Best Persian food in Cincinnati! Baba is great and lamb kabob wraps are great too. Their signature salad was a perfect accompaniment to a light summer meal. read more

Flavorless. Meager portions. I'm surprised; I've never had such bland food at a Persian restaurant.

This is a family run business. I got the gyro and fries and both were excellent. It was to-go but they are very friendly. Will continue stopping in for take out!! Support businesses like these. read more

Baladi Restaurant & Bakery - Gyro and fries - Mediterranean Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Delicious food and reasonably priced. You're blowing it if you don't go here. Extremely clean eating. My only "complaint" is that the chicken was ever so slightly overcooked - big deal. Besides that tiny detail everything was absolutely delicious. Will be coming back here whenever I'm in Cincinnati. read more

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Wonderful family run restaurant with great authentic food. Highly recommend the spinach pie! The prices are very affordable especially considering the quality. The family that owns the business is very friendly, definitely stop in if you like to support local businesses. read more

The food here was pretty good. My favorites were the falafels and hummus. Water was offered in plastic bottles which was a little odd to me. Our waiter was super nice and helpful. After about an hour he left for the day and nobody fulfilled the role now vacant. Instead, we just walked up to the counter to pay out at the end of the dinner. read more

Baladi Restaurant & Bakery - Baladi Sampler - Mediterranean Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I keep going back there because it never fails. The lamb kabob, kebbe, cheese fatayer, salads, grilled chicken- all of it. SOOOO GOOD. definitely recommend. It's family owned, and such a pleasant spot near the medical center and Cincinnati children's. Step in if you're in the area! read more

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Insanely delicious! Best knefeh I have had in ages. Kofta kebab and chicken shawarma wraps were also delicious.

I got take-out from here tonight, and was pretty impressed. I love the restaurant itself -- it's intimate and comfortable. The staff was friendly and quick to bring out my selection. The food was definitely authentic. I ordered the Syrian Beef Shawarma. You could tell the flat bread wrapping was freshly-made in-house, and the beef was delicious -- well-seasoned. The meat inside was a little chewy, but the taste itself was amazing!! My favorite was the falafel bites appetizer. These were an unusual shape that looked made in a mold -- looking like mini-doughnuts with almost-closed holes. But the taste was excellent -- they seemed fluffier than any falafel I've had before, which allowed all the spices to come through. Definitely recommend for authentic house-made cuisine!! read more

VEGAN REVIEW came here for our first meal in Cincy! Very casual family owned Mediterranean. Menu has clearly marked vegan items-- and there are TONS!!!! I wish we were with a big group so I could have tried more. Shared the veggie combo as an app & then had foul. Everything was tasty. Get the mint lemonade-- AMAZING!!! Friendly service. Will return for sure. read more

Pretty good Syrian/Levantine standards, not so exceptional as to be worth a special trip. One of the better fatayer (spinach pies) I've had stateside, with a nicely seasoned and slightly spicy spinach, though the dough was a bit on the thin side. Zataar manaeesh was below average, seemed perhaps reheated and a bit squishy. Lentil soup was tasty, super cumin-forward. read more

I had some time recently while waiting for my wife to finish up a training event she was attending and wanted a bit of a late lunch. I found Baladi Restaurant on Yelp and the reviews looked good, so I gave it a try. Parking was easy and it wasn't busy when I came in mid-afternoon. There were a lot of great options on the menu, but I had a simple gyro for lunch. Very nice indeed. I finished with a cup of very strong coffee ... and I was feeling the good effects of the caffeine for about 2 hours afterward. Nice. When my wife heard what I had for lunch, she was jealous and wants to go with me next time. The outside is not fancy, but the food is very good. read more

Food was good - although we ordered a starter / appetizer and we were served it at the same time as the rest of our food. The salad also had a ton of dressing. The dried vegetarian wrap is good and my husband got the lamb and thoroughly enjoyed it. Our sons got the beef wrap (a bit greasy and he couldn't really eat it, but he didn't want to say anything) and the kafta kabab with fries on the side. The fries were well cooked. Service was good. The ambiance was like a family owned restaurant with a true Mediterranean feel, which was nice. read more

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Great restaurant and bakery! Everything is great, but their cheese boats are what set them apart!

