Mmmmm....I wasn't sure how my pregnancy (lack of) appetite was going to take this, but we went because of a cousin visiting from out of state. We hadn't been here since their Yelp event way back when, so we considered it our first time. I haven't had too many falafels in my life, but theirs is pretty delicious. I really enjoyed the pita sandwich after perusing through the Yelp reviewers' photos (I was highly considering the platter), and I'm glad I went that route. It's loaded with falafels and I actually removed one to be able to fit it in my mouth. And with the toppings and sauce provided, it was amazing. I also topped it with some baba ganoush and it was a party in my mouth. Baby definitely approved! read more

Everything I've had to eat here has been amazing. Their falafel is always perfectly cooked, and their platters are the perfect way to get everything. The food is always extremely fresh too read more

My dad and I go here once every few months... best food in Madison. So good every time... try their Chicken Hummus Plate!!!!

Great food. Poor delivery experience. Order went in at 5:04 pm on a Tuesday for delivery with an ETA of 6:19 pm. Called at 6:41 pm and was told probably 15-20 minutes out and hung up on. Super glad I tipped the 20% ahead of time. Food can be the best in the world but if the delivery isn't great......it ended up being 30 minutes over and cold. Call to the restaurant was placed on permahold. So long Banzo - it was a good run. read more

No complaints about the food whatsoever. It was very tasty, I was shocked by how good the pita bread was. Guys - $13.00 for half of a pita, two falafel with two micro-sauces, a drizzle of hummus, a dusting of cabbage salad, 1/3 cup of rice and like 1/3 cup of white meat chicken, I'm sorry. That ride isn't going to last forever. read more

Best vegan options in the USA. The eggplant falafel literally brought me to tears. Kind service, fairly priced, and comfortable seating. Highly recommend! read more

Simply the best Mediterranean food I have ever had. I have ordered the Banzo Platter twice in the last week and both times have been so utterly satisfied with how everything tastes. The hummus is so smooth and the salad that comes with the platter is delicious. The falafel is soft and flavorful and the sauces (I get the tahini and yogurt dill) are outstanding. A staple whenever I am in Madison from now on. read more

We did curb side pick up, and we were very pleased. The staff was friendly and careful, and the food was packaged really well. Lots of it could be recycled. I ordered the F bomb platter with chicken and a side of fries. Definitely one of the best falafels I've ever had. I wish I'd ordered more and skipped the chicken. The fries had a delicious seasoning, and I loved the salad and hummus. Great place for a meal! read more

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

We've eaten here many times and have enjoyed it but today, we ordered a pick up meal of the F-bomb chicken platter ("a tablespoon of chicken", my friend described, and the Harvest platter (wha? only two slices of eggplant?!, 3" wide). Friend ordered two extra falafel balls so she'd have enough to eat. The salad was soggy. Pricey for me at 36.95 for two plus tip. I have to say the eggplant was delicious, the hummus is always a fave, but Dang! Expected more and quality to match. Dangy dang. read more

Banzo, how I've missed you! I had Banzo's falafel for the first time in 2011 when they set up their cart in Library Mall, and though I haven't been a UW student or even Wisconsin resident since 2013, I've tried to get some every time I'm back. Their falafel is perfect. PERFECT. Crispy on the outside, fresh and fluffy on the inside, and served with the sort of homemade hummus that makes people swear off grocery store brands. I usually get the falafel pita but opted for a platter today so I could eat outside (the pitas are usually so chock full of goodness I need several napkins and also a good hand washing). The Harvest Platter has falafel and eggplant and though I at first cursed myself for not ordering an extra side of falafel to augment the two pieces it came with, the eggplant was so flipping delicious I quickly forgave myself. So tender! So expertly spiced! I know I'm using a lot of superlatives in this review, but I'm a long time vegetarian that orders falafel any time it's on the menu. There's one spot in New York that may be Banzo-level, and maybe one in the Bay Area, but with this eggplant I think Banzo bested them. I already can't wait for my next fix! read more

Banzo - The Harvest Platter - Mediterranean Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I live in Milwaukee and would drive an hour to Madison just to eat at Banzo's. The food is outstanding and the staff is exceptionally friendly. Every dish will be your favorite, and the baklava is a must! read more

