Thursday, April 06, 2006
Shawarma King
331 Elgin Street
April 5th, 2006
Shawarma: 2/5
Mesa: 2/5
Experience: 5/5
Shawarma King is one of those classic Ottawa Lebanese joints. It’s downtown, close to pubs and nightclubs. It’s on the Elgin street strip, a few doors down from Big Daddy’s and the Pump, just across the street from Maxwell’s and the Fire Station. Even at 6pm on a Wednesday the place somehow thumps to some unknown bass-line. Even with only a few stragglers coming in to order at the counter, Shawarma King buzzes with energy.
You’ll recognize it from its large sign that showcases a spit of beef. Someone once told me that the beef on the sign looked more like a milkshake. So if you can’t find the place on Elgin, look for the place advertising milkshakes; that’s Shawarma King.
The interior is vintage Ottawa sharmarie. It’s long and narrow with a counter running almost the full length back. Above the counter are pictures of the dishes offered. The other wall is decorated with brick arches, with a mural of the Lebanese country side painted behind. When you walk in, you’re slapped in the face by the smell. This is the read-deal.
The guy at the cash was a grizzled veteran. I’m sure he has some stories to tell about working the nightshift, when the girls in mini-skirts stumble in after a night of partying. I can hear him yelling at them to stop dancing on his tabletops. I’d prefer if they kept on dancing.
I sit down at one of the chairs up-front, by the window that is open out to the street in summer. My plate is full of food. The beef and chicken are not as warm as they could be. The beef is almost crunchy, almost like crackling. The chicken is just okay. Overall, it’s not the best meat going in the city.
The salad is covered in a creamy garlic sauce that makes the greens more like coleslaw. It’s okay. The humus and garlic sauce are fine, but nothing special. I was given a choice between white and yellow rice. I chose the yellow, and it was the right decision. It flowered with curry flavours. The pickles were good enough. But what’s this? No potatoes on the platter?
I tried the baklava. It was okay — a little too dry and flaky. I also tried a Laziza, a non-alcoholic beer. It was actually probably the best non-alcoholic beer I’ve ever had (not that I’ve made a point of trying many).
Shawarma King offers a vintage Ottawa experience. One best enjoyed past midnight on a warm summer’s eve. As for food, there are better shawarmaries around. I guess Shawarma King’s clientele is usually too drunk to care. And that’s half the fun.
April 5th, 2006
Shawarma: 2/5
Mesa: 2/5
Experience: 5/5
Shawarma King is one of those classic Ottawa Lebanese joints. It’s downtown, close to pubs and nightclubs. It’s on the Elgin street strip, a few doors down from Big Daddy’s and the Pump, just across the street from Maxwell’s and the Fire Station. Even at 6pm on a Wednesday the place somehow thumps to some unknown bass-line. Even with only a few stragglers coming in to order at the counter, Shawarma King buzzes with energy.
You’ll recognize it from its large sign that showcases a spit of beef. Someone once told me that the beef on the sign looked more like a milkshake. So if you can’t find the place on Elgin, look for the place advertising milkshakes; that’s Shawarma King.
The interior is vintage Ottawa sharmarie. It’s long and narrow with a counter running almost the full length back. Above the counter are pictures of the dishes offered. The other wall is decorated with brick arches, with a mural of the Lebanese country side painted behind. When you walk in, you’re slapped in the face by the smell. This is the read-deal.
The guy at the cash was a grizzled veteran. I’m sure he has some stories to tell about working the nightshift, when the girls in mini-skirts stumble in after a night of partying. I can hear him yelling at them to stop dancing on his tabletops. I’d prefer if they kept on dancing.
I sit down at one of the chairs up-front, by the window that is open out to the street in summer. My plate is full of food. The beef and chicken are not as warm as they could be. The beef is almost crunchy, almost like crackling. The chicken is just okay. Overall, it’s not the best meat going in the city.
The salad is covered in a creamy garlic sauce that makes the greens more like coleslaw. It’s okay. The humus and garlic sauce are fine, but nothing special. I was given a choice between white and yellow rice. I chose the yellow, and it was the right decision. It flowered with curry flavours. The pickles were good enough. But what’s this? No potatoes on the platter?
I tried the baklava. It was okay — a little too dry and flaky. I also tried a Laziza, a non-alcoholic beer. It was actually probably the best non-alcoholic beer I’ve ever had (not that I’ve made a point of trying many).
Shawarma King offers a vintage Ottawa experience. One best enjoyed past midnight on a warm summer’s eve. As for food, there are better shawarmaries around. I guess Shawarma King’s clientele is usually too drunk to care. And that’s half the fun.
# posted by Ottawa shawarma @ 10:58 AM 
