Cafe Illyria (214 E. State St.) is often referred to as a hidden gem, and not just because the entrance is nestled below street level. (Which I love, by the way. Any time I go beneath street level to get to a restaurant it feels like walking through a magical wardrobe to Narnia.) There’s a large sign and bright red awning stretching the length of the building, after all. It’s not exactly hard to miss. It’s a hidden gem because you may not know to look for it in the first place.
You’re not going to learn about Cafe Illyria by seeing them post perfectly plated food photos on Instagram. Because they’re not on Instagram. They don’t have a website, let alone a robust social media presence. Rather, you hear about Cafe Illyria through word of mouth, or by simply stumbling upon them during an impromptu exploration of Downtown on a weekday lunch break.
Cafe Illyria feels old school in a genuinely refreshing way. They’re not showing off. They’re just minding their own business and making good food that speaks for itself.
The restaurant has two outdoor patios, a smaller one on the ground level and a slightly larger one outside the front door a few steps below. During winter, the patio chairs can be seen stacked up and pushed to the side, waiting in anticipation for the warmer months where they’ll be set out and adorned with big red umbrellas.
There’s more seating inside with two and four top tables placed side by side across the dining room. A chalkboard menu is hung to the right of the order window, through which you can see talented cooks moving about the kitchen. To the left is a glass case with desserts, salads, and beverages.
Service at Cafe Illyria could not have been friendlier or more helpful. Since the lunch menu has a long list of gyro, panini, and wrap options (all under $8), I asked what I should get. I was asked in return what kind of meat I wanted. I chose gyro meat, made with both ground beef and ground lamb. I was then asked if I wanted lettuce, onion, and tomato. Yes, please. And how about feta and Tzatziki sauce? Absolutely. I ended up with a classic Greek gyro ($6.99) with crinkle fries on the side. They were lightly salted and a perfect balance of crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside.
Something colorful in the glass case caught my eye so I also ordered an Albanian Village Salad ($2.95). It was a rainbow on a plate and had as many tastes and textures as it did colors: creamy crumbles of tangy feta, fresh chunks of tomato and cucumber, salty bites of kalamata olives.
As for my gyro, don’t be fooled by the photo. I promise you there’s thinly sliced gyro meat hiding in there, and lots of it. You’re given a fork to help get some of the initial heavy lifting done (the mix of lettuce, tomato, and onions with Tzatziki sauce was delicious on its own), making it easier to eventually pick the gyro up by hand if you wish.
Cafe Illyria also has a breakfast menu available until 10:30 a.m. It features classic comforts like pancakes and omelets (all under $7.00), but one item stands out above the rest. If you Google image search Cafe Illyria, you’ll see photo after photo of the Albanian Breakfast Plate. It’s an egg scramble with home fries, spinach, onion, and tomato, topped with feta and olives. It’s served down the center of the plate and framed by four pieces of toast.
I will be back for that breakfast plate, mark my words.
Before I left, I stopped at the counter a second time to order one of my favorite treats: a piece of sticky, sweet baklava. Made with layers of phyllo pastry, baklava is filled with chopped nuts and sweetened with syrup or honey. It’s flaky, soft, and crunchy all at the same time. It is perfection.
The next time you’re figuring out where to go for breakfast or lunch, don’t overlook the hidden gem that is Cafe Illyria. They won’t jump up and down trying to get your attention. But they’ll be there, unassuming and doing what they do best: making truly satisfying food at an accessible price.
Go down the steps and walk through the wardrobe. You’ll be glad you did.
Cafe Illyria is open Monday – Friday from 7 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
All photos by Taylor Meredith