Happy Hour.... Greek Style

When I hear the word Opa!, I immediately envision a nice,big Greek family sitting around the dinner table laughing and indulging on a huge feast of Greek cuisine and of course, drinking some wine.

Yes…when I hear the word OPA, I think, “HAPPY”! So, I just assumed “Happy Hour” originated in Greece! Well, didn't it?

I was surprised to learn that the term “Happy Hour” originated in the United States Navy. Back in the 1920’s, the term was slang for the scheduled period of entertainment on-ship when the sailors were “happy” from drinking. After the passage of the Volstead Act, civilians held "cocktail hours" at speakeasies, and in their own homes, to fortify themselves before going out to eat since restaurants could not serve alcohol. Post-prohibition cocktail lounges continued the custom of pre-dinner cocktails

"Happy hour" became a common term around 1960, after it appeared in a 1959 Saturday Evening Post article on military life.

Over time, the word "happy" became synonymous with being "slightly drunk," happy hour has transitioned from a start to an evening out into more of an after-work ritual.

In the 1980s, bars offered complimentary appetizers for happy hour, in response to the heightened enforcement of anti-drunk-driving laws. While happy hour has suffered some controversy and has actually been banished in certain countries and states (including United States military base clubs in 1984), it is a time where people mingle, do business meetings and have fun with their coworkers and friends and usually takes place on weekdays after work hours.

The most popular happy hours are those that offer a combination of drink and food specials as well as entertainment or special TV programs such as sports.

Visit any of our Greek restaurant locations between 4pm and 6pm on any weekday for the best Dallas Happy Hour - and you are likely to find drink and food specials to take the edge off a long day at the office!

HAPPY HOUR AT ZIZIKI'S
Happy Hour Menu
Monday~Friday 4-6PM
$1.50 off Liquor Drinks
$1.50 off Wine By-the-glass
$.50 off Beers
$5 for Select Appetizers

$7 Happy Hour Specialty Drinks (regularly $10)
Carafe of Mojito ~ $17
Carafe of Margarita ~ $17
Sangria, White or Red ~ $15
Seasonal fruit infused Vodka Martinis! ~ $8
$5 Happy Hour Appetizers
AND MORE!

Greek Salads - A Totally Healthy and Yummy Treat!

By definition, a Greek salad is: A salad of lettuce and raw vegetables, such as cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions, garnished with olives and feta and dressed with olive oil and vinegar, lettuce is never seen in a true, authentic Greek salad.

In Greece, salads are eaten with the main meal and characterized by the ingredients of the Mediterranean, and particularly Greek origin. Usually, this kind of salad is made of sliced or chopped tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, and green or red peppers garnished with a slice of Feta cheese, olives, and a pinch of dried oregano. In the country, it is served with cruets of olive oil and vinegar and the juice that remains is eaten with bread.

There are many other delicious salads enjoyed across Greece and in Greek dining - here are just a few:

• Horiatiki Salata is your basic big, fat Greek salad consisting of Greek tomato, cucumber and olive. Horiatiki means village-style, but may be called such terms as “country salad“, “peasant salad“ and of course “village salad“. This fresh, healthy salad is found in one form or another throughout the eastern Mediterranean.Greek Courgette Salad-Fresh mint, feta cheese and courgette (a fancy name for zucchini) are a favorite summer salad combination in small tavernas throughout the Greek Isles.
• Pantzarosalata- Made with boiled and sliced beetroots (sometimes mixed with beet greens) dressed with olive oil, finely sliced onions, lemon juice or red wine vinegar.
• Lachanosalata- A cabbage salad has very finely shredded cabbage with salt, olive oil, lemon juice/vinegar dressing. This isn't your everyday coleslaw with the celery and garlic giving this a unique taste. This is really great served with a generous hunk of feta cheese-either crumbled in, or served alongside so you can nibble on pieces of creamy cheese between bites of crispy salad.
• Cypriot salad, native to the island of Cyprus, consists of finely chopped tomatoes, capers, cucumbers, onions, green bell peppers and flat-leaf parsley, and closely resembles the 'Greek salad' of Greece.

Some spreads and dips found in the meze of Greek cuisine are also regarded as part of the group of “salads” by many Greeks, such as metilzanosalata (eggplant salad), taramosalata (a fish roe dip) and tzatziki (cucumber dip flavored with garlic).

Greek salads are enjoyed around the world. Many cuisines have adopted the dish, and the salad can be found in restaurants, like Ziziki’s Restaurant, as an appetizer, side dish or main course.

Help Ziziki’s and the NFL Fight to End Hunger

Ziziki’s Greek Restaurant has partnered with Taste of NFL in the fight against hunger. Since it’s inception in 1992, Taste of NFL has raised over $10 million for hunger relief agencies around the world and right here in North Texas. We are proud to support & host such an honorable effort.



How can YOU help?

Come visit us at Zizikis (now through Super Bowl Sunday) and with your purchase of the wines listed below, they will donate to the North Texas Food Bank to address the needs of the hungry in North Texas and around the country.
.
E&J Gallo Winery will donate 2.5 meals per bottle sold:
MacMurray Ranch Sonoma Coast
Pinot Gris
$11/Glass
$42/Bottle


Louis Martini
Cabernet Sauvignon
$11/Glass
$42/Bottle

Majestic Fine Wines will donate 2.5 meals per bottle sold:
Cambria Katherine’s Vineyard
Chardonnay
$10/Glass
$38/Bottle

LaJota Howell Mountain
Cabernet Sauvignon
$20/Glass
$75/Bottle

We want to extend a special thanks to all of you who join us - the participating wineries, and of course - Taste of the NFL in this fight to end hunger!

How GREEK of you to vote for us!

We would like to extend a very special thanks to all of you who voted for us for BEST BRUNCH on WFAA-List Best of Dallas! We are thrilled to have been in the TOP FIVE - we came in third!

We want you to come in and experience Ziziki's Greek brunch any day! We've got a fantastic wine list for all types of celebrations, a full array of culinary selections and appetizers from our award-winning Greek menu - and a festive atmosphere to support true brunch efforts. (heavy eating, fellowship and fun!) Don’t forget to bring your friends and family!

That way - they too, can indulge in the best Greek restaurant in Dallas - as well have the experience they need to VOTE for us next year! We are looking forward to another run next year! Sign up for our newsletter (see top right of our homepage) to receive news, special events and special offers!

Happy New Year From Zizikis and Zizikis Taverna

Wishing all of our amazing customers a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR. We wrapped up 2010 with a very special holiday party at Family Gateway.

Every year Mary and Costa & Family, as well as volunteers from Ziziki's staff prepare a meal to help homeless families at the shelter have a special holiday dinner. Family Gateway is our favorite charity. Since 1986, Family Gateway has supported families who have found themselves in dire need: homeless. They've offered over 7,600 children and parents the help they need to recover from crisis and make positive choices for their future.

We want to extend a special thanks to all of you who donated a gift through the toy drive at all of our locations.

Watching these children open their toys was truly the highlight of our evening, and we were honored to have served and supported such a great cause. Here's best wishes for all who helped, attended - and make the effort to support others during the holiday and throughout the year.