This place was terrible. I went here with my cousin and his girlfriend. A bored-looking waitress took our order, then left us alone for 45 minutes. It wasn't until we went looking for her that she started to cook the food. (There wasn't a cook around, for whatever reason.) By the time she brought out our food, the eggs and waffles were cold. Also, I had asked for no toast (I have a gluten allergy) and the plate was brought out with toast. When I reminded her, instead of apologizing, she snatched the plate back, picked up the toast, and slammed the plate back on the table. Charming! After waiting an hour to get cold breakfast, I complained to the manager. His response? He wasn't working when our order was first taken! If I could give this place no stars, I would. Avoid!
(1)
Michael J.
Blue Dolphin is my Go To place for a good, quick, inexpensive lunch. Lunch can get busy but you can almost always get in and out in way less and an hour for under $10 with a tip. I haven't had anything bad, but my usual choices are the Patty Melt (2nd best in Kalamazoo), Steak Sandwich, French Dip and The Monte Cristo...most of which are only $5.83 with tax...a seriously good value.
(4)
Rachel L.
I wish I could give this restaurant more stars. Environment: The decor is outdated but it is clean. Staff: Hit or miss. One waitress I've had was quick, informative and efficient. The last waitress I had was horrible. Didn't seem exceptionally bright but she couldn't explain things on the menu. Food: Solid. The Athenian chicken was tasty. The biscuits and gravy were really good. The gyro meat was great but there was barely any on the sandwich...4 pitiful slices. Price: Pretty inexpensive. Food is good but could be better. They do serve breakfast all day. Train your staff! This place creates a very unmemorable experience.
(3)
Alan D.
I've eaten here a few times over the years and it's really hard to put into words what this place is like. So I'll try and keep it simple. First, don't judge this place by how it looks or by how empty it seems to be. Every time I've eaten here, it was almost empty. We're talking Friday & Saturday nights. The staff is hit or miss sometimes, but honestly, that's not why you eat here. Every dish I've tried has been amazing. You get sooo much food for your money and I usually have enough to bring home for another complete meal. My first time here, my friend and I sat at a booth by ourselves (we were pretty much the only people, besides one other couple), by the time they were done bringing our food out, there wasn't any room left for another single thing. It just kept coming, and coming... The next time I came, I literally had to bribe a group of friends to give it a try. Everyone was super skeptical, until the food started to arrive. The look on their faces seeing the vast amount of food they had ordered was amazing. Everyone was trying everyone else's dish, they were loving every second of it. If you're looking to go somewhere different , and can hold off judgement until the food arrives, you shouldn't be disappointed. But if you are, at least you won't be out much money.
(4)
Janis E.
We had eaten here several times years ago and enjoyed the Greek food, good service and generous portions. Who could resist the flaming cheese - OPA! Unfortunately, this restaurant has not aged well. Our drink order was difficult for them to fulfill due to lack of ingredients and a trained bartender. After studying the menu and choosing our entrees, we were told two of the three were no longer "on the menu." Clearly they were still listed on the menu - but we were nicely informed that new menus had not arrived from the printer. Our waitress, though trying hard, had to check with another waiter each time we asked a question about an entree (what is the stuffed flounder stuffed with?). She admitted to being new, but it seems she did not have any training. I believe this restaurant is owned by a lovely local family that does a lot for Kalamazoo and it is my hope that they give the Blue Dolphin some attention and either reinvent or restore it to it's former glory.
(1)
Tony T.
Breakfast was good and plenty but the interior is in serious need of updating and low and behold they are closing done for a month and redoing the whole interior. Nice place to go for B/L or Dinner and will be nicer when updated.
(3)
Chance H.
I love Greek food. Now, I've only eaten a few things off the menu at Blue Dolphin but anytime I'm in the area, I MUST stop for the "Flaming Saganaki"! Can I get a slice of fried goat cheese, lit on fire with a sort of white rum and doused out with freshly squeezed lemon juice? OPA! Please sir can I have another? It is AMAZING. If I lived within walking distance, I'd need a rascal...cause, yes, I would eat Saganaki 24/7 and make Gilbert Grape's mom look like Calista Flockhart. Stop in with a friend, get a drink, get an order and enjoy. It makes for a great start to the evening.
(4)
Joe M.
Great gyro, good place to eat. Looks like they have a lot of fun stuff to do on the weekend
(3)
Kelly C.
I cannot count the number of times I drove by this place and thought, ew. The outside just screams hole in the wall to me. However, when I was interning for an agency they held their Christmas party at the Blue Dolphin. I sampled numerous items from the menu and was thoroughly impressed. I would absolutely recommend this place to anyone who can see past what the building looks like. Owner and staff were really friendly and made the experience. I recommend trying the cheese plate that they light on fire. Its delicious and an experience.
(4)
Amber L.
