What a treat dining at Ajja! I was in the triangle visiting a childhood friend and his family and…read morethey raved about this spot. Two kids under 12 and the kids raved about this spot! They weren't wrong. We were out on their patio on a summer evening, a mix of fans and a good cross breeze kept it nice and the vibey decor helped us learn into the summer heat. Shared plates, roasted flavors and a cocktail driven menu sets the theme. We started out with a few amazing spreads then shared large format fish, beef and veg. For the starters, the roasted carrots and the roasted eggplant spreads were served up with home made pita served piping hot! Both spreads were delicious, balancing savory and a hint of sweet with just enough spice to add depth w/o taking away from the natural veggie flavors. The fried haloumi was gobbled up so fast I almost didn't get a picture of it! For the mains, we had the fried fish which was ZOMG!!!! Flaky but still juicy, bathed in this east Asian inspired sauce and sprinkled with fresh herbs that gave the whole dish a pop! The kids destroyed most of it. The Short rib fell apart with a fork!! Enough said!! And the charted cabbage and broccoli was such a crowd favorite we almost got another order but had to leave room for dessert. The table shared the strawberry shortcake and I opted for an espresso martini that was both sweet and balanced and so smooth you could take it in one glug. The shortcake was a hit with the kids and parents! The cocktails were all perfectly balanced and the service was immaculate. No notes from me except to check this place out!!

I went here on a date night. I took the room out the back which was very quiet. The next time I…read morevisit, I will definitely book for the bar area which seemed more happening. The food was amazing from the starter to the dessert. I had the whole fish. I would highly recommend going again. The only small issue was the slightly confusing waitstaff who didn't seem to know who was serving whom although I did get wonderful service.

One of our most exciting and flavorful dining experience in months. Our downtown Raleigh dining…read morescene has amazing options, and Madre has stayed under our radar for no particular reason. We dined at their lovely bar back in the first months of their opening, and it was good. We had met the general manager, Red, and were impressed with the flavors of our one appetizer, Calabrian Chicken, yet we never rushed back. Now, we feel compelled to return ASAP to enjoy these exceptional flavors, fabulous teamwork system of service, and a comfortable chic atmosphere. The place was happening at 5:45 pm on our recent dining night out with friends. Grateful to have a reservation we were seated at a very comfortable banquette type of seating. It felt like dining in a friend's home. Our server, William, is excellent at his job. Very efficient, great input on food choices, and quite personable. The meal started off with a burst of flavor as we enjoyed their fairly new offering of a ceviche called Eye of the Tiger that featured a sauce you can never get enough of. Wish their bread service was a bit more inspired, but the Le Farm bread did soak up some of the various sauces sent out from a very inspired kitchen team. Food runners help make certain the tapas come out fresh and hot when needed. They are a friendly group of hospitality workers who seem to genuinely enjoy their work and treat their guests with sincere appreciation. It all starts at the top, and GM Red is a personable and sound leader. We loved the Chef's pasta, our octopus dish was stellar, the Calabrian Chicken almost stole the show, but the unctuous flavors on the plate of the Seared Halloumi was hands down my favorite. I love how this culinary team can crank out such outstanding flavors table to table and patron to patron without missing a beat. The energy in the room must feed their souls & for that we are grateful. Lastly I wish to mention the thoughtfully curated wine list where my husband discovered a treasure of a wine from the Familia Torres brand. It was exquisite and paired perfectly with Madre's flavors. Our friend who frequent their bar often rave about their Mezcal margarita! Another visit. See you soon Madre familia!

This was my second disappointing visit to this restaurant, and this one really got to me…read more We walked in as a group and were quoted an hour wait. While trying to find a seat at the bar in the meantime, we noticed several open tables around the restaurant. While on the waitlist, I checked the website and found an open reservation slot, so I booked it. When we arrived a few minutes before our reservation time, the table wasn't ready. After waiting again, I asked the hostess (a man with brown hair) how much longer it would be, but instead of answering, he argued with me about the fact that only a few minutes had passed since our reservation time; which wasn't what I'd asked. When I tried to explain that we'd booked the reservation because we'd already seen open tables while waiting, he just kept repeating the same point instead of listening. I walked away rather than continue going back and forth or be spoken to condescendingly, especially after already waiting since we'd arrived and simply wanting an honest estimate. My first visit here, I was served undercooked chicken. This time it wasn't a food safety issue, but the hostess's condescension was just as off-putting. Between that and the mismanaged seating, I won't be returning and wouldn't recommend visiting.

Just WOW! A veritable smorgasbord of Mediterranean fare!…read more You select from cases of appetizing cold and hot entrees, as well as an array of delectable desserts and a cold case of unique beers and other beverages - the selection is simply amazing. And the service - totally awesome! When we entered, Alex was behind the counter - she was welcoming and offered us tastes of whatever dish caught our eye, all of which were amazing. As we were eating in the large and open seating area - there was Alex again, busily clearing tables and ensuring the dining happiness of nearby patrons! She was amazing - welcoming, knowledgeable and made us feel so welcome - thank you Alex, we'll be back for more epic eating! Check the pics for visual detail. Better yet - go there, it's well worth the drive!

