From the moment we walked in, we knew we were in for something special. Ela Mesa Taste of Greece…read moredidn't just serve us a meal -- it transported our taste buds straight to the Mediterranean. We started strong with the feta cheese appetizer, and wow -- the creamy, briny richness paired perfectly with fresh accompaniments. The Greek salad that followed was unbelievably fresh, with crisp vegetables and vibrant flavors that felt like summer in every bite. But the real star of the night? The pork chops. They were cooked to juicy perfection, seasoned beautifully, and paired with sides that complemented the dish rather than competed with it. Each forkful was savory, tender, and honestly one of the best versions of Greek-inspired pork I've had in a while. What sets Ela Mesa apart isn't just the food -- though it truly delivers authentic, elevated Greek flavors -- it's the whole experience. Guests consistently rave about the warm, inviting atmosphere and attentive service that makes you feel right at home. Whether you're craving classic Greek dishes done exceptionally well or discovering Mediterranean flavors for the first time, this place is a must-try gem. We'll absolutely be back -- and next time, we're leaving room for dessert!

Came here with my parents to celebrate an early Mother's Day and avoid the crowds, it did not…read moredisappoint! It's so funny because David and I frequent the Akira ramen next door and not once had we ever noticed that this Greek restaurant was right next to it! I was immediately impressed by the perfect amount of variety on the menu, and the dishes sounded really authentic. Our server also told us there were a number of specials happening that day, so there's sure to be something for everyone. We ended up ordering 3 entrees for 4 people to share and we were able to swap a few of the side dishes that the entrees came with. Gioulbasi (half roasted chicken): The chicken was tasty, although I didn't eat a few parts closest to the bone because they were a bit bloody and I couldn't tell if it was cooked through. The lemon potatoes that came with this were BOMB! Super lemony, and had a slight crisp outer texture. I could eat a plate full of those potatoes. Branzino: Unfortunately the Chilean Sea Bass we wanted was out, so our waiter recommended the Branzino instead. It was good, but not mindblowing. Its a pretty lean fish, but the meat slid right off the bone and it was pretty easy to eat. Yiouvetsi (lamb shank): Super tender, came right off the bone and paired nicely with the tomatoey orzo pasta underneath. A HUGE portion, we had some leftover to go. Overall, we loved the chill ambiance and authenticity of the dishes and selection on the menu. My parents love Greek/Meditteranean food, so would definitely visit again! Shoutout to our server Riley who was great too, I had to call him over to explain the specials to me twice, give that man a raise!

Amazing! Amazing! Amazing! Everything was made fresh so it…read morewas about 15-minute wait but that's ok, I took the opportunity to look around the market. I picked up a few things. We got a medium Falafel sandwich and a Shawarma sandwich. Wow. Delicious. I actually may have liked the Falafel just slightly better but both were excellent. I also got an extra garlic sauce on the side... just love. Until next time.

I feel like I found a favorite near us. It's not one of those places where I would travel to, but…read moreif you're relatively close to Urbana, it's worth a stop. It's a small mart that specializes in middle eastern Mediterranean cuisine and ingredients. They place does not have seating inside, but plenty of seating outside. So plan on either take out or picnicking. They make the food right as you order so things are fresh. The part I really liked about this place was that the sauces were not overly salted - to increase shelf life - and the amount of oil/butter was not overly used to try to mask the ingredients. It's more on the "let the ingredients speak for itself" which I really dig. In the end, you don't feel heavy after the meal and you feel like you had a hearty and healthy meal. My favorite was the lamb shawarma. He toasts the outside pita and it gives it a nice crunch. The lamb is fresher than other places and he doesn't over season it to hide the lamb smell. Other places - if you notice - tends to use cumin a lot of mask the lamb smell. Not here though. The falafel sandwich was okay. It was colder than the lamb shawarma. But the falafels were made right there in front of you. I got the sujuk sandwich too (which is a type of sausage). It was a breakfast burrito basically. Our order took 20 mins to make and he makes it right when you order. So be prepared to stay there and peruse around. Some ingredients there were interesting. The one thing that caught my eye was a bottle of pomegranate molasses. He sells it close to 50% what Harris Teeter would charge and he has various brands of pomegranate molasses. I use pomegranate molasses to make grenadine for cocktails. Also has orange blossom and rose water (also both used for cocktails) I like this place and the guy is nice and sweet.

