This place is the gold standard of Mediterranean food in the Iowa City area--while I tend to prefer…read moreLebanese to similar regional cuisines (this place is Egyptian IIRC), this has been stellar from day one. Excellent service in restaurant or grocery, superbly prepared food (the chicken, folks--try the chicken and the fries), fair prices for good portions--this place deserves to be packed all the time. This is a go-to whenever I need comfort skewers.

We were on our way back home from Trek Fest (Yes, we are geeks) and wanted food. As we are inclined…read moreto do, we looked up several sorts. We settled on middle eastern, and this is where we ended up. We went pretty simple. Lamb Kofta sandwich, hummus and baba ganoush. Wow, everything was spectacular. The sandwich had tahini, onions and peppers on wonderful pita bread. The pita bread alone was worth the stop, we should have brought some home with us (did I mention they have a store there as well?) The hummus was smooth and understated and very good. Slightly different than I expected, but it was a good different. The baba ganoush was amazing. Rich and flavorful. This is now on our list of places to make sure we are passing through in time for a meal (its a big list). This was a wonderful find!

Wow, what a difference a year makes!! Our waitress made sure our drinks were always full and did a…read moregreat job on checking to make sure everything was perfect. Speaking of perfect....our beef tenderloins were perfect. Not to mention the truffle risotto. It's AMAZING!!!!! The place wasn't too busy so it made for a nice laid back Friday night. Was leery about going back after my last time here but I'm so glad we did! My only complaint is that took the beef Wellington bites off their appetizers, but I understand the need to change. Can't wait to try some of the new stuff on the menu but it'll be hard to get away from the beef tenderloin.

Vesta is a great spot. We went there for valentine's day dinner and it delivered a meal with good…read morefood, service, and atmosphere. FOOD: I got a pretty basic salad and a side of mashed potatoes. My partner got the scallops. Both were perfectly good. DRINKS: we both enjoyed a Valentine's special drink (champagne with other ingredients, which we opted to forgo) which was very well priced. SERVICE: friendly and efficient. Our server did a great job while also being the perfect amount of friendly. AMBIANCE: perfect for casual or a more upscale outing!

I found this spot randomly when looking for a quality cafe/coffee spot with healthy lunch options…read more We were certainly pleased with the quality and selections. I didn't do the coffee but my friend enjoyed her iced latte. We shared an almond croissant and I must say, I'm generally not drawn to them. But THIS one just begged to be tried and it was the BEST pastry I've had, in ages. Truly so fresh, flakey and moist. I had to buy another to go as they are my moms favorite. Absolutely try them or get one for dessert, afternoon snack, or just because they are fabulous. Since we were meeting up to connect after far too long, we did a progressive lunch of sorts. The deconstructed falafel bowl was an easy choice for me as I wanted to get plenty of veg but also enjoy the classic Mediterranean flavors. These falafel are crafted very well - the herbs, spices, texture & quantity all make this salad top notch as a light but filling lunch. The thin layer of hummus underneath the salad made for a nice dressing of sorts. With the side of pita, I might have liked a bit more hummus to enjoy but ultimately had more food than I needed so truly can't complain. We split a few other treats for dessert - the cookie butter macaroon and the tiramisu parfait. The cookie was tasty, classic and certainly sweet. With a coffee alongside I think it would be a great treat to end a meal. The tiramisu was my choice and the espresso flavor I was craving paired with the creamy layers was just what I needed to end the meal. Definitely would come back another time when in the area to enjoy it all again, or maybe try more! The freshness and flavors of each item were impressive and I highly recommend you check this spot out if you haven't yet!

Great cafe joint with a trendy atmosphere. I had a chocolate croissant with cold brew. I'd like to…read moretry their lunch items next time as those looked delish. Check them out if you are in the mood for cafe style food or drinks. The pita bread looks good but did not try it. The service was good.

