We came across Elenie's Souvlaki at an event and were pretty excited to try it. Unfortunately, they…read moreseemed to be having an off day. We were quoted a 20 minute wait, but it ended up being over 45 minutes, and there were multiple other customers asking questions about their lengthy waits as well. We ordered a chicken gyro, a gyro on a stick, and fries. The chicken in the gyro came out burnt and the crispy golden fries that looked like they should be great were overly salted. The gyro on a stick was the best - it was great to have a simple option for a reasonable price. The gyro meat came with a flatbread and was very tasty. The staff was friendly. The menu seems great - hopefully it was just an off day.

These folks make great food - nothing too fancy, but on par with some of the best brick and mortar…read moreGreek restaurants I've eaten at over the years. They're generous, personally engaging, and have left me with a yearning for loukaniko (Greek sausage) that I haven't been able to satisfy anywhere else (or even from the truck, currently, due to sourcing frustrations.) Their spinach rice side is excellent, the meats and feta are consistently delicious, the tzatziki sauce is stellar, and the baklava cheesecake is just this side of deadly rich. This would be a five-star review if it wasn't for a persistent issue of no-showing at places they've said they will be. Like, 10 a.m. their Facebook page will show them as scheduled to be at a particular location, but at 11 a.m. when they're supposed to be on site, they're nowhere to be seen, and there's no explanation or response to inquiries. This means that I can't reliably plan to have lunch there when I'm downtown at the office -- I have to pack a lunch either way, or find something elsewhere if they're MIA. Bottom line is - if you spot them someplace, absolutely TRY THEIR FOOD. But don't get too attached.

The food was fabulous but slightly expensive. The restaurant was clean but slightly rundown. The…read morefood is made fresh so be prepared to wait.

Excellent! Have drove by for 3 years finally tried it! It was so fresh and the meat was cooked…read moreperfectly! We had the lamb and chicken kabob combo. It was great portion and the greek dressing was a refreshing lemon olive oil. Can't wait to go back and try the falafel and lentils!

Sadly Firdous Express in Athens has closed. A loss amidst the sea of cheap pizza and homogenous…read morefast food on Court Street.

Eating at this restaurant felt like being given a gift - so surprising and wonderful! The food is…read moredelicious, fresh, and well-prepared. I had falafel (yum!), hummus (creamy good!), lentil/rice mixture (amazing), lots of fresh vegetables with some homemade cabbage, and a pillowy soft pita. My meal was topped it off with a freshly made square of baklava. Oh. My. Gracious. I live in Parkersburg, W. Va., and I will drive back to Athens just to eat here! Additional info: clean, friendly staff, easy to order. It is set up like Chipotle but with a Mediterranean slant. (I would dare to say, they may have moved above Chipotle in my list of favorite, quick, healthy places to eat, and that is saying something!)

First: appropriate for eating in the car until you get to the end of the wrap. Then it's kind of…read morejuicy. Watch out for oop on your shirt. I drive for Red Cross as a volunteer. The hospital in Parkersburg gets a shipment of blood from Columbus six? days a week, I believe. I'm trying to take this route once a week. And when I'm done with my delivery and before I head back to CBUS, I'm going to stop at Chams for lunch. It's not someplace I'd expect in downtown small-city WV, though maybe I'm just prejudging. Probably just prejudging. But it's a very Lebanese place. Nary a French fry in sight. But a nice long menu of middle eastern street food for lunch. Seriously yummy wraps, some salads, a few other things, and baklava. I've been twice. First time, I got the spicy wrap. Excellent. Very tasty, multifaceted flavors; each bite something just a bit different from the last. Just a little heat, nothing like Thai or Szechuan. Your spouse should be able to handle it, but they'll make a surprised noise for the first couple of bites and their nose may sweat. My second trip's lunch was shawarma wrap. Same yumminess, different flavors; no heat. Both were five stars. Also got baklava, one for me, one for my wife because she'd be able to smell the honey and walnuts on my breath when I got home and be very cross if I didn't. We both thought it was very good, if not quite amazing. Second trip I came home with Chams' cream cheese baklava. It's different - a big hunk of, well, cream cheese instead of walnut filling, but still wonderful sticky gooey honey on top. I thought it was very good again, but it wasn't to my wife's taste - just too much cheese for her. Each to their own, right? They also have pistachio baklava, and each kind comes in either filo wrapping or birds-nest style. I love both. The store is clean. Parking on the street nearby isn't much of a challenge when they open at 11AM. The staff is VERY friendly and all speak with just enough accent to be charming yet perfectly understandable. They want you to enjoy your food, and I did. I'll be back. Go there.

This is hands down the best middle eastern food I've had in a restaurant. Everything is fresh, made…read morein house, and so delicious. The family who owns the place is very welcoming and kind. I would drive up from Charlotte just to eat here. Can't wait to come back!