This is a Greek restaurant with a good variety of items on the menu. Shockingly, the spinach pie has no cheese! But it is still good. The food was tasty, overall. However, the service was very slow. It took a long time for us to be seated and the waitress didn't check on us very often to refill water and get our check. The decor was a bit lacking as well. However, the prices were very reasonable, a big plus. I would come back if I was craving Greek food and I'm willing to give the service another chance.
I enjoyed this greek restaurant very much. The staff was great and the environment was enjoyable. If your looking for a cheap place, this is the spot to go and the food is great.
(5)
Matt G.
The Blue Dolphin is a nice little Greek-American restaurant located in downtown Kalamazoo. The interior of the restaurant is clean and the blue and white color scheme is pleasing to the eyes. However, if you have a dolphin phobia, you may want to stay away. The menu is varied, and the prices are very reasonable. The portions are also satisfying. They have very good liver and onions and mousaka. Still, while the food is good, it's nothing really remarkable. It's a nice quite place to eat, but that might be a little unnerving. It's often really quite; I've never seen the place busy, and there were only one or two other tables occupied during my last visit. Also, the staff is neither good nor bad. They seem to mix things up somewhat often, but they are quick to correct their mistakes. If you're in Kalamazoo and you want some fairly standard Greek-American food, I think that this is a good option.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Greek food is a fine melody of the finest pressed olive oil, fresh fermented bread, colorful vegetables, juicy meat, sea food all cooked in spices and fresh rosemary. The people from Greek were great scholars who aimed to excel in everything they do. The results are quite visible in their food as they are the inventors of olive oil which is beneficial to health. Greeks also made different type of wines from the best quality of grapes fermented in controlled environment.
Today, you can find hundreds of restaurants offering authentic Greek food or popularly termed as Mediterranean cuisine in New York city alone. People wait in line to taste the exotic Greek dishes like saganaki, taramasalata, souvlaki, loukoumades, spanakopita, moussaka, and many more. One thing which most people like about these authentic Greek dishes is abundant use of lemon juice, olive oil, fresh rosemary and sea salt. A smart mix of few ingredients can virtually take you on the pebble streets of beautiful city of Greece.
For those who don't have time to enjoy fine dining should try tasting the famous souvlaki with pita which is type of meat dish, also a trademark Greek fast food. For those who are vegetarian, or vegan can try different versions of Greek Salad. So, if you wish to enjoy a hearty yet healthy meal that tastes divine then try dining at the best Greek restaurant in your city. Greek cuisine not only tastes good but also help maintain your body in a natural way through healthy diet.
Evelyn A.
This place was terrible. I went here with my cousin and his girlfriend. A bored-looking waitress took our order, then left us alone for 45 minutes. It wasn't until we went looking for her that she started to cook the food. (There wasn't a cook around, for whatever reason.) By the time she brought out our food, the eggs and waffles were cold. Also, I had asked for no toast (I have a gluten allergy) and the plate was brought out with toast. When I reminded her, instead of apologizing, she snatched the plate back, picked up the toast, and slammed the plate back on the table. Charming! After waiting an hour to get cold breakfast, I complained to the manager. His response? He wasn't working when our order was first taken! If I could give this place no stars, I would. Avoid!
(1)Michael J.
Blue Dolphin is my Go To place for a good, quick, inexpensive lunch. Lunch can get busy but you can almost always get in and out in way less and an hour for under $10 with a tip. I haven't had anything bad, but my usual choices are the Patty Melt (2nd best in Kalamazoo), Steak Sandwich, French Dip and The Monte Cristo...most of which are only $5.83 with tax...a seriously good value.
(4)Rachel L.
I wish I could give this restaurant more stars. Environment: The decor is outdated but it is clean. Staff: Hit or miss. One waitress I've had was quick, informative and efficient. The last waitress I had was horrible. Didn't seem exceptionally bright but she couldn't explain things on the menu. Food: Solid. The Athenian chicken was tasty. The biscuits and gravy were really good. The gyro meat was great but there was barely any on the sandwich...4 pitiful slices. Price: Pretty inexpensive. Food is good but could be better. They do serve breakfast all day. Train your staff! This place creates a very unmemorable experience.
(3)Alan D.
I've eaten here a few times over the years and it's really hard to put into words what this place is like. So I'll try and keep it simple. First, don't judge this place by how it looks or by how empty it seems to be. Every time I've eaten here, it was almost empty. We're talking Friday & Saturday nights. The staff is hit or miss sometimes, but honestly, that's not why you eat here. Every dish I've tried has been amazing. You get sooo much food for your money and I usually have enough to bring home for another complete meal. My first time here, my friend and I sat at a booth by ourselves (we were pretty much the only people, besides one other couple), by the time they were done bringing our food out, there wasn't any room left for another single thing. It just kept coming, and coming... The next time I came, I literally had to bribe a group of friends to give it a try. Everyone was super skeptical, until the food started to arrive. The look on their faces seeing the vast amount of food they had ordered was amazing. Everyone was trying everyone else's dish, they were loving every second of it. If you're looking to go somewhere different , and can hold off judgement until the food arrives, you shouldn't be disappointed. But if you are, at least you won't be out much money.
