I believe Cedars is under new management and I must say I love the new direction. More importantly than that, however, I LOVE THE FOOODDDD! Every item I've eaten off the menu so far is 5 stars, hands down, slap yo mama good (not my mama, but you know) But for real, I can't speak highly enough of this place. Best falafel I've had in my life (the creamy dill sauce? WOW). my boyfriend doesn't even like falafel and he had multiple pieces. Right outside Cedar's there's a sign that says "best wings in chicago" - mind you, they are sitting right next door to Harold's - THEY DIDN'T LIE. Cedar's harissa wings are better than Harold's and I'll fight anybody on that. The Popeye's aint ish chicken sandwich really lives us to it's name, in fact its better than Chic-Fil-A and even the Budlong across the street. One thing I enjoy more than some fun ish talking is being able to back it up, and Cedars certainly does. Service is always top tier, food is always delicious, I love the seasonal menu changes (gotta keep things spicy), and The amount of food you get for the money. Don't ever change Cedar's, I love you read more

Cedars Mediterranean Kitchen - Popeyes aint sht Chicken Sandwich. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The cedar tree of the mediterranean, with the scientific name of Cedrus Libani, is a species of tree from the genus Cedrus, and is native to the mountains of the Eastern Mediterranean basin. It is a large evergreen conifer that has great religious and historical significance. The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant in West Asia. The Mediterranean has played a central role in the history of Western civilization. A kitchen is a room or part of a room used for cooking and food preparation in a dwelling or in a commercial establishment. A modern middle-class residential kitchen is typically equipped with a stove, a sink with hot and cold running water, a refrigerator, and worktops and kitchen cabinets arranged according to a modular design. Many households have a microwave oven, a dishwasher, and other electric appliances. Despite these definitions, one can not comprehend the flavors of cedars Mediterranean kitchen without visiting. That goes for any restaurant, but this one especially. To begin, the dishes do not taste like trees. They are very flavorful and are seasoned to perfection. I myself got the tacos and my compatriot got the chicken shawarma wrap. Both dishes were excellent. The staff are kind, and the food comes pretty fast. The restaurant isn't the vibiest but is clean and I can't complain. Here are some extra thoughts from another compatriot of mine: I like baklava. I also like chicken shawarma wrap. Yum. Docked one star just cause food wasn't mind-blowing. Would highly recommend if in the area though read more

Cedars Mediterranean Kitchen - Arab Swag Tacos - Middle Eastern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I found multiple staples in my lentil soup... The food was alright other than that though, and the staff were very kind. read more

Cedars Mediterranean Kitchen - Staples in the Egyptian Lentil Soup - Middle Eastern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Amazing food. Truly outstanding. My falafel was delicious and I got so much for a great price. Very kind people as well.

Love cedars wings just delicious the customer service is on point!!! They are getting the ball rolling again read more

Cedars Mediterranean Kitchen - Wings 8 piece - Middle Eastern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Large portions. My food was sooo good. The lamb and hummus the combo plate, the mint lemonade. All so delicious. I'll be back

I just paid $17 for 3 wings. I'm so mad. Why do y'all think u can get away with is crazy

As usual they never fail me!!!!! To go and great! Next time trying the fish and chips!!!! Special batter.. To be continued! read more

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Got the chicken shawarma and although it was a little dry, it was delicious! A very reasonable portion size as well! read more

Cedars Mediterranean Kitchen - a meal in a paper bag - Middle Eastern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I met a client for lunch at Cedars Mediteranean Kitchen (CMK) down in Hyde Park. (His choice) CMK is a located in a large strip mall with lots of parking & a nice spacious restaurant. As we entered the cook in the back saw us and acknowledged our entry with a nod. There was a woman standing right in front of him that worked there with her back to the front facing the cook yet she didn't turn around or acknowledge us or come to our table for over 5 minutes. Ehhhh strike one. Another employee (our eventual server) appeared from somewhere in the back and took our order. She was pleasant enough. My client ordered the chicken shawarma plate w/yellow rice & grilled vegetables. He also got a side Jerusalem salad. I ordered the beef & lamb shawarma plate w/grilled vegetables. While we were waiting they brought us a small appetizer dish of baba ganoush and a basket w/pita bread. The baba ganoush was ok, but very salty. We were given an option of a lentil soup or an Egyptian lentil soup. I ordered the Egyptian lentil soup which was tasty, but tasted like chili. I tried a little of the Jerusalem salad, but wasn't very impressed with the flavorings. When they finally brought out our dishes I was impressed by the generous serving size that was nicely presented. Unfortunately once I started eating the food I realized that the seasoning was sadly lacking. The grilled vegetables were decent enough. The beef & the lamb were dry, over cooked lacked any flavor and tasted like they had been sitting around in a pan waiting for someone to order it so they could scoop it out and serve it. The beef was tough and dry I'm sorry to say the service & the food at this place severely lacked in quality. I love good Mediteranean food and this place really lacked both. Based on the reviews I suggested Roti Mediteranean Grill (RMG) or Native Foods (NF) both had locations in Hyde Park and both have food superior CMK sorry to say. I won't go back to this restaurant again not when there are so many better options. read more

