Our whole party was looking forward to dinner at Lulu Albany. The reviews were good and it was convenient. Sadly we were very disappointed in our dinner. The server was excellent, I wish I could say the same for the food. The mezze plate was okay, but there were no standout dishes and although it was pretty it lacked any interesting flavors. The theme of bland continued through our main course. Everything was okay, just okay. I can't think of anything I would want to eat again. The best part of the meal was the dessert. We had the baklava French toast and it was yummy. Unfortunately, by the time we got to dessert, we had decided we would not be back. Too bad. read more

We came here on a Sunday for brunch. I wanted a Turkish breakfast and this was one of the few options available. I loved seeing a Free Palestine sign when we walked in. The restaurant was steady and almost full when we got there around 11:00. Our service was friendly and attentive. The indoor decor was beautiful and traditional yet modern. We started off with a date latte and a cacao cardamom latte (both were good but a little pricey - but you can tell they make it fresh). To share we ordered the Shukaquiles (super unique flavors chilaquiles style with pita chips) And the Babas breakfast (perfect to share and try multiple things). Both dishes were so good and unique it left us wanting to try more on the menu! I would definitely go back for their unique dishes and great atmosphere! read more

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Enjoyed an amazing private event recently coming from the North Bay at this open, airy and light-filled restaurant. This was a catered event with so much delicious Mediterranean food first with appetizers and then selections of entrees followed by petite desserts for a very enjoyable afternoon special celebration. Service and all around hospitality was excellent too. Highly recommend for vegans and non-vegans as plenty for all dietary preferences. read more

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One of the most exciting new places we've tried in recent years. Everything looked beautiful with a taste to match. At a first look at the menu the prices seemed on the high side, but the portions turned out to be quite generous and it was a good value for the excellent meal we got. We'll be back to try the rest! read more

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I love this place! Their falafel is one of the best I have ever had, and their flavors are so unique. If I could recommend anything, the baklava French toast on the weekends is incredible, the fennel salad is amazing, the orange blossom sumac drinks are to die for. I love lulus kitchen! read more

Came here for weekend lunch and the wait was about 25 minutes. There are plenty of cute shops on the same street so the wait was a breeze. Flavor and presentation were good. We had the sampler and Shula-quiles. The falafel in the sampler was ok, not my favorite. Overall no complaints about the food. Ventilation was a bit lacking here. I smelled like food walking out. Something I wanted to point out was the bad service we got here. The hostess who greeted us was really friendly and a wonderful person. The server was friendly at first but then had a 360 degree change in attitude after a while-- possibly had some miscommunication with other staff at the restaurant. It was very unprofessional to bring attitude to serving customers. I still recommend this place to other people. This place is busy so get ready to wait a bit on the weekend. read more

Finally got to try Lulu, and it didn't disappoint. We opted not to do the mezze brunch so we could try more dishes: - Mezze sampler - The muhammara here is really good. I only wish there was more of the muhammara + hummus (relative to the pita chips and crudite). - Spring fattoush - Nice light salad if you're looking to add some vegetables to your meal (not a must get). - Mansat roti roll - This was very good, loved all the flavors wrapped by the delicious roti. - Chicken banh mi - They had this as a special for their anniversary, and it was solid (I liked the sesame bread). - Shukaquiles - This was a huge hit, great contrast of flavors + textures (especially how the pita absorbed the sauce). - Baba's breakfast - This was fine, my friends really liked the scrambled eggs (had a bit of kick to it), and I was a fan of the harissa tots, but otherwise one of the less exciting dishes. - Knafeh pancake - Usually I'm the one who finds things too sweet, but surprisingly, I didn't mind the sweetness while some of my friends did. I really the pancake, especially the rose flavor. Love how unique their brunch items are, and reservations weren't too hard to make a week in advance (I still remember how hard it was to secure a reservation back when they were at their old location). read more

Came to Lulu's after raving about it to my friends visiting from Doha. Unfortunately, it was not the same as I had remembered or had raved about. I learned that they had been closed and the new purchase system was pay first and then be seated. Luckily, we didn't make it that far. The lack of waitstaff and the "lone" server present was little to be desired. We stood at the counter waiting to be helped but the young lady appeared to be overwhelmed. The menu also seemed to be a bit less desirable given that some of our favorite menu selections had been removed. Bummer. I so liked this place but given it's newer concept I feel my fond last memory was perhaps my last at this unique institution. Best of Luck to the owner and the new concept. read more

I am delighted each time I come; the aesthetics are immaculate, the service is friendly, and the food is a truly beautiful tribute to Palestinian cuisine. You can't go wrong with the mezze platter, toum caesar, and Mansaf roti roll. If you have a sweet tooth like me make sure to try their knafeh pancake - which is easily shareable. read more

