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.

This relatively new and unassuming family-owned and operated restaurant and market is known for its…read moreauthentic Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine. Located in the Cave Spring area of Roanoke, Virginia, I decided one day to going with a friend to try it out and see for ourselves if it offered an authentic Mediterranean dining experience. While we were driving in search of the restaurant we couldn't miss it. It small size with a cute and unique architectural design structure immediately caught our attention. It's prominent triangular roof and black square sign stood out from the normal restaurant designs. The front of the restaurant was one large window with a red framed glass door. It had a covered front porch with a dining table for 4 on each side for the convenience of customers who enjoyed dining outdoor during nice weather. We parked in their small parking lot and walked in. To our surprise, it had a simple minimalist interior design decor with white tile floors surrounded by black grout, white painted walls with poster size photographs of places from the Mediterranean hanging from the walls, and simple tables with different colored chairs. One ordered from the cashiers counter located in the middle of the restaurant / market with a display case next to it with the desserts in individual plastic containers. The menu with photographs of the main dishes was high above as well as one posted on the large window outside, and small size regular menus as well. Both my friend and I ordered a Kufta Kabob Sandwich and bottled drinks. My friend ordered a Freez Pineapple Coconut and I ordered a Mango Peach one. We were asked if we wanted fries with the sandwich and we both said yes. I also asked them to include a Falafel appetizer, that oddly enough the price charged for it was $7.22 before taxes. At the end they told us what the total price was and I paid, since I was inviting today. And then was given the receipt. Later on at home I saw that we were charged a Make It Combo fee of $8.22 just for including the fries, because the drinks were charged separate a $5.18 charge. After the order we went and sat down at one of the tables in the restaurant side of the business while they prepared our order. The fact that the Market was on the other side of the small interior of the business detracted from dining ambiance of fine dining, especially with having unopened and some partially opened boxes all around. After we finished dining, we walked around the Market to take a look at the different products they carried for sale. Now as to the food, the 6 Falafels were good but a bit towards the dark side meaning overcooked. The sauce that came with it was very good however. The Kufta Kabob Sandwich was amazingly fresh and delicious and the accompanied fries were well seasoned and nicely fried. And the sauce that came with them was also one of a kind. Judging from the friendly and welcoming attitude from the owner and another employee we met, from the variety of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern items on the menu, and the amazing flavor of the food we had, this is definitely the place to go if you're in the area for Mediterranean cuisine.

Petra was ok, but given the area it may be the best Roanoke has to offer for Mediterranean food…read more The service was good and the wait for the food wasn't long. However, the food itself was just ok. The falafel was tasty, but the rice had peas and carrots in it, which I never seen at a mediterranean spot. So much of the food left a lot to the imagination. Again, compared to other local spots, this may be top notch, but it was just ok to me.

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.

This Restaurant and Grocery carries a wonderful variety of Mediterranean items on its menu. The…read moremenu is posted on the wall.behind the counter with colorful photos of each dish. As one enters the Grocery and Restaurant it has the atmosphere of Mediterranean with a great selection of items in the Grocery as well as in their Restaurant's Menu. At their main counter I was greeted with a warm and friendly welcome and given a menu to be able to compliment the one on the wall. I ordered the Falafel as appetizer, the Beef Tikka Kabab as the main entrée, the Kunafa for dessert, and Mango Nectar to drink. The Falafel was one of the best that I've ever had. Crispy on the outside and soft and moist in the inside.The Beef Tikka Kabab was served with seasoned rice, salad, and vegetables. Overall it was good but the pieces of beef were overcooked and this made them dry and tough to eat. I feel if they would have asked how do you want your Beef cooked and have cooked it this way, the meat would have been more juicy, soft, and tender. Also, the salad was good but the vegetables were missing as advertised in the menu. I like my beef cooked medium-rare, so it is tender and juicy on the inside and colorful and tasty on the outside. The dessert was good but a bit dry and you could tell it was not freshly made and served as I am custom to eating in other fine restaurants. While at the Grocery I discovered they had a box with Dubai Chocolate (one of my favorites) and purchased one while I was paying for my meal. If the management of the restaurant takes my advice on how to cook the beef I would definitely return and recomend this place to order. Mediterranean food can be so juicy and flavorful. In

