Walking downtown, I decided to stop at the first place that interested me. I was near Miller Plaza and saw a few eateries where the park was and almost walked passed but I saw Mykonos Greek Grill and detoured to check it out.
When I went in, there were no seats or tables so I assumed this was just a place to grab lunch and sit outside in the park. It was a pretty day and I decided to do just that! There was only one gentleman in front of me and no one was behind me, so I wasn’t sure why I was rushed as the gentleman who took my order didn’t give me much time to decide.
He asked what I wanted and I said, “Well, I don’t know, I have never been in here.” This man did not offer me a menu. He instead pointed to a handwritten sign on the counter that told of three specials. I thought maybe that was all he had to offer, so I looked at the scribble and really didn’t care one way or the other, so I finally got to use my “Surprise me!” line.
He asked if I like lamb and I said, “Oh yes.” And he gave instruction that I would like the gyro platter. The platter was reasonably priced at $ 7.25 and came with a salad and my choice of drink. I found the cooler with all sodas and canned drinks with a few bottles of water - I grabbed a bottled water. I gathered that this was not a place to come with expectations, although the gentleman did seem Greek and I was certain that the food would taste authentic.
As I watched the woman behind the counter fix my meal; she wholloped on a lot of red powder on the meat. The man in front of me was asked if he wanted jalapeños on his gyro and he hesitated and said, “ju-u-u-u-st a couple.” I was asked if I wanted them on my salad, “oh yes!” I was given my meal in a Styrofoam tray with a plastic fork and napkin to take outside to eat. I saw a complimentary menu on the counter and grabbed one before I left. Apparently they did have more than just the three choices that I was told about.
When I opened up the Styrofoam lid, my meal looked pretty good. I started with my salad. I was not given a plastic knife and the tomato slices were in halves, I couldn’t put all that in my mouth so I tried to use my fork to cut them into – THAT didn’t work. The dressing was delicious and I liked the jalapeños, though I know why the man who only took two in his meal decided to limit them. They were H-O-T! I believe these were the hottest peppers I had ever eaten. I was glad to have napkins because my nose started running.
Trying to eat big chunks of the lamb was not easy to do with my skimpy plastic fork. I had to realize that it was a small operation to just “get you fed”. I was not going to have someone come up and ask if I wanted a refill - no one was going to ask if I needed anything. I was in the park, listening to the fountain and the birds and indulging in the beautiful sunshine. I didn’t need to be too critical. But when I tasted the gyro… I was disappointed. That distinct flavor that is usually in a gyro where I have tried other places was just not there; that indescribable flavor of the lamb with marjoram and rosemary. Instead, I tasted the red powder stuff that tasted a bit like “Season Salt”.
Then as I lifted up the meat, I saw vegetables. They looked like what you get in a frozen bag of mixed vegetables. Cauliflower, carrots all whopper-jawed in different cuts and broccoli stems – and they were mushy. I couldn’t eat it all. It just wasn’t good. For someone that isn’t that particular about flavor and just wants a meal in the park or to take back to the office if they want a quick meal, then I am sure it’s fine. But for someone that really wants to taste good gyro and fresh food, this was not the place.
Willie Mae gives a thumb’s down.