Fresh ingredients, great flavors, big portions, and friendly service makes this a favorite take out…read morespot for my husband and I. Something we can always agree on when we can't decide what to eat. It's conveniently located right off of Shady Grove Rd & Gaither Rd and it's quick, easy, and nutritious! We usually order the supreme wraps that come with a thinner-than-tortilla bread on the outside, a heap of your choice of protein, and then the toppings are piled on. I get the supreme chicken as it comes with onions added. I ask for spicy garlic inside the wrap and harissa and s'hug on the side. They press the wrap under a large hot press and pack it up. The seasoned fries are really good too. Super crispy! I think if you order the regular shawarma, you get fries inside. I highly recommend this place and hope it's here to stay!

My wife and I decided to try AndShawarma one night after a long day of running back and forth to…read morethe hospital. I got the Supreme angus beef Shawarma, and my wife went with the Supreme Chicken Shawarma, both in wraps. It was cool watching them make the wraps--they use this really thin but large wrap, with a smaller, thicker layer in the middle where all the fillings go. They start with a layer of hummus, then add generous scoops of meat, followed by toppings like tomatoes, lettuce, onions, pickled veggies, and parsley salad. You can choose to add sauces inside the wrap or get them on the side. My favorites were the spicy garlic, harissa, and schug. The people working there were super nice and accommodating. They were happy to answer questions and made sure we got everything the way we wanted. The ambiance is pretty standard for a lunch spot--nothing fancy, but it's clean, tidy, and comfortable enough to sit and enjoy your meal. For the price, we definitely felt like we got our money's worth. The wraps were delicious, packed with flavor, and super filling. We also got the za'atar fries, which were well-seasoned and tasty. All in all, highly recommend this place if you're in the mood for some fresh, flavorful shawarma. Definitely worth a visit!

My wife and I had such a wonderful experience at Cava Mezze for Valentine's Day. Everyone was so…read morefriendly, and I enjoyed the wood-like feel/vibe, making it cozy on a cold and windy day. We had a reservation, just in case for any craziness, but it seems like anytime right before 12 looked like a good time to go. The whole staff was friendly and very quick to assist with anything that we needed. We ordered the Brunch Mania each and I got the Nutella Banana Fritters, Smoked Salmon Toast, and Spicy Lamb Benedict. Each dish was full portioned, which was great, so that you got your money's worth (other Cava Mezze's I've been to before had tapas style, but it has been a long time since that time). Each dish was delicious, and luckily I was able to try some other dishes that my wife ordered, which were wonderful. Don't sleep on those hush puppies, I wish I could've gotten more. We also ordered mimosas, which were 25 cents each (if you get the brunch mania), all of which were strong and worth it.

I went to Cava Mezze on a Sunday afternoon; There were only two other tables seated during this…read moretime, so I was seated promptly. Cava Mezze had some of the best customer service I'd ever experienced. The staff was so attentive--everyone from my server to the manager. Any member of the staff that simply passed my table made sure to ask me if I was enjoying my food or give me an update on the status of my food. My server also made sure to inform me about the restaurant's cuisine and menu before I ordered. As a solo diner, she made recommendations about what may be best since I wouldn't be sharing the small plates with a party. As for the food, I ordered the saganaki and grilled octopus. The restaurant also provided complimentary pita and harissa. The pita came out warm and the harissa was actually one of my favorite parts of the meal. The saganaki was good, but was ultimately just warm cheese; So as a solo diner, the $16 cost wasn't worth it to me. If dining alone, I probably would spend my money on a more unique appetizer like the hush puppies or mezze tasting. The elements of the grilled octopus were good, but felt like they were slightly off or missing something when paired all together. The grilled squid was tasty (well seasoned and smokey), but had a few too many burnt pieces for my preference and was /slightly/ tough. I still really enjoyed the flavor of it though. The fava puree was sooo good! Again, it had a great, slightly salty flavor that I really enjoyed. I think it was perhaps the brininess of the capers that threw off the flavors off, but the dish felt 100% more balanced once I mixed in some of the complimentary harissa! I really enjoyed my time at Cava Mezze and am excited to return to try more items from their menu. This restaurant is solo-date approved!

