I would never have guessed that this restaurant in the Charlesbourg sector, which I regularly pass by, specialized in Greek cuisine. From the outside, this establishment, which opened well before I was born (in 1974), looks more like a typical Quebec family restaurant. It was when I saw an advertisement that I discovered its Greek orientation. To have known! I, who, since I visited the Greek islands, am constantly on the lookout for authentic flavors.

An atmosphere frozen in time

Located in a small shopping center, the restaurant gives no hint of its culinary identity. Once inside, the decor seems frozen in time. Isn't the trend precisely retro?
To evoke Greece, images of emblematic landscapes of the country have been inserted between the neon tiles. I'm not convinced by the aesthetic effect, but the effort is there.

A menu with Greek influences

The menu highlights a nice selection of house cocktails and even offers Fix Hellas, a Greek beer. As for wines, a few Greek options are available, accompanied by an overview of the country's wine history. A touch that I appreciated.
For the meal, a set menu for two allows you to discover several specialties: vine leaves, spanakopita, taramosalata, moussaka, etc. A nice offer, but my evening appetite led me instead to the table d'hôte.

An intriguing but disappointing starter

Among the choices of starters, one in particular piqued my curiosity: the pear with shrimp. A Greek inspiration? Hard to say, but there were shrimp, so I gave in to temptation.
When the plate arrived, I discovered a cup of filo pastry filled with garlic and herb cream cheese, Nordic shrimp and slices of pears… canned. The presentation was pretty, but the taste was just okay. The bundle, served cold, seemed to have been prepared in advance. The cheese was a bit too dominant, and the lack of freshness of the pears disappointed me.  My partner, for his part, opted for the Lesbos snails, a classic gratinated garlic snails that he really enjoyed.

Mixed main courses

For the main course, I chose the chicken skewer served with rice, salad, Greek fries and tzatziki. The overall result was okay, but nothing more. The chicken had a texture closer to souvlaki than a classic skewer and the salad lacked authenticity — apart from a tiny piece of feta as a garnish.
My lover ordered the grilled pork chop with Attiki mustard and honey. The cut of meat was impressive, with a beautiful presentation, but he was less fond of the redundant accompaniments: Greek potatoes and roasted baby potatoes.

A lackluster dessert

For dessert, the choice was limited to a chocolate mousse cake, a rice pudding or a baklava (extra charge). I opted for the chocolate mousse cake which, at the risk of repeating myself, was just okay.

My verdict

Harry’s is an institution appreciated by a loyal clientele. We had a great evening and I’m glad I tried the place, but it won’t become a classic for me. However, I have the impression that the pizzas could be worth the detour: the ones I saw circulating looked delicious. To try next time!

Rating:

7/10

What struck me the most about my visit:

The retro feel
The house specialty:
Greek cuisine

The most expensive main meal on the menu:

$42.20 Lamb chops

The least expensive main meal on the menu:

$31.25 Souvlaki plate

Do I recommend this restaurant:

Yes

What time of day did I visit:

Dinner

The pros:

Friendly service
Good specials
Variety of cocktails
Greek specialties
Parking

The cons:

Old-fashioned decor
Lack of freshness