MOCCO BISTRO

Review! Charlotte, North Carolina // Greek restaurant // hole in the wall

the ELEVATOR PITCH

Okay, just picture this: you’re in Greece.

The weather is 75F, the perfect mix of dry + humid, you’re in a summer outfit that just makes you feel like you’re hot stuff. You’re sitting on the coast of clear blue waters at a bistro table, white sand inches from your feet. One hand holds a freddo cappuccino, the other a book you’re reading because you’re on vacation and that’s what people do on vacation.

All of this 👆👆 is palpable in the air of MOCCO BISTRO:

I mean, come on, between the rockin’ floor detailing (again, no pun intended 🤪), the pops of vibrant pink bougainvillea, and the fun white trellis set up, you can’t tell me you disagree that MOCCO is channeling the homeland’s distinct architecture of whitewashed limestone villas on coastal cliffs and clear-blue waters that people pay tons of money to visit Mykonos and Santorini to have photoshoots with?

On top of his stunning countenance, MOCCO BISTRO also offers weekend events like Friday karaoke and a Saturday dance party (they’re doing a great job capitalizing on that 2:00 AM close time). That, combined with nostalgic Greek menu favorites like freddo cappuccinos, milfeiy & gyros, owner Gus has cultivated a place that’s not just for the Greek community, but for Charlotteans who are intrigued by Greek food and culture and are willing to experience every bit of it at full potency.

Now onto a couple of the menu offerings… reviewing the savory food food:

Review on the munchie pictured above:

Athena Greek Pizza: I’m never thrilled when people say the words “it’s thin crust pizza,” so when our hostess Ellen began raving about the thin crust pizzas here, I almost stopped listening to her. Naturally, the only course of action in the face of a hardened heart is to pursue softening. So we put her recommendation to the test… and you know what guys? Ellen was RIGHT. MOCCO has shown me a thin crust pizza’s full potential. The crust was not the dreaded cardboard experience you would expect from such a thin dough. It had a tenderness that reminded me of a croissant or puff pastry, and its thinness actually allowed the toppings to take center stage the way I feel all thin crust pizzas have intentions of doing but fall extremely flat. (no pun intended 🤪) (rating: 11/10)

Reviews on the munchies pictured above:

Nefelie’s Pita: a special pita using the “Nefelie’s sauce” which is a slightly sweet and is reminiscent of an American salad dressing that I can’t put my finger on. The chicken was dry and relatively unremarkable, overall don’t order this pita if you’re looking for a taste of authentic Greek street gyros. (rating: 5/10)

Hummus & Pita: a mild flavor (not very heavy on garlic or tahini or seasoning), slightly grainier than others I’ve had but didn’t detract too much from the eating experience. Overall a decent hummus but not wow-ing. (rating: 7/10)

Baked Wings (parmesan seasoning): these wings are a very good size, not like the baked small dehydrated-looking “buffalo-style” wings you receive at pizza chains or wing joints. They remind me of the kind my parents make using grocery store wings, and I was in heaven! Crispy skin, juicy interior meat, with enough seasoning for it to all be enjoyable. Only smidge note is that the meat itself, when eaten without the skin, was a little bland, so having a dipping sauce would be a cherry on top! (rating: 9.5/10)

Zabonotiropita: looking at this, you’d think the ratio of cheese to ham is too high, but it’s actually the perfect ratio in texture and flavor (I’m in complete shock!). This feels like the Greek version of the classic ham & cheese croissant you’d get at a viennoiserie, just the ham & cheese is wrapped with phyllo instead of a laminated dough, and there’s waaay more cheese and ham than you’d typically find in its croissant cousin. Honestly I may like this more? 👀 (rating: 10/10)

Spanakopita: love how their filling is “drier” (I’ve have some with liquid seeping out, not my fave), and also great seasoning/garlic flavor. Just wished there was a little more feta and spinach! (rating: 7.5/10)

now onto reviewing dessert!

