Hands down the BEST pitas-literally made right before your eyes. So delicate and DELICIOUS! The Food Gods have blessed Rochester,NY with Cedars Restaurant. The staff are SO welcoming and give you the feeling as though they are literally welcoming you into their home for a meal. Personally I am not the best when it comes to pronouncing many of the menu entrees/offerings, yet no worries as they set you at complete ease while offering you a menu with pictures & detailed explanation for every entree & menu item. There is nothing-and I mean literally nothing I have order that hasn't been pure perfection. Thank you Cedar's family for providing Rochester with the very best authentic mouthwatering menu available read more

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can confirm that cedar mediterranean restaurant still hits after all these years! during my last visit in mid-october, i got a za'atar manakeesh and gyro pita pocket. the manakeesh was thin, crispy and generously seasoned with za'atar. the gyro was loaded with meat. i was a patron when i lived here in 2018 and still am now as a visitor. the food is delicious and the service is great. read more

Cedar Mediterranean Restaurant - Za'atar Manakeesh - Lebanese Near Me - Rochester, New York

I've been wanting to try this place for ages because of all the hype! I got the impression it gets very, very busy on Friday nights also so just be aware that they may close take-out orders when the kitchen is busy to prioritize dine-in orders. I believe it is a family-run restaurant. Ordered the Moujadara appetizer, Za'atar Manakeesh (w/ part cheese on top of the za'atar & part za'atar alone - very accommodating/attentive to requests! Of course you still pay the extra dollar), and the Lebanese Moussaka Plate w/ baklava for dessert (came with namoura). Everything was stellar. It all came hot and the pitas that came with the app and the plate were fresh and fluffy. The feta on the Greek salad is so good! The real star of the show is the moussaka and the hummus, of course - with the pita both are excellent. Highly recommend getting the moussaka/maghmour. It had huge chunks of eggplant, chickpeas, and tomato sauce and was so comforting. Important things to note - the baklava has walnuts and the namoura (Lebanese semolina cake, also called basbousa) has an almond on top as is traditionally served. Portions are very generous. Also please note that it is LEBANESE moussaka, not Greek... I saw a review complaining about this who clearly did not know the difference! Wonderful place. Highly suggest coming at least once to experience one of Rochester's (well-earned) local legends! read more

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The food was relatively strong here. The hummus was exactly the way I prefer it which is to say relatively loose (more a sauce than a paste) and served with olive oil on top and a few olives for garnish. The pita bread was soft and delicious. The pasta dish (new on the menu) was very satisfying but not what I imagined it would be. The basil pasta is a thin linguine type noodle with some seasonings embedded. I expected something more like a plain pasta with a Greek take on Pesto but it's really more like a gently flavored pasta with your choice of protein on top (for an additional cost). The chicken shawarma pita was generously loaded with delicious chicken and other ingredients but there was an aggressively hot raw garlic flavor from one of the ingredients that dominated the flavors overall and was a little off-putting for the person that originally ordered this item. I ended up swapping with them and it worked out but I think the strong garlic flavor was a little unbalanced. The biggest area that could be improved would be service and atmosphere. They have a good sized dining room with tables but they treat it like a food court. Take-out? Your food goes in plastic boxes and then into a plastic bag. Eating in? Your good goes into plastic boxes and then into a plastic bag. I'm not sure why they choose to do it this way and in hindsight it's pretty ballsy of them to have the tip suggestions popping up stating at 15% given that there is NO table service or even table bussing. read more

Highly impressed with the food offerings at cedar. Everything was fresh and made to order. The chicken shawarma pita I got was massive and loaded with chicken. The seasoned rice adds so much flavor to your meal. The portions are large enough to share. The dining room has plenty of seating to choose from. The bathroom and seating area was very clean. Great service, we came about 30 mins to closing and did not feel rushed. I have been craving a return visit. The food was so good! read more

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The thought of Cedar makes me salivate. I am from NYC and it's been so difficult to find good Mediterranean food here. I went once and have been hooked since. The food is delicious and consistent. Deliciously grilled chicken, the best pitas, incredible hummus....and the staff is lovely. Highly recommend. read more

This is my go-to spot in Rochester for Mediterranean food. Everything tastes incredibly fresh and full of flavor. They have both vegetarian and meat options. Special shout out to their pita as it's huge and tastes homemade read more

Very good Mediterranean food! I got the chicken kebab platter and it was very good. The sauces were flavorful! The salad was fresh and the pita was soft and delicious. read more

Cedar Mediterranean Restaurant - Chicken Kebab Combo Plate - Lebanese Near Me - Rochester, New York

