this restaurant is delicious and has a really cool ambiance…read more we ordered to drink: the frozen daiquiri & the happy tears cocktail. very delicious but very strong. for appetizers we ordered: the seasonal pickles. the vegetables are pickles, banana peppers, carrots and tomato. SO SO good! and the tomato matbucha (not pictured) came with 3 things of bread..and the dish was similar to a hummus. Was also delicious. And the Spanish anchovies, I am not a fan of anchovies but my boyfriend said they were good and he would order them again. for our main dish we ordered the slow roasted shrimp. the corn & poblano pepper mix was 10/10 and the taro chips on top just made the entire dish come together perfectly. would definitely recommend ordering it. the service and the ambiance of the restaurant was amazing. we were too full to have a night cap out back, but we had a glance at the boat bar area and we will be coming back to have a drink out there- very cool setup!

What a treat dining at Ajja! I was in the triangle visiting a childhood friend and his family and…read morethey raved about this spot. Two kids under 12 and the kids raved about this spot! They weren't wrong. We were out on their patio on a summer evening, a mix of fans and a good cross breeze kept it nice and the vibey decor helped us learn into the summer heat. Shared plates, roasted flavors and a cocktail driven menu sets the theme. We started out with a few amazing spreads then shared large format fish, beef and veg. For the starters, the roasted carrots and the roasted eggplant spreads were served up with home made pita served piping hot! Both spreads were delicious, balancing savory and a hint of sweet with just enough spice to add depth w/o taking away from the natural veggie flavors. The fried haloumi was gobbled up so fast I almost didn't get a picture of it! For the mains, we had the fried fish which was ZOMG!!!! Flaky but still juicy, bathed in this east Asian inspired sauce and sprinkled with fresh herbs that gave the whole dish a pop! The kids destroyed most of it. The Short rib fell apart with a fork!! Enough said!! And the charted cabbage and broccoli was such a crowd favorite we almost got another order but had to leave room for dessert. The table shared the strawberry shortcake and I opted for an espresso martini that was both sweet and balanced and so smooth you could take it in one glug. The shortcake was a hit with the kids and parents! The cocktails were all perfectly balanced and the service was immaculate. No notes from me except to check this place out!!

One of our most exciting and flavorful dining experience in months. Our downtown Raleigh dining…read morescene has amazing options, and Madre has stayed under our radar for no particular reason. We dined at their lovely bar back in the first months of their opening, and it was good. We had met the general manager, Red, and were impressed with the flavors of our one appetizer, Calabrian Chicken, yet we never rushed back. Now, we feel compelled to return ASAP to enjoy these exceptional flavors, fabulous teamwork system of service, and a comfortable chic atmosphere. The place was happening at 5:45 pm on our recent dining night out with friends. Grateful to have a reservation we were seated at a very comfortable banquette type of seating. It felt like dining in a friend's home. Our server, William, is excellent at his job. Very efficient, great input on food choices, and quite personable. The meal started off with a burst of flavor as we enjoyed their fairly new offering of a ceviche called Eye of the Tiger that featured a sauce you can never get enough of. Wish their bread service was a bit more inspired, but the Le Farm bread did soak up some of the various sauces sent out from a very inspired kitchen team. Food runners help make certain the tapas come out fresh and hot when needed. They are a friendly group of hospitality workers who seem to genuinely enjoy their work and treat their guests with sincere appreciation. It all starts at the top, and GM Red is a personable and sound leader. We loved the Chef's pasta, our octopus dish was stellar, the Calabrian Chicken almost stole the show, but the unctuous flavors on the plate of the Seared Halloumi was hands down my favorite. I love how this culinary team can crank out such outstanding flavors table to table and patron to patron without missing a beat. The energy in the room must feed their souls & for that we are grateful. Lastly I wish to mention the thoughtfully curated wine list where my husband discovered a treasure of a wine from the Familia Torres brand. It was exquisite and paired perfectly with Madre's flavors. Our friend who frequent their bar often rave about their Mezcal margarita! Another visit. See you soon Madre familia!