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I'm so happy to finally try this place for brunch. I've always wanted to try this place when they were at the old location and waited so patiently for the new location to open up. The new location is on Solano, so there is street parking and reservations can be made on their website. They welcomed me in and were quick to sit me down at a table. The decor was so gorgeous everything from the place settings to the pomegranate and fig print wallpaper. Service was welcoming and quick - they were very attuned to our needs and even helped fix one of our wobbly tables. Drinks were very refreshing - I got the iced mint black tea - just a note that it is unsweetened! For food presentation was lovely. My favorite dish was definitely the knafeh pancake, it was sweet with a hint of jasmine. Can't wait to go back and try more dishes! read more

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Have been here 3 times. Healthy and tasty dishes. Service is good. Ambiance - very well designed and comfortable. read more

My partner and I go to Lulu enough for the hostess to recognize and greet us, but we also always order the mezze brunch and are apparently among the few customers who eat everything, haha. I love how the menu changes regularly so it is a new experience each time. The presentation is wonderful but obviously the taste is too for us to go back as frequently as we do. We've tried other items on the menu and really liked the fish and chips from last year. That hasn't been available for a while though, but hopefully it'll be brought back. Other highlights have been the Japanese sweet potato and strawberries & cream, both of which were available on the mezze brunch platter but I think as standalone appetizers too. Their hummus and falafel are some of the best we've ever had, and their speciality drinks are also fantastic. I absolutely love Lulu's aesthetic and the interior is so frickin' pretty, but it can get really noisy in the main dining parts when they're full. We sat for the first time in the main entrance area today and definitely liked it more there with more space and fewer echoing voices. Besides the strawberries & cream, we haven't liked many of their desserts either, but we're happy to keep Lulu in our rotation of regularly visited restaurants. read more

Very good food in a no-fuss order-at-the-counter spot; highly recommend the 'Caesar' salad. Would absolutely return.

Exceptional, everything is amazing and love the ambiance! Get the sweet potato and date foam!

Had heard so much about this spot when it was in Berkeley and was super excited to try it out at its new location in Albany. Good location , great ambience and super gracious staff. Managed a table without reservations. Tip: after 2 and before 6 seems like a good time to snag a table and avoid the rush. The food was delicious and everything I had hoped for. The lamb sliders , lamb sausage, deviled eggs , chicken kabob and risotto were our favorites. The baklava French toast was the absolute best without being overly sweet or heavy. I can't wait to try the dinner menu next time. Parking was a little tricky but street options were available after a bit of driving around. read more

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This new location is the bomb! Roomy, airy, pretty. The food is as AWESOME as everyone says. The menu here is bigger than at the original location, so you don't have to wait for weekend brunch to try the specialties! We shared the tots - unique and delectable- and had a gorgeous mezze platter with light falafel, three dips, homemade breads and crackers, pickled crudités... the prettiest birthday lunch ever! We didn't have room for the Kafneh pancake but I'll be back for that, I remember it fondly. I'm excited to try dinner next time. read more

Lulu’s Little Kitchen - Middle Eastern Near Me - Albany, California

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I would seriously give 10 stars if that was an option! we were completely blown away by help beautiful everything was, the attention to detail was off the charts... The service and the people there were warm, friendly and absolutely lovely. I'm gluten-free. They had amazing options and I didn't take a photo of it but their Caesar salad is like nothing I've ever experienced before and the chicken has a batter that's gluten-free. What an absolute treat. I can't wait to take my family back ! I'm very rarely blown away by experience like this !!! Bravo Much appreciated read more

Lulu’s Little Kitchen - Mediterranean dips, vegetables, fruit, flowers, deviled eggs, with adorable little violets on them... - Middle Eastern Near Me - Albany, California

We made a dinner reservation and we were seated 5 minutes early. We ordered a half dozen items to share, everything was wonderful. I wished the dips (hummus, etc.) were a bit more generous, just a couple tablespoons of each barely let us each have a taste. Delicious. Our server was friendly and helpful and took good care of us. read more

Lulu’s Little Kitchen - Dips and chips - Middle Eastern Near Me - Albany, California

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Unexpected and wonderful flavors from this lower Solano Avenue Mediterranean restaurant (just across from the closed Albany Theater). My friend and I shared a salad, an amazing eggplant dish, and chicken kebabs. And a bread basket with a few different breads. All really good. Lulu delivers a unique Med experience and so worth checking out. They are waiting on their liquor license, btw. Service was warm and attentive without being overdone. And the place was hopping on a Friday night. All in all, a welcome addition to the neighborhood. read more

Lulu’s Little Kitchen - Our dessert which, I think, was knafeh. Lovely! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Albany, California

