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LEYLA MEDITERRANEAN

4.5 (322 reviews)
Open • 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

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LEYLA MEDITERRANEAN ATMOSPHERE

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Moderate noise
Casual
Intimate
Romantic

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Recommended Reviews - LEYLA MEDITERRANEAN

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Meat combo platter
Kylie M.

We loooved this small intimate resturant! Stopped here before a movie and almost didn't have room for popcorn. A little short on staff, but the restaurant was packed and they did amazing for being short handed. Lots of food, pita before your meal, and the desserts are homemade!

Shish Kebab Dinner Salmon Fillet Dinner Hummus
Eljay C.

I got my food to go and got the beef/lamb kebab platter, salmon dinner, and hummus. I asked for mainly vegetables instead of the rice because I didn't want to eat too many carbs. The food was great. I waited about 15 minutes more when I got there to pick ip my food. No biggie.

Chicken Adana Kebab Lunch Zucchini Pancake Lunch
Tracy Y.

The food was very tasty and the restaurant had a nice ambience. Our waiter was very friendly and took care of every need, although the service was very slow.

Kisir
Josh W.

I'd been quite curious about this little spot for a bit but never got the chance to try it... Until recently when I convinced the boss to check it out with me for lunch. Definitely glad I did because we both really enjoyed it. For lunch, it was a little pricey, but you absolutely got what you paid for. We went on a Thursday for lunch. It wasn't too busy but they did have some carryout business going on. The place itself seems tiny from the outside, but they do have a good amount of indoor and outdoor seating. Their menu has a lot of unique options ranging from gyros, kebabs, sautéed dishes, soups, salads, and tasty shareables. We started out with some pita bread and kisir. It had a very unique taste that neither of us could stop eating. As for our main entrees, he got a gyro with a side of lentil soup, and I opted for the sautéed lamb special. Right after we ordered, their head chef came out to meet us, and offered a special lamb leg that she'd just finished cooking instead of their usual dish. I'm always up for trying new things so I said sure. She was very friendly and inviting. We hardly waited long at all before everything was ready. My boss's gyro was HUGE and loaded with meat. My lamb was phenomenal and the meat was so tender that it fell right off the bone. My dish was so big that I could only finish about half, but I'm definitely a meal prepper, so I saved the rest for lunch just yesterday (it held up amazingly well). After we finished what we could, their chef came out and offered us some Turkish tea and talked to us about the tradition of serving tea after a meal. She said it gives people a reason to stay and talk more and create lasting bonds of friendship. The tea itself was very tasty too. I really enjoyed everything about this spot. I could absolutely see going here again, but of course, with my babe instead of my boss.

Stuffed Grape Leaves
Michelle D.

I had dinner here with family on Sunday evening. There were five of us but they weren't busy so we were sat immediately. We ordered the Hummus and the Stuffed Grape Leaves for appetizers. The hummus was delicious! As were the breads and dipping oil that were served with it. The buns were especially yummy and everyone liked them. The dipping oil was also really good! The stuffed grape leaves were ok. They kind of had a bitter, canned taste -like they weren't fresh made. For our entrees there were two orders of Stuffed Cabbage Rolls, two orders of Chicken Kebabs and one order of Kofte Kebab. I think everyone liked their entrees for the most part. I didn't care for the cabbage rolls here. Just a personal taste. They were very heavy handed on a certain spice. Paprika? Aleppo? I'm not sure but you could see it very heavy on the inside and it overpowered the dish. My husband didn't notice it until the next day, when he warmed up both of our leftovers for his lunch. He had a beer that evening and I guess it diluted the flavor.The next day didn't care as much for them either. The same complaint. While we thought most of the food was pretty good and the service was too - it's a bit overpriced. We would definitely return to try more of the menu.

Exterior
Tyanna M.

We stopped in here the other day sort of between lunch and dinner. The place had a very homey, comforting feel to it. The menu had plenty to choose from so it took us a little bit to make up our mind but it all worked out great in the end. We ordered the cold appetizer plate for 2 to share and on the plate was baba ganoush, hummus, a couple stuffed grape leaves, a few carrots, lebne, acili ezme, and a nice warm basket of bread. This was an excellent way to start our meal and we also ordered a couple of cocktails, I had the cosmo and my cousin had the sidecar made with brandy. We would both order those cocktails again. For our main dishes my cousin ordered the mixed grill and I had Lahmacun which was a Kurdish style pizza with lamb. We liked both dishes. I did want to order something for dessert they had a few choices but they only had baklava and that's not what I was interested in. This was the only fault of the restaurant everything else was perfect. We already decided we would go back again.

Shelli J.

This is my favorite Cincinnati Mediterranean restaurant. The food is great! The service has been on point.