This was my second disappointing visit to this restaurant, and this one really got to me…read more We walked in as a group and were quoted an hour wait. While trying to find a seat at the bar in the meantime, we noticed several open tables around the restaurant. While on the waitlist, I checked the website and found an open reservation slot, so I booked it. When we arrived a few minutes before our reservation time, the table wasn't ready. After waiting again, I asked the hostess (a man with brown hair) how much longer it would be, but instead of answering, he argued with me about the fact that only a few minutes had passed since our reservation time; which wasn't what I'd asked. When I tried to explain that we'd booked the reservation because we'd already seen open tables while waiting, he just kept repeating the same point instead of listening. I walked away rather than continue going back and forth or be spoken to condescendingly, especially after already waiting since we'd arrived and simply wanting an honest estimate. My first visit here, I was served undercooked chicken. This time it wasn't a food safety issue, but the hostess's condescension was just as off-putting. Between that and the mismanaged seating, I won't be returning and wouldn't recommend visiting.

I had a pick three platter. The chicken salad was decent but not as good as Sassool. I also tried…read moretheir potatoes, which were on the vinegary side. The beets were on par with Sassool and the pomegranate salad had mostly strawberries. Vibes were nice, service was fine. Pretty easy to find parking on a Friday night.

We stopped in to visit and enjoy some Lebanese foods. We have been here a few times and enjoyed our…read morevisit but this past weekend our visit was very disappointing. We ordered the grape leaves, baklava, namoora and tabbouli. I am Lebanese and these are staples in our home. The grape leaves were extremely dry and tough. The rice was very undercooked and the leaves themselves were so dry and tough we could barely chew through them. We ordered 12 and thought maybe it was a fluke but all 12 were completely inedible and we threw them out immediately. The baklava was okay, nothing to write home about. Very simple syrup forward and you couldn't taste much else (we ordered the walnut). The namoora was stale. Very dry. Namoora should melt in your mouth with with a slight chew. This was again, tough and stale. We threw those out as well. Lastly, our favorite salad, tabbouli. The lemon taste was nonexistent. The parsley wasn't chopped fine as Tabbouli should be. It was a watery mess. Overall, we won't be back. We spent over $75 on 4 items and left feeling hungry and bamboozled. There are other Lebanese food spots to visit in the Raleigh area, I will stick to those. Please do better when representing Lebanese cuisine. 15 workers behind the counter can seem like you're doing something right but in the end, it all comes down to the freshness and authenticity of what you are claiming to serve.

Everything here! From the food, to the service, to the atmosphere is outstanding. It has a warm,…read moreinviting feel that makes you want to stay awhile. Highly recommend giving it a try!

This was a major disappointment. We'd been here once before for some friends' wedding celebration…read moreand thought the banquet/catering food was pretty good so decided to add it to the list to come back and check out their regular menu. Place was EMPTY on a Thurs at 6pm. Service was truly bad....like we had to get up after being seated for 15 minutes and ask the hostess if we could get a server to help us....in an empty restaurant. 40 minutes after being seated, we got our food. The food was just bad with the exception of the flatbread I ordered that was pretty tasty. My husband had the falafel and veggies and was given horrendously over seasoned and tough falafel with super under seasoned and undercooked veggies (like chunks of raw carrot). The other sides we ordered were a flavorless Fatoush salad and very mid rice. We never got the pita that was offered to us and after the second reminder, we just gave up on that. We tried it. Won't be back. There are WAY better options in the area for dinner.

Come within 2 hours of opening on a Sat/Sun for doner. Get the doner wrap or iskender (if you eat…read morea lot). It is the best doner around, just as good as what you get in Istanbul. They do run out of doner before dinner. The place is full at lunch, so come early. Delicious bread with a nice olive oil-based sauce is complimentary. They refill it, which is a very nice touch. Plenty of staff to take orders and clean. You will be in and out in an hour or less unless you need to wait for a table. Very impressive restaurant near downtown in Cary.

I came to Bosphorus on a Sunday evening for dinner with friends, and the restaurant was packed…read more Thankfully, we didn't have to wait too long for a table. The service was friendly, though it seemed like a team effort, so different staff members would take our order or bring out food instead of one dedicated server. That occasionally led to delays when we asked for refills or extra plates, and we usually had to repeat the request to our waitress later. For dinner, I shared the Kofta Kebab and Lahmacun with a friend, and the portion size was just enough for both of us to leave full. Unfortunately, parts of the kebab were burnt, so maybe we just caught them on an off night. Surprisingly, my favorite part of the meal was the warm pita bread they brought to the table. If you're looking to try Turkish food, Bosphorus is worth checking out, but I'd probably order different dishes next time or visit when it's a little less busy.

