Kafe Neo in Edmonds feeds a crowd with no fuss and no muss

Kafe Neo, with its famous slogan, “Food so good, Zeus would be pleased,” has grown and evolved into a Highway 99 landmark since opening in Edmonds in 1991.

First came a major remodel in 2005. And in recent years, it added online ordering — you can pick up your meal, or have it delivered via Amazon.

What Kafe Neo continues to offer is a four-page menu of Greek and Mediterranean food. There are nine different types of traditional gyros as well as specialty gyros such as chicken Caesar ($8) the Hercules (sliced pork cooked on a spit, $8.50), and calamari ($9.75).

That’s just getting started.

There are 16 types of mezedes, small dishes that can be enjoyed on their own or paired with other menu items. They include spanakopita (spinach, feta cheese and green onions wrapped in filo pastry, $8), olives and figs with pita ($8), and pita with tyrosalata (whipped feta cheese with roasted red peppers, $7.50).

On a recent visit, my friends and I ordered a plate of broiled marinated chicken served with rice pasta pilaf, a Greek salad, tzatziki and pita ($15); pastitsio with layered pasta, meat, bechamel sauce topped with tomato sauce, and served with salad and pita ($19); and vegetarian moussaka made with roasted vegetables, sauteed garbanzos and bechamel sauce and served with salad and pita ($19).

The chicken plate was rated as “tender, flavorful and really good,” by Barbara Purrington, who loved the tzatziki sauce it was served with.

Mike Forrester called the pastitsio “very good, fairly mild.”

I ordered a cup of faki ($4), a vegetarian lentil soup to accompany the vegetarian moussaka. I loved the soup with its hint of hot spice (there was a chili pod in the cup) and lentils that were cooked just right.

I hadn’t had vegetarian moussaka and gave it a try. Lots of flavor there. I could have done with a little less cheese on top to let some of the dish’s flavors come through more distinctly.

Since the gathering was as much to catch up with each other as to share a meal, we lingered with coffee ($3) and cookies ($3). I ordered an almond butter cookie. My friends split a chocolate krinkle with a diameter bigger than a softball and filled with oatmeal and chocolate chips. It disappeared quickly.

Since the opening of the original Kafe Neo in Edmonds, other Kafe Neos have popped up in Mill Creek, Marysville and Kingston.

If you’re one of the few people who hasn’t stopped in to the Edmonds location, do know that if you’re northbound on Highway 99, you’ll need to perform a nearby U-turn to get to Kafe Neo, since there’s no left turn allowed at the restaurant entrance.

Also know that while it’s a sit-down restaurant, you order at the front by the cash register. Staff brings the order to your table.

If you dine in instead of take out your food, it’s a nice place to have a sit-down meal that can be relatively quick. It’s a good option when the object is just some tasty food, not a fine-dining experience.

Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com.

If you go

The Edmonds Kafe Neo, 21108 Highway 99, is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Call 425-672-3476 or go to www.kafeneowoodstonegroup.com/kafe-neo-edmonds for more information.