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 is always consistent with their food and today I stopped in for a quick lunch to try their new…read moreStreet Corn Falafel! The place is clean with many options for seats, and I was lucky enough to snag a table outside. I got the Street Corn Falafel wrap and if you order it in person you can watch them create the wrap right in front of you on the saj they have. There are so many toppings to choose from, but I definitely recommend the crunchy pita chips, cucumbers, and tzatziki. They also usually have some tasty lemonades! It's a solid place to have a tasty lunch or dinner, and take out is a popular choice here as well!

This spot is easy to miss. It is in a small strip of businesses, diagonally across from Meyda…read moreLighting. First impression was that the siting area was relatively clean. No one was there, maybe it's just quiet on Wednesdays. I ordered a mixed meat gyro with fries and canned soda, and a piece of Galaktobureko. I took my food to go. The gyro was big, nice thinly sliced red onions, lettuce and tomatoes, perfect amount of tzatziki sauce. Pita was warm and soft; it didn't over take the wrap. The dessert was very enjoyable. I had not experienced a custard filled philo and will definitely order again. I overheard the owner cooking my order say his mom, also an owner from what I gathered, makes the desserts. Check this place out for sure!

This place is so easy to miss, but today I was feeling like having a gyro for lunch in the middle…read moreof errands and am SO glad I stopped. The place is in a little strip of shops and if you're not careful, you can drive right by it! The two staff working there were friendly and the place itself was clean and quiet. I ordered a falafel gyro with some rice pilaf on the side. I have had many falafel gyros around here and I can honestly say this was one of, if not the, best I've had. It had a perfect amount of everything and the falafel itself was super crispy but also fluffy on the inside. The rice was great, too! On my way out I grabbed some baklava for the road and it was phenomenal! I cannot wait to come back or order some take out very soon!

This is a great place to go to on St. Patrick's Day parade day morning in Utica. Service is great…read morethat day, the bartenders are attentive and friendly (especially if Linda is there). Any other time, if you are not a regular, this place might not be for you. I've been here several times with mixed experiences. The last time I was there was a Thursday in the summer of 2024. My husband, brother and I were excited to find seats at the bar and order dinner. The bartender was a short blonde woman and there was a male bar back. The bartender did not acknowledge us for over 15 minutes. We were actively looking at the menu on our phones and talking about what we wanted to try and attempted to make eye contact with her as she walked by us with no luck. She didn't even say "I will be right with you", literally no interaction. She was very friendly with everyone else around us seeming to know exactly what they were drinking and happy to get it for them. We left as we felt very unwelcome there and ended up having excellent service down the street at Lukin's.

This place is a home run. Admittedly we had limited options along our route as we were headed home…read moreto CT on a Monday after a long weekend in Seneca Falls. We found this little gem and holy toledo did we we strike gold. First of all, the hostess was super nice and greeted us right away even though she was clearly busy and hustling. We chose to sit outside at a picnic table to soak up the beautiful weather. The outside is fun with brightly painted picnic tables and murals on the building. Our waitress was very knowledgeable of the menu and offered great suggestions. She was great and we really enjoyed interacting with her. We started with rum punches which were made with freshly squeezed juice and they were out of this world. We shared the "everything" wings which were crispy and that sauce was delicious. We were tempted to lick the sauce off the plate. We refrained so we didn't get strange looks. I had the Kimchi Reuben which is made with house made kimchi I might add. My husband got the Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich. We both opted for Poutine Fries for our sides. Guys, this food was unique and spectacular. I'm just bummed it's 3 hours from home! But I'll definitely make an effort to be back.

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!

A good place to drop in and have a cold beer and a good burger. I had both when I stopped in on a…read morerecent Friday night. The bartender quickly took my drink order and gave me a menu. I chose a bottled beer and the Bulldog Burger - Mushrooms, Bacon, Pepper Jack Cheese and BBQ Sauce. It's served with chips. Good chips. Not from a bag. My burger arrived quickly and cooked to order. It was thick and juicy and tasted great. My beer was refilled. The bar was busy and there were several regulars as the bartender had their beers for them as they walked up. Definitely will be stoping in again

I came here in the spring, on a work trip to cap off a week long class. We had a large group but…read morethe waitress did a great job taking care of everyone. I ordered the Ladder Truck Burger with Sweet Potato fries. The burger was stacked with onion rings, mozzarella sticks and bacon. I still don't know how I finished it. I don't remember much about the inside of the restaurant, but we had a good time. If I'm ever in the area, I'd come back to the restaurant.

I am from the South where I grew up with a serious affection for Mexican food. Los Amigos was a…read morelittle difficult to find, but as soon as we walked in I had a feeling it would remind me of what I grew up with. The decor & feel was classic, clean, & accommodating. The servers were almost waiting for us at the door to seat us & we did not wait for anything! The food was soooo good I can't wait to go back. The red salsa (which is served with tortilla chips when you are seated) has a smoked jalapeño flavor that is unique & addictive. It reminded me of what I grew up with in the best way. One in our party did not grow up with this food & she devoured every bite! Thank you Los Amigos!

I had La Bandera- one chicken, beef, and cheese enchilada. Others in the party had fajitas…read morequesadilla, chimichanga, and quesadilla roja. We were seated in a quiet front room and the two servers made sure that our drinks were filled and the food was good. This looks like a popular spot. There was mismatched seating and tables, which were moved far across the patio, so it looked like it wasn't open. Other than that, the restaurant had good food and service.

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

Such an amazing meal !!! Met a group of friends for dinner and we got a chef's choice meal where…read morewe were given the opportunity to try a number of tasty and interesting dishes. The chefs came out and introduced themselves and gave us background on many of the unique dishes they prepared. All of the dishes were freshly prepared and were unique combinations of flavors and ingredients. Each dish was a work of art. Wait staff were friendly and attentive. Decor is as eclectic as the menu. Truly a wonderful culinary experience. Location is tucked in the Big Apple Shopping Plaza and is easy to miss though this is not a restaurant you want to miss. Looking forward to going again and experiencing some of the great dishes and trying some new ones too.

A small and creative place which is comfortable and welcoming. The waitress was friendly and…read morehelpful. We ordered the bongbong shrimp appetizer, the enchilada and the $9.99 tacos. While they were being prepared, we enjoyed the colorful marijuana-themed artwork and decor, lol. Unfortunately the first two items were too high-fat for us - fried with oil, mayo, or cheese. The taco beef was seasoned hamburger. All dishes were attractively plated. We did enjoy ourselves here but will try other dishes next time.