#3 Beef Gyro |
One thing's for sure... You won't leave Philly Cheesesteak & Gyro hungry. Large portions, friendly service and fair prices make this fast casual eatery one of the better late-night options in Adams Morgan... despite serving processed gyro meat (shudder.)
There may be some confusion about the name: My receipt read "The Mediterranean Spot Two," but last month, they put up a new awning with a new name... I'm assuming, to appeal to the after-hours crowd (they stay open until 4:00 AM most nights, 5 on Fridays!) I stopped by for a late lunch (4:45 PM) and the restaurant was empty, save for two employees. Both were friendly, and I placed an order for a Beef Gyro ($6.99) side of French Fries ($1.99) and a $1 can of soda. The cashier told me he would bring my order to my table, and encouraged me to grab a seat.
French Fries |
The dining area is quite spacious, and surprisingly clean: Come to think of it, it would make a perfect location for nearby Amsterdam FalafelShop. Tables are steel mesh, and mine wobbled; but I can't imagine anyone would spend that much time here. My food arrived in a few minutes (on real dinnerware, no less... another surprise) and I have to say, the gyro is plenty big. It's also loaded with ingredients... Cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes and onions with a healthy dose of tzatziki sauce. Perhaps too much sauce, as it gets quite messy halfway through.
As I mentioned before, the gyro meat is processed and basically flavorless. It didn't come as any great surprise, and I doubt most folks will notice any difference at 2:30 in the morning. On a more positive note, I was pleasantly surprised by how many fries you get for two bucks. Not only that, they come already salted (and peppered) with two piles of ketchup for good measure. It's a homey touch, and one I'm not ashamed to say I like a lot. Perhaps they don't want anyone handling ketchup bottles late at night?
I'll be frank: I probably wouldn't come back here during daylight (Astor Mediterranean tastes a lot better, but oddly enough... is worse looking) but I'd rush here, instead of slumming at one of the nearby jumbo slice joints. Here's hoping they stay clean, tidy and safe.