As a picky Lebanese woman, I am so happy I found a place that tastes just like home. As soon as I stepped into Aceituna Grill, I felt welcomed by the warmth from the staff and the flavorful smell of fresh mediterranean ingredients. I ordered the spicy chicken shawarma platter with rice and fattoush with a side of falafels with the special garlic sauce...and wow. I was blown away by the quality, freshness and richness of the food. The portions were very generous. I also met the owner's family and fell in love with their story and diverse cultural background. You can tell that this restaurant was made with love. I hope they plan to open a branch in every US metro area! Meanwhile I will be stopping by every time I visit Boston. I HIGHLY recommend this place for anyone! read more

Aceituna Grill - the interior of a restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Small portion sizes for the price, limited topping options, bland food. Not terrible, but was expecting a lot better. CAVA is much better in my opinion. Ordered takeout, so it was quick and convenient, though. read more

Aceituna Grill - Shawarma bowl - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Had a reallly wonderful catered lunch from here. The fried cauliflower is to die for, and I enjoyed the hummus a lot as well. Lots of vegan options! read more

Aceituna Grill - Tabbouleh, rice, falafel, hummus - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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3.5 overall Came here for lunch and the place was pretty full of folks sitting and eating, but really no line. Service is basic, no pleasantries just straight to business, which I can understand especially if they need to keep the line moving. I ordered the chicken pita roll up, side of babaganoush (which includes 1 pita) and baklava. Definitely get the chicken, it's what sells the most which means it'll be freshly sliced and not dried out. The portion was just enough, don't expect to have leftovers. The seasoning were understated even with the garlic sauce. The fries weren't salted/seasoned which would have helped! The babaganoush had a lovely smokey, roast eggplant flavor with none of the bitterness. It could have used more seasoning and more olive oil and lemon. It's a huge portion! The baklava was good, very heavy on the cinnamon. Top was very flaky and the bottom was dripping in syrup, really great balance and for the price, a good portion. I would get lunch here again if I were craving middle eastern food. read more

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Highly recommend the spicy shawarma roll the garlic sauce is to die for you Do try it

I absolutely LOVED the vegan moussaka and the babaganoush. My only regret is not ordering more to take with me on my flight. The hummus and cauliflower were also good. Definitely headed back next time I'm in Boston. read more

Tried this place lit for lunch. It was very underwhelming. The falafel were tiny, soggy and not very flavorful. The Chicken shwarama was ok, not very flavorful. Steak and lamb pita wrap was dry. The pita was not fresh and leathery. The Baba ganoush, fatoush and taboulleh were good. Service was Ok and you only get two sides with a bowl. The ceiling was also dripping water from the vents. read more

Aceituna Grill - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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This used to be one of my top go-to spots back when I was in college whenever I had time between classes. I always get half spicy chicken and half beef and either full rice or half rice and half potatoes. It's located about a 5 minute walk from the Kendall T Station with plenty of other restaurants around. I try to occasionally get lunch here whenever I'm back in the area. read more

Aceituna Grill - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

This place is awesome. The meat tasted so yummy. The spicy sauce was a nice add on and the rice was divine. Great falafels too! Will be back!! read more

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10 out of 10 amazing service with gritty workers. Incredibly kind staff. Excellent fresh food, served quick. Excellent mood they played Smash Mouth my favorite! read more

Loved this place! Went during the lunch rush and it was my first time. The line was almost out the door, but it goes so fast. I want to come back when I have more time to order/make sense of the menu. I ordered the spicy chicken shawarma salad plate. The vegetables are so fresh and crunchy. I loved the flavor the cucumbers are marinated in. Would have liked more feta in it. The salad plate comes with 2 sides. I got hummus and tabouli. After I sat down I saw they have baked pita chips, next time I'll get that. I met the owner too which is rare! Wish I lived closer to this place! read more

Aceituna Grill - Spicy chicken salad plate - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

