Our first visit to Chef Abdul was an absolute winner! My husband and I stopped in for lunch, and we…read morewere so impressed. It's a true hole-in-the-wall spot with just enough seating for about 10-15 people, but don't let the size fool you--it's clearly a local favorite because it was busy throughout lunch. We ordered the tabbouleh, lentil soup, mixed shawarma plate, and a falafel wrap, and every single dish was fresh, flavorful, and absolutely delicious. The owners were incredibly kind and welcoming, and they even treated us to a sample of their baklava. It was so mouthwatering that I had to get some to go! If you're looking for authentic, flavorful food and warm hospitality, this is the place. We highly recommend Chef Abdul and will definitely be back!

5 stars for Chef Abdul Mediterranean Restaurant - a very nice family owned small business in St…read more Charles. We tried them for the first time today and it was amazing. The waitress was very friendly, and provided us complimentary pita bread and pita chips and a sample of orange/pomegranate juice. The entrees were excellent, the beef kebab was amazing, very tender and fresh, as was the chicken shawarma. The portions are also massive and can easily be split into 2 meals if you wanted to. As an FYI, the dine in area is not very big so if you come during prime lunch time you may not be able to dine in. Overall if you want Mediterranean, I highly recommend Chef Abdul - a great chef and restaurant!

Been here several times. Great food, lively atmosphere, and so on…read more Today was our first carry-out. We were worried but not after we got home with our food. It was just as good as in the restaurant. We ordered for 4 people. The food was spot on. Tomahawk, 2 Vodka pastas, and the wagyu beef stroganoff. With two brussels sprouts sides, the cheese cake and banana pie. The deserts are to die for! I am amazed this carry-out was just as good as in the restaurant. Well packaged. Still fresh when we got home and as always here, tasty. Well done!

Baby, we started off on the WRONG foot. I came here with my family of eight, which I understand can…read morebe a little complicated for a restaurant, but honey, I made this reservation THREE WEEKS in advance. Three. Weeks. So I thought we were all set. Our reservation was for 6:00, and we arrived at 5:54. We were told to wait until six, which was perfectly fine. Six o'clock rolls around and we're told they're still cleaning the table. Okay, we wait. Then we wait. And wait. Thirty minutes later, we find out the people who had the table STILL hadn't even left. Baby...what exactly were we reserving three weeks ago, a future dream? They offered us a complimentary appetizer, which I appreciate in theory, but when you've got a party of eight waiting 40 minutes past their reservation time, I'm not really looking for the cheapest appetizer on the menu. I'm looking for the table I reserved. Eventually, we were seated, and thank GOD for our server Alexis B, because they completely turned the experience around. Funny, knowledgeable, incredibly kind, and genuinely one of the best servers I've ever had. If I could give them five stars separately, I would. They made us feel welcome and somehow kept the whole table laughing after that rocky start. The food had some hits and misses. The crab cake was a little too spicy for my taste, although the rest of the table enjoyed it. The mini sliders, however? DELICIOUS. That buttery, well seasoned bun was doing exactly what it needed to do. Then came my Entourage burger, and baby...THAT burger understood the assignment. It was absolutely packed with flavor. So good that I practically inhaled it. My server even asked if I wanted another one because apparently I ate it fast enough to qualify for a second round. Unfortunately, the management situation left a lot to be desired. After the issues getting our table, the managers seemed to keep watching our group throughout the night. If you're going to stare, baby, at least commit to the performance! It made an already awkward situation feel even more uncomfortable. Honestly, my server Alexis B, was the ONLY reason this experience ended on a positive note. They were so charming and personable that by the end, they felt more like a friend than a server. I'm genuinely going to miss them. The food was good, and that burger was fantastic, but a three-week reservation should not turn into a 40 minute wait with a party of eight standing around wondering when they're going to eat. So unfortunately, I'm leaving with two stars. The food gave me reasons to come back, but the reservation experience and management gave me reasons to stay home. And to my server: you were the star of the night. Protect this person at all costs.

I needed this! I didn't realize how much I needed a halal breakfast place until I took my first…read morebite of my skillet with flavorful halal ground beef in it. It was delicious! Our server was amazing. The coffee was delicious. I didn't feel rushed at all. The place is bright yellow and just makes you feel happy. Our server surprised us with a birthday sundae too for my friend. I can't wait to come back with my family! They have halal certificates on the wall but is not HMS certified yet.

Wonderful service from experienced staff. Clean bright environment and good food. Nice find. You'll…read morebe greeted and served like family by Tina!