Wow, best we've ever had. If you like All the options of middle eastern street food: gyros,…read morefalafel, baklavas, hummus, falafel, shawarma, and kebabs, as well as salads like fattoush and tabbouleh, Baba ghanoush, dolmades and mansf. I've never seen such a wide variety of baklava The numerous options for spices and condiments was awesome to cover everyone's individual tastes In a nutshell, if you've never tried this style of food this would be a great introduction. ALL the ingredients are fresh! Portions are generous and the pricing is reasonable So give it a try and report back. We were in town visiting from west coast. I've eaten at several restaurants that serve this style of food. None compare

This restaurant carried Mediterranean and Greek food. It was very clean and contained very fresh…read moreingredients. The decor was very simple. It had booths to seat in and the walls contained poster size enlarged photographs of different Mediterranean food. The owner was very friendly and took my order when I arrived. I ordered a Falafel appetizer and as main course a Beef Shawerma Sandwich. He asked me if I wanted it with fries and I said yes, and they were very good, but given the option I would have probably taken a salad. The Falafels were amazingly good; crispy in the outside and soft and moist in the inside. The sauce that came with them was also very good. The meat of the Shawerma was nice and tender with just the right spices. For dessert I asked for a Baklava. It was good but a bit dry. There was another tray with Baklavas that looked fresher in the bottom of the display case, but it was covered with a plastic wrap and hadn't been opened yet. Overall the food was very good and I will definitely come back for more when I want to eat Mediterranean food again, and I recommend the restaurant to all those reading this review.

Great location and service. Nice ambiance but AC not working on a 100 degree day. Food portions…read morewere good, but lacked flavor. Was very very bland.

For some time now I had passed by this restaurant a number of times and today I decided to stop and…read morego try it out. Located on Campbell Ave, in the heart of Downtown, Roanoke, it occupied one of the most ideal locations for a restaurant in this area. It's windows were always very lively, lit up with many small lights and one red OPEN neon light sign. The interior looked very distinguished yet at the same time comfortable with hardwood floors, dark red ceilings, and black furniture. It was decorated with a combination of Lebanon posters and moments, as well as framed articles and Award Certificates of the restaurant. When I arrived the owner greeted me very warmly and invited me to take a seat wherever I liked, and provided me with a menu. My server, Mohammed then came by and was very helpful in helping me learn about Lebanese food and picking out the items from the menu to pick out. I ordered a Gold Peak Sweet Tea to drink, Falafel as appetizer, and a Beef Kabab Platter as the main entrée. The Falafel was the best that I have ever had, crispy on the outside and soft, moist, and very tasty in the inside; and with an extraordinary presentation on a plate. The Beef Kabab was very well maintained and served with grilled onions and tomatoes, accompanied with white rice and two tiny dishes with sauces, however I was very disappointed because the chunks of Beef were not at all tender, and thus very tough and dry inside. I knew that if they had been cooked medium rare, like I always like my meats, it would have been different, and because everything else about the food, ambiance, and service of the restaurant I enjoyed so much I decided to give it a 4 Star review with the hope that when the owner and chef read my review, they would pay attention to this very important detail, and next time I visit or anyone else, they place special attention to this, since when beef is overcooked, no matter how soft and tender it is, it becomes extremely tough and dry, and very uncomfortable to chew and eat, or even enjoy. For dessert I ordered the traditional Baklava and it was delicious. In conclusion, if it were not have been for the above-mentioned problem, this restaurant would have received a 5 Star review. But since I was very impressed with the menu, the ambiance, the awards received, the other food I ate, and most of all by the amazingly wonderful way I was treated and customer service received, I'm going to give it the benefit of the doubt, give it a 4 and return once again. I urge everyone reading this review to do the same with the hope that one little but important detail don't hinder an otherwise extraordinary dining experience.

They catered the Eid celebration at Washington & Lee tonight and everything was delicious,…read moreespecially the samosas!

Super friendly and the kabobs fresh off the grill are amazing! It's a grocery store so seating is…read morelimited to outside, but it's worth it!

Best service ever. The food was amazing and it didn't take long to get it. The place looked very…read moreclean and the employees are very nice!

