It’s not easy to find De Griekse Frituur in Genk. It lies at the end of the Vennestraat, next to the busy ring road. It looks plain. But this is one of the friendliest restaurants in Belgium.
It goes back to 1974 when Nico and Anna opened a simple Greek restaurant near the Winterslag mine. Their aim was to serve simple Greek food to migrants from their homeland.
The restaurant is now run by Nico and Anna’s great-grandchildren. They have faithfully maintained the warm Greek welcome. The interior is decorated with family photos, plastic flowers hung from lamps and odd ornaments.
The menu is simple Greek street food. Try the calamares with frites and the owners’ homemade sauce. Served on newspaper. Add a Mythos beer. You might almost be in Greece.
Derek Blyth’s hidden secret of the day: Derek Blyth is the author of the bestselling “The 500 Hidden Secrets of Belgium”. He picks out one of his favourite hidden secrets for The Brussels Times every day.
