mediterranean foods

the following conversation has happened at least 10 times:

liz: ...but i just have never had a really good gyro in cincinnati.
random person: what??? haven't you been to that little place on ludlow?
liz: yeah, i went there once, but they were only selling baklava.
random person: OH MY GOD. you have to go back. they serve the best gyro i have ever had. in fact, i want it right now. damn you!

so i have known for a while that i needed to eat that gyro. the opportunity just had not come up to do so... until today.

the doorway into gyro heaven

avani and were going to a matinee of rachel getting married (do not see this movie unless you want to be extremely depressed afterwards... which is not saying it is not a good movie. it is.) at the esquire, and we hadn't eaten lunch, so we decided to hit up mediterranean foods. and damn are we glad we did.

the gyro is pretty much all it is cracked up to be. it is fucking good. the meat is spicy, flavorful, juicy, and tender. the yogurt is tasty. it is dusted with chili powder for an extra kick. the pita is chewy and delicious.

little deli, big flavors

we also could not resist trying the hummus wrap, which is simply hummus and tabbouli wrapped up in a pita. this was also ridiculously good. the hummus was very tahini-based, not especially garlicky or lemony (which is now i normally want it), but it was so good. i think the tahini may have been homemade and that is why it was so tasty. the tabbouli was excellent... fresh and lemony.

we tried a dolma and it was just ok. however, i think they may have used fresh grape leaves rather than canned or jarred which i give them points for. i have heard they have good falafel too but we were too full to try this.

i am out of cheesy catch phrases so please just do us both a favor and eat this sandwich

the ambience is basically nonexistent... it's just a small deli with a few tables in the back. but the walls are brightly painted, the guys behind the counter (who are, incidentally, not mediterranean at all but rather bangladeshi) are friendly and helpful, and the prices are right (two gyros, a hummus wrap, and a dolma came to only about $13). they are open mon-sat from 12-9 and on sun from 12-8. they also sell a small selection of middle eastern staples (pita bread, tahini, spices, etc.).

if you know what is good for you (and your belly) (and your wallet), you will get your ass to mediterranean foods ASAP and eat this gyro.