Hey all! I just moved really close to this spot and I was so happy to find this place however I had the rudest experience with a man named Akeem. He was extremely rude and because I believe his behavior was reprehensible I will not be returning. I hope the owners don't agree with his behavior but I will still not be returning and nor will I be recommending this place. sad read more

I came here for lunch with my team on a Thursday, and got the F-Bomb sandwich with beef in a white pita. I also got the cashew baklava, and a hibiscus, cardamom, and ginger kombucha. The sandwich was delicious- a good mixture of textures - with softness of the pita and hummus together with the crunchiness of the falafel. This will definitely be my go-to item at Banzo! The baklava was pretty dry, and not as sticky as traditional baklavas. read more

Banzo - F-Bomb sandwich (beef and falafel) in a white - Mediterranean Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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quick, accurate service. picked up lunch to-go. the shwarma was ok; nothing like what you get across Europe. however, everything else was tasty. the falafel was the best part. recommend if you've got an itch for mediterranean food, as there a few similar options in the area. so, glad to have them as an option. I will likely go back next time I want mediterranean food read more

Banzo - shwarma platter - Mediterranean Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Gotta love a great restaurant with vegetarian options. I always get the falafel platter. Also, if you love humus, this is the best hummus in town! read more

Would rather eat an item from the hotdog roller at Kwik Trip. Based on the great reviews this place received we ventured off the beaten path to experience this place...I'm sure my negative experience is an anomaly. Pros - The Kombucha and Turkish iced coffee were great. - Naan for the Hummus was excellent - Warm treating at the front - Falafel was really good! Probably some of the best I've had - would totally get the Banzo again Cons - Chicken Sharma, dry and flavorless - Schnitzel, dry, hard as a rock - lentil soup, bland - Hummus, meh - $72 after tip??? - bus my own table? - fill my own water? In the end, I won't come back. I'm sure this was just one of those bad days for them. The place was full of peeps that obviously enjoy the food...unfortunately, my food left me wanting. read more

Banzo - Mediterranean Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Banzo is one of my favorite Mediterranean food places in Madison! Their hummus--super fresh and flavorful. The falafels, super crispy and delicious! The pitas- amazingly soft and thee perfect texture. The meat- well balanced spices and hearty portions. The sauces- amazing complements to every dish. Prior to covid, Banzo was our office catering option. Baby shower- Banzo, birthdays- Banzo, Wednesday in March- Banzo! I really missed the flavors so, I've been to Banzo a few times during Covid and it still holds up! Such great flavors that are so filling and flavorful. Their consistency is amazing and the amount of food you get for the price is amazing. I typically get a full meal combo with the salad, hummus, and meat (with the delicious sauces). and it's about $12 for a super solid amount of food. The sandwiches are also packed full of food and flavor. I will continue to support Banzo, even when we are back in the office for our random catering lunches! Delicious every time! read more

Overall experience - 3 stars We went on a Saturday afternoon, place was empty and everything is self serve kind of setting, you order at the counter with the menu written behind them on a chalk board. I was confused when I was asked tip before I even had my order, coz tip is something which I will decide how much I want to give based on the food and service I received. After that you can just find any empty seat inside or outside the restaurant at your convenience. The side order came in like 20 mins of wait and a few mins after that we were served our entrees. I did like part where you can grab your own cutlery, napkins and water. Now the food - Falafel balls - 5 stars! loved them! Very fresh, crispy, perfect flavor and they came with a nice sauce pairing. Entree dish - lamb kofta platter $15 for the platter which includes 4 small flat lamb meatball/patty with mild tomato gravy, hummus, rice, salad, pita and chips I loved the hummus! Very homemade kind of a flavor. Lamb meat had nice flavor but didn't taste like Mediterranean which you would expect to have from a restaurant which served Mediterranean cuisine, it was just a lamb meatball with tomato gravy similar to marinara sauce. Pita was ok, the yellow rice served was tough, salad served was no big deal. The whole time while eating, we were the only ones in the restaurant sitting inside, and no one even once came to check up on us to see whether we need anything or the food is ok. Overall an OK experience. Would definitely give them another try for the swarma chicken and more falafel. read more

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It's okay, can be hit or miss. Usually good falafel, but on the dry side. Not a whole lot else.

