This place is good, but over time it seems prices have gone higher and portions smaller.

Banzo serves up Mediterranean food with their brick & mortar restaurant in Madison. As my husband and I were driving back to Minneapolis from our visit of Wisconsin, my husband ended up finding Banzo on Yelp for dinner. We parked and were greeted upon entering. After the employee explained how the menu works, we ended up ordering: F-Bomb ($9.50 prior to tax) With Chicken Platter ($2.95 prior tax to make it a plate)- This dish comes with 2 falafel and your choice of chicken or beef. Also because I decided to make this a plate, it came with a side of rice, hummus and salad. I was greatly disappointed with the falafel because it was pretty bland. Honestly it didn't taste house made. I am a huge fan of falafel and will judge a Mediterranean restaurant based on how they make them. The chicken was moist but I wasn't a big fan of the seasoning that they used. I thought it was overly seasoned. The hummus was good and plentiful on the portion that was given. I liked the rice. This dish in general wasn't good and am sad to say that I only really liked the whole wheat pita, rice and hummus. Shawarma Pita Sandwich, $9.50 prior to tax- My husband ordered this chicken sandwich, which is what I should have ordered because the chicken was moist and the seasoning was good. It had reminiscent flavors of what you would expect of a Mediterranean eatery. The sandwich is packed with chicken, shredded lettuce, chopped cucumbers and tomatoes, which makes for a messy (but tasty) sandwich. ----------------------- (Total= $23.37 after tax) Initially I had told the employee that we were going to dine in (There is covered, dog friendly outdoor seating here by the way). But after realizing the long drive back to Minnesota, I told the employee that we actually want our food to be to go instead (this was after ~5 minutes had passed after ordering). She told me that would be fine and that she just had to tell the kitchen of the new request). I do want to also mention that originally when we had plans to dine in, the employee gave us a number and told us that we are free to dine inside or outside and help ourselves to the water, utensils, sauces and napkins. Wait time for our to go order was less than 10 minutes. There was free WiFi available while we waited for our order. Service was friendly but I would pass on the falafel. read more

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I'm leaning towards a 3.5/4. I loved the outdoor seating here. Lots of parking available, great lighting for night time. Didn't really check the interior space. Counter style and they bring your food to you. Self-bussing. I ordered the chicken Shawarma plate. Chicken was flavorful but dry. The (what I'm assuming) tzatziki sauce added some moisture. The pita was served fresh and warm! I like that you can can have this served in whatever form... I upgraded to the plate for an added cost. I'd come back to check out the lamb. Still hands down a fan of Mediterranean cafe on state street over this place (despite their minimal seating, cash only and lunch hour only). read more

Banzo - Mediterranean Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This place is amazing. It is a definite must visit on your next trip to Madison. Everything was delicious. I especially liked the chicken and the falafel. The Batata (sweet potato based) was good, but I prefer the original falafel as it seemed to be a little lighter and more flavorful. Staff was friendly and seating was very cute! read more

Banzo - Batata platter and shawarma/banzo half and half platter with extra side of Batata - Mediterranean Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Banzo is a hidden gem on the East Side of Madison. Those who dare venture to the East side already know of the great food that is to be had and Banzo is definitely on that list. I went to Banzo after a coworker took me here and told me it was so good they had them cater for their wedding. Expectations were set high to say the least. The house is very homey and makes you feel good to eat there so I recommend checking out this place and staying in/on the patio to eat. Food: My favorite is the Batata which is a sweet potato falafel. I don't think I can ever go back to regular falafel. Thanks Banzo. I order this every time and it is by far the best menu option to me on a menu that is very good. I'm a huge fan of the pita used here it tastes very fresh and pillowy. The sauces at Banzo are all really good my favorite is the yogurt dill sauce. I'm a huge fan of the hummus here and I don't really care to eat hummus. If looking for a really good Mediterranean spot this is it! Come to the east side and give them a try if you haven't. read more

I wasn't too fond of falafel back when they only had the cart (long ago!). I am happy to say that my palette has grown, and Banzo is absolutely one of my favorite lunch spots! Everything on their menu is flavorful and filling, yet light. There is a freshness to their fried falafel balls that you can't get from any other deep-fried food. I do prefer the cart over the restaurant since I'm always by the square. Service is fast, friendly and food is freshly prepared! I have only had one experience with the store where I ordered take out after work. I liked that the restaurant offers different option from the cart--like lamb and roasted chicken thighs (what we ordered)--but disappointed that the meals were cold and dry. Not sure if it was due down time or carelessness...but I'm down to give it another try! The food is sooooooooo good! read more