Ordered takeout while at the restaurant. They have a few tables to sit at if you want to dine in…read more Once the food was ready, the guy handed it to me and I confirmed if everything was in one bag. The guy confirmed everything was there. I got home and 4 of my items were missing. I went back and the min I entered the restaurant, the same guy goes "oh you forgot your order". Umm... no! You didn't give it to me. In addition to the items missing, the items we did receive, weren't made properly. The burgers were dry, they were missing sauce and another was missing bacon. They did nothing to compensate me for my troubles and when I asked, the guy said "next time". Why would I go back the next time when you made no effort to take care of me now. I will not recommend this based on my experience.

The beef shawarma, fries, and rice was delicious. They also had these amazing dessert grapes that I…read morehave never had anywhere else. Place was nice and clean. Overall, amazing!!

There is a parking lot in the back of the building. So was easy to find parking…read more Came on a rainy night, but the patio looks really nice with string lights hanging. We had made reservations online ahead of time. I had shared the grilled peach and burrata salad with a friend. It was large enough to share with 3-4 friends. I like how they used Arugala and in every bite had a crunch. Candied walnuts and crispy prosciutto had that sweet and savory combination. The entrees came with a choice of soup or salad and I choose to upgrade to a French onion soup. Was very cheesy with lots of onions. I actually wanted more of the bread that was in it. Ate the whole thing. They did give us a basket of bread rolls and whipped butter. For my entree I got the Herb Rigatoni and added seared filet tips. This is a steakhouse so had to try the filet tips. Otherwise there was the option to add anchovy, chicken, salmon, shrimp, ahi tuna, and center cut filet (same add on for the salad). The filet tips were cooked perfectly with some pink inside. Very tender and juicy. I cut them into smaller pieces so each bite of pasta had some of the filet. The dish comes with a ball of burrata and if you cut it up and stir it around in the pasta, the burrata will easily melt and makes the pasta very creamy. Pretty Large portion and had took half of it home. We had a great friendly waitress. We were a large group and gratuity was added on the bill. They were able to split the check base on how we wanted it to be split by individual person and 2-3 on the same check.

We came to celebrate after regionals with a group of nine at 7:15pm, and this steakhouse was a…read morefantastic choice. Even though they have a formal dress code, they were so accommodating and welcomed us right in despite us still wearing our horse clothes. Finding safe gluten-free options for a large group can be tricky, but they have a dedicated GF menu that makes ordering effortless. My friends and I shared the peach burrata salad to start, which was absolutely delicious, and I enjoyed a glass of red sangria that was confirmed gluten-free. For my main dish, I had the chicken vesuvio--which comes with garlic mashed potatoes for the gluten-free version--along with a starter of tomato bisque that was also confirmed gluten-free. Everything was so flavorful and tasty. The atmosphere is super cute, and a large parking lot in the back makes parking easy. Our server was fantastic, and the support staff was on top of keeping our water glasses constantly full. Just keep in mind for larger parties that an automatic 20% gratuity is added for groups of six or more. We were too full to try dessert this time, but we will definitely be back!

Excessive citric acid in hummus and baba ganoush. Cucumber salad wilt and soggy, no flavor…read more Falafel freezer flavor. Wish I liked it. I drove to Sahara in Rockford after throwing this veggie platter away. :(

I am happy to report that this business has reopened. The sign now reads "Shawarma Kabob Falafel…read moreHummus." Same management, same great food. They still sell bananas and local Middle Eastern cookies from Chicago bakeries for desesrt. The menu might have changed slightly, but fans of Pita X-Press will probably find their favorites. We ordered a vegetarian platter, which had baba ghanouj, hummus, two kinds of cucumber salad, four falafels, and a generous, freshly warmed pita. It was enough food for a light lunch for two. We enjoyed watching the cars pass under the Belvidere Oasis as we ate our food. So glad that this business is back.

I would have loved to try the food because I was in the area and the website said it was open at 10…read moream...the lie detector test determined that was a lie!!! lol I went to Starbucks and came back 15 min later and they still weren't open. Oh well maybe next year when I'm in the area again...very disappointing.

The Cajun ranch fries.... Oh my goodness. I am absolutely…read moreobsessed now. I will try other things eventually. Super friendly workers and restaurant looked clean and inviting.

Just happened to be in the area and decided to try this place since we had never been before…read more Walked into a delicious aroma, and knew right away we had made the right choice. I chose the Chicken Koobideh which was so juicy, I was shocked! I've had good Koobideh, but never this juicy and tender! Strong flavor, and hint of saffron, a true delight. I also ordered the Ghormeh Sabji - which is a soya (dill) based green stew with meat and beans, and when it first comes to the table, you're thinking this looks and smells like henna paste, but the taste is so beautifully complex - savory, bitter, buttery, and pure deliciousness in every bite!!!!! A must try for something different. Husband ordered the lamb shank, and it was tender and fall off the bone! The meat was soft and unctuous. It was served with this roasted garlic bulb that was roasted to perfection, taking the harshness of the garlic away and replacing it with a soft, buttery, jammy garlicky goodness that is to DIE for!!!! Lastly, my mom got the lamb and beef Koobideh and said it was soft and juicy as well. After food, we had their tea and it is absolute perfection. I take mine sweetened, but even unsweetened my mother found it perfect! Lastly, don't sleep on the DOOGH! That's that fermented yogurt drink that is tart, salty, and super refreshing! I almost didn't even wanna tell yall about it, but I reminded myself that gatekeeping is a cardinal sin! And finally, the ambiance and the service is AMAZING. So gracious, so soft spoken, so generous and just kind to boot. The food is delicious but I'd come back just to see these smiling faces!!!

