Beirut Kitchen’s batata sandwich hits the spot

The food I’d choose to eat prior to a visit to the gym and what I’d pick after a workout vary wildly from one another. Beforehand, I’m generally inclined toward a menu’s more nutrient-dense options. Afterward, I act from animal impulse, going for whatever sounds the most satisfying. The latter was the situation I found myself in while ordering dinner from Beirut Kitchen, and I went way off book.

Located in Lansing Shuffle, Beirut Kitchen offers Middle Eastern staples like shawarma and falafel, as well as some less-expected options such as gyro sandwiches and borch soup, which seems to be a relative of the classic Russian beet soup, borscht. It also has options that seem perfectly designed to be enjoyed after a few cocktails, like the Golden Sojuk Bowl, french fries topped with ground beef, coleslaw, tahini, garlic sauce and melted cheese. And then there’s what I ordered: the batata sandwich.

A long tube of toasty pita encases french fries, coleslaw, garlic sauce, pickles and ketchup. It sounds like stoner food, and mine tasted as good as if I had just smoked. The richness of the fried potatoes bounced off the creaminess of coleslaw and the bright, tangy notes of pickle and ketchup. The pickles weren’t dill-soaked cucumbers — I’m pretty sure they were turnips, adding, along with the delectable garlic sauce, a distinct Middle Eastern element. Each bite was better than the last and comforting in the way only carbs wrapped in carbs can be.

It sounded like it might be too heavy, but it was just decadent enough and was nicely balanced by the side Greek salad I chose, which was standard and tasty. The real revelation came when I switched from dipping my sandwich in the provided ranch to the extra Greek-style vinaigrette I didn’t need for my salad. The red wine vinegar and oregano added even more tasty elements to this already excellent sandwich.

Whether you’re fresh off a trip to the gym, just drank two beers and smoked a blunt or need to run out to grab a quick lunch between Zoom meetings, the batata sandwich will satisfy but also leave you daydreaming about when you’ll get one next. I plan on ordering some hummus for dipping next time.