The gentleman who took my order and made my food was unbelievably rude and had a serious attitude that he made no effort to contain. He swore in front of customers, rolled his eyes repeatedly, and just generally acted extremely short, disrespectful, and like a total asshole. Food was great. Attitude was worse than I've ever seen of probably thousands of encounters with customer service. I've worked extensively in customer service, and this goes for both sides. Never seen someone act like this. I would be extremely surprised if I came back in a month and he still had his job. As he would say, I fucking hope not. read more

Such an excellent lunch spot (though be warned the portions are large, I can go the rest of the day without eating). But seriously, great spot in Kendall Sq that usually has lines out the door on the weekday lunch crowd. I am religious on getting the spicy chicken shawarma rice plate (rice pilaf). The hummus is super authentic and I usually get the tabbouleh or the fattoush. I wish the fattoush was a bit more crunchy / crispy but still great. The best part of this place though, is there sauces. I can't just choose one I go all in on the tahini, the house special pink spicy sauce, and their garlic sauce which you can usually just douse on top. Great place for Middle Eastern cuisine and fast! Follow me on IG for more recs @sophiaeaaats ! read more

Aceituna Grill - Spicy Chicken Shawarma Rice Plate Hummus Side Fattoush - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I went here for lunch. Ordered the fattoush salad plate with falafel, tabbouleh and baba ganoush. The food was so salty it was borderline inedible. The ingredients did not taste fresh. The baba ganoush tasted like it was prepared on a dirty cutting board. read more

This is a nice fast-casual lunch spot. Did online ordering and the food was ready on time. The place was empty when we walked in; our order was ready on a table by the door and there was a path marked to the exit so as to stay socially distanced. The inside of the store was very clean and we had a completely contactless pickup. We got a falafel plate with a side of cauliflower and spicy potatoes; it came with rice and a pink aioli-type sauce. While this isn't something we would eat regularly, it hit the spot for a quick lunch on the go. read more

Aceituna Grill - Falafel Rice Plate - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

A great fast casual/Chipotle style Mediterranean spot in the Cambridge area. We tried a chicken shawarma rice plate and a mixed shawarma plate. You pick a base (roll-up, rice, or salad), pick a protein (chicken shawarma, beef shawarma, spicy chicken shawarma, and falafel), choose toppings, and then two sides for about $10-$11. They also have a number of sauces you can add. Everything tasted fresh, but the shawarma was the highlight of the experience. Both the chicken and beef were well seasoned and tender. Lots of Mediterranean places overcook the shawarma and dry it out, but we didn't experience that here! The service was quick and friendly. The interior is spacious with lots of seating. It has a modern feel to it with cool writings on the wall. Overall, we enjoyed our experience and will likely return! read more

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Didn't experience what most other yelpers have mentioned. I ordered a fattoush with shawarma chicken, a friend tabbouleh salad and falafel and the third beef with rice. We got the mousakka and spicy potatoes as sides. The chicken and falafel was very dry and we didn't get around to finishing it all. Ordering was also very haphazard, strating at the cash counter and working down instead of the other way round. Raddish is extra (50 cents) but ordering it was quite a hassle as there seemed to be some miscommunication with the staff..don't know if they're always like this, but overall staff experience tonight: 2.5/5.. Pricing: cost me $12 (extra for raddish).. definitely not worth it though! The pita sandwich looked good (saw some people have that- and perhaps that's they're strong point- salads and bowls definitely aren't) read more

Aceituna Grill - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

i got aceituna grill catered so i can't speak to price BUT i got to try the shawarma chicken, hummus, fattoush, moussaka, and spicy potatoes. everything was so good. ESPECIALLY the hummus (although it might've been baba ganoush...) def worth a try read more

Absolutely delicious! A little more of a kick than I expected out of the potatoes and the Greek salad but it definitely hit the spot. The falafel and hummus were excellent as was the garlic spread. Love the garlic, wish I could find it at more places but I'm so glad they have it here! My only wish is that I could get this as a later night fix! read more