The first time I came here they weren't open on time, which I suspect is a product of being a small family-run operation but still doesn't make me confident. But I did come back. The place is not the nicest from the outside, though being walkable from the hospital complex nearby I'm sure it gets plenty of visitors. Inside, it was surprisingly hipster, though the front was cleaner than the back. The kids running around definitely gave the impression it was a family place. The selection is good on the vegetarian side and clearly marked for special dietary needs. My foul (pronounced "fool", for the uninitiated) was not the way I usually make it, as the fava beans were whole and they were drenched in a sauce with probably a lot of olive oil. They were quite tasty though, with some tart flavor and a hefty dose of herbs. My salad was also oddly waterlogged. Mint tea was a good choice; the tea bag had an Arabic label, the mint leaves were fresh, and the resulting taste smooth as you like. I didn't see a ton on offer from a bakery perspective. And while there was clearly some room for improvement, I am all in favor of venturing outside the downtown of a city and trying the sorts of places run by people who know how to cook. read more

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The food is sooo amazing!!! Ordered the sharamas and fries. They were freshly made. There is only one sever so little slow, but he was super nice. I was too hungry so decided to just do take outs, and the food was ready super soon. It's definitely one of the best Mediterranean restaurants in town, and very affordable as well. Will be back again! read more

Baladi is a great restaurant. The food is phenomenal. During my most recent visit I ordered the chicken kabab and two sides of salad instead of the rice and another side. The meal was expertly prepared, fresh, and wonderfully garlicky. If you're looking for some delicious healthier food options, this is the place. read more

Baladi Restaurant & Bakery - Chicken Kabab - Mediterranean Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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I was seeking Baklava in the city and came across Baladi online. I added a basbousa as well. Both of the sweets were amazing! Super delicious and flavorful with just the right amount of sweet. Will be returning for sure and highly recommend. Fast and friendly service as well. read more

Baladi Restaurant & Bakery - Baklava and Basbossa - Mediterranean Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Incredible! The baba ghanoush blew us away. We loved our experience. We were able to take the 17 bus pretty much directly to the front of the restaurant. Make a day of it, schedule ample time to be at Baladi, and go slow. This is a fantastic experience with amazing food, great decor, and family style customer service. read more

This was a pleasant surprise!! I was with my BFF and fellow Yelper and we were early to an appointment we had in Cincinnati. We found this restaurant and decided to stop!!! Wow! It was amazing!! The owner/person who waited on us was amazing! He made fantastic recommendations and the food was fresh and delicious!! I had a mint lemonade made with fresh mint and the chicken shawerma and it was the best I've ever had!! We split the baklava for dessert and I secretly wish I didn't have to split it!! All of the food was amazing!! The restaurant was clean and quiet and so relaxing!! I will definitely come back!! read more

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I hadn't tried this place despite living at a stone throw away distance. I tried this recently because I was craving Mediterranean food, and this option was the closest. (Quarantine has got me lazy, what can I say?) I was going to just get a chicken shawarma but was surprised to see manakeesh listed in the menu. I've been meaning to try it so I ordered that as well. I ordered online and the food was ready in 20 minutes. The pickup was contactless, and I just had to pick it up from the table. The chicken shawarma was in a pita pocket and it was pretty good. I wouldn't say it was the best I've had. I appreciated the abundance of garlic sauce in it though. I would have preferred to have a lil more zest in it. The manakeesh was pretty good. The zaatar spices with thyme and olive oil over flatbread was good. read more

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This is hidden gem in Clifton..the gyro and Baladi salad with parsley and cilantro is refreshing and so so satisfying..and the rice pudding is a must..treat yourself by dropping by for lunch, dinner or I see a lot of customers picking up takeout. One of my very favorite places to dine for lunch in Clifton. Friendly and great service from start until you finish your meal. read more

