Lunch Break - A Stop At a New Mom and Pop
Sampling dishes and diners in and around Miami County
It’s no secret that Huber Heights is home to many of our local chain restaurants. Our neighboring city seems to have every fast food place under the sun. When looking for a place to stop for lunch after Target shopping or a workout at Planet Fitness, it’s easy to get caught up in a winding line for a greasy burger and some fries. However, although the heights are forever adding to its never-ending list of fast food locations, just up the street from the fast food main strip is a hidden gem. On Taylorsville Road, tucked between a convenience shop and flooring store, lies one of the few Mom and Pop’s in Huber, Gyro Center.
The quaint little Mediterranean cafe is owned and run by Ulka Kibarova and her husband, Abbas C. After training in a friend's restaurant, the couple moved from California and opened their own in Huber less than a year ago. The restaurant is thriving and already has an abundance of good reviews, but I hadn’t heard of it until recently. Inside, the shop follows a modern theme, with a gold and white interior.
However, the menu items are more traditional, not to mention healthy. Since it is the Gyro Center, I decided to order a gyro with a side of fries and the Shepards Salad. As a huge fan of feta cheese, I absolutely devoured the salad. The fresh tomatoes are paired with crunchy cucumbers and a delicious dressing. The tangy dressing is uniquely made with lemon juice, olive oil, and pomegranate molasses, creating a flavor that stands out compared to any vinaigrette I’ve tried before. The fries were also tasty and incomparable to any flimsy potato strip from a fast food joint. They were crispy, brown, and sprinkled with salt and seasonings. The main dish was incredible as well. The Gyro was a crispy pita bread wrap, toasted and filled with savory beef, refreshing lettuce, and a creamy tzatziki-like sauce, as well as a tasty green sauce.
The meal from Gyro Center was amazing, and so was the vibe. After chatting with Ulka, I’m excited to return and try the gyro bowl and famous cheesecake. Sometimes, fast food is simply the fastest option, and we’re all prone to grabbing a bite to eat from the quickest drive-thru. However, if you’re able to take just a few minutes to stop in at one of Huber’s few Mom and Pop’s, you won’t be disappointed. The Gyro Center is located at 6027 Taylorsville Rd, Huber Heights.