It’s been fun exploring my new PNW digs so I decided to officially join in on Shooting Star Mags Local Tourist feature and post about my adventures and discoveries each month.
I’m kicking it off with this hidden gem of a restaurant in downtown Longview, WA. Kevin’s boss took him to lunch there a few months ago and he’s been raving about it ever since. It’s downstairs in a building that also has a yoga studio – no sign – nothing. You wouldn’t even know it exists. But man is it good!
Gyros Gyros serves Mediterranean food, made to order and with food sourced as local as possible, with many ingredients from the owners own garden. The day we visited there was homemade blackberry lemonade and mint tea – which he didn't even charge us for.
My falafel was soooo good but the cottage fries! ZOMG!!! I’m a huge fan of fried potatoes in any form and these were crisp and perfect. Served with tzatziki sauce. Kevin had the garlic fries while I had the honey feta.
But more than the food is the atmosphere. The owner, Chris, is a ball of energy, welcoming everyone in. He recognized Kevin and treated him like a regular – after only 2 visits – while giving me a big new customer welcome.
The place itself is sensory overload in the best way. Books scattered everywhere. Our table had old sci-fi/pulp books and when I browsed through – old personal photos spilled out. (The book covers totally made me think of Greg from Book Haven lol)
There are old albums everywhere. From Andy Gibb to Patsy Cline, DeBarge, Pink Floyd. Winnie the Pooh and Wizard of Oz collectibles. It was just one of the coolest places I’ve been to. It isn’t a very large place but you could spend weeks exploring all the knick knacks and books.
Several times a year he hosts a farm to table dinner and sells only 20 tickets. I’d love to go to one of those! Either way I need to go back soon and try the salads and desserts! I didn’t even see those on the menu until I was leaving.
There is VERY little to do around here so when I make a great discovery like this, I'm SUPER excited lol
Have you had any fun local adventures recently?
Isn't he afraid someone will stole his stuff or ruin it? And it must be a nightmare to dust everything LOL. Seriously, this is super cool and I would like to be able to visit!
ReplyDeleteOn a side note, I thought of Greg too when you mentioned the sci-fi/pulp books LOL. Of course! 😉
Garlic fries mmm.
The collectibles are behind glass and most of the albums are out of reach but you're free to borrow or read the books!
DeleteThe PNW is very much a bookish culture. I think it's all the rain in the winter. It makes you wan to hibernate and read. lol
Mmmm yum! I want to taste that too
ReplyDeleteSO yummy!
DeleteI've never heard of cottage fries! The food sounds awesome. I love it when you find little places like this...
ReplyDeleteMe either. their basically just sliced fried potatoes but I'm all in!! lol
DeleteYou always have the best food pictures. Yum!
ReplyDeleteGreat food - quirky place! can't ask for more than that.
DeleteThe Mediterranean restaurant sounds like my kind of place! The cottage fries with tzatziki? Step aside, people, it’s game on. LOL And the fact that there’s also Andy Gibb and Pooh Bear? These are my people. LOL
ReplyDeleteYeah - it was like stepping into my teenage bedroom lol I had that album! and still have my WtP stuff.
DeleteOh this place sounds fabulous. I'd be a regular lol. Garlic fries? Yumm.
ReplyDeleteAlso the pulp books??!? Cool! In fact I may steal some of those titles so don't be surprised if they show up down the road on Pulp of the Week. :)
Love the Pooh stuff also.
Ha! The other thing about those books is that if you flipped them over there was different cover art.
DeleteAll I could think was that Greg would be in heaven here lol
This is a great post. I've always wanted to do something like this on the blog, but I always feel like something like this should be filmed, on account of, I'm not a very good photographer. Lol. But yeah, I think it's our duty to explore our own backyard first. :)
ReplyDeleteWell, as you can see - neither am I lol
DeleteIt's all part of my - don't worry and have fun with it - mantra these days.
This looks like a great time! That meal looks amazing! And I love the atmosphere of the place. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteSuch a fun discovery!
DeleteThat food looks delicious. I'm wanting some.
ReplyDeletewww.rsrue.blogspot.com
I'm really looking forward to going back.
Deletehaha I might have begged my parents to buy me that Andy Gibb album. No, I think it was the one where he's in the v neck sweater with lightning bolts coming out of his fingers...
ReplyDeleteI had that album! And in a fit of anger (I have no clue why - fickle teen and all that) my bff and I painted over all my Andy Gibb the covers with nail polish. Why?? I don't know but I did.
DeleteI'm super picky about Mediterranean food but the lemonade and tea sound bomb. I'd definitely go for the atmosphere though!
ReplyDeleteThe falafel was one of best I've had but I would like to explore more from the menu.
DeleteIt was really more about the place and the owner. So fun!
That looks Amazing! We went to a pub/bookstore a few months back it felt like heaven. Books were everywhere and people were actually reading them!
ReplyDeleteSame here! Everyone was walking around exploring or reading. It felt so comforting in there.
DeleteI can see Greg enjoying browsing around in there! We have a few good places to eat in our town but I can never be bothered going into town as it is so hard to get parked near where you want to eat or shop!
ReplyDeleteNo one goes to our downtown so it's easy to find a spot lol
DeleteThe food looks so good.
ReplyDeleteIt' some of the best I've had since moving out here.
DeleteI love seeing you explore the local places and having such a fun time doing it here. And all the pictures....the food looks so delicious
ReplyDeleteIt was yummy! And the place is completely hidden. You wouldn't even know about it.
DeleteThe places that don't advertise are usually the best! The rely on people to spread the word, and let their food do the talking. I'm so happy you found this place so I can live vicariously through you. ;)
ReplyDeleteLindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? 💬
He puts a little chalkboard sign out front during lunch but otherwise you wouldn't know it exists.
DeleteI ahd walked by there at least a 1/2 dozen times and didn't notice. And then when you go int he building - it's downstairs - almost in a basement lol
I remember exploring Portland when I first got here. It was always and adventure when we went out. That food looks amazing. I love the restaurants in the Pacific NW. The food here is the best!
ReplyDeleteI still have to go to Portland. I've mostly been local and Vancouver so far.
Deletethe food has been really different out her. I'm used to lighter FL food because of the heat whereas the PNW is more comfort style.
It sounds amazing Karen! I love those quirky little places where your surrounds just add to the overall experience. He must do most of his business through word of mouth, imagine how packed it would be if he advertised! Are the books and albums available to purchase or just there for diners to browse through?
ReplyDeleteMost of the albums are up high and the collectibles behind glass but you cna read the books and he has a small gift shop area to buy things. A few things are even made by his daughter.
DeleteLoving the looks of all those books! I love touristing and exploring places far from home, but it is also important to be a local tourist and discover the place we live in extensively too x
ReplyDeleteEspecially in my tiny town where a lot of these places are struggling to remain open.
DeleteWow! I would love this place! 💕 Thanks for sharing your photos. 📷✨
ReplyDeleteI hope you get to go to one of his farm-to-table events. My son and his friends go to one locally every year, but it's on a large scale at a local brewery. Our local urban farm puts on a garden-to-table event every year that's smaller and more intimate. One of these years I'll rope someone into going with me! 🍴
I posted about a small restaurant I love in my Bumbershoot's post this month. 👍✨