Baladi Restaurant & Bakery - Mediterranean Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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The owner (I assume) was sitting out front smoking a cigarette when I arrived. The menu says they have tea but they didn't, so I got water. It had no ice, which I'm actually fine with, but that was odd. Our waters were never refilled, in line with the service being super slow to non-existent. I got the Baladi salad, expecting good things based on the reviews I saw here. Soooooo disappointing to the point that I wonder if they were running low on tomatoes and cucumbers. I honestly could have made this better at home, including the chicken schwarma I got on top. Bummer. read more

Baladi may not look like the finest establishment from the outside, but it is a hidden gem. I came in on a Thursday around 7 p.m and there was next to no one else in the restaurant. It is clearly a small, family-owned business, and everyone was very friendly. We ordered the Chicken Kabob Entree, and it was fantastic. It came with a side salad, yellow rice, chicken, and garlic sauce. The rice was extremely flavorful, as was the chicken, and the salad was very fresh and delicious. The croutons were made of pita and they were the best croutons I've ever had. Everything tied together really well. I finished my meal off with a piece of Baklava, and it was probably the best Baklava I have ever had. I was overall really pleased with my experience at Baladi and I highly recommend checking it out. read more

Baladi Restaurant & Bakery - Baladi Salad - Mediterranean Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Amazing food. Fresh, fast, and so right. The meats were juicy and oh so tender. Fantastic pickles and authentic sauces.

I can give this place a 5 star. The one worker there was obviously foreign but we got through communications just fine. He was very grateful for the business. I got the moussaka which was pretty good. The tzatziki sauce was AMAZING. I'm not a huge Mediterranean foodie but on the rare occasion I want some I'll be back. You clear the table yourself (there's a sign) but he was fine with no tip. Thanked me again on my way out. I want to try the lentil soup. Food is authentic, service is friendly. I also have a written medical exemption and cannot wear a mask and he gave me no grief over it. read more

Can't say enough about how excellent this place is. The atmosphere is cozy, the people here are kind and hard working and the food just tops it all off. Everything is fairly priced and TASTES AMAZING. You have to get the Chicken Shawarma if you've never been here. Definitely a great thing to try for your first time. I'll be back soon!! read more

Baladi Restaurant & Bakery - Chicken Shawarma Wraps with Muhammara Dip - Mediterranean Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

The best in the city. So delicious. Chicken shawarma and beef shawarma are so delicious. The lamb kabob is out of this world. A must visit

It's always nice to have another Mediterranean place near campus. I am more used to Mediterranean from many Greek sources, but Baladi seems to specialize in a Syrian take on Mediterranean. Based on what I've tried so far, that can be both a plus and have some drawbacks. First off, the good. French fries here are awesome. They seem to be seasoned to taste like something between Arby's curly fries and Rally's fries, which is A-OK by me! Also, at the top of the list, the Mana'eesh Bi Jibna from the bakery was excellent. I would definitely purchase either of these items again. I also enjoyed their Yalanji, which seem to be the Arabic equivalent of Dolmas, or grape leaves. This version has a more sauce-like interior, using tomatoes as an ingredient that is typically absent from Dolmas. The falafel, though not the best I've had, are good; especially dipped in Baladi's excellent tahini. Salads are on par for what you might expect: seasoned heavily with parsley and lemon. Some items did seem to miss the mark, however. I was particularly disappointed with the Musaka, which seemed to be a limp and lifeless vegetable stew, that I had foolishly paired with a couple of dried out bits of pita bread that left me entirely underwhelmed. All told, I will definitely come here again, as there are so many more items yet to try - I haven't even tried any of their non-vegetarian items! read more

So happy to have a lovely Mediterranean restaurant nearby my apartment! It's a small place but the interior is clean & decorated in nice calming blue color. The menu is also very extensive and it included dishes I don't usually see at other Middle Eastern places. I had the vegetarian combo which included falafel with salad, pita bread, & baba ganoush. It was very filling for me! It was delicious & I will definitely be returning! read more

