The hustling bustling streets of Gulshan – making for the metropolitan’s most populous area – are rapidly catching up with the food scene in the city. Amongst the host of burger and pizza joints that have mushroomed across the city’s well-lit streets, the just two-month old Toronto Gyro is making raves with its gyro and doner sandwiches on food groups. Our company of three sauntered inside the eatery last Sunday, welcomed by an enticing aroma of fresh bread and sauces which saturated the place. Artworks depicting eatery’s signature items framed the white textured walls, injecting a spunk of colours and pleasant vibe to the place. Classic, rustic bulbs overhung from a wooden deconstructed ceiling, inundating the black and white futuristic chairs in a balmy glow. We were handed a flyer-based menu featuring a selection of sandwiches, rice bowls, fries and salad. The owner shared that their menu is heavily inspired by the Mediterranean cuisine; gyros, sauces and salads in particular are borrowed from Greek and Turkey (which explains the use of names like Trojan gyro, Olympic rice bowls and Athen salad in the menu). The popularity of these sandwiches grew wilder when immigrants from Turkey and Greece started selling them in Canada – which inspired the eatery’s name. We placed our orders for Trojan Gyro, Spartan Gyro, Plato’s rice bowl and Toronto Poutine fries. We could see our food being prepared live, ensuring us of its freshness and remarkably within ten minutes, the sandwiches arrived at our table wrapped neatly.

Trojan Gyro was giant – the triangularly-cut, sesame-encrusted bread was loaded with veggies and mildly-spiced chicken, swathed generously in sauces. Tzatziki and herb sauce were both house-made and worked like a magical ingredient to the gyro. I do admit, eating it was an ordeal with sauces dripping and chunks of veggies falling on your lap. The staff, probably accustomed to seeing their diners in embarrassing trysts with the gyros, kept replenishing the supply of tissues. Thankfully, the Spartan Gyro was served in a rolled pita bread and despite having similar sauces and condiments added (onions, lettuce and jalapenos) had a yummier, distinct taste to it which was a hit with everyone. It was the soft and slightly toasted pita bread that made all the difference. Steaming Plato’s Bowl arrived next at our table – brown rice dusted with flecks of cumin topped with roasted onions, capsicums and tomatoes topped with beef chunks. The first morsel felt like a spoonful of traditional pulao but as I dug further into it, the overall flavour changed to a smoky note, courtesy to the well-browned chunks of spicy kebabs smattered on the rice.

We washed down our scrumptious early dinner with swigs of vibrant mojito served in mason jars, my favourite being the pink floral mojito which was infused with refreshing flavours of peaches and strawberry. The curiously-blue Electric mojito added a citrusy punch to the taste buds and was an immediate hit on the table. Poutine fries arrived last, leaving me dumbfounded at first, because they were unlike any fries we had had before. Served in a bowl were fat fries topped with melting mozzarella in a pool of what appeared to be a liquid sauce – the server later told me it was beef stock. I forked into the fries but finding them to be bland and mediocre I abandoned them after a few bites. Randomly forking into them a few minutes later, I found the taste to be distinctly tasty, owing to the beef stock’s flavour which had flavoured the potatoes.

Location: Shop#5, Lucky Centre, Block 4, KDA Scheme 24, Gulshan-e-Iqbal
Average cost for 2: Rs 800 to 1200 approx.

TASTE

The eatery’s in-house sauces were the ultimate highlight for me which served as key condiment in almost everything we had, yet offered a distinguishing savour to every dish. Choice of fresh ingredients made each item a stellar on its own.

AMBIENCE

Overall vibe is creative with unexpected bright hues on textured walls and ample lightening owing to classic bulbs. Special mentions to the quirky graffiti that injects a relaxed and fun vibe to the place. 

SERVICE

The staff is helpful and courteous, helping diners every step of the way, which includes replenishing tissues unasked during messy situations!  

PRESENTATION

Sandwiches arrived wrapped neatly. Albeit fine, I feel the presentation can be taken a few notches up with rice bowls and poutine fries, which were slightly underwhelming at first glance. I was happy to find no single use plastic item on the table!

VALUE FOR MONEY

All items are priced reasonably, offering a hunger-satiating Mediterranean grub which is unique yet won’t burn a hole in your pocket.