3 Chefs Persian Cuisine was a pretty mixed experience for us…read more The restaurant itself is more fast-casual than traditional sit-down Persian dining; think somewhere between a Panera and Chipotle in terms of setup and atmosphere. It was clean enough and perfectly fine for a casual meal, but definitely not somewhere I'd go expecting an upscale experience. We ordered the koobideh and shish combo with basmati rice. The meat was decent overall, though not especially tender. The koobideh leaned a little dry, while the shish had better flavor, but neither really stood out compared with some of the better Persian food I've had. The rice was another weak point for me; it wasn't quite as light and fluffy as I like, didn't seem buttered, and definitely could've used more salt. Our food also took about 30 minutes to come out. There was a large group of roughly 10 people ahead of us, so I'm sure that contributed, but it was still a pretty long wait for what feels like a fast-casual concept. Service was another middle-of-the-road part of the experience. The woman at the counter wasn't rude, but she wasn't particularly warm or welcoming either. I was also a little confused by the menu advertising that they can make essentially any Persian dish. I asked about ghormeh sabzi and was told they didn't have it that day, then asked about dill rice after seeing photos of it online and was told they only had white basmati available. One other thing worth noting: our receipt included a 5% transaction service fee, which added a few extra dollars to the bill. Overall, there were no deal-breakers, but there also wasn't much that really wowed me. The food was decent, portions were fair, and I'd come back if I happened to be in the area and was craving Persian food. But as a destination? There are definitely stronger options. Solid 3/5 for me. Not bad, just not particularly memorable.

Coming here for brunch has become a weekend routine. I've tried everything on the menu at this…read morepoint and have enjoyed everything! Reservations aren't required, but recommended, especially for dinner, as slots fill up way in advance.

I really wanted to like Girl & the Goat, but unfortunately the food felt incredibly repetitive. If…read moreyou like sesame seeds, soy sauce, oil, jalapeños, and lots of nuts, you'll probably enjoy it because those ingredients seemed to make an appearance in almost everything we ordered. The same flavors showed up on the steak, the beets, the cornbread, and even the aguachile. There were also so many nuts incorporated throughout the dishes that it became difficult to appreciate the individual ingredients. To be fair, it's not that these flavor combinations were necessarily bad. The problem was that they were used so heavily that they completely overshadowed the actual food. If I order steak, I want to taste the steak. If I order beets, I want to taste the beets. Instead, everything seemed to be competing with the same strong combination of salty, oily, spicy, nutty, and sesame-forward flavors. I can appreciate creativity, but when every dish has such similar toppings and seasonings, the meal starts to feel one-note. Given the reputation of the restaurant, I expected the individual ingredients to shine a lot more.

Went for the first time today. Got the Chicken Parm with the spicy vodka sauce, it was amazing. The…read morevodka sauce and cheese was so flavorful and the chicken was moist and crispy, and bread was crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside. Spice was perfect, just enough heat but not too much. The service was great, the cashier helped me find what sandwich I was looking for, asked if I wanted the lunch special and introduced me to diet RC, which I didn't even know was a thing. Seems like a nice family owned restaurant. I was tempted to eat inside but I opted to eat in my car even though the inside was very clean and had a nice vibe, only critique is seats were a little worn. Edit: Also! I was reading the past reviews and I don't know if they changed their pricing, but i got two sodas, the sandwich and fries and it came out to like $13, which in this economy was not bad at all! 4.5/5 - I will be frequenting this spot weekly for lunch. I want to try the other sandwiches but that vodka parm was so good. We'll see.

This place surprised us! I stopped in on a Saturday afternoon to grab lunch to go for my fiancée…read moreand myself. It was a small place with only a few tables that was empty at 2 p on a Saturday. The gentleman working was patient while I read the menu. We chose the original chicken Cesar and the KO Philly. The chicken Cesar was amazing. The cutlet was cooked so well and the dressing had great flavor!! The KO Philly's meat was so tender and we really enjoyed trying something new with all the flavors of the KO Philly. Didn't give 5 stars because it was a bit expensive for 2 subs (that don't come with anything) & the KO Philly needed more jalapeños to offset the sweet BBQ (the jalapeños were a great touch!)