Came in Monday around 1:00pm. Not that great. Got my bowl, it had a black hair in it. I brought it…read moreup to the manager Leslie, she rolled her eyes and insisted it was mine. I've had my hair red, ginger, fire-engine red, since July. The hair in the bowl was black. Similar to the managers (just a reference, not accusatory). I was only offered a refund after I said I was leaving a review... overall disappointed. Very unprofessional. Definitely needs more training. Not only is she rude to the customers, but also her employees. As I was choosing my sides, she comes to the front and says to the girl making my bowl, "why are you using that many toppings, it's only one spoon. You should know this by now.". Then rolled her eyes and kept working. There's a Chipotle and Qdoba within 20 feet, that are notably less expensive, so I'll just give those a try next time. Plus they don't skimp on toppings! Imagine charging $13 per bowl, to only give out teaspoons worth of the sides. We literally get offered more sauces than sides . I only tried this place because it's newish and close to my job. The house-made drinks were good though. Overall, pricey for the value, poor customer service, wouldn't recommend. Especially with current management.

For years now I have been walking by this quick-service restaurant franchise specializing in…read moremade-to-order pita sandwiches with fresh vegetables, grilled meats and sauces, and never had I thought of stopping by to try it out, for one reason or another. But today, after studying the history of their company, which began in 1995, in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, and a few years later began in the US, I decided that I definitely had to try it out. With their "fresh thinking, healthy eating" moto, I find that they are a fresh, healthy, alternative to traditional high-fat, high-carb, high-calorie fast foods. When I arrived, I had already downloaded their Pita Pit, USA app. and joined their Loyalty Program. As soon as I did this I received an email coupon for a bogo pita. Buy one, get one free. From the exterior to the interior of the restaurant I was impressed with the cleanliness of the place and their contemporary and colorful interior design, Scandinavian design simple furniture, and relaxed dining environment. When I arrived, I was warmly greeted by a young lady employee, who when I mentioned that this was my first time eating there, that I had downloaded their app, was a member of their Loyalty Program, and had the bogo coupon; she quickly asked for my phone number, put it in the modern cashier, and was ready to take my bogo order and give me my points. I ordered a Smoked Pull Pork Signature Pita sandwich but they did not have this one at the moment, so I ordered their Chicken Bacon Ranch Signature Pita sandwich instead. As the Pita sandwiches was made with grilled chicken breast pieces and fresh vegetables, I was asked if I wanted any additional ingredients to include. I paid for the order and was given one of the Pita sandwiches to eat there and one to take home. Immediately the points earned for this order was credited to my account. Then I sat down and when I opened the wrap of my Pita sandwich, the Pita bread was fresh and soft, and it had a good amount of chicken and other fresh ingredients. Who I think was the manager or owner came by to say hello and answered some of the questions I had above the company. From noticing the variety of items in the menu, including Lebanese-style Pita, Greek-style Pita, Mediterranean-style Pita, Bowls, and other healthy and delicious sandwiches, I definitely will return soon to eat here, and also recommend this healthy yet delicious food restaurant to all those reading my review.

This place needs to stay forever, and I hope it does, the staff are all beyond friendly and makes…read moreyou feel welcomed each day. The food here is always made exactly how I want and my preferences are always considered and treated great. The inside is always clean and well kept as well. I'd include a photo of my order but I eat it before I think to take one.

This cafe is a small location but a prominent one in Roanoke's downtown. It was open when not a ton…read moreof things were, and had an impressive menu including numerous vegetarian and vegan options. Sometimes it's the simple things in life, though, and rather than go for a more complex platter when I found that you could get a bagel with falafel in it, I found my breakfast. There is a za'atar bagel available, which adds an extra flavor note to what was a compelling and filling breakfast. Their display of desserts was sufficiently impressive (and several of these were labeled vegan as well) that I decided to sample a baklava labeled as the Burma flavor. I couldn't figure out what the sweet pistachio mix had to do with Myanmar, but whatever was in there was good. I did not get a beverage in part because I didn't read the whole menu; maybe I missed out. Regardless, the food they offered was great for vegetarian diets, substantial, and delicious, and you'd struggle to find better in this part of the country or in most other parts of the country.

Really yummy treats. We tried the dubai chocolate baklava, the strawberry dubai cup, the pistachio…read morecroissant, a chai boba drink, and a few other treats and all of it was yummy!!