Falafel. Shish kebab. Gyros. Baklava! Everyone has had Mediterranean food at least once, and nearly everyone loves it. However, Mediterranean-style food has become so popular here in the U.S. that it’s becoming harder and harder to find traditional and real Mediterranean restaurants. The term Mediterranean is also used to describe such a vast pool of foods that I’m often uncertain what is counted and what isn’t. Egyptian food and Greek food are certainly not the same, but they both are under the Mediterranean umbrella. But if you want great, traditional, homemade Mediterranean food, Shawerma Bite is worth trying.
Shawerma Bite has two locations here in Columbus. One is located on the The Ohio State University campus, at 12 E 16th Avenue, right off of High Street. But if you’re a north UA resident, then head to Shawerma Bite’s Bethel Road location at 5453 Bethel Sawmill Center. On their Facebook page, they write that they “believe in the power of food to bring people together and create unforgettable experiences.” I would wholeheartedly agree because I’ve been to both locations, and whatever day of the week or time of day you walk in, there is a vibrant and communal feeling in the air. There is certainly a cultural aspect too; almost all of the workers seem to be Middle Eastern and speaking Arabic. I think that speaks to the authenticity of the restaurant. Often I walk into gyro shops and I’m face-to-face with a guy from Utah.
I ordered the most popular item, the chicken shawerma. At Shawerma Bite, you can “Roll IT” or “Bowl IT”, meaning you can get your meal in a bowl or in a pita bread wrap. That’s certainly not an original idea, but I love the way they advertise it with the fun rhyming. It also seems that more and more restaurants are adopting the Chipotle-style ordering where you choose your toppings, and Shawerma Bite is an example. You can watch as the shawerma meat spins slowly on its axis, and you can salivate when they slice off the meat for you. I decided to Roll IT. To the wrap, I added hummus, lettuce, tomatoes, parsely, and a garlic sauce from a decently large selection of toppings. The relaxed nature of the restaurant was evident while I was ordering as there was a man behind the counter speaking on speaker-phone with someone and just a whole lot of movement going on all around. I realize that, reading this, you might think that noise and activity are annoying, but sitting in Shawerma Bite, it didn’t feel like everyone was in their own world. It wasn’t even busy, but there was a noticeable sense of community.
The wrap was delicious. After adding my desired toppings, the wrap was put under a heated pressure machine and lightly pressed and cooked. The bread then comes out soft yet crunchy. The hummus wasn’t overpowering, which is something I appreciate because it always seems like hummus in a meal becomes the only thing you taste. The vegetables were top-grade, and the chicken was nothing short of beautifully scrumptious. The chicken was seasoned really well and was tender and soft. But if I were to recommend only one thing from the restaurant, it would be the french fries. When I say this I say with utmost seriousness and confidence: Their french fries may be the best I’ve ever had. Forget Cane’s or Chick-fil-A fries, forget McDonald’s fries, even forget the outstanding Brassica french fries. I was completely blown away when I took my first bite of the fries. Nothing would have prepared me for what I was about to experience. They had the perfect crunch, temperature and texture, and I seriously think they might be the best fries I know.
You already know it. Maybe I should intentionally start going to bad restaurants so I can slander them. But traditional Mediterranean food with an amazing atmosphere and more amazing french fries means only one thing: Shawerma Bite is Ali Approved.
