Chow You Later logo

Halal

My Halal Gyro Express Review

by

[4.04/5] I get around. By that, I mean I’ve been getting around restaurants for lunch hours. What I look for is the perfect mix of protein, veggies, and carbs without breaking the bank. Weekday lunches are key to staying healthy and disciplined for whatever diet/fitness/fiscal plan you’re on. With all of that said, that mindset brought me to Halal Gyro Express.

Food (65%) 
Taste to price 4.5/5
Quality to price 4.5/5
Portion to price 4.5/5
Average = 4.5

Service (20%)  
Friendliness 3/5
Promptness 4/5
Average = 3.5

Cleanliness (15%) 
Bathroom n/a
Dining area 2.5/5
Kitchen area 3/5
Average = 2.75

Overall Score = [F(.65)]+[S(.20)]+C(.15)]
 = [2.93]+[0.7]+[0.41] 
 = 4.04

The Pluses…  

+ Nice, visual MENU. As soon as you walk in to order, you’ll see a huge colorful menu hanging up on the wall. Even better? The images are of their real dishes so there are no surprises. What you see is what you get.
+ Superb VALUE. I like to keep my lunches around $10-$12 so naturally my eyes will gravitate towards the entrees within that price range. By process of elimination, #7 1x LAMB TIKKA, 1x CHICKEN TIKKA, w/ RICE & SALAD is my go-to since it has a little bit of everything. At $10.99, that is a steal of a deal. There so much to like about this dish. Flavorful and packed with lots of Afghan spices. 
+ They didn’t have to do this but I found it a kind gesture of them to bring the food to you instead of yelling the number out at the counter for you to pick it up.

The Negs…

– Could be cleaner. At times when you walk in, there are people’s leftover trays and plates on the table. The staff tries their best to keep it clean but it gets so busy they don’t get the chance to.
– The FOOD TEMP could be hotter. It’s happened more than once, so I’m pretty sure it’s how they intend on serving it. 
– Not really the restaurant’s fault but the PARKING can get packed during lunch hours. I’ve seen people park on the Nicholson and walking over so you have to factor that into your time. 

In Conclusion…

“Express” would be the perfect word I’d use to describe a restaurant like this. There’s a NY feel to it but at the same time, it’s embraced the Silicon Valley culture. The concept is simple. You go in, order your food, and go out. All set. Mission completed. No frills, thrills, spills or hassles. What you see is what you get. For that reason, Halal Gyro Express has become one of my go to restaurants for lunch.  

#ChowYouLater

Garlic ‘n Lemons – Allston

by 10 Comments

[4.04/5] I think it’s about time I’ve reviewed Garlic ‘n Lemons. I’ve been coming here for years. I’m pretty routine when it comes to food and I find myself at Garlic ‘n Lemons when I’m in the need for something tasty, quick, cheap, and somewhat healthy. Does this place hit those areas? Let’s find out.

Review #050
Restaurant Type: Casual Dining.

Food (65%)
Taste to price 4/5
Quality to price 4/5
Portion to price 4.5/5
Average = 4.17

Service (20%)  
Friendliness 3.5/5
Promptness 5/5
Average = 4.25

Cleanliness (15%)
Bathroom 3/5
Dining area 3.5/5
Kitchen area 3/5
Average = 3.17

Overall Score = [F(.65)]+[S(.20)]+C(.15)]
 = [2.71]+[0.85]+[0.48]
 = 4.04

The Pluses…  
+ VALUE, VALUE, VALUE. Garlic ‘n Lemons is the value pick here. This place is like a factory for SHAWARMA and KEBOBS. They just crank them out like nobody’s business.  
+ ROTISSERIES laid out right in front of you to pick your meat with lots of variety between Beef, Spicy Beef, Chicken, and Spicy Chicken.
+ Speedy and accurate. Their setup is similar to a Chipotle or Subways assembly line. You pick and choose what you want.
+ Great PORTION size especially for the price at $12.50 for a plate of shawarma.
+ I love the MAGIC SAUCE. I can’t find it anywhere else and it goes so well with the BEEF SHAWARMA.
+ Spacious dining area. Tables are spread apart at a reasonable length, and not too loud.
+ Great sides. Lots of options to choose from. The ingredients are all there for you to pick. You can customize your plate however you like it. I like that they have different salads, veggies, and some Mediterranean staples like Grape leaves and Falafel.
+ Very VEGETARIAN friendly.
+ The municipal parking behind their building is a huge convenience if you like to drive into Allston.

The Negs…
– The SHAWARMA meat can be a little dry at times.

The Neutrals…
o I have to confess the portion size is so good, sometimes my girlfriend and I would split a shawarma plate order. We would do the extra meat, add another side, and it would come out under $20. Not bad at all if you’re on a budget.

In Conclusion…
After having a bad experience somewhere else, I’ve come to appreciate them more than ever before. There’s not much not to like about this place. They deliver in the areas of quality, speediness, and prices. What I like most about them is Garlic n Lemons knows exactly what they are and it shows the moment you walk in making this a worthwhile repeat for me over and over again.

#ChowYouLater

Darbar Brighton

by 11 Comments

[4.12/5] We originally stopped by the day before and one of the owners told us to visit the following day for their Eid Al-adha buffet. I was intrigued how passionate and kind he was, as he took the time to teach me what Eid Al-adha was about. Although we were starving, we decided to wait and boy was I glad because the food turned out to be amazing!

Review #042
Restaurant Type: Casual Dining with Buffet Options.
My short summary sentence: Eid Mubarak! A time for celebration with lots of food!  

Food (65%)
Taste to price 4/5
Quality to price 4/5
Portion to price 5/5
Average = 4.33

Service (20%)  
Friendliness 3.5/5
Promptness 4/5
Average = 3.75

Cleanliness (15%)
Bathroom n/a
Dining area 4/5
Kitchen area 3.5/5
Average = 3.75

Overall Score = [F(.65)]+[S(.20)]+C(.15)]
   = [2.81]+[0.75]+[0.56]
   = 4.12

The Pluses…  
+ For $18.99, it’s a steal given the variety of dishes you get. They had a little bit of everything that day. I easily ate over the value I paid for.
+ The owners were very nice. It’s a family environment. As soon as you walk in, it feels like a family runs the place which makes me feel at home in some ways.
+ The food was luscious. My favorite were the GOAT BIRYANI, BEEF KORMA, and TANDOORI CHICKEN. The TANDOORI CHICKEN tasted freshly grilled. Can’t beat that.
+ Waiter was pretty attentive. I like that my water was constantly filled. If you don’t know me, I drink a lot of water :p

The Negs…
– I’ve been here other times before and it can be a hit or miss. At times their buffet is good and other times it’s ok. One thing’s for sure is I’ll be coming here every Eid Al-adha 🙂

The Neutrals…
o The prior times I went, I was always asked if I wanted Nan. Maybe there was some miscommunication by the wait staff or maybe Nan did not come with the day’s special? Either way, it wasn’t communicated to me.