade potato chips. The chips are well salted with a good crunch and a chewy center. In the chicken gyro, marinated chunks of chicken are grilled and wrapped inside a pita with the same components as the beef gyro.
Photo by Nguyen Le
As if the name wasn’t enough of a clue, South Side Yannis serves up Greek specialties as well as traditional American style fare. Both types cuisine are available on the restaurant week menu so be sure to take advantage of this when you go. This is not your average low key family friendly restaurant or typical rowdy sports bar. With multiple flat screen TVs hanging throughout the restaurant and a full bar stocked with high-end liquor, this is a place that can serve to entertain a wide range of customers – come here for a good time!
Address: 1200 Vestal Ave, Binghamton, NY 13903
Times of Operation: Mon – Fri: 11:30 am – 11:00 pm; Sat: 12:00 pm – 12:00 am; Sun: 12:00 pm – 11:00 pm
A special thanks to South Side Yanni’s for providing us with a Restaurant Week tasting for this review.