everything is delicious. everyone who works there is friendly. one of my, if not my, favorite spots…read morein roanoke.

Wow, best we've ever had. If you like All the options of middle eastern street food: gyros,…read morefalafel, baklavas, hummus, falafel, shawarma, and kebabs, as well as salads like fattoush and tabbouleh, Baba ghanoush, dolmades and mansf. I've never seen such a wide variety of baklava The numerous options for spices and condiments was awesome to cover everyone's individual tastes In a nutshell, if you've never tried this style of food this would be a great introduction. ALL the ingredients are fresh! Portions are generous and the pricing is reasonable So give it a try and report back. We were in town visiting from west coast. I've eaten at several restaurants that serve this style of food. None compare

Food was great! Flavorful and fresh to order. Staff was helpful and friendly. Will definitely…read morereturn.

What I loved: Menu has a wide range of middle eastern…read morefavorites, stretching beyond the basics Cool grocery section with a good selection of spices and foods Lamb shank fish was fall off the bone, deliciousness What can be improved Counter service only. Shortcuts used to adapt traditional items to quick serve format (bolanee was closer to a fried quesadilla) Several items were not available.

The food was excellent. Had a wonderful experience at this small quaint restaurant in downtown…read moreRoanoke. The food was freshly made and served hot. Mohammad was very attentive and served us well. Highly recommend for lunch or dinner when in the city.

I travel a lot for work and when I can I seek out Lebanese food in various cities around the…read morecountry, and cedars definitely does it the best. Amazing food, quick service and wonderful staff. It would get 6 stars if yelp would allow!

This place is both a market and a restaurant. The market is limited, though some of the dried goods…read morelooked worthwhile. The restaurant isn't fancy, but it offers a nice vegetarian menu. I ordered some chickpeas and bread, not knowing the chickpeas already came with bread. That said, the thin, grilled, potato-filled bread is delicious when done right, which it was here. My chickpeas were delivered in a tomato-y preparation and provided needed substance to get me through the day. It's the sort of family run place where the kids were hanging out (perhaps a snow day for them). I could imagine them offering more on the market side, but the food I got was a good deal and I saw enough vegetarian options to be worth coming back.

A friend of mine that I hadn't seen in a while called me and invited me and another friend to have…read moredinner in this Afghan Restaurant the other evening. For some time now, I've been looking forward to eating here because I've been hearing many good things about this restaurant, that had been open for less than a year now. When we arrived it was already dark outside, but during this time of the year it gets dark early. The restaurant was well lit from outside and its sign on the small parking lot was lit from inside and had photos of some of their food. It also mentioned that their food was Halal quality. This means that it did not contain pork. Inside, the place was clean and decorated very simple with large size poster prints of photos from some of the cultures of the food and cuisine served here. The dining room was on the left of the building and had booths along the left wall and two persons tables and chairs as well. The owner and host came out and greeted us with a warm welcome, handing us copies of the menu which was very well designed with glossy photos next to the food entrées listed there. This was very helpful because it gave a visual sense of the food, of which many I didn't know, making it easier to order. To drink there were some large display refrigerators full of different drinks for us to reach and get one. To start with since this was our first time eating there, the owner brought us bowls of their Chicken Soup from thebAppetizers section in the menu. This soup was amazingly delicious. Simply the best Children Soup that I have ever had. I urge you to view the photographs that I took to accompany my review and you will get a better sense of it deliciousness. For it is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Then we decided to get several dishes to share among all of us imitating the culture of the cuisine. Among the entrées we ordered were: The Fresh Lamb Tikka Kabab, the Bulani kachalo, Chicken Beryani, the Qurma Potatoes, Chick Pea, Eggplant, Salad Afghani Style Plate Mix, and some Special bread. All the food looked wonderful and tasted even better. For dessert we had the Sherpayra (Milk Fudge) and Afghan Mixed Cookies with a cup of a Special Tea. Afterwards we took a tour of the Grocery, on the right side of the building, and observed all the items available, from foods, to rugs, to jewelry, to an indefinite variety of Afghan items. I highly recommend this restaurant as one of a kind, of its kind. The atmosphere is comfortable and relaxed, the food was amazingly delicious, and the service provided was very welcoming and friendly. I definitely think we should all support this new restaurant and tell our friends about it. I know I will enthusiastically.