For first time, I've been there. Honestly, everything was good. Really nice and cozy place. Nice…read moreemployee and the food was also good mix Mediterranean and the Indian. It was the nice combination and they serve was different like that chipotle style everything front of you you can see and juice that was really also good. I like it that is become more popular right now a lot of Nationality they are starting doing this way like the chipotle style. I am not talking about the food. I am talking about the way they serve the food you can see and choose honestly was really good.

12.16.25 I stopped…read morein to pick up an order for a lunch meeting and handed the employee a printed copy of the order from an email. She seemed confused about what I was showing her and ended up calling someone, likely a supervisor, to help translate. I explained that I hadn't placed the order online and was simply providing the printout to make things easier. At one point, she started laughing while on the phone, which didn't feel professional. While waiting in line to pay, I noticed another employee assisting a customer with his order. She accidentally dropped a pita on the counter and still attempted to bag it for him. He declined, and understandably so. I'm fairly certain that goes against basic sanitation standards. Overall, I was disappointed with the service during my visit and would not return to this location.

I love chicken shawarma and decided for my bf and I to get some after work one night. I looked up a…read moreplace nearby and found Sasuns which I'm so happy about. We sat down and gave our orders and although the wait was awhile, the food itself was SO worth it. I believe the wait also had to do with the fact that there were other customers coming in and picking up takeout which shows the business was busy that day we went. I'd still definitely go again, my bf and I have talked about the food even days after having gone. It was so great! I can't wait to go to Sasuns again

Absolutely my new favorite take out local go to. We ordered take out from grub hub, and my husband…read morewent in and ended up with more items that weren't on the on line menu. Our order was huge and so worth it.

What a beautiful restaurant with such a delicious menu!…read more I came here with my friend for brunch and was pretty blown away by how nice the atmosphere was just from entering the restaurant. Truly a lot of thought was put into the decor which I love to see for sure! Our table ordered the bread of the day with the spread and olives. I loved how there were different types of olives with this appetizer. The tuna and avocado toast, though? Amazing, fresh, so delicious. I would order this for every brunch visit! The service was also great! 10/10 Very courteous and kind. Thank you!

Melina is a stunning place for brunch or dinner…read more I went for brunch and everything was great except for the French toast. I think it's a personal preference, but the French toast had this whip on top that I wasn't a fan of and preferred to have a syrup. It was also missing the crunch of a French toast. The spinach salad was decadent! The crab shakshouka is a little different than I have traditionally had but nonetheless still good. And I didn't try the poached eggs, but my friend loved it! Their prices were reasonable for brunch at a nice restaurant. And the service was excellent.

I've been to Julii at least a dozen times, and it never disappoints. The chicken kabob is…read moreconsistently excellent! It is always perfectly seasoned, tender, and one of those dishes I keep coming back for without hesitation. One thing I really appreciate is the consistency of the menu. You always know your favorites will be there, which makes it an easy go-to spot. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the service has always been great.

