4124 Celanese Rd # 156
Rock Hill, SC
(803) 366-7800
Visited January 11, 2008
Meals served: Lunch & Dinner
Cuisine: Italian, Greek, American
Dress Code: Casual
Best atmosphere for: Take-out pizza, quick meal, family
Price: $
Dishes ordered:
Mike and I shared the Ouzo’s Special Pizza (pepperoni, sausage, ham, onions, green peppers, mushrooms) and their traditional gyro (served with fries). Sorry, no pictures today!
Lauren’s Review:
A few weeks ago when my mom came up to visit, Mike suggested we try somewhere new for lunch. After shouting out a few places I knew I’d been wanting to visit, Mike suddenly remembered a few friends telling him about this “pizza place” that we had to try. Mike couldn’t remember the name of the place or where it was located. After driving around for what seemed like a very frustrating hour, I’d completely lost interest in finding this place, but Mike insisted that we press on. We finally found it near the Rock Hill airport, located in a somewhat abandoned strip mall, next to a liquor store disguised as a children’s toy store (named Caboodle’s) and a neon-light obsessed bar, Hooper’s.
By the time we actually went inside, I was in a grouchy mood and figured I was going to hate whatever I chose to eat. I also noted that the place was basically empty except for the few employees working behind the counter (which is usually a red flag in my book). But I was wrong.
After our pleasant experience a few weeks ago, Mike and I decided to break our “diets” one more time this weekend and go out for pizza. We drove out to Ouzo’s (a much shorter and pleasant trip this time around) and found the place empty once again (although there were many to-go orders waiting to be picked up). We ordered a pizza and gyro to share. On our first visit, we ordered a pizza that ended up having too much feta cheese and olives (two things I don’t particularly enjoy in large quantities), so we switched it up and ordered the Ouzo’s special. Our food arrived in under 10 minutes and we tore into the gyro like we hadn’t eaten in days… or, uhm, hours.
Although the atmosphere of Ouzo’s is somewhat boring and quiet, the food is worth the price and it feels good to support a local place. All of the ingredients are fresh – they even make their own salad dressings – and if I do say so myself, they have the best gyro’s in town… They also give you this special “dip” for your pizza, and although I’m not the biggest fan of dipping my pizza in what looks to be a mayonnaise-type dip, I know a lot of people that would be down with it.
So to get to the point, I’d say that Ouzo’s is a great local spot to get pizzas, gyros, salads, burgers, and sandwiches (stress on the pizza and gyros). I don’t know of many places in Rock Hill that you can get a decent gyro, and the fact that it’s only $5.99 for a huge gyro and a large portion of fries makes it even better. I’d suggest going with a group of people, since you’ll most likely be the only people inside, but I’d really like to see them get more business because their products and service are exceptional for the prices paid. It’s much better than giving another $10 to Domino’s or Pizza Hut for a frozen, pre-made doughball.
Lauren’s Ratings:
- Menu Selection: 4
They don’t have a vast, expansive menu, but I don’t think there’s a need for it… - Food Presentation: 5
You can’t do much regarding presentation for a gyro basket with fries.
- Taste of food: 7
All of the pizza toppings are fresh, which is a whole lot better than the other pizza mega-chains in the area.
- Originality in food choices: 5
No crazy pizza topping or menu options, but who needs that anyway?
- Restaurant cleanliness: 6
I guess when you don’t have a lot of customers you have a lot of time to clean…
- Quality of staff: 8
The same woman has waited on us both times and she’s always been helpful.
- Speediness of service: 7
- Atmosphere: 3
Definitely their downfall.
- Drink Selection: 1
Okay, maybe THIS is their true downfall. They’ve got about 5 types of beer in a big fridge. I guess all the real drinkers go to Hooper’s next door.
- Value: 7
We were both stuffed and still had lots of pizza to take home!
Mike’s Ratings:
- Menu Selection: 5
- Food Presentation: 5
- Taste of food: 5 – 7
The pizza is a 5. It was very oily, but I appreciate the fresh ingredients, especially the cut-to-order sausage. The gyro gets a 7. It tops Old Town Bistro’s and Nishi G’s. - Originality in food choices: 5
- Restaurant cleanliness: 6
- Quality of staff: 6
- Speediness of service: 7
- Atmosphere: 3
They have a few superstore variety pictures of what could be Greece and a few nostalgia-style Coke paintings. No cohesion. - Drink Selection: 1
- Value: 7
OVERALL RATING: 3/5 loaves
Tops Nishi G’s gyro??? I’m not sure how to get my brain to process this news. I may have to test this for myself.
How was their cucumber dressing for the gyro? That’s always a make-or-break condiment.
Speaking of Hoopers, you guys should review them. Get the chicken nachos (very good, not at all what you expect from a bar) and the Cajun garlic wings.
I would have to disagree with the comment of the menu. I have been eating at ouzo’s for almost 5 years I think there menu is huge for a pizza place. Burgers,wings,pizza,calzones,salads,gyros,chicken pitas,spaghetti,lasagna,appetizers, and all those different subs they serve from philly’s to cold cut subs to meatball subs. I would have to say that’s a pretty vast menu. I would have to agree with the atmosphere part and the drinks. I think the pizza you ordered was a house special I had it as well I must say I enjoyed it. A 6 topping pizza for 13.49 you can’t beat that. I don’t know what day or time you went its usually pretty busy when I go a couple times we had to take it to go because they didn’t have any seats available.
Yeah I think it really depends on what time of day you go there. My parents are Ouzo’s addicts, I mean they only eat regularly at about 4 different places in Rock Hill, and Ouzo’s is one of them…I have to say that every single time I’ve eaten there the place has been deserted, but my parents, the Ouzo addicts, are quick to say otherwise. So I’m not sure. Their food is really good though, and they have a good selection for a pizza joint.
OK Mike now from reading your review I know you are familiar with Nishie G’s. Have ya’ll ever been there for breakfast? They now serve breakfast every Saturday at their India Hook location. Best deal in town. My husband and I are there almost every Saturday morning.
Ouzo’s Greek Salad is out of this world! Nishie G’s is pretty good but Ouzo’s is more value for the money. I expect they will be more packed once the new WalMart opens nearby.