If someone tells you something tastes bad, do you try it? This was the question that crossed my mind at a lunch at Gaby’s Mediterranean. On the border of Palms and Culver City, Gaby’s serves Middle Eastern food – kabobs, schwarmas and the like. One of their best features is the large enclosed patio area which serves as the primary dining area.

Once you sit down, you’ll be given some pita and a dip. The pita bread is nothing special, its primary goal is to help scoop up that herb dip.

I ordered the chicken kebob plate, which came with salad, potatoes and fries.

The chicken was okay, not particularly flavorful, the meat a little on the dry side. Sadly, it wasn’t surprising as chicken kabobs are rarely as moist as you would like them to be.

The best part of my meal were the starchy sides.

In between the rice and the potatoes, it was a toss up to say which was better, though I’ll give the potatoes a slight edge.

At least I fared better than my friend who ordered a vegetarian plate that came with falafel, hummus, salad, rice and mujadara (a lentil dish).

“This is my favorite,” exclaimed my friend, as she dug into the mujadara. She then made a face. “Ugh, this tastes bad.” My brain started racing. Do I try it out of curiosity to confirm her taste buds or do I spare myself any sort of unpleasantness?

I remembered those old scratch and sniff books, where there was a skunk. Inevitably, I would scratch the skunk’s tail, only to be rewarded with a bad smell. Now that I was older, I thought I should at least show that I’ve learned from my mistakes by not tasting it.

On a more positive note, our waiter was quite gracious upon hearing her displeasure with the dish and offered to bring her something else (she passed).

In this area, there are several better dining options available. However, sometimes all you need is good company and a hassle-free place to eat, where you won’t have to wait. For those times, there’s Gaby’s Mediterranean.

Location –  10445 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles 90034. Additional locations in Marina Del Rey, Venice and Culver City.
Website – http://www.gabysexpress.com
Kid-Friendly – Yes
Kid’s Menu – No
Vegetarian Friendly – Yes
Vegan Friendly – Yes
Gluten-Free Options – Yes