Lafa Mediterranean by Zeina is like the Cava of Mediterranean food, and I mean that as a full…read morecompliment. It's a build-your-own, line-style setup, and when we arrived there was a good line of people--which is usually a good sign. My friend JD picked the place, so I let him go first and watched how it worked. I ended up getting a bowl with falafel and just loaded it up. I chose salad instead of a full bed of rice, with just a little rice added. By the time we were done building it, my bowl was so full I could barely close the lid and that's exactly how I like it. The food was fresh, healthy, and flavorful. The staff were very friendly and patient while we made our choices. If I lived in this area, this would absolutely be one of my go-to spots for a regular meal: healthy, fresh, nice atmosphere, and good people behind the counter. Easy 5 stars for Lafa

Lafa Mediterranean by Zeina's on Commercial Drive in New Hartford continues to impress with its…read morefresh, wholesome Mediterranean flavors and inviting atmosphere. The restaurant is built around a build-your-own bowl or pita concept, offering vibrant ingredients, aromatic spices, and perfectly balanced textures in every bite. I ordered the chicken shawarma bowl with rice, greens, and plenty of toppings each element tasted clean and homemade. The chicken was tender with that smoky-charred edge you want in shawarma, complemented by crispy chickpeas, tangy pickled turnips, and creamy hummus. What really adds to Lafa's appeal is the modern, comfortable setting and outdoor seating area, perfect for enjoying your meal in the fresh air on a sunny day. The vibe is relaxed yet polished, making it just as great for a quick lunch as a laid back dinner with friends. The staff are friendly and efficient, keeping the service quick without ever feeling rushed. Portions are very generous for the price, and the freshness is undeniable you leave full but never weighed down. Their apple cider green tea is refreshing and pairs perfectly with the bold spices of the food. Between the clean ingredients, generous bowls, and the option to dine outside, Lafa has the balance of health, flavor, and atmosphere perfectly figured out. It's one of those places that keeps you coming back not just for the food, but for the overall good energy.

Very old school place with a vintage style dining experience. Red table clothes and the traditional…read moreglass salad plates and decor on the walls really reminded me of great seafood restaurants in the 90s. This place is huge and they have a lot of food to choose from. The specials were all really good, I got a seasonal special perfect for the late summer/ early fall time of year. It was a shrimp risotto with corn and pumpkin seeds. I wasn't sure how it would go together when I ordered it but I trusted the chef and I wasn't disappointed! Our waitress was super nice as well and accommodating the whole night. Definitely recommend if your vacationing in Clayton or the thousand islands region!

This is always an excellent place to done. Chef Mike carefully designs the food menu every year,…read morebased on his European travels. The Staff are always courteous & hospitable. The Clipper Inn is also involved annually in various Charities or Fundraisers. People come from near & far to just experience a night at the Clipper Restaurant & the Clipper Inn.

I ordered food to go on 2/14/24... So nice to have someone cook my meal on valentines day! The…read morecombo grill platter is a 10/10! All three meats were tender and tasty; rice was moist, sauces were phenomenal. Baba ghanoush was ok... Tasty but the pieces of eggplant were too big. The baklava...OMG! So delicious and moist. Staff were friendly and helpful, and my order was ready quickly (10 minutes) given the orders he was already filling from phone and online customers. This is a great place, so happy to have this new location close to home!

Owner Malik Aboshreakh and his business partner Samir Almlhim own and operate several other…read moreMediterranean restaurants in the area, including Kabab House in Liverpool and another Mediterranean Combo location up on SU Hill. The wife and I love Mediterranean food and we try every place that opens. We recently had a game night with some friends who were also craving Mediterranean, and being in Liverpool themselves, we decided to give Combo a try. I placed our order about 2 hours in advance online. I ordered a combo grill platter - chicken shawerma, beef shawerma, shish tawook, served with salad and rice along with a side of stuffed grape leaves, my wife chose the shish tawook bowl - chicken cubes, rice, French fries, hummus, salad, white sauce, medi-sauce and our friends got a side of baba ganoush, falafel, the half BBQ chicken platter -BBQ chicken glazed with special Medi-marinated sauce served over rice with salad and garlic sauce, and crispy spiced pita bread, and a chicken shawerna bowl. We set our order for pick up at 5:18 PM and were there right on the dot. There were several other customers inside, and our food was not ready. The person behind the counter was extremely apologetic, explaining that they had no customers at one point and then several walk in orders all at the same time. Told him no big deal, wasn't in a rush. He was an extremely friendly guy as well. He made it quickly, marked everything so we knew what everything was, and was sure to give us napkins, disposable silverware, and extra sauces. Our food came to $89 and we also got a free soda for ordering over $50. I also really liked that they allowed you to order something like stuffed grape leaves - which nobody else wanted - in whatever quantity you wanted, instead of having to order a huge quantity of them. Got it to our friends house and we all tore in and were very happy. My one friend who got the BBQ Chicken combo was a little disappointed - he said while it had good flavor, the chicken was a little dry, and it wasn't a sauce as he was expecting, so there weren't any condiments to give it some more moisture. On the other hand, the other 3 of us absolutely loved everything. Everything was extremely flavorful, the sauces were amazing, and it's some of the best falafel we've had in town. My grape leaves were delicious with a great balsamic sauce. Our friend thought she had accidentally received a side of hummus instead of her baba ganoush, as it looked pretty much exactly like the hummus with her combo, but upon tasting it, it was the correct item and we were all very happy with it. We'll definitely be back, and Combo shot to the top of our current favorite Mediterranean in the city.