I'm back on Yelp after a 2-year hiatus with this simple, yet profound statement - Aceituna Grill is the best lunch spot near Kendall Sq. The food is fresh and authentic, the staff is friendly, and the line moves quickly even during lunchtime. My go-to is the tabbouleh salad with beef/lamb shawarma and sides of moussaka and fattoush. No carbs, fresh greens packed with flavor, and savory meat to top it off. There are vegetarian options as well as your standard shawarma of chicken or beef/lamb. Now, I did not grow up on Mediterranean cuisine, so please defer to those who know better, but from what I've experienced this is *definitely* a spot to try out! read more

Not sure what all the hoopla is about this place. This was my second time here (the first time I ordered the pita and fries) and figured I'd try them again since they are a 3 minute walk from my job and their menu sounds very good. Food: Was a bit hit or miss. The tabbouleh was good enough and the falafels tasted fresh. However, the spicy chicken was very dry and had no spice to it, and the fried cauliflower was a bit too mushy and bland. I was hoping for a nice warm pita bread too, but it was just room temperature. Oddly enough I could have done with a bit more tabbouleh and a little less chicken, although this could just be because it tasted that much better than the chicken. Service: The ordering process is very strange. The line comes from the right side, you order from the middle and watch them go right with your order to continue adding stuff. Then you go all the way to the left to pay. Ambience: This place gets packed around noon. If you plan on going, go around 11-1130. There are usually only a handful of people inside at that point. Overall: The place isn't bad, mind you, I just don't know if its worth 11 dollars for the food pictured (salad with two sides). If you want cheaper/quick/great Mediterranean food in the area, I'd suggest Tahaza instead; I know I'll be making that longer walk in the near future. read more

Aceituna Grill - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I work in the PwC office so it is super convenient to come here. I got the bowl with rice, chicken, curried potatoes with a tomato / bell pepper salad, also came with a pita. The portion size was very generous and the food was flavorful and delicious. I would chose this over chipotle any day because they are similar prices. Will be back read more

Aceituna Grill - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Amazing food, even better service!!! Ordered catering from Aceituna in Seaport-- efficient, responsive, friendly, above & beyond. A+++

Solid place to get fast, convenient and yummy Mediterranean eats! FOOD: I ordered the spicy chicken rice plate and the beef/lamb rice plate. In addition, I asked for the falafel, fattoush, mousakka and spicy potatoes as sides for each rice plate. Out of the two, I prefer the spicy chicken over the beef/lamb. However, though flavorful, the chicken was a bit on the drier side for me. Wished it would've been a bit more juicier. I added some of their garlic sauce/pink sauce over my chicken to help it from being too dry and to add more flavor. The sides were amazing and complimented the meat/rice very well. The fattoush and mousakka were my favorites. As for the rice, it was delicious! I couldn't stop eating it. Probs cause it was seasoned well! SERVICE: Inside the restaurant, they followed COVID-19 protocols very nicely and was organized on how they conduct business to ensure quality and safety. read more

As a middle eastern person who both grew up in the states and the middle-east, Aceituna is by far the best Middle-eastern restaurant in all of boston. And that takes alot for me to say. Not only is the owner the sweetest person, but they support immigrants, the homeless, and other oppressed communities. That says alot. Now to the food. The shawarma seasoning reminds me of the shawarma I used to eat in Palestine. The salads are all fresh and clearly made daily. The hummus is made perfectly - really, better than any store bought or any other restaurant i've tried. I also personally like the fact they use white meat chicken for the chicken shawarma, which also goes to explain the high quality of their ingredients. I can go on, but i just wanted to share my experience with Aceituna because besides just the delicious food, the people behind it are amazing. During the pandemic, they are offering FREE delivery to many neighborhoods in Boston too. Don't miss out!! read more

Just stopped by Aceituna this past week and have I missed these amazing Shawarma sandwiches!! Best in town!

