Let's give this a shot

Let's see how well I can do as a food critic, shall we? I usually judge the food no matter where I am and no matter what I'm eating. It's one of those downfalls of being a chef, especially when the people I'm with aren't as critical... I think that's why chefs tend to eat either alone or with other chefs/foodies... Anyway, let's get down to it!

I decided that I'd do this on a place that I frequent much more often than I should, simply because I want my first review to be a positive one. haha


Little Village Grill

Located on Trade Street in Charlotte, NC, this tiny little hole-in-the-wall is a prime example of how you can't judge a book by it's cover. The first time I walked by it, a little over a year ago, I thought it was just a typical quick-service burger joint. A wanna-be McDonalds, if you will. However, I soon noticed that around lunch-time, this little closet of a restaurant consistently had an impressively long line out the door. After a few months of seeing this, and glancing at the menu every now and then as I walked by, I decided it was time to give this place a shot, and I was not disappointed.

Little Village Grill quickly became my favorite place to grab a quick lunch. This is due to the fact that even when there are 10-20 people in front of me, I have never waited more than 20 minutes from the point I got in line to the point when I was receiving my food.

Now, most people will think, "Wow, they must have everything pre-cooked and ready to assemble. It must be pretty low-quality stuff." To which I reply, "You are dead wrong."

Every order is cooked to order. The only things that are prepared in advanced are the cold items, and that's just good business practice.

As I said at the beginning of this, the restaurant is very small. There are three, small, two-top tables inside, but people rarely sit at them to eat, since it can get cramped when people are standing around and waiting for orders. There are also five, decent-sized, 2-4-top tables outside. However, I recommend getting the food to go, simply because the sheer amount of business Little Village does makes it difficult for you to enjoy your meal in peace.

Now on to the food:

Little Village Grill has one several awards, including Best Sandwich in Charlotte, for their Pork Gyro. There are many reviews based on that sandwich, so if you want to read them, feel free to look them up, because I'm going to be reviewing their Lamb and Beef Gyro.

I have had the Pork Gyro, but this bad boy right here is, in my humble opinion, exponentially better.

The meat, a perfect blend of lamb and beef, is tender, juicy and incredibly flavorful; The tatziki sauce is smooth, creamy and the perfect accompaniment to the meat; The tomatoes are fresh and delicious, and the red onion adds an amazing sweetness in addition to a nice, crispy bite; The fries, an unexpected treat, add a final touch of pure bliss with every bite. All of this is wrapped in a warm piece of pita bread and that is wrapped in foil so that you don't loose a single bite to the cruel mistress that is gravity.

I have sampled all of the sides that Little Village has to offer, and while they are all delicious, my favorite, by far, is the Garbanzo Bean Salad. It is dressed with the perfect blend of oil and vinegar; The beans are complimented perfectly by the feta cheese and sauteed onions that are mixed in with them. Overall, each bite is a symphony of flavor and pure, unadulterated deliciousness.

Little Village has a menu with a great amount of variety, but the Lamb and Beef Gyro with the Garbanzo Bean Salad and a drink is definitely the best $7.42 that you will ever spend on lunch.