Lamb Shawarma

Lamb Shawarma at Cleo

slslasvegas.com

B+

Until recently, we were always too busy noshing on babaganoush and carrot harissa and "spicy cigars" and the other tremendous mezze at Las Vegas' best Mediterranean restaurant, Cleo at SLS, to make our way to the few sandwiches on the menu. There are lamb sliders, too, but we had to go with the shawarma first, about three bites of the most luscious, slow-roasted, indulgently spiced lamb you've ever tasted—literally dripping with savory juices—topped with onions and fresh parsley, all tucked into a mini-pita. One of these is in no way enough. Now we have another great snack to add to our regular Cleo rotation.

Lahm Bi Ajeen

Lahm Bi Ajeen at Khoury's

khouryslv.com

A

It's compact, simple and sublime. It doesn't look like much—and this terrible photo doesn't help—but the traditional Lebanese sandwich at Las Vegas' foremost Lebanese restaurant is a jewel. A thin, flat disc of Khoury's outstanding pita bread dough is crisped in the oven and folded around a spectacularly spiced combination of ground lamb, tomatoes and onions. You cannot stop eating this thing. Bite after wonderful bite yields familiar pizza/calzone/panini textural association, but the tastebuds get blown by the rich, fresh, diverse and savory notes inside this crispy concoction. This could become an everyday addiction.

Traditional Gyro

Traditional Gyro at Market Grille Cafe

marketgrillecafe.com

B+

Is a gyro a sandwich? Yes, dummy, it is. Pita bread is one of the world's great breads, and the warm, soft pita served at Market Grille Cafe is decent stuff. Even better is the flavorful blend of beef and lamb inside its traditional gyro, well spiced and ultimately savory. Anybody who says Mediterranean food can't be meaty-delicious needs to try one of these, especially because MGC serves a generous portion of meat in its gyros. Topping it off, you've got chopped lettuce, red onions, tomatoes and cucumbers, with a sprinkle of feta cheese and a slathering of creamy yogurt dill sauce. There are so many mingling flavors going on in this sandwich ... how could you have ever questioned it's validity in the first place? Shame on you!