In town to visit my sis and haven't tried this place yet, do we headed to dinner for me to try it out! Sat outside, so not sure what it looks like inside, but the outdoor vibes were super cute. Service is very Lawrence; super chill and friendly. They immediately came by with water and then gave us some time to review the menu before taking beverage orders. They also asked us if we wanted apps, so we ordered those too. Food came out in a reasonable amount of time and mostly tasty; the fancy mushroom hummus was too salty for me. The pork and beans were my personal fave, but everyone had a different fave. Desserts were too sweet for me; butter cake too sweet and the chocolate tort too chocolatey. read more

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Service was attentive and kind, loved the ambiance of the restaurant. Above all- the food was amazing. Everything we tried was excellent. It was our first time going but definitely not our last. read more

Culinaria - BBQ Pulled pork - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

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A hidden gem in Lawrence about 5 minutes from campus. Furbished with gorgeous stone walls, table side candles, and beautiful décor, Culinaria offers their creative take on Mediterranean cuisine. With four different hummus options and a handful of appetizers and entrees, a friend and I decided to split one of each. The Fancy Mushroom Hummus was luscious and elegant. The sautéed mushrooms were a perfect complement to a bite of hummus with warm Za'atar Flatbread. Next was the Falafel. Although not bad by any means, I was pretty underwhelmed. They lacked seasoning and were fairly dry on the inside. I thought the best part of the meal was the Chicken Shwarma. It had many dynamic aspects but came together with incredible flavors. Along with an excellent juxtaposition of textures, this was just a well-composed plate. Amazing food with even better company. Would love to go back! read more

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Food was super good! It was definitely very authentic . Only thing I didn't care for is the restaurant size. I know ownership can't do much about this but they need to think about resizing! This place is very popular and very small. Tables seem cluttered. Service was good and our waiter was kind. I thought the green stuff in my hummus is definitely an acquired taste (the paste on the left) . If you get the fried chicken hummus you may ask for that on the side. Overall a good experience but not sure if I would go back given the expensive price and very tiny area of the restaurant. For the portion sizes which are very normal, I would suggest lowering price. read more

Culinaria - Fried hummus (bottom) - falafel sand which (top) - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

Really lovely and intimate spot for a shared meal. We got a little bit of everything and had a nice spread. The steak hummus was insanely good. The hummus was smooth and so delicious, and there were big chunks of meat. Loved the pickled vegetables, tart and flavorful. The chicken shawarma had really lovely crispy potatoes. The presentation isn't your standard Mediterranean. I do wish they had more protein options, they had meat options with the hummus and the entrees had meat, but it would have been nice to have had some small plate protein options. If you can't handle spice, you're going to be in a rude awakening. Every dish we ordered had a kick of some kind. read more

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We enjoyed our evening at Culinaria. The food was delicious and the management was kind enough to change our table to accommodate an additional friend. My Sazerac was spectacular. Thanks very much! read more

Stopped in for Restaurant Week 2024 and the place was packed! Reservation was a must. And it was busy for a good reason, so yummy!! Food highlights for us were the apps. The beets, the falafel and the hummus! And that beef shawarma with french fries hit the spot. The cocktails were delish and the staff were so happy, warm and welcoming! Great spot to try some MediFusion foods! read more

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the food was excellent and service too. I loved the red brick walls. I's great to find another place on Mass St to enjoy.

I had a great time here with my girlfriend, sampling delicious tapas and actually (thankfully) saving room for dessert! The inside was definitely loud, which seemed to be addressed by the padded walls, but boy it's still quite loud. We would have loved to sit outside but you definitely need a reservation for that, especially on a Saturday night. We enjoyed the pickled veg dish, the Korean potatoes were *SUBLIME*, the empanadas were dry and underwhelming by comparison to everything else. Our favorite was the squash dish, and the eggplant hummus - you really can't go wrong!!! Sipping on thyme lemonade while it's still in season is the move here. For dessert, we loved both the bread pudding and the berry galette!!!! You absolutely must save room for them, as the portions are gargantuan and enough to share for a table of 4 or more. We had coffee service with our dessert, but the coffee was extremely weak and they didn't have a timer on the French press so we just had to guess when it would be ready - kinda weird. No alternative dairy to my knowledge so keep that in mind if visiting this place for dessert as well. Overall we had a lovely evening and we'll definitely be back! A great place for a birthday night or anniversary too! read more

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A lot of worthwhile things (fried chicken hummus bowl) going on here in a great little spot off the beaten path with a crew that cares. Stumble in. read more

Love to visit Culinaria any time I'm in Lawrence! Everything I've had is amazing. Roasted Brussels sprouts and fried artichokes are standouts. Cozy atmosphere and cute decor. read more

Culinaria - Brussels sprouts - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

