Yamas Greek Eatery

Yamas Greek Eatery sits on South First Avenue in downtown Walla Walla, behind a blue and white storefront that is hard to miss. The kitchen cooks from family recipes that trace back to Mytilini, on the island of Lesbos, and the whole place is built around filoxenia, the Greek word for hospitality to strangers. It was founded by Kosta Alexandropoulos, an Army veteran, who later moved east and sold the Walla Walla restaurant to his cousin, so it is still a family business.

Start with the spreads, hummus, skordalia, tzatziki, tirokafteri and olives, or order the alifes platter and get all of them with pita. The meze list runs to saganaki, spanakopita, dolmades, gigantes and paidakia, which are grilled lamb ribs. Gyros, pork or chicken souvlaki, falafel and loukaniko, the house pork sausage, come as a wrap, a salad, a rice bowl or a plate, and a family style mixed grill feeds two. Baklava and Greek yogurt close it out.

The menu marks vegan, vegetarian and gluten free choices clearly, which makes it an easy table for a mixed group. It is open every day from 11 to 8, and reservations go through Resy. After a day in the tasting rooms, a plate of lamb and a stack of warm pita is a very good way to end it.