Came here for lunch on a Wednesday, walked in at noon worried it may be busy/long wait but it was the opposite. We ordered 2 vegetarian platters and our wait was equal to the time of us getting our drinks and sitting down. Pita was hot, fresh and delicious. Hummus was delicious no complaints but the baba ganoush was the best part of this platter. I wish I had more warm pita to devour it with. The place looks like some outdated diner with minimal seating from the outside but there were 12/15 tables and because the food is popped out quick and in take out containers the turnover is pretty quick. I will be back to try more things off their menu and I already recommended this place to several vegetarians. read more

Cedar Mediterranean Restaurant - Vegetarian Combo Plate - Lebanese Near Me - Rochester, New York

Good, good, good. Cedar prepares many of the dishes the way my grandmother or aunts would have. Friendly service in a casual atmosphere. You order at the counter and see the food prepared. Plenty of tables, private parking lot. Not for a date, but for a casual lunch or dinner its great. read more

Cedar Mediterranean Restaurant - Lebanese Near Me - Rochester, New York

Favorite Mediterranean restaurant in town! Always a wait as the word is out on how delicious the food is. Pita is made to order! Soft pillows of chewy goodness - only $1 for an extra one! Garlic sauce is also great added to any order read more

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We did a take out and unfortunately the amount of food for the price we paid (20$ just for the combo plate)was very very small with low amount of shawarma meat...The only good was that it tasted great! read more

Cedar Mediterranean Restaurant - Shawarma Combo Plate - Lebanese Near Me - Rochester, New York

This has been our go to Mediterranean place for a couple years now. Their food just keeps drawing us back. Especially those home made pitas! I dream about those delicious carb filled pockets. I typically get the chicken shawarma pita and it never disappoints. The only suggestion I would have is to ask for the sauce on the side vs on the pita. Depending on who is making it, sometimes there is a little too much. It's a little spicy, but delicious. The manakeesh is also to die for. They are almost like a pizza. We always order too much food and bring it home. We want to try a little of everything. From the outside, this place may look like a hole in the wall. Don't let the exterior fool you. If you are in the mood for a delicious pita, this is your place! In my opinion it's the best in the area. It is definitely a causal dining experience. And just remember, the close every July for the whole month. Just stop in and give it a try. I know you want to. read more

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The lentil soup is outstanding. It was thick, creamy, and dee-licious. The shawarma pitas are generously sized and packed with meaty goodness. The falafel is some of the best I have had. It wasn't so hard but was crunchy enough and the taste is spot on. Also tried the manakeesh with spinach and feta. Delicious. read more

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This is definitely one of the best lunch spots in Rochester imo. They have all of your classic Mediterranean food options, but everything is so fresh and delicious that you can't go wrong with what your order. They even make their own homemade pita! We split a gyro pita (huge) and vegetarian platter and loved that combo. Highly recommend for takeout or in person! read more

Cedar Mediterranean Restaurant - Lebanese Near Me - Rochester, New York

Still the best pita sandwiches, humus, and all the other fresh fast food you can find in Rochester. Plus the staff is friendly and orders are always right. read more

Cedar Mediterranean Restaurant - Gyro pits - Lebanese Near Me - Rochester, New York

Food is great , hummus is perfect , pita is always warm and fresh . Workers are friendly when I pick up my order . I love the falafel and the hummus here . Other places it tastes a bit different but this one wins . read more

Cedar Mediterranean Restaurant - Vegetarian plate - Lebanese Near Me - Rochester, New York

Okay, not sure what is going on with Cedar. Ordered the falafel plate...came with 3 pieces of falafel, some salad strewn around and meh hummus. Sure, things are tough all around, but it is just disappointing on what passes for a plate now. read more

Went here for dinner Monday night while visiting Rochester for work. I was relieved to see they had a parking lot as I was worried I was going to have to find a spot on the street in an area I'm unfamiliar with. When you enter they have menus at the front counter. You order at the register, grab a number, and then sit anywhere you would like. I ordered the moujaadarra plate. It came with a side of hummus and a greek salad . It was SO good. My mom ordered the plate with chickpeas (I can't recall the name). I actually liked hers better than mine. The sauce was really good. The pita though...it was up there with the best I've ever eaten. It was so thick and soft. I was a bit confused after if you leave your plate or not. I didn't see a place to put them so we left them at our table. I would definitely come back here again. read more

Cedar Mediterranean Restaurant - Lebanese Near Me - Rochester, New York

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I love the people here. I love the atmosphere, the food. God bless them. I would love to bring my family here too. It is amazing. What they do is amazing how they treat you. They treat you just like family. Doreen read more

This is a small, casual, and pretty authentic middle eastern restaurant. I really liked the food here.

