San Francisco

Greek Flavor, city flair

A Quick Lunch at Souvla

Authentic. Original. Fresh. Delicious. Reasonably priced. Aesthetically approved by the millenials. All this wrapped up prettily with a thank-you letter signed by Michelle Obama herself. How does Souvla raise the bar for quality dining everywhere?

Besides the line pouring out the door, the first thing you notice upon arrival at Souvla’s original storefront in Hayes Valley is the subtle but unique sign hanging overhead. “Souvla,” it reads in white letters on sky-blue rectangles, all linked together by a rotisserie. Souvla, meaning “skewer” in Greek, is a modern hybrid between fast and fine dining dedicated to serving dishes inspired by Greek souvlaki restaurants, which specialize in skewer-roasted meats. Aside from mouth-watering dishes--including delectable rotisserie meats, thick-cut garlic Parmesan fries, and delightfully tart Greek yogurts--the restaurant’s interior exhibits decor that is equally as tasteful. In accordance with  color palette of their logo and the Greek flag, the restaurant is satisfyingly encompassed in the clean whites of the wall tiling, hanging light fixtures, and high ceilings, with various accent shades of blue found in the floor tiling, yogurt cups, and bowl rims. To counteract the often-felt coldness of the modern minimal aesthetic, earthy and rustic tones are incorporated through wooden tabling, exposed wooden beams, and the scattered placement of dried olive tree branches. The wide skylight in the central seating area, the rectangular family-style table (reminiscent of one that would present a Thanksgiving feast), the spit-fire chicken rack on open display towards the rear--all contribute to the warmth and highly approachable nature of Souvla. 

Upholding an inviting ambiance as opposed to an overly pretentious facade, Souvla masterfully combines the big-city-aesthetic with authentic Greek charms. Admirably, Souvla earnestly conveys their unwavering homage to Greece and message of peace to an audience that most likely has no prior connection to Greek culture. May Souvla continue to serve their motto “make it nice and be nice,” and their tasty food, in the San Francisco community for many years to come. 

Words: Anna Fang

Photos: Stephany Su