Had a great experience at LuLu ! Being an interior design lover I appreciated the space itself, color palette and space planning. Once seated, we reviewed the menu and after a few recommendations from our server, settled on Strawberry & Labneh Scone, Baba Breakfast and the Mezze Sampler. The portion sizes appeared small but we were pretty satisfied afterwards. Everything we ordered was really tasty and left us wanting more. There are so many things to choose from so we will have to go again soon. Would definitely advise on making a reservation to lock in a table. read more

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Cute Palestinian brunch place that also serves dinner! I was excited to try it since it was recommended by a friend with excellent taste. The pot pie is not what I imagined - it was more like a soup consistency topped with a tasty crispy roti. I would not get it again because it was too soup-like for me, but the flavors were good. My friend really enjoyed her Caesar salad and tartar covered with warm ghee (warm kitfo nayyah). We shared their famous kunafeh cheese dessert and it had so many flavors! Sweet, savory, crispy, cheesy floral - very unique and definitely meant to be shared. I would go back to try brunch! read more

Lulu’s Little Kitchen - Pot pie had good flavor but was too soup-like. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Albany, California

My friend and I had a reservation for 9:30 AM on a Saturday. I believe on days like Saturdays, they prioritize reservations, so make sure to get a reservation. Service was 3/5. Waiter took our order and checked in towards the end. The restaurant itself is quite quaint and not too noisy. One thing I'd note though is that personally, I wasn't a big fan of how close some of the tables were to each other. Food was 4/5. I got Baba's breakfast which was solid. Nothing too crazy to rave about. My friend got the knafeh pancake which was amazing. I will be back to try other things on their menu. read more

I came on a weekday lunch and it was busy. The staff were friendly though and the service great. The space had different sections and we were by the windows in the front slightly tucked away, so you could feel the busyness without it being loud. The food was amazing! The mezze sampler was colorful and delicious- the hummus was flavorful and I really liked the muhammara. The deviled eggs tasted creamy and the zaatar was a scrumptious add to this dish. The fish and chips dish was good too - the fish had a nice crunch and the potato soaked up the sauce. The waitress also recommended the baklava French toast and it was not too sweet and just right to hit the spot. I also liked my mocha too. read more

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I almost don't want to tell you how fantastic this place is, because I don't want it to become hard for me to get a table when I want the best brunch on a saturday morning. But Lulu is SO exceptional, I can't gatekeep this gem. Tara, our server was literally so personable and helpful. She knows the menu inside and out and had fabulous recommendations and guidance for us. The food (and drinks) are SO. DANG. DELICIOUS ~ no matter what you order you can't go wrong. The decor and layout is also just physically stunning, such an elegant dreamy vibe. If you needed a sign, this is it. GO ASAP! We can't wait to go back for dinner. read more

We've loved Lulu's since 2021 when we first visited the Berkeley location. Today we tried the new format - Lulu's Little Kitchen which has only been open for a week or so. We ordered takeout since dining out with a little kid and an infant isn't as fun as eating in the comfort of our home. My husband is vegan and got the Falafel Roti and couldn't stop raving about it. He's a tough critic and was utterly pleased. I got the Lamb Bowl and it was divine - so flavorful and perfectly cooked lamb. My 8 month old hasn't really enjoyed solid food until I gave her some of my dish tonight. She devoured the tomato and sweet potatoes. Our kid got the kids menu chicken tenders and said "wow, this chicken is SO good" multiple times (he has never talked about chicken like that EVER). It's clear that a lot of thought and care went into the dishes and that they use very fresh ingredients. Super excited for this new era of Lulu's and can't wait to try more menu items next time. read more

Beautifully designed and trendy brunch place that recently opened again after moving to a new storefront on Solano Ave! Lulu has been on my radar ever since I moved to Berkeley and it did not disappoint! Their menu puts modern, California twists on Palestinian cuisine and it's evident that Lulu has been a labor of love from Chef Mona and her team. The Baklava French Toast is a must order - perfectly crispy filo pastry, with each bite bursting with spiced flavor. We also tried the Shuka-quiles, mezze platter and Malfouf mahshi (stuffed cabbage rolls), which were good but less memorable than the French toast. The menu changes quite often so I'm looking forward to going back and seeing what's new! read more

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Best brunch spot in the bay? I had been a fan of LULU since they started in their old location. This new location is even better because its much bigger with less wait. Their menu is different from their old location and the quality of food is still amazing! We had fresh corn polenta, fish and chips, knafeh pancakes, and the lamb stew. Everything except for the lamb stew was wonderful. The lamb stew is a bit weird as its yoghurt based soup with saffron rice? The service is warm as always and I love the seatings at the counter. I would not hesitate to have brunch here anytime! read more

Lulu’s Little Kitchen - Middle Eastern Near Me - Albany, California

Cute spot in Albany! I am always on the hunt for kunafa in the Bay Area and this really hit the spot. The food was really good and the ambiance was cute too. read more

Lulu’s Little Kitchen - Kunafa Knafeh Pancake - Middle Eastern Near Me - Albany, California

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Could not have possibly been any better--inspired, flavor explosions with every bite. Don't hesitate, just go!!!!