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This place changed since Covid. The ambience is cold and they bring food to you in containers. Taste of food even seemed to change. They're friendly service though. It's just not a place that I'll probably go back to. I know quite a few people have said the same thing. read more

Absolutely superb entrees. We love love love the grape leaves ... of course, among endless accompanying perfect sides. The food is freshly made -- it is just so very delicious. We love to dine here ... many times just on our way to shopping nearby. It is hard not to stop in -- you are guaranteed to have a delightful meal. The service is excellent -- very kind and attentive staff who really cares about their customers. read more

Cedar has been one of my favorite places in Hyde Park for the past 12 years. A few months ago I went in to place an order to go and I noticed that the main menu was completely different. I still found something on the menu that looked good so I ordered. I was told the menu had recently changed because the owner passed away, his son took over and updated the menu. Now I just went to Cedar this past week during the COVID-19 pandemic. I started by looking at Uber eats for something to eat and that's when I saw Cedars. I went on to the Cedars website and noticed that they only had a limited menu. I was confused because the website and Uber said two diff things. The server who answered the phone and put me on hold to confirm that they had the item I wanted and I proceeded to place the order online. I arrive to the restaurant in 10 minutes as they told me and my food was not done. I waited and didn't think much of it because they did say 10 to 15 minutes but I got there pretty quick. I waited another 10 minutes and walk the owner and at that point he revealed to me that they actually didn't have additional ingredients and he apologizes. I was clearly disappointed and right away the owner offered me to order anything else on the entire menu at no cost and to cancel my current order all with a sincere genuine disappointment in the entire situation. He completely turned the situation around and made me a happy customer who will continue to be loyal and try more things on a new menu. Plus the food was delicious. I think a lot of the reviews on here are from people who, like me who wanted the traditional Cedars. We have to understand its not the old menu anymore and that the food is still amazing and the service isImpeccable. I will definitely be visiting again and dining in once the pandemic is over. read more

Cedars Mediterranean Kitchen - Middle Eastern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I've had their delivery and in person food and it's good. The shepard's salad was amazing. People who worked there were so nice and receptive to questions. They even had a day where all food proceeds went to humanitarian charities. Definitely recommend read more

I am not from the Middle East. I have not ever been there either. I have eaten at various Mediterranean restaurants. I don't know what authentic Mediterranean food should be. I do know what tastes good. Cedars tastes good! Make certain you try the Pomegranate-Braised Short Ribs. The best dish on the menu!!! read more

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I recently tried Cedars Mediterranean Kitchen in Hyde Park. I have tried a number Mediterranean and middle eastern quick service restaurants and this one of the best. This is not your run of the mill "fast food" places, but a place where you can get some legit food. First, the food is excellent. I ordered the lamb kabob, the harissa glazed chicken wings, crispy falafel. The lamb was tender and juicy. I learned that the meat for the lamb kabob comes from the lamb shoulder and that's why it's so tender. The harissa glazed chicken wings were good and I would put them up against wings at any restaurant. The falafel was good as well. They were crispy and the sauce was great. Second, I enjoyed the drinks that I ordered. I ordered the watermelon sugar and the blackberry with ginger beer. The watermelon sugar was sweet and refreshing and the blackberry ginger beer provided a nice bitter kick. Third, parking was easy. The restaurant is part of a strip mall with ample parking. This is a great place to get some good Mediterranean food. When you're here you should order the lamb kabob. read more

Cedars Mediterranean Kitchen - Harissa Glazed Chicken Wings - Middle Eastern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Food was okay, nothing great. Got a huge stomach ache later on. Assuming something clearly wasn't fresh. Saw the workers going in and out of the bathroom super fast so I doubt they were washing their hands. read more

This place is very clean. I enjoy my meal and drink and i will be coming back and bring more people. I tried the chicken shawarwa which is preety good and also the harissa wings, it has a ting to it, but its also good. read more

