"Consistency Matters"…read more The food is delish, let's start there. This hasn't been on my bingo card for a while and boo hoo! The garden pizzette and chicken shawarma are fan favorites for a reason. Chicken Shawarma is a (IMO) well seasoned cinnamon forward profile that delivers a tender chew. Don't let the cinnamon description deter you. The flavor is complex, savory, and very good! The garden pizzette is delicious. The perfect mixup of feta, mint, tomato, and cucumber...Chef's Kiss (dip in hummus and/or tzatziki for that extra, extra added flavor). We also loved the tzatziki/lebnah sauce. Perfect balance for our Americanized palate. My biggest complaint, would be consistency. I ordered twice in one week. Each meal was delicious, but noticeable different. Not a huge factor, but one I thought worth mentioning. Bread was whole wheat ... cool/ not a problem .. but also not my preference. All in all, a darn good meal! Sold side options. Fast casual Mediterranean/Lebanese : 4.5

I usually go to the Cary location for multiple catering orders that I place per month. The people…read moreat the Cary location have been very polite, friendly and helpful. I was going to be closer to the Raleigh location this past month so I decided to go to the Raleigh location and see if they could do the same as cary. I went in and asked a young man he said that should not be a problem for me to put in my catering orders and then have my payment done a certain way at the register, as they usually do, in cary. I placed my order and got to the register and then the very nice girl that was there was going to ring me up. She wasn't sure how to manually enter my credit card information that I needed to give, so she asked what I'm going to assume was her manager or whoever was in charge that day? The woman turned around and looked at me as if I walked in and started in her face. Her face was so disgusted, twisted up, and snarled with disapproval. She asked me, with a huge attitude, "what was going on here?". I politely explained the situation, which is that, at the Cary location our company pays over the phone when I arrive. I handed her the phone to give her the credit card information and she was speaking to my boss (who is a very world-renowned doctor) about the payment info. She was so rude to him and said "well usually we don't do this but we'll do it this time". I informed her that from now on, since it was such a problem we will gladly go to the other location or just another restaurant in general. The younger people at the register were extremely friendly and polite and really made this experience the most positive thing from this whole trip to this location. As I was leaving the female who had the attitude earlier did say that she " was sorry, and that she just didn't know what she was walking into". At this point, I really did not care about an I'm sorry, because I will never go back to this location. I don't care who or what she is, but if she doesn't know what she's walking into, then the best idea for her(if she had any business or common sense)would be to approach it in a professional manner and not with a stank attitude. I have worked in doing catering sales,amahing businesses, throwing events, and ordering multiple catering orders for other businesses that I run. I have never and would never, approach anyone like this if I was uncertain of any situation. It puts a really bad look on their whole concept. I have already talked to multiple people about this and told all the physicians that I work with. I have also discussed this encounter with other people who do multiple orders for catering and other event networking groups. I will never be ordering from this location again. I hope whatever they do, they get it right, and start hiring people who appreciate having a job, to make sure that no one else feels so turned off by someone like this. I'm only giving a two stars for the Friends League kids that were at the counter and at the cash register

this restaurant is delicious and has a really cool ambiance…read more we ordered to drink: the frozen daiquiri & the happy tears cocktail. very delicious but very strong. for appetizers we ordered: the seasonal pickles. the vegetables are pickles, banana peppers, carrots and tomato. SO SO good! and the tomato matbucha (not pictured) came with 3 things of bread..and the dish was similar to a hummus. Was also delicious. And the Spanish anchovies, I am not a fan of anchovies but my boyfriend said they were good and he would order them again. for our main dish we ordered the slow roasted shrimp. the corn & poblano pepper mix was 10/10 and the taro chips on top just made the entire dish come together perfectly. would definitely recommend ordering it. the service and the ambiance of the restaurant was amazing. we were too full to have a night cap out back, but we had a glance at the boat bar area and we will be coming back to have a drink out there- very cool setup!

Ajja is a Raleigh gem. The outside area is a great vibe, with fun decorations, pretty string…read morelights, and awesome bartenders. This time around, I had asked the bartender to just order a few of his favorites and I tried things I honestly wouldn't have typically ordered, but everything was unique and yummy. I ended up getting the htipiti dip, the Spanish anchovies, the crispy heirloom eggplant, and the slow roasted shrimp which sat on top of delicious lentils. Ajja is definitely a staple and a great spot to grab a drink and apps or a full dinner!

