Ecerytime I come to school from my classes I get off around 12 and I come straight here and…read moreeverytime its so good, when I finish my bachelor's degree ill be very sad because I won't be able to eat here anymore because the prices are so good and they fill you up with good food.

Although the food was good? The restaurant was not clean to my liking. The falafel was great and…read morethe tzatziki was a nice added touch.

What a charming spot!! Walking into this place feels like stepping right into the Mediterranean --…read morethe decor is absolutely on point. I ordered the rice platter with falafel, and wow, flavor explosion! The tzatziki tasted homemade (because it probably is) and was super creamy and delicious. Now, let's talk about the tiny plot twist -- they charge $0.75 each for olives and feta. Not a dealbreaker, but for that price I was hoping for more than five lonely olive slices and a baby spoonful of feta. Still, everything else totally made up for it -- the food came out fast, fresh, and full of flavor. I'll definitely be back!

This was a great spot! The inside space had a great vibe and energy; on brand decor, bright…read morelighting, neon signs. The staff were young and friendly. The seating space indoors was small but there was substantial patio seating available if the day was sunnier! We ordered two ginger lemonade which were fresh and delicious. Started with an appetizer of pita and red pepper hummus which was average. For mains, we did a falafel burger and a moroccan chicken skewer which were AMAZING. I mean, like flavors that made me so happy. The chicken skewers had a strong seasoning and were accompanied by a sauce that created a dynamic flavor pairing. Finished with baklava that was average; had a good flavor but it was a bit dry. Will be back!

So freaking good!!! I don't regularly eat Mediterranean to know how accurate it is to the style,…read morebut it was a delicious balance of spices and flavor. The staff was very nice, food came quickly and prices reasonable. The only negative was that the space is small and noisy so not good for a conversation.

I love this restaurant! great food, great service, great sunny atmosphere! I will definitely be…read moregoing back! very friendly server too!

Despite being one of the few halal restaurants in the area, we won't be returning. We'd honestly…read morerather settle for a vegetarian meal elsewhere. The hummus was grainy and overly sour--I've had better from the grocery store. The kebabs were extremely dry, lacked flavor, and were only edible after drowning them in sauce. The side salad was soggy, and even the olives tasted like the inexpensive canned variety. Overall, the meal was disappointing, especially considering how hard it is to find good halal options nearby.

"Do I order here or sit down..." roughly what I asked as well as the next guy who came in while we…read morewere eating. Whoever is at the front desk should proactively greet each person and ask "dining in or to go?" Instead the lady waited for me and the next person to takk with her first. Then she asked if we knew what we wanted. If they fix this, your answer should be "to go". While the ambiance is lovely, the fact they make you buy bottles of drinks instead of having cups of water or other drinks available really decreases the value of sitting in and cheapens the experience. The restaurant ambiance is also marred by all the items for sale like a local market. Perhaps it makes it feel more genuine, but definitely makes it feel less fine dining. That and the music gets interrupted by what is likely alarms or timers on the phone playing music. Perhaps it shouldn't be thought of as fine dining, and more of a foreign family diner. The service was nearly non-existent. As mentioned before you had to proactively ask how things worked, there were no refills as it's just bottles ... and the bottles just sit in a fridge. Outside of that she sat at the front desk on her phone, though she did ask how everything was... once... after we got it. She also thanked us for coming when we left. It took about 10 minutes to get food... not bad since the food seemed fresh. That said the food was good enough. I've had better chicken shawarmas, but nothing tasted bad. It's slightly above average experience hence the rating. I wouldn't go so far as to say you must try this place, but I wouldn't say don't come here either. I hope they improve the experience over time. This review is meant as constructive criticism.

4.8* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 4*…read more Service: 5* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $50 05/15/2026 My wife is fond of her Lebanese heritage, so when we saw Open Sesame on the Des Moines Register's Must Go List in East Village last month, we knew we needed to check it out. Last night was our opportunity and boy was it ever a memorable experience! Their website speaks of it being a colorful decor - and that is true both inside and out (see pictures)! We were warmly greeted and promptly seated - and asked if he could take our picture under the billowing, colorful ceiling (see picture). We started with a a round of drinks - my wife ordered the Ishtar's Revenge (see picture) and I went with the Yazmina (see picture). All of the cocktails are quite unique and we enjoyed both of these. As we started talking with our server, MJ - he looked familiar and his story sounded familiar. We asked and he confirmed that he used to own Gazali's in Clive, IA - a restaurant closer to our home that we enjoyed several times. MJ recommended the the Vegetarian Sampler Plate (see picture) for an appetizer and we loved it - offering the opportunity to sample several different Lebanese menu items on one plate. For our main courses, my wife ordered the Shawarma Chicken Pita Wrap (see picture) and I opted for the Combo Rice Plate (see picture), done spicy per MJ's suggestion. As we always do, we shared tastes of each of our dishes and loved them both! Lastly, the Jalab (rose and date infused water - see picture) caught my eye - so I ordered one of those to enjoy with my meal. Again, it is highly recommended! What visit to a Lebanese restaurant would be complete without Baklava (see picture), which MJ recommended that we enjoy with Turkish Coffees (see picture and video of pouring). We even got an education on how best to each the Baklava - pick it up with your fingers, take a bite, then keep that bite in your mouth while you take a sip of the Turkish Coffee - then enjoy! While it is hard not to enjoy Bakalava, it was even better when paired with the Turkish Coffee. If you found this review helpful, please Share, Follow & Like.

