Kabab-Je Rotisserie & Grille (Charlotte, NC)

7828-b Rea Rd, Charlotte, NC

 

Kebab-Je is a local chain with three locations in the Charlotte area. It serves the classics of Mediterranean and Lebanese cuisine in an in-between restaurant and fast food setting.

 

I get a Fattoush Salad ($5.95) and a Hummus (Chicken) Shawarma ($8.95). Both are on my table a minute after I ordered. The hummus is creamy and quite authentic, while the chicken shawarma is from the skewer, perfectly seasoned, and juicer and less dry than usual. The Fattoush is well seasoned but has a bit too much lettuce. Everything comes with a big fresh pita and I get another one when I’m 2/3 done with the first.

 

VERDICT: 92/100

This is excellent Lebanese food, which is affordable and tasty.

Arnold’s Homemade Famous Burgers (Greenwood, SC)

 1601-1611 Woodlawn Rd, Greenwood, SC

 

Arnold’s Homemade Famous Burgers is an old-school diner/snackbar attached to a gas station outside of Greenwood, SC. It has the regulars: burgers, hot dogs, fries, sandwiches. It also has a location in Anderson, SC.

I get a Bacon Hamburger plate ($7.50) and a Hot Dog ($1.99). The burgers comes with lettuce, tomato, onion, ketchup and mayo. It’s pretty good for an old-school burger. The patty is fresh and the bacon crispy. The fries are potato-y but get saggy too fast. The Hot Dog comes with onions, mustard, and chili, which is more a tasty heap of ground meat. Still decent. The coleslaw is a bit tasteless.

VERDICT: 83/100

Arnold's is a good place if you fancy an old-school burger joint.

The Bridge (Reykjanesbær, Iceland)

 Aðalgata, Reykjanesbær, Iceland

 

The Bridge is the restaurant of the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel at Iceland’s international airport Keflavik. Like many Icelandic restaurants, which cater to tourists, they have fish and chips and burgers.

 

I get the Fish & Chips (~$16), which includes three medium-sized pieces of thinly batter and crispy fried cod, a big heap of fries, coleslaw, and homemade tartar sauce. While the fish is perfectly prepared, it does not have that much flavor and, more problematically, neither does the tartar sauce. The fries are thin and crispy. They have a bit of an aftertaste that suggest they were fried in olive oil. Tasty though. The coleslaw is underwhelming.

 

VERDICT: 84/100

Pretty good and not too pricey for an airport hotel in Iceland.

Gaeta Gelato (Reykjavik, Iceland)

Aðalstræti 6, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland

 

Gaeta Gelato is a fairly large gelato store in the heart of downtown Reykjavik, which  serves over 20 flavors of gelato as well as hot drinks. I get a regular cone (ISK 899 or $7) with lemon and hazelnut. Both are true gelato quality but a bit more creamy and less flavory than in Italy.

 

VERDICT: 90/100

Very good gelato for a non-Italian place.

Dirty Burgers & Ribs (Reykjavik, Iceland)

 

Dirty Burgers & Ribs is a local chain that offers burgers, ribs, pulled pork sandwiches, and sides. It has two regular locations in Reykjavik and at least one drive-thru at a gas station — which is the one I visit. I get a Pulled Pork Sandwich (ISK 1390 or ~$11). As the menu is only in Icelandic, I didn’t know there was cheese on it, but the thick slice is barely melted so I can peel it off. The brioche bun comes with a red cabbage slaw, some kind of sauce, and sweet and tender pulled pork. Not bad at all.

 

VERDICT: 83/100

A very decent pulled pork sandwich, particularly for a non-US fast food place.