Came here for lunch for the first time with a couple of friends. I ordered the crispy trout and my…read morefriends ordered the mushroom omelette, ham and cheese omelette, shoestring french fries, shrimp appetizer, and profiteroles. What's Hot - Menu. Good variety and not too many options. There's meat, veggies, and seafood. I'm uncertain whether they can specifically modify any dishes for vegan. - Quality. Delicious. My trout was nicely filleted, well seasoned (not overly salty), and the skin was extra crispy. It was served over a bed of celery, potatoes, and cauliflower that were tender. Their shoestring fries were not overly salty and were nicely crispy. Their seasonal dish of grilled shrimp with their barley salad was also very flavorful. The shrimp were well-seasoned and a nice texture (i.e., not overly cooked/rubbery). The profiteroles were sweet, but not overly so, and had a nice amount of chocolate sauce drizzled over it. - Service. Excellent. Our waitress was attentive and checked in on us within decent time intervals, refilled our water glasses - Location. Conveniently located within a plaza with many different options. You can walk around and check out other shops, as well. During nice weather, there's supposedly outdoor seating. Their tables don't appear to be able to seat parties in the double digits. - Layout. Inside layout is not decent, but not expansive. There are a fair number of booths and tables. I've been told that the provide outdoor seating when the weather is nice. Given the limited seating, I highly recommend making reservations. What's Not - Acoustics. Terrible inside. We could barely hear the wait staff who talked to us. We had to ask her several times to repeat the information she gave us Sound carries very easily inside, especially when it's full. - Parking. There is parking in the area, but depending on the day you come, it can be difficult to find. Given that I was there during on a Sunday afternoon, it was difficult to find parking. The nearby outdoor lots were all filled and street parking was difficult to find. Fortunately, my friends told me about a parking lot at the nearby Porsche dealership, which was not costly and is well-automated. For about the 2 hours I was there, I paid under $4 total. The Porsche parking lot is also able to read your license plate. - Cost. To be fair, it's going to depend on what you order. When you combine drinks, any seasonal dishes (and the wait staff did not tell us the cost of the seasonal dishes we ordered), and dessert, it's a fair amount. - Reservations. Definitely recommend making reservations, rather than walking in. Final Answer Would be willing to come back here again, but probably not a first choice.

Have lived in The Kentlands for 15 years and have never been to this location before. My husband…read moreand I were walking by recently and noticed a beautiful fire table outside at Vasili's Kitchen. I told my husband that we should check it out sometime-we were not disappointed. The bartender Sean was a bit busy, but made sure to engage and socialize with everyone at the bar. I wasnt sure what I wanted to drink so he suggested to trust him and make a cocktail based on my preferences. I was blown away by what he made me. I dont know exactly what it was but he said there was honey and gin. Delicious drink. The happy hour menu was AMAZING!!! SO MANY OPTIONS, and for such a good price. We will definitely be back to see Sean and the rest of the wonderful staff at Vasili's!!!

ya know, its great when the servers are helping each other. A server came by and saw that our water…read morehadn't been filled yet, asked if our server had been by yet, they went and checked came back and said ok im your server now. I looked over the menu and wanted to try something different so I got the chicken kebob. Tbh when I ordered it I thought I was going to need more but was pleasantly surprised. It was only 1 kebob but it was massive. Definitely good enough for dinner. Perfectly happy with the chicken kebob but maybe I'll try the gyro next time.

