You’ll hear me say this often, but I’ve gotta
stick to it: I really dig the hole-in-the-wall places. The Mediterranean Bakery & Café is a
little, unassuming place in the corner of the Trade Center Shopping Center
(where the Home Depot is located off of Pickett). Due to its location, this place is known to
mostly locals.
You’ll see some small tables by the window
towards the front of the store. It’s a
tight squeeze, but this place and the food are meant for eating and dashing. However, ambiance aside, the food is great for
the selection. I’ll confess that I have
tried only the Gyros, the Hummus platter, and one of the specialties (a
pizza-like dish called Men-Qushi Bi Kishk). But, my one tried and true love is the
Gyro. I absolutely love the chicken Gyro
while the Hubby always goes for the beef Gyro.
You can’t go wrong with either Gyro option. The meat is neither too thinly or too thickly
sliced and is spiced nicely. Definitely
not dry or overcooked. The Gyro itself
has a healthy serving of meat, lettuce, tomatoes, and this very flavorful sour
cream / yogurt sauce. In addition to
your Gyro, you also get a side of Hummus and pita chips. The Hummus you get with the Gyro (or
separately as a Hummus Platter) is flavorful and creamy. The Hummus is smooth with tangs of lemon and
olive oil and is a fantastic compliment to your Gyro. At first glance, some people think this is a
cute sandwich that can be gobbled up in a few bites. But, the unassuming Gyro is hardly small and
weak. It’s very filling and tasty. Once you’re done with the Gyro, Hummus, and
pita chips, you’ll be waddling out of the store. Did I also mention that this meal is only $4.50? Yeah….
Gyro Goodness: Chicken (Left), Beef (Right)
The
Men-Qushi Bi Kishk is a pizza-like dish baked in a brick oven (you can see it
when you order your food). It’s got
yogurt, onions, paprika, and olive oil.
It is a flavorful punch in the mouth, so if you’re not very fond of
yogurt or sharp tastes, I would reconsider.
Personally, I liked it and it was very tasty, but to be honest, it wasn’t
too memorable compared to the Gyro. I’ll
have to make a more dedicated effort to straying from the Gyro to sample the
other dishes that are offered.
You can check out the menu here
(thank goodness for menupages): http://washingtondc.menupages.com/restaurants/mediterranean-bakery/menu
After munching on some food, be adventurous and
check out the other items sold in here.
They’ve got different varieties of olive oils, vinegar, canned goods,
cheeses, teas, and other assorted wares imported from Europe. And, they’ve got an entertaining set of hot
sauces if you decide you’d like to start a scandalous hot sauce collection.
 |
| HAWT Stuff! |
The bakery section is definitely worth checking out. I HIGHLY recommend the sugar-free baklava. I know, I know – sugar-free? What am I thinking, right? Trust me, unless you’ve got an extremely sweet tooth, you’ll want the sugar-free. The sugar-free pistachio baklava is naturally sweetened by the generous amounts of honey. However, the other types of baklava (pecan, cashew, and regular pistachio) are quite decadent and delicious. There are also these other pastries (with a shortbread-like crust) filled with fruit that was really tasty. I’ll post pictures of these yummy sweets next time!
The Mediterranean Bakery & Café offers surprising filling and flavorful food options at an excellent price. Its baklava is fresh, sweet, and makes you think of a grandma’s kitchen. And, once you’re done stuffing yourself, you can pick up some unique, imported groceries to cook up at home.
Food Quality:
Filling,
tasty goodness.
4.5
Moos
Service:
The
guys behind the counter are friendly enough.
If you become a regular, they’ll even offer some suggestions (highly
appreciated). Beware of the older ones
at the counter when you pay (they’re sometimes not quite so friendly).
4
Moos
Overall Rating:
Great
price, good quantity, and delicious, fast food.
4.5
Moos
