Opa! Coney and Grill

The husband-wife owners of Opa! Coney and Grill haven't let geography or tradition stand in the way of serving the foods they know best. Influenced by their varied ethnic heritages, the menu at their strip mall restaurant includes Greek specialties such as moussaka and gyros; Detroit-style Coneys (like a chili dog); Polish fare such as pierogies; straight-up American food like tuna salad; and fusion dishes such as a burger with yogurt-based tzatziki sauce. On our visit, we ordered two vegetarian wraps: the European pita with mushrooms and roasted red peppers and the Mediterranean pita with falafel and hummus. They were a bargain at just $5.99 apiece and were delicious. The falafel, especially, was a hit. It's made in-house, not from a mix, and is heavily spiced (not hot, just flavorful). Our only complaint about the food was that the chopped romaine lettuce for the sandwiches was limp and bruised. The bread, though, was soft and substantial the way pita should be, and we loved that the salt on the table was imported Greek sea salt. Although the location near the Traverse City airport lacks character, Opa! has incorporated some nice touches, such as cheerful paintings of Greek villages and cobalt blue walls that recall the Mediterranean Sea. Service is friendly and competent. But no doubt, the focus here is the food, and with prices this low, that's fine with us.