Best rice I've ever tasted never had less than a wonderful meal at Sultan Kabob and the owners are…read morefantastic!

I tend to go here with family when we visit Charlottesville and have other things to do in town…read more(catch a UVA game, movie, etc.). Even when they were very busy, the wait for a seat is rather short. It's mainly four-top seats but they can push together tables as needed. There's music always playing and not a lot of padding to soften noise so I'd call the location "average" loud. Downtown Charlottesville doesn't really do free parking. You can park at the next corner in open parking to the left or paid parking to the right. But we're talking $2 or so, not a bank-breaking experience and with lots of shopping across the street it's worth staking out a spot and then walking the area. What I like: The food is tasty. The appetizers are solid. There's a large enough menu that you can always try something new. And the portions are ample enough to share. What I'm not so fond of: The waitstaff spend a lot of time at the front scrolling on their phones. They aren't too keen on refilling your drinks either. I say this as someone who has eaten here about a dozen times. Also, I don't normally mind cameras, but there are enough blinking lights on cameras to make it feel more like a jewelry store than a restaurant. That said, if you are not in a hurry, want some good food in solid portions, and plan to do some shopping or window shopping downtown, this has been my go-to place for years.

This cute place is run by great people. Hasan was very friendly and welcoming…read more Thank you for making us feel home, Hasan. We will be back! :) The food was very tasty and the atmosphere is extra cozy. 5 stars

Overall a great lunch spot. They have all the ingredients for a high quality and fresh…read moreMediterranean style bowl at a fair price. You can easily eat here for less than $20, which all things considered is worth it. Basically, the chipotle style experience but with a homemade and quality ingredient components. I especially liked the mashed lentils, cucumber salad, roasted sweet potato and of course the chicken schwarma. Also the atmosphere is pretty hipster/industrial and contributed to the experience. The only negative I have is that the falafel was a little dry and chewy, but to be fair I got the last ones before they cooked a new batch. Overall, I will return for lunch again next time I visit Charlottesville.

Delicious food Gone to both locations and loved the food!…read moreService excellent. Atmosphere great Recommend

Always an enjoyable experience. The food is fantastic. My favorite is the sambosa and the Kabuli…read morePaloui (sp) Thanks.

Ordered while in Charlottesville for work. The chicken was moist and flavorful and was complemented…read moreby the cilantro sauce. The flatbread was fluffy, warm and delicious. I didn't enjoy the green bean side option too much. The flavor profile was not what I was expecting from a Greek/Mediterranean style restaurant. They also needed more salt and to be cooked a touch longer. It's an ok choice for a quick lunch option.

Great spot to grab lunch. The platter was quite filling and fairly priced for the amount. When I…read morewent to pick up the order , the staff was friendly as well. My kebab meat was quite dry when I ate it. If it wasn't for the sauce I don't know if I would have been able to finish it. I think this is a place better enjoyed while dining in then take out.

Went tonight with my daughter who is a total foodie! The…read moreservice was very personal with our server knowing every detail. The managing partner also came by our table very casually and friendly- I just googled their bios and its very interesting. So I wasn't sure I would like everything we ordered- I only wanted the beet salad. It was amazing!!!!!!! We also had the dip trio which I liked the hummus best with yummy bread. My daughter, her friend and her mom LOVED the calamari and said it was light and delicious. Lamb kebob was tasty. Desert chocoholic was scrumptious and the lemon granita was light and interesting with homemade cotton candy that we laughed looked like ratchet barbie hair but tasted so light. Absolutely delicious!

SERVICE We came in for a belated Valentine's Day dinner,…read moreand the staff immediately seated us when we got int. Everyone was friendly and professional without being too formal. Our server served us waters and let us peruse the menu. Most spots will have the waiter come by and ask you how things are, and our waiter didn't come by at all after setting down the food which was interesting -- not good nor bad but probably were also busy. AMBIENCE The space felt upscale but still easygoing, which made it perfect for our Valentine's night out. There's no dress code, but most people looked like they'd put a little effort in, matching the polished but comfortable vibe. Loved the open kitchen all the way towards the back by the bookshelf area gave the room some energy without making it feel noisy. Definitely struck a great balance between date-night fancy and laid-back cool and casual. FOOD We started with the Beet Salad Ribbons and the Meze Trio. The beet salad mixed earthy ribbon-sheet beets with hazelnuts and a bright pomegranate vinaigrette that surprised me! Loved the pairing of the beets and cheese and hazelnut crunch. As a texture fan, this really hit the spot! It was colorful, fresh, and really well balanced. The Meze Trio had charred eggplant, a yogurt-goat cheese dip, and a seasonal hummus. Each had its own flavor and texture, and everything felt super fresh and well-seasoned. Favorite was the seasonal hummus. The yogurt-goat cheese dip was good but definitely sweeter than I personally perferred! The Calamari was also quite good and had decent number of chunky pieces that weren't just breading. The only small letdown was the pita bread since we had more dips than pita left. We expected refills might be complimentary, especially for a place like this, but they weren't. Not a big deal, just something that stood out in an otherwise smooth and thoughtful experience! The Manti Dumplings were a highlight too -- probably so much handwork in making these look like they do! The Sharondale mushrooms gave them a rich, savory flavor, and the pepper butter sauce added just the right touch of spice. The burger was also great -- juicy, flavorful, and paired with house fries and an amazing urfa pepper aioli. You could tell both dishes were elevated but still comforting, showing off the chef's fine-dining background in a really approachable way. For dessert, we shared the Baklava Cheesecake and a Chocolate Hazelnut special. The cheesecake was unique -- cheesecake filling sandwiched between baklava. It was delicious but not what I was expected! It was creamy and nutty with pistachio layers, and the chocolate dessert was incredibly rich without being heavy. Both were perfect finishes. We even took home the leftover goat cheese dip because it was that good. Overall, pices were a little on the higher side ($23-$29 for mains, $14 for dessert), but for the quality and thought put into every dish, it felt worth it and would come back again for a special occasion! This was definitely elevated ambience and the food was well executed in our opinion. I can see the hype! Definitely not a spot I'd frequent often but for the special days -- this is it to impress your date or family!