A new restaurant has risen from the ashes of another. After a period of closure and renewal, the…read morespirit of Aly Baba Restaurant is reborn as Zico's, like a Phoenix rising from the ashes to offer an elevated dining experience. After being awarded the Triad Yelper of the Year 2024 Award at the Yelpies Award Ceremony last year, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And Zico's Restaurant in Salem, Virginia, is the perfect example. Zico's is conveniently located in the corner of 4th Street and Roanoke Blvd in Salem, Virginia. Immediately after hearing of the change, and attracted by its new name and logo, I drove to this location to experience first hand Zico's cuisine. The restaurant has a nice size parking lot right in front of it. Its owner and chef, Zico is a native Egyptian, with a warm and friendly personality, who specializes in authentic Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Italian cuisines, as well as Pizzas. As I entered its door he was the first one to give me a warm greeting and welcome me to his restaurant. It had one red brick wall, imitation hardwood floors, simple ceiling lamps, and a very interesting movable large TV screen with a beautiful outdoor Cafe scene. The background music perfectly complements the relaxing and cozy environment. In the main dining room it has very elegant and comfortable booths all around, and in a separate banquet room it has tables and chairs all lined up. The menu has an excellent variety of items representing the different cuisines. I ordered a Beef Shawarma Platter that came with a salad and Pita Bread with a special in house salad dressing and cream for the Pita Bread. The salad was so fresh and moist that it was a pleasure eating it. The Beef Shawarma was cooked with a special sauce made with cooked onions, green and red peppers, and some seasons that gave it an amazing flavor, one only equivalent to high-end restaurants with sofisticated and award winning chefs. The rice was also a good quality rice with wonderful flavor. I enjoyed the food so much that till the last grain of rice and savored evey minute of it. For dessert I ordered their only in-house made dessert, the Tiramisu. It was amazingly delicious. Like no other that I ever had. What an extraordinary dining experience. I have dined in the best restaurants and yet this restaurant's cuisine is exceptionally outstanding to the point of exceeding even the highest expectations. I highly recommend it and am looking forward to returning to try it's Italian and Greek cuisines.

You HAVE to try Zico (or Aly Baba, as I knew it!). The food…read moreis consistently top-notch. I highly recommend the kofta, which is perfectly seasoned and cooked, the incredibly flavorful shawarma, and the magnificent mussakaa--it's rich, comforting, and authentic. Beyond the delicious food, the standout feature is the service. The owner is the friendliest you will ever meet, always taking the time to make you feel welcome. It's that kind of genuinely warm, inviting atmosphere that keeps me coming back again and again. Whether you're a long-time fan of Aly Baba or discovering Zico for the first time, you won't be disappointed! This is a must-visit spot.

This review is mixed but overall this is one of the healthier choices we have here in the area…read more I had the beef and horseradish feast with the potatoes and Mediterranean salad. Everything was super fresh and delicious. Ingredients were fresh and served with perfection. I wish I could have this more frequently. My wife had the Kypelos pasta bowl with chicken. The cashier could not pronounce the word when we asked him how it was pronounced - he said didn't know. That should be a prerequisite to work there. My wife enjoyed her bowl but didn't think it was nearly as good as my entree, which we always sample each other's orders and I would have to agree - for once I got something that was better than her selection... The hummus was not as flavorful as I would have expected. There was also not enough pita bread for the dish. The mint tea was great and so was the soda bar. It was clean and neatly arranged. The cashier was otherwise very friendly as were everyone working behind the counter. Restrooms were neat and clean. Very nicely decorated and arranged and it was obvious that someone keeps an eye on cleanliness. If not for the minor things I've mentioned, I'd have given them 5 stars. My entree was 5 stars for sure and everything was flavorful and looked great when they plated it. I figure next time we visit I will get this again and I'm sure my wife will get a feast entree as well. Just a side note on an observation from the menu: I noticed on the menu the Baklava was listed as vegan. Does that mean that honey is not used in the recipe? Vegan by definition means that nothing of or derived from living things are used. It's inconceivable to think of baklava without honey... I wonder what is used instead? It is not a big deal but real baklava uses honey and a dish containing honey is not vegan. Overall, this was a very wonderful dining experience and the food was great. We will be back soon, and I plan on trying the Baklava. Give them a try!

