Olympic Pizza serves impressive array of food

SCARBOROUGH — Everything looked good.

Every sandwich, plate of pasta and dinner that came out of the kitchen of the Olympic Pizza & Grille on Route 1 in Scarborough looked like something I would seriously consider ordering.

The first thing I noticed was the haddock sub. Its golden-fried chunks of haddock were nestled in crisp-looking lettuce leaves and topped by a dollop of tartar sauce or some other tangy concoction.

Then came the plate of spaghetti with red sauce and a single, thick sausage.

But the topper was the chicken souvlaki, with its marinated grilled chicken and Greek sauce, served on a toasted sub roll.

All of it looked so gorgeous, so edible and so tempting – and all of it destined for someone else's table.

This was my first visit to Olympic Pizza & Grille. It had come highly recommended by friends who live in the neighborhood, but I had never been there and, frankly, I was a little unprepared.

I arrived hungry, and could have ordered just about anything and left happy.

Ultimately, my dining companion and I trusted our original instincts and curiosities.

She ordered the small Greek pizza, with its feta, olives and blend of spinach and cheeses ($8.95). I ordered the gyro ($5.95), which is something I readily associate with Greek food and often order when I go to a Greek place for the first time.

The gyro met my expectations. The thinly shaved lamb meat was tender and moist, and served within a lightly grilled pita. It was piled high with cucumbers, onions and tomatoes, and smothered in a tangy sauce. I ordered it with a side salad, which was filled with a generous helping of greens, carrots, celery, onions and even radishes.

The pizza was outstanding. The crust was crunchy and light, and the pizza was stacked with fresh ingredients and runny, stringy cheese.

I was impressed with two of the daily specials. One was a quick-lunch deal, with a slice of cheese pizza, bag of chips and fountain soda for $2.99. For $6.99, the lasagna special comes with a choice of sauteed mushrooms, sausage or meatballs.

The atmosphere is casual. We ordered at the counter, and made our way to chairs and a table that we selected on our own. We had to wipe the table down ourselves, and clean it when we finished.

The lone criticism of the place is that dining area feels remarkably bland and unimaginative, and not very clean.

The Features staff of the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram anonymously samples meals for about $7.

Olympic Pizza and Grille