I came here for dinner on a Saturday night around 8 PM, and it was pretty empty. I assume it is…read morebusier earlier in the evening on a weekend. For a drink, I tried the mango lassi. It was pretty good, it had a slightly spiced flavor to it but I wasn't sure what the spice was. We ordered the chili milli gobhi, samosa, butter chicken, and garlic naan. I liked the chili milli gobhi a lot. I wasn't expecting it to be fried, but I enjoyed it, and it was covered in some sort of chili sauce. The samosa was pretty good, I liked the sauces it came with. The butter chicken was just fine, I feel like I have had better, but it was very saucy which I liked. The naan was pretty good. I liked our server, she was nice and seemed to know the menu. The restaurant was nice inside and had a good ambiance.

Went to this place for their lunch menu...on line it seemed to be different prices and smaller…read moredishes. Turns out, I must have been on the wrong site. From the outside it looks like a strip mall restaurant. So I was not expecting much. I didn't see a lot of people going in alone many people in the window, so I thought I was going to be the only guest at 11:30. Man, I was so wrong. I walked in and found that there was an entire dining room inside, and it was pretty busy for a lunch crowd. The waitress was nice and had good energy. She gave me a table and a menu. The choices were pretty standard. I went with the chicken 65 and the Korma. She asked me for a spice level and I told her to light me up. The lunch menu came with a salad or soup choice and I opted for the salad. It was very good.... Fresh and light. The food arrived and it was great. The appetizer was cooked fresh and tasty. The main course came with naan and a side dish. It was spicy as hell. And it was good. Very very good. I would recommend it if you are looking for Indian in Charlottesville.

From the food to the customer service, great experience! And the hummus... perfection!!read more

These were the best kebabs I've had in a long time. Highly recommend the lamb rosemary and the…read moreshrimp kebabs, and the red pepper sauce. Clean, quiet place with great service.

This is my new favorite joint. Ordered the power steak bowl…read moreand it was delicious. I love all the elements combined together...I also ordered the spicy shawarma pita chips which were excellent. I definitely will continue to make my way through the menu.

Got d clean food ! Little pricy but that's the price for this type of food! Manager is awesome but…read morevery reserved! She works like a beast! Good team ! The spicy cilantro is not a stand alone dish! lol! Great heat and flavors! Use the app! We got ten dollars off! I will say tipping is an issue! It is made to order , but beverage and busing you are on your own! It's dealers choice! No ice but beverages are chilled! No lamb meatballs, sad face emoji!

Fabulous chicken soup - total yum…read more Eating takeout now. Their Mantu also yummy. Great to support Afghan refugees who cook so well.

Stopped in on Saturday for lunch with our family of 5. My kids were enamored by the "fancy tables"…read morewhich were semi private low tables on rugs where you could remove your shoes and sit on the ground. The restaurant name "express" made me think it would be ready made food (like chipotle) but the kabobs are made the order, so take about 15 minutes once you've ordered. However, they're worth the wait! Marinated well they are tender and flavorful. We were also pleasantly surprised by how large each entree was. We got the combo kebab platter (with lamb and chicken), the mantu (dumplings), and the bulani (like a potato filled naan). Would recommend all three!

Great food, fast service, and the restaurant is nice and modern. Visiting from out of town and I…read morewill be back

Had an hankering for Indian food, so decided to try this place. I liked the atmosphere, although I…read morethink I ate here a long time ago and liked the decor a little better then. Whatevs. The service was good, no issues. I had the Chana masala lunch meal, and while the salad was a bit on the scrawny side, the rest of the meal did not disappoint! The naan was especially delicious, and the entree was flavorful and just the right spice. Lunch was around $13, which for today is pretty decent I guess. I'd definitely come back for more.