Gyros.......

Ive seen you guys here do a Beef-Athons and and Hot-Dog-Athons.....

How about a Gyros-Athon? Thoughts? Comments?............

Why not just pick a date, suggest a few places, and post on the Events board?

Please do. Please. I'm already coming, and I don't even know where or when it will be. Consider putting Nick's on your list, either the one on Nagle & Higgins or Harlem & Touhy (no relation).

If your gonna do Gyros run than CND must be on the list! They are the best around!

CND Gyros & Lounge
205 E Grand Ave - At N St Clair St
Chicago, IL 60611
312 467-4195

I think a "gyros-thon" would be really interesting. Most places just use pre-formed coned meat from Kronos. I would say the following places are a must for any taste off. Ive been to all these spots except Dengeo's but I have heard that it is very good. Parthenon is probably my favorite because its so unique (not from Krono's).

Also, the chuck wagon in Wilmette has the "NIKI SPECIAL" just a well tasting burger topped with lots gyros meat...its been at least five years but I love that spot.

The Parthenon
314 S. Halsted
Chicago, IL
312-726-2407

Wilmette Chuck Wagon
1120 Central Avenue
(between 11th St & Wilmette Ave)
Wilmette, IL 60091
(847) 256-0120

Athenian Room- Requested "crispy and well done"
807 W Webster Ave
(between Dayton St & Halsted St)
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 348-5155

CND Gyros & Lounge
205 E Grand Ave - At N St Clair St
Chicago, IL 60611
312 467-4195

Dengeos
3301 W. Main St.
Skokie, IL
847-677-7911

Central Gyros
3129 N Central Ave
(between Barry Ave & Belmont Ave)
Chicago, IL 60634
(773) 545-1276

Kings No 2 Gyros
5233 N Milwaukee Ave
(between Foster Ave & Gettysburg St)
Chicago, IL 60630
(773) 736-5406
http://www.kingsgyros.com/

Nick's Drive In
7216 N. Harlem Ave.
Chicago, IL
773-631-5045

Squabs Gyros
2348 N. Mannheim Rd.
Melrose Park, IL 60164
847-455-5205

How about adding Cross Rhodes to your list?

anyone been to Munster Gyros, in Munster, IN? Friends from there swear by it

my favorite has always been the works in glenview. great shishkabob sandwich also:

The Works
2676 Golf Rd
Glenview, IL 60025

(847) 724-0616‎

Da Beef wrote:Ive been to all these spots except Dengeo's but I have heard that it is very good.

I've been to Dengeo's, and it's a decent gyros, but I think either Nick's is way better. Dengeo's wasn't cooked as thoroughly and was more mildly spiced, and the pita was too soft for my tastes, as though it was just steamed rather than toasted to a nice crispy exterior.

One Nick's location is listed in Da Beef's post, and the other is:

5238 N Nagle Ave
Chicago, 60630

Da Beef wrote:Also, the chuck wagon in Wilmette has the "NIKI SPECIAL" just a well tasting burger topped with lots gyros meat...its been at least five years but I love that spot.

Wilmette Chuck Wagon
1120 Central Avenue
(between 11th St & Wilmette Ave)
Wilmette, IL 60091
(847) 256-0120

Hehe, I prefer The Waitress, which is gyros meat stuffed into a grilled american cheese on white. Very trashy but delicious sammich.

FWIW, Chuck Wagon changed hands a few years back but, IMO has actually improved under the new ownership (for one thing, the tsatziki is not watery like it used to be). I believe the Vastis family sold it to a former employee. In any case, the current owner's name is Sasha and he's a hard-working, young man who seems to genuinely care about his product and his customers. I stop in a few times a year and it never disappoints.

=R=

nr706 wrote:How about adding Cross Rhodes to your list?

I have been to Cross Rhodes, food wise it was the exact same as Athenian room...when I was there I only sampled the burger and steak dinner but it was exactly the same as the AR...so yes its good but I never sampled the gyros there. I wouldnt be surprised if the owner of CR has some sort of connection with the AR.

