Gyro Shack tasty change of pace

Why: The Gyro Shack is a fast-food franchise founded in 2010 in Idaho. The brand expanded into Washington, and now has a total of 10 stores. The emphasis is on fresh and fast gyro options, some authentic and some unique. Gyros can be ordered by themselves or made into a combo meal. Breakfast options are available as well.

What I tried: My dining companions and I tried the Greek fries and the regular fries. I settled on the Reuben gyro and my dining companions had the Spicy Bacon Avocado and the Super. I also had the Greek salad with tzatziki dressing on the side.

The crinkle-cut fries are deep fried to a tasty, golden-crisp finish. The Greek variety are topped with crumbled feta and herbs, but the toppings seemed sparse to us.

The Gyreuben starts out with the usual gyro meat in a soft, fresh pita wrap. Caraway seeds, sauerkraut and dressing provide the Reuben character. The result is a tasty and juicy Greek spin on a classic.

The Super consists of gyro meat, bacon, tzatziki sauce, hummus, romaine lettuce, tomato, onion, pepperoncini, Kalamata olives, feta, and spicy red sauce. It is a large wrap packed full of flavor. My dining companion noted that it tasted more American than Greek, but he fully enjoyed it and found it filling.

My dining companion who ate the Spicy Bacon Avocado version (made with gyro meat, bacon, tzatziki sauce, tomato, onion, avocado and spicy red sauce) liked its fresh, saladlike quality.

I was too full to eat the Greek salad, so I took it home and had it for lunch the next day. It was still very fresh. The salad combines romaine lettuce, tomato, Kalamata olives, cucumber, green bell pepper, feta and a bit of onion. The bell peppers surprised me. I cannot remember them ever being in any Greek salad that I had tried before, but I like what they brought to the salad, which I enjoyed to the last bite. The tzatziki sauce had a generous amount of dill, which made me think of a yogurt version of tartar sauce.

Overall, we all agreed that our selections surpassed what we expected on the flavor meter and the prices were reasonable.

Atmosphere: The restaurant is organized in fast-food fashion with the menu board above the counter. A soda dispenser is close by for self-service. The blue-and-white color palette evokes picturesque Santorini, and gives the space a crisp and clean appearance.

Other observations: The staff was friendly and the food was fresh. The Gyro Shack brings some welcome diversity to Clark County’s fast-food dining options.

Cost: Gryos range from $5.99 to $10.49. To make them a combo add $3. To make them a rice bowl or a salad add $1.50. Breakfast options are $4.99 to $6.29. Kids meals cost $4.99.