Pretty good shawarma place but not worth the money and rude service. The bowl was expensive and was literally just rice and dry chicken with two sides. Each topping or sauce was an extra 50 cents on top of a $13 bowl. I think it could be really good if you're willing to pay for whatever toppings you want in your bowl and you're familiar with the process already. read more

I work across the street so often we will want a change of the norm... Went over the other day & got a Chicken Shawarma plate... Its good, I mean its ok.. But its nothing to really write home about. I cant eat the garlic sauce (which is delish) but Mayo based (which Im allergic to)... Salad is decent - everything is good, the spicy chicken is good, just sometimes too dry... Nothing to go crazy over, just a decent place with a steep price... read more

Aceituna Grill - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

What an awesome place. I love Mediterranean food and this was amazing. Crash, easy to order and delicious. I'm from Seattle and now every time I come to Cambridge I'll be stopping by Aceituna Grill!!! read more

Freshly carved shawarma is the key. Aceituna grill flew under my radar, but I'm happy to have recently discovered it. You can order custom rice plates or pita wraps. Both the chicken and lamb shawarma have been flavorful and satisfying. Their fresh carving results in meat that is still juicy, hot, and has a nicely charred crispy edge. Their fried falafel was not bad either, and tried their fried cauliflower and French fries were fine. Warning: a very long line forms at peak lunch hours, so you might have to wait 15 min and get take out. At less than $10 it is one of the best casual lunch places in Kendall. read more

Update: I spoke with the manager and she was so attentive to the situation and I feel like it has been addressed adequately - thanks Gina!! Everything about my experience here was as good as last time (the food especially!) except the service. I met some friends for lunch and after sitting at a table for about 45 minutes the person cleaning the restaurant very rudely asked if we were done yet because he had to clean our table. I'm not sure why he got the sudden urge to clean ONLY our table at that exact moment (the restaurant was going be open for another 6 hours and there were plenty of other empty tables he could have cleaned) but he essentially kicked us out for no reason. It really left me with a bad impression and I'm not sure I'll be coming back anytime soon because of it. Also while we were there he continually hovered around our table wearing headphones and singing along to whatever he was listening to. Normally I wouldn't mind but he was cursing a lot and there were a few families nearby that I'm sure heard him. Lastly his version of 'cleaning' involved sweeping the floor then promptly sweeping the table with the same floor broom and sweeping the floor again. I'm glad I didn't rest my utensils or pita bread on our table - there was no cleaning rag or spray to be found so I can only assume that is the way the whole interior is cleaned...gross. I'm deeply disappointed in Aceituna since I had such a good experience last time I was there. I will be sure to meet friends elsewhere next time. read more

My favorite lunch spot and I think the same can be said for everyone else at my office. Once noon strikes it's pretty much a guarantee you'll spot somebody with and Acei takeaway. If you've never been, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the line, especially during peak lunch hours. But don't let that scare you away, you never wait too long. Just make sure you know what you want by the time it's your turn to order, and really you can't go wrong with any of the options. I'm a falafel gal myself but the shawarma always looks mesmerizing. Whenever I walk in a Mediterranean place and see the tender meat roasting on the rotisserie I trust that's it's going to be delicious and authentic. read more

Love it here! My go to spot if I don't bring lunch for work. The workers are fast, efficient, and friendly. I come maybe 2-3 times a week and the employees still remember my order. The food is pretty consistent and the portion size is huge. For around $10-11 for a full plate, it's worth it. read more

Just got take out here for beef and lamb rice plate. I am not a picky eater and I'm rly not out to get this place but both of our orders were very disappointing. Why? The beef and lamb were super sour as if someone marinated this in a surplus of lemon. I get Middle Eastern cuisine uses lemon and I've had a lot of Middle Eastern food from NYC days but holy shit this was untolerable. I dumped out the food. The eggplant salad and fried calluiflower were good. read more

