Zorba's - Greek food in San Jose

My girlfriend and I had dinner at Zorba's in San Jose this past weekend.  When we arrived at about 7pm there was a large private party in a side room but only 1 other table of regular customers in the main dining room.  Since the food they serve is better than average, it's a shame they don't have anywhere near the crowds the average (or sub-average) restaurants in the area tend to draw.

Perhaps the prices keep many people away.  Entrees generally ranged from $15 to $18.  You do get plenty of food, though.  Each meal comes with a salad course, a soup course, a generous plate of food, and a choice of baklava or ice cream for dessert.

The food is good, although it's not the best Greek I've had.  My girlfriend and I ordered planning to share our meals.  She got a combination plate featuring pot roast lamb, a Greek meatball, a dolma, a pasta casserole (looking much like a piece of lasagne), vegetables, and rice.  I ordered lamb kabob with rice and vegetables.  Both lamb dishes were tender and flavorful; mine was well spiced and hers was covered with a sauce.  The dolma tasted great.  It's too bad there was only one.  The meatball and the lasag-- er, "casserole"-- tasted okay but were nothing special.  The baklava was, to my delight, not _overly_ sweet.  I hate going home feeling like my teeth are going to rot and fall out on the spot.

Zorba's boasts live music and belly dancing every night.  The musicians started up at 8:00, just as we were getting through our main course.  Two men played Greek guitars (I'm sorry, I don't know what they're called) while a third played a keyboard synthesizer and a microprocessor played a drum simulator.  They'd have been better without the synth and fake percussion.  We waited through to almost 9:00 for the belly dancer(s) but got tired and went home before (probably _just_ before) she/they came on.

Bottom line:  The food is good and plentiful.  Well-done Greek food is a nice change in an area littered with more undistinguishably mediocre Chinese and Mexican restaurants than you can shake a stick at.  I wish we could go there more often, but alas $60 for dinner for two with cocktails is a bit outside our weekly budget.