We have found our second restaurant home here in Raleigh for amazing food that jumps off a very…read morecreative menu and onto your plate with thought and care. We have been attracted to the ever-evolving menu that sometimes is not reflected on their website in real time so don't be surprised with some changes that will blow your palette and mind in a great way! Last night was a stellar food evening at Madre in the Smoky Hollow district of downtown Raleigh. We began our dining adventure with their Calabrian Chicken that has been on their menu since the start and most likely will never leave. It's amazing and memorable. A must-try! We moved flavorfully from the cauliflower that is described like this on the menu: quick fried cauli with crumbled goat cheese, green goddess dressing and a balsamic reduction. Perfection in the world of vegetables! We had thought maybe just one or two more, knowing the leftovers the next day will be a great reminder of a special dinner out, so we turned to their rainbow carrots that feature roasted za'atar carrots on citrus yogurt, topped with smoked honey. One of the owners suggested we try their fall version of their stracciatella, and I cannot even do it justice with words. You just need to get to Madre soon and enjoy this inventive and beautifully executed menu by the culinary team. We finished the evening with their brand new brisket croquettes that are crispy and light in spite of the word brisket in them. Looking forward to seeing the team again at the bar, Trace, Justin, and Owen work seamlessly to create an inviting environment for all to dine with them. It was so great to see Celina, part of the ownership team, there again attending to the details of the restaurant such as opening their gorgeous glass doors onto the patio for a bring the outdoors inside tonight vibe. The weather was gorgeous and the mood was lively in Madre.

Went here for date night with my wife. Well spaced tables and nice vibes. Staff was super nice and…read morenot overly so. We thought the service was excellent. The Calabrian chicken was one of the best fried chicken I've ever had. Their hot honey sauce is amazing and the drumstick felt like it was double fried and cooked perfectly. I would absolutely come back just for the chicken. The other notable dish was the gnocchi, it was super soft on the inside which I've never had for gnocchi before, I thought it was cooked perfectly as well. The SALCHIPAPAS was basically patatas bravas. It was cooked perfectly crispy and well seasoned. Nothing extraordinary about it, just a delicious dish. I would not get the picanha again, it was ok, but not great. For such a pricy dish, I was expecting melt in your mouth feel. Maybe I had such high expectations because the other dishes were so great. I look forward to returning to try some of the other plates.

I accidentally stumbled upon Neomonde for lunch, as I had some business to take care of in the…read morearea. I would have never found this place because it's nestled on an industrial Road. It's not on the main drag. The outside of the building is pleasing to the eye. I walked in. There were people everywhere eating and obviously enjoying your lunch. It smelled incredible. I asked the girl at the counter for their best sellers. She recommended the kebab platter with two sides. She pointed out the two most popular sides. I chose her recommended orzo, and a salad with cucumbers. My meal came out within a few minutes: hot, fresh, ready to go! I was incredibly delighted with my experience. Other the portion was satisfactory, the delight of the meal made me want to eat a second one! You can eat inside or outside.

I had a pick three platter. The chicken salad was decent but not as good as Sassool. I also tried…read moretheir potatoes, which were on the vinegary side. The beets were on par with Sassool and the pomegranate salad had mostly strawberries. Vibes were nice, service was fine. Pretty easy to find parking on a Friday night.

10/10 I have never had Lebanese food / ( besides grocery…read morestore hummus lol) and this tasting was GREAT! ( I didn't read and didn't need to get an extra order of the cheese sticks but yummy none the less) Bartender- funny, great, everything you want from a happy hour bartender ( I didn't catch his name! Sorry!! ) Food: yummy!!! Lebanese food got another fan on Wednesday I recommend one of the tastings- sitti ( with meat), vegan or vegetarian! It's perfect to share and just a little snack but a variety to try! It did come w amazing bread too! Will be returning !! Went on wed and got a half off bottle of wine!!!

This was a major disappointment. We'd been here once before for some friends' wedding celebration…read moreand thought the banquet/catering food was pretty good so decided to add it to the list to come back and check out their regular menu. Place was EMPTY on a Thurs at 6pm. Service was truly bad....like we had to get up after being seated for 15 minutes and ask the hostess if we could get a server to help us....in an empty restaurant. 40 minutes after being seated, we got our food. The food was just bad with the exception of the flatbread I ordered that was pretty tasty. My husband had the falafel and veggies and was given horrendously over seasoned and tough falafel with super under seasoned and undercooked veggies (like chunks of raw carrot). The other sides we ordered were a flavorless Fatoush salad and very mid rice. We never got the pita that was offered to us and after the second reminder, we just gave up on that. We tried it. Won't be back. There are WAY better options in the area for dinner.

