Damascus Bread & Pastry Shop

I've mentioned how staid I find most of the food options in Brooklyn Heights, but down on Atlantic Ave, the southern border of the Heights, are a few Middle-Eastern joints that offer some great food. Sahadi's seems to be the most popular, and I certainly like it, but next door is Damascus Bread & Pastry. I'm new here so I'm no expert, but I can't quite figure out why it isn't as beloved: everything I've had is just a little bit better at Damascus.

I have to start with the garlic spread. I have never had anything quite like this. The obvious comparison is Zankou Chicken and their garlic sauce. Remember that Justin Bieber/Clash analogy I used a few weeks ago? That doesn't begin to do justice here. I have never, ever tasted something as strongly spiked with garlic as this sauce.

Here come three words I never thought would cross my lips, three words I always assumed I would be even less likely say than "Let's Go Yankees" or "Sweet, Jersey Shore":

It's too garlicky.

Now, don't get me wrong, I finished the first container within two days of buying it - I unleashed a burp after slathering this on a White Castle burger that I am relatively sure Elizabeth will be reminding me of until 2017 - and I've purchased more since then. I like it. But man, it would actually taste better if there was a less pronounced garlic flavor. I've finally found something with too much garlic.

This is getting too weird. Let's move on.

There is a display counter in the front of the shop full of meat/falafel/spinach pies. The first time I visited Damascus, I asked for a spicy chicken pie. The man started to heat it in the microwave for me.

"No, thanks," I interrupted him. "I'll do that at home."

"Or, you're not eating it now, you're taking it home?" he replied. "Then you want to get two pies."

I assured him that if it was good I would be back for more.

It was really good. After heating it a few minutes in the oven, the dough was warm, a touch crisp on the corners and flaky throughout. And the chicken was really tasty. It wasn't spicy, so I slathered a little garlic sauce on a piece, which certainly boosted the flavor but did not really make the pie any better.

And, at $2, it's one of the best deals around. (I paid ten dollars for a pint of beer the other evening, which might have set the new standard for how expensive food and drinks are in this neighborhood.)

As I told the man I would, I returned (the next day) for a couple more pies, this time selecting the spinach and feta. It was also delicious, though I have to say I liked the chicken a slight bit more.

After I had paid for a couple of things on a recent trip and was on the way out the door, I noticed a sign for shawarma. I immediately thought of Ron Swanson: "There is a hot, spinning cone of meat in that Greek restaurant next door. I don't know what it is, but I'd like to eat the whole thing."

Why not, I thought to myself. I was hungry. The sandwich was ready in a minute and I took it home with me. It wasn't until I removed it from the bag that I felt the weight of it; the thing felt close to two pounds.

I had asked her to withhold the tomatoes. I had lettuce, cabbage, pickles, white sauce, hot sauce, and chicken, all in a fresh pita.

For five bucks, this is an even better deal than the pies. Everything about the sandwich worked together. No, it doesn't replace my beloved chicken tarna from Zankou - what I called probably my favorite sandwich in the world - but it was one of the best things I have eaten in a long time.

Notice how the last photo is surrounded by foil? I hadn't thought I could finish the sandwich so I wrapped it in foil and put it in the fridge. Three minutes later I said "Screw it, I want to eat the rest of it."

I considered going back a few hours later and getting another, but decided to wait.

There is also a large selection of flatbreads and pitas. More than one person has called Damascus's pita bread "the best in the world," though I am partial to the onion flatbread, which makes a great base for homemade pizzas, as well as a perfect vehicle for dips when sliced up.

Speaking of dips, Elizabeth loves the yogurt "salad" - yogurt, garlic, salt, cucumber and mint. I think it's fine for a yogurt dip, but those have never been my favorite.

Damascus is definitely a gem and I plan to eat my way through most of what they have to offer over the next few months. They have sujuk and basturma that I have yet to try. In fact, I haven't decided what I am making tomorrow for football-watching. Maybe I should use one of those? We'll see.