Low Dough/No Problem

By George L. Ortiz, Jr.

It’s Sunday, and I am so hungry that I can eat an entire food truck. But it’s also the middle of the month, so I am low on the dough – just like the rest of the country. For those of you into baking, this is the dough referenced in the Jay-Z/Biggie collaboration (I wanted to write collabo), not the one you knead, which brings me back to the reason for this post – food. I’m walking on Westminster Street in Providence, near JWU, and bump into a Greek establishment named Yoleni’s. It’s on the corner of 292 Westminster and heaven. It is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 am until 9 pm. My stomach begs me to venture inside while I hear my mother yelling, “that’s out of your budget!”

I love my mother, but she is not here, and my stomach is – so in we go.

“Why eat out when you can make it at home?”

-Angelina Rivera

This quaint eatery combines European-style Tapas, New York Deli, and a boutique food market. For those who have never been to New York, it’s like a Dean & Deluca.

My first reaction is, “Wow, I should leave.” But the smells win out. I am a sucker for a good gyro and even more for chicken on a stick – worldwide. I walk around and check out the patrons. Every one is super laid back, and there is a little big-city feel here. I wait to be seated and pick a small table for two by the large floor-to-ceiling window. The waiter brings a carafe of water and a menu and heads to the cash register to check someone out. This place is casual. Most of the menu ranges from $10-$12 per item, and while not super inexpensive, not pricey either. All the foods that you can expect at a Greek joint are here:

Gyros
Salads
Grape leaves
Pita and dip
Etc.

Some American classics like “Turkey/Avocado Club,” “Grilled Cheese,” and soup are mixed in, but I am not here for that. My mind is sending me multiple messages. I ask the waiter, Nicolas, for his recommendation, and he offers the special appetizer plate for $19.99. This consists of flatbreads, feta, hummus, olives, cucumber salad, grilled vegetables, eggplant dip, grape leaves, and some spicy dip that made me tear up. The food was excellent. Although my favorite is a traditional lamb gyro, I was more than pleased with the freshness of the dishes. It was too much for me, so I asked for a to-go box, and my roommates loved it.

Apolamváno