Feeling my age

For the record, I'm 23 years old, some days I look 23, most days I look closer to 18. I understand that many young people do not understand how to tip. I know this from my 6 years in the restaurant business. However, I also know the best way to get tips out of a suspected bad tipper is to kill them with kindness.

Now, on to the review… First let me get the few rotten things out of the way so I can tell you how much I loved my meal. My server, Jarvis, clearly tagged me as a bad tipper when I walked in the door. I typically dine alone for lunch, and all the tables in Canal Bistro are set for four, so I may have gotten on the bad side of my server for taking up so many seats. However in a restaurant with 7 tables, I feel that this is a poor reaction for the server to have. Anyway, I felt like an inconvenience, my questions were answered rather curtly and my few attempts at conversation were battled off like a gladiator. So I sat in silence and just offered my pleasantries as my food and dishes came and went. The owner, George, was also about in the dining room as I ate, as he glad-handed the older diners and regulars I got little more than a nod. Other than feeling a like a second class citizen, I also took offense to my bill. Jarvis is one of those servers that offer options for meal items as if it is just a standard choice, and makes no mention that it will cost more, a quality that I despise in servers, both the ones that serve me and my co-workers, its underhanded and unfair to guests. So the bill came, my Turkish coffee was $5 though clearly listed at $3 on the menu, my meal was up-charged a dollar for the feta on my fries. So I was a little peeved about that, but the food was delightful so I got over and got on.

Now the food…I love Mediterranean food, whether it be Greek, Arabic, Lebanese, whatever, it is hands down my favorite. This was exceptional, though I must note, if you're looking for an Americanized version of your Mediterranean favorites, this is not the place for you. George does not tone down the flavors for the typical American untrained palette. I started with free pitas and oil, and, its pitas and oil, nothing special. I opted for the Lentil soup full of hearty chunks of celery and boiled spinach, with a good amount of full lentils to give the great chili flavor that I enjoy so much about lentil soup, be warned this is not a puree. My main course was a Lamb Kafta Kabob sandwich, the grilled lamb was awesome, well spiced and full of a great grill smokiness that blends well with the parsley mix and tomatoes. (I suspected the parsley was a Tabouli mix, but I can't be for sure.) The sandwich was served with fries topped with parsley and crumbled feta, very mild feta, the only thing on my plate that disappointed, I like a nice pungent, full flavored feta. I wrapped everything up with the best Turkish coffee I have had in the Midwest, delightfully citrusy and earthy to the max, a great digestif to round out my delightful meal.

All in all I liked the ambiance, the cozy nature of the store, and the food. The personality was lacking, but I rarely count out a restaurant for poor service, so long as the food is good. (Any of my friends will tell you one of my favorite restaurants and bars is Moe and Johnny's, despite the dreadful and often rude service in that joint.) I'll be back, hopefully for a better service experience, but defiantly for some awesome Mid-Eastern grub.

bad service, good food

I think I must have had the same server as the above poster. Our server was rude and short and never refilled our waters while he completely doted on the table next to us. I am 24 and my friend who I was dining with was 26 at the time, so I don't even think that its our age.

He also did the same upcharge thing for me. I asked if I could substitute a salad for my fries with my falafel. He substituted it, but charged an extra $3! I understand charging a dollar or something or charging $3 if I wanted to add a salad (ie, salad and fries), but I think that he should have told me there was a $3 charge for switching my fries to a small side salad.

My friend and I are both vegetarians and there was one vegetarian option on the menu, falafel. But let me tell you, it is probably the best falafel I've ever had.

Fantastic

A little off the beaten path, but great food. There is def. a small selection of food, but there is a large portion of everthing. Wonderful outdoor seating for the summer.

A great shock to my system

My wife and i came her for dinner on a lark - we had never eaten Mediterranean food before. WOW we were impressed, our server was polite friendly and well - awesome, not chatty in the normal annoying way but in a way that made both of us want to hang out with her. Also she resembled in great detail Rosario Dawson.

The food was impressive for an appetizer we shared spanakopita - a spinach and cheese pie - This is the greatest thing I have ever eaten. Then while I never had beef shwarma before I know now that I love it. The wife ordered a beef kabob and didn't say a word to me until she finished it.

If you never try this place you should be hit with something large and heavy

noooope....

Employee reviews do NOT count.....nice try though yall....

Great Service

My boyfriend and I tried this place for the first time yesterday and absolutely loved it. We had our puppy with us, so we had to sit in the section closer to the canal (which was fine with us-great view). Our waitress (I believe her named may have been Kari... not sure, though) was very sweet and brought us everything in a fast manor. She also brought our dog some water. She was just over-all very attentive and nice. Now the food- My boyfriend LOVES gyros in general, so this was a great place for us to go, although we didn't expect it to be the best gyro we both have ever had. Very, very good. Seasoned perfectly. I also had a side salad which was amazing, and I had the fries with feta on top. Very good combination. We will be vistiting this place more often. I would highly recommend this restaurant.

Great food, great carryout, great service.

The food is wonderful, and with great portions! I ordered a Kafta Kabab sandwich, with feta cheese on my fries. The sandwich was huge! I guess they use the same amount of meat on the sandwich as they do on the kabab! The feta cheese cost an extra 1.50, however that is to be expected...even steak n shake charges you for everything....

------> I too get the mazza plate togo. The above person said you get half the size as you do in house.....This is simply just NOT true. You get the exact same in carry out as in house. The only difference is the presentation. When you get it to go, it is all in a box.....while in house it is laid out beautifully on a large plate.

I guess vincess needs to take a closer look.