This is one of my go to places for Mediterranean food - I do both eat in and take out here and have even had it Door Dashed when I am desperate for a fix. This food is delicious. Their hummus is smooth and amazing and I love their salad dressing and have no idea what is in it. They should bottle that and sell it. I usually get chicken kebabs but have also had the pomegranate chicken too. Portions are generous and tasty. You cannot go wrong here. Also - as an event planner - I have catered events from here and the food is always plentiful and delicious - my guests have enjoyed it too. read more

Great local spot for lunch or dinner. Get the mezlah Plate for a ton of food, perfect for sharing. It lets you try all their favorites. read more

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Wow, the quality of the food at this location has really gone downhill. I had the falafel salad today, and the falafels weren't at all crisp on the outside. I used to love their spanakopita but the phyllo wrapping was soggy, not the least bit crispy, nor was it hot. Maybe the cooks are too focused on speed? The waiter was pleasant, but so slow that I had to take my check up to the unattended cash register to pay. One of my formerly favorite go-to lunch spots was a huge disappointment. I hope it was an exception rather than the new normal. read more

Used to love this place for affordable tasty food that was fun and good. They can have your take out order ready in five minutes.. why? Because they microwave it. The prices are astronomical and portions even smaller . Paid $84 for chicken Cilicia (4 pieces) and two orders of pomegranate chicken entrees with no drinks . I'm done. read more

My East Bay Comfort Food On College Ave in the Elmwood. Miss this foodie space I grew up with....Simple fare done perfectly from a family who knows how to feed you! Pomegranate chicken, Lamb kebab dishes, platters, etc... and don't forget the desserts! Datil Amandra read more

The presentation of the food made me question it. My food was Luke warm and looked tampered with upon receiving it. It looked like someone ate out of it read more

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We had a relaxed dinner here on their sidewalk patio on a beautiful summer night. The three of us ordered an appetizer each, and Lebanese beer with zatar baked pita chips. That was a meal in itself, but we were there so long we eventually got around to getting entrees, the chicken were excellent as was the chicken lemon soup. Service was perfect, no rush to get us to order - it was a real nice cafe experience. read more

La Med our family & extended family always love your food and ambience. However recently your attention and special talent for spices and quality has notably dipped. For instance the Salmon Kebab has practically NO marinade flavor and the salmon quality is inconsistent. Meaning sometimes the salmon doesn't taste very fresh. Also a couple times a male server seem annoyed and gave info that contradicted the menu descriptions and looked away seemingly not interested in offering suggestions or added detail to make decisions about ordering dishes on the menu. For example, our friend from out of town was interested in the Salmon kebab, however when asking a question about the dill the server responded: "Don't worry if you don't like dill - you won't even notice the taste." Huh? For the rest of the meal he didn't check in so it was hard to order additional items. Fortunately the other female servers jumped in and true-to-La Med tradition, smiled and offered Thanks read more

My daughter, two minor grandchildren and I had lunch at La Mediterranee in Berkeley today. We were sorely disappointed with the service we received by wait staff. The place was busy but not full. We were seated right in front of the door, and it was bit cold today. There appeared to be at least 4-5 wait staff on duty. After being seated, we sat and waited for about 45 minutes, all the while observing two waitresses taking orders and serving food to other patrons, some of whom were seated after we were. Finally, my daughter literally flagged down one of the waitresses so that we could order our food. After placing our order for food and beverages, another long wait before our beverages came, and then another longer wait before the food arrived. The food was okay, but you could tell that the food had been sitting a while, because it was luke-warm when it arrived at our table. My daughter and I picked this restaurant after reading Yelp reviews which spoke favorably about the food and service. Good service and ambiance were not present for us at this restaurant today. The wait staff did not deserve a tip, but my daughter graciously tipped them anyway. Perhaps our experience was an anomaly, and perhaps for some customers, Not. I'd like to hear from other customers if you've had this same experience. read more

Wonderful food and ambience. We have been huge fans since moving to Oakland in 2005. The art, house wine, Armenian coffee, and chicken cilicia (sp?)..awesome. read more

Friendly service although not the fastest, food has been the same since I first came over 20 years ago. Solid Mediterranean food that isn't specific to any one region. Good sized portions. Falafel was kinda bready and my favorite, the Mediterranean platter was a good appetizer though to share. Cozy seatin and outdoor possible as well. Street parking can be tough. read more