Dinner was served.
Tracey W.

I had the blessed opportunity to meet the owners of LEYLA and enjoy a meal with them. The meal was by far, one of the best I have had in my life. From the grilled vegetables, lamb and chicken to the hummus, grape leaves, and babaganoush (which I rarely go for), everything was fresh and perfectly prepared. I could taste the love in every single bite. I must also add, the BAKLAVA is world class. It was lighter than others I have tasted and I swear was in honey and pistachio heaven. For me, service is king and LEYLA delivered greatly in this area as well. I highly recommend. And plan to return but next time, with friends. Dine local, support small business, support minority-owned business. And be kind and patient as many are short staffed at this time.

Okra Stew with Lamb
Shannon M.

This place is absolutely AMAZING!! I kept stopping and staring in disbelief of how delicious everything was! I was not impressed the first time I had baklava at a different restaurant, but the baklava here is incredible. The borek was mind blowing, and the stew was also delicious. I can't wait to come back here with friends so they can enjoy it too! The service was also great. Emma is very kind and congenial, and remembers the regulars and asks how they're doing. She made dining here a very enjoyable experience.

Shish kebab

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6 months ago

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5 months ago

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7 days ago

Best Mediterranean food around and the absolute nicest owners! The quality is always amazing and the food is always consistent.

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7 months ago

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8 months ago

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2 months ago

Great family owned restaurant. Good food, large portions, the bread is not to be missed.

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2 years ago

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1 year ago

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2 years ago

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3 months ago

The food is always wonderful. Serving sizes are generous. Get the tea! So good. It's my go to on this side of town, hands down.

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1 year ago

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10 months ago

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6 months ago

Friendly, accommodating service. Fresh, plentiful portions. Authentic, ethnic environment. A delightful experience overall.

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1 year ago

Excellent food and service. The Tzitki was so fresh. Such a welcoming place. Loved the gyro!

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

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1 year ago

Delicious food! The servings are huge! The Falafal and chicken Kabobs were amazing. Service was good and the ambiance was nice.

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4 years ago

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2 years ago

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1 year ago

Medicore falafel and hummus. 5/10. Both were bland and nothing to write home about. My hunt for the best falafel in Cincinnati continues.

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2 years ago

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LEYLA MEDITERRANEAN Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - LEYLA MEDITERRANEAN

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Cafe Mediterranean - Puffy bread

Cafe Mediterranean

(246 reviews)

$$

Hyde Park

My family visited Cafe Mediterranean last night and had an outstanding experience. I feel that the…read more'personal touch' of a family owned restaurant is both unique and becoming harder to find. If this appeals to you, try this place. Their service makes you quickly feel right at home, and that continues throughout the meal. There were five of us, so we ordered several dishes to share. The hummus was fresh, the falafel was crispy on the outside and tasty, the lamb was tender, and the lahmacun ('Turkish pizza' for those that haven't tried this) was outstanding. The Lahmacun reminded me of my visit to a Turkish restaurant in Kazakhstan many years ago -- it was that good. My adult kids also had the salmon and a chicken sauté and loved both... I almost lost a finger getting a nibble. The drinks and desserts were also spot on. It's a very relaxed atmosphere and has seating to accommodate larger groups, so bring your friends and family and share. One recommendation for the Cafe -- we wish the lighting were a bit dimmer. Seemed a little bright in the main dining area. Other than that, thanks for a great night.

Our server was really sweet. They were super busy but extremely accommodating. The hummus and pita…read morepillow is absolutely amazing! I could eat it all day long. The salmon wasn't as "well done" as I would have preferred but still very good. The cooked veggies were seasoned very well too. It's a great date night spot or for a girls night. Will definitely return!

Truva Turkish Kitchen - Pan Fried Veal Liver

Truva Turkish Kitchen

(212 reviews)

$$

We were visiting Cincinnati from out of town and wanted to try something a little different from…read morewhat we have back home, and Truva Turkish Kitchen was a wonderful choice. The atmosphere had a relaxed elegance without feeling fancy, and after coming straight from a loud reception, the calm setting with gentle music was exactly what we needed. My colleague and I both ordered the chicken kebab dinner, and it was exceptional. The food was flavorful and tasty, the chicken was moist and deliciously seasoned, and the steamed vegetables were cooked perfectly without being mushy. We also enjoyed the Turkish tea after dinner, which was recommended to help with digestion. It was a strong black tea served in the cutest little glass cup with a handle, and we finished every drop. The staff was attentive, kind, and welcoming without being intrusive. Overall, it was a very relaxing and enjoyable dining experience, and I'd gladly return.