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This hole in the wall place has great authentic Mediterranean food. Service was great also. Everything came out steaming hot and quickly. Decor was nice too. Overall food and service was 5/5. Would definitely recommend! read more

I've lived so close to this place for about a year and a half and had never tried this place. Not until recently, when I had a huge craving for a chicken schawarma and decided today was the day. I walked the two blocks and ordered to go. I had the chicken schawarma and the falafel. Two things I thought I couldn't go wrong with. It took a short time for them to prepare the food, since I was the only person there. Once I got my food, I was super excited to eat it. Both orders hit the spot! The schawarma was packed and the chicken was so well cooked. The falafels also were the perfect crunch and chewy balance. Overall, I hope to be getting more of these cravings cause I'd highly recommend it. read more

Great find close to the hospitals and Zoo. Friendly staff and amazing flavorful food.

Tried the chicken Shawarma wrap and fries the sandwich was flavorful it tasted decent it was delivered warm in the portion was great. But the last time I had a chicken shawarma wrap it was sliced off of a spindle and slow roast it seemed a little different when it was prepared in this sandwich but the flavors were there and the sandwich was pretty decent. The fries were cold and I didn't particularly care for those but the rest of the order was great I ordered that sandwich again if I had the chance too read more

The dirty, littered outside should have warned us away, but we stuck it out. The inside gave the impression of dirty, and the table was sticky. This too should have warned us away. When I asked if they had caffine free diet soda, the kid waiting on us just pointed to the back of the store. This should have warned us away. Ooopps! The food was not impressive. We will listen to our "should haves" from now on. read more

Never have I seen such cruelty from a Muslim. My son and I came to this brother today during Ramadan to order iftar. Immediately entered the restaurant , one of the brothers started yelling at us close, even though it was during open hours. They had the Quran blasting in the background as we walked in. One would think the recitation of the Holy Quran in the background would touch their heart. As we were looking for food to break our fast. I'm so disappointed, even after explaining that we were new to town and had found this halal restaurant through Google. May Allah have mercy on them. I will not spend another penny at this restaurant. I urge fellow Muslims to stay away from this restaurant. read more

I stopped by on Tuesday night. My dad was in the ICU at UC so I was looking for comfort food. Baladi didn't disappoint. I had the mixed grill with some labneh as an appetizer. The toum (garlic sauce) is outstanding. I'm pretty sure it's just garlic like real toum should be. No safflower or canola oil. The chicken and kafta were perfectly grilled, not dry at all. The lamb was a bit dry and tough, but what I did eat was perfect. The rice is a good mix of vermicelli and probably basmati, just a hint of butter in the seasoning or preparation. The labnah was creamy and spiced just as Iole with z'atar a d olive oil. The pita is soft and chewy. I will definitely try the hummus or baba next time. Because this place is now a go to for me. read more

Baladi Restaurant & Bakery - Baladi salad with Labnah. Like being at a relative's house. - Mediterranean Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Yum! Great prices, excellent food and very quick. I got a gyro and asked them to make it a wrap. It was very good. Although I would advise ordering extra flatbread - it's that good read more

I cannot say enough positive things about this restaurant. The Syrian/Mediterranean food of course is fantastic: well seasoned with lots of flavor, fresh and consistently tasty. We frequently order take out but recently ordered for a large dinner part of 20 people. The manager helped me pick mezze and platters that would feed my whole party. We got several Baladi family platters, fried vegetable platters, and vegetable platters. The assortment was phenomenal and all my quests loved the food. I got a little taste of homemade Baklava as a treat... and OH MY it was heaven. Overall, Baladi is one of our favorite Cincinnati restaurants. Its family owned and the food is amazing. read more

I love this place, every time I eat here I am delighted. I have had a few times where my takeout has been not quite right, but everything I've been given instead has always been delicious and it seems from their website that they help newly immigrated refugees get a start, so it may just be a function of a language barrier. The grape leaves are completely different than any other I've had and not to miss, and both the beef and chicken shawarma wraps are amazing, plus they have some of the best falafel in town. Mint lemonade is a favorite! read more