On Tuscaloosa Street, a block away from Wilson Park, The Gyro Shop recently opened in a small shop that’s easy to overlook.

The shop is entirely unexpected.

A Greek sandwich shop in the heart of downtown Florence seems like a misplacement, though as I entered the small shop during a one o’clock lunch hour, seven people stood in line behind me.

The restaurant is tiny, with no seating available inside or outside – a downside if you’re needing a place to type an email or take some last-minute study notes while eating your food. There was little room for me and my seven friends to move around, though a homey atmosphere was allowed as we began chatting.

Walking in, we noticed a menu above us, simply written “Any sandwich – six dollars, Any dip – four dollars”.

The gyro options are chicken, beef or lamb, cooked traditional, rotisserie style on a skewer with tomato, garlic and seasoning before your eyes. The friendly shop owner prepared my chicken gyro with crisp lettuce, a tangy radish and delicious tzatziki sauce with a strong goat milk flavor, all tucked into a pita pocket.

Fries made fresh in the shop are also available for a mere dollar and a half more. The sliced potatoes are fried and quite greasy, though scrumptiously so.

While chicken is the most traditional meat choice for gyros, the lamb was decidedly tastier. The spices and cooking technique accentuate the flavor of the lamb.

The hummus, however, is a more acquired taste. This chickpea and olive oil spread served with two slices of pita bread was tangy, be that due to lemon juice or the chickpeas themselves. It is not exceptional, but definitely preferred over store-bought hummus.

I recommend taking cash. There is no tax, but the owner ran into some complications when running my card through the Square card reader.

Despite the small location, minimal menu selection, lack of seating and payment hassle, the nearby Wilson Park provided a lovely venue to indulge in a massive amount of food for such a low price.

If you have a tight budget and a big appetite but are looking for an authentic taste of Greece, The Gyro Shop awaits you.