One of the best places in Madison. Consistent. Friendly. Everything has been great. The owners really seem to care.

Food : Average with the exception of Falafal Service : Non Existent as it's a purely help yourself place A good Mediterranean place is known by a few key things IMO. The hummus, the baba ganoush, the falafel, the pita and the sharwma. This place does serve most of those but not really good ones. Let's start with the GOOD. The Falafel's were fresh and fried to perfection just to ensure the right chewiness from the chickpeas. Pairing it with a tahini sauce which to me had a hint of Coconut was brilliant! A must try for anyone. The Hummus was very good and again fresh. Now the REST. The Lamb platter, albeit in the form of Kofta (a version of Meatballs) were dry, somewhat overcooked and lacked a depth of flavor Mediterranean places are otherwise synonymous for!! The sauce was dangerously close to simply being one right out one of Olive Garden recipes for Marinara. The rice accompaniment was chewy and flavorless. The pita as average at best. What really made a dent in our experience was the average food with an above average price ($15 per platter per person) and a bare bones service. The only thing they did that we didn't was to get our food from the kitchen to the table. That's it. No checking in on how were doing etc etc and taking around 30 mins just to get 2 mains on a almost empty afternoon. If I knew I was going to get Panera Bread service, I'd better pay Panera Bread prices! (By the way, I Love Panera Bread !! ) I know it's tad unfair to compare with past experiences, but we've had MUCH better and authentic Mediterranean food elsewhere. Not worth a second visit this one. read more

Banzo - Lamb Platter - Mediterranean Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

So so so good and LOTS of food! We picked this up to go for lunch and they included extra sauces, tons of napkins, silverware, which was appreciated. The food was wonderful! read more

I have to admit, Banzo was actually remarkable. Very unique environment that you have to experience. Truly impressed with their menu, lots of good options, Marinated Chicken was absolutely outstanding. All of the staff are really polite - you certainly feel welcome and looked after. Highly recommend Banzo if you're visiting the area. read more

I've eaten here about ten times since they opened on Sherman, and this was the first time they made a mistake on my order. It hardly mattered. The food is uniformly divine, and I cleaned my plate anyway. The Chick platter is my go-to favorite. The chicken chunks are all meat, well flavored without a hint of greasiness, the saffron rice and lentils subtly spiced and comforting, the chopped salad with shredded cabbage, lettuce, diced tomato and cucumber with a light vinaigrette is refreshingly crisp, the pita bread crusty outside and tender within, and the butter-smooth hummus is simply off the chain delicious. Tzatziki and spicy hot pepper sauce are great add ins if that's your thing (it's my thing). The beer selections are nice, and there are a million other soft drink options. You order at the counter, which keeps the price low. It's a small space, and was full when I arrived at 8 pm on Thursday night. However, I was soon (within 5 minutes) seated at a table for two in the corner, which was perfect. The lighting is low but not too low, music is a mix of Mediterranean and eclectic, and is kept at a medium/low volume, adding to the relaxing aura of the place. Fresh, delicious healthy dinner, low price, friendly staff that doesn't hover. Doesn't get much better. read more

Banzo - Chick platter. Yum! - Mediterranean Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I really, really love this place. Owner, Netalee, learned to make hummus from her grandmother as a child in Israel. It's a two-day process and the end product is truly amazing. I've traveled to Israel several times for work, and I've been able to eat some of the finest Mediterranean food you can find anywhere, and Banzo is on par with that. They take great pride in starting with fresh ingredients and not taking shortcuts. They also take pride in ensuring many of their offerings are vegetarian or vegan, and they don't have any processed foods in sight. Whether you are at the food cart or the main restaurant, you cannot go wrong. The F-bomb pita with chicken on wheat never disappoints, and you get your falafel fix with the two that are included in the pita. The clever pita take-out box is great too! We live in the neighborhood and have seen many restaurants try to make it in their space that is an old house. They've done a nice job with the space and we LOVE the patio. I was there at 1:00 today and it was hopping. So nice to see Netalee and Aaron putting down roots here. read more

