4.5 stars. Alihan's Mediterranean Cuisine opened in 2013 and serves Turkish cuisine for lunch,…read moredinner, and special events. The menu lists many meat, seafood, and vegetarian options, and the chefs can accommodate customers on gluten-free and vegan diets. Examples of menu items are lentil soup, babaghanoush, falafel, shepherd salad, lamb chops, many kebabs, sea bass, sautés, house-made desserts such as baklava, and non-alcoholic beverages. My husband and I ate one lunch here. Indoor and covered outdoor seating was available. The employees promptly greeted and seated us, and I appreciated that they recommended specific menu items to help me choose. After a reasonable wait, the foods were brought to our table. Here are my ratings for what we ordered: Grilled Shrimp - 5 stars - Several large, juicy shrimp were on skewers and had been perfectly cooked. Sides were mixed vegetables and a mix of rice and bulgur. Chicken Shish Kebab - 4 stars - The chunks of chicken were large and juicy and had a mild seasoning. On the side was rice pilav. Turkish Tea - 4.5 stars - This black tea was a good size and was served hot. Packets of sweeteners were available. The total price was $55 plus tax and tip.

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

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.

Deceptive menu pics and descriptions + nothing Turkish here and it is unreasonably expensive for…read morewhat you get: --Unlike the menu claims, what they serve as Adana Kebab is NOT lamb + flavor was not remotely Turkish. Not authentic at all. -- What they call Turkish rice can't even be called decent rice -- Persian menu items however were good -- Lentil soup was a good soup but it was not an authentic lentil soup at all. Don't expect the traditional flavor -- Unlike the pics, salad mix in your Adana will arrive in a tiny, disposable clear plastic -- You will eat at tables covered with sticky, clear nylon table "cloths" -- Your water will be served in disposable plastic cups -- Your food will be served in acrylic-plastic cups, including the hot soup -- Now the value: Soup is $10, Adana is $22, Kobideh is $25, a cup of Cay / hot tea is $3.50 (almost all Persian/Turkish restaurants serve this as a complimentary item -- Lastly they will charge you an extra 3% for paying by card Decision is yours... We will not go there again.

We got the chicken kabobs and grape leaves. Everything was delicious and the staff were very…read morepersonable and friendly. Very good.

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.

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!

Mediterranean Grill continues to be outstanding. Great middle eastern comfort food! Tried a new…read morechicken dish that was delicious.

Very nice Mediterranean restaurant. I visited this place on the day before Mother's Day, and it was…read moresurprisingly not super packed. It's got a nice location on the central road in Squirrel Hill, but it's a bit hard to find parking. When I got there, I got to try their shish tawouk (chicken kabob), mujadara, salad with feta, and iced mint tea. The tea was pretty alright. Refreshing and a nice mint flavor; I think they might make the blend in house. They also brought out some nice pita before we started the meal. For my main course, I ordered the shish tawouk. You usually get this meal with the rice pilaf, but they were out, so I got to try the mujadara. I'm actually quite glad! The chicken was tender, and the portion was very fair. They served it with a nice tomato sauce, but I also asked for some garlic sauce on the side. The sauces both seem to be homemade, and definitely go well with the chicken. The mujadara was surprisingly delicious. They top the dish with crispy sweet onions. It's a mix of lentils and some other grain. Very good! One thing to mention generally is this place closes quite early, usually around 8 or 8:30 PM, so do keep it in mind. It is also very clearly a family endeavor, with the mom managing most of the tables and the kids always helping out. Very nice place!

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.