This place is both a market and a restaurant. The market is limited, though some of the dried goods…read morelooked worthwhile. The restaurant isn't fancy, but it offers a nice vegetarian menu. I ordered some chickpeas and bread, not knowing the chickpeas already came with bread. That said, the thin, grilled, potato-filled bread is delicious when done right, which it was here. My chickpeas were delivered in a tomato-y preparation and provided needed substance to get me through the day. It's the sort of family run place where the kids were hanging out (perhaps a snow day for them). I could imagine them offering more on the market side, but the food I got was a good deal and I saw enough vegetarian options to be worth coming back.

A friend of mine that I hadn't seen in a while called me and invited me and another friend to have…read moredinner in this Afghan Restaurant the other evening. For some time now, I've been looking forward to eating here because I've been hearing many good things about this restaurant, that had been open for less than a year now. When we arrived it was already dark outside, but during this time of the year it gets dark early. The restaurant was well lit from outside and its sign on the small parking lot was lit from inside and had photos of some of their food. It also mentioned that their food was Halal quality. This means that it did not contain pork. Inside, the place was clean and decorated very simple with large size poster prints of photos from some of the cultures of the food and cuisine served here. The dining room was on the left of the building and had booths along the left wall and two persons tables and chairs as well. The owner and host came out and greeted us with a warm welcome, handing us copies of the menu which was very well designed with glossy photos next to the food entrées listed there. This was very helpful because it gave a visual sense of the food, of which many I didn't know, making it easier to order. To drink there were some large display refrigerators full of different drinks for us to reach and get one. To start with since this was our first time eating there, the owner brought us bowls of their Chicken Soup from thebAppetizers section in the menu. This soup was amazingly delicious. Simply the best Children Soup that I have ever had. I urge you to view the photographs that I took to accompany my review and you will get a better sense of it deliciousness. For it is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Then we decided to get several dishes to share among all of us imitating the culture of the cuisine. Among the entrées we ordered were: The Fresh Lamb Tikka Kabab, the Bulani kachalo, Chicken Beryani, the Qurma Potatoes, Chick Pea, Eggplant, Salad Afghani Style Plate Mix, and some Special bread. All the food looked wonderful and tasted even better. For dessert we had the Sherpayra (Milk Fudge) and Afghan Mixed Cookies with a cup of a Special Tea. Afterwards we took a tour of the Grocery, on the right side of the building, and observed all the items available, from foods, to rugs, to jewelry, to an indefinite variety of Afghan items. I highly recommend this restaurant as one of a kind, of its kind. The atmosphere is comfortable and relaxed, the food was amazingly delicious, and the service provided was very welcoming and friendly. I definitely think we should all support this new restaurant and tell our friends about it. I know I will enthusiastically.

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.

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.

Amazing staff, super friendly and helpful with the menu! WOW,HOLY SMOKES, the food was amazing!…read more We got the Lamb Gyro and Kofta sandwich and both were so flavorful! The gyro was packed with meat and juicy and the Kofta Sandwich had a good variety of meet and was saucy. Our first time and was an awesome surprise! We will be back and get more!

Delicious Baba ghanoush and hummus. The pitas are so fresh and amazing. I highly recommend.read more

Best selection and prices! The Middle Eastern take out…read morefoods are fresh and so delicious. A must try. Friendly family business with excellent personal service.

From the owner: Family owned business with separate operations. Main floor is you local neighborhood smoke shop. We…read morehave all of your smoking needs and if we don't, we will make sure to have it for you next time. Second part of the business is our middle eastern take out and catering service. Everything is homemade and from scratch. Feel free to call if you have any questions

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.

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.

The desserts are amazing!!! The many different variations of baklava are simply delicious. Reminds…read moreme of when I was in bakeries in Greece. An absolute must and I'm definitely picky about my baked goods. Their fries are also perfectly crisp and thin. Delicious.

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.

staff was extremely friendly and attentive ! food was good as always! would come againread more

One of the best bakeries in the NRV area! Stopped by for baklava and cheesecake and was not…read moredisappointed. So many option, with great price points for the quality. Highly recommend!

The Summit, a family owned business, has a varied menu with the best appetizers, entrées, salads,…read moreand desserts of any restaurant in this area, as well as a good wine selection. Every dish I've had there has been exceptionally delicious with a beautiful presentation. All servers have been trained well and are very nice. I highly recommend this restaurant for a quiet dinner or a small party.

The Ceasar, and Italian Angel entrees were divine and was a great presentation. Same for the garden…read moresalad and Filet Mignon. The rolls were disappointing though, being straight out of a Sister Schubert's bag. The restored 1800's high end residence is a great setting for special events. However, I do recommend fixing the ceiling in the men's room. Mathew was patient with our family and displayed descent knowledge of the menu. One of our hometown favorites for special events.