Brought my elderly aunt and uncle here along with my family who were visiting from Arizona . After having a great meal with great service after leaving a generous tip. I decided to take them next door to get ice cream once we walked back to the car we sat outside in their empty outside area , when the manager approached us and demanded us to move if we were not purchasing anything. I told him we had just dined there not more than 10 min ago. He said if we were not purchasing anything now we would have to leave. So I helped my elderly aunt and uncle back to their car. The owner is such a rude despicable person and we will NOT be dining here again. read more

This place used to be great. Used to be is the keyword. The falafel was cold inside. We re-ordered it. It was still cold inside we sent it back. The meatballs were overcooked. The rice was cold. It wasn't very good. The server was more interested in talking to her friend. Definitely passed its prime. read more

Delicious, friendly service, nice outdoor seating, good portions. Chicken Cilicia the best and unique to La Med read more

La Mediterranee - Middle Eastern plate - Mediterranean Near Me - Berkeley, California

Much better now! Went back for a family celebration and really enjoyed ourselves. we will be back.

La Mediterranee catered a reception I organized and I couldn't be happier or more relieved. Both managers were immensely helpful and efficient and withstood several phone calls from me changing items and time of arrival. The food was excellent and quite plentiful--even the small platters were enough for 20. They called ahead to let us know they were on their way, which was important in terms of logistics. There wasn't a single glitch--everything was seamless. Truly outstanding service. They even set up the platters on the table. I plan to use La Med again soon! GF read more

Got to try this place recently and it did not disappoint! I'll start by saying the hummus is DELICIOUS. Seriously some of the best i've had. It was super fresh and creamy and paired perfectly with pita. The falafel wrap was also great. The lavash bread was thin and soft which allowed the falafel to be the star of the dish. The falafel itself was very flavorful and cooked perfectly (not mushy). I didn't love the sauces that came with it (they were a bit too sour for my liking), but I didn't find that my dish needed them. read more

La Mediterranee - Mediterranean Near Me - Berkeley, California

Solid seating, good food, touch pricey, rushed service. I came here for brunch with a few friends recently and it's definitely one of the nicer places you see while driving down College Avenue. If you're not super familiar with middle eastern food like me, I recommend springing for the Middle Eastern Plate: modest price point and comes with multiple items. The soup wasn't too flavorful, but everything else was pretty good. I really enjoyed the hummus in particular. Serving size did feel a little small overall though. As far as service, the staff was nice but they were definitely rushing us halfway through our meals. I know it was lunch hour but still not the greatest experience. Nonetheless, would recommend this place and will likely be back! read more

La Mediterranee - Middle Eastern Plate Lunch - Mediterranean Near Me - Berkeley, California

I have been coming to all of their locations for decades and the quality never diminishes or ceases to amaze me. It's always fresh, creative and delicious. I've had them cater a number of parties and events and they always do a great job, and are most accommodating. I once ordered several platters and the staff graciously carried each out to my car, unexpected and not anticipated I came here for lunch with a friend and it continues to satisfy. For the lunch special I had the Lamb Lule... excellent. Ground lamb meatballs on a tender rice pilaf and I had it with a side salad. Some hummus was included. It was flavorful and delightful. The meal is accompanied by a plentiful basket of pita, fresh and puffy soft. There's ample outdoor seating but arrive early as the lunch crowd grows quickly. Staff is efficient and professional. This place is tops! Always! read more

