Back to Galvez Parking Garage to check out downtown. Two dollars to park for an hour and have a safe base for exploration. I work a lot closer to downtown these days and I’ve always wanted to spend a bit more time checking it out but I was always afraid of the parking, both time spent finding a place and cost when I did. I’ve conquered those fears and feel like Bienville or d’Iberville. Ha! I wish! That certainly would have been fun and filthy being one of those guys, but I digress as I am wont to do. The Serop’s guys did a lot of work on their place over the holidays. Redid the floor, all new tables and chairs. That is no small investment. Outside looks nice too.
And the inside features the express part of the name, a thirty something pan hot and cold serving line manned by multiple servers and cashiers primed to get you in and out as quickly as possible. This is to their benefit as well as yours and also lets them take full advantage of carry out and Waitr delivery.
In fact, I was a little intimidated since it was my first visit so I just went with the combination shawarma plate with rice pilaf, feta salad, hummus and pita, but as soon as I saw the lovely spinach pies I had to add one to my order. And of course I filled my styro cup with Lebanese tea. Next time though, I think I will just hit the build your own plate because the stuffed bellpeppers and tennis ball sized falafel and the roasted cauliflower all made me want to keep piling my plate but luckily, I didn’t persist. The combo plate and the spinach pie was already too much food for lunch but oh so good. The middle Eastern food itch doesn’t happen all the time, but when it does, it needs scratching. Serop’s Express is a very, very fast answer for that particular need. Next up downtown is Chow Main (still giving them some time since they just got open a few months ago) and Christina’s and Poor Boy Lloyd’s and Cecilia. Also need to hit Pastimes for old times and Frostop just for their banging roast beef poboy.