(4)Janis E.
We had eaten here several times years ago and enjoyed the Greek food, good service and generous portions. Who could resist the flaming cheese - OPA! Unfortunately, this restaurant has not aged well. Our drink order was difficult for them to fulfill due to lack of ingredients and a trained bartender. After studying the menu and choosing our entrees, we were told two of the three were no longer "on the menu." Clearly they were still listed on the menu - but we were nicely informed that new menus had not arrived from the printer. Our waitress, though trying hard, had to check with another waiter each time we asked a question about an entree (what is the stuffed flounder stuffed with?). She admitted to being new, but it seems she did not have any training. I believe this restaurant is owned by a lovely local family that does a lot for Kalamazoo and it is my hope that they give the Blue Dolphin some attention and either reinvent or restore it to it's former glory.
(1)Tony T.
Breakfast was good and plenty but the interior is in serious need of updating and low and behold they are closing done for a month and redoing the whole interior. Nice place to go for B/L or Dinner and will be nicer when updated.
(3)Chance H.
I love Greek food. Now, I've only eaten a few things off the menu at Blue Dolphin but anytime I'm in the area, I MUST stop for the "Flaming Saganaki"! Can I get a slice of fried goat cheese, lit on fire with a sort of white rum and doused out with freshly squeezed lemon juice? OPA! Please sir can I have another? It is AMAZING. If I lived within walking distance, I'd need a rascal...cause, yes, I would eat Saganaki 24/7 and make Gilbert Grape's mom look like Calista Flockhart. Stop in with a friend, get a drink, get an order and enjoy. It makes for a great start to the evening.
(4)Joe M.
Great gyro, good place to eat. Looks like they have a lot of fun stuff to do on the weekend
(3)Kelly C.
I cannot count the number of times I drove by this place and thought, ew. The outside just screams hole in the wall to me. However, when I was interning for an agency they held their Christmas party at the Blue Dolphin. I sampled numerous items from the menu and was thoroughly impressed. I would absolutely recommend this place to anyone who can see past what the building looks like. Owner and staff were really friendly and made the experience. I recommend trying the cheese plate that they light on fire. Its delicious and an experience.
(4)Amber L.
This is a Greek restaurant with a good variety of items on the menu. Shockingly, the spinach pie has no cheese! But it is still good. The food was tasty, overall. However, the service was very slow. It took a long time for us to be seated and the waitress didn't check on us very often to refill water and get our check. The decor was a bit lacking as well. However, the prices were very reasonable, a big plus. I would come back if I was craving Greek food and I'm willing to give the service another chance.
(3)S R.
I have to say that I was not as charmed as I'd hoped I would be after my first visit at this much talked about eatery. Although the service was wonderful, I found the food to be mediocre. Feeling adventurous, I ordered the combination plate so I could try three of the restaurant's spotlight dishes: Mousaka (sautéed eggplant and potato, layered with ground beef, and topped with a light braise sauce), dolmades (grape leans rolled with ground beef and rice and seasoning, topped with a lemon sauce), and roast leg of lamb (carved off the bone, topped with béchamel sauce). These were served with rice and green beans that I considered overcooked and reminded me of what you'd find in a buffet line. I did enjoy the dolmades quite a bit; it was very well seasoned without being overpowering. The mousaka was just OK. Perhaps it would have been better if it wasn't so similar to the dolmades and I'd just ordered one or the other, or if the uninspiring sauce had been different. This same sauce dressed the leg of lamb, which was decent but not as tender as I'd have liked. Hubby ordered the veal parmesan which he surprisingly enjoyed. I was quite put off by the overcooked pasta and generic sauce reminiscent of Chef Boyardee. I'm willing to give the place one more shot but I won't exactly jump at the chance.
(2)Ricky V.
I enjoyed this greek restaurant very much. The staff was great and the environment was enjoyable. If your looking for a cheap place, this is the spot to go and the food is great.
(5)Matt G.
The Blue Dolphin is a nice little Greek-American restaurant located in downtown Kalamazoo. The interior of the restaurant is clean and the blue and white color scheme is pleasing to the eyes. However, if you have a dolphin phobia, you may want to stay away. The menu is varied, and the prices are very reasonable. The portions are also satisfying. They have very good liver and onions and mousaka. Still, while the food is good, it's nothing really remarkable. It's a nice quite place to eat, but that might be a little unnerving. It's often really quite; I've never seen the place busy, and there were only one or two other tables occupied during my last visit. Also, the staff is neither good nor bad. They seem to mix things up somewhat often, but they are quick to correct their mistakes. If you're in Kalamazoo and you want some fairly standard Greek-American food, I think that this is a good option.
(3)