Gyro King is a Mediterranean restaurant that is part of The Market in downtown Huntington. Gyros, of course, must be the specialty so I perused that portion of the menu and ultimately landed on an original gyro. The original gyro consists of ground lamb and beef with tzatziki sauce and lettuce. I didn't realize beef is part of the traditional gyro, because I thought it was just lamb on the spit. But, the combo of the two mixed with spices and seasonings and shaved thin from the spinning loaf make up the bulk of the gyro. It was fine; not stuffed with toppings or bursting with flavor. But a simple, straightforward, utilitarian gyro. Grade: C

Eatery A is the go-to destination in Iowa's capital city for Mediterranean cuisine with hints of Spain, Morocco, Egypt and Italy.

"Our culinary experts blend old-world and contemporary cuisine, serving dishes like bacon-wrapped dates with red pepper coulis, octopus with kale pesto and crispy leeks, and house marinated olives. Enjoy craft beer at our bar, as well as cocktails made with local spirits and eastern flavors—pomegranate, basil, mint and ginger," reads the website.



Eatery A is decorated with reclaimed wood. The centerpiece of the kitchen is a wood-burning oven, which perfects fresh pies.
I ordered the Shrimp & Grits - house hot sauce, charred onion grits, scallions, feta, plus a side of fruit.



I thought this dish was OK. The chart bits didn't necessarily appeal to me and made it difficult to eat. I would've loved some more acid inside the dish. But that's why I got a side of fruit.



Grade: B

Rioja, a Mediterranean restaurant in downtown Denver, features a menu inspired by Mediterranean ingredients and influenced by local and seasonal products. Rioja's Jennifer Jasinski was the first Denver chef to win a James Beard Award for Best Chef Southwest.



The space is home to a copper-topped bar and exhibition kitchen with simple decor that allows the food to shine. They offer a lunch menu dubbed "the flavor dojo," which features a smaller menu of lighter fare.



I ordered the "artichoke tortelloni - artichoke mousse, white truffle brodo, queso de mano, chervil." It's a classic Rioja dish that is even featured on the James Beard website.



Fresh tortelloni pasta is paired with earthy artichokes and local, funky goat cheese mousse that is elevated even more with truffle essence in a delicate broth. It's a lovely balance of light freshness and rich decadence. It is silky and satisfying.



Add a refreshing and slightly sweet drink, and I was a happy camper.



Grade: A

Ali's Mediterranean Cuisine serves up fresh mediterranean food seven days a week in Bridgeport. 



It's a sweet space with some cozy decor and menu items like gyros, kabobs, shawarma and more.


I enjoyed a beautiful platter of hummus with pita, which I've really grown to enjoy. when it's fresh and full of garlic. I honestly think this could have done with even more garlic, but I did like that it had a thicker texture. Super smooth hummus is not my jam. 



Grape leaves: I remember hating these when I tried them for the first time, and they're now one of my go-tos at restaurants.  I love the bitterness of the leaves, the texture of the rice, just all of it makes for a really satisfying bite for me. What's your fav item here?

Grade: A

Fairmont is home to a number of Italian restaurants, but it's less common to see a Mediterranean restaurant right in the downtown area. 



The Grape Leaf is a new-to-me restaurant I was excited to check out with my friend Lisa. 



We were the only ones here, which was great for us. There was enough space for us to feel safe and still enjoy a delicious meal and support a local business.



After looking over the menu, I went with a strawberry banana smoothie to start. I'm really into smoothies lately, and this one was a good version. It's not large and a bit thin, but fresh flavor. 



Then, I tried the sambusas with cheese. These triangular fried filo dough savory pastries. I'm less familiar with this version, but I enjoyed them. I would've loved a sauce with a bit of spice to complement them.



At some point, we got an order of fries, but I was trying to save room for the remainder of the meal. They were thick-cut steak fries, though, and had a nice little crisp.



Hummus. What meal is complete without a side of hummus. This was a good, straightforward version. I like mine to taste like two bulbs of garlic, but that's not for everyone.



My main entree was the chicken shawarma, which was a bit heftier than others I've had. But the sauce with it was more of a savory, meaty sauce, rather than that smooth garlic sauce I crave. Good, but not my favorite. 



Finally, let's end with some baklava, of course. Simple with pistachios. Drizzle that syrup on it for some more decadence!

Grade: B

King Kebab is a Mediterranean restaurant that has a location in South Charleston. But, recently, they opened up a new spot in Kanawha City - which is closer to my home base now.



Though I didn't get a chance to go inside, the outside is bright with big signs that describe items they have. King Kabab is staying very safe during the pandemic. I was able to order my meal over the phone and simply drive up to the door, where they brought out my order and paid. OK, now let's get to the tasty stuff.



First up, chicken shawarma. If you've never had shawarma, you are missing out. It's like a little garlicky hug wrapped up in pita. It has chicken, lettuce, tomato, tahini, and garlic sauce in pita bread. But that garlic sauce is what makes it for me. It packs a punch that I just can't get enough of. And King Kabab does it right.



In my opinion, it's the best thing you'll find on pita bread.



And, then, I got a veggie sampler platter: falafel, grape leaves, hummus, tabbouleh, tahini and pita bread. I am pretty picky when it comes to falafel. Too often it's dry - but this. This was perfect. I kept dipping it in the hummus. And the grape leaves, which are a bit sour, have really grown on me. Everything felt fresh and satisfying.



Have you been?

Grade: A

A new, beautiful Mediterranean restaurant opened in St. Albans. And, wouldn't you know, I found myself there the very first day they were open.

Mediterranean Breeze is a family-owned restaurant serving authentic Mediterranean food along with brick oven pizzas, burgers and other American dishes. They have a full bar, seasonal outdoor seating and access for boaters for to-go orders.

The menu is pretty varied. So, it's perfect for families who might have picky eaters. Because while there are some great Mediterranean dishes like shawarma and falafel, you can still get pizza, burgers and sandwiches.


I actually ordered a Sicilian Roll as an appetizer. It has homemade dough stuffed with pepperoni and cheese, topped with garlic parmesan and served with marinara sauce. Plus onion rings on the side. The sandwich was a bit heavy on the dough, but flavors were there.

Then, I ordered the Manaeesh Pie, which is a cheese pie with herbs. I've never heard of it, so I was excited to try something new. And, it was essentially like a pie of cheese sticks. I maybe, sorta dipped the slices into my leftover marinara. And it was, chef's kiss, perfecto.

Mama Rosa's is a convenience store-restaurants that serves up pizza, Mediterranean dishes and other odds and ends.

This business had a location on the West Side but relocated to Cross Lanes years ago.

So I made my way over to this spot to check it out.

They have a menu behind the calendar, a cooler with a few prepared foods, and sporadic goods spread throughout the store.

After looking over the menu, I went with an order of cheese ravioli and a side of hummus and pita. Why not try the best of both worlds?

First, I tried the small salad that came with the meal. Plus some garlic bread.

The ravioli was fine - nothing too exciting.

The hummus was also pretty standard.



What's your favorite thing here?