We stopped in to visit and enjoy some Lebanese foods. We have been here a few times and enjoyed our…read morevisit but this past weekend our visit was very disappointing. We ordered the grape leaves, baklava, namoora and tabbouli. I am Lebanese and these are staples in our home. The grape leaves were extremely dry and tough. The rice was very undercooked and the leaves themselves were so dry and tough we could barely chew through them. We ordered 12 and thought maybe it was a fluke but all 12 were completely inedible and we threw them out immediately. The baklava was okay, nothing to write home about. Very simple syrup forward and you couldn't taste much else (we ordered the walnut). The namoora was stale. Very dry. Namoora should melt in your mouth with with a slight chew. This was again, tough and stale. We threw those out as well. Lastly, our favorite salad, tabbouli. The lemon taste was nonexistent. The parsley wasn't chopped fine as Tabbouli should be. It was a watery mess. Overall, we won't be back. We spent over $75 on 4 items and left feeling hungry and bamboozled. There are other Lebanese food spots to visit in the Raleigh area, I will stick to those. Please do better when representing Lebanese cuisine. 15 workers behind the counter can seem like you're doing something right but in the end, it all comes down to the freshness and authenticity of what you are claiming to serve.

Everything here! From the food, to the service, to the atmosphere is outstanding. It has a warm,…read moreinviting feel that makes you want to stay awhile. Highly recommend giving it a try!

Easily booked for dinner same day on a holiday Monday and had a great meal here. I tried:…read more + Baba ghanouj + mouhamra + feta cheese dip + Chicken artichoke pizette + kibbee nayyeh + chicken shwarma + Baklava + Chocolate torte Highlights were the baba ghanouj and pizette. Also really liked the chicken shawarma. Baklava was good, too. Only miss was the beef tartare - wouldn't get that again. 4.5 stars.

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.

Such a fun rooftop, definitely don't skip sitting on the roof…read more When you arrive parking can be a bit difficult around the restaurant but there is street a couple blocks away if you don't mind walking. Walking in you'll feel like you've been transported to a village like, Greek atmosphere. To sit down you'll check in with the host and then be seated either inside or on the rooftop. We opted for the rooftop as it was a nice evening. To start I ordered the Baklava Old Fashioned (Bulleit bourbon, homemade baklava syrup, Angostura bitters, and Amarena cherries) which was amazing. Next we ordered the trio of all three spreads (Tzatziki, sun-dried tomato hummus, and spicy feta spread) and the calamari. Both dishes were excellent and I definitely prefer the spicy feta and tzatziki sauce. For my main course I ordered the Tomahawk Pork Chop (Chargrilled tomahawk chop, spinach, barrel-aged feta, herb aioli, Greek lemon potatoes) which was a bit disappointing. I probably should have sent the pork chop back as it was cooked well done and was very dry but was I was too hungry and didn't want to make my parents wait. For dessert I ordered Baklava Cheesecake (New York-style cheesecake with nuts and baklava filling) which was very nice and my mom ordered the Limoncello cake (lemon cake with lemon cream frosting) which was definitely the star of the show. If I'm back downtown I may try Taverna Agora again but will definitely avoid ordering the pork chop.

Absolutely delightful! From the moment we sat down as a party of six friends, Diondre took…read moreexcellent care of us. His service was greatly appreciated as all of us wanted to make it somewhere to watch The Canes game! He was efficient with opening the wine and getting our dinner orders in right away. Thank you Diondre for a great start to our evening. All of us raved over our food. Two of our friends had the Tomahawk Pork Chop featuring spinach, barrel-aged feta, herb aioli, and yummy Greek lemon potatoes. Both people agreed the kitchen team cooked them perfectly. One person absolutely loved his fire-roasted lamb chops that also had the delicious Greek lemon potatoes. Another one of our friends loved her Chicken penne Mykonos which we have ordered to-go many times. It looks even better in the restaurant as it has spinach, feta, mushrooms, tomatoes, white wine lemon cream sauce, and parmesan. This dish is a must try when you visit Taverna Agora in downtown Raleigh. Lastly, someone at the table exclaimed that their grilled salmon was one of the best salmon dishes he had ever enjoyed as its unique presentation features pickled beetroot, sautéed spinach, and a lemon caper sauce. I had the Poseidon Branzino which was fabulous. The dish had roasted branzino, medley of sautéed cherry tomatoes and onions, fresh herb rice, and skordalia (I had to look up what that is - a fascinating Greek garlic puree). The blending of all those flavors made for a scrumptious dinner, and thanks to the kitchen team for preparing it perfectly so that I could even eat the skin of the fish. We shared two bottles of Assyrtiko wine which is one of our favorite Greek wines after visiting Greece a few years ago. The wine list at Taverna is simple but thorough and fun to experiment with. Great job Taverna Team!

I absolutely love eating the fresh salads and sides at Sassool! It can get pretty busy during…read morelunchtime, so plan ahead if you're in a rush--but that just shows how good the food is. I usually order the two chicken skewer kabobs with rice, a super salad, and the jalapeño cilantro hummus. The hummus is *so* good that I often grab a small container to take with me when I travel. Everything tastes incredibly fresh, and you can really tell they use quality ingredients, especially with olive oil as a base. They offer both fresh pita and gluten-free pita, which is great for anyone with dietary restrictions. Honestly, I could make a meal just out of all the sides--they're that good. The menu is consistently solid, and I feel like you really can't go wrong with anything you order. It's a perfect spot for a low-key lunch or dinner. Also worth noting: on Tuesdays, kids eat free with a paying adult, which is a great bonus for families. Highly recommend!

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.

It's good! Some people on here talking about the hummus like that should be the only deciding…read morefactor of a Mediterranean restaurant. News flash, hummus has 5 traditional ingredients. It isn't rocket science weirdos. Now the kabob rice and sides were great. People reviewing it like it's a fine dining experience. Not a sit down spot but good to sit for lunch or on the go food for an at home date/dinner. Grew up with Arabic and Mediterranean food and this is good. Go and try

I stopped in here for a quick lunch after shopping. I ordered their chicken shawarma and grape…read moreleaves combo with a drink. The shawarma is very different than what I'm used to in Michigan, but it was delicious and packed with chicken. The grape leaves were good and the tea was nice and strong. The guys working were very friendly. I will definitely stop here again.