Cedar is one of my favorite spots. Though the prices on everything have gone way up which stinks, I'd say it's still well worth it. It just used to be a huuuge steal before. I generally get a pita with gyro meat and it's always great. Stuffed twice over with their fillings. Their salads are also really good, coming packed to the brim. Their combo plates hit different cause you get a bit of everything. Salad or rice, meat and hummus. All served with fresh pita. Definitely recommend. read more

Ended up going back at the suggestion of a friend, and it was better than I remembered--I probably ordered wrong the first time. The kofta was well-seasoned and moist, the pita was fresh, and the zaatar on the manakeesh was powerful and cut through. The tabouleh was also nice and fresh, although there wasn't really enough bulgur (if any). The hummus was pretty good, but nothing special compared to elsewhere. read more

Cedar is everything that you love about the Levant. Very authentic and extremely tasty, very consist.

I ate there for the first time today and honestly, it was excellent very fresh and authentic. I'm glad that Rochester has this restaurant. I give it five star rating . read more

No frills Mediterranean restaurant. We called to order ahead and food was ready by the time we got there. We got both a beef and chicken shawarma and those things were huge and satisfying. I think the beef one was slightly tastier. Loaded with tomatoes, feta, tsatziki sauce, lettuce, there was a nice contrast. I also love pita so that made it extra tasty. Very messy to eat since it's so large and filling but a great go to. Will definitely be back! read more

Cedar Mediterranean Restaurant - Lebanese Near Me - Rochester, New York

Okay I'm going to 100% give Cedar another review when I actually have some photos (it was too delicious to snap a pic) but for now just know THIS IS FANTASTIC MED FOOD!!!! GUYS I MEAN YOU NEED THIS. Amazing family run business and the quality of the food just absolutely is amazing! Fresh chopped veggies, colourful produce, flavours that are perfectly balanced without tasting ridiculously salty and an amazing selection at a great price! The dolma grape leaves are some of the best I ever had, the hummus is bomb, the baba ghanouj has my heart, and the tabouleh salad are absolutely phenomenal. Lets not forget the real stars of the shoe are the carbs... WOWZA the Za'tar, the spinach and feta manakeesh, and the PITA could KEEP ME ALIVE. We actually had someone bring the food from Rochester so I am so excited to actual get out to the store (already have a trip planned) and order my weight in pita, platters, shawarma, and all the goods! Def will aim to get some baklava ofc too!! Definitely a great place for food with fabulous service and the nourishment you didn't know you needed. read more

I've been meaning to try the food out at Cedar for a while now. I finally made it over there for lunch and they had a very stead crowd! That is understandable because the food was delicious and authentic Mediterranean! The gyro pita was packed with beef and lamb meat. Very filling! Prices were extremely reasonable! I thought it was a great value for what I ordered. There is plenty of indoor seating if you'd like to order and dine in, which I did. read more

Cedar Mediterranean Restaurant - Chicken Alfredo Manakeesh - Lebanese Near Me - Rochester, New York

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The food here is always very fresh and delicious. The pitas are made fresh several times a day. The salads are always very fresh. The only problem is they are not open on the weekend. read more

I flew back into Rochester yesterday and priority stop #1 for me upon landing was to drive over to Cedar Mediterranean for an early lunch. The restaurant is not one to be passed up. Family owned, they have a system... and it runs like a well-oiled machine. Once I arrived yesterday, I remembered why I had missed this restaurant so much. Between their plentiful servings (assuring I get to save some for later), the super reasonable prices, and the overall deliciousness of their menu items? Yeah, the cravings were well-deserved. I had other errands to run before heading home, so I got my menu options to go. And since I live a bit away? I made sure to order more than I knew I could eat in one sitting. Leftovers for the win! It takes very little time at all for the items to be prepared to go, which is great... but plenty of people opt to sit in the restaurant as well. For the restaurant size, there is definitely plenty of seating. My all-time favorite from here, like for many others, is the chicken shawarma pita pocket. I also ordered some lentil soup (which I'll be having for lunch today, thank you very much), and the yogurt cucumber salad (a combination of yogurt, cucumbers, fresh mint & garlic). Honestly though, I'd recommend anything and everything from the menu. It's all SO good. TL;DR Affordable, generous servings, and just generally not to be missed. Be sure you get to Cedar Mediterranean ASAP for some of their delicious (and authentic) Lebanese offerings! read more