Been here 3 times now and once to get food to go. Decor/aesthetics: GORGEOUS Food: BEAUTIFUL plating; mostly really yummy food. IMO the Shuka-Quiles which I was really excited about is too sauced and too much cheese. They overpowered the rest of the dish. Baba's breakfast was yummy. Falafel and Haloumi sliders were perfect. The pistachio foam cold brew has been mostly hit and one miss (today it was more sour and coffee was light brown and weak). Soda float was amazing. SERVICE: great! Taking two stars off for the following: On one visit, a woman who I'm guessing is the owner was loudly berating a staff member. It was unprofessional and embarrassing to witness. It was happening right out in the open - like... how could someone think that abusive behavior is ok ever, let alone in front of customers? Secondly, for a Palestinian-owned restaurant with a "Free Palestine" poster and statements about supporting Palestine to be serving Coca-Cola products is hypocritical at best. Your customers don't need it. You've got great homemade sodas. It's confusing af. read more

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Very good food here. I've been part of their supper club for a few months and have really enjoyed their monthly offerings. It's a treat that I forward to. Their regular menu doesn't disappoint, but the supper club is special. Check it out! read more

Food: 4.5, we had the Baba's plate, baklava French Toast, brûlée cappuccino and a spritzer. The baklava French toast was delicious but very rich, definitely a plate I would share with others and not eat as my whole meal. Baba's plate was filling and delicious. The brûlée cappuccino was very sweet, which is what I wanted. Service: 3.5, they were very busy and our baklava french toast came out after we had finished the baba's plate. Would have liked to have it while drinking my cappuccino. Overall, I will be coming back but I'll try to come during a time that isn't so busy. read more

Lulu’s Little Kitchen - Baba's Plate - Middle Eastern Near Me - Albany, California

Listen, this place is 20/10. This is the best brunch place I have been to in a longgg time. I wanted to go back the next day but they were closed. The experience gave me everything I wanted, ambience, decor, service, unique flavors, vegetarian/vegan friendly. I ordered the sweet potatoes and the fish entree. Nothing but flavor and deliciousness, that is how I love my food, full of seasoning and flavor. The garlic fries were the best I've ever had. The middle eastern flavors lend well to brunch food and the decor was so well thought out and executed. read more

Lulu’s Little Kitchen - Middle Eastern Near Me - Albany, California

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Amazing food, adorable and elegant atmosphere, fantastic service. Had a great lunch for my best friends birthday and I will be back. read more

Lulu's is a game changer! We had a quick check-in and served by such a sweet, and bubbly waitress. The ambience was so lively with the most eye pleasing decor. We started off with mocktails, I had the yummy sumac strawberry (not spicy as I thought it'd be, which is great). Plates ranked by flavor and texture: Baklava French toast #1! (Crunchy like actual baklava, not basic and full of flavor) Turkish eggs (seasoned well with beautiful plating!) Kunafeh pancake (this one was too cakey in my opinion, but tasted like kunafeh regardless!) read more

Lulu’s Little Kitchen - Baklava French toast - Middle Eastern Near Me - Albany, California

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Service and food was stellar. Would definitely go again, and for Palestine solidarity.

Food was absolutely delicious and staff are attentive. The interior is also beautiful - open and airy with a good vibe all around! A great time and we will be back to visit soon! read more

Lulu’s Little Kitchen - Mezze platter- falafel was the best I've ever had! Crispy outside and moist inside. Everything was so fresh and flavorful. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Albany, California

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I wish I knew about this place sooner! Had brunch last weekend and it was AMAZING Five stars across the board. From the ambience, service, menu, and ridiculously delicious food they didn't miss a beat. The rose lavender latte, lamb roti and Caesar salad are still on my mind. The chef knows what they're doing! Everything was fresh and delicious Cannot wait to return for another great meal! read more

Lulu’s Little Kitchen - Lamb Roti - Middle Eastern Near Me - Albany, California

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We ordered the mezze sampler, two entrees, the pancake, and the brûlée coffee. In general, the food had good presentation with below average flavors, especially for the high price. The lamb sausage and falafels were tasty but a big portion of the entrees were just raw vegetables. The coffee was very sweet with the brûlée, and the pancake was good but also weirdly similar to an oily version of the birthday cake mix you'd buy in a store. Service was mixed - one server seemed annoyed that we were asking questions about the menu. All in all, our experience was not great and we will not be back. read more

Lunch: started with the Mezze platter - seriously delicious. Lovely hummus, walnut hummus and labneh to dip the veggies and falafel in. Colorful and beautiful presentation. read more

Lulu’s Little Kitchen - Outstanding mezze with delicious fluffy lebneh in the center - Middle Eastern Near Me - Albany, California