After harboring a longtime gyro jones, I realized that not only were there Greek restaurants in Baltimore, but there's actually an entire "town" dedicated to the cuisine. I finally made my way to the eastern end of Eastern Avenue (a.k.a. Greektown), and found myself surrounded by Greek restaurants, bakeries, shops and, presumably, actual Greeks. One glance up and down the street and I knew I had a problem: In which of these monuments to Greek cuisine would I find a meal worthy of the gods?
After a brisk expedition up one side of Eastern and down the other, peering into every store window and trying to catch a glance at marqueed prices in these casual dining establishments, I felt I had found my match. The Souvlaki Place appeared to be a straightforward establishment with no frills and no fancy stuff, which to me translates as, "every dollar spent goes directly to the food." Since I am broke, but I do love food, my mind was made up: I'll eat here.
Even though I couldn't read the writing on the wall once I was inside, I instantly realized Souvlaki caters to a diverse clientele. That's because the writing on the wall is several signs written in Arabic, Greek and Spanish, which I could only assume matched the English translation I was able to read. FYI: That'd be the sign warning customers that no card of any kind would be accepted under any circumstance.
Since this is Greektown, be prepared for a genuine, friendly greeting upon entering. And if you look Greek enough, the server/cook (and probably owner/proprietor) may even start chatting you up in Greek. He won't snub you, though, if you admit your Greek ancestry is coupled with a complete an utter ignorance of the language.
Dish: The lamb gyro was fantastic, served nice and hot with a cool tzatziki sauce, fresh tomatoes, onion and pita -- basically every thing a gyro should be. The chicken souvlaki -- available "on stick" or "on pita bread" -- was very flavorful and tender. For those who have lamb issues, the chicken gyro was also very good, but the lamb is definitely superior. The French fries tasted like a potato had been peeled, sliced and fried just for me, and although they were a little plain, it was nothing some ketchup couldn't help.
Damage: Gyros and souvlaki alone are priced in the $4-$6 range; platters, which include fries and a Greek salad with a whole slab of Feta cheese, are $11-$12.
Decision: Good, cheap, fresh. I would have to give Souvlaki Place a definite yes -- why the phi not?
After a brisk expedition up one side of Eastern and down the other, peering into every store window and trying to catch a glance at marqueed prices in these casual dining establishments, I felt I had found my match. The Souvlaki Place appeared to be a straightforward establishment with no frills and no fancy stuff, which to me translates as, "every dollar spent goes directly to the food." Since I am broke, but I do love food, my mind was made up: I'll eat here.
Since this is Greektown, be prepared for a genuine, friendly greeting upon entering. And if you look Greek enough, the server/cook (and probably owner/proprietor) may even start chatting you up in Greek. He won't snub you, though, if you admit your Greek ancestry is coupled with a complete an utter ignorance of the language.
Dish: The lamb gyro was fantastic, served nice and hot with a cool tzatziki sauce, fresh tomatoes, onion and pita -- basically every thing a gyro should be. The chicken souvlaki -- available "on stick" or "on pita bread" -- was very flavorful and tender. For those who have lamb issues, the chicken gyro was also very good, but the lamb is definitely superior. The French fries tasted like a potato had been peeled, sliced and fried just for me, and although they were a little plain, it was nothing some ketchup couldn't help.
Damage: Gyros and souvlaki alone are priced in the $4-$6 range; platters, which include fries and a Greek salad with a whole slab of Feta cheese, are $11-$12.
Decision: Good, cheap, fresh. I would have to give Souvlaki Place a definite yes -- why the phi not?