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A hotspot on Monroe Ave! After searching Yelp for a local, Mediterranean restaurant, Cedar's was the first establishment to catch my eye. The menu was filled with affordable, eye-catching, and appealing options. While I began leaning towards the pita pockets, I decided to make a solid decision when I physically reached the spot. The interior - spacious, clean, and busy. The Cedar's squad greeted me with a smile and a welcome. Next to the cashier's counter, customers are able to see the cooks and food preparers in action! With this, I seen the size of the pita pocket and confirmed my previous decision; the falafel pita pocket. The pocket was filled with falafel balls, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and tahini sauce. The pita itself was AMAZING! Soft, warm, and fluffy! You can definitely tell it's homemade. However, the falafel lacked some seasoning. I added a bit of salt and pepper when I got back home. To add, the pita pocket didn't stay hot for long; the tomatoes, sauce, and cucumbers cooled it to the point of having to re-heat when I arrived at my apartment. So much more I want to try when I return! read more

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I had been hearing great things about this place from fellow Yelpers and finally stopped in today. Honestly, the reason it took me so long was because I didn't realize it was located right on Monroe Ave (thought it was further away from me). Anyway, the food is fantastic! I got the chicken kebab pita sandwich and I have zero complaints. The pita is much bigger than I was expecting and was packed full with meat, as well as tomato, pickles, and lettuce. The garlic spread was to die for, and next time I'm going to ask for extra on the side (a $1 charge for extra condiments). The chicken had great seasoning and all of the flavors just melded together perfectly. The interior of the restaurant is quite roomy, with lots of seating available. I visited on a Monday afternoon at 3 so it wasn't busy, but with ample parking and seating I'm sure it's still easy enough to find a spot during busier times. This is a new favorite spot for me and I am excited to try more of their menu soon! read more

This is my new favorite local Mediterranean restaurant. The dishes are very delicious, huge quantity and very inexpensive. Chicken shawarma is my favorite. The chicken kabobs were overcooked and quite hard to chew but I am willing to overlook it for the flavor and the price. read more

Cedar is the best Mediterranean restaurant in Rochester! (by far!) The bread (cooked freshly) is amazing (and fluffy) and everything we've gotten has been great (especially the hummus and chicken, which has a great marinade and spice to it). Very hole in the wall place - they prefer cash but do take credit cards, but you MUST GO HERE. read more

This is definitely a cheap and delicious eat! After passing through two double doors, you will notice tables and chairs on both sides. The giant menu hung up high behind the counter, it is a bit hard to read. There are also menus at the register with descriptions of the items. After ordering you pick a number and sit down. Your food will be brought to you. You can see the employees prep the food and the homemade pita being made. I could eat the pita by itself and be a happy camper. My go to items are the hummus and pita pocket chicken shawarma. The mix of dark and white meat along with vegetables and Lebanese spices together is delicious. Beware the oils will drip all over your hands. Good thing there's a bunch of napkins right on the table. You leave the plates and utensils on the table and the employees come and clean them up. This place is never empty, patrons are always coming and going. It can be hard to find a seat especially when the place is busy. Cedar is always closed the entire month of July. read more

Cedar Mediterranean Restaurant - Hot pitas - Lebanese Near Me - Rochester, New York

The folks at Cedar don't bat an eye when you order vegan options! They know their stuff! Fresh, quality ingredients. Love this place! read more

Cedar Mediterranean Restaurant - Side salad - Lebanese Near Me - Rochester, New York

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I've been here twice and thoroughly enjoyed the food both times. Service is quick and they can turn many dishes vegan by simply holding the cheese. The vegetarian platter (made vegan with no cheese) allows you to taste the hummus, baba ganush, salad, falafel, and pita all at once at a reasonable price! Their hummus is .... SO GOOD. For COVID, they have no seating inside. You just walk up to the counter and order. Food is prepped so it comes out very quickly. Always friendly staff too! read more

Cedar Mediterranean Restaurant - vegetarian plate - Lebanese Near Me - Rochester, New York

Delicious!! Everything was made fresh to order and the servings were huge. I'm pretty sure the hummus and baba ghanoush were the best I've ever had. The homemade pita was awesome! I easily could have made a meal of it by itself. We will definitely be back and bringing others with us. read more

Excellent flavors, pickled vegetables and garlic sauce to go with the chicken shawarma pocket I got! We ordered takeout but in general service was great, food was delicious warm and well packaged. Definitely plan to go back and try more! read more

This is incredible. I'm not even done eating and wanted to rate it. I got the chicken kebab combo plate which comes with a beautiful fresh flavorful Greek salad, grilled chicken pieces and ultra fresh hummus. The pita bread is the fluffiest cloud of pita heaven I've ever had. I think I could live on the pita and hummus alone. The dining area ambience is pretty standard for a counter service joint. It seems to be a family run business as they have a sign hanging saying they are closed annually for family time in July. I'd say if you made it this far to read some reviews just go! You won't be sorry. read more

Cedar Mediterranean Restaurant - Chicken Kabob Combo Plate - Lebanese Near Me - Rochester, New York