When it comes to a fresh, healthy, and flavorful lunch in Tampa, it's hard to go wrong with one of the handful of Mediterranean dining spots throughout the area. This international cuisine puts a huge emphasis on seafood and other light proteins brought to life by a huge assortment of spices that won't leave you sluggish after a mid-day meal.
Kurdi's Fresh Mediterranean Grill in Downtown Tampa realizes this and takes a modern approach to this age-old cuisine with a near-futuristic, whited-out interior made complete by a fresh assortment of traditional and, shall we say, more inventive takes on classic Mediterranean fare.
Kurdi's menu boasts a modest assortment of soups, salads, small plates, pita wraps, flatbreads, sandwiches, and larger entrees, much of which hovers nicely below a $10 price point.
I kicked things off with Kurdi's soup of the day, a tomato basil puree served with four mini grilled cheese sandwiches for dipping. The soup touts a nice, smooth consistency with a tad of acidity that pairs heavenly with the melty cheese and grilled crust of the bread. Before I knew it, I was staring down the barrel of a bowl of devoured soup and breadcrumbs; a testament to the playful balance of wonderful flavors this tiny dish can emit.
I wish the same could be said for their beef schwarma, a traditional middle-eastern wrap with "thinly sliced marinated beef served with tomatoes, onions and pickles, topped with tahini sauce."
The beef came in chewy chunks marinated for, what tasted like about five minutes in an odd, pungent flavoring I could go without tasting again. The "wrap" this thing was contained within flaked and crumbled with a consistency that felt like it'd been left out a little too long.
But, the saving grace was Kurdi's fries, which were easily some of the best I've tasted in recent memory. Light and crispy with just enough salt, these fries are in a league of their own and worth the visit to Kurdi's just on their own.
So, there's some good and some bad when it comes to dining at Kurdi's. This is just my single experience, though. Give them a try, then let us know what you think with your own rating and review on the Kurdi's Fresh Mediterranean Grill 813area business listing.
