Sunnyside
is a neighborhood in the western portion of the New York City borough of Queens, in New York State. It shares borders with Hunters Point and Long Island City to the west, Astoria to the north, Woodside to the east and Maspeth to the south. The neighborhood is part of Queens Community Board.
History
Sunnyside, a rural hamlet mostly consisting of small farms and marshland, was incorporated into Long Island City in 1870, and developed into a bedroom community after the Queensboro Bridge was completed in 1909. A large portion of the neighborhood is six-story apartment buildings constructed during the 1920s and '30s. The land was originally owned by French settlers in the 1800s. Sunnyside is derived from Sunnyside Hill Farms, so named by the Bragraws family who owned the land.
Famous Residents
Sunnyside has produced or nurtured such talents as Ethel Merman, Perry Como, Nancy Walker, Judy Holliday, Joe Spinell, James Caan and Rudy Vallee; artist Raphael Soyer, and writers and social activists such as Lewis Mumford. The Queens-grown punk rock group The Ramones played some of their earliest gigs in Sunnyside pubs during the 1970s. ~Wiki
During the years Sunnyside went through changes, a familiar restaurant, or a video store, some supermarkets will close and another business will open.
On the Corner of 40th street and Queens Blvd. was a pharmacy. Couple years ago went through changes, the store was divided into two separate businesses keeping the corner area as pharmacy and the other half as News Stand. After few months from this change the pharmacy closed.
I always wandered what would replace the pharmacy?
On Tuesday February 1st, coming out of the subway, while waiting for the traffic light to change, to my surprise I saw Oasis's doors open, the lights on, people in the diner. On this cold dreary day the place looked inviting and warm. With a smile I walked in, had a little chat with the employees, asked to see the manager or the owner. Both were in. Had a little chat with the owner, Peter and the manager Giovani. Took permission to take few shots of the place. The response was very amicable from them and from the employees as well.
The owner, Peter, on the left
The manager, Giovani, on the right
Everything looked appetizing!! Ordered a chicken gyro sandwich to go. At the register I was told this was complimentary!! I insisted but no avail. I thanked them and walked out with a promise that I will write something about the place in my blog and will send a note to ABC News Food section. I kept my promise.
On my way home a passer by seeing me coming out stopped me and asked if the food was good. I answered the place looked clean and tastefully decorated and the food smelled delicious and I decided right there to pull my sandwich out of the bag and take a bite. I couldn't stop, it was so yummy!! Made a U-turn went back to Oasis and ordered four more to go and on one condition, I pay. They smiled and I went home happy and anxious to see and hear the reaction of my family. They were delighted !!A word of caution though, be prepared to use lots of napkins :)) it is so juicy and everything so fresh. Nothing hidden behind a wall, everything prepared right in front of your delighted eyes with your mouth watering.
If you are around the area give it a try!
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Gyro or Souvlaki - Greek
Shawarma - Middle East
"People also think of Shawarmas as being similar to Gyros (from Greece), this is not true: the Gyro, excellent in its own right, usually has different ingredients inside the sandwich. Gyro meat is often quite different as well, both in its spices and in that Gyro meat is usually a mixture of beef and lamb while shawarma is typically never beef and occasionally only lamb. In the states, most Gyros in restaurants come from the same company and the meat is a very particular flavor.
The shawarma is also a country by country experience, changing taste and texture even by neighborhood in the same city.
If you travel in the Middle East, you will invariably come across these delicious street-side items and will be surprised by the variety of them that you will find.
Most shawarmas are made outside restaurants, you can spot the shawarma shops by their massive towering logs of revolving meat andtheir vertical red cookers that are sizzling the rawness away. These meat owers are usually manned by shawarma cutters, sometimes dressed in entire cook’s outfits replete with French chef hats. The men wield lengthy knives with which they slice off bits of the meat into a receptacle. These hearty souls are usually drenched in sweat, being outside in the Middle East weather, fully dressed, and standing before searing hot cooking grids.
