You shouldn't ignore the Italian dishes at Anthonino's Taverna. The pizza is better than most of the pies found on or near the Hill -- the "Sicilian," with pepperoni, red onion and roasted red peppers especially so. That said, Anthonino's Greek dishes -- and, specifically, the gyro -- are what bring me back.
The pita is grilled to a light crisp, which helps it to support a generous serving of beef and lamb with tomatoes, red onion, tzaziki sauce and (for an extra $1) feta cheese. The meat is tender and perfectly spiced, nicely balanced between lamb's distinctly bright note and beef's richness.
The tzaziki sauce imparts a mild tang to the gyro, and the feta cheese adds salt and funk. What puts this gyro over the top, though, are the slivers of raw onion, which give it a sweet, sharp kick. At $7, which includes a serving of good French fries, Anthonino's gyro is both a great meal and a great value.
Anthonino's Taverna
2225 Macklind Avenue
314-773-4455
$7 ($6 without feta)
I'm counting down -- in no particular order -- 100 of my favorite dishes in St. Louis. Some are well-known, others obscure. Some are expensive, others dirt cheap. All of them, I guarantee, are delicious. Please do not hesitate to share your own favorites via the comments thread.
Previously:
#56: The Lemon Drop Cupcake at the Cup
#57: Pupusas at Tres Banderas
#58: Gumbo at the Gumbo Shop
#59: The burger at Newstead Tower Public House
#60: Quesadillas tradicionales at Milagro Modern Mexican
#61: "7th Street Sicilian" Po' Boy at Blues City Deli
#62: Tamales at Taqueria la Pasadita
#63: Ćevapi at Bosna Gold
#64: Lemon meringue and pine nut torte at BitterSweet Bakery
#65: Chile Morita con Puerco at Señor Pique
#66: Soda chanh duong (sparkling lemonade) at Lemon Grass
#67: Nachos grande at Nachomama's
#68: Pizza with pepperoni, sausage and mushroom at Pizza-a-Go-Go
#69: Bill's "Burger Meister Burger" at Cardwell's at the Plaza
#70: Sake (salmon) nigiri sushi at Nobu's Japanese Restaurant
© 2023 Riverfront Times
