Lucky Lou’s Greek food truck parked by Maine Medical Center in Portland. Photo by Leslie Bridgers
Before last week, I had never been up to Portland’s Western Prom at lunchtime during a workday and, when I saw the scene, wondered what other daytime happenings around town I might be missing.
Four or five food trucks were parked along Bramhall Street drawing employees out of Maine Medical Center, many in scrubs, to eat on picnic tables scattered on a lawn between the hospital and the prom. Further enhancing the people-watching was a woman being wheeled down the sidewalk with a newborn baby in her arms.
I normally don’t go out of my way to track down a food truck but tend to try new ones when I happen to be nearby and hungry. I’d seen Lucky Lou’s blue trailer around town before, but always had either already eaten or opted for a shinier vehicle in the vicinity with a menu that excited me more than its basic Greek fare.
When in need of lunch last week, however, I turned to Instagram, where Lucky Lou’s had posted an hour earlier that it was setting up on the Western Prom, and I was happy not to scroll any further.
I got to the prom a little before noon, and none of the trucks had long lines, but I stuck with my plan. After a quick scan of the menu, I decided not to give the gyros (veggie, beef or beef with hand-cut fries, $6-$8) any time to tempt me and stepped to the window to order The Lucky Salad with chicken souvlaki ($6.50), pleased by the healthy option and price.
The Lucky Salad with chicken souvlaki feels indulgent but is a healthy steal at $6.50. Photo by Leslie Bridgers
A group of nurses ahead of me was waiting on a large order, and as soon as they received it, my salad was quickly assembled. I was expecting a large square box typical of to-go salads, but the container was a more compact rectangle, and I learned why when I opened it. I had incorrectly assumed the salad would include lettuce along with the other ingredients listed – cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, olives, feta and house dressing – but it was just them, like an actual Greek salad from Greece.
I took my lunch to an open table and drizzled on the side of dressing, which was mostly oil but still flavorful. It mixed with the feta to create a creaminess throughout the dish, while the cucumbers and onions gave it crispness and crunch. The tomatoes were just the right softness and bright red color, and the chicken was fall-apart tender. Despite the seeming simplicity and healthfulness, it felt like an indulgence, which lettuce would have ruined for me.
If I had been hungrier, I might have ordered The Combo: choice of gyro or souvlaki, fries or salad, and a drink – a great deal at $8.50. Or added the side of spanakopitakia (three spinach pie triangles with tzatziki, $5) or a baklava square ($4) for dessert. If I had been in a bigger rush, I might have made use of the online ordering option, not something I’d think a food truck would offer but another reason to track down Lucky Lou’s again.
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