I came here on a weekday for lunch with some coworkers, and I got a wrap with spicy chicken (and the garlic sauce). I was sad that it didn't come with any sides though; the wrap is definitely less food than the bowl. The chicken wasn't very flavorful and was a bit on the dry side, and the wrap in general was a bit bland. I wasn't too big a fan. For what it was, it was also pricey at $8.51 post-tax - not great tasting and not great portions read more

We stumbled on this place looking for a different place - what a great find though! I guess these Mediterranean style "Chipotle like" spots are all the craze now as I've seen several of these types of places. It was busy at lunch time but the line moved fairly quick. Seating was okay, I would just recommend shades on the huge windows as we sat where the sun was shining and it was extremely bright/hot. The food was great! I had spicy chicken shawarma (rotating hunk of chicken on a spit that is then sliced) over rice pilaf with fattoush (tomatoes peppers and cucumbers with sumac other spices and lemon and oil) and tabbouleh (chopped herbs and tomatoes with cracked wheat lemon and oil). I think that the highlight may have been the homemade Mediterranean condiments...there is this life changing garlic sauce and not many know about it but it's a must try with chicken. It's like a creamy spreadable garlic. I also got a pita with all of this - very filling! You can also opt to get your proteins on a salad or in a pita wrap. We had a vegan with our group and she was able to get falafel and some other sides like hummus and rice. I hope I see one of these pop up in RI! read more

Aceituna Grill - Chicken shawarma, rice pilaf, fattoush, tabbouleh, pita and garlic sauce - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Aceituna seriously has some great food. I've only gotten one thing here which is the greek salad w. Falafel and rice and it's truly appetizing and fills me up. I would not recommend coming here during noon time since the line is outrageous. I went today during 1:30pm and there was no line. Come and try Aceituna's food if you're ever in the area. read more

Aceituna Grill - Greek salad/ falafel/ rice - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Food was great but probably the worst customer service I've ever experienced. The restaurant is Chipotle-styled, in which you wait in a line to order, move down the aisle, tell them what you want, then pay. There is an older man with a full beard and mustache taking orders, who should absolutely not be in this role. He is rude and cold, does not greet you or smile. Instead he says robotically "what do you want? what 2 sides?" and pushes your plate over and shouts out NEXT! after you manage muster out your answer in the 10 seconds that he gives you. This was my first time here and I had questions, as the line moves so fast you barely have time to read the tiny menu on the wall. I asked my question, he rolled his eyes and answered and moved on. Newsflash to management - people are willing to wait in line!!! They don't care how long it takes to get the food, they're waiting in line for a reason. Spending an extra few seconds with a customer isn't going to kill you! read more

Located on the side of the street in the back is a Mediterranean Greek quick service restaurant where you start off with a base of either rice, salad or pita and you can choose sliced meat on top. There are my choices and I personally felt a little rushed, portions are large and there's plenty of seating and can get busy during lunch time! The cauliflower side is flavored and well seasoned! read more

Aceituna Grill - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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I got stuck on this place when I was working in Kendall Square at what could be the worst job ever. Okay, I overstate but still, I remember the happiness that this place brought to the blight that was my office. I worked with a bunch of folk from saudi arabia, israel, bahrain, etc. and they were all huge fans of this place (ordering in other languages and whatnot) so I figured it had to be good. I agree with some of the other reviewers that it is a tad pricey however, if you know what you're doing it isn't so bad. You can easily split a schwarma plate with another person and even with sodas and a side of of falafel it still only comes to like $16 total ($8 each). I have long since left my crappy job behind but I still come to Kendall Square for Aceituna. I don't know what it is but I LOVE their chicken schwarma. Plus, they're pretty easygoing about making it how I like it (half hummus/half garlic sauce; half spicy potatoes/half rice). read more