Chicago Style Gyro — Restaurant in Grand Rapids

In no way, shape or form is this a CHICAGO STYLE Gyros shop.

This is a Kurdish falafel stand.

Where do I start?

1. Chicago style gyros comes in a gyros pita lightly toasted on a grill, not an uncooked, oversized falafel wrap.

2. The only toppings that come on a Chicago style gyros are the tzatziki sauce, tomatoes and onions...no lettuce, no frickin olives, no cucumbers, and certainly no damn paprika.

3. I have no idea what type of "sauce" these people are trying to pass off as tzatziki, but real Chicago style gyros tzatziki is made out of yogurt, cucumbers, dill, oregano, and lemon juice, to name a few of the ingredients. Have no clue what they try to pass off as tzatziki is.

4. there is no "spicy" option when ordering a gyros in Chicago...ever....nowhere in the entire metropolitan area.

5. there is an art to cooking, and slicing, gyros. The overcooked bit sized gyros chunks they put in my sandwich are NOT what you get in a Chicago style gyros.

6. There is nothing "fresh" (as advertised) about their baklava. What they serve is the packaged mini baklava bites that are sold in trays at various ethnic Arab stores in the Chicago area. Nothing like the fresh and flaky baklava you get in Chicago.

If this was s Grand Rapids idea of a good Chicago gyros place, I'm at a...

Pros:

The food is great quality, and you get alot of it! And thats on top of it being cheap ($5 burger, $4 mozzarella sticks). They have marinara sauce for the mozz sticks (it's a pet peeve when places dont). You do have to pay extra for fries (another pet peeve), but it includes a drink and lots of very good fries (probably some of the best I've had). Good gyros as well. The mozzarella sticks are meh though, and I wouldnt recommend them.

Plenty of seating. You can see them making your food while you wait. Clean place. Napkins, silverware, condiments, drinks, etc are all readily available for customers out front. TV to watch while you wait or eat.

They do takeout, and its relatively fast (not McDonalds fast, but doesnt take forever). Its walking distance from other places including residential neighborhoods, bars, bowling, and grocery stores. On the route 7 and not far from route 9 bus. Right near a pedestrian crossing with signs and lights for getting across Leonard Street.

Staff are always very friendly and quick, never had any issues.

Cons:

It may be difficult to eat here if you have any dietary restrictions (vegan/vegetarian,...

Just ate here for the first time and we were impressed with the food and the staff. We had the Chicago gyro and pita with hummus. The pita was warm and the hummus was delicious but the gyro was awesome! We had it "traditional" with tzatziki, cucumber, tomato, feta, lettuce, bell peppers, and onion. We were surprised that the side was French fries but after tasting them it was clear as day, they were great fries, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Try them with ketchup! Then the piece de resistance, baklava, light and fluffy crust, not too sweet, nutty... perfect. Worth the buck and a quarter a slice. They don't make it there but its "imported from Detroit" (wink). The staff was friendly and explained the traditional menu and the American side too. The cafe itself was nothing fancy but who cares when the food is so good? Then there is the price, I'd like to say it was cheap but...oh yeah it was cheap! So what are you waiting for, an invitation?? Do it! Keep local cafe's like this one in business for years to...