Soooo I've already visited quite a few of the places I'd like to share with you, so until my funds are renewed mid-June, I'll start with recapping some of my new (and loyal) favorites. One of the latest additions to my husband and I's Favorites List is Al Basha Mediterranean Cuisine and Grocery. Disclaimer: We've been twice (and that's quite a hike from our downtown residence) but both times for Lunch. We have yet to experience an Al Basha dinner.
Overview: Sandwich and full dinner options from $5 to $15 exploding with spice, flavor, and fresh ingredients. Homemade soups, salads, appetizers, and desserts also available.
Location: Hiding in a strip mall on Allisonville just south of 116th St.
At our first visit the hubby and I decided to stick with lunch sandwiches, but were too hungry to wait long and ordered the Falafel Appetizer ($3.99) and a cup of Lentil Soup ($1.99). Falafel is a seasoned mix of chick peas and spices rolled into balls and deep fried-- for those of you unfamiliar with Mediterranean food. The garlic, onion, and parsley mixed falafel was crisp on the outside, warm and soft like a muffin inside and served with tahini sauce (sesame paste used in hummus) to help mellow the seasonings, and a few kalamata olives (my favorite!). Ryan describes falafel as "hush puppies from heaven" and especially loved this dish. My lentil soup was hearty and obviously homemade, and served with pita that I know for a fact they make from scratch every morning. Most lentil soups I've had are pasty and dry, but this broth was thick with what tasted like well-cooked potatoes? Definitely homey and the best lentil soup I've had.
I chose a relatively simple sandwich (according to the menu) because I wanted to branch out from the obvious choice of gyro, and many of the other options had bell peppers (unfortunately I am not a fan of those wonderful veggies). All sandwiches are between 5 and 7 dollars. I ordered the Chicken Souvlaki Sandwich which was described as "Marinated chicken pieces with garlic, black pepper and olive oil." Start with the basics. The sandwich that appeared before me was everything but simple, and subsequently turned out to be miraculous. The white meat chicken pieces were bright red with the marinade and called to mind spicy Indian flavors I adore. Some concoction of, I believe, pickled vegetables also fit inside this overflowing pita, and last but not least, THE SAUCE. Some sour-ish white yogurt sauce (without the cucumber flavor of "tzatziki" sauce) that either had similar seasonings to the marinade or just complimented them so well that the combination of the spicy red meat, the tart sauce and the subtle vinegar-bite of the vegetables brought me to audible enjoyment of the sandwich with every bite, and a request for extra sauce. My husband went with the traditional Gyro Sandwich and enjoyed the lamb, cucumber sauce, onions and tomotoes served in an identical pita, but soon envied my magic-sauce ridden "Souvlaki" and helped me finish the behemoth. Maybe he should have asked for the $0.49 "Hot or Extra Spicy" upgrade... Needless to say at our second visit, he ordered the Souvlaki and I tried the Chicken Shawarma Sandwich which was similar to the first with the marinated meat and a "pickle sauce," but didn't quite achieve that perfect blend of flavors. Final note on food: the sandwiches do not come with a side-- fries or other sides can be added but I barely finished mine and longingly wished I had room/money to try the (only $3.00!!) baklava dessert.
The other mainstay of this venue is the SERIOUS Mediterranean grocery (I'm telling you-- flawless pita and hummus made fresh every morning) and elaborately beautiful hookahs for decoration and sale. For more info check out (and print a coupon from) their website, and then GO THERE and try it yourself!
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