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Best falafel in Madison hands down, so crispy and flavorful. I really love the garlic sauce they pair it with too. I've even had banzo at a catered event and was still super impressed by the quality and flavor of the food read more

Heavenly flavors! Every time I eat here I wonder why I ever go anywhere else. It is that good. Mmmmmmmmm read more

Delicious food, gave a lot of hummus and I wish we had more pita bread to go with it. read more

Banzo - Sweet potato falafel plate - Mediterranean Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Was on my way to the Madison Airport and decided to take a very slight detour to grab lunch at Banzo Mediterranean Restaurant. Excellent meal. Excellent service. I had the marinated Chicken Platter. The dressing on the salad - lemon agave was awesome, as was the hummus. (They recommended the falafel, but since I was watching calories, I had to resist the temptation. LOL. But they looked really good.) read more

Sunday afternoon at 2:45p. No wait. We placed our orders at the counter and took the number with us to find comfortable nook. This old house converted restaurant has a lot of characters. Out door seatings are available on warmer days and there are plenty of parking spots on site. I had the Chick - marinaded chicken tenderloin with pita bread. The flavor of chicken was great and it would be great for anyone who's doesn't eat spicy food. It certainly has used lots of spices but it's not spicy! I have also samples some sweet potato falafels (batatas) and the hummus from my husband's plate. I enjoyed every single bite of all the dishes I tried. read more

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I love falafel pita sandwiches and this one was perfect!! The pita bread was amazing and fresh. The sweet potato falafel was filling. Also really enjoyed the rice and beet salad. If there was a location on the west side, this would be one of my regular places!! read more

Such a unique and awesome place to have in Madison. I wish they were located closer to downtown Madison because the only thing that keeps me from going here more often is that it's located a little further out! Place is super cute, service is friendly, and most importantly the food is really solid. The F bomb platter here is the best. Comes with two falafel balls, chicken, rice, salad, pita, and some super tasty hummus. It's such a great way to get a little taste of everything. I also tried the seasonal lamb platter and wow you guys, it was probably some of the best lamb I have ever had. It was seasoned so incredibly well and the meat literally melted in my mouth. Definitely wasn't expecting that but it was such a nice surprise and was super glad to tried a different menu on the item! Love the food, but be aware of what your body can handle - I stuffed my face here and since the food isn't incredibly heavy, I felt like I was doing fine and immediately needed to take a 3 hour nap afterwards (probably my fault though.) Banzo is great and I can't wait to be back! read more

Banzo - F bomb platter - Mediterranean Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I think that this may be a personal preference, but I found this place to just be alright. After so many positive reviews, I finally decided to check this place out. Service was fast and friendly, but I felt that the flavors were not as strong as I was hoping and everything felt a little too heavy and not enough light/freshness to balance out the heavy. We tried the classic banzo and a beef one. I felt that while large and satisfying, I wished that the slaw was brighter in flavor, since I quickly felt very full and felt that the meal was extremely heavy. I may have been spoiled since I recently spent a month in Detroit, where there were a lot of authentic middle eastern restaurants and just wished that there were more flavors here. read more

Banzo - Mediterranean Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Banzo has easily become a go-to spot for my partner and I. The food is always super fresh and flavorful. You can tell your food is being prepared with a lot of care and attention. I highly recommend the Chicken Shawarma or F-Bomb platters or pita sandwiches, falafel, batata, side of hummus. The pita sandwiches are THICCC. They don't skimp you on the filllings at all, and you may need a plate or napkin underneath you at all times to catch what falls out the sandwich while you're eating it. 10 /10 worth the potential messiness. I wanted to love the bana ganoush here, and while it had good flavor to it, it was a little too loose/watery. But overall, this place is fresh and delicious! The service is great and the patio seating makes for a cute and comfortable space to eat with friends or family. read more

Beautiful patio, very lively and cool building. Really good fast casual food. Shouts out North Side.

