Review: Schwarma Station (Kensington)
- Schwarma Station
- Kensington (10th street at around 5th ave? I know it's the west side just a bit north of the wind store there, but before the safeway)
- Food rating 4.5/5
- Ambience 2/5
- Service 5/5
-Type of place: Rapid middle eastern takeout/cafeteria seating
Review proper:
Well, after picking up a game from a fellow beyonder (thanks Yue! kickass car too), I felt a little peckish and i've never visited this place before, so I decided to hop down the street and try it out. I tried to go in with an open mind, but I am kind of biased by the gigantonormous donairs one gets at A&A (Jimmy's).
Ambience:
Anyways, it's a "hole in the wall" type of place, although a very clean, well kept, organized and, to my eye, sanitary place. Big menu on the wall with prices clearly listed for everything, rack of coolers with lots of drinks, some hard to find (Pepsi Lime, some middle eastern drink I didn't know what it was, etc), and a nice prep station with good viewing, so no hiding of prep. Veggies kept in the station looked fresh and there was a constant wiping down of any cutting surface. The tables and chairs wouldn't be out of place in any cafeteria, but they were gleaming they were so clean. Definitely a good sign of an attentive owner.
People:
The owner, Sam, was SUPER friendly. I think he is Lebanese, but he speaks clear, easy to understand english and is so friendly it's almost like he's a long lost uncle. Not to be stereotypical, but he also adds "my friend," to almost any sentence. And he's ALWAYS smiling. This is a guy that is proud to prepare and serve food.
Food:
Anyways, I had a chicken schwarma to stay ($10), with no extras (no cheese, no drink, no dessert). The pitas, I'm told, are made fresh every day, and I can believe it from the taste and crispness of them. The schwarma was assembled in about 30 seconds, then into the panini press with a little flair and a big smile. The plates are metal, with a big sheet of wax paper on them, and the schwarma was deposited on said plate and cut into two pieces.
Sitting down to eat, the schwarma did look a little small to cost $10, but when I bit into it, I realized why it cost what it did. I don't know what magical fairy dust this guys sprinkles on his food, but the chicken was hot, moist and tender, the lettuce and tomatoes tasted just-picked-from-the-garden fresh, there was some kind of purple leafy veggie in there (I'm assuming red cabbage), good pickles, and the sauce was spicy but mild, and married with the meat and vegetables perfectly. The pita was crisp and crunchy where it had been grilled, and the rest was warm and pliable. All in all, it was an excellent first bite.
The schwarma was very easy to eat, only really starting to drip sauce about 3/4's of the way through each half. It also settled really nicely in the stomach, making me feel full but not bloated or gassy at all, like some donairs/schwarmas do. It was also really colorful, with all the colors presenting a very appetizing meal.
All in all, I would say that for a lunch on the quick, this is definitely a place worth stopping off in Kensington for. I could do without all the big signs covering the windows and blocking the light some, but that's my only real gripe. It's a clean hole in the wall with fast service, friendly staff, and great food.
Quote
Originally Posted by killramos
) so I didn't want to bother them behind the counter to ask. However, I would hedge a bet here and say "no, unless verified by other means as yes."
