Read time: About 7 minutes

Once upon a time, my go-to cuisine was Indian food. Show me a velvety butter chicken. Regale me with your rich saag paneer. And delight me with your fluffy garlic naan. MDP and I used to order frequently from Indian places in and around SOMA (South Orange and Maplewood), double-parking on South Orange Avenue to dash in to Bay Leaf as we picked up a bag of divine flavors.

When I started eating differently – namely amping up the protein and produce and dialing back the carbs – something kind of interesting (and perhaps unfortunate) happened: I could no longer eat spicy food. So sometime during the haze of my daughter’s infancy, we started ordering with some frequency from Mediterranean restaurants, whose menus contain bold flavors (though little heat), lean into proteins, and leverage legumes. Thus, this sort of food became my new favorite.

As a result, I’ve tried Mediterranean food near and far away from the SOMA area.

And nothing has been as compelling, outstanding, and thoroughly delicious as Medusa Greek Street Food, which recently opened on South Orange Avenue and whose cuisine is straight from the land of remarkably preserved ruins where the Olympics were born.

I’ve been there many times and intend to go many more times. I’ve scoured the menu and covered everything I’ve had in this review.

Take a look at my experience and then get over there to try it for yourself. They’re open seven days a week from 11 am to 11 pm. Takeout and delivery are easy, too!

Starters

There are many ways to start your meal at Medusa. You could focus on just cheese – like halloumi or feta – try a Greek dip or two (or five), or order something a little more substantial from the Meze section of the menu.

For my first visit, I opted for three of their Greek dips: beet hummus, smoked eggplant, and spicy feta. You can get all five on the menu with the dip sampler (Pikilia). They come with pita, pita chips, and/or crudite.

Let’s start with the beet hummus. The mouth-feel is super smooth and the flavor is light. It spreads well and has an overall cooling effect.

The smoked eggplant is chunkier than a puree and not at all like babaganoush. Definitely flavorful.

The runaway winner of this bunch was the spicy feta, in my view. A wonderful flavor punch nearly surprises the palate with this one, amplified by the satisfying saltiness of the creamy feta.

For all dips, the servings were sizeable. As a takeout experience, we received two cups of each, which was more than enough for two of us.

Medusa’s pita chips are not to be missed. They appear to be deep-fried corners of pita and heavily seasoned with oregano and salt. Dare I say, dangerous?

When I had lunch at Medusa, my friend and I tried the zucchini chips, which are accompanied by tzatziki (also available as a standalone dip). The zucchini chips seem addicting to me, thin as a penny and flash fried as they are. The accompanying tzatziki was outstanding: garlic-forward, creamy, with a dash of dill – the way it should be and one of the many illustrations of Medusa’s careful approach to nuanced flavor combinations.

You might not immediately think the calamari would be a star of this menu, yet I urge you to try it. It’s lightly dredged in panko and fried crisp. The harissa aioli that accompanies it is a masterclass in developing a unique flavor profile. It’s got a little heat yet is ultra-creamy for dipping.

Of course, at any Greek restaurant, you’ll want to try their grape leaves. Medusa has two options: one that’s vegan with rice and vegetables, and another that comes with ground beef. I tried the meatless kind, tightly wound and packed as they should be, and found them to be satisfactory, up to par for this specific meze, which is as straightforward as you can get. Again, the deft use of flavors is on display here even in this simple dish.

The main stuff

Once you’ve made a starter selection, next you’ll have to reckon with the sprawling options for a main entrée. As someone who’s picked from just about every corner of the menu, I can assure you there are only right choices. I will note that I haven’t tried their traditional dishes like Moussaka; given what I’ve seen elsewhere, I am confident these options would be outstanding if that’s your jam.

Let’s start with the gyros, with options covering both the traditional and creative variety. Whether you want chicken, lamb, or even carne asada – a meatless option is there for you too – Medusa has you covered with this delectable, tried-and-trued handheld meal.

Every time I’ve ordered takeout at Medusa, MDP orders the same dish: the so-called American lamb gyro, which is packed with strips of lamb, that irresistible tzatziki, and loads of fresh lettuce and tomatoes. The pita vessel is supple and neutral, allowing the combined elements on the inside to shine. Even with this actual street food, Medusa applies their imprimatur of quality, careful execution that shows up in every other part of their menu.

The salad I know I’ll turn to time and time again is the Horiatiki (Greek Village Salad) given how bright, fresh, and delicious it is. Unusually ripe heirloom tomatoes, hordes of cucumber, thick slices of green pepper, red onion, and olives make up this peerless salad. I paired mine with their grilled chicken, which – as I’ve seen through other dishes – is a reliable protein you can’t get enough of. You’ll notice on the menu that feta comes with the salad yet you will be surprised by its application: there are giant triangles of this irresistibly salty traditional Greek cheese overflowing from the dish. The oregano and vinaigrette feel like the finishing touches that fully perfect the experience. Other salad proteins include halloumi, shrimp, salmon, and skirt steak.

I’ve tried the Greek chicken platter off the Greek platters section of the menu. Here you can choose a protein (or a veggie platter) and pair it with a side of your choosing, a little delicately assembled marouli salad (Romaine, feta, and a little oil, it seems), pita bread, and that fabulous tzatziki. In addition to the various proteins, you can also get their spinach pie as a platter, which I encourage you to do if you love Spanakopita; I have a feeling it will exceed your expectations. The spit-roasted chicken thighs come nearly shredded and perfectly crisped. Keep reading for more on sides. This is a complete meal you can do your way, owing to Medua’s commitment to flexibility throughout their menu.

The last entrée I’ll cover is the chicken souvlaki platter found under the Medusa souvlaki platters section of the menu. Here you can get all kinds of proteins – from halloumi through lamb – as grilled kebabs on a stick, in two piece or three piece platters. Like the Greek platters, you also have a side option, the delectable little salad, pita bread, and tzatziki to fill out your plate. The chicken souvlaki is outrageously good, seasoned just right with the grilling cooking method drawing out juicy flavors in every bite. I’ve found the two piece option is enough for me.

Those side dishes

As you can see, you have ample opportunity to sample the delectable traditional side dish options on offer. I’ve tried the Greek fries, gigantes, cauliflower, and roasted beets – with the beets taking home the trophy for me.

Medua’s Greek fries are tossed in a hearty mixture of oregano and graviera cheese. MDP likes these, and you can opt for plain French Fries if you’d like.

The gigantes are braised giant Greek beans with tomato. You’ll receive a sizeable serving of this protein-forward, flavorful dish, which was served at room temperature when I had it. I loved the cleanness of the beans and delicious tomato in this brothy side.

The cauliflower is crispy and doused in lemon caper vinaigrette. As a known cruciferous vegetable junkie, I absolutely loved this dish and intend to order it over and over again.

Finally, I can’t say enough good things about the roasted beets, which are carefully diced and drizzled with a tahini yogurt vinaigrette that features just enough tahini to reap the most of its best qualities. The beets are endlessly tender for a sublime experience.

In summary, go here today

Downtown South Orange got a serious glow up when Medusa opened its doors. Their takeout is fast and on-time, and dining in is a similarly refreshing experience, with waitstaff who are eager to please. On each table, you’ll also find salt that’s actually from Greece to add a flair of authenticity to your stay.

And don’t sleep on dessert when you pick up or dine in. I tried the traditional Galaktoboureko, which is creamy semolina custard in filo dough with a lemon honey syrup on top – delish!

What are you waiting for? Try Medusa today! They’re on Toast and Uber Eats, and there’s plenty of parking in South Orange for your visit. (The ParkMobile app helps you avoid tickets … in most instances.)