I won’t beat around the bush. I liked Mama’s Gyro Grill. I liked it before I even entered the restaurant, thanks to a poster of a beautiful model holding a gyro which hangs in the window.

And I certainly liked the place after I tried to the food.

First things first, Mama’s is a small restaurant located in a strip center right off Kiehl Avenue. The interior is a simple, casual, no-frills environment where you order at the counter and they bring the food to you a few minutes later. The service is fast and friendly and the menu is fairly expansive.

At Mama’s, you can get anything from a cheeseburger to a falafel sandwich to a Greek salad to chicken tenders to baklava (which I’m told is excellent). For our inaugural visit, my daughter and I opted for the Chicken Gyro and the Daily Special, a Salmon Greek Salad.

Chicken Gyro

Both were very impressive.

The shaved chicken was tender, juicy and quite flavorful, and a perfect complement to the accompanying onions, tomatoes, and tzazki sauce. It was all wrapped in soft pita bread and came with a bag of potato chips. The cost: $5.95. Some folks may scoff at me ordering chicken instead of the traditional beef/lamb combo, but I was looking for a little lighter option and this gyro hit the spot.

The Salmon Greek Salad was even better, and that’s saying something. A good-sized portion of salmon was well seasoned and cooked to a delightful medium rare. I knew we were taking a bit of a chance ordering the salmon because this is a fish that’s often overcooked at restaurants. Not the case at Mama’s. The fish rested on a bed of fresh lettuce and came with a deliciously addictive dressing, along with feta, olives, tomatoes, and peppers.

With tax and small tip, I think we got out of there for $20 … an outstanding value.

Simply put, even though I live 20+ minutes from Mama’s, this is a restaurant I will certainly make the effort to hit up in the future. If you live in the NLR/Sherwood area, I’d highly encourage you to check it out … and put it in your dining out rotation.

Mama’s Gyros Grill
3309 E. Kiehl Avenue
501-833-0306 (Call-in Orders Welcome)
Hours: Monday-Thursday 11am-7pm; Friday 11am-8pm, Saturday 11am-3pm; Closed Sunday