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Ate here a couple of years ago and thought it was just ok. Went there tonight with my niece because we saw a watermelon drink sign on the door. Maaaaan!! That drink was great and then we added vodka back at the house. Ahhhhhmazingly refreshing drink for a Friday night. Lol. Staff was super polite and they used an IG page of pictures to display the food. The food is the same as a lot of the Mediterranean places I've tried, but my standard is Istanbul. Once you've eaten there, nothing excites you anymore. It was good, fresh, and filling. Warm, friendly environment. Felt like a place you could sit and eat with family and feel at home. What really impressed me was the way an elderly man who came in trying to use the restroom was treated. The guy helping us initially told him they didn't have a public restroom. But the man said it was an emergency and he told him to go ahead. I liked that he was respectful to the elderly man and that he was compassionate. I love it when we treat people well and have empathy even when not obligated to. I'll continue to be a patron just because of that. read more

Fantastic spot! Great food. All of the friends that I recommended this place to have absolutely loved it. Great menu, casual atmosphere, and very kind service. Worth checking out if you're in the area read more

Oh my when did Cedars food get to be this good? Haven't eaten here in years because it was just okay. Went to bank and was intrigued by why a Mediterranean restaurant was playing R&B. Just had the Harissa glazed wings, falafel and hummus. No picture because I ruined the beautiful presentation by eating it. And thank you for making your takeout look as pretty as a restaurant plate. read more

The roasted corn with mango and jalapeño chutney hummus is to die for. We got it to go along with the falafel. Both absolutely delicious. The portion of hummus was so big I ate it for days! You need to stop by and try this restaurant in hyde park! read more

I went there as part of a fundraiser, I had chicken , it is very tasty seasoned well, the rice was very good . Clean restaurant, to go only , friendly staff. I plan to return very soon . Thanks Cedars read more

Cedars Mediterranean Kitchen - Chicken Shawarma - Middle Eastern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I really wish I would have taken a picture and not a boomerang of my meal. But my mother and I literally drove by and said let's go there. The customer service was amazing ! The young male and female servers/host that took our order were super nice and just provided amazing customer service the whole time. They didn't make the visit awkward at all even in the Midst of the pandemic . Now the FOOD! My mom and I looove wings (it's a family thing lol ) so we had to give it a try! My mom isn't big on spicy food but these were a perfect balance of sweet and spicy. So delicious ! The sauce was extra tasty. I also highly recommend the watermelon sugar lemonade.. not overly sweet it was just right. The manager made a kind gesture by thanking us personally and inviting us back. If you're in the area give them a a try!! They have great service, food and Music! read more

Cedars used to be our go-to recommendation in Hyde Park for people in town, but the quality and value have really gone down the past year. Prices went up, the food doesn't taste as good, the wraps no longer come with the delicious potato side and instead with soggy french fries, the eating ambience is less enjoyable, and the sign above the cashier was removed. I recently tried Nile, and the prices for a simple wrap are cheaper and the quality better. I'll start recommending that people go to Nile instead of Cedars. I really wanted to be a local supporter of Cedars, but the management has made decisions that seem to indicate the business is starting to spiral down, unfortunately. read more

Eating takeout inside in a very socially distanced space was a little weird, but hey I guess it's still covid times. Fortunately, the food was quite good. The falafel was crispy on the outside and moist on the inside side, although some thought it was too mushy. It was served with arugula and a green sauce on the bottom that was tasty. The lamb kebob was great. Came with grilled vegetables (onions, peppers, squash, zucchini, tomatoes) and rice. The two dishes came with "pita" on the side - it was more like a middle Eastern tortilla. Interesting, different and particularly good to sop up the spicy sauce that came with the falafel. The ginger beer was just spicy enough to be interesting without being overwhelming. The music left a lot to be desired, and the space isn't interesting but the food is good - take out is a great option! read more

Once one of my favorite places in Hyde Park for Mediterranean cuisine, I was very disappointed by the changes made recently to the menu and service due to a change of ownership. Menu has changed, omitting many of their best dishes, with much higher prices. No more baba ghanouj, and many other staples expected at a restaurant serving Middle Eastern cuisine. When dining in, pita bread is not served with soup or hummus and now has to be ordered separately. Maybe it was a bad night, but service has also taken a big hit. Not enough servers and many things ordered were forgotten. I hope they make some changes quick or they will likely lose many faithful patrons and suffer a big loss of business. New owners take heed read more

I had been craving this place for a while and finally got to go on one of my bday lunches. Man was i disappointed. The service was great but the food was mediocre. It has always been great but his trip not so much. I LOVE the falafel sandwich. It usually is FULL of flavor but today meh... the French fries where soggy with no flavor at all. Portion size is huge so you probably will have left overs. I'm not sure if I will be back anytime soon. read more

I loved everything about the food. The food was tasty. The prices were affordable and staff was very friendly. This place has a quiet chill atmosphere. read more

Best Mediterranean food I've had. My friends and I always get food here and it never disappoints. Our favorite dish is the Chicken Shawarma Plate, and it's always packed with chicken, veggies, and rice. Our favorite drink is the Watermelon Sugar, which is a lemonade with watermelon. Definitely recommend read more