Banzo - Mediterranean Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The best Mediterranean food in Madison in my opinion! You can't go wrong with anything on this menu. My favorite is the falafel pita. The hummus is so delicious, the falafel are perfect, and they put homemade potato chips in the sandwich! Both of the hot sauces are excellent. I also love the tahini and yogurt sauce! Other great items are the French fries and batata. Love love love banzo forever! read more

First time here last night with my parents and boy am I glad we stopped in! Madison is lacking in some great Mediterranean after the closing of a couple of good spots, but Banzo more than makes up for it! I got the F-Bomb platter -- 2 falafel balls (cooked to perfection with great flavor), chicken (spiced amazingly, some of the best I've ever had), a small salad, small portion of rice, hummus, tzatziki, sweet potato chips, and whole wheat pita! Sounds like a lot, but the portion size was perfect. It was great to be able to try so many different things but not feel overly full. We also got a babaganoush to share for the table and it was wonderfully fresh and flavorful. They have great variety on the menu and everything was reasonably priced. Wine, beer and other beverage options are available. The only reason I gave 4 stars is because it was incredibly dark in the dining room. The decor is great, and there were two nice skylights, but unfortunately, the shades were down. We left the restaurant around 6:30pm and it was more light outside than inside! I would have loved to be able to see the delicious food I was eating. Please, turn up the lights next time! :) read more

Beef kofta kabobs are just curry meatballs. They're not at all what I expected or have had in the past from other restaurants. Today was my first time ordering from here and I had to come back because they forgot my falafel that I paid extra for. The manager was extremely unprofessional and asked me three times if I LOOKED for them in my order. They were not included and my food was getting cold in my car while I waited for falafel which they stated was my "extra falafel" when they handed it to me even though it was just the item I had paid for and they had forgotten to give me. Probably never ordering from here again or recommending anyone to go there either. read more

Why am I not surprised to see the perfect score? I had the harvest pita which comes with 2 felafel and a seared eggplant. I can never resist eggplant. And I think form now on I might not be able to resist felafel either. Those felafel where perfect balls of happiness. Not sure how they make them, but they were perfectly crunchy on the outside and creamy on the inside. Sometimes felafel can be a bit dry, bit these ones were perfectly moist and delicious. Had to wait a bit for it, but I would happily go back and wait all over again just to get another one of those delicious felafel! read more

Banzo - See the crunchiness? - Mediterranean Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

In the maze and confusion of food carts on Library Mall, it is easy to get lost in deciding which one to check out. That is, until you look over and realize that twice as many people are crowded around Banzo as compared with the other food options....Banzo it is! After looking over the menu briefly, I settled on the "F-Bomb", which is a whole wheat pita sandwich of 2 falafel balls, grilled chicken, chopped salad, yogurt sauce, and tahini. Boy. I chose wisely. The falafel had a great taste to it and was hearty on its own, but when combined with the grilled chicken this became quite the delicious meal. The chopped salad of sorts and the various sauces that are added in complimented the marriage of the flavorfully satisfying falafel and stick-to-your-ribs chicken. This is the kind of food that you will insatiably, randomly crave. You've been warned. read more

Banzo - The F-Bomb! falafel...grilled chicken...whole wheat pita...huge and SO GOOD - Mediterranean Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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I lived for a few months in the Netherlands, and came back for few visits for some breaks and became a fan of doner kebab. Too bad, I couldn't find anything close to it here. But today, I gave Banzo a try (I had the F-Bomb with all the sauces) and IT WAS GOOD. I guess I will come to have it more often and can see myself as a regular. Too bad the service a bit sucked. While the waiter was fine, the cashier was not friendly at all, while I tipped them quite generously :D :D Oh well, it may have been one of those days. Today, I bought the second one. This time I got myself the Kebab. It's good but the F-Bomb is still THE BOMB. Now, I made up my mind: I will only get myself the F-BOMB. By the way, the cashier is another woman who is SUPER FRIENDLY. They should keep her!!!!! :)) Yelp didn't let me check in, the message said: I was too far away from that. Well, I only went to the truck at the library Mall. So, yeah. I gave Banzo: 5 stars!!!!! read more

Banzo - Two Banzos for today. - Mediterranean Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