The receptacle that the meat falls into is also usually home to some of the shawarma’s toppings, such as sliced tomatoes, onions or cucumbers. This allows the vegetables to soak up the meat juices from above,giving them a very distinct taste.
What’s in a shawarma?
Most shawarma is made with lamb or chicken.
What else goes inside is a matter for the restaurant.
Reader's choice award for the best shawarma in the world.
North America
USA
Arizona:
Scottsdale -
Arizona Tawooks in Scottsdale is outstanding for the US, and has a full menu. It's a sit down restaurant, but it's closed on Sundays and Mondays. Jeff
California:
Bakersfield -
If for some odd reason you get trapped in the oasis that is
Bakersfield,CA I highly recommend Flame and Skewers. Unfortunately
they do not serve lamb shawarma (although they do serve lamb kabob).
Chicken and Beef are the only shawarma offerings, but it is done well,
and is always packed. The smaller location is off of 24th St. near the
178 freeway entrance. Although, I recommend the newer, larger location
off of California Ave. They also serve dolmas (dolmathes to the
Greeks), Felafel, fries, salads, and other goods. The California Ave
location also has a nice perk w/ an outdoor patio hookah lounge.
Bakersfield,CA I highly recommend Flame and Skewers. Unfortunately
they do not serve lamb shawarma (although they do serve lamb kabob).
Chicken and Beef are the only shawarma offerings, but it is done well,
and is always packed. The smaller location is off of 24th St. near the
178 freeway entrance. Although, I recommend the newer, larger location
off of California Ave. They also serve dolmas (dolmathes to the
Greeks), Felafel, fries, salads, and other goods. The California Ave
location also has a nice perk w/ an outdoor patio hookah lounge.
Fresno-
If you're in Fresno, CA, I think a place called The Broilers makes the best! There are two locations that I know of, both in North Fresno.
- Melinda, Fresno - CA
Los Angeles -
In the USA I’ve found an authentic tasting shawarma in an Armenian chain restaurant called Zankou Chicken. If you are in the Los Angeles, CA area (including Anaheim), please stop by and get you some of their excellent food, they’ve got a few branches in the city. Their website is http://www.zankouchicken.com/. These are the best shawarmas you'll eat in the States, maybe in the world, hands down.
Lance, CA
Redwood City -
I have a shawarma place to recommend in Redwood City, CA (south of SF): Tarboosh
The shawarma here is always excellent. It's traditional and straightforward - just what you want in a shawarma. They serve it in the usual pita-sandwich form or as a platter including the shawarma and all it's components and is accompanied by pita (which is thick and very good). During lunch hours they serve shawarma, falafel, etc., but at night they also serve a full menu of Levantine specialties, some rare in the US. As far as I can tell it's the best shawarma on the Peninsula
The shawarma here is always excellent. It's traditional and straightforward - just what you want in a shawarma. They serve it in the usual pita-sandwich form or as a platter including the shawarma and all it's components and is accompanied by pita (which is thick and very good). During lunch hours they serve shawarma, falafel, etc., but at night they also serve a full menu of Levantine specialties, some rare in the US. As far as I can tell it's the best shawarma on the Peninsula
Lee
Florida:
Palm Beach Gardens -
IF IN SOUTH FLORIDA, PALM BEACH GARDENS, A NEW SMALL PLACE CALLED MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT IN HOME DEPOT PLAZA SERVES UP SOME AUTHENTIC LEBANESE FARE. THE SHAWARMA IS LAMB AND VERY TASTY, TOPPED WITH THE USUAL ONION AND TOMATO, LETTUCE, AND CUCUMBERS. THEY WILL GIVE YOU TAHINI OR TZASIKI AND PICKLED TURNIPS ON THE SIDE. THE LAFA'S ARE DELICIOUS...- Rob
Minnesota:
Minneapolis -
I'm a zankou chicken fanatic but now that I live in North Dakota, I don't get shawarma much. On a recent visit to Minneapolis, I found _fantastic_ shwarma at Holy Land Grocery & Deli. The address and info are on their website: http://holylandnet.com/
They also sell very good fresh Injera, containers of Berbere (NE african pepper & spice mix, good for Wot), fresh pitas, dolmas, lebni and many other items that are otherwise hard to find at decent prices, if at all, here in the middle of the continent.