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Location: East Lawrence. A few blocks aways from Massachusetts street( Downtown). Ambiance: beautiful, cozy place with a large outdoor space. Food: It is just delicious. Everything you order is outstanding. Falafel is ways fresh, carne asada, cooked to the perfection. Pita bread is fresh. Service: in general, it is excellent. The only issue is that this place can get crowded. Even if you make a reservation, you can wait 20-30 minutes, past your reservation time. Yelp factor: In a nutshell, this is the best food you can get in Lawrence. Period. read more

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Very good. Had the days special salmon and the chicken shawarma. Both were excellent. Service was a little slower, but to be expected with the atmosphere. One of the best, if not the best, restaurant in Lawrence read more

We came here for a special occasion date night, and it was just what I had hoped for. I absolutely love the quaint and warm ambience with the stone walls and paper lanterns inside. I look forward to coming back when it's warmer to sit on the cute outdoor patio. The menu brings something fresh that I haven't found elsewhere in Lawrence. Lots of shareables and appetizers that would be great for large groups to have with some creative cocktails, which they also have plenty of on their menu. I enjoyed the "sage advice," which was short and strong. The house hummus was the best I've ever had, and I was pleasantly surprised by how many pickled toppings it was served with. When we received our entrees I was a little worried that they would not be filling enough, but I was pleasantly surprised when I could almost not finish the shrimp mujadarra! I'm choosing not to detract a star for service, but it could have been better. Our server (tall guy with tattoos) was not the most attentive or friendly. But everything else was so good that I am still excited to come back. Btw: I highly recommend making a reservation, and I also recommend ordering several dishes to share or at least one appetizer before your entree. read more

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Superb food and drink pairings. The brunch offerings were amazing! The ham and eggs are a must try item. Feel free to order an array of starters, they will all impress. So flavorful and fresh! Excellent service and highly responsive staff. When I asked for to-go containers I received extra so I didn't mix meat with veg entree. read more

The food was very tasty and different from a standard Mediterranean restaurant. The service was friendly, but reservations seem to be required if you want to sit outside on the patio. Ambiance inside is funky and fun with a full bar. read more

Culinaria - Cocktails - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

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Had a very good dinner there on 6/8/24 however although their drink menu shows top shelf liquor... I ordered a Jack Rose cocktail specifically for Laird's Apple brandy and after consuming it the bartender had the audacity to tell me that she used Christian Brothers brandy instead !! Of course I was charged full price... read more

Hands down my favorite restaurant in Lawrence. I have not ordered any dishes I did not enjoy - anything from greens to protein dishes. I'd say this place seasons more on the heavy side, which I love but maybe not for everyone. read more

Culinaria - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

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Came here mid-week and had never been. The space is beautiful, tucked away in a formerly-industrial part of downtown. I'm sure the building once housed something. Interesting! Mediterranean themed menu really works and they are creative and elegant with their offerings. They also had a nice selection of wine, beer and cocktails. The menu isn't enormous, so clearly they decided to go with quality and thoughtfulness over quantity...perfect! I'm sure the server wished we had gone with the specials, but I'm a vegetarian and that night they weren't. I had the vegetable shawarma, which was more like a curry. Very tasty and warming, if unexpected. My friend had chicken shawarma, which seemed more traditional. We shared the fattoush salad, which was fresh and generous..wonderful. For dessert, we went with the pear tart with goat whipped cream! It was unexpectedly, awesome, actually three small hand-cut tartlets, buttery and crispy. I was catching up with my college roommate, and they'd closed but they just let us sit and chat. Very nice staff! Lovely ambiance. I can't wait to go back. read more

Rude!!! We had a reservation at 7. For over a week. We arrived 15 minutes early and our table for 6 had 4 people sitting there done with their meal. The waitress was very inefficient. She didn't even clear dishes or give the bill for 30 more minutes. Then she never picked up the red bill book. Finally at 7;45 we kindly asked the people if they were done and we were celebrating a birthday. The 4 people at the 6 top said yes they were done and gladly left. Then the rude waitress told us she wouldn't serve us. They would not give us any manager or manager information. It was mainly the waitress tall with black hair that was so unbelievable. They were so rude and mean to us. We will never ever go to this restaurant again read more

The falafel sandwich is to die for, the lemonade is excellent, and the french fries are so soft they melt in your mouth. My partner and I are super eager to visit again! read more

Never disappoints! Been many times and just love all the flavors. We ordered several items like fried chicken hummus, cauliflower, chicken shawarma, Brussel sprout, and son ordered the short rib which he said was amazing. Lilly our server was excellent!!! We love the new bar inside as well as it is so much bigger. Definitely a must try if you have never been there. read more

Outstanding. Ordered the hummus & carne asada; hummus & fried chicken; and the crispy potato. So so so great! Too full for desert but had a bite of doughnut holes. read more

