Opa Y Ole, San Diego

When they aren't making the rounds to entertain the community or dropping in at local TV and radio stations, the outgoing chefs at Opa y Ole are in the kitchen crafting their own twists on traditional Greek fare. Hearty gyro platters heaped with lamb and skewers of chicken and seafood are served fresh from the grill. Other house specialties include stuffed tomatoes and spanakopita that's baked until golden-brown and flaky. And yet not every dish is traditional: the menu also features pita pizzas and beef burgers drenched in a secret house sauce. The pastel-colored dining room is eclectic too, with pictures of iconic Greek buildings juxtaposed with colorful mod-style furniture and holograms of popular Greek emperors asking for spare change.