Back before Covid, my theatre group ordered Bonzo catering for our end of production meal. We would get the falafel, marinated chicken, rice, greens, hummus, and all the fixings The catering servings are generous and filling. We have never been disappointed in our dinners from Banzo. Good clean food for all types of eaters. I'm getting hungry for their hummus just thinking about it....yum! read more

This for the food cart on the square!! The restaurant is an awesome spot as well! Back to the food cart. I had the Banzo which came hot(not spicy) hot like oooo weee this is about to hit the spot! Food was super quick and delicious!! Great for a quick lunch around the square! read more

Banzo - Mediterranean Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Great porch for eating outside. Order from their Mediterranean menu at a counter and it's brought to the table. They have two different style of falafel. read more

Got the take and bake package. Seriously delicious! Recommend getting extra sauce/pitas like we did bc there's a lot of food and you may cry when you run out of the vessel. I've never had a better pita- bringing it home and heating it up on the spot was beyond amazing. I'm hoping they freeze/reheat well bc no way I will want store pitas again. read more

Banzo - Take and bake - Mediterranean Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Best falafel I've ever had. Eat on the deck in the summer for a beautiful dinner. Service is good, but it can get busy.

Quaint building with really good mediterranean food. Nice portion sizes. Fresh food. Chill vibes. Nice, informative staff. Will be back next time I'm in Madison. read more

Great food and a lovely outdoor patio. Always an awesome experience. Love this place!

Mmmm. Chicken falafel pita Ate on the go. The combination of ingredients was so yummy. read more

The best falafel in town, with amazing sauces too, and their food truck is always busy. Wish they didn't use latex gloves, but I'll be back.

Love it! My favorite local place for Mediterranean food. They have the best falafel in Madison, no doubt. I get the F Bomb Pita every time - both chicken and falafel? YES PLEASE! The sandwich is really big and comes with chips, so it's super filling. The service is always great there! read more

Got takeout. Platter option was the way to go! Falafel, rice & chicken were all EXCELLENT. Could use a bit more pita with it, but we will definitely be ordering again. Great for a night when you're not in the mood to cook and want a quick delivery. read more

Hands down the best Mediterranean food in town, at least since Bunky's closed! They do a great job with the carts and their sit down restaurant on Sherman is cozy and hospitable with lots of outdoor seating. read more

Any restaurant that has something called the F-Bomb on the menu is doing something right! I have eaten quite a bit of mediterranean food and this blows the socks off of everything else.!!! What started as a beloved local food cart has branched out and planted some roots in the Sherman neighborhood. Thank goodness I can now get my Banzo fix on a more regular basis. These guys offer delicious food using quality ingredients, making made-from-scratch tradition Mediterranean eats that will keep you coming back for more. My favorites are the Shawarma- slow roasted chicken thighs (sells out all of the time), the Banzo- the best tasting falafel I've had, and the F-bomb- combo falafel and choice of meat. One of the beat things is that you can choose how you want to eat your meal- classic pita , salad , or a platter. This makes everyone happy. If you like Mediterranean food, you need to check this place out. Heck, even if your not a lover of Mediterranean food, try this and you might just change your world. read more

Banzo - Mediterranean Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Banzo is a local favorite - the belle of the ball at any Eastside summer festival and staple on the near-Northside. Banzo is known for their delicious and quick sandwiches and platters with well-seasoned meats, perfect falafel, and creamy hummus. You can either get a sandwich or a platter. I would recommend trying the F-Bomb sandwich + as much of their yogurt dill sauce as you can get your hands on + a splash of the red chili sauce. The beef kofta is also a flavorful and delicious sandwich that you won't regret! My advice: Skip the baklava (it's not good - dry and with very few nuts) and order everything else! read more

If you admire tasty pita sandwiches and to die for falafel, you can't go wrong with Banzo. The pita sandwiches are large and filling. The platters offer a variety with a little bit of everything! I thoroughly enjoy my order each time I go. Banzo is offering contactless pick up and delivery right now. For pick up, order online or by phone, call when you are there, and they put your order outside. read more

Look no further! This place has FLAVORFUL food that is also happnes to be super healthy. The ambience can transform from a relaxed summer patio party to a very intimate date night inside the smaller room. I love coming here since it offers wide range of veggie options. Dont miss the garlic chili sauce. It's a bomb and good thing that it's on self service coz this girl can't have enough of it. The banzo sandwich with falafel (3 or 4 big falafels) is a very good portion that comes with 2 sauces. I usually take potato chips with it, which have a house made special seasoning, you can't find anywhere else. If you eat in house, they put the sandwich in a cute taco-like stand which is adorbs. Go here, you won't regret it read more