This is one of Lawrence's best food places I think- away from Mass street, tucked away in a little corner. Last we had been here was 5 years ago when we invited our friends to celebrate our daughter's undergrad graduation. Now that we have our youngest at Lawrence, we went again last night- it was just as great as we had remembered. Mediterranean tapas - love them. We ordered the fried cauliflower, the halloumi's, and burnt eggplant hummus from the small plates; everything was yummy- even the pita, perfectly, crisp, warm and thin!!! For entrees we got the fried chicken, burnt ends hummus, Mac n cheese w/fried chicken, the falafel and the chicken shawarma. I tried everything - and it was all outstanding. The fried chicken flavorful and perfectly crisped, the burnt ends were tender and yummy, and we loved the smashed potatoes the most in the chicken schwarma plate!! We even had the sweet potato fritters for our dessert- and were not disappointed! Definitely recommend if you live there, are visiting or passing by. I was able to make reservations on line, earlier the same day, and it was super convenient! Our server was helpful, efficient and nice! read more

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Maybe I came here on a bad night. Location is historic and interesting. Yelp reviews 4.5-every Yelp place I've been with high scores like this have been excellent. Not here. Food is the worst I've had in years. I've spent a lot of time in the Middle East and the Mediterranean, so I thought that "Mediterranean inspired " meant those flavors would be present in their offerings. Not at all. The mezze platter was comprised of familiar items, none of which were good. The falafel was a spice bomb (Emeril?), even the pickled items were not good. Brussels sprouts spiced in the most unappealing way.The "coq au vin" special was disgraceful, a small sad bowl of gray soup that had chicken, mushrooms and (what?) pita as dumplings--and chopped black olive (again--what?) one wonders whether this is a case of the emperor's new clothes, where the pretension is believed by the customers. Really awful. Your mileage may vary. read more

Great food, service and prices. Super fresh ingredients to everything we ordered. Even cocktails were yummy.

Never disappoints, always great service and food. Literally sharing a meal makes for a memorable experience. Thanks

I've been here several times, I've brought out of town friends here because the ambiance is delightful. I really want to like this place, great ambience, friendly service, beautiful food presentation. But the downfall? The food is just mediocre. I've been here a handful of times and the food was always just 'bla.' The food is expensive because you're paying for that ambiance, not much more. There are several other places in Lawrence with a less delightful ambiance, but much better food for a fraction of the price. read more

My wife and ate here on a Thursday evening. We had no reservation but thankfully they had room for us at the bar. It's a really neat place that is warm and inviting. Small and cozy so I can see why reservations would be a great idea! The waitress was super friendly and on top of her game. The bartender said it was his first night back after a two year hiatus but you'd never know it. He made a custom drink for my wife and was all around a great person to converse with. The food was incredible!! The Mezze appetizer, which is similar to a charcuterie board, was very well portioned and delicious. My wife had the vegetable shawarma and was a little bit put off by the presentation of her meal, which I'd agree looked like a pile of mush, but it tasted out of this world. I had the paella and once again it was so good. It was full of flavor and you could tell everything we ate was fresh. We will definitely go back. read more

We enjoyed eating here tonight! We both had the lamb with salad, greens, feta, cheese, olives, etc. I ordered a sober mule cocktail and a beautiful copper mug. Would highly recommend this restaurant. It was somewhat crowded dining room, no room so we ate outside in a beautiful setting the only critique I could add is for outdoor music the people at the table next to us we're having many rounds of drinks, loud conversation. Our servers were very helpful and even brought my guide dog Giorgio a bowl of cold water. read more

Loved the food! Loved the service! We were 6 and an infant. We started with the Mezze plate to start. yum! Then had the chicken schwarma, paella, and a beautiful salad. The patio was lovely. And they had gluten-free house made crackers were awesome! read more

What a refreshing twist on dining that has been built here. Everything from the unique location to the ever changing menu with top notch drink options makes this a spot that will be on my list when we decide to splurge a bit. For starters, if you're looking for a unique venue, this is most definitely unlike any other in the city. Housed in an 1800s stone building built as a stable around the time of Quantrill's Raid--give or take on the time--its been converted into a lovely event space with a small bar in one corner, the kitchen tucked away on the south end, plenty of space, no overcrowding on the night we visited, and it was packed. Expect ancient stone walls, concrete floor. The menu varies, tends to favor middle eastern but dips into other influences. I'm really interested in defining one thing: is the food and service good? It is, and some. We started off with three appetizers for party of four, pretty ambitious we found due to portion sizes, but no complaints. Jerusalem hummus, artichoke hearts and Brussels sprouts. Love that the chef is not afraid to make vegetables the star here, though it is by no means a vegan/vegetarian experience, just plenty of options. The cocktails and wines were first-rate, in particular, offering a Marlborough region New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is a winner on the menu. The inclusion of several reds I don't often see also perked my interest. Another time. The entrees were also top-rate and thanks to the way the meal was managed, we paid less attention to photographing and social media and more on each other. Isn't that the way it's supposed to be? All in all, first-rate, definitely on our return plans. Only minor issue, likely due to inexperience on the part of our server or the busy evening, drink glasses and empty small plates lingered to the end, and not just on our table. I'd like to see that improve and possibly it will with time. There's a really good thing going on here with the menu, I'm pulling for them. Highly recommended. read more

