Gridskipper

Los Angeles owes a lot to the Greeks, and I'm not just saying that because we've hosted the Olympics twice in the last 100 years. I am not giving thanks because Athens might have been the pinnacle episode of Taradise. Nor am I talking about the inspiration that helped Hollywood put Gerard Butler and Brad Pitt in leather on the battlefield. I am talking about the wonders of Greek cuisine, which reminds the people of Los Angeles the olives can be used outside of martinis and lambs are even better when cooked with garlic rather than lining your Ugg boots. I've listed some of the more popular places in Los Angeles to get some Greek flavor, but please leave a comment or shoot us a tip if we've left anything out.

Few could fault the strong and satisfying flavors of Greek food, but the aftermath can prove a problem, particularly if you're trying to impress a date. Obviously garlic breath is a no-no in anyone's language, so unless you've got a very strong mint on hand to temper the after-effects, it's best to save Greek nights out for when you've got a big group of friends together. This could be why many Australian Greek restaurants are so massive — it's an effort to get as many people as possible in the same smelly-breath boat as possible. On that note, here are a few unmissable Greek restaurants in Sydney.

New York has a relatively small Greek community — less than 50,000 in a city of 8 million — but it somehow seems more prominent than its numbers would suggest. Reminders of the Greek empire can be found throughout the city, such as the ubiquitous Greek diner, which has become the very archetype of the New York coffee shop. And while these tasty Greek morsels are all well and good, if you're looking for the full-on Greek experience, you can be surrounded by Hellenic people, art, and food in no time if you know where to go. Astoria, Queens is the historical capital of Greek culture in the city, but the Greek diaspora has since commenced, and plenty of great Greek venues can now be found in Manhattan and other boroughs. Here's a overview of where to find the best of Greece in New York, starting with a few centers of art and culture and ending with plenty of delicious Greek food and wine. Make like Zorba and raise a glass to the culture that gave us democracy, philosophy, law, and those wonderful blue takeout coffee cups.

The only thing better than dinner . . . is dinner and a show! Los Angeles is an oasis of theatrics and sensuality. What do you get when you add the two together? Belly dancing, of course! From Westwood to Pasadena, these LA restaurants serve up Moroccan, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern meals with a side of bejeweled and gyrating midriffs. More »