Cross-Rhodes and Athenian room are connected though there is bad blood between them per Steve Z's post of 1/13/2006. It's at: http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=6673&highlight=cross+rhodes+athenian+room

It's been a while since I've had gyros at Cross-Rhodes though my recollection of it is positive.

In addition I would recommend Cookers in Deerfield. I had their gyros last week and enjoyed it very much even though it was sliced a bit thicker than I prefer. Lots of flavor even though I ordered it without onions. Also, all sandwiches include their excellent skin-on fries.

Cookers Red Hots
469 Lake Cook road
Deefield, IL 60015
(847) 897-5880
http://cookersredhots.com/

The gyros at Cross-Rhodes are good, but it's the greek fries there I love best!

I agree that Cross-Rhodes' fries are outstanding. Normally thick-cut fries are not for me, but these are the exception to my rule. The crisp exterior and wonderful flavor make for a real treat.

I was going to finish this post with an emoticon, but I don't see one with a tongue hanging out.

Dengeo's is ok, but my favorite has always been Hub's in Skokie. The meat is not sliced too thin, the pita is always warm, and the sauce isn't runny. My biggest gripe with gyros is when the "lamb" is sliced too thin and then cooked on the flat top until it's like grissle. Hub's slices the meat right from the spit and consistently serves a quality gyro.
http://hungryz.com/hubs

I'd be grateful if anyone has any recommendations for the near western suburbs.

I've had enough of the borderline bad gyros. Most of the places that serve them throw tons of onions on them and the tomatoes they use are the skins and ends left over from what they can't use on the burgers.

The only place I've found remotely good is Gyros Express on North and Addison Rd in Villa Park. The problem here is that a gyro, fries (nothing special), and small drink (without free refills) cost $10. Seriously, $10. But I will admit, the gyro is really good and tasty. A soda refill cost .50 cents. Who still does that?

In Forest Park, at Randolph and DesPlaines avenue is a place called Submarine Tender. Their gyros (and sauce) are delicious. Not a lot of onions, a couple of slices of tomato and lots and lots of meat. By the time I finish picking the meat out and eating it (so that I can get it small enough to actually pick up and eat), I should probably stop as I've eaten enough. But nooooooooooo, gotta keep going. I think for gyros and fries it's about $5. Been there for years.

Da Beef wrote: Most places just use pre-formed coned meat from Kronos.

Actually, I believe there are 5 big gyro cone manufactures in Chicago: Kronos, Grecian Delight, Olympic, Devanco, 5th one can't think of the name.

Grecian Delihgt makes a good product.

Which places still do the variety where the meat is mixed with feta cheese and lemon juice or rind? "Zesty," was it? That should be one inclusion.

pamiela wrote:In Forest Park, at Randolph and DesPlaines avenue is a place called Submarine Tender. Their gyros (and sauce) are delicious. Not a lot of onions, a couple of slices of tomato and lots and lots of meat. By the time I finish picking the meat out and eating it (so that I can get it small enough to actually pick up and eat), I should probably stop as I've eaten enough. But nooooooooooo, gotta keep going. I think for gyros and fries it's about $5. Been there for years.

Supplement with their BG fries, and you will find yourself being treated as if you were in some kind of quarantine from the people you live with for a few days. Gyros + BG fries = garlic overload.

gp60004 wrote:

Da Beef wrote: Most places just use pre-formed coned meat from Kronos.

Actually, I believe there are 5 big gyro cone manufactures in Chicago: Kronos, Grecian Delight, Olympic, Devanco, 5th one can't think of the name.

Grecian Delight makes a good product.

Did you do a comparative tasting of these products, Gus? Because the issue I have with Gyros is general is that there is even less variation in the meat than there is with Hot Dogs (where serving Vienna Hot Dogs alone could mean any one of 20, 30, maybe 100? recipes). So the only point to consider is how well prepared it is, and how fresh and good the garnishes are.

