MORE DINERS GETTING IN OLYMPIC MOOD WITH FOOD.

Byline: Candice Choi Staff Writer

Watching the epic, heroic Olympic tales unfold in the ancient city of Athens is inspiring viewers to get off the couch in a quest for the perfect gyro.

``This is the second time I'm having Greek food since the Olympics started,'' said Tyrone Spears as he lunched Friday at Daphne's Greek Cafe in Woodland Hills. Spears, who normally doesn't eat Greek fare, even tried a gyro for the first time last week to get in the Olympic spirit.

And he isn't the only fan flocking to Greek restaurants. Greek eateries across the Valley report a boost in sales, particularly in take-out orders right before the nightly programming of events begins.

``It's just kind of fun to be following the Olympics and also be dining on Greek food,'' said Andy Harris, a restaurant operations consultant with Harris & Associates.

Chowing down on souvlaki and lamb kabobs is the ticket to transporting Olympic fans thousands of miles away to the Summer Games, it seems.

Take-out orders at Alexis Greek Restaurant in Northridge tripled the night of the opening ceremonies, said owner Alexandros Kavvadias. Business has been up about 20 percent since then, he said.

The Great Greek Restaurant in Sherman Oaks tripled its orders of flown- in Mediterranean sea bass on a weekly basis since the games commenced. And Daphne's Greek Cafe in Woodland Hills was ``totally inundated'' the night of the opening ceremony too, said general manager Walt Bartels.

``It was like they opened Grand Central Station right outside,'' Bartels said. Bartels said he's also seeing more new faces in the restaurant these days.

One of them was Patricia Farias, 25, who was at Daphne's on Friday with her friend Spears. It was the first time Farias tried Greek cuisine - and she said it won't be the last.

That's part of the fun of watching the Olympics or programming filmed in another country, wondering what they eat, Farias said.

Greek cuisine in particular has the visibility and sense of ``hospitality, fun and good times'' that lends itself to the Olympics, Harris said.

It's no wonder restaurants like Alexis are offering a special Greek dessert, a type of baklava called Copenhagen Kavvadias said to have been served at the first modern Olympics in 1896. The 32-year-old restaurant is also decorated with Olympic flags, pins and pamphlets for guests who want to get in the Olympic mood.

Papadakis Taverna in San Pedro, known for its cultural entertainment such as belly-dancing and plate-smashing, is offering an Olympic special plate.

When the cuisine of the host nation for the Olympics has visibility in the Los Angeles area, Harris said those restaurants will inevitably get a boost.

That's in contrast to when the Olympics were held in Sydney, Australia.

``Outback (restaurant) tried to ride that magic carpet for awhile but it didn't really fly,'' Harris joked.

Candice Choi, [phone]

candice.choi(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Tyrone Spears of Culver City eats a meal with friends at Daphne's Greek restaurant in Woodland Hills on Friday afternoon.

(2) Alex Lara shaves gyro meat during the lunch rush at Daphne's Greek restaurant in Woodland Hills on Friday afternoon. Business has picked up at Greek eateries as fans enjoy the cuisine of the Olympics.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer