My experience at Carousel was above my expectations, and it is and has been my favorite Mediterranean restaurant for years... Bassam was our server today and he was so attentive and helpful throughout the whole experience. He was constantly checking if our food is fine and if everything is okay at the table. Thank you Carousel and thank you to our server Bassam for this perfect dinner! read more

Hard to find parking. There was metered parking in the front. Came on a weekend afternoon. Made reservations, but according to the host, the reservation cancels after 15 minutes of not showing. Place was not full at all. Got the Veggie Sampler for Two for $15, Carousel Combo for $25, and Sarma for $10. For the Carousel Combo we got the Lula or ground beef Kebab and Lamb Shish Kebab for $4 more and substituted the cabbage salad to Lentil Soup for $2. We also got the bulgur instead of rice, fried, or fire roasted vegetables. The food was all amazing. The Sarma was on the sour side, but good. Would come back. read more

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Carousel is a solid spot with really flavorful food and a lively atmosphere. I ended up going during the prix fixe menu, which I did not realize ahead of time, and it made the experience feel more expensive than I would have liked. That being said, the quality of the meat definitely stood out. Everything was well seasoned and cooked nicely, but the filet was the highlight for me. Super tender, juicy, and easily the best part of the meal. The portions were generous and the variety you get with the set menu is nice if you are coming hungry or with a group, but I think I would have enjoyed it more ordering à la carte and choosing exactly what I wanted. Overall really good food and worth trying, I would just time it differently next time to get the best value. read more

Carousel Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Glendale, California

Had lunch at Carousel and was transported back to the old country. The atmosphere is traditional and old school, but refined and pleasant. There is both inside and outside seating, but I preferred inside as the tables outside are on a busy street. The service was very good, with frequent check ins to make sure we were good with our food and drinks. We shared the baba ganoush, vegetarian grape leaves, and the chicken breast kebab. Everything was outstanding with the exception of the grape leaves which were too lemony for my taste. The chicken breast was tender and well marinaded, and came with grilled veggies and tomatoes. The baba ganoush was creamy and smokey just as it should be and was topped with pomegranate seeds. Overall it was a good experience which I will repeat when in the area. read more

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I've been to Carousel many times and have never had a bad experience. Their food is always amazing and consistent. I usually just order a little bit of everything. You really can't go wrong with anything you order here. read more

There's plenty of room inside and outside. They have a large amount of options. They have some great hummus options for appetizers and the meals include a salad that is fresh and filling before the meal. Staff is friendly. read more

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Our party of five came for the first time. We started with the appetizers Mutabbal baba gannuj, Fatayer with cheese filling and Muhammara of roasted red peppers, crushed walnuts and pomegranate, flaming soujouk bahadoura sausage followed by entrees of salmon kebab, lulu kebab of ground beef, chicken breast kebab with roasted vegetables, bulgur, rice and fries. The salmon was my favorite of all the kebabs bc it was cooked perfectly and not dry just the way I like my salmon! Highly recommend the beautiful Ossmalieh with crispy shredded pastry and Ashta cream filling for dessert. We also had the Ashta b'tween with homemade fig jam and Ashta. Everything was delicious, wonderful service was provided by our female server with glasses mentioned in a previous post, beautiful ambience, outside patio seating. We parked on the street. There's another Carousel in Thai Town, Hollywood with a different ambience. We chose to come to the one in Glendale to acknowledge Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, 4/24. read more

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I was craving some authentic Lebanese food and came back to this spot in Little Armenia. It was just as good as I remember, and I discovered new favorites as well! I loved the liver sauté last time and had to get it again, and it didn't disappoint. While the gamey taste is definitely still there, it is perfectly seasoned and comes with sautéed and raw onions that cut the liver flavor. My favorite appetizer was definitely the baba gannuj, a roasted eggplant dish that went well with the bread. I especially liked that it was topped with pomegranate seeds, which gave it a nice texture. I also tried the frri, which was a roasted quail dish that was seasoned very well, but a bit small. I would also recommend getting the mint tea, since they use fresh mint and it is very soothing. Our server was very accommodating and gave us a table, even though they recommend to have a reservation on weekends. The interior is very warmly lit and intimate, great for a special occasion or family gathering. read more

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Very busy night we went there. Food was delicious but somewhat inconsistent. My mom's kebab skewer was full mine seemed to be half a skewer. In general everything was amazing. Appetizers were to die for, and the meals were good too. After the appetizers we waited a long time for the meals to come and when they did it was not HOTc it was a bit cold, but still edible. With that said and since we waited long I didn't want to send it back and have another delayed meal. read more

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The staff was nice, and the ambiance was fun. However, my husband's lamb kebab was overcooked. I like my appetizer, Basterma Rkaat, which came out hot. The rice pilaf was excellent and they give you a generous bowl of delicious cabbage salad, however, the olives were bitter. We were underwhelmed with the dessert, Ashta B'teen. There were two large birthday parties going on, and the restaurant goes all out with sparklers and music, so it might be fun to hold a birthday party here. If I were to go again, I'd stick with the appetizers, because they don't cook their meats to be tender or juicy, but tough and rubbery, with no trace of pink. read more

Carousel Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Glendale, California

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Sam is a rock star!!! The atmosphere here is amazing, food delicious, and overall great service. I always enjoy establishments that have great service and the food is consistent. Sam always makes sure we're happy everytime we visit. Customer for life. read more

It had been a while since I dined at Carousel but they never disappoint! The manager Sam is always so kind and goes above and beyond to check on us to make sure we have everything we need and more. Their chicken and lula kabobs are the juiciest and their cheese boregs are to die for. I will most definitely not wait so long to come back next time! read more

If you have never been to Carousel restaurant, you need to. The food is delicious, the service is great, and it's got a great ambiance for either a romantic lunch/ dinner for 2, or a family or group gathering. We went for the Dine LA tasting menu. It was $35 per person, but we got to try so much food, and had plenty of food to bring home for leftovers!! The chicken kebab and filet mignon were delicious and loved all of the side dishes as well. We will definitely come back again next year during Dine LA. Such a great value!! read more

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First time being here and it was worth it! The food was delicious and the ambiance was good and comfortable- however, the service could have been better (took us 10-15 minutes to get the attention of our waitress to ask for our bill and it wasn't to busy while we were there). Overall, my friends and I really enjoyed the food and the location. Ample parking as well. read more

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We've been coming to Carousel for many years for birthday celebrations and ordered their catering for many private events. Carousel is the first Lebanese restaurant that comes to mind in LA and their variety and consistency is really what sets them apart. I believe they recently renovated the interior of the restaurant, and it's really elevated the overall look. The service is pretty good, and we've had pleasant experiences every time. If you're going with a group, I would highly suggest ordering family style, and they have a lot of great packages depending on what you want. The most memorable dishes are the hummus, muttabal, chi kufta, kofta, fatayer, and the filet shish kebab which is so incredibly tender. You really get so much food and you're able to try a little bit of everything. read more

This place was cool.... food was in good size portion. Drinks were okay. To me it was nothing out the ordinary. The service was average. I got the fafafel meal was good. I did ask for extra spicy sauce as I like my food hot. Overall an average place. read more

Carousel Restaurant - Fafafel - Middle Eastern Near Me - Glendale, California

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Wow, Had to review... were more than half way thru lent... coworker got the amazing lentil soup.. Carousel Restaurant down the block.. the lentil soup has been a house specialty since 1984 and one taste tells you why. Served hot, deeply flavorful, and perfectly seasoned, it's the kind of dish that feels timeless. Simple, comforting, and done just right... the sort of classic that never goes out of style. We will get again... read more

Carousel Restaurant - lentil soup, - Middle Eastern Near Me - Glendale, California

Dine LA Sunday lunch $35. I highly recommend adding carousel to your list of Dine LA restaurants to try. You literally get an amazing sampling of so many items...of which was ALL delicious. No lie, everything was delicious. The cold appetizers, hot appetizers, the kabobs & even the rice/Bulgar was to die for. The price of $35pp for lunch might sound expensive but there was so much leftover I had 2 more meals at home. The restaurant was beautiful. A great place for groups, dates, etc., it's a classy place. Our server was awesome. The food came out quickly, water was frequently filled and empty plates were quickly taken away. Plenty of parking behind the restaurant. It's all metered but if you're ok to walk a block, there were plenty of free street parking in the neighborhood behind the restaurant. If you've never had Armenian food. You're missing out. You should go ASAP. read more

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I have been coming to carousel for fancy Armenian dinners for a very long time. I was surprised to see that I hadn't left a review yet, so here goes! I posted pictures of my last two visits to carousel. Last time we got the feast for 2, it was a ton of food, dare I say it can feed 3 actually. That's what I usually get what I go there, it's always really great and gives you a solid variety of the food at carousel. If you don't know what you want, or you love alot of their menu, I suggest ordering this. My most recent visit was for my moms 76th birthday . This is my moms favorite restaurant, so we went there. This time I wanted to change it up for us. My mom loves lamb so do I, so we ordered the vegetarian platter to get a good variety of the appetizers and dips, then we ordered the lamb, and.. OMG , I never knew what I was missing, their lamb was so tender and juicy and fatty, it was one of the best lamb chops I've had, even better than bougier restaurants I've been to. The most awesome part was the desert at the end, they have a sparkler they light if it's your birthday and they play happy birthday on their loud speakers. It's quite the show and my mom loved it. read more

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Ambiance - very spacious restaurant with Middle Eastern decor. Service - our server was professional, friendly and very well-groomed. He was attentive and took care of us very well. We came in the restaurant at 3:30 pm and we have not had anything to eat. It was great that service was quick and food was promptly served. Food - we ordered beef Lula kebab and yogurt beef Lula kebab from the Specialty Entrees menu. The order comes with your choice of rice, bulgur wheat pilaf or grilled veges. I opted for the grilled veges and my husband chose the rice. Differences between our orders is his had a topping of yogurt, mine did not but came with a bed of crushed stewed tomatoes. His was in a bed of sliced fresh tomatoes. Both came with pita bread. I asked for garlic aioli which were given to us free of charge. I remember Raffi's charging us extra for this request. The beef was juicy, flavorful and tender. The servings were generous. The pita bread which were provided with our orders was perfectly thin and had a very thin layer of a crushed tomato-like sauce. The grilled veges consisting g of large slices of zucchini and carrots were equally flavorful and perfectly grilled. Overall, the whole meal was very satisfying. We were so hungry, we forgot to take pictures of the food. Anyway, we love this place. By the way, there is metered street parking, another plus, compared to paying a more expensive valet parking at Raffi's. Finally, our server told us that their cooking style is more Lebanese whereas Raffi's is more Persian. read more

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Carousel is an authentic Middle Eastern restaurant in Glendale. There are plenty of parking spots behind the restaurant. I was lucky to find a spot easily. They have also a valet parking. It was my second choice in case I could not find a parking spot. The restaurant has gorgeous decor and vivid and dynamic vibes. They had both indoor and outdoor seating. We preferred to stay outside since the weather was great. The hostesses were very welcoming and genuinely warm. Their menu were so tempting. I chose Khash-Khash Kebab. It served with tomatoes, peppers, onion-parsley mix, seasoned pita, and pickled turnips. The Kebab was heavenly. It was savory, flavorful and very juicy. It was such a perfect night. What an incredible restaurant to hangout with friends or family and enjoy your time. read more

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Carousel restaurant definitely exceeded my expectations. The food seemed super authentic, and I loved getting to try so many new dishes for the first time. Each one had unique flavors and was clearly made with care. The ambience and service were both also warm. That said, the real star of the experience was the seemingly endless spread of food, just when you think you're done, they bring out more to enjoy. An amazing spot for anyone who loves great food and discovering new flavors. read more

Carousel Restaurant - spread - Middle Eastern Near Me - Glendale, California

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Great food and a really nice atmosphere. Everything we ordered was fresh and full of flavor. Our server Bassan was excellent, very attentive, friendly, and made sure we had everything we needed. His service really made the experience even better. read more

"I had an amazing experience at Carousel Restaurant in Glendale. The food was absolutely delicious, and the service was top-notch. Sam, the manager, was simply perfect--so attentive and welcoming. I can't wait to come back!" read more

Best restaurant in California! We visited on a very busy day when the restaurant was completely full, and the manager, Sam, truly made our day with the way he accommodated us and the excellent service he provided. Highly recommended! read more

I noticed that a lot of the low ratings for this restaurant as of late are specifically about the service. I can confirm it's true. Horribly rude hostess and staff. It's a shame because the food was actually delicious. Maybe the Hollywood location is better but this one is not worth it. There are too many other delicious options in the area to be treated like $hit here. The only reason I'm giving two stars is because the food is good. read more

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We visited on a Saturday during dinner time without a reservation, and the place was packed. Despite that, the manager, Sam, warmly greeted us and made sure we were seated. He went above and beyond by even taking our order while the other servers were busy. The food arrived promptly, and everything was perfect. Considering we showed up without a reservation, we couldn't have asked for a better experience. Thank you, Sam! read more

This place deserves all the praise! We came during one of their busiest hours, but Sam the manager still found a way to accommodate us and provide exceptional service. Professional, friendly, and attentive staff. We'll definitely be back!" read more

Very unprofessional management. We have been customers for years and we were treated so poorly today. We ordered catering and received less than we paid for. The manager threatened to cancel the order instead of giving us what we paid for. I do not recommend this place. read more

Really good food and service! Special thanks to Bassam for the excellent service. Definitely recommend this place read more

Carousel Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Glendale, California

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Food is amazing and fresh Portions are big Service is fast and polite It was really good read more

The waitress lady was great, but the host limited access to online reservations for two via OpenTable. I wasn't too happy about that. If they had gotten that down without any problems, I'd give them 5 Stars. The food and atmosphere were good. It rained today. The restaurant was half empty, which to me was a huge let down due to them blocking OpenTable reservations. read more

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I've been coming here since 2002, and it's about time I finally write a review. This is truly my favorite Lebanese restaurant! The food and service are always fabulous and consistently on point. Everything is absolutely delicious. I bring friends all the time and they always end up raving about it too. My go-to dishes are the Hafleh Beiruti or the Carousel Feast. It has everything and never disappoints. Love this place! read more

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Took the family here as a treat water our daughter's piano recital. We walked in with no reservation on a Sunday at about 2 pm. Place was busy but we were able to get a table on the patio. We were in the sun, and they were very gracious and kind to move us inside once a table opened up. A lot of happy families were gathered breaking bread. Our server was excellent, and the food was amazing as always. I ordered the salmon kabob, and it was cooked to perfection. My wife and daughters had the filet mignon, which they loved. Step up and pay the two dollars extra to get the Armenian salad. Absolutely worth it. Hummus was a great appetizer, and the rice that comes with the meal is so tasty. We love the relaxed atmosphere. This is what a well run high quality family restaurant is supposed to be. Enjoy whenever you can. read more

Can not go wrong with carousel! The food is amazing and is perfect for groups! I love the spread here so much! Make it easy and go with the carousel feast! $48pp and you get so much food! read more

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Beautiful space, no detail spared to create an elegant but inviting atmosphere. Service was exceptional. We enjoyed delicious food made more enjoyable by the Arabic music playing in the background. read more

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Carousel has the worst manager in all of LA. His name is Sako but he goes by Sam. We ordered catering and paid the full price and he did not give us our complete order which we paid for. A lot of the items were much smaller than what was paid for, we didnt notice until we came home. He was so rude and kept saying "I will cancel the order" because I was asking for the food details! read more

What a disappointment, food and service disappointment. The food was horrible and very expensive for the amount served, and it was all canned--horribly rude hostess and staff. The food had no flavor, and the chicken and kebab were awful, with very small portions and burned and disgusting. I want my money back, which I paid over $200 for, for garbage we did not eat and that went straight into the trash. read more

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BASSAM was an absolute GENTLEMAN. He was so patient. He listened to the type of food we liked and he made the recommendations. The chandeliers in the restaurant are beautiful... so much love in The room....baby shower, birthday and going home celebrations. The food was delicious! The service was top tier. We had so much fun. You've got to try the fried "red snapper"! It was aweeeesommme and the tabouleh was bon appetite! We had the AFTERNOON APRICOT Drink STRONG but yummy! To be honest we got the family meal 4 HAFLEH BEIRUTI to cover all bases and we were not disappointed! Can't wait to come back! read more

Carousel Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Glendale, California

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My husband ordered some takeout food and asked that the chicken luleh not be burnt. Half of it was badly burnt and wasted. So annoying! read more