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Still standing by my old review - I'm always going to support any and all Armenian-owned business but with that said, this isn't a 10/10 establishment. I went here again tonight and ordered the veggie kebab platter, it was good! It's my go-to order, and i love the way they cook the pilaf. The veggies didn't have much flavor though, and would have benefitted from a few more minutes on the grill. We also ordered the vegetarian middle eastern platter which is always a hit. HOWEVER, take a look at the picture for reference, but the "platter" was tiny in comparison to how much green salad was on the plate. I used to order this frequently, and the "side" would be the size of a normal side rather than taking up half of the plate and taking away from more content of the actual platter. This platter only had one single dolma, one single roulade pastry and a little bit of hummus. It felt like this is just what they had leftover so they put it on the plate. Not worth it. The desserts were OK. The mouse tasted a little bit like melted chocolate rather than a creamy mousse-like texture, but it was pretty good. The pistacho best was far too dry and needed much much more rose water. Although the rose water had very little aroma and flavor, and felt more like diluted honey. Maybe that's just because of how little was on the actual plate. Their menu has changed a lot since I've last been here. Their old pomegranate sangria/mimosa is no longer on the menu, and neither is their vegan chocolate cake. Lastly.. Their service has taken a turn for the worse. Our server never checked in on us and we waited 30 minutes between them giving us our check and picking up payment. I had to flag our server down to actually get to pay and leave. I'll still come back here for as long as I live in the Bay, but it's just a shame to see a beloved business make changes for the worse. read more

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This place is always a winner. The pomegranate chicken is something that is beyond belief. Delicious, always wonderful, great service

Stopped by for lunch with a few of my foodie friends for Berkeley Restaurant Week. The Tasting Meze was perfect to sample a few of the restaurants most loved menu items for only $35. I believe the menu says it's for 2 ppl but you may be able to get away with 3 ppl. It's a lot of food! The whole tasting was amazing but if I had to choose a favorite it would be the chicken pomegranate. HELLA GOOD!!! I'm totally coming back! read more

La Mediterranee - Tasting Meza for Berkeley Restaurant Week - Mediterranean Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Love this place! It's my go-to crowd pleaser to bring to any gathering, and is enjoyed by kids and grown ups alike. While I usually order takeout, when I do dine in the restaurant it's cute, cozy with great service. The hummus is my fave. read more

The food is delicious, filling, and so affordable! My favorite part is feeling like everything is fresh and homemade. My favorite is the combo plate because I love to dabble in a bit of everything! I usually get the pomegranate chicken and lamb meatball. You can also choose a side of salad, soup, or potato salad-- I always get the potato salad...it's tangy and so refreshing! Service is fast. Ambiance is old school and hip vibe. I love coming here to get my Mediterranean food fix!! Super yums!!! read more

La Mediterranee - Middle Eastern Plate Lunch - Mediterranean Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Unfortunately, our Mezza Family Meal was described as a meal for "2 or more people." This is all we received and when we called the restaurant they indicated that a family Mezza meal is just for one person (despite the picture and description saying otherwise). read more

La Mediterranee - Here's what we received for the family meza meal - Mediterranean Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Came here for lunch! Got the falafel lunch special with lentil soup. Shared the hummus app with friends. That was the major highlight! Hummus for all! Everything else was solid but nothing amazing. I think the fish kabob my friends got was enjoyed greatly. read more

This is a comfy neighborhood restaurant where you can have a quick no-fuss lunch with a friend. I've been coming here for years and usually can walk right in and be seated immediately. On my latest visit I ordered the Middle Eastern plate which has a nice variety of tasty little morsels - not haute cuisine but perfectly fine for a casual lunch. The egg lemon soup was even more delicious than usual on a cold rainy day and the pita bread was fresh and warm. La Med is a reliably decent lunch spot when you're hungry in the Elmwood. read more

We had La Med cater my (Egyptian) husband's birthday party for 80+ people. We had a variety of finger food platters, dips, bread, salads, and hot entrees too. The food was great. Ordering was easy and they helped me adjust the menu right up until the week before. They delivered to Walnut Creek and even helped set up. The chicken kabobs were especially delicious! Thank you Le Med team! I didn't take any photos because the party was hopping and we forgot...then it was all gone! read more

Came here as a family. We frequently get delivery and absolutely love it. Even better fresh and in the restaurant. Staff was super friendly. They have both indoor and outdoor seating. The pomegranate chicken is super tender. All all the food is delicious. Review by the seven year old: "Five stars. The food is great. They are nice and helpful and willing to answer any questions you have. They have many non-alcoholic drink options". read more

Enjoyed a meal with family and visiting friends tonight! The food came very fast, which some of us felt was a bit rushed, but some were happy about~ the dolmas were very large and slightly unflavorful, and the baba ganoush was very VERY smoky (some of us didn't eat it due to the overpowering flavor). Overall, everything was yummy! The chicken fell off the bone, hummus was very smooth, falafels were soft (a little dry), and everything was fresh. A yummy, casual option for a night out! read more

