GYRO GRILL: “THE REAL DEAL”

By Paul Mencher

“The Wayne area needed authentic Mediterranean food.” That was the simple premise that inspired Shlomo Rosen to open the Gyro Grill. But in a little less than four years, the Gyro Grill has turned into more than just a popular dining destination— it’s become part of the fabric of the local community.

A native of Israel, Rosen has lived in the United States for many years and has been involved in several businesses. About five years ago, he says he realized that Wayne, with a good-sized Israeli community, would be a prime spot for a Mediterranean restaurant. He teamed up with Chef Avi XX to open the Gyro Grill in April 2017.

“Chef Avi creates all the dishes, the spices and the seasoning,” Rosen says. The menu features food from the entire Mediterranean region with an emphasis on Israeli cuisine.

Gyro Grill food is not complicated, just fresh and delicious. The aptly named Yummy Platter is a favorite menu item featuring a choice of meats or falafel with rice. Rosen says diners also love the salmon and the chicken kabob—“so tender, you can cut it with a spoon.” The restaurant features many Mediterranean specialties like hummus, baba ghanouj and shawarma, but even something as universal as French fries are special at Gyro Grill.

Of course, a successful restaurant is about more than food. It can get quite busy at the Gyro Grill, but Rosen emphasizes customer service. “I go crazy if somebody is unhappy,” he says. “I care a lot about people and their satisfaction is my number one goal.”

By supporting local organizations, the Gyro Grill has become further embedded within the community. Rosen notes he is currently working with several Wayne public schools on fundraising events. During the darkest days of the pandemic last spring, the Gyro Grill frequently provided food to essential workers at area hospitals, the Wayne Police Department and the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office.

Rosen knows his restaurant has fared better than most during the past year, but he says it’s still been a challenge. “I feel bad for everybody in the restaurant business,” he said. “It’s been a rough time.”

Recent days have brought some positive signs, however. Rosen noticed a definite bump in activity during the final weekend of February. Many of the customers told him they had received their COVID-19 vaccine, an encouraging development. “Hopefully with the vaccine, things will start getting back to normal,” Rosen says. As the pandemic wanes, Rosen hopes to see his takeout customers enjoy a meal in person at Gyro Grill, located in the Ramapo Plaza (at the junction of Valley Road and Hamburg Turnpike). He says the food tastes good anywhere, but there’s something special about enjoying it presented on a plate served hot from the kitchen.

For those who have yet to try the Gyro Grill, Rosen encourages you to check out the reviews on Google or Yelp. You’ll see references to the fast and friendly service and the great value, but most of all, to the food—which is, after all, the star of the show.

Or as Rosen puts it, “We have the real deal.”