Banzo - Date night ambience - Mediterranean Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Great Mediterranean food with a very casual atmosphere. Four of us tried the two chicken dishes, the falafel and the beef. All were excellent. The platter is the best way to go. Oh, man, the Babaganush absolutely yum!! You can't beat the price read more

For your fix of falafel and hummus, look to Banzo. They've got a brick and mortar that delivers, plus a couple of food carts. I have yet to stop in to their restaurant, but I've ordered delivery a couple of times and have visited the food cart a couple times as well. Things that are great: - Soft, pillowy pita - Smooth and flavorful hummus - Falafel that stays crisp, even when delivery takes awhile - Introducing pickles on a falafel sandwich into my life - Really amazing spiced fries that somehow held up through being delivered In addition to their stellar falafel sandwich options, they've got some really tasty marinated chicken and a few other items that you can deliver to your mouth via pita or in the form of a platter with rice and salad. My main small critique is that some serving sizes seem a little off for the cheapest things. The pita sandwiches are huge, but you get literally about a tablespoon of sauce with them in a teeny, tiny cup. Fine for the hot sauce, but such a big serving could definitely use more yogurt so you can have it in every bite. Same with the hummus side. You get an entire container of their amazing hummus, but four small pita slices to go with it. For me, one pita got me through about a third of that amazing hummus. I now know to order extra pita and sauce, but considering the serving sizes it'd be great if the order just came with enough to begin with. read more

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Nice place with great staff. I really liked their pita and hummus. Their salad was fresh and tasted very good. The rice that came with my Shawarma was very good but I just didn't care for the shawarma. Can't really come up with the reason for not liking it but I just didn't care for it. We bought their ice tea which was wonderful and some of their honey that I had this morning on my granola and it was great. I will go back and give them another try. I could have just been a little off that day. read more

From the start, I really liked the welcoming, friendly service. young man, too young to have tried the beer I asked about, talked me into it any way :) Good Job! & it was just the kind of unique, rich and flavorful beer I like. ~food was great, just as rich & tasty as ever, the aubergines were delectable! and it was ready swiftly, I think the presentation of the Harvest Platter is even better now. When I went to gather my leftovers, I plashed my hand with sauce. The woman brought me extra napkins without me asking. I'm in the industry, I love great service like this. I rarely go out to eat. So glad I chose Banzo for my holiday treat. P.S. I sat at the little shelf table and enjoyed a beautiful view. read more

Multiple lunch and dinner outings I will say the pitas are great if a little heavy on cucumber. The chwarmas are brilliant along with the hummus platter. Can't t get enough. read more

F-Bomb: 5 out 5 stars Best Decision! Everything was fresh! What really stole the show was the falafel! It was piping hot and had an amazing texture. Crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside. The steak (more like meatballs) was pretty good- not overcooked, well seasoned. The veggies were nice as they cut down the richness of the steak. The potato chips inside add a new texture to the sandwich, preventing it from becoming too boring. Definitely a good combination, all the ingredients worked together like a symphony. Have to take off a star though since my friend's sandwich had a few potato chips that were not chewable. Perhaps they were fried for way too long? Ambiance: Really cute cafe-style place. You order inside and the waitresses bring the food to you as you enjoy the scenery from their cute porch. Definitely, a nice place to enjoy a brunch on a nice sunny day. read more

Banzo - F-Bomb - Mediterranean Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

My partner and I are huge Banzo fans. We love the pitas and plate options. We haven't dined in but delivery and pick up are always quick and accurate. The location is great and the menu provides something for everyone. read more

Favorite work lunch spot! I am constantly ordering from Banzo because I can't get enough of their falafel. They definitely have the best falafel in the Madison area. It is always perfectly crispy on the outside but soft and moist on the inside and is bursting with a beautiful herb-y flavor. I always choice the 'side' of falafel which comes with 4 balls and then I usually pair with one or two of the other sides (you can do a 3 for $10 sides deal). Their majadra rice, hummus, and hand-cut fries are all amazing. It's clear they make everything from fresh ingredients in-house. The platter is also great if you've got a large appetite and want to try a little of everything. If you are from the Madison area- you can buy Banzo's falafel mix from the local Willy Street Co-ops which I do frequently so that I can enjoy Banzo from home with my air fryer. I feel so lucky to work so close so I can eat lunch here frequently. If you are in the area you should dine in if you have time, their building is really cute and cozy. The patio/deck is great when it's warm out. read more