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Best gyros in Columbia

Restaurants in Columbia offer classic Greek food.

By LeeAnn Elias

Published Jan. 29, 2010

The BLT is not the only sacred combination in the world of the sandwich. Columbians, prepare to acquaint yourselves with the gyro.

This import from Greece features lamb meat topped with lettuce, tomatoes, red onions and cucumber tzatziki sauce. I take my gyro on a plate and deconstruct it with fork and knife to ensure every bite has a bit of all the above.

My hometown features not just one, but two 24-hour Greek diners that I frequent, so Columbia had a lot to live up to. I trekked downtown to find some real treats — all these establishments are within walking distance of campus. Bundle up, brave the cold and you will find yourself rewarded.

Which Wich? 304 S. Ninth St.

If you are about to take your first steps into the wonderful world of the gyro but are worried about your picky palate, stop in here to try a nicely-Americanized version of the Greek classic. Its incarnation (found on the "Classics" menu — that's bag No. 9) is lighter with the tzatziki sauce than traditional restaurants, which was not enough for me, but serves as a good introductory taste. My advice: Add cucumbers into the traditional mix of veggies. The extra crunch is heavenly and helps to balance out the thick bread. Hold off on the cheese, because this is one sandwich that just doesn't need it.

Felini Restaurant 700 E. Broadway

I'd walked by this corner restaurant many a time but had never stopped in. It was a pleasant surprise when I finally did — Felini offers a classy, sit-down dining experience at a very affordable price comparable to what you could get at a more casual coffeehouse. This makes it a great dinner date location I hope to visit again. (Columbia's single men, take note.)

Due to a kitchen mix-up, I was brought the gyro platter: a fancier version of the usual sandwich with even more meat. Felini tops its lamb with kalamata olives, feta cheese and tomatoes. The lack of lettuce and small tomato slices made me a little sad, but the tzatziki had a little bit of an extra kick to it that made me forget. The pita was thin, crispy and did not leave me with that heavy, I-just-ingested-way-too-many-carbs feeling.

Extra hungry? Felini's also has a large assortment of traditional Greek appetizers to try, including the "Saganaki (flaming cheese) Opa!" which they promise to ignite at your table. I know what I'm ordering next time.

Mark Twain Market 515 S. Fifth St.

If you find yourself low on funds and relying on your meal plan, never fear. You can still catch the best meal on campus — one that even rivals build-your-own-pancakes at Plaza.

This dining hall, located on the first floor of Mark Twain hall (where I conveniently lived my freshman year), serves up gyro meat that is surprisingly tasty for coming out of a kitchen that buys food in bulk. Dining hall pitas are thicker than the ideal, but ask for extra meat to counteract the taste of the enriched flour I'm sure they're chock full of. Check Campus Dining and high tail it over to the Market whenever these are on the menu.

Columbia's Best Gyro:

Coffee Zone 11 N. Ninth St.

The deceptively simple name does not do justice to the goodies you can find here in addition to the obvious caffeine kick. I decided to splurge and spend an extra dollar to order the gyro deluxe, which comes with feta cheese on top. There's also an option to top your gyro with hummus, which was intriguing but not enough to draw me away from the traditional tzatziki.

The plate I found when my name was called was noteworthy in two ways: First, it was triangular. Second, it was piled high with food. The great spread of lettuce, onion and tomato (something you don't want to run out of as you eat) on top of a generous portion of lamb is what makes this a real winner in my book. The meat was also the perfect combination of crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

The case next to the counter, from which I was seated across and ended up staring at during the entirety of my meal, also features a tempting assortment of desserts including cheesecake, brownies and rugalah. I bought a piece of baklava to save for later, but I couldn't contain myself and ate it as soon as I got home. Totally worth it.