Kabob lounge - Sheesh, this place is good

Kabob Lounge

I'm not even sure how I ran into this place.  I think I was driving down Shiloh and caught a glimpse in the corner of a little place with a "Kabob Lounge" sign and looked it up on Google.  I was quite surprised to see another Indian food place turn up in Tyler.  They are new, as far as I know. The place is located off Shiloh just west of 110 (Troup highway) in the corner of a non-nondescript strip mall.  The interior is sparsely decorated with a small dining room.  They offer online ordering as well.

The spread:  The menu is interesting.  My impression was that the owner wanted the menu to reflect his nostalgia for barbeque back in Pakistan.  They focus on grilled items to include seekh kabobs (beef and chicken), various forms of grilled chicken (green chicken, maili boti), bihari kabob, as well as fried fish and falafel.  They also offer some of the grilled items in a sandwich/wrap form.  They also offer three forms of 'curries' in the chicken karahi, a couple of salads and naan of various kinds. 

The verdict: Wow, I was blown away with the skill in preparation and execution of their dishes.  The grilled items I have tried were deliciously spiced, expertly grilled and just plain good eatin.  The chicken karahi was also very good, well seasoned and balanced in heat.  The naan was also fresh and had that great balance of fluffy and crispy.  I also have to say that the prices are quite reasonable.  This isn't just a good Indian/Pakistani place for Tyler, this is a very good restaurant. 

Edible Tyler Roses: 5 out of 5, I highly recommend to give this place a try for some authentic and cheap Indian/Pakistani grub.

Athena Family Restaurant - so close to a good restaurant

Athena Family Restaurant
1601 West Southwest Loop 323
Tyler, TX 75701



Athena is a relative new comer to Tyler just off the loops east of Old Jacksonville Highway.  Kettle used to be housed in this building, but it is almost no longer recognizable as an old Kettle.  The outside is completely white with some beautiful Greek designs along the roof line.  I really liked the look of the place from the outside as they put in a lot of effort to make it look nice. 

The spread:  The menu looked promising.  There were a variety of salads and Greek inspired soups as well as a lot of appetizers to choose from.   They also offer the traditional Greek entrees to choose from: Gyro plates, lamb kebabs, moussaka, etc.  They also have an "American" menu that has hamburgers and whatnot, and I'm not sure why - it really seems out of place.  They also offer traditional Greek desserts.

The verdict:  I really want to like this place.  I think it is being run by a Greek family, with a really sweet Greek girl running the register.  The service was below average, but I am willing to give them a break because they are new and still working out the kinks.  The problem I have is with the food.  The gyro meat is prepackaged (although it was the best thing I ate here).  The pita bread was out of a package.  The bed of rice that my lamb kebab came on was inedible (overcooked/mushy and sat out too long).  The salads were bland, and the salad dressing came out of a prepackaged bottle.  The spanakopita was also either made the day before or it was prepackaged.  The stuffed grape leaves were bland and tasted overcooked/prepackaged.  For someone who has never tried Greek food before, this may be a non-threatening way to try it, but it just isn't good food.  My gut feeling is that a Greek businessman decided he wanted to start a Greek restaurant and has no experience/love of cooking great food.  The prices were reasonable, but the food was just not worth the price.  I give this place a year if nothing changes.  If you a great example of a gyro, go to What about Kabob and his Gyro, as they care about food (fresh cut gyro meat, fresh made to order pita bread, homemade tsatziki sauce, yum).

Edible Tyler Roses: 2 out of 5, I wish this place the best, but I can't recommend one thing from the menu.

What about Kabob and his Gyros

What About Kabob & His Gyros
http://whataboutkabob.weebly.com/
713 WSW loop 323
River Oaks Plaza
Tyler, TX 75703



What about Kabob and his Gyros is a little place just west of the loop and Broadway/69. This place has a 'hip' vibe, with a lot of young people working the counter/grill. The walls are covered with customer 'graffiti' that contributes to the cool factor. They obviously specialize in Gyros.

The spread: Gyros are at the top of the list with a variety of different combinations of ingredients to make your gyros your own. They also offer some pretty good appetizers felafel and other 'Greek' themed fare.

The verdict: I really like this little place. The hours are a little weird and I seem to show up when they are closed. They make their pita bread fresh to order, take care of their rotisserie meat and have a nice cucumber sauce. The gyros are more than enough for a meal. My wife and kids like them too. It is unfortunately one of those places that I don't really think about all that often, and I am always very satisfied with the food. I like this place so much that it is one of the "Tyler" specific places I recommended to a good friend of mine who was driving through town.   My only drawback is there somewhat limited menu, although they do one thing and they do it well - GYROS!

Edible Tyler Roses: 4 out of 5. Go get a great Gyro.

Bernard Mediterranean Restaurant - They sure don't like kids.

Bernard Mediterranean Restaurant
212 Grande Blvd
Tyler, TX 75703
(903) 534-0265



Bernard's is really an Italian restuarant located just behind Traditions just north of Grande off of I-69/Broadway. Not sure why they call it Mediterranean, when it pretty much just serves Italian food. It is definitely a fancy place that does not welcome kids, however, I think that it would be a good place to go for a date night.

The spread: Appetizers range from baked brie, escargot, salmon fume, and fried calamari and mozzarella. They also offer a few soups and salads. The entrees range from pastas (nice unique selection), chicken dishes (marsala, etc), veal dishes, and a variety of nice steaks. They also have a good selection of wines and the traditional desserts (chococlate cake, creme brulee, etc). My wife had the veal and I had a big ole ribeye. We started with the mozarella, french onion soup and split a mediterranean salad.

The verdict: The first thing I was struck by was the ambience. We dined in a room that very much reminded me of a basement in Italy. It was beautiful, with romantic lighting. The ambience was disturbed a bit when a birthday party full of loud, obnoxious people rolled in, but that really isn't the fault of Bernard's. The food was above average to excellent on all accounts. The steak was cooked perfectly and was paired well with the Cabernet the waiter recommended. The french onion soup was hearty and chocked full of delicious onions and cheese. We ended with the creme brulee, which is close to the best in town. The meal was a little on the expensive side, expect to pay near to 100 bucks for two if you get appetizers, salads, entrees, desserts and wine, but well worth the price. The waitstaff was attentive and unobtrusive. Overall a very good experience.

Edible Tyler Roses: 4.5 out of 5, give it a try, but bring some cash!