Very quick friendly service, apple desert very tasty simple crisp puff pastry with warm Apple…read morefilling a bit of whipped cream dusted with cinnamon and lovely treat!

I was on a short road trip to Syracuse New York, and thought I'd try out a few places recommended…read morefrom Guy Fieri's DDD series, and was really looking forward to it, given the yelp reviews. The place was pretty small and unassuming from the outward appearance. Upon coming in, there are limited seats, but everything was neat and clean. I could smell some enticing aromas from the kitchen. Not sure if they are short staffed, but it took a while for someone to come to the counter to take our order. I really was looking forward to having the lamb gyro, so that was what I ordered, as well as ordering a baklava for dessert. The food took a while to come out, but I'm fine waiting for something great to eat. They did have a number of takeout orders that were served while we waited, maybe 3 of them. Once the food came out, the lamb was pretty nice, and there was a reasonable portion of meat in the gyro, as well as some tomato, lettuce, and onion on a nice pita bread. But the tzatziki was very disappointing, it was very thin, and didn't have much flavor. That sort of killed the whole gyro. The baklava was very tasty, and had nice pistachio crumbles on it, but the honey was a bit too much, giving it a very soggy bottom. Flavor was good though, and I don't mind a little messy dessert. All in all, I was a little disappointed with the meal. I tend to be a little generous in my reviews, so I gave it three stars, as I felt I couldn't rate it as a 2, but I couldn't quite give a four star rating. I'd give it another try, but maybe not go for a gyro.

Very fresh and delicious!…read more Very nice people! Cute atmosphere as Iris an old train car! They have beer and wine!

SO GOOD!!!! We stopped in here while driving across the country. We wanted something healthy,…read morefresh, and delicious. We 100% hit the jackpot with Mariam's. We got the chicken kabob, a hummus plate, and the chicken shawarma wrap. If we lived nearby, we would go all the time. The Staff were so nice, and the portions were huge. A must visit!

The best Shawarma place by far. I've never gotten better food and service anywhere else!! The place…read moreis always clean and has gotten nicer decor the longer they have been in the area. Absolutely recommend 10/10 food.

An absolutely wonderful restaurant hidden in a shopping plaza…read more The food is exquisite, and the owners make you feel at home. Taste the best of the best in Middle Eastern cuisine, and do not be fooled by the Shawarma in the restaurant's name as there are many choices to enjoy! 10 out o

This is a SPECIAL and delicious place. Set aside any doubts and get your culinary curiosity going…read moreand GO! I am a serious Yelper. I believe my reviews are honest. I love to help folk who want to avoid bad restaurants and especially to have excellent culinary experiences. I am grateful for others who lead me to memorable dining spots. This is one of them. One Arabian Night is tucked away in a scrappy part of Utica, NY. It's a Yemeni place so authentic at one point the chef came out during a call to prayer, unrolled a little rug and prayed. It's a beautiful thing. People being authentic and showing devotion. These guys are also devoted to flavor, and very generous portions at very good, honest prices. I got the succulent mixed lamb, which had chopped veggies and little pieces of roast potatoes. The dish came with a HUGE "sheet" of freshly baked flat bread with sesame seeds (as big as a pizza) WHO DOES THAT?! Side dishes were a fresh chopped salad of tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion and lettuce with lemon juice and parsley, a bowl of very tasty lamb broth and a spicy chutney. I was blown away. When I was there it was catering only to Arabic families and men amiably chatting and eating with their hands. I was taught by my mom to respect other cultures and do as they do: so I observed the locals a little and dug in -ripping bread off and using it to grab finger fulls of food. It was wonderful. They also have an urn of self-serve sweet spiced tea to help make this a unique and unmissable dining experience in Utica. Go! And please leave your xenophobia behind. This ancient civilization (one of the world's OLDEST) has something to teach the most hardened burger-chomping American.

I've only ever ordered delivery but it's always delish! I'll make sure to dine in soon.read more

Went in for dinner after a MEGA event in town for Geocache. We were very pleasantly surprised,…read moreespecially with the only other review being a one star. I ordered a gyro sandwich with onion rings and a glass of wine. Everything was tasty, it came out quickly, and we were entertained by a live band while we waited! Lynn was our host and server. She was kind and efficient. They were extremely busy with the Geocache crowd but they were handling it very well. With the live music - clean atmosphere - and dim lighting, it was a lovely place to enjoy our meal and wind down from a long day of exploring this lovely city.

The place looks very nice. The food, once you get it, is okay. The service is terrible. Slow is…read morean understatement. It took an hour and 50 minutes from when we sat down to when we finally finished our light lunch. I won't return.

Never had a bad meal here. Consistently fresh product and is on time when ordered out or dining in…read more Prices are reasonable and you receive PLENTY of good. The "louies cart classics" are really good!!! Shaved lamb is muy delicioso.

Great food, friendly atmosphere and accommodating!! Excellent rice pudding!! Go there every time…read moreI'm in Utica!