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Publication Date: Friday, February 18, 2005
Quick Bites
</I>Quick Bites </P>
(February 18, 2005) The spot: Gyro's House
The dish:
A low-key "Mediterranean" deli that specializes in Turkish dishes, Gyro's House is a good value and a great place for a quick lunch or a late-night dinner. Formerly Chef Wang's noodle house, the five-month-old eatery at 212 Castro St. is conveniently located for the take-out lunch crowd as well as for those who want to eat in. Traditional stand-bys such as falafel sandwiches and the ubiquitous gyro are good, but for something different, try borek, homemade pies with chicken, or a bowl of tangy ezo gelin soup.
I tried:
A gigantic platter of lamb and beef gyro ($9.95) includes tender slices of the meat, grilled on a rotating spit, on top of buttery rice pilaf and couscous with a side salad. The adana kabob ($6.95) wraps spicy ground lamb patties in lavosh bread with a tomato and cucumber salad. A sweet end to a savory feast, one serving of kadayif cevizli ($2.50), a nest of filo dough and crushed walnuts swims in a pool of lemon-scented sugar syrup and is enough to share.
The best was:
Homemade ezo gelin ($2.95) soup, with a squeeze of lemon, is a tangy brew of red lentils and mint. Paired with its complementary basket of freshly baked sesame bread, it's the perfect option for a quick lunch. On the side: Traditional snacks such as hummus ($3.95), which is thick and garlic-rich, and baba ghanouj (creamy eggplant dip, $4.95) are must-tries. For a vegetarian feast, try the appetizer combo plate ($8.95) which includes a half-dozen salads, fresh dolma and three traditional dips with homemade bread.
Thirst quenchers:
Bottled juices and sodas are self-serve, and iced water is free and served in pitchers in the dining room. If you've got more time for your meal at Gyro's, try a bottle of Efes ($4), a pilsner beer from Turkey, with your kabob.
The service:
Friendly and casually efficient, the cooks both prepare and serve food and will even offer a glass of fragrant Turkish tea with dessert if you ask. Every dish is made to order, so expect a five- to 10-minute wait for sandwiches and specialty platters.
The digs:
The restaurant's bare, somewhat dark dining room is clean but not particularly cozy. Water, silverware and sodas are self-serve. Diners eating in will have their meal brought to them by the hard-working cooks behind the counter. Order at the register and pay after you've finished eating.
The diners:
A cross section of the downtown crowd fills the no-frills dining room, including small groups of students in for a quick Greek salad ($5.95) as well as families with kids for an early-afternoon meal. Night owls take heed: the restaurant is open daily until 11 p.m. Bang for the buck: Although $7 for a wrapped sandwich may feel a bit pricey, portions are generous and some of the more traditional dishes, such as the Iskender plate (lamb with bread cubes in a yogurt-tomato sauce, $10.95) are worth the price for a unique taste of Turkish cuisine.
The details:
Gyro's House, 212 Castro St., Mountain View. 940-9316. Open daily, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. -- Aimee M. Male
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