If I lived in Madison, I would be eating at Banzo all the damn time. As it is, we found out about Banzo via an article in a Madison magazine, so it was merely by chance that we decided to seek it out when we returned home from Mt. Horeb. Banzo's concept is simple: you basically pick groups of ingredients (e.g., I ordered the Harvest, which contains falafel, roasted eggplant, and a few other things) and how you want it prepared (pita sandwich, salad, hummus plate, or platter). My husband ordered the F-Bomb (delicious chicken) platter, and I ordered the platter as well with the Harvest. I also tried a side of their tabouli, the salmon/avocado soup, and we both got ice teas. Their iced tea is amazing, first of all. I have never had better iced tea. And the food was delicious: we really liked the rich tahini flavor of the hummus and the crisp but fresh texture of the falafel. In addition to the hummus, we both got salad and rice with the platter, and both were outstanding. The flavor of the rice was out of this world! Their flavors were really unique -- the chicken my husband ordered had a taste that we really couldn't pin down, but it was a good taste. The same goes for the rice, which seemed to have turmeric or curry in it. My only complaint was that they did not use basmati rice but regular, short-grain rice, which seems odd for a restaurant serving Middle Eastern cuisine. We really enjoyed our meal at Banzo and can't wait to visit Madison so that we can eat there again! read more

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Ordered takeout from here earlier today. We ordered two F-bomb plates and some homemade chips. Really enjoyed the plates. The chips had zatar sprinkled on them which was a great touch. Will be back when we go to Madison again. read more

If someone were to ask me about the best thing I've recently ate, I'd say it's Banzo's falafel. I didn't have them in pita. Just the balls a la carte. Now I get why people love this place. These super fluffy inside, crispy-outside falafel are the best that I've ever had anywhere. I thought I had sampled some of the finest falafel a from SF Bay Area to Paris, but I am happy to report that Banzo's falafel wins the title of "the best." read more

Banzo - Mediterranean Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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

Banzo serves up pure, unadulterated bliss. The F Bomb with the beef kabob is near flawless Mediterranean comfort food. It starts with the flavorful, pillowy-soft pita, which Banzo imports from Israel. The falafel is perfectly prepared, pleasingly crunchy on the exterior without a hint of dryness in the interior. The same goes for the beef, it had a wonderful sear to enhance the flavor while the inside was tender. The vegetables in the dish were flawless diced and added in the perfect proportion. And the wonderful yogurt sauce tied the dish together. This is one of my favorite comfort food dishes in all of Madison. read more

Quick review : good on some thing, great one one, and not so great on others. Humus and pita bread was great!!! Beer was good. Yes they have beer and wine but it is not on their menu The meat was not good. I got the Schnitzel (bread fried chicken) and it was very dry and I did not care for the breading. The people I with which I was dining gave good reports, so I bumped this up to a 3 vs. a 2. I may try again and I will definitely get the humus and pita again (very good). read more

Best Mediterranean food in Madison. Friendly team and excellent service. I admire their shawarma and hummus. read more

Best falafel in Madison. Not the best falafel I've ever had, but that's okay. I like the set up here - you walk in and order at the counter, and then pick your seat and they bring the food out to you. The menu is pretty simple, kind of choose-your-own-adventure style. I've had the rice with lentils, falafel, hummus, whole wheat pita, roasted cauliflower, and the salad. It was all good. The falafel are on the small side, and are very fried. Dark and greasy. The hummus is really good. I feel like it has a higher ratio of tahini to chickpea than standard hummus, which makes it better. I've had the cauliflower twice here. The first time it was the most amazing thing i've ever eaten. The sauce was herby and delicious, and the cauliflower was beautiful. This time around the cauliflower was undercooked and the sauce looked and tasted like a drizzle of watered down hummus- no herbs. Much disappoint. It was slightly pricey, though. I ordered a honey rose tea, falafel platter and cauliflower side and it came to just under $20. It was a bit much for lunch. Maybe my opinion is tainted by my cauliflower disappointment. But I'm happy to support Banzo, because there aren't a lot of restaurants like it around. read more

I work downtown, but venture to their Sherman location often because I don't want to bother with the lines at the food truck. I love sitting on the porch, and noshing on their fresh dishes. Last time I got the F-bomb sandwich. Everything about it was amazing. It's one of those items that it makes it hard to try anything else on the menu. read more