Zorba's Pizza & Grill

Name: Zorba's Pizza & Grill

Location: 510 Silver Bluff Road, Aiken, SC 29803
# 803.643.8777

Guests: Angel & Steve

Thoughts: Zorba's Pizza & Grill is a small "Greek" restaurant located on the southside of Aiken. We went in hoping for great food but were left wanting. The service was a bit slow. We had to wait to be asked for our drink order and then waited a little longer for our food orders to be taken. We ordered an appetizer, a few small pizzas and two hot sandwiches (between the four of us) so as to get a wide variety of flavors and foods. The pizzas were pretty good, however the sandwiches were sub-par. The seasonings were not quite right and the meat used did not seem to be fresh but frozen. We ended up throwing most of the sandwiches away, unfortunately. If we were to go back we would stick with pizza and stay away from the sandwiches. If you do not care about flavor and only the amount of food you get, then you may enjoy Zorba's--there was planty of food. To touch on the atmosphere of the place, it felt like there was too much going on. It was a mix of your avarage sportsbar/pizza place and an old-time Greek restaurant. Overall, the experience was just OK. I would not recommend them to you if you are in a hurry or would like to enjoy a quiet Greek meal...Zorba's will offer neither. And if you go, stick with the pizza.

Ratings:
Flavor: Just OK
Service: Slow
Presentation: Just OK
Price: $$*
Ambiance: Dark and too much going on; not one main theme
Pros/Cons:
Pros: Good portions; patio dining; free refills
Cons: Slow service; sticky tables; where's the Greek food?

Final Thoughts: We would not recommend Zorba's as a first choice to someone asking where they should eat in Aiken. It can be skipped with nothing lost in your Aiken experience.

Website: N/A

*Price guide:
$ = under $10 per person
$$ = Between $10-$20 per person
$$$ = Over $20 per person

Pat's Sub Shop

Name: Pat's Sub Shop

Location: 1747 Whiskey Road, Aiken, SC 29803
#803-649-1523

Hours: Monday-Wednesday 11:00am-5:30pm; Thursday-Friday 11:00am-6:30pm; Saturday 11:00am-3:00pm, Closed on Sundays

Guests: Angel & Steve

Thoughts: Pat's Sub Shop is a quaint little shop that is kind of hidden on Whiskey Road in Aiken. This is a place with friendly staff that will not only remember your face but will remember your order as well. Eating at Pat's at lunchtime was exciting. The line was almost to the door and we could hear food orders being shouted out in the dining room. This only told us that Pat's was going to be a good dining experience, because that many people would not come out if the food was not good. One of the sandwiches Pat's is known for is their chicken salad. Sam and Lacey did not partake in this Pat's special, but Angel did and loved every minute of it. Sam had an Italian sub and Lacey had a turkey. Both were delicious. Pat's subs come in three sizes; small, medium and large which we would describe as: "filling", "stuffed" and "take home for another meal". When ordering your sub at Pat's you can either get it with everything, (literally everything) or you can create your own sub with only the items that appeal to you. Upon walking in one would go up to the counter and place and pay for their order and then take a seat wherever there is a table open. After a few minutes the order is brought out and the customer is alerted that it is ready by having their order (not their name) shouted out in the small dining room. Overall, we loved Pat's food, service and atmosphere and are looking forward to our next visit.

Ratings:
Flavor: Excellent
Service: Excellent
Presentation: Perfect
Price: *$ (with a beverage)
Ambiance: Great, sort of a diner feel
Pros/Cons:
Pros: Quick service; friendly atmosphere; great food made to order; family friendly; free refills on most beverages.
Cons: Small dining room; no drink or chips included in price of sandwich.

Final Thoughts: We enjoyed our Pat's experience and look forward to enjoying a fresh sub again.

Website: N/A

* Price guide:
$ = under $10 per person
$$ = Between $10-$20 per person
$$$ = Over $20 per person