Wow, Oh Mama Grill sure has gotten an upgrade! Beautiful tiles, love the black-and-white, crisp,…read moreclean look, and new booths -- though I didn't try sitting in one yet, didn't think to as I was on a mission to get to all the Israeli restaurants around for and on Israel Independence Day, ha ha! (And yes! I succeeded!) The benches are a light, bright-looking wood. There are also regular tables for those who prefer that .... It's amazing how much spacious seating is packed into this little place! I wish the outside reflected the new, light beauty but I guess the treasure is only to be found by those who venture in .... As an Israeli-in-America, I appreciate the selection of Israeli drinks in the cooler, and of course the national snack of falafel! Some say they don't put fries in the pitas -- well, yeah! That's true! If you don't ask, you don't receive! I ask! I receive! I do sometimes find the sandwiches to be kind of messy, so I try to sometimes get less various salads and pickles and such so it's not completely overflowing -- because this place is GENEROUS! Of course, if you're not used to kosher food, you'll probably not understand that it does cost more because for one thing (out of many!), there has to always be an 'extra' person called a mashgiach (supervisor in Hebrew) who oversees everything to make sure it's all, well, kosher! Kosher meat is more expensive, too. And yeah, meat doesn't come with dairy! So that is not available. I heard someone asking if they had a cheeseburger and had to work to not crack up about it! I LOVE the grilled eggplant bits you can get put in -- they're special, not in the regular line up, right there at the end -- because not only do they add so much flavour and texture with so little bulk, but eggplant is one of those things I usually cannot eat because it hurts my oh-so-sensitive tongue, but this place makes it per-fect-ly, mmm ... ! So delicious! I enjoy both purple and green cabbage and carrots, but I don't like the flavour of the onions. That makes me sad, because I LOVE onions, but these ones have something on them that I don't like (looks like it's sumac -- which is ironic, because that's something that I normally love and use all the time!) and I end up picking out when I sometimes forget or get hopeful and just get them again anyway .... Actually, the onions are one of the few condiments here I do not like! The pickled beets are great -- and of course, great for your liver! They are cleansing, nutritious, and boost your Russian-ness, to boot! Or your Russian Jewishness, anyway .... I know that eating them makes my grandmother proud! The benefits of eating here are not and are also not like ones you can attain in just any regular restaurant, and it's here for people who want this kind of thing. It literally is a cornerstone, being on the corner and providing the things certain of us need -- Israeliness, Jewishness, kosherness, etc. It's too bad it suffers from bad reviews by people who don't understand or care. By the way, the work that goes into making all these salad items fresh every day is, let's just say, a LOT! I almost always get the falafel -- I used to get a platter, but it was too much for a meal so I switched back to the classic pita version and that's a perfect amount for me for a meal, plus I feel it's better for the environment because it comes packaged minimally in a little parchment paper rather than a recyclable aluminum plate with a non-recyclable aluminum-and-paper top. Truth be told, I could have trouble finishing writing this review because thinking of Oh Mama Grills' falafel is making me so hungry! I am really getting in the mood for some right now! Other things I eat from here regularly (and have for years): Israeli salad Moroccan (vegetarian) cigars Rice Other things I know are great by way of seeing the delight on my eating partner's face while consuming: Okay, I so I don't remember, but various meat things! Chicken, I think .... Things I don't love from Oh Mama Grill: Bean soup -- didn't have enough flavour for me .... Sabich. I dunno. Just didn't love it! It's hard to top falafel, in my opinion -- well, this falafel from this place, that is -- so I don't feel the need to explore the menu very much .... There aren't a whole lot of places (if any!) that offer such a variety of salads, pickles, and sauces! As an absolute pickle-lover who finds pickles and not just that but a variety of pickles a MUST for my diet, this place has it going on like no other! Update! Tried sitting on a bench at a booth! It's pretty hard, not super-comfortable, but doable -- however, a harder seat is better for your posture and health long-term! The falafel pita with toppings aplenty is so delicious, I am craving one right now ... and, in case you've ever tried some of the marinated types of vegetables here and found them too sour, I did too! Now, that is fixed. They are no longer so sour, and are therefore much more eminently edible! My eating partner agrees.

Since being sent into the office in Rockville I have driven past Oh Mama Grill every morning and…read moreafternoon and have thought about stopping for a visit. Well the day finally came when hubs was picking me up & we had time to kill before our evening plans. I had mentioned this place several times while driving past it & we decided to make a stop. It's basically a take out place with some fast food restaurant style booths. You place your order, you pay, and you wait for ur food to be prepped. Unfortunately this was a let down. His burger was sad, looked like someone had worked out their aggression on it. Seriously, I've never seen any burger & bun that flattened. It was my mistake, I was excited because of the description (it contained lamb) but wasn't anywhere close to the Greek burger we get in VA, I'm not sure it was even up the fast food level, although it was definitely in competition for flatness. My dish was composed a lot of very dry meat. I'm no longer considering a stop as I drive.