Often when I eat lamb it’s in the context of Chinese food, whether it’s a glorious spice-encrusted Muslim lamb chop or an entire spit-roasted haunch. So I was pleased to see a good old-fashioned kebab sandwich ($6.99) on the menu at Little Egypt, a cafe/grocery in Ridgewood hard by the border of Brooklyn and Queens.
The lamb sandwich comes wrapped tight in the paper thin variety of Middle Eastern pita, itself rolled in paper and then foil, perhaps all the better to be eaten on the go. But why not soak up the atmosphere of this diminutive spot decorated with all manner of Egyptian ephemera?
A cross section reveals brochettes of lamb, and lettuce and tomato. The meat has been kissed by the grill and marries well with the tahini and vegetables and the accompanying hot sauce. The kebab was a bit more well done than I prefer, but there was plenty of it. Washed done with a peach Laziza malt beverage, it makes for a mighty fine lunch. For dessert there’s mint tea and basbosa, a sugar drenched semolina confection that the kitchen thoughtfully warms up before serving.
As I sipped the piping hot tea awhile listening to Egyptian music, I had an overwhelming desire to ask the owner to take down one of the hookahs from the shelves that line the room and join me in a sheesha smoking session.
Little Egypt, 66-28 Fresh Pond Rd., Ridgewood, 347-987-3860