Farm Grill & Rotisserie: New Bowl Menu, Same Excellent Food

For over 25 years, the Farm Grill & Rotisserie, a casual Greek restaurant in Newton, has been serving the public and their menu has changed very little during all that time. It has remained true to its more healthy, Mediterranean cuisine. Savvas Iliades, the founder of the Farm Grill, immigrated from Greece in the mid-1970s, beginning his career as a roofer and steel worker. However, he eventually transitioned into the restaurant industry, which led him to opening the Farm Grill in 1996. 

Back in 2020, I wrote about my initial impressions of Farm Grill, noting "Reasonable prices, freshly made dishes, and excellent taste make this a fine spot for a casual lunch or dinner. And if you want to have a small holiday gathering, you could purchase plenty of dishes here rather than cook at home. I understand why the Farm Grill has been so popular for nearly 25 years. If you've never been there, I highly recommend you check it out." 

Since then, I've dined there a few additional times, and recently was invited back, as a media guest, to check out a new addition to their menu, their new Bowls. A new addition to their menu is unique, but the Bowl addition fits in well with their culinary philosophy. 

Alex Iliades (pictured above), is the son of Savvas, and now runs the restaurant. I met him back in 2020, and got to chat again with him on my most recent visit. Alex, who attended Johnson & Wales, previously owned a donut shop and then a pizza shop for almost twenty years. He's personable and humble, and clearly passionate about Greek cuisine. Plus, he's the essence of hospitality, genuine in his manner, a true professional. He makes you feel like a valued customer, and you'll leave Farm Grill with a smile on your face.

Their regular menu has much to offer, for both lunch and dinner. I was there for lunch, on a Tuesday afternoon, and it was quite busy, both for dine-in and take-out. Alex told me that since COVID, their dinner crowd has changed drastically, with most people getting take-out rather than dining in. He is thinking of ways to attract more people to dine-in at night. 

As for their new Bowl Menu, Alex previously stated, “We’re excited to change up our menu while still offering the best in traditional Greek cuisine, from chicken lemon soup to baklava.” The Menu includes three standard, pre-made bowls, including the Athenian, Greek, and Vegetarian, but you can also create your own bowl, selecting from a list of choices. Each bowl costs $16.95, with the option of an extra $1.00 for feta cheese. 

The standard bowls include:

• Athenian: Rice, chicken, pork, grilled mixed vegetables, spicy feta, and tzatziki
• Greek: Rice, gyro meat, tomatoes, roasted potatoes, tzatziki, and mustard
• Vegetarian: Tabouli, grilled mixed vegetables, chickpeas, beets, artichokes, and hummus

If you want to create your own Bowl, you select one item from each of the following categories: 

• Grain: Rice, orzo, or tabouli
• Protein: Chicken, gyro meat (beef or chicken), or shrimp
• Vegetable: Grilled mixed vegetables, roast potatoes, or chickpeas
• Sauce/dip: Hummus, tzatziki, spicy feta, or Greek dressing
• Optional extra: Top with feta cheese

I opted to build my own bowl, selecting rice, chicken gyro meat, potatoes, hummus, and topped by feta. It was an ample-sized bowl, with lots of fresh and delicious food. I love their flavorful chicken gyro meat, and the potatoes were seasoned well. The creamy hummus was tasty and the feta was a pleasing addition. These bowls are definitely more healthy choices, and great choices for lunch or dinner, dine-in or takeout. 

The bowl was accompanied by a side of grilled pita, perfect for the hummus. 

My dining companion ordered the Vegetarian Bowl, and very much enjoyed the dish. It too was ample, and would please any vegetarian. 

I also got to try one of their Specials, the Grilled Lamb Kabob ($23.95), with rice and Greek salad. Lamb had been taken off their menu for at least eight months because the price had been too high. Recently, they have changed their recipe a bit, using a different cut of lamb (similar to a leg of lamb), and sourced from Australia or New Zealand. I love lamb and was impressed with the taste of this kabob. The meat was tender, juicy and flavorful, without any gamey taste. Even if you think you dislike lamb, you might change your mind after tasting these. Highly recommended.

Alex also mentioned that they are now working with a new, local farm, where they can get fresh meat, with the ability to source many different animals for their restaurant. 

The Farm Grill also serves Greek wine and beer, and I had a glass of Assyrtiko with my lunch. The wine was bright, crisp, and lemony, a good pairing for my Bowl. 

For dessert, I had some warm Rice Pudding, reminiscent of smooth tapioca pudding, and it wasn't overly sweet. Alex is working on creating a few new desserts, such as something like a Baklava "chip,"  thinner and crisp. I'll be keeping an eye on when those new desserts are released so I can check them out.   

The Farm Grill also has an extensive Catering menu for your summer parties, or the upcoming holidays. You can order items such as Mousaka, Pastistio, Greek Salad, Kabobs (lamb, beef, chicken, swordfish, shrimp, vegetable), Gyros, Side Dishes and desserts. Skip the cooking and let the Farm Grill cater your next party.

Farm Grill & Rotisserie made my list of 2022: My Favorite Restaurants, and will certainly make my 2023 Favorite Restaurant list as well. Their new Bowl Menu is an excellent addition to the restaurant, ample, delicious and more healthy. The quality of their food hasn't diminished in the least since my first visit back in 2020. Alex Iliades is continuing the fine culinary legacy of his father. If you visit the Needham/Newton area, you definitely should check out the Farm Grill.