Last year we reviewed Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill. They apparently didn’t make it but the same location now has Gyromania Grill. Garbanzo tended to be a bit more Middle Eastern with dishes like Shawarma, while Gyromania leans more toward Greek.
It’s located in the shopping center on the south side of Palmetto Park Road west of Powerline near Publix, Brooklyn Water Bagel and Olive Garden.
Gyromania Grill’s original location is in Coral Springs. The Boca location was recently reviewed by SouthFlorida.com, and the review wasn’t great but it seemed okay. We had to try it for ourselves.
For starters we think that review called it wrong on the gyro meat and the hummus. Both were just as good as the other Greek places we go to. The gyro platter is pictured below.
The Moussaka platter was a little less impressive. It was decent but I’ve definitely had better moussaka at Taso’s (near Home Depot) and Jimmy the Greek.
The other thing that stood out was the pricing. It seems expensive for the restaurant format. We eat as good or better for less money at Taso’s and we get table service along with it – though of course you’re less likely to tip at Gyromania so maybe you save money there.
The menu is below:
For us there are already good Greek choices closer to us. But if you’re near Palmetto and Powerline this is a good option along with Aladdin’s Eatery closer to Town Center.
Tag: powerline
Sick Puppies Offers Improv for All
Improv in West Boca? We didn’t know about it but word got around to us. It all happens in an office building at the west end of Camino Real, on the west side of Powerline south of Palmetto Park Road.
Sick Puppies Comedy does both shows and classes. It’s worth going to a show if you’re interested, but the real bread and butter is their improv classes. One commentator described how improv classes help him in everyday life.
Casey Casperson is the founder and director of the troupe. We saw a show last week and he reminded us of both Bill Murray and Jim Belushi with his presence and humor. Before the show started he explained that there are improv groups all over South Florida, and two other groups came that night to perform with them.
It looks like a great group of people. Everyone had a good time. If you want to see a show it’s inexpensive and worthwhile. If you want to try something different, try a class.
If you want to see an example of a show there, see below:
And Casperson’s stand up is here:
West Boca Woman Survives Fatal Accident in Deerfield
The Broward Sheriff’s Office has released some information about Friday’s fatal accident in Deerfield Beach. Robert Gay (age 93) of John Knox Village in Pompano was coming out of Century Village (in Deerfield), making a left turn onto Hillsboro to go westbound.
Mary Mollo (43) of the Bella Vista apartments in West Boca (across Powerline from Olive Garden) was traveling eastbound on Hillsboro when the front of her vehicle collided with the driver’s side of Gay’s vehicle. She has been a licensed practical nurse for 18 years and appears to be an animal lover.
The BSO official description is below:
Around 10:17 a.m., Robert Gay, 93, was driving northbound on Century Boulevard. He was making a left onto the westbound lanes of Hillsboro Boulevard when he was broadsided by a gray Chrysler 300. Both, Gay and the female driver of the Chrysler, Mary Mollo, 43, were transported to Broward Health North by Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue paramedics. Mollo was being treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Gay was pronounced dead.
BSO’s traffic homicide unit is investigating the incident.
West Boca Man Killed in Flaming Car Accident
Hernando “Joe” Nieto (46) has been identified as the man who was killed in an early-morning pickup truck fire. The accident occurred on Powerline Road just south of the county line in Deerfield Beach.
Mr. Nieto’s reported address is in the Banyan Lake community off Boca Rio, only a couple miles from the accident location. The accident led police to block southbound travel on Powerline from SW 18th for several hours.
From Broward Sheriff’s Office:
An early morning crash in Deerfield Beach left one man dead after his car jumped the curb and struck a tree in the median, bursting into flames.
Broward Sheriff’s Office Communications received the call around 3 a.m. Hernando Nieto was heading north in the 600 block of Powerline Road when he somehow lost control of the vehicle causing the accident. A visual inspection of Nieto’s black pickup and the scene revealed no signs that any other vehicles were involved in the crash. Nieto was unable to escape the burning vehicle.
Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue extinguished the fire and pronounced him dead at the scene.
BSO Traffic Homicide detectives are investigating.
We see no meaningful criminal history for Mr. Nieto in the three counties.
New Dishes at Butcher Block Grill
We previously reviewed and liked Butcher Block Grill on a lunch visit in April. Last night we attended a “media dinner” which introduced the new chef and menu items.
Disclosure: As is typical for a media dinner, everything we had was on the house.
Butcher Block Grill is on the west side of Powerline Road at the end of Camino Real, just south of Palmetto Park Road.
The meal started with an appetizer that was already on the menu, a Mediterranean plate with falafel, lamb kefte, hummus, tzatziki yogurt dip and pita. This was very good. I especially liked the kefte’s flavor.
Next came the “Polenta and Crab Wonton” in a “roasted red pepper truffle butter” sauce. I noticed shards of shaved Parmesan in the dish as well. This was delicious and one of the best items of the evening. It seemed unique – none of us at the table had ever seen anything similar. The various flavors and textures in this dish all worked together.
In our previous review we noticed that they used green tomatoes in some dishes. This is a trend in modern cuisine and they upped it with a fried green tomato salad, accompanied with arugula, roasted peppers, goat cheese and a vinaigrette dressing. I didn’t think it was particularly special, but my companion and others at our table raved about it.
Next up came two dishes that were similar to each other. There was an appetizer meatball, and a Bolognaise entrée. Both are made with beef and veal and served with ricotta cheese and a tomato sauce. These are nice comfort food items.
Somewhere in the middle of the meal we were introduced to Executive Chef John Savarese, who previously worked at the Flagler steakhouse in the Breakers resort in Palm Beach. He engaged us in pleasant conversation and answered some questions.
We were served two other entrees. First we tried the pan roasted salmon. It was served on farro with shiitake mushrooms in a delicate blood orange sauce.
The last dish we had was outstanding. The braised short ribs are another comfort food dish, and everyone who tried it was impressed. The meat was tender and the sauce was just perfect with it.
The event ran later than we could stay so we missed dessert. We’re told they have an excellent goat cheese cheesecake. Sounds odd but we hope to try it soon.
Be warned – Butcher Block Grill is not cheap. Appetizer prices on the whole menu range from $9 to $16. Entrees run a wide range from $15 up to $59 for a large rib-eye steak.
The full slate of new menu items is below:
Appetizers:
French Onion Flat Bread
Mom’s Meatball
Polenta and Crab Won Tons
Mole’ Frit, PEI Mussels’
Soups & Salads:
Corn and Crab Chowder
Boston Bib
Fried Green Tomatoes
Sides:
Sweet Potato with Spiced Cream
Creamed Spinach-new recipe
Entrées:
Rack of Lamb
Beef & Veal Bolognaise
Braised Short Ribs
Seared Black Grouper
Grilled Mahi
Shrimp and Eggplant Française