Whether you are looking for a casual restaurant to take your family or a laid back place to wow a date, Vasilis Mediterranean Grill is the place to go. Located on Main Street in Gaithersburg's Kentlands, Vasilis offers a variety of authentic Mediterranean dishes with a focus on Greek cuisine.

Owner Vasilis Hristopoulos, who goes by Bill, has been in the restaurant business since he was 12 years old. His family's love for food and the culinary arts inspired him to open a Greek-American restaurant in Montgomery Village, which he sold to open Vasilis Mediterranean Grill in the Kentlands nine years ago. Bill's dishes are traditional with a creative flair that will amuse just about any palate.

Every night Vasilis offers specials using seasonal ingredients. Guests can expect to find a new soup, entrée and mezede each day. Recent specials have included delicately fried zucchini sticks paired with delicious spicy tzatziki dip and flavorful bronzino butterflied and cooked to perfection.

The menu offers mezedes, which are appetizer portions meant to pair with wine, but the creations also stand beautifully on their own. The list of mezedes is extensive with options including rich, flaky spanakopita and traditional dolmathakia served with a vibrant avgolemono sauce. The Greek layer dip — hummus with the perfect balance of lemon and garlic, creamy yogurt, feta, red onion, tomato, and cucumber — is the perfect start to any meal. Impress your friends and family by ordering the saganaki, a Greek cheese that the server will flambé tableside.

Entrees include pasta dishes like pastichio, layers of pasta and seasoned ground beef topped with a silky béchamel, or kotopoulo koronis, chicken in vodka sauce with fresh tomatoes tossed with pasta. Traditional gyro, falafel, or souvlaki with your choice of meat are served on a warm pita with tzatziki sauce, fries or rice, and appropriate garnish. Enlighten your taste buds with Bill's decadent moussaka, a traditional Greek entrée that consists of layers of sliced eggplant, potatoes, and seasoned beef topped with béchamel and served with Greek style stewed green beans. All entrees are served with house-made bread and Greek salad lightly dressed with red wine vinaigrette.

Vasilis's house-made desserts are delightful. The rich baklava can be served a la mode and drizzled with honey for a creative twist on a traditional dessert. The galaktobouriko, warm lemon custard between flaky phyllo and served with a light honey syrup, is the perfect end to dinner. Vasilis also offers pies, cookies, and rice pudding. Pair dessert with a Greek coffee served sweet or semi sweet.

The pricing at Vasilis is anywhere from $7-25 per dish. Customers have the option to split a meal for a $3 up-charge, which includes a salad for both people and a separate plate with your choice of vegetable. Vasilis also offers a lunch menu with additional items Monday-Thursday from 11am -3:30pm, and a children's menu. The restaurant is closed on Sundays.

For more information view Vasilis Mediterranean Grill's website at www.vasilisgrill.com !