I was elated to find Kojak's Mediterranean Cafe in my neighborhood, just around the corner on 18th, boasting "Gyros" and "Homemade Breakfast" on their plate glass windows. I headed over one Sunday for breakfast, only to find they were closed. I went the next weekend on Saturday... closed again! On closer inspection of their hours, I found they're only open Monday - Friday. And their hours are spotty: 7:30 - 10:00 AM, then closed for 30 minutes as I guess they switch the kitchen from breakfast to lunch, then 10:30 - 5 for lunch, and 5 - 7:30 for dinner.
I finally stopped by for dinner one evening, and had to go for the gyro. The meat was good, however it hadn't been tossed on the griddle before serving, so it was soft, without that crispy char at the edges. The pita was soft and fluffy, however it too was neither baked nor toasted at all, so there wasn't that slightly crispy exterior, and it didn't taste like it was made in-house. The tzatziki, on the other hand, was excellent, tasting as though it were homemade, with visible dill seasoning, which isn't so common.
I had to stay at home one morning to wait for a plumber, so I had time to stop by Kojak's for a weekday breakfast. I went for the "Lumberjack" with a side of French toast, to get a good sampling. The two eggs were lightly fried, the bacon crispy and savory, and the golden potatoes were excellent, griddled with onions. The French toast was the star, soft and sweet on the inside, with a slightly bittersweet char at the edges like the best marshmallow from a campfire. I didn't even top the two slices with any syrup; they were already delicious. The whole breakfast left me wishing even more fervently that Kojak's was open on weekends.
The layout is such that as you walk in, you'll see tables scattered throughout the ample dining room to your right with news or daytime shows playing on the Telly Savalas (sorry, couldn't resist), a bakery display case and the main counter in front of you, and a small market to your left. Over here there are goods on display like oils and seasonings, and a refrigerated case with po-boys, salads, and the like to take with you. I picked up a sandwich for lunch as I finished breakfast, selecting a turkey po-boy from among the choices of roast beef, chicken salad, tuna, and others. The sandwich was good, if unremarkable, dressed simply, like an Antone's, with turkey, cheese, mayo, and sweet pickle.
In the end, I'm glad to have this little cafe just around the corner in "Timberbrook" (as the Kojak's styrofoam cups state), and am eager to try the rest of their offerings - if I can catch them when they're open. read more