Even though Pittsburgh is pretty cosmopolitan, this was apparently the first Turkish restaurant in…read moreDowntown Pittsburgh when it opened in 2013. It didn't surprise me when I entered the premises because it had an old school ambiance with chandeliers, white tablecloths, and personalized plates. Given how chilly it was outside, I didn't have any trouble getting a table without a reservation. It was a matter of moments after I ordered when a basket of presumably Turkish bread arrived with a house tapenade made with olives, walnuts, and olive oil (Photo 8). That was delicious and the bread provided a soft, absorbent vessel. For an appetizer, I went with the $11 Grilled Veggies which was a generous plate of zucchini, eggplant, onions, leeks, green & red peppers, carrots, and tomatoes. The flavors were enhanced by a marinade of herbs and balsamic glaze (Photo 9). It stretched into a side dish for my entree, the $35 Grilled Lamb Chops Kebab. Four plump, tender ones came with an order along with a side salad and a scoop of rice (Photo 7). I thought all the food was pretty good with the tapenade and lamb chops the standouts. I'd come back should Pittsburgh call my name again. FOOD - 4 stars...Turkish delights, hearty portions AMBIANCE - 4 stars...old school and refined SERVICE - 3.5 stars...very quick, little interaction TOTAL - 4 stars...go Mediterranean in downtown RELATED - Exploring Pittsburgh? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/el8ZxqDEGE

This restaurant had a nice atmosphere. It was casual, but felt above that. The service was very…read moregood and they supplied some type of house tapenade and baguette slices for free. I had Turkish tea and Chef Borek, a cheesy pastry that was savory, but served with a thin honey, flavored sauce, and sweet, cheery tomatoes. Additionally, based on the waitresses recommendation, I tried the beef shish kebabs. Although I requested them medium, they were definitely well done, however, the flavor was very good even though the texture was a little tougher. I do think it's hard to cook a kebab less than well done most of the time. I also purchased some Turkish taffy as a treat for later and haven't tried them yet. If you're in the North Shore area of Pittsburgh, attending a baseball or football game, this is a nice walk across the bridge for something exotic and tasty. I would return for some more good food

Went back here for a weekday takeout lunch during work, which is only a short walk away. Quick…read moreservice and no wait. I got the falafel rice bowl, which was ginormous. Left me not needing much food for the rest of the day! The falafels were very dense and yummy. The bowl had a bit of salad, hummus, and some chick peas mixed in. All tasty though I think they could stand to use a bit less of the orange sauce that covered much of the bowl. The shop is small with no seating, so it's best for takeout. Luckily it was a nice day and Schenley Plaza is not too far away. Make sure to ask for napkins, which they forgot for my lunch.

I got the Casablanca and hummus delivered. The Casablanca is one of my favorite pizzas (5/5)! It's…read moregot a very unique flavor; the almonds give it a nice crunch, the dates a touch of sweetness, and the Moroccan spicy pepper sauce a little kick. I got the 16 inch, which was massive, especially for the price. The hummus was good (4/5) but a little runny. The pita was great (4.5/5); it was nice and thick but still soft. Overall, the food was great! I am excited to try some of the other pizzas, kebabs, and other items! The food got here 45 minutes before it was supposed too, which was a little inconvenient but better than 45 minutes late. The driver was very nice and polite and let me know he dropped it off and asked what I wanted him to do since I was not home.

