NYC Tastes

On my continuing quest to find the best gyro in the city I stopped into Spartan Souvlaki in Bayridge.   At first I wasn't even sure this tiny spot was open.  No one greeted me at the door and the open kitchen was empty.  Then I heard a big explosion of laughter and everyone (chefs, waitresses, etc.) came walking out of the back together.  I instantly felt the love between this crew and they welcomed me like a long lost friend.    Instead of ordering just a classic Gyro I opted for the Gyro Salad filled with big juicy strips of lamb layered on top of lettuce, tomato, cucumber then drizzled with a light Greek vinaigrette and a flurry of crumbled feta cheese.  Being a lover of all things salad and gyro this was AMAZING!  If this place was in my neighborhood I would be eating here at least once a week. The salad came with a side of pita bread and tzatziki sauce so I basically could make my own gyro if I really wanted.  For a quick, deli...

Mr. T and I had some errands to do in Bayridge this weekend so I used it as an excuse to finally try out  Tanoreen.  My Brooklyn coworkers have been telling me for years about this Middle Eastern gem. I specifically remember mention of the Eggplant Napoleon during several  discussions... Two thick slices of crispy breaded eggplant layered with creamy baba ghanouge and tomato basil salata.  Somehow the eggplant stayed completely intact, not a slimy veggie in sight.  It was really a work of art that we completely devoured in about 5 minutes flat. Crispy Hallumi Cheese is a must order for me when it's on the menu.  This could have been served a bit warmer but the flavor and consistency was still spot on. The hummus we used mainly as a garnish for stuffing into our pitas when the Mixed Grill arrived. This was just a massive platter filled with ground lamb kabob, marinated lamb and a smoky chicken kabob that had an excellent char to the o...