This is really disappointing to read of your experience. There is so much hype in the foodie media these days about new openings and celebrity chefs, I don’t know who to trust. I wonder if this place was over-hyped to begin with, has taken a nose dive, or you just hit it on an off day.
I still want to go and I want to try the gyros. I understand pork is the meat that is used in Greece. The lamb/beef cones used in American Greek gyros shops is an American invention. I don’t know if they’re unknown outside the US but I don’t think you’d encounter them very often in Greece.
Regarding your other choices - Alison Cook has frequently mentioned she lives on the east side and the lack of good dining options over there. I’ve tried a couple of places she raved about, El Greco Greek Grille on Lawndale and H&tG and found both not as awesome as claimed - not bad, and probably close to awesome for the East end, but I’d suggest you not make the trip all the way across town just for the latter. Maybe stop off on the way to or from Galveston? In any case, don’t get your hopes up too high.
Re: Andes - as I recall you had a very good experience at Sal Y Pimiento which sounded better than my experience at Andes (I haven’t been back, yet). Maybe I just ordered poorly.
By all means Mein.
To each his own, of course.