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Quite sensational food, and service! I believe our waiters name was Kye (not positive). Either way. This service was very accommodating. The food. Was. Exquisite. As well. Thank you. read more

Words cannot express how much I appreciate this place. Truly original, delicious, healthy dishes, lots of rotation of a dynamic menu. Already a Lawrence legend. read more

We had such a great time here. I have been wanting to go for a long time. I thought I had it built up in my head to much and that I would be disappointed. Nope. We made last minute late reservations on open table. (Thank Goodness we did) Had a small wait while the table was cleared. We ordered drinks. They had an amazing small selection for multiple spirits. Gin, tequila, vodka... to top of with beer and wine. We had grapefruit Gin fizz, which was perfect! I love when it's not sweet. It was fresh. I guess I never had Mediterranean food... just Greek and not they are not the same! Greek has cheese . I was putting them in the same category. Appetizers: mushroom something or other, hummus with chorizo, fried artichoke hearts on top of pickled jalapeños and carrots.(my favorite) they brought chopped up veggies for us and bread for the other people with us. Everything has a spice to it. But not a oh m g this is to spicy to eat. For dinner I had this steak served over a mushed fried potato topped with this jalapeños... chutney? Sauce? Jam? I'm still thinking about this dish. I want seconds! So good. Husband had the pork shoulder. Meat tasted a bit dry and served with a fennel salad, no dressing. But he loved it. Don't remember what the others got, chicken dishes. They both loved what they got. They are only open three days a week. Food is fresh. It's all real. And for the most part gluten free. It's very easy to see what is and isn't gluten free. We didn't have desert. read more

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I feel terrible that I did not even know this restaurant existed until last week. A friend suggested we dine here and I had no clue. At first I thought it was one of those trendy here-today-gone-tomorrow type restaurants. Imagine my surprise when I discovered it had been here for a few years. I am really behind the times! At any rate, I am glad I discovered this hidden gem. This place is not on the beaten path. It is located on a neighborhood street and tucked away into an area you would never think to look. The restaurant looks like it was once an old farmhouse which gives it a very quaint look and feel. There is definitely nothing modern about the decor. I was actually able to access this place through a small ally because of road construction. This is not a spacious venue, either. Old houses were smaller in size. There were three of us dining at a made-for-two table but it worked. The chairs were the type you see in an office or in a gymnasium for a community gathering and they did not slide well. No bother, just noticeable. I would suggest they invest in some chairs to match the decor. The food is very good. The menu is not very varied and there are only a few select items from which to choose. I enjoy that a lot more than having an extensive menu. Something about a long menu screams desperation and "not fresh". They offer food with interesting combinations, pairing spices and herbs in a unique way. I had the chicken shawarma and I customized it to make it not spicy. It was perfect! We also had the appetizer plate and it was delicious. There were a wide selection of foods on the sampler appetizer. It was delicious. Perfect start to a great meal. The service was great and our server was friendly. Food and venue both fabulous. Parking can be hit or miss because of the location but I promise once you find this restaurant, you will have a very memorable dining experience. read more

I've had some amazing dishes and drinks out of this place. The atmosphere and staff are always very inviting! Great food! I highly recommend this place!!!! read more

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I was excited to try this place but was sorely disappointed. We had the paella, brussels sprouts, and the fried artichoke hearts. The rice on the paella was severely undercooked and its chicken was dry and overcooked. I like extra salty food, but the brussels sprouts were unfortunately far beyond reasonably salted. We had to stop eating them until we could get any other food to eat them with. The table was also sticky over the whole surface. I love mediterranean food but this wasn't my favorite, especially for the price. The service was fine. No qualms with the service. read more

Great food and service. Small bites to share and hummus was good. Nice choice of selection on the menu

Five stars, A+, chef's kiss, whatever cliche accolades you need. This is a small, unassuming place a couple blocks away from the busy energy of Massachusetts Street. Not a lot of seats but that makes for great intimate atmosphere. Service was fantastic and the instant you walk in you can smell how great the food is going to be. We got the Fried Chicken Hummus and Roasted Olive appetizers and they were absolutely incredible, the kind of food that you like at first bite but realize five minutes later is incredibly complex and nuanced. Also got one of their cocktails called Cinnamon Greyhound and it was amazing. Not only was each dish perfect, they went together so well, even the drink. All of the flavor profiles complimented each other. Absolutely will come here again. read more