Syed Shirazi, 41, opened this stand in March. He leases the space near the cash register and cigarette display and picked the location because it’s centrally located and a good way to ease into the food business.
“Owning a restaurant is a risky business,” he said. “I wanted to try it out before I jump into something bigger and open up a full-service restaurant. And so far, it’s going well.”
Syed is a self-taught cook. He and his wife created their own mix of spices and marinade to use on fresh chicken and beef-lamb mix. He marinates chicken for two days before he cooks it on skewers, using a mix of Pakistani spices and paprika, turmeric and cumin powder.
His yogurt-based white that tops the gyros resembles a tzatziki sauce, but without cucumber. This gyro tastes completely different from traditional Greek gyros.
The menu contains four items: Gyro with naan, gyro over rice, gyro over salad or the gyro special combo. All are made to order.
Don’t miss:
Gyro with Naan ($6.99): Start with choice of meat: the beef/lamb mix or chicken on a warm naan flatbread. Then pick your toppings of lettuce, pickled onions, tomato and cilantro.
This salad is big enough for two.
Savor the Pakistani sauces– they’re a great alternative to regular salad dressing.
The restaurant: Naani’s, 416 Oswego St., Liverpool, 315-870-9505.
Credit cards? Yes
Access to disabled? Yes
Inside seating: No. We used the hood of my car as a table.
Parking: You can park up front or on the side, across from the gas pumps.
Hours: Seven days a week 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.