Looking for a Snack in Huntsville? Pizza and Gyros Reviewed

On a soaking Sunday, when it seemed the rain would keep slashing down forever, we were hungry. We were so hungry that we even extended our Treat Day rule by an extra day. We wanted something warm and comforting and delicious. I researched places near the hotel and read reviews as I always do. Venice Pizza kept coming up.  Locals said Venice Pizza was delicious.

I read their website to make sure they were open on Sundays and that there were no changes due to Covid. We suited up and headed out into the dark, wet day. Venice Pizza was scheduled to open at 11:00am. We arrived at the strip plaza and saw that their lights were not on. We tried the front door and found it locked. We could hear the phone ringing inside. It went unanswered. We waited for 20 minutes or so and then (cursing all the way) drove somewhere else for lunch.

I don’t know why we were feeling so generous, but we were. So, the next day, we called them up and ordered dinner to-go. When I arrived to pick up our pizza, I found what I expected from a neighborhood pizza place: vinyl booths, linoleum floors, and yummy smells. The décor was very nondescript, but it smelled good and that was important. I asked the cashier if they were open on Sundays, and he said they were. I dropped it, but I shouldn’t have. I should have asked why the hell I had driven out in terrible weather the day before only to find the place deserted. Anyway, lucky for them, the pizza was really good. Even after the 5-minute drive back to the hotel and the trek from the parking lot to our 7^th floor room, the crust was still crispy. The pepperonis, rather than being on top, were buried under the cheese. . . a lot of cheese. This wasn’t the best pizza we’d ever had or anything, but it was enjoyable. They just need to work on their customer service. Hopefully, someone got disciplined for not showing up to work on Sunday.

During our time in Huntsville, we also stumbled on Big Papa Gyro. This place is also 5 minutes from the Marriott at the Space and Rocket Center.  I had a truly wonderful gyro in Puerto Rico once. My favorite gyro is still the one from Gyro Plus in Gainesville, Florida. However, Big Papa Gyro has just taken the coveted #2 position. In fact, it was almost a tie. Trust me, that’s really saying something. Gyro Plus only held on to the top spot because the seasoning on their meat is still the best around. On your next vacation to the mountains, detour to Huntsville and eat at Big Papa Gyro! (Huntsville is only 30 minutes from the Tennessee border).

Big Papa Gyro is busy all the time. That’s a great sign. No one wants to eat at a place the locals shy away from. It was so delicious we ate there twice.  How many times have I said that in this blog?

Both times there were a handful of people eating there (inside and outside seating available) and there was a thriving to-go business happening at the counter. The gyros are pillowy soft and super stuffed with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, meat and tzatziki sauce. Big Papa’s version of tzatziki sauce was thicker than other versions I’ve had, well-seasoned with herbs you can see, and most importantly, evenly distributed. Most gyros have the sauce on top of the whole concoction, so some bites (at the bottom) have no sauce. Somehow, despite the thickness of their sauce, the Big Papa gyro magicians managed to distribute the tzatziki more evenly, thereby allowing their hungry customers to taste the sauce in more bites. This is important for a gyro. You think I’m an amateur? Trust the lady with the hips, my friend.

My gyro was $8.49 including tax and was plenty of food all by itself. They do offer a combo that comes with seasoned fries as well ($11.64 with tax). The fry expert in my household told me they were very crispy and steaming hot. On my second visit, I ordered two pieces of spanakopita for $3.00. These phyllo dough pouches are filled with spinach and feta cheese.

This. Was. The. Best. Spanakopita. Of. My. Entire. Life.

The only thing stopping me from ordering enough spanakopita to be a meal in itself on my next trip to Huntsville is my desire to try their other menu items. Phyllo dough is always delicate and crispy when cooked correctly, but this was unreal. Seriously, I think it was delivered by angels because I could hear them singing after the first bite.

Both times we opted for take-out. I am looking forward to eating in next time. The dining room is bursting with color. What color? The blue of the Greek flag, of course! A huge wall photo of the blue domes of Santorini dominates the space. You will forget you are in a strip mall when you hear the music or see the arches and columns they’ve constructed. They were clearly going for an immersive experience, and they succeeded.

Warm comfort foods can make all the difference on gray days. I was happy for the chance to hunt down some of the good stuff in Huntsville, Alabama. A common refrain in this blog is the reminder to support local business. I created the opportunity to do so. While the pizza was good, the Greek food was amazing. I’ll never go hungry in Huntsville, and neither will you.