We came to Truva for a family dinner over the holidays. They were able to fit 14 of us comfortably…read moreand we went home stuffed! The restaurant had a nice quiet dinner ambiance-- comfortable and upscale without being stuffy. The food had great flavor, portions were generous and everything well cooked. We loved the mezze (baba ganoush was delicious) and chefs platters. The steak in particular was perfectly cooked and seasoned. For dessert my favorite was the Kunefe which you don't find everywhere! Our server Hassan was friendly, efficient and knowledgeable. Overall great experience and would recommend.

Phoenician Taverna - Taverna Falafel

Phoenician Taverna

(504 reviews)

$$

My best friend wanted to take me to Phoenician Taverna for the longest time. She raves about this…read moreplace and been coming here for years. Finally she made reservations for Saturday evening (it is recommended because they get super busy). We got there and was greeted by the owner. BTW, was very down to earth. So their menu looked good (Lebanese food). There is so much to choose from and hard to decide. I especially loved their drink menu, especially wines. We ended up ordering: Appetizers: Baba ghannouge M'hammara Taverna falafel Dinner: Shawarma chicken Kebab mixed grill Drinks: Chateau kefraya, Les Bretches Almaza Pilsner My favorite from the appetizers is the eggplant and falafel! Super fresh and the bread that came with it was so good. Even the dipping sauce was amazing. My Shawarma chicken was super delish. You have to put the garlic butter on the rice! It gives it great flavor. My Mr enjoyed his meal as well. We definitely had to get a to go box because there was so much food. But we will look forward the next day to eat it. Overall, the service was great and I loved the experience. We can see ourselves coming back for more! I can see why my best friend loves it here! Highly recommend you try it.

A couple very close friends of ours recommended we try this spot with them and we're definitely…read moreglad we did. The food was fantastic, the service was awesome, and the atmosphere was very laid back. We even met the owner who was immensely friendly and welcoming. We went for dinner on a Saturday evening. For weekends, reservations are strongly recommended because they get busy FAST. They're only open for dinner hours too. Their menu is pretty big with a plethora of options to choose from including lots of appetizers, flatbreads, shawarmas, kebabs, falafel, and lots of tasty desserts. Their libations menu was very nice too, with numerous options for beer, wine, and spirits. (Try the Almaza for a crisp and tasty Pilsner) all at great prices. Here's what we had: Appetizers: Baba ghannouge M'hammara Taverna falafel Dinner: Shawarma chicken Kebab mixed grill Drinks: Chateau kefraya, Les Bretches red wine blend Almaza Pilsner Hoegaarden Belgian wit bier They also give you unlimited fresh pita bread with a delicious dipping sauce. Everything was incredible and cooked to perfection. We'll definitely be coming back here again. Unfortunately, this time, we had no room for dessert, but maybe next time.

Kinneret Grill - Rib-eye Steak

Kinneret Grill

(98 reviews)

$

We were in for dinner a few days ago and enjoyed our meal…read more My husband ordered the Creamy Beef Fettuccini and I ordered the Chicken Shawarma Plate. My husband also ordered a beer. We both thought everything tasted great. My plate of Chicken Shawarma was served with warm pita, hummus, rice, tahini sauce, and Israeli salad. It was delicious and very filling. The service was also very good.

It must be nice to be the only kosher meat restaurant in a metro area because there is no…read moremotivation to provide good food or service. We are in town visiting and we went there for a nice meat meal after several days of dairy on the road. There were 6 of us at the table with 2 children. If I lived in town I would not be going back. They had 1 waitress working the entire place. She was kind enough but all she did was make excuses. We sat down at 6:15 and we did not get our hummus appetizer, which apparently they ran out of soon after, until 7:15. When we arrived there was only 2 tables occupied so it was not bustling. I am not sure how or why it took so long to prepare Hummus but given the ingredients I could have scratch cooked our entire meals in a fraction of that time. Again, when we arrived there were 2 other tables of 2 and maybe 1-2 small orders picked up during out time there. During our visit they had several more groups come in, some served before us, some getting the constant refrain, "we are out of this." It seems like there was 1 chef in the kitchen preparing all the food on their own. It is also highly problematic that they had 2 small children sitting there for an hour with not even a little bread or anything. We had to push the waitress to get the hot dogs out so they would calm down. As for the food, most of it was OK. The ribeye was properly cooked. The braised short rib was tender with a little wine flavor. The kids hot dogs were hot dogs. The chicken schwarma was flavorful. The Israeli salad was what you would expect. The green beans were overcooked, unseasoned and tasted like nothing. The worst and most impressive thing was how they got the mashed potatoes to taste like they came from a powder out of a box. I don't often leave something completely uneaten but they were inedible. How you can serve a $50 steak with such artificial swill is beyond me. I get it, they are the only option. Fail!

LEYLA MEDITERRANEAN - mediterranean - Updated May 2026

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