4.8 stars Omg! What a delicious meal at La Mediterranee! Outdoor dinning was so relaxing! The food was phenomenal, and super friendly staff. The hummus, Baba Ghanoush, Armenian Potato Salad, Falafel, Chicken, Lamb + Rice Pilaf, and Chocolate Mousse were delicious! I'm still dreaming of the warm and crispy Baklava with some Tea! Though the Sangria and white Wine were delicious! The perfect compliment to any meal... Amazing food and awesome service! What more can you ask! We can't NOT wait to come back to La Mediterranee! read more

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Went to have lunch today, blonde young man stops us as we open the door, told us they were closed, having a staff meeting, I told my friend oh no! (It was a special occasion) the guy said LOWER YOUR VOICE, he yelled at us! SO MEAN AND RUDE! I've been going there for special occasions for 30yrs I was embarrassed and angry. I wonder if their employee meeting talked about customer service. Won't go back EVER, sad about it. read more

La Mediterranee Berkeley CA Fri 9/23/22 Biz lunch! Autumn vibes! Summer temps! Salute e questo è quanto! © And that's it! Middle-Eastern comfort food. It says, Anoush Ella! May It Be Sweet! This is a casual restaurant, please set your expectations right. You know what I mean. Compare apples to apples and pumpkins to pumpkins please:-) Keep your sense of humor! Friendly? Yes! Tasty? Yes! Fine dining? Probably no:) Hospitality? Yes! Don't expect a refined service and impeccable atmosphere, and you'll be fine. There are two more La Mediterranee locations in San Francisco on Fillmore and on Noe St, this one on College Ave is in Berkeley. Reservations for six easily made online. Seated by a hostess. A scene from an imaginary movie. Nails recently done? Loving the imagery, it's fun. All good! Waldo is our server. Job well done, no complaints! Electric heater, built-in the ceiling, for colder months, I thought it was very interesting fixture. A couple dozen or so checkered tile top tables with wooden chairs. Bar/Kitchen at the far end of the dining area. Outside patio. It's a permanent patio like part of the restaurant now, plus another outdoor area is set up. Most patrons sit outside. Yep, they keep their "staging area" on a chef's rack to the side, visible. Dishes, cleared from tables, on a bottom rack. A table with cleaning supplies, spray bottles and vinyl gloves, courtesy of the pandemic. They work with the space they've got. Kotayk Lager, Armenia. Quality & traditions! Chicken Pomegranate | three local & sustainably sourced drumsticks marinated in pomegranate sauce, served over rice pilaf Beef Kafta Kebab | Marin Sun Farms pasture raised beef meatball skewer, grilled & served with rice pilaf Grilled Lamb Shawarma | Spiced and baked Superior Farms halal lamb Middle-Eastern coffee, brewed in traditional copper carafe, is known for its culture and history. It's a symbol of hospitality in the Middle Eastern countries. The coffee beans are ground into a fine, tiny powder for the brewing, and once it poured over into your cup and you thoroughly enjoy it, there's a thick remainder in your cup that according to superstition, may foretell the future. To use the grounds that remain in your cup in that manner, the cup is covered with a saucer before being turned upside-down. The coffee reader then looks at the horizontal halves of the cup. In the bottom half, the symbols are supposed to relate to the past. The top half of the cup is supposed to show the future. Would you like to know?:-) Desserts Datil Amandra, organic dates & nuts in fillo Muhalabiye, rose water pudding with pistachios Pistachio Nest, pistachio nuts in fillo topped with rose water Baklava, with organic walnuts Chocolate Mousse We tried them all! LOL *I would climb any mountain Sail across a stormy sea If that's what it takes me baby To show you how much you mean to me And I guess it's just the woman in you That brings out the man in me [ Review #725 posted with 10 pics on Sep 29, 2022 ] Kotayk Lager, Armenia. Quality & traditions! @La Mediterranee Berkeley CA Fri 9/23/22 Appetizers platter @La Mediterranee Berkeley CA Fri 9/23/22 Chicken Pomegranate @La Mediterranee Berkeley CA Fri 9/23/22 Beef Kafta Kebab @La Mediterranee Berkeley CA Fri 9/23/22 Grilled Lamb Shawarma @La Mediterranee Berkeley CA Fri 9/23/22 Middle-Eastern coffee! @La Mediterranee Berkeley CA Fri 9/23/22 May it foretell the future? Thick remnants of fine coffee powder! @La Mediterranee Berkeley CA Fri 9/23/22 Anticipating your comments:) @La Mediterranee Berkeley CA Fri 9/23/22 Where's Waldo! @La Mediterranee Berkeley CA Fri 9/23/22 Hostess! @La Mediterranee Berkeley CA Fri 9/23/22 read more