Cedars destroyed itself. It used to be a reasonably good restaurant. They had decent Mediterranean options available at reasonable prices. Recently, they changed things up. It's clear that they've substantially cut costs. The menu has been severely reduced and butchered. The items on it are out of place and do not make sense given Cedars' history. Portions are now much smaller, and prices are higher. The quality of ingredients has been reduced as well. This isn't going to work. This place will very likely close down within a year if they don't admit their mistake and revert these changes. read more

Listen...just stop reading this and just go order. They deliver to you...we live in the burbs, and they delivered to us!! They will not disappoint. This is not your average Mediterranean restaurant. They take classic dishes and put a little spin on it and it's just wonderful. The way the flavors come together. I really can't decide on what Is my favorite. But if you need a little help deciding here is my suggestion: vegetarian, order the falafel wrap, hummus with mango chutney, and the kale salad. Meat eaters: order the kefta kabob wrap, kale salad, falafels. They package it perfectly too! I never leave reviews, but I really had to share because I want this place to explode and have multiple locations so it's more accessible for us folks that don't live in Hyde park! read more

So .... my husband and I placed a carry out order today. We went to the restaurant to pick it up. While we were waiting for our order, the cook dropped his tongs on the floor but he didn't put them in the sink to be cleaned. He continued to use them for cooking!!! We couldn't believe our eyes! When my husband brought this to the staff's attention, they merely said they would scold him. Meanwhile, the cook only smirked when it was brought to his attention. Someone had food cooked/turned with dirty tongs!!! Totally unsanitary and Unbelievable!! Needless to say, if our food wasn't already prepared we would've cancelled our order. This is a TOTAL health violation. The food is delicious, but after seeing this, we cannot return. read more

DELISH! Sweet server Lorena brings a little dish of scrumptious baba ganoush and a pita to start; what could be better? Got the lamb kabob and it was perfectly charbroiled and seasoned. Came with lots of fluffy, tasty rice and vegetables; I even liked the cauliflower and I HATE cauliflower! It came with a huge, fresh green salad with lots of lively vegetables and a nice dressing. And the green sauce that came with the entree is out of this world! Almost like a chimichurri; it was yummy on the rice, meat and veggies. It would be yummy on cardboard! I had enough food left to take rice and veggies home. My friend recommended Cedars and she was right. I will be back! (Bonus: there is free parking!) read more

I never post food reviews - but this is upsetting. Ordered the chicken sandwich and bit into chunks of fat. I was eating in dim lighting but then took a closer look and found the chicken did not appear to be cooked. I am hoping not to be sick tomorrow. Cedars - please do better. read more

Cedars Mediterranean Kitchen - That's supposed to be cooked chicken - Middle Eastern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The tacos are amazing! This is a must have a-least once a week! Service is always top tier and i love look forward to the different tacos on Tuesday. read more

I live super close to this place and would always pass by but never paid attention to it until I saw their sign that said they had the best wings in Chicago... I had to see for myself. So my husband and I decided to go on my lunch break and we ordered the glazed harrisa wings and the lamb platter. Everything was really good but THOSE WINGS. I can't even describe the amount of flavor to you. I'm hooked now and I go whenever I can. I always put a few others on who can't resist the wings either lol. Definitely recommend their watermelon sugar drink as well, so refreshing! Sorry I don't have a picture. I ate everything before I had the chance lbs. read more

Staff is very friendly plus the food was good. Can't wait till we are able to dine in. read more

Cedars Mediterranean Kitchen - Chicken Shawarma Wrap - Middle Eastern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Everything was perfect. Food was tasty and the service was great. The server was well versed in the menu even though it was new as well as the history of the restaurant. The portions were a good size. I even had some to take home. Will definitely be back. I had the chicken shawarma, falafel, and hummus. read more

I'm going to stop cheating on Zaytune... This food was terrible. I was so excited to eat it too *deep mournful sigh*. I got the falafel sandwich, which fell completely apart when I tried to pick it up. The falafel tastes like it's 90% flour, and the pita itself just doesn't taste good and it tasted "old". I got a side of spicy sauce (that comes with the falafel at Zaytune and is actually spicy), it was $0.75 cent and not even spicy. Tastes like straight vinegar. Why is the tahini runny and flavorless? Did the try to stretch that too (like the flour-lafel)? I imagine the tahini was 30-40% water. The only edible parts were the little salad and the potatoes (the potatoes earned this place that second star), I threw the rest in the trash. On the the plus side, it was a lot of food for kinda cheap. So if you're broke and don't care what you eat, this place might be for you. read more

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