It is are-you-kidding-me good. I came back two days in a row while in town because I found a taste…read moreexplosion sandwich in my life for a second time. Try the chicken shawarma pita and pay the extra for the hard boiled egg and feta. Best sandwich ever! I would have eaten in, but I took it to go both times. Restaurant is clean and service is quick.

Food tastes good but the portion was smaller than expected and not what I thought I was getting for…read morethe price. This could probably be fixed by showing the bowl sizes when you're ordering. Workers were nice! The look and feel weren't anything to write home about, but that's alright!

Stopped in for gyro combo this evening. The gentleman behind the counter was very polite and…read morefriendly. He enthusiastically took my order and began preparing it promptly. The gyro came on a warm, fresh and pillowy pita. It was stuffed with lots of gyro meat, fresh tomatoes, onions and lettuce. The sauce was very flavorful. The combo comes with your choice of a canned soda or bottled water. And a huge serving of french fries. The fries were piping hot, crispy and salted to perfection. My order was for home. The restaurant is small and offers seating for around 12. The restaurant was spotlessly clean and tidy. Consider stopping for a tasty Mediterranean speciality. https://www.kandakamediterranean.com

No silverware, napkins, water, ketchup, no toilet paper in bathroom or paper towel in dispenser…read more(women's.) naan was so thick and hard that the plastic forks and knives wouldn't cut through it. My naan was shaped like a canoe so I also couldn't fold it up to eat it. Said it would take 20-25 minutes for food. We waited 50 minutes and were the ONLY customers.

Omg. This place is amazing. Delicious!!!!!!!!! Creative vegan food so fresh and flavorful. I can't…read morewait to come back!! Hey, go there right now if you can!!! It's also really cool inside!

This is by far possibly the best vegan food I have had in a long time, possibly Iowa city's best!…read more[from the opinion of a long time vegan] The options are amazing and ALL VEGAN food! This was my birthday dinner & I starved all day so I could enjoy this meal to the full extent & WOW was it worth it! The scenery is quiet, I also was the last client of the day, but they were kind & did not try to run us out of there. They were also very accommodating to my young & tired 3 year old child. The food was so good omggg delicious! My husband is an Omni & I did not tell him it was a vegan place bc I thought he would become annoyed that he may god forbid have to go to a dinner without biting into a mooing cow... He WAS NOT annoyed & enjoyed his soup du jour A LOT in fact he even said he'd go back there! [I make vegan food at home but he prefers meat at restaurants] so that's pretty huge.

Stopped by to pick up an early dinner. Food was hot and ready. Matthew gave awesome service.read more

I love that the North Liberty area is getting more options for take out, so I had to try The Halal…read moreGuys. The menu is basically two main items: sandwiches or platters. The platters come with choice of protein, rice, pita, and toppings. I got the sandwich with chicken and honey sriracha falafel. It comes with choice of toppings and white sauce. I also got an order of fries. It was all very good and fresh as they mostly make to order. Warning: the hot sauce packet they include is very hot! They do have a couple tables if you want to eat in, but it is mostly designed for takeout. You may need to wait in line a bit as the food is made as well. Overall, it's a nice addition to the other food options in the area.

Was trying to go to another place in Old Cap but it was closed. Glad it was. Walking in I saw 15 to…read more20$ prices and was thinking fast food costs. The food we got In return was well worth the cost. The gyro sub was huge and filling. I got filed up which usually doesn't happen at most restaurants. Food had great flavor and was well portioned for the price. The store is small and not many staff so things take a bit. The food is well worth it though. If you are nearby go to this place and enjoy.

I recommend Zolly's Grill. I ordered the spicy gyro chicken sandwich with added onion and Swiss…read morecheese, plus a side of spicy popcorn chicken chunks--both were absolutely delicious and packed with flavor. The atmosphere leans more toward takeout. There is seating available, but several booths are ripped and the interior feels a bit run down. Service was decent overall. I came in late with about an hour left before closing, and the owner or staff member was seated at a table, but he got up almost immediately, took my order, and the food came out fast. My only real hesitation about returning would be the price, but the food quality itself was solid.