But if we could figure out who makes the best meat and then get a list of who uses that meat (or maybe they post the name of the supplier somewhere if you look carefully?), it would go a long way to knowing what I am going to get before I go in the door.

Related question - why do Shwarma places make their own stacks of meat but Gyros places do not?

Another question - are there any places that make their own Gyros meat? I have reminisced sadly too many times about the house-made Gyros at the lamented Mythos in N'ville - more like lamb Shwarma, I suppose - so I will not go there, but I suspect that any place making their own Gyros will automatically be serving a better sammy.

Last question - if the sign says "Kronos" out front, what are the odds they aren't using Kronos meat? In the world of Italian Beef, the odds were very high that even though a place had a Vienna sign, they were not selling Vienna beef.

Interesting idea, and I look forward to either joining the team, or at least enjoying the results.

I believe Nick's Drive In at Harlem and Touhy makes their own gyros and tzaziki

dicksond wrote:Did you do a comparative tasting of these products, Gus?

Since I don't serve Gyros at my place, I haven't done a comparative taste testing. I have, in the past, worked on several project for Grecian Delight including working on their gyro seasonings and a al pastor cone that they wanted to do.

From what i can recall, i think the gyro cones are all beef..no lamb which surprised me somewhat.

Now, I have made my own homemade Gyro meat, using lamb and beef, and I think it's a superior product but with the cones selling for $1.50-1.75 a pound, why spend the labor to make your own?

MBK wrote:I believe Nick's Drive In at Harlem and Touhy makes their own gyros and tzaziki

Well now I have a place to nosh when I am on my way to the other end of the world (from N'ville). Is it delectable?

gp60004 wrote: I have, in the past, worked on several project for Grecian Delight including working on their gyro seasonings and a al pastor cone that they wanted to do.

What's the story with that? If you can say... Even though I like gyros well enough, I have trouble imagining I'd be satisfied with pastor produced in any similar fashion.

Da Beef wrote:Ive been to all these spots except Dengeo's but I have heard that it is very good. Parthenon is probably my favorite because its so unique (not from Krono's).


Kings No 2 Gyros
5233 N Milwaukee Ave
(between Foster Ave & Gettysburg St)
Chicago, IL 60630
(773) 736-5406
http://www.kingsgyros.com/

This thread made me hungry for gyros. I happened to be driving by King's #2 last night on the way home from Assi, so I stopped in for a gyros dinner. It had been about a year...but I now know the reason I liked king's, has more to do with the homemade onion rings and fries than the gyros itself. What I got in the gyros was a thick sliced meat that was lukewarm at best. I personally prefer my gyro meat sliced as thinly as possible and this meat was as thick as a quarter pound burger patty from McD's. The key to a good manufactured cone gyro is that it be thin and crispy is my book and this was anything but that.

germuska wrote:

gp60004 wrote: I have, in the past, worked on several project for Grecian Delight including working on their gyro seasonings and a al pastor cone that they wanted to do.

What's the story with that? If you can say... Even though I like gyros well enough, I have trouble imagining I'd be satisfied with pastor produced in any similar fashion.

this was a good 5-6 years ago. I don't recall to many details. I do remember alot of pineapple powder being used and it tasting ok but nothing became of it.

dicksond wrote:

MBK wrote:I believe Nick's Drive In at Harlem and Touhy makes their own gyros and tzaziki

Well now I have a place to nosh when I am on my way to the other end of the world (from N'ville). Is it delectable?

hmmm.... it is, but its not the "greasy spoon" gyros most places serve up. it depends on what you're looking for... its definetely homemade though

I stongly ditto The Works in Glenview. I have been going there since 1981 and for me the place sets the standard. The sauce is thick, creamy with slivers of cuke and pungent of garlic. The pita is always cooked to perfect chew (they dip it is the gyros grease and fry it up) and the onions are sweet and crisp. They also serve Homer's ice cream.

Eric wrote:I'd be grateful if anyone has any recommendations for the near western suburbs.

I'd recommend Gemato's in Naperville. Moderately priced - maybe $8 for gyro, fries and soda but you get free refills