It is said that good things come in small packages, and this tiny Mediterranean and Middle Eastern…read morerestaurant perfectly embodies this saying. Since it opened its doors in 2017 in Salem, Virginia, this small but very popular, family-owned restaurant by Egyptian immigrants is known for its fresh made-to-order gyros, falafel, and Greek salads, just to name a few. Today I had the opportunity to visit this restaurant and discover the qualities that make this tiny restaurant in the middle of nowhere so popular. Because of its small size, most of its customers orders are take outs. But it also has a counter inside with around 3 to 4 stools so that customers who prefer to eat their food in the restaurant can. When I arrived, I parked my Lexus in a space right in front of the restaurant and noticed that there are not that many parking spots around. That is another reason why most of its sells are take-out orders. Customers can either call in their orders and drop by to pick it up, or park for a few minutes, make their order, and watch it being made, and then take it with them to enjoy at home. In good, warm weather, they do have two picnic tables outdoors where their customers can eat. Inside, I was able to meet the husband of the family who runs the business. He was very friendly and kind, a native of Egypt with a wife and 5 siblings. He gave me a warm welcome and took my eat-in order. The menu (which had Halal food) was displayed inside a Coca-Cola stand. To drink I grabbed a Mountain Dew from their drinks display refrigerator they have with Coke products. To eat I ordered their Gyro Special: Gyro meat served with rice and a small salad. It came with a special salad dressing and a sauce to put on the meat. The kitchen and the restaurant itself were very clean and all the ingredients used were very fresh and quality products. I sat on one of the stools, in front of the counter and watched him prepare my food. After paying for it with a credit card, I began to enjoy eating it. The salad was very fresh, made right before my eyes. The meat was Broiled right then and there, and the rice had a yellow tone and tasted unbearably delicious! As I was eating, the owner/chef put up a sign on the counter that read: "Please wait. I'm praying. thank you." I then figured out he must be Muslim and as soon as he finished praying I said to him: "As-salamu alaykum." He appreciated my nice words. While I was there, two other customers came in and ordered takeout food. For dessert I ordered an in-house made Baklava. The shape didn't look so good but the flavor did taste good. He told me that I could eat it with my hands but since they didn't have a restroom to wash my hands afterwards, I asked for a plastic fork to eat it with. Their prices were very reasonable and their portions very generous. I paid for the Baklava and thanked him for the wonderful service. The food was so genuine and delicious that whenever I'm in this area next time, I will definitely stop by and dine there again.

Best gyro I've had in years. No frills. The meat shines in its simplicity: seasoning and texture…read more The ingredients in the pita were fresh and proportioned well, and the tzatziki (as another reviewer pointed out) was top notch. I also got a pita and side of hummus, and the hummus was special. I didn't ask, but I think the oil may have been grapeseed? Either way, delicious. The proprietor was kind and took pride in his specialty. I wish there was a bathroom, but you have to appreciate the intimacy of a "hole-in-the-wall" corner shop, which I say with the upmost respect.

everything is delicious. everyone who works there is friendly. one of my, if not my, favorite spots…read morein roanoke.

Went in today and not impressed in the slightest. When I sat down after ordering I noticed the…read morecondiments, salt and perrper shakers look like the never been wiped or sanitized. I honestly tried to over look the table condiments untill my plate came out and half way through my salad noticed yhe outside of my salad plate was filthy from old food. Yuck! We ordered gyro, salad, tea and soda. Which the tea didn't arrive to the table till after husband finished his gyro. We will not be going back for obvious reasons and the price for this was 50+ for just the items mentioned above. This was our first and very last visit.

Friendly staff, excellent service, and the food was fresh and very flavorful! It's part grocery…read morestore/part restaurant, but not fancy. Regardless, the food was superb! I got a gyro with fries. Highly recommend for a quick meal.

What I loved: Menu has a wide range of middle eastern…read morefavorites, stretching beyond the basics Cool grocery section with a good selection of spices and foods Lamb shank fish was fall off the bone, deliciousness What can be improved Counter service only. Shortcuts used to adapt traditional items to quick serve format (bolanee was closer to a fried quesadilla) Several items were not available.

I travel a lot for work and when I can I seek out Lebanese food in various cities around the…read morecountry, and cedars definitely does it the best. Amazing food, quick service and wonderful staff. It would get 6 stars if yelp would allow!

I love this place! Awesome falafel, dolma, tabbouleh, and toum. Maybe not a first date place unless…read moreyou both eat the toum.