Reviews on the munchies & sips pictured above:

Freddo Cappuccino: the one they make here has such distinct layers between the coffee and foam (probably because they use heavy cream vs. just whole milk), also the perfect sweetness-to-coffee-bitterness! (rating: 10/10)

Greek Napoleon (Μιλφέιγ / Milfeiy): when I first saw this beauty behind the glass of the pastry case, I couldn’t comprehend how something that looks like that could be called a “Napoleon.” Surprise surprise, my confusion was founded in my narrow world view of only thinking there existed the French Napoleon Mille Feuille, which I’ve eaten many a time and have consistently disliked for their hard-as-a-plank-of-wood puff pastry layers cushioned between heavy-thick-blegh pastry cream. So let me tell you about the Greek Napoleon here at MOCCO. Beginning with one word: WOW.

It is absolutely mind-blowing. Probably one of my top desserts. The puff pastry layers are crumbly and shatters under your fork, and combined with the lightly sweetened vanilla pastry cream (lighter body because they mix it with whipped cream), it is wonderful. A stark contrast to the French Napoleon, which I’ve already described above why I dislike. Needless to say, my mind has been changed about Napoleons and there now is room in my heart again for Mille Feuille sweet things. (rating: 11/10)

✨p.s. a how-to video on how to make this at home that I’m totally trying: Greek Milfeiy

Tiramisu: the mascarpone cream is thicker, almost a cheesecake consistency (versus pudding), which is a fun textural combo with the espresso-soaked ladyfingers. It may not be the most traditional/authentic tiramisu, but their take is still delicious. Love love! I’m a fan. (rating: 10/10)

Bougatsa: like, a cheesecake phyllo comfort bundle? The sweet cream filling is nothing like I’ve had before, it’s slightly grainy, subtly cheese-y, yet light, so not quite a cheesecake, but not a pastry cream either...the filling pairs really well with the cinnamon and powdered sugar on the outside, and the whole thing was tastefully sweet. (rating: 10/10)

Chocolate Mousse Cake: super decadent and very sweet. The chocolate tastes deep enough to be a dark chocolate, but with the amount of sugar incorporated in each layer and feature, it ends up being too sweet for me to have the entire cake on my own. I loved the concept of a chocolate shell encasing alternating layers of chocolate cake and chocolate mousse though! (rating: 5/10)

Kokkakia: (kokákia, or “kok”—pronounced “coke”) it is a small treat consisting of pastry cream between two cakey cookies, with a dark chocolate ganache covering (also known as the Greek version of a profiterole/cream puff). Altogether tasted like a Boston Cream Pie in the best way possible. (rating: 10/10)

the RÉSUMÉ

address // 4004 South Blvd E, Charlotte, NC 28209

operations // Tuesday - Thursday, 11:30 AM - 10:00 PM; Friday - Saturday, 11:30 AM - 2:00 AM; Sunday - Monday, CLOSED.

logistics // loads of free parking spaces in front of the storefront (it’s a part of a mini shopping strip that is a bit rundown and abandoned)

amenities //

• 2 public restrooms, no changing tables

• Indoor & outdoor seating options

• 5 TV’s available

• WiFi available, but you have to ask for the password; 1-2 outlets

• offer karaoke night on Fridays, and dance party on Saturday nights

vibes //

• the cutest Greek coastal interior; they poured a lot into creating the atmosphere here!

• draws in a lot of folks from the Greek community

• the music is pop-y electronic dance, the kind you find at a night club (so may not be too kid-friendly depending on your parenting boundaries)

menu // featuring a “Taste of Greece”

• coffee ($3.00 - $6.00): Greek Freddo Cappuccino & Freddo espresso; Greek coffee; hot & iced lattes, regular cappuccino, chai latte & hot chocolate

• appetizers / meze ($5.00 - $14.00): pita & tzatiki/hummus, spinach feta dip, wings, dolmades, spanokopita, tiropita, etc.

• entrées ($13.00 - $24.00): salads, gyros & pitas, pizza, specialty dishes (lemon pepper chicken/salmon)

  ⭐kids menu ($5.00 - $7.00): pizza & grilled cheese pita

• desserts ($1.00 - $9.00): cookies, kokkakia, baklava, bougatsa, tiramisu, Greek Napoleon (milfeiy), cheesecakes, etc.

recs //

• beverages: freddo cappuccino, 100%

• appetizers: zabonotiropita

• entrées: any pizza! I am in love with their thin crust

• dessert: I’m biased to their Napolean, but the bougatsa is a close second :)

site // MOCCO BISTRO

~ cath!!

(updated August 2024)