Meat in the middle 

I’m an old-fashioned guy. I believe in the small of a woman’s 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.

That’s the beauty of Gyros Etc.

There’s no pretense. It’s 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. Let’s start with the gyros, then we’ll 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 it’s crisp at the edges, it’s cut a bit thicker than
most.

It might seem
odd to say, but there’s also not too much of it. Some places — and I’m
not complaining — pack so much into a sandwich that you can’t 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. It’s thicker than most, but with lots of tang.
It’s nice to get all that taste without worrying that it’ll come
dripping out the other end of the sandwich.

If
you’re looking for something a bit lighter, you probably shouldn’t go
to a gyro stand. But if you’re already there, the chicken shawarma is
your friend. I didn’t 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 won’t matter. The falafel doesn’t get fried until
you’re there. They make their own, you see. Flavorful little balls of
crushed chickpeas, fried so they’re crispy outside and pillowy inside.
When you get them in a sandwich, they’re smashed up, so they can soak up
the spicy sauce.

There’s 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 it’s worth trying.

right, Humus

It’s 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 they’re doing it well. Especially that falafel.

Oklahoma
Gazette’s restaurant review policy is to highlight the positive
aspects, and include constructive criticism regarding food, ambience or
service when appropriate.

Photos by Mark Hancock