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Came here and had the chicken kebab dinner. It took a while for the food to come, but it was hot and tasted fresh. The portion size was huge. All in all pretty tasty, but i've had better mediterranean cuisine for less $$ read more

La Mediterranee - Chicken Kebab Dinner - Mediterranean Near Me - Berkeley, California

I love the place. It is my go to for Mediterranean food. My favorite dishes are the filo plates: 2 cheese and 2 spinach served with hummus and potato salad. Yum!!!! I really mean it when I say I could eat here every day. The quality is great at the Berkeley and the San Francisco locations. read more

Arguably the best restaurant in Elmwood. Whether you're coming here for a nicer dinner or a quick lunch, there's plenty on the menu for any occasion. For lunch, I tried the popular Middle Eastern plate in which you can sample three sides (plus, a side of hummus and pita). At around $19 after tax and tip, ordering the Middle Eastern plate is an affordable and filling option -- really, a no brainer. The Chicken Pomegranate was well-flavored -- loved that sweet rice -- and the soup was decent, too. Ultimately, La Med lives up to its popularity, and certainly worth a visit. read more

La Mediterranee - Middle Eastern Plate Lunch - Mediterranean Near Me - Berkeley, California

Ordered online for take out during COVID. We came a little bit earlier than the estimated time and waited outside. There was ample parking at 8 pm and the street was well lit. We ordered: Middle Eastern Plate with a side of Lentil soup Lamb Lule with a side of Avgolemono soup + 5 slices of pita bread The lamb was over a red sauce and a bed of rice. The rice had a nice texture to it (not dry at all) with bits of fruit that went well with it. The lamb was tender and juicy. It has the distinct gamey taste that I like when eating lamb. The avgolemono soup tasted like a yogurt chicken soup; sounds strange but was delicious. The middle eastern plate was good if you wanted an assortment of items to sample. It was fun to try bites of the pomegranate chicken. The only thing I would like to change about my meal is to add more lettuce in the side salad. I know some people skip it but I enjoy the refreshing crisp of lettuce and carrots. read more

La Mediterranee - Middle Eastern Plate with a side of Lentil soup (top) Lamb Lule with a side of Avgolemono soup (bottom) + 5 slices of pita bread - Mediterranean Near Me - Berkeley, California

Here's an enhanced version of your text: --- The food was beyond mediocre. I'm not sure what cuisine they were aiming for, but it definitely wasn't Mediterranean. The avgolemono soup tasted like old chicken, and the kibbeh was a jumbled mess. The shawarma consisted mostly of iceberg lettuce from a salad mix, and the shredded chicken tasted like tuna. Do not put the dressing on your salad--you will regret it. It tastes like watered-down marinara sauce. While the seating and location were nice, it didn't make up for the food. The staff was pleasant, but the food took nearly an hour to come out. Enough said, I will not be returning. read more

Lunch at La Mediterranee was great Food was tasty & pretty big portion with 2 sides to choose from Salad to soup. We also ordered Hummus plate as side so comes with pita Will definitely be back for lunch again read more

La Mediterranee - Chicken breast plate & beef meat plate for lunch - Mediterranean Near Me - Berkeley, California

The food here is not freshly prepared or may not even be made inhouse. The pita bread is at least two days old. The hummus ( if you can call it that) is white, not it brownish which is natural as the main ingredient in hummus is garbanzo beans or also known as chickpeas. They are brown, which leads me to the conclusion that Le Mediterranee's version is not made from this delicious bean variety. The main dishes are forgetable at best. I suspect that this place - when the founder ran it ( they have been in biz since the 80s)- was a delightful experience and either the kids or a new owner are cutting corners and running it into ground. read more