When the Food Snob first received word that there was a new hero place on Main Street, he couldn’t help but wonder if there was finally a museum dedicated to his signature greatness. The news actually got better, though – it wasn’t a hero place, but rather a gyro place, which is different than a museum because you can eat things inside it (well, you can technically eat things inside a museum, too, but it’s not recommended. That stuff can be really old!)
With that bit of housekeeping straightened out, the Food Snob and his dining companion set out to learn more about Gyro House, the new Greek restaurant at 58 N. Main St. And what better way to learn more than by filling our faces with Greek delights?
We headed down to get a taste of Greece right here in Concord (which is different than a taste of grease in Concord, available at many locations), and two things struck us immediately – the intoxicating smell of grilled meat and veggies, and an orange tile floor that gave off an undeniable European vibe.
The restaurant itself is skinny and long, but is laid out to accommodate a hungry crowd, with a row of booths along one wall and several smaller tables on the other. There is also a bar along the left side with seating for eight, and small tables next to the large windows at the front of the restaurant, sure to guarantee some great Main Street people watching.
But we weren’t there to watch; we were there to grub down. So we sidled up to the counter (you can see some of the kitchen just behind it, which added a homey feel) and ordered – a traditional lamb gyro for the Snob, and a Qofte sandwich (described as similar to a meatball sub) for his companion.
The gyro ($7.25) was the real deal, complete with french fries (inside the sandwich!), tzatziki sauce, tomatoes, onions, parsley and feta cheese in a grilled flat bread. The meat was well-seasoned and paired well with the french fries and tzatziki sauce, although there was a tad bit too much sauce for the Snob’s liking.
It was also a messy, drip-down-your-fingers affair, and we found it best to wrap the bread up tight in order to get a little bit of all the flavors in each bite.
The meat in the Qofte sandwich ($6.25) resembled a sausage more than a meatball, but was extremely flavorful. The seasoning was salty, but not too salty, and bursting with tastiness. The sandwich came with tzatziki sauce, chopped red onion and roasted red bell pepper and was served on a soft sub-style roll, though the bell peppers were enormous and were at times difficult to corral into the roll. As with the gyro, there was plenty of sauce to go around.
Both sandwiches were quite tasty, and very filling – you certainly get a meal out of it.
The menu features plenty of variety, too, with gyros available with lamb, chicken, pork, veggies or falafel. There are also appetizers like bruscheta, a Mediterranean salad of cheese, tomato, red pepper and garlic and a variety of sweets, like baklava, rice pudding and a case that featured what appeared to be a decadent cheesecake. Had we had any room left, we would no doubt have polished a slice or two off.
If you’re looking for authentic Greek food, Gyro House is your place. The combination of meats, breads and sauces means you’ll certainly leave with your stomach full, but it will be full of tasty stuff you can’t find in many places around here. Or in any museums, for that matter.
