Dish & Drink KC: Unpretentious pitas and pies at Shawarmar and Pegah’s 

Shish Tawook Wrap from Shawarmar. // Photo by Lauren Textor

Shawarmar

You’d be forgiven for driving past Shawarmar. Its Kansas City location looks almost abandoned, especially with the mess of construction and detours on Linwood Boulevard. As I pulled into the drive-thru, I half expected that no one would be there to answer me on the other side of the speaker. 

After a few seconds of silence, though, a voice came through clearly. 

“Everything is good,” it said. 

That’s what I like to hear. After a beat of consideration, I ordered the Shish Tawook Wrap一chunks of marinated chicken breast with mint leaves, pickles, fries, and “a hint of creamy garlic sauce.” 

My wrap was quickly constructed by what seemed to be the only employee on the premises, and he handed it off to me with a smile. 

I drove to Kauffman Gardens, where I planned to devour the wrap solo. Sometimes, your day calls for scarfing down fast food by yourself, and I honor that side of myself.

Shish Tawook Wrap from Shawarmar. // Photo by Lauren Textor

After sitting down at one of the small tables in the gardens, I pulled my wrap from the brown paper bag it came in. I was happy to find that several napkins were inside, especially after my wrap fell open to reveal a mess of sauce that immediately began dripping everywhere. 

I hardly noticed that I was missing my fries because I was hunched over like an animal, chewing the tender chicken and pita. 

I’m grateful that hardly anyone else was in the gardens, because within the first few bites, my hands, face, and sweatpants were all speckled with sauce dribble. The overly soggy wrap wasn’t the freshest I’ve had, but it was fast and filling. I would have appreciated less lettuce and more than a single slice of tomato. However, I was fully satisfied with the amount of protein. 

Shawarmar is woman-owned, affordable Mediterranean, and it claims to have the best falafel in Kansas City. I’ve yet to test that for myself, but I’ll certainly be back (and next time, I’ll request extra napkins). 

Shawarmar has two locations at 21 Linwood Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64111 and at 20130 E. Valley View Pkwy., Independence, MO 64057.

Spinny Benny at Pegah’s. // Photo by Lauren Textor

Pegah’s

When I was a kid, my whole extended family would gather in Pegah’s back room a few times a year. My aunt knew all the servers by name, and she would start asking them about how their moms were doing or if their kids were in high school yet. 

The adults would sit at one end of the table and the kids would sit at the other. Everyone would debate over the enormous menu and, often, the servers would have to return more than once because it took forever for us to settle on our orders. 

My sisters and I almost always had to share a meal when we went to restaurants as kids. If we didn’t, my mom would purse her lips and suck her teeth, because my dad always had to get a drink, and eating out with the five of us could get expensive. This meant that my sisters and I would campaign for whatever we wanted most. We’d try to convince each other that we should order pancakes instead of waffles or that hash browns were better than fries. 

Now that I’m an adult, I can order my own entree. I’ve never ordered anything other than breakfast at Pegah’s, because why would you not? When my aunt and I sat down at Pegah’s location on Johnson Drive, she gabbed with the waitress, and I ordered the Spinny Benny. 

It’s not a fancy, fast eatery. Three servers came over to swap stories with my aunt before our food was delivered. But I wasn’t keeping track of time, because I don’t go to Pegah’s for a quick in-and-out meal. I go for nostalgia and because life feels simpler in those vinyl booths. 

When our plates were presented, thick yellow hollandaise blanketed my greasy bacon, spinach, and tomato. My hash browns were perfectly golden-brown on top and soft beneath the crisp. 

I ate quickly. I was hungry, and as much as I love sauce, watching it congeal turns my stomach. 

Within a few quiet minutes, our plates were clear, and despite being more than full, we started discussing the possibility of pie. 

Pegah’s has a glass case up at the front, right where you walk in, and we were seated in direct view of the slices of chocolate silk, coconut, and lemon meringue. 

Unfortunately, our willpower won out, and we left with a longing glance. Learn from our mistakes. Take this as a sign to give in to your gluttony and treat yourself to a slice.

Pegah’s has three locations at 11005 Johnson Dr., Shawnee, KS 66203, 5354 Roberts St., Shawnee, KS 66226, and 12122 W. 87th St., Lenexa, KS 66215.