Come within 2 hours of opening on a Sat/Sun for doner. Get the doner wrap or iskender (if you eat…read morea lot). It is the best doner around, just as good as what you get in Istanbul. They do run out of doner before dinner. The place is full at lunch, so come early. Delicious bread with a nice olive oil-based sauce is complimentary. They refill it, which is a very nice touch. Plenty of staff to take orders and clean. You will be in and out in an hour or less unless you need to wait for a table. Very impressive restaurant near downtown in Cary.

I came to Bosphorus on a Sunday evening for dinner with friends, and the restaurant was packed…read more Thankfully, we didn't have to wait too long for a table. The service was friendly, though it seemed like a team effort, so different staff members would take our order or bring out food instead of one dedicated server. That occasionally led to delays when we asked for refills or extra plates, and we usually had to repeat the request to our waitress later. For dinner, I shared the Kofta Kebab and Lahmacun with a friend, and the portion size was just enough for both of us to leave full. Unfortunately, parts of the kebab were burnt, so maybe we just caught them on an off night. Surprisingly, my favorite part of the meal was the warm pita bread they brought to the table. If you're looking to try Turkish food, Bosphorus is worth checking out, but I'd probably order different dishes next time or visit when it's a little less busy.

I've walked past this charming restaurant for ages, always admiring the rooftop bar and dining area…read moreand thinking what a perfect place it would be to gather over great food and wine. I finally went for my birthday lunch with my husband, and it did not disappoint! Service: Amazing. If you go, ask for Sarah! She made wonderful recommendations and made our celebration feel special. Food: We started with the sampler, which was delicious and a great way to try a bit of everything. For our main, we shared the lamb burger with fries. It was tender and packed with flavor, and I'd happily order it again. Atmosphere: Gorgeous space with a relaxed, welcoming vibe that's ideal for a celebration or a get-together with friends. I'm already looking forward to coming back for brunch or dinner with our friends. Highly recommend!

I had seen this restaurant on social media so was excited to try it out! We went on a Sunday…read moreafternoon and were able to snag a seat on their rooftop. Walking through the downstairs restaurant it looked super cute as well though! Our server provided prompt service and drink refills when needed. The Greek food was excellent- my favorite being the Chopped Marouli Salad! I also appreciated their wide selection of mocktails.

Love love loveeee Sassool! Def worth the drive if you live in surrounding cities! So many options…read moreto choose from, you won't be disappointed! I always do the pick 4 to try different things! Don't walk, run if you're ever looking for a quick Mediterranean dish!

The ambiance is nice and welcoming. This is an order and pay restaurant where you place your order…read moreat the counter, receive your food, and can sit anywhere you'd like. The portions are very generous, so if you can't finish your meal, it's easy to take the leftovers home. They conveniently provide to-go containers and bags for customers. One thing I found a bit challenging was the ordering process. There is a huge selection of food, which can be overwhelming for first-time visitors. I would have appreciated a little more guidance from the staff when making my choices, as I think it would have helped me order more confidently. Overall, it's a good place with plenty of options and great portion sizes.

My family and I had an amazing experience and meal! Omar was so sweet and accommodating! You can…read moretell the staff was genuinely happy to serve us. I got the gyro and it was so authentically amazing. Seriously, this is the best gyro in the area! I am so excited to come back!

Flavorless baba ghannouj, the chicken at least had some flavor but on the whole this was very…read moredisappointing. The atmosphere is unwelcoming, won't be going back.

I haven't been in the store, but I have ordered from here a couple of times and it has not…read moredisappointed me yet. I ordered the whole chicken which is so good and flavorful. If you have sides at home but just need the meat, this is perfect.

Randomly found this place one day, and my life definitely changed. Hands down, they have the best…read moreBeef Shawarma sandwich. At first, I went with Chicken Shawarma because I'm a chicken girlie. But I ended to eating half of my husband's Beef Shawarma sandwich. So I recommend you getting that to begin with if you are into beef. By the register, they also have a lot of premade/assembled dishes to purchase. The grocery section is small, but has a lot of fun things to look and buy. I love getting their tin fish and chocolate as a treat during my visit!