Lamb gyros, beef on weck, and dining with dogs

Short on cash, but looking for big flavors? Five bucks goes a long way at Semo’s Gyros and Shish Kebabs cart parked in downtown Wilmington.

You can get a big, very tasty lamb gyro, among other things.

For years, I’ve driven by Semo’s, but only recently did I stop and park.

OK, so maybe I quickly zipped into a nearby Colonial Parking lot for a couple minutes. It’s a little hard to find on-street parking at North Jefferson and West 11th streets, near Wilmington’s Trinity Vicinity neighborhood, where the cart is located.

The cart is decorated with photos of kebabs and sandwiches. The limited offerings include chicken, lamb, falafel or fish gyros, all $5 each. There are beef hot dogs ($2), beef hot sausage ($3), beef Italian sausage ($6) and cheeseburgers ($6). Platters include chicken over rice ($7), lamb over rice ($7.99), fish over rice, and falafel over rice (each $7) and a chicken and lamb combination over rice ($7.99).

I got a very meaty lamb gyro. The pita, stuffed with lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, and red onion slices, was drizzled with both tzatziki and hot sauce. I handed over $5 – money very well spent, in my opinion – plus a tip for the nice guy making my sandwich.

The phone number on the side of the cart was no longer working and I couldn’t find a Facebook page for this location. It does have some Yelp reviews.

Shuffle off to Buffalo in Rehoboth

Anyone who grew up, lived in or has visited Western New York is probably familiar with a “beef on weck.”

The regional sandwich is legendary in the Buffalo area, but it’s a little harder to come by in these parts.

Beef on weck is basically a roast beef sandwich served with horseradish on a salty, caraway seed-studded “kimmelweck” roll.

The $13.99 sandwich has been on the menu of The Whip Tavern in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, since at least 2007. Owner K.C. Kulp, a Buffalo native, wanted to pay homage to his hometown on the menu by offering its famed beef on weck. And Kulp said he wanted it to be the real deal.

“It pains me when I see people trying to turn this into a cheesesteak,” Kulp once told The News Journal.

I haven’t seen too many other beef on wecks in recent years - well, that is, until earlier this week.

While scanning the new menu at Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats in Rehoboth Beach during a Tuesday lunch, I spied beef on weck on the menu. The $15 sandwich is made with wood-grilled beef, horseradish and served with jus.

Is it the authentic, Buffalo-style sandwich?

I’m sorry to say I didn’t order it; my heart’s desire that day was with the $12 pulled pork sandwich made with the housemade “Beach Beer” barbecue sauce and topped with crunchy coleslaw. It was served on a kitschy, metal TV dinner-style tray along with hot, crunchy fries. And it was delicious.

As for Dogfish Head’s beef on weck, I’ll be back soon to give it a try. Considering executive chef Zach Dick is a proud New York native – he often can be seen sporting a Buffalo Bills cap – I’m guessing this, too, is the real deal.

Oh, and Buffalo natives might be psyched to see the menu also has Sahlen’s Hot Dogs, another New York favorite eat.

Now, onto the mailbag:

Sit Rover, with me

I enjoy your column each week. We live in Milford and have recently gotten a new doggy.

I know a lot of folks who visit the beach areas have dogs, and thought a column that listed “dog-friendly” restaurants at the beach would be a great idea, and really helpful when deciding where to go when we have pup with us!!

Thanks!

Debbie Williams

Oh, Debbie, you’re talking to a fellow dog lady. My baby boy, Ozzie, the always-hungry black Lab mix, has been a part of the family since November. At 10 months old, he’s now much better behaved than ever before and it would be nice to have him sit next to me at an eatery. But since he’s still learning his commands, I think I’ll wait until his manners are just a little better.

That said, it’s so hard to leave my beloved tail-wagger at home. Beach towns seem friendly when it comes to dogs. I know in Rehoboth, many businesses set out dog bowls for pooches to drink water when strolling down streets. However, dogs are not allowed on the Rehoboth beach and boardwalk from May 1 through Sept. 30. But they are allowed on the beach in Dewey Beach (just south of the boardwalk) before 9:30 a.m. and after 5:30 p.m. They must still be on a leash and have a Dewey Beach Dog License. Dogs are allowed in the state parks. Rules are different in each Delaware beach town. Check their websites.

When it comes to some dog-friendly restaurants, your little buddy is probably only allowed on an outside deck or front porch or eateries with sidewalk seating.

The Bring Fido website, www.bringfido.com does list restaurants that allow dogs.

Do you know where else can well-behaved dogs visit? Let me know at ptalorico@delawareonline.com I’ll share your responses soon.

Contact Patricia Talorico at (302) 324-2861 or ptalorico@delawareonline.com and on Twitter @pattytalorico