The decor and vibes at Taverna-Agora are homey and comfortable. We came for lunch on a weekday, and…read moreLynne was an amazing server who took great care of me and my family. She had great recommendations and was attentive and kind throughout the meal. We started with the Greek Spreads Trio, which comes with tzatziki, sun-dried tomato hummus, and spicy feta. All three were delicious, and I'd recommend getting this to try a little bit of everything. I had a Dirty Martini and my sister had the Berry Ginger Press Mocktail, both of which were great. The Lamb Burger was savory and delicious, and pairing it with the leftover dips from our appetizer made it even tastier. My side Greek Village Salad was fresh and paired nicely with the burger. I can't wait to come back with friends for dinner!

Such a fun rooftop, definitely don't skip sitting on the roof…read more When you arrive parking can be a bit difficult around the restaurant but there is street a couple blocks away if you don't mind walking. Walking in you'll feel like you've been transported to a village like, Greek atmosphere. To sit down you'll check in with the host and then be seated either inside or on the rooftop. We opted for the rooftop as it was a nice evening. To start I ordered the Baklava Old Fashioned (Bulleit bourbon, homemade baklava syrup, Angostura bitters, and Amarena cherries) which was amazing. Next we ordered the trio of all three spreads (Tzatziki, sun-dried tomato hummus, and spicy feta spread) and the calamari. Both dishes were excellent and I definitely prefer the spicy feta and tzatziki sauce. For my main course I ordered the Tomahawk Pork Chop (Chargrilled tomahawk chop, spinach, barrel-aged feta, herb aioli, Greek lemon potatoes) which was a bit disappointing. I probably should have sent the pork chop back as it was cooked well done and was very dry but was I was too hungry and didn't want to make my parents wait. For dessert I ordered Baklava Cheesecake (New York-style cheesecake with nuts and baklava filling) which was very nice and my mom ordered the Limoncello cake (lemon cake with lemon cream frosting) which was definitely the star of the show. If I'm back downtown I may try Taverna Agora again but will definitely avoid ordering the pork chop.

I absolutely love eating the fresh salads and sides at Sassool! It can get pretty busy during…read morelunchtime, so plan ahead if you're in a rush--but that just shows how good the food is. I usually order the two chicken skewer kabobs with rice, a super salad, and the jalapeño cilantro hummus. The hummus is *so* good that I often grab a small container to take with me when I travel. Everything tastes incredibly fresh, and you can really tell they use quality ingredients, especially with olive oil as a base. They offer both fresh pita and gluten-free pita, which is great for anyone with dietary restrictions. Honestly, I could make a meal just out of all the sides--they're that good. The menu is consistently solid, and I feel like you really can't go wrong with anything you order. It's a perfect spot for a low-key lunch or dinner. Also worth noting: on Tuesdays, kids eat free with a paying adult, which is a great bonus for families. Highly recommend!

The ambiance is nice and welcoming. This is an order and pay restaurant where you place your order…read moreat the counter, receive your food, and can sit anywhere you'd like. The portions are very generous, so if you can't finish your meal, it's easy to take the leftovers home. They conveniently provide to-go containers and bags for customers. One thing I found a bit challenging was the ordering process. There is a huge selection of food, which can be overwhelming for first-time visitors. I would have appreciated a little more guidance from the staff when making my choices, as I think it would have helped me order more confidently. Overall, it's a good place with plenty of options and great portion sizes.

It's good! Some people on here talking about the hummus like that should be the only deciding…read morefactor of a Mediterranean restaurant. News flash, hummus has 5 traditional ingredients. It isn't rocket science weirdos. Now the kabob rice and sides were great. People reviewing it like it's a fine dining experience. Not a sit down spot but good to sit for lunch or on the go food for an at home date/dinner. Grew up with Arabic and Mediterranean food and this is good. Go and try

I stopped in here for a quick lunch after shopping. I ordered their chicken shawarma and grape…read moreleaves combo with a drink. The shawarma is very different than what I'm used to in Michigan, but it was delicious and packed with chicken. The grape leaves were good and the tea was nice and strong. The guys working were very friendly. I will definitely stop here again.