I enjoy getting curry goat at Indian restaurants. This one was pretty good. The rice was a bit…read morebland. Cauliflower appetizer was good but the sauce was a bit heavy. Tandoori chicken was good but a bit overcooked. Service was fine. When we first entered, the host was taking a pickup / delivery order on the phone. We had to wait several minutes for that, which was a bit annoying. I think we should have been able to seat ourselves.

The cocktail somosa was pretty spicy, in a good way. The mint chutney was more like Lime chutney,…read moreas that was the main flavor coming through. We ordered chicken Tikka Masala and Mughlai chicken. Both were decent, the Mughlai sauce was definitely the best thing we ordered. Pay for parking behind the restaurant was broken when we were there.

Enjoy local raw unfiltered honey from Salem Va honeybees. Bring a jar home and enjoy some of the…read morehoney mustard sauce on a delicious sandwich or with yummy chicken tenders.

Wow, great burger. Great service. Hole in the wall worth the trip. You better be hungry, the…read moreburgers are not little.

Food was amazing authentic Jamaican cuisine. Service was excellent. Nice ambiance for a small…read morelocally owned restaurant. I would recommend the curry chicken, oxtails and the curry goat

The first time I visited this new hometown restaurant, I found it closed with a sign on the door…read morethat they were at their Church's Summer Camp and would be closed during this time. Today, after making sure it was opened, I decided to go visit and have lunch there. When I arrived and entered through their door, I found a clean yet simple decorated restaurant with my favorite Bible quote hanging from one of the walls. There were a couple of customers waiting to be seated, and one was waiting for a to go order. Then Andrea, the owner's wife, came out of the kitchen and told us to sit wherever we liked and gave us copies of the menu. It was all so informal and without protocol, yet after later meeting the owner, David Gusler and his wife Andrea, in more depth, I was impressed with their beautiful hearts and Christian behavior. They made us feel at home in this restaurant. Greeting us and talking to us about the items on the menu. More customers were coming in, and some of them were steady customers, while others like me were just trying out the place for the first time. I enjoyed the relaxed homey atmosphere and the wonderful personalities of the owner and the flavor of good homemade food.

A new restaurant has risen from the ashes of another. After a period of closure and renewal, the…read morespirit of Aly Baba Restaurant is reborn as Zico's, like a Phoenix rising from the ashes to offer an elevated dining experience. After being awarded the Triad Yelper of the Year 2024 Award at the Yelpies Award Ceremony last year, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And Zico's Restaurant in Salem, Virginia, is the perfect example. Zico's is conveniently located in the corner of 4th Street and Roanoke Blvd in Salem, Virginia. Immediately after hearing of the change, and attracted by its new name and logo, I drove to this location to experience first hand Zico's cuisine. The restaurant has a nice size parking lot right in front of it. Its owner and chef, Zico is a native Egyptian, with a warm and friendly personality, who specializes in authentic Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Italian cuisines, as well as Pizzas. As I entered its door he was the first one to give me a warm greeting and welcome me to his restaurant. It had one red brick wall, imitation hardwood floors, simple ceiling lamps, and a very interesting movable large TV screen with a beautiful outdoor Cafe scene. The background music perfectly complements the relaxing and cozy environment. In the main dining room it has very elegant and comfortable booths all around, and in a separate banquet room it has tables and chairs all lined up. The menu has an excellent variety of items representing the different cuisines. I ordered a Beef Shawarma Platter that came with a salad and Pita Bread with a special in house salad dressing and cream for the Pita Bread. The salad was so fresh and moist that it was a pleasure eating it. The Beef Shawarma was cooked with a special sauce made with cooked onions, green and red peppers, and some seasons that gave it an amazing flavor, one only equivalent to high-end restaurants with sofisticated and award winning chefs. The rice was also a good quality rice with wonderful flavor. I enjoyed the food so much that till the last grain of rice and savored evey minute of it. For dessert I ordered their only in-house made dessert, the Tiramisu. It was amazingly delicious. Like no other that I ever had. What an extraordinary dining experience. I have dined in the best restaurants and yet this restaurant's cuisine is exceptionally outstanding to the point of exceeding even the highest expectations. I highly recommend it and am looking forward to returning to try it's Italian and Greek cuisines.

You HAVE to try Zico (or Aly Baba, as I knew it!). The food…read moreis consistently top-notch. I highly recommend the kofta, which is perfectly seasoned and cooked, the incredibly flavorful shawarma, and the magnificent mussakaa--it's rich, comforting, and authentic. Beyond the delicious food, the standout feature is the service. The owner is the friendliest you will ever meet, always taking the time to make you feel welcome. It's that kind of genuinely warm, inviting atmosphere that keeps me coming back again and again. Whether you're a long-time fan of Aly Baba or discovering Zico for the first time, you won't be disappointed! This is a must-visit spot.