Kismet Cafe (411 W 24th St-Right off the drag)

I've been eating at Kismet for six years now. First of all, it is close to campus and affordable. Working late nights in the lab, I appreciated the fact that I could get a fantastic plate of gyro meat and grilled chicken over rice and have leftovers for a midnight snack.

Kismet Cafe was also the first place that I ate gyro, and I must say I'm glad to be typing that word since I bastardize it every time I attempt to say it. Kismit gyro is very, very good; it seems to be tenderized and perhaps reconstituted. I'm not sure, but it is amazingly tender and delicious. The sauce that it comes with compliments it perfectly.

Inspired by my newfound love of gyro, I went to a couple other Mediterranean restaurants. My search has not at all been exhaustive (yet), but Kismet remains in the lead for me. I can't review this place properly, as I instantly became obsessed with the gyro meat. I've had the hummus (excellent) on the side of the P3 plate, which is my Kismet fail-safe dish.

If you go to Kismet, don't settle for the downstairs seating. There's a lovely little balcony that you might miss if you don't venture to the back of the restaurant and head up the little staircase. The delightful balcony is pictured below.