Gyro Uno

Remember back in October when I wrote that the best gyro in Astoria will be saved for another post? Well folks, the time has come! The best gyro in Astoria is found at Gyro Uno, located on Steinway on the corner of 28^th Avenue, right in the heart of Little Egypt. Living in Astoria, which boasts the largest Greek population outside of Greece, there seems to be a gyro spot on each block, each boasting the rights to the best gyro the universe has ever tasted. Gyro Uno claims no such thing, but is a humble restaurant offering a magnitude of options, such as soulvaki, pizza, pasta, breakfast (all day), salads, sandwiches, spanakopita, and of course, gyros; there is little that you cannot find on their menu. Usually I am cautious of places that specialize in one type of cuisine, yet offer so many varied dishes since the latter usually turns out to be a disappointment. However, I can confidently say the majority of items I have tried, gyros aside, have been really good as well.

interior

The gyro at Gyro Uno comes generously filled with perfectly seasoned and tender lamb, red onion, tzatziki sauce, fresh tomatoes, and parsley, sprinkled with paprika and wrapped in a soft, slightly warm pita. The gyro is so big and hearty in and of itself, and for $5, it truly is the best deal town. I wasn’t a huge fan of lamb gyros until I tried one at Gyro Uno. It is now the only place I will eat one. Everything on the Gyro Uno menu is inexpensive, especially compared to other places in the neighborhood. Another equally awesome tidbit: all the food at Gyro Uno is homemade, so their soups, meatballs, tzatziki sauce, everything is made in the kitchen. I discovered this when battling a cold, and looking for some good soup. Asking if the soups were homemade, one of my favorite waitresses there confirmed that it was, like everything else on the menu, homemade. And it turned out to be the best chicken noodle soup I have ever eaten at a restaurant. The spanakopita is equally great, and at $3.75 a piece, another great deal.  Their Greek Salad is another one of my favorites, filled with delicious olives and a thick piece of the best and freshest feta cheese I’ve tasted.

gyro at Gyro Uno

The waitresses are Gyro Uno are two charming, friendly older Greek woman, who alternate days, and who tell it like it is. You can trust them to be honest with you if you have questions about the menu. Gyro Uno is also cash-only.

Walking into Gyro Uno, you feel as though you are back in old Astoria, before the organic burger shops and brunch cafes sprung up everywhere. The place has been around for a long time, and the look hasn’t changed much either. The waitresses themselves are as engrained in the place as the faded menu pictures lining the walls. Although Gyro Uno doesn’t have the look of the ever-increasing trendy hotspots in Astoria, it is a gem, serving delicious, homemade food at unbeatable prices.