Greece is the word at University Broiler & Grill | News, Sports, Jobs

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Al Saadati poses with a plate of rooster and steak kabobs, lemon rice, spiced potatoes, Greek salad and a gyro at College Broiler & Grill.

Valerie Phillips, Particular to the Normal-Examiner

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Hen and steak souvlaki (kabobs), with lemon rice, spiced potatoes and Greek salad at College Broiler & Grill.

Valerie Phillips, Particular to the Normal-Examiner

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Gyro sandwich with Greek salad at College Broiler & Grill.

Valerie Phillips, Particular to the Normal-Examiner

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The Mediterranean plate appetizer at College Broiler & Grill options, clockwise from left, dolmathes, hummus, falafel, pita bread and spanakopita.

Valerie Phillips, Particular to the Normal-Examiner

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Baklava dessert at College Broiler & Grill.

Valerie Phillips, Particular to the Normal-Examiner

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At College Broiler & Grill, Al Saadati has been serving his personal spin on Greek meals since September 1998.

On daily basis, the restaurant serves 400-500 of its signature souvlaki for dining-in, takeout or catered occasions. These skewered kabobs of rooster, steak, lamb or pork are marinated, grilled, and served on a mattress of lemon rice.

Gyro sandwiches with a selection of lamb or rooster are one other favourite, in addition to the skinless, lemon-spiced, flame-broiled rooster. Eradicating the pores and skin removes a whole lot of fats and energy, Saadati famous.

“Our meals is exclusive and it’s wholesome,” he mentioned. “We make the whole lot from scratch on daily basis. We don’t use any frozen stuff, or animal fat or coconut oil.”

Saadati, who’s Persian, got here to the US as a university pupil in 1977, graduating from Weber State College in digital engineering in 1981. He labored in eating places throughout his pupil years however didn’t plan on it being his profession.

That modified in 1998, when he and his spouse, Farah, opened a small restaurant of about 10 tables at 4342 Harrison Blvd., sharing the constructing with a Pier 49 Pizza restaurant.

“I all the time wished to be my very own boss,” he mentioned. “I like folks, and I like working with the general public and constructing relationships. Working within the restaurant trade, you meet plenty of folks and make plenty of associates.”

By the point the pizza restaurant closed, College Broiler had constructed sufficient enterprise to take over the entire constructing, which it nonetheless occupies as we speak. The fishing rope accents on the cubicles are a holdover from the Pier 49 decor, however go equally effectively with the College Broiler’s scenic murals of the Greek seaside.

“I knew such a meals and recipes, and I didn’t see any of this sort anyplace in Ogden on the time,” Saadati mentioned. “In fact, it took awhile for folks to get to know us. But when folks are available as soon as and take a look at it, that’s it — we now have an everyday buyer.”

He selected the “College” identify to as a result of restaurant’s location close to to Weber State College. He’s obtained a wall of posters and pictures of Weber State athletic groups who’ve eaten on the College Broiler over time. One standout is an autographed poster of NBA star Damian Lillard, an everyday buyer when he was a Weber State pupil. Saadati mentioned Lillard has come again and eaten there when he visits Ogden and WSU.

The restaurant caters many Weber State occasions and staff dinners, he mentioned.

“We additionally do catering for McKay-Dee Hospital, and plenty of weddings and birthdays and different occasions,” he mentioned.

Over half of the eating places’ enterprise has all the time been takeout, he mentioned. That elevated through the COVID-19 pandemic, because the eating room was closed from March 2020 to June 2021. “I appreciated all of the individuals who supported us. We made it via,” Saadati mentioned.

Throughout lunch, prospects order on the counter, to allow them to get their orders shortly. Dinner is sit-down service, with servers taking orders tableside.

The restaurant affords a $10.99 lunch particular with many selections, together with kabobs (also referred to as souvlaki), gyros, pita wraps and the skinless rooster. They are often served with Greek salad — tomato, lettuce, cucumber, feta and olives, tossed within the creamy, garlicky home salad dressing. Lemon rice, french fries or spiced potatoes are different facet dish selections. The spiced potato chunks are flavored with lemon and spices, and tossed in the home salad dressing.

The dressing — College Broiler’s personal recipe — is so in style that it’s bought by the bottle to prospects.

The Mediterranean plate is a favourite appetizer — a sampler of hummus, dolmathes, spanakopita, falafel and pita bread, that are all vegetarian.

“I don’t put any new gadgets on the menu, as a result of when folks come, they often order the identical factor,” Saadati mentioned. “I used to have a lamb shank, however after COVID, I discontinued it.”

The restaurant additionally affords non-Greek gadgets, similar to burgers and barbecue beef ribs.

Because the meals is cooked to order, “Individuals have to have endurance. We’re not quick meals. It takes 15-20 minutes for the rooster or steak to cook dinner.”

The restaurant is the Finest Greek winner within the Normal-Examiner’s annual Reader’s Selection awards. However Saadati’s success is earned by working 12- to 14-hour days, Monday via Saturday.

“The restaurant enterprise is hard, and in case you are not there, you aren’t going to achieve success,” he mentioned. “You have to be certain the meals is all the time the identical high quality and constant.”

IF YOU GO

College Broiler & Grill

Location: 4342 Harrison Blvd.

Contact: http://ubggreek.com

Worth vary: $10-17

Hours: 10:30 a.m. to eight p.m. Monday-Thursday; 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Closed Sunday.

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