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Mediterranean

My Halal Gyro Express Review

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[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.  

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Garlic ‘n Lemons – Allston

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[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.

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Tarboosh – Boston

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[2.83/5] What do you do when your go-to like the Super 88 Market Food Court is packed and you just want a quick comforting bite of food?  Naturally, one would browse the area for something similiar and just like that my cravings travelled thousands of miles from something Asian to Mediterranean within a split second. I wanted some slices of protein on a bed of rice. This is where Tarboosh came into play. With promising reviews and takeout options, this was the best option given the circumstances. My journey begins…

Review #049
Restaurant Type: Casual Dining.

Food (65%)
Taste to price 2/5
Quality to price 2.5/5
Portion to price 3/5
Average = 2.5

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

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

Overall Score = [F(.65)]+[S(.20)]+C(.15)]
= [1.63]+[0.75]+[0.45]
= 2.83

The Pluses…  
+ The staff was nice. There were 2 guys behind the counter. The one that took my order seemed like a cool dude, like someone I’d hang out with.  
+ OPEN KITCHEN. Customers can see everything going on. The only problem is that it’s a double edged sword. You’ll see what I mean when you read below. I admire their transparency though.
+ I liked the seasoning they used on their RICE which made it pretty delicious.
+ Their SALAD was fresh. Their tomato, pickles, and lettuce looked really good. Lots of color.

The Negs…
– I don’t think I’ve ever been to a Sharwarma place without the presence of a ROTISSERIE. Most places have them out in the front for the customers to see what they’re getting. At first, I was thinking they hid it in the back but standing there, I saw my server open the fridge behind the register and pulled some raw meat out. He then ran to the microwave to thaw it out (I’m guessing), and as the grill warmed up he threw it on there. At first, I didn’t think it was mine but once he put it in the plate and handed it to me, you know I couldn’t speculate any further 🙁
– When most people order a Sharwarma Plate for dinner. Most expect layers of sliced meat on top of a bed of rice. When I got my order, I was surprised to see slices of a wrap placed on the side with rice and a few pieces of lettuce, and pickles/tomatoes slices. When I bit into the wrap, there was very little meat in there. Not what I expected especially at $14 plus tax.
– PRICEY, PRICEY, PRICEY. I could get the same thing but with larger portions and equal quality at Garlic ‘n Lemons for $12.50 and Azama Grill for $12. I’m sorry but what I got that day was not $14 worth of food.

The Neutrals…
o Not much here.

In Conclusion…
The reason I enjoy shawarma plates is because of the balance of macronutrients. I know I can get my fiber, carbs, and protein in one plate. At Tarboosh, I felt I was committing carbacide. I can only comment on the LAMB SHARWARMA, so I am hoping their other entrees are better. From the pictures alone the MIX GRILL, and some of their Syrian delicacies looks really good. I’d come back again but I’d have to say my journey was not worth the risk of getting my car getting towed at the 88 lot.  

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