Tennesee:
Jackson -
Down here in the small southern town of Jackson, Tennessee, I just had the pleasure of discovering a taste sensation other than our cherished pork BBQ. Out of curiosity, i visited a new business, the Al Houda Market,located on Hollywood Drive.The owner convinced me to try a "Mediterranean sandwich", (which of course turned out to be a shawarma )and it was one of the best things I have ever tasted. No tomatoes but beef, onions, mint, garlic sauce and various sundry ingredients of which my redneck palate has no clue of what they were. I doubt anyone reading this website plans on looking for shawarmas in west Tennessee, but if traveling on Interstate 40 and you have a craving for a top notch shawarma, take Exit 79 and go east approx 5 miles..... Hugh H.
Texas:
Austin -
Check out the Phoenicia Bakery & Deli for their chicken or lamb/beef shawarmas, good stuff. Avoid their meat bread, falafel (blandist falafel I ever ate!), and roast chicken sandwich.
Danny, IL
Dallas -
In Dallas , Texas , Al Amir on Greenville Ave. has awesome shawarma. Ask for their (perfectly) grilled vegetables instead of the rice/vermicelli and it’s a meal to die for. The chicken is in nice small pieces (my preference), very manageable, and not dry. YUM! All while watching belly dancers – what more could you ask for?
--- Rho
Irving -
Dunes Mediterranean Grill in Irving, TX has wonderful chicken shawarma as well as other wonderful traditional dishes (their gyro meat is incredible too!). And, with every dinner plate you get hot tea and a dessert (usually honey cake or baklava to diefor!). The prices can't be beat for this mouth watering menu. If you are in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, definitely stop by! - Anjie"
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The write up above between asterisk is taken from the following site: http://www.gomideast.com/articles/recipes/bestshawarma.html
Photography by: Houry Najjarian
When I first moved to New York, my husband took me one night to Mamoun's in East Village for Falafel and Shawarma, Middle Eastern food. To my surprise I had the most tastiest sandwiches from this hole in the wall. When I friends and family visiting the first thing they say is: <b> don't bother cooking for us, just take us to that falafel place and to Times Square</b>. They are pretty surprised by the price, the taste and how small the place is.
We usually get our sandwiches and eat in the car since the only sitting areas are two wooden bench tables and chairs, and if you squeeze real tight four people can sit. But the ambiance of East Village is so unique that we like watching people either from the car or just leisurely walking around the block.
If you're not paying attention, you may miss Mamoun's brown awning. But you'll know you’re near when you see hipsters sitting on brownstone steps eating something wrapped in tin foil. It's fast, it's cheap—it's (perhaps) the tastiest falafel in New York. The lunchtime crowd spills out from this hole in the wall onto the sidewalk, but the line moves fast and the buoyant Middle Eastern music entertains while you wait for your sandwich—perfectly moist falafel, creamy baba ghannouj and slow roasted shwarma. Take your chow to Washington Square Park. And don’t forget the napkins!
Partial Menu
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Depending time of the day the line of customers is outside the eatery. Even though there are some other places for falafel and shawarma Mamoun's is the one we go to and most of the people too :)
A happy customer is a repeat customer (I asked this guy :)
This shot was taken from inside my car, going to Mamoun's on McDougal street in East Village Manhattan, NY
This shot, as well, was taken from inside my car, going to Mamoun's on McDougal street in East Village Manhattan, NY
If you are in NY, stop by and enjoy a sandwich or two :))
Photography: Houry Najjarian, January 2011