MJ and his family are so awesome and kind! I stopped in to try a refreshing drink on my walk in my…read morefirst time ever in Iowa on my walk to the beautiful golden capital and what a warm welcome it was. I met his whole family and he introduced me to all the customers. It was so fun and familial and inviting. Not to mention the decor inside is gorgeous! I love supporting local and trying new things. Definitely give this place a visit if you want good vibes, good energy, and delicious food made with love for real.

I drove almost an hour to have my shawarmas here but when i reached they were out of halal chicken,…read moreso I would recommend calling them first and checking with them if they have the chicken available. Got the lamb shawarma and it was really good but was a little bit disappointed because I didn't get the chicken.

We had been big fans of the food truck, we used to follow it around whenever possible. We were very…read moresad when it closed down. We saw that this had opened awhile ago, but have not had the opportunity to go up and give it a try. It was well worth the wait. We got both the chicken and the steak shawarma and gave each other half. The meat is rich with an amazingly deep flavor for something so simple. Add the bite of the pickles and both of these are superb sandwiches. The food truck had different sauces for each sandwich, that has changed. Just the one sauce now, but it is a lovely yogurt based bit of tastiness. We also got a side of falafel. Falafel is always hit and miss for me. This was a definite hit. Once again a wonderfully complex taste from something so simple. The wrap had a nice bit of crunch to it after being on the grill. This is not as long and involved as a lot of my reviews, but it doesn't need to be. It's a very small, simple menu, but oh my it is great. We will get back up there when we can, we hope that they will open a shop in Des Moines.

Such a great place! The food, the staff, the service, the atmosphere love it. If you haven't been…read moreyet you need to go.

4.8* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 4*…read more Service: 5* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $20 04/27/2026 Tonight's opportunity to enjoy another stop at Tito's came at the end of my journey updating several locations for happyhourdesmoiones.com. It was getting to be dinner time, so asked my wife to meet me here for my last stop. Every time we've stopped here, we have been impressed with the quality of the food and tonight was no different. I had already enjoyed some Happy Hour specials at another venue, but my wife hadn't yet eaten dinner. She ordered the Gyro & Fries (see picture) and as you might guess, I did try a couple of bites. We both thought it was a very good gyro and were delighted to see that it is the daily special each day from 11-2, so we will definitely be coming back for lunch some day. If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.

Amazing food! Love the spice and flavors! And the floppy bread. Got the sampler platter thingy! So…read moregood!!

Food was good. I did a lamb and beef bowl and it was great. The only thing is I wish the meal was a…read morelot warmer.

A wonderful taste of Greece right here in downtown Des Moines. Pictures of mom back in Greece on…read morethe wall, and her recipes used, lend a real feel of authenticity. We were welcomed warmly and seated immediately. Started with a few appetizers, which were over the top. Enjoyed the Gyro platter and some moussaka all very good flavor. A nice selection of beer and some wines to accompany just about any dish. Complementary salad and soup with almost every entrée mix for a very filling meal. Open most days from 11 AM to 9 PM. Check it out when you're in the area.

Always good! Love the flaming cheese and overall just good food, amazing salad , was seated quickly…read moreand great ready location

Garbanzo is fantastic! I was in Iowa for work and was looking for a quick but healthy lunch option…read morewhen I stumbled upon Garbanzo. Their food is fantastic, service is quick, and it tastes great! It's fast casual "build your own bowl" style place, very similar to Chipotle, just with Mediterranean options. Portion sizes here are great and all of the ingredients seemed very fresh. This is going to be my "go to" stop for the next couple of days for lunch!

3.5 I had been wanting to try this place for awhile and…read moreafter I got some coupons in the mail, I made it happen. I ordered a harissa chicken gyro with lettuce, cucumber/tomato, and tzatziki. My husband got the basic lamb gyro. Both were very tasty and made well, but the pita bread just fell apart and made it very messy to eat. All the options are customizable and similar to a "chipotle" ordering where you pick your option, protein, veggies, and sauce. The staff were friendly and efficient even after telling us they were short staffed. Their soda machine had some fun choices to choose from. We enjoyed the strawberry and cream soda. Pricing seemed medium-high at $11 for just the gyro and Ala carte add ons for drinks and sides. The interior had plenty of booths, tables, and patio seating. The bathrooms were ok, could've been cleaner. Overall, I'd come back but just not my first choice.