Im an old-fashioned guy. I believe in the small of a womans back, the hanging curve ball, high fiber, good scotch and gyros that are shaved from a rotating spit.
And, personally, since gyros are just as healthy as greasy burgers and tacos, I have no desire for them to be walked from a fancy kitchen, through a luxurious dining room to a well-appointed table. I just need to get that gyro from the spit to my belly as quickly as possible.
Thats the beauty of Gyros Etc.
Theres no pretense. Its hard to have any when your restaurant is a basically an old Fotomat with a drive-thru.
But, hey, books and covers, people. The food is good. Lets start with the gyros, then well get to the Etc., yeah?
right, Samir Mahmoud
The gyro is one of the best in the city
(And, yes, there are some bad ones.). The meat is right in so many
ways. Cooked so its crisp at the edges, its cut a bit thicker than
most.
It might seem
odd to say, but theres also not too much of it. Some places and Im
not complaining pack so much into a sandwich that you cant fit the
pita in your mouth. Gyros Etc. gives enough to fill you up, but not so
much that you need help eating it.
Oh,
and the tzatziki sauce. Its thicker than most, but with lots of tang.
Its nice to get all that taste without worrying that itll come
dripping out the other end of the sandwich.
If
youre looking for something a bit lighter, you probably shouldnt go
to a gyro stand. But if youre already there, the chicken shawarma is
your friend. I didnt see it being made, being I was in my car, but the
traditional shawarma method is to stack big hunks of meat on a skewer,
cook it and shave down the sides. Those shavings go in a pita, which
goes in your mouth. The chicken is a lot less greasy than the gyro meat,
although the seasoning still gives it lots of flavor.
The real find, though, is the falafel. Call ahead if
you want, but it wont matter. The falafel doesnt get fried until
youre there. They make their own, you see. Flavorful little balls of
crushed chickpeas, fried so theyre crispy outside and pillowy inside.
When you get them in a sandwich, theyre smashed up, so they can soak up
the spicy sauce.
Theres more, of course.
The spanakopita are crispy fried wedges of phyllo dough encasing spinach
and cheese. They are also addictive. The tabbouleh has a lot more green
than it does cracked wheat, which is a blessing. Lots of flavor. Nice
and light. The hummus is a little expensive, but if you love good
hummus, I think its worth trying.
right, Humus
Its not a fancy place to eat (unless you drive a really fancy car, I guess), but Gyros Etc. is doing everything I want in a gyro restaurant, and theyre doing it well. Especially that falafel.
Oklahoma
Gazettes restaurant review policy is to highlight the positive
aspects, and include constructive criticism regarding food, ambience or
service when appropriate.
Photos by Mark Hancock