Nice find. Some items on the menu were better than others, but the overall quality was very good…read more We ordered takeout, and the online ordering process was fairly straightforward (though it didn't accept PayPal or Apple Pay). The space is tiny and unassuming, and the restaurant seems to be a family run operation. The interior is much more nicely kept than you might guess based on the outside of the building. The staff were very friendly, and all of our food was well packaged. I strongly suggest taking a look at the "Persian Cuisine" section of the menu; in many cases, that section is more interesting than the Turkish grill. In terms of food, things ranged from excellent to pretty good. The hummus was good and nicely textured, but not exceptional. The kashke ve bademjan was excellent, particularly when paired with the nicely toasted flatbread it arrived with. The Mediterranean salad and Tabouli salad were both nicely done, with a nice level of lemon acidity and some shredded cheese on the side. The veggie kebap was fine, but generally flat in flavor: it really needed some of the sides and some hot sauce to fill things out. The red lentil soup was simple with a subtle spicing but ultimately deeply flavorful. The ash reshteh (noodle soup with beans and spinach) was generally good but would have benefited from toppings that would have probably been provided in a dine-in environment. All told, this was a nice little establishment with some excellent Mediterranean and Persian style cuisine. They seem to churn out some high quality food from what seems like a very small kitchen. I could imagine eating in or ordering takeout, but note that the interior space is fairly small with a limited capacity.

Very good food. Tasty to the core!! Great service and ambience. Generous food portions great to…read moreshare.

Really enjoyed the food, overall. We ordered hummus to begin and found it only included pita bread;…read morewe were told you can add vegetables for an additional $4, which we declined. For our main entrees we ordered Chicken Adana and Lamb Adana; we split both meats and it was unanimous that the Lamb Adana was far superior. The Lamb was well seasoned and charred. The house salad (cucumbers, tomatoes and seasoning with a vinegar dressing was delicious. Service was swift and cordial. No complaints about our server. They have beautiful stained glass globes around. The eating area is small but comfortable and we're in and out in an hour.

Great Mediterranean food right here in Shadyside! Quick,…read morefriendly service. Came for dinner on a Wednesday night. Not very busy at first but about half full when we left. Appetizer: Hummus with pita is good but not great. Split a Lamb Adana and a Chicken Adana. Both are good but we liked the lamb better. These are very filling and we wouldn't want the portions to be any bigger. Love the colorful sconces and chandelier.

The food here was pretty good for a first time visit! I got the Build Your Own Siren Bowl. Overall,…read moretasted good, but I would've liked to have more tzatziki sauce because it was a little dry. Some falafel as a topping option would be great too, because what Mediterranean food isn't complete without some falafel! The portion was very filling though!

I wish I would have taken a picture of my bowl before I ate it all! It was so colorful and SO…read moredelicious. Fantastic, fresh, healthy ingredients. Seriously one of the best I've had. I love that they offer BYO so I can get it just as I like. And the portion size of the bowl was pretty big. I wanted to eat it all since it was so good but thankfully I have a little bit left for later. Highly recommend!

Solid take-out meal from this place last night. We opted to pick it up so it was far hotter/fresher…read morethan using a delivery service. Our fave foodie neighbor recommended this over highly-rated Med Table (still haven't tried that place yet, so our verdict is out!). Overall, our meal was really good (not great). Appetizers: hummus & baba gannouj were tasty. We opted for their "regular" size which has given us plenty of leftovers! (Other options: small & large). Hummus was the fave; I've definitely had more flavorful baba. We opted to toast all the mounds of huge pita that came with the meal, though. We're not fans of cold, "raw" pita with dips. Entrees: I got the Genie's combo plate - a couple of interestingly spiced , though somewhat dry chicken thighs (spice called "mishwi" - seemed almost like a Berbere-type seasoning w/ cinnamon in the profile) on a bed of basmati & a helping of tasty, crunchy pickled turnips & Lebanese salata (like Mediterranean pico de gallo). The standout item on this place - far and away - was the roasted, spiced cauliflower. I would have that ALONE - no chicken. I liked the dish, overall, but it didn't knock my socks off. I would look for solo-cauliflower next time. Hubs got the Shish Tawook rolled pita - he really enjoyed the grilled chicken with pickled turnip and excellent homemade garlic sauce. He said he'd def reorder. Top tip - get that garlic sauce (if u like garlic). It's AMAZING. No dessert for us, though what an impressive list they have! We'll definitely return to try some other options.

