Massachusetts: Our Best Gyro Restaurant Is A Family-Owned Boston Spot

Certain foods can ignite joy and excitement. They are happy foods that you look forward to eating all day, and then smile with appreciation when you get your hands on them. Enter the gyro. Here, we will detail where to get the best gyros in Massachusetts.

Tasting Table recently canvased the country and identified the best place to get a tasty gyro in America.

"Some cities have huge populations of Greek immigrants that have founded incredibly popular gyro joints," Tasting Table says, explaining the heritage of this popular food.

Though different states will offer different variations, there are certain components to a gyro that have to be consistent. It starts with the base. Typically it's a lamb, chicken, or beef. This has to be sliced thin. Then, you will commonly find onions, garlic, and spices. Next, you have to have the Tzatziki sauce. This is where things can get interesting. Other possible accompaniments include feta cheese, tomatoes, and lettuce. Lastly, and perhaps the most important, is the warm pita. Either wrap up your gyro in the pita and eat it as a handheld or keep the pita on the side, but it has to be there.

You can find the best gyro in Massachusetts right in the heart of Boston. From their name to their menu,
Gyro City gets right to the point. Located at 183 Chestnut Hill Ave, Gyro City makes and prepares everything fresh right onsite. They pride themselves on representing and bringing the flavors of Greece to Boston. This is a family-owned business.

The menu is extensive, though everything centers around the staples of a traditional gyro. Where things get interesting is within the dinner plate section. Here, you can turn your gyro into a falafel or a pistachio dinner with noodles.

"The food served by owner and head chef Paul Circ is so fresh, delicious, and authentically Greek that it quickly became a local favorite for Bostonians." Tasting Table said.

I'm a guy who moved from New Jersey to Boston; growing up, Sicilian pizza was pretty easily available. I incorrectly assumed that all Americans enjoyed this kind of pizza selection. However, when I moved to Boston, I realized that it's much harder to find that delicacy here. But there are also a few unique places that are cooking up Sicilian pizza in Massachusetts.

As an expert on Sicilian, I will tell you that it has to be prepared properly in order for it to be worth the calories. Here, I will detail three establishments where you can find great Sicilian pizza in Massachusetts. Sure, you may have to travel a bit, but these places are worth your time.

Before we cut into this delicious style of pie, let’s define our terms. Traditional Sicilian pizza is cut into square or rectangular-shaped slices. The crust is thicker and crunchy. Though this pizza is obviously heavier, it still can be topped with your favorite pizza add-ons. A sprinkle of oregano is a subtle but often important finishing.

Though strip pizza in Rhode Island is similar, one significant difference with Sicilian is that it is not baked on a focaccia style dough. In fact, Palermo Pizza NJ defines what distinguishes Sicilian Pizza and what makes it different from regular pizza. “The dough rises differently with this kind of crust because more oil is used in the recipe as opposed to a regular pizza crust recipe,” they said, when describing how this is made in a rectangular pan.

In Massachusetts, the three locations that are serving up great Sicilian Pizza are quite different from each other, but have this menu item in common. One of them happens to be a favorite of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

Tucked into a quaint New England, Harvard Square street, Pinocchio's is where you need to go if you want Sicilian pizza of all varieties. It's also where you will see Mark Zuckerberg's photo all over the wall. This was the go-to spot for Zuck while he was attending Harvard. In fact, it's a place he still makes sure to stop into when in town. As for the pizza, there are 20 different toppings you can find atop the hot Sicilian pies. These pies come in a 9-slice or 15-slice size option. The 15-slice pie comes in two boxes and can feed up to nine people. During the school months, Pinocchio's stays open until 2 am on weekends.

At 289 Hanover Street in the North End of Boston, Umberto's can be easy to miss. However, once you recognize their old-school sign, you know you are in for a treat. They are old-school: it is a cash-only establishment where the large trays of piping hot Sicilian pies are continuously served. Typically, it's cheese only, but you will not be disappointed as no other flavor is needed. The single line usually reaches the door, but it moves quickly. It also gives you time to decide which arancini (their famous rice ball) you'd like to add to your order.

Leone's Pizza and Sub has been family-owned and operated since 1954. They are located right on Broadway and open seven days per week, from 8 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. Their Sicilian pizza is the standard menu option here. It is available by the slice, in a half tray or full tray. The whole tray also comes in two boxes (16 slice) and costs $40. Their Sicilian pies also come in a tomato basil option and a spinach and garlic. Leone's sub menu contains over 30 options. This includes a fried meatball sub.

Right in the heart of Cleveland Circle, Pino's is a fan-favorite of Boston College students. Though the crust is a perfect combination of pillow and crunch, the secret here is actually in the sauce. Pino's describes it as "delicious, garlicky tomato sauce with in-house seasoning, cooked on a pan." $20 gets you nine Sicilian slices at Pino's. If you want to add variety to your order, they also have alfredo pies, white pies, and buffalo chicken. Like Pinocchio's, Pino's stays open until the early morning hours on the weekend to help accommodate the college crowd.