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| Lamb Gyro |
I had to walk a little further for lunch today, as my #1 choice (Bandolero) was packed with World Cup revelers on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon. Lucky for me, Uptowner Cafe turned out to be a perfect "Plan B," serving up a better than expected Lamb Gyro, and my choice of shaded outdoor seats on tranquil 24th Street.
It's hard to find fault with an eatery that's open 15 hours a day (6:00 AM to 9:00 PM Monday - Friday, and 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM on Saturdays) and I bet they're packed every day (especially in the morning.) Uptowner Cafe is a hybrid of sorts... part deli, part neighborhood grocer; yet handles its customers with professionalism and speed. Choices are slim - mostly sandwiches, about a dozen or so. I ordered a Lamb Gyro (lettuce, tomato and cucumber sauce) for $7.25 ($9.95 including a 20 oz. soda & tax.)
My sandwich was ready in five minutes, and I grabbed a seat at one of three clean tables outside, overlooking The Westin Georgetown. It was late in the day (3:30 PM) and the sun was shaded; so I couldn't ask for a better environment. As mentioned earlier, my gyro was a pleasant surprise. It wasn't overstuffed (closer to a panini actually) but the ingredients were well-blended, topped off by a gentle application of cucumber sauce. The gyro meat was tasty, but far from zesty. My guess? It was pre-prepared (Sysco?) but above average in quality. Not a traditional gyro mind you, but I devoured every bite.
To be fair, I was pretty hungry; but truth be told, I'd order it again. It's a tad pricey (no chips or fries) but we are in Georgetown after all. The food is solid, the staff friendly enough and the outdoor "patio," worth going around the corner for. Thanks for being open: I shall return.