Executive Summary…read more Gyro King has the potential to be a standout downtown option, with a spacious and inviting setup, generous portions, and friendly service. But my visit on a Saturday afternoon left me underwhelmed. The flavors hinted at quality, yet the execution and pricing missed the mark. My gyro combo with chips and a drink totaled $16.44--by far the most expensive meal I had during several days in town--and the soggy, warmed-over meat made the price sting even more. This is a place I'd be willing to try again during a busier time when the kitchen is moving quickly, but based on my experience, value and consistency need real improvement before Gyro King earns a higher spot on my downtown list. Full Review Location & Atmosphere Gyro King benefits from a great downtown location, adjacent to the market but operating as its own restaurant with a connecting doorway. That setup gives you shared market restrooms but still allows Gyro King to have its own space and vibe. Inside, the room is clean and appealing--long counter seating along one wall, tables down the middle, and classic tin-style ceiling panels that add character. It's bright, airy, and big enough to handle either a quick solo stop or a sit-down with friends. Parking downtown is another story. On a Saturday afternoon with a home football game nearby, both street parking and the lot out back were a challenge. That said, once inside, the restaurant was empty and I was greeted almost immediately by the gentleman working, who even stepped out to check on me as I paused at the side door. Service Friendly, quick, and attentive. Ordering was simple, and I appreciated the proactive greeting--it makes a difference when you walk into an empty dining room. Food I ordered the Original Gyro ($8) with chips and a drink, which brought my total to $16.44. For a gyro and chips, that's steep--easily the most expensive meal I had over several days in town. And while the serving size was generous (so big the box lid barely closed), the value just didn't match the quality. The bread, veggies, and sauce were fine--exactly what you'd expect. The meat, though, was the disappointment. It had good flavor, maybe even something house-prepared, but it had been sitting in a warmer too long. Instead of those crispy, caramelized edges that make gyro meat shine, it was soggy and soft. The taste hinted at greatness, but the execution let it down. When you're paying a premium, that gap matters. Overall Impression Gyro King checks a lot of boxes: strong location, clean and stylish dining space, attentive service, and portions that impress. But the pricing and execution are off. For $16+, I expect a gyro that delivers on texture as well as taste. Maybe during peak lunch or dinner hours when turnover is high, the food is excellent--but on a slower afternoon, it was underwhelming and overpriced. Would I return? Probably--but only at a busier time when I know the meat won't be languishing in a warmer. As it stands, Gyro King is a place with promise, but they're missing the mark for value.

Such yummy gyros and such a friendly staff. I went with the lamb gyro and it was large, tender, and…read morejuicy. I especially liked the ratio of tzatziki to gyro. The staff was quick and beyond generous and friendly. I appreciated the fact that they had a spicy harissa sauce too because not every Greek place has spicy sauce. I am eager to try that sauce. One of the coolest parts about this place is that the dining room is connected to a food hall with a market that has food, beer, wine, and indoor and outdoor seating.

Salaam is fine dining in Athens but that doesn't mean the pretension that term typically conveys…read more The Mediterranean cuisine delivers what you would want - hummus, baba ganoush appetizer or mezza plate combos. I typically opt for the grilled lamb chops (generous portion) or the lamb kebab. You can also get wraps if the full dinner portion, usually with grilled vegetables and a rice pilaf or french fries choice, is too much. If you are a cold tea person, the Moroccan Mint Iced Tea is a favorite for sure and it is endless. Good wine and local beers selection. A number of the waiters have been there for years and really know the place, the patrons, and the vibe. Annie's Salad is great, just wish it was included as an option for the entrees as it used to be pre-COVID. Lovely ambiance and decorations. Big room and can at times get a little loud but still feels intimate at your table in the non-standard shaped room with pillars, screens, and nooks breaking it into smaller de facto sections.

This place is one of Athens' best kept secrets. What looks like a small storefront opens into one…read moreof the most appealing dining establishments I've been in since getting to southeast Ohio in 2019. The ambiance is inviting, with simple but incredibly well placed decoration throughout. And the scent of grilled meat walking up to the door.... I don't even remember waiting for the table, just sitting down and tearing into pita bread. The hummus has character, the tzatziki? Finally! Enough dill! Remember that real Mediterranean olives have pits - this is important for dental work! The shawarma and gyros graced our table, and we're a memory before too long. They are fine dining, so the price is a little higher on the entrées than I normally go for, but it's worth every penny no doubt. Delicious.

Friends and I went to Aladdin's in Kanawha City for dinner last night. It was FAN-tastic! As there…read moreis still essentially just one waitress, you cannot be in a hurry if you come here to dine. But she is fantastic, and another lady helps to bring out the food. And the Chef also helped to deliver some dishes. I was torn between my go-to Veg Platter, with all of the goodies, and Moussaka. Several friends got the platter so I went for the Vegetarian Eggplant Moussaka (with peppers and mushrooms), and it was amazing!!! My friends plan to order it next time. The tomato sauce and the melted cheese was up there with the best I've ever tasted. The veggies were tender and tasty. Just a fantastic dish. The rice was perfect and the green beans are always good, altho I forgot to ask for a little extra sauce on them. If you have not been, or if it's been a while, I highly recommend Aladdin's for a great dinner experience

We really love the gyro platter here. Im a double rice fan myself with some extra tazikiread more

The server Jermaine is the best ever!! He sung me happy birthday and gave me a free cake and…read moreunlimited bread sticks and a bowl of Alfredo sauce!! I love Jermaine

The food and service are good. It's a little hard to find if you are not familiar with the are. The…read moreGreek Salad is a meal for most. I would definitely recommend this restaurant. Clean in bold letters.