This was my first time at Aladdin Eatery and I was honestly impressed. It is a Lebanese spot and…read morethe food was so good. Everything tasted fresh, flavorful, and comforting. I ordered a platter with grilled meat, rice, hummus, salad, and cauliflower and it all worked perfectly together. The hummus was super smooth and creamy and paired so well with the warm pita. The grilled meat had great flavor, the rice was light, and the cauliflower was crispy and delicious. The salad added a nice fresh balance to the plate. The service was also really good. My waiter was super sweet and kind and made the experience even better. The atmosphere felt relaxed and welcoming and it seemed like a great place to enjoy a meal whether you are by yourself or with others. For my first visit, this place definitely left a great impression and I will absolutely be coming back.

One of my favorite spots for lunch in Oakland, with a central location in Schenley Plaza. The line…read moreis never too long and the food is ready quickly. Lots of nice places nearby to sit outside on a warm day. Based on a customer I overheard on a recent visit, they also offer order-ahead if you're in a hurry. Their shawarma wraps are just the right size for lunch (and also under $10). They offer several sides; I've tried the hummus (not too salty, like many hummuses, but a touch bland) and grape leaf wraps (large portion). One time I upgraded my wrap to a platter with rice and pita and it was way too much food (a mountain of rice). I've seen their platters with fries instead of rice and they are also ginormous due to the mountain of fries.

Beef shawarma on pita was amazing! So delicious will definitely be back. The tabbouleh was lacking…read morea little bit, quite bland even with extra lemon, maybe needs more salt or some sumac.

It takes a lot for me post a review about a restaurant, The Forge was absolutely phenomenal! My…read morewife is a vegetarian and myself, let's just say I'm not. We had several items, Israeli salad, whipped feta, old world falafel, pierogie peppers, cauliflower steak, and pizza. Israeli Salad---5 stars Whipped Feta---5 stars Pierogies Peppers---my favorite of all we had Cauliflower Stake-5 Stars--so yummy! Old World Falafel--I didn't like falafel until I had this tonight. The Pizza was so good, the crust light a fluffy, had 4 slices. This will not be the last time we go here. My wife said this will definitely be her birthday restaurant. If you want a place that servers great food with great service and a fantastic vibe, do yourself a huge favor and go, you won't regret it.

The service was great and I love the food! Especially the feta feta bang bang pizza. I miss their…read morewhipped herb ricotta. The drinks are always so creative. I think the seating isn't ideal for dinner but great for drinks!

! So tasty, staff is great, service is great, ambiance is great! Everything is great, good for take…read moreout or dine in!

Small restaurant, good ambiance and as expected for a Squirrel Hill location…read more Service was a little casual but ok Had hummus for appetizers - was a disappointing experience as there was far too much tahini for my taste and it completely overwhelmed the flavor. The pita was very dry and hard. The salad was ok but the grated feta cheese did not enhance it. Had Filet Mignon prepared medium - dish came with a lot of rice but the meat was very salty. Dish was just ok and not something I would try again. The quality did not match the price. Overall it's a 2.5 star.

Yum!!! Jolina's is a quick, easy and tasty lunch spot in Oakland. It's a great place to meet up…read morewith a colleague for a lunch or grab food to-go. I've had lots here through the years but their hummus & their sheesh tawook wrap are my favorites! Order at the counter and seat yourself - no table service.

Went back here recently to try the in-person dining experience. The restaurant has a very low-key…read morevibe. The owner and her daughter were working that day, so I was happy to support a local place. Only minor issue is that it felt very hot in the restaurant; not sure if they have air conditioning, which was tough on a humid day. I tried the spinach pie and mujadara. Both were solid. The pie was pretty light (not too much for lunch) and came with a small side salad. The mujadara was a big portion pretty evenly split between rice and lentils. Glad to have this place nearby my office.