Meh- Went for dinner on a Friday night about 5:00. Quite empty and still dirty (tables not bussed,…read morefloor still had food on it, food under tables) from lunch crowd. It's a fast food cafe- trying to not be one. Read the menu in the corner, move along a half wall to the register and order, it's brought to you. Wife ordered a falafel and quinoa bowl with roasted vegetables. I ordered a lamb gyro with tomato and cucumber salad. Both plates tasted like they had been prepared for lunch and we were served leftovers. Falafels were large, but very spicy. This was not mentioned anywhere. Vegetables were very mushy and mixed in with quinoa, almost unrecognizable. Pita was a pita chip, hard and crunchy. Wife did not finish it. Gyro was what I consider a half sandwich- half a dense pita filled with a few shreds of lettuce, a few tomatoes and some dried, char-tasting lamb. I still have the taste of charcoal in my mouth. If there was tzatziki sauce on the sandwich I did not taste it or see it. The sandwich came with an embarrassingly small amount of ridge potato chips, and my tomato-cucumber side salad. The salad was the only truly tasty item- everything else was relatively cold and blah. The owner (I assume the mature woman was the manager or owner) was friendly enough as we walked in, but never spent any time with us developing a customer relationship- although she talked to three singles. The cashier took my order and told me I was not correctly pronouncing something. A $40 meal that left us saying ,"We miss Athens Grille." Doubt we will return, not recommended.

Great food and awesome value. Food cooked fresh. Very friendly service. Definitely recommend.read more

It is said that good things come in small packages, and this tiny Mediterranean and Middle Eastern…read morerestaurant perfectly embodies this saying. Since it opened its doors in 2017 in Salem, Virginia, this small but very popular, family-owned restaurant by Egyptian immigrants is known for its fresh made-to-order gyros, falafel, and Greek salads, just to name a few. Today I had the opportunity to visit this restaurant and discover the qualities that make this tiny restaurant in the middle of nowhere so popular. Because of its small size, most of its customers orders are take outs. But it also has a counter inside with around 3 to 4 stools so that customers who prefer to eat their food in the restaurant can. When I arrived, I parked my Lexus in a space right in front of the restaurant and noticed that there are not that many parking spots around. That is another reason why most of its sells are take-out orders. Customers can either call in their orders and drop by to pick it up, or park for a few minutes, make their order, and watch it being made, and then take it with them to enjoy at home. In good, warm weather, they do have two picnic tables outdoors where their customers can eat. Inside, I was able to meet the husband of the family who runs the business. He was very friendly and kind, a native of Egypt with a wife and 5 siblings. He gave me a warm welcome and took my eat-in order. The menu (which had Halal food) was displayed inside a Coca-Cola stand. To drink I grabbed a Mountain Dew from their drinks display refrigerator they have with Coke products. To eat I ordered their Gyro Special: Gyro meat served with rice and a small salad. It came with a special salad dressing and a sauce to put on the meat. The kitchen and the restaurant itself were very clean and all the ingredients used were very fresh and quality products. I sat on one of the stools, in front of the counter and watched him prepare my food. After paying for it with a credit card, I began to enjoy eating it. The salad was very fresh, made right before my eyes. The meat was Broiled right then and there, and the rice had a yellow tone and tasted unbearably delicious! As I was eating, the owner/chef put up a sign on the counter that read: "Please wait. I'm praying. thank you." I then figured out he must be Muslim and as soon as he finished praying I said to him: "As-salamu alaykum." He appreciated my nice words. While I was there, two other customers came in and ordered takeout food. For dessert I ordered an in-house made Baklava. The shape didn't look so good but the flavor did taste good. He told me that I could eat it with my hands but since they didn't have a restroom to wash my hands afterwards, I asked for a plastic fork to eat it with. Their prices were very reasonable and their portions very generous. I paid for the Baklava and thanked him for the wonderful service. The food was so genuine and delicious that whenever I'm in this area next time, I will definitely stop by and dine there again.

Best selection and prices! The Middle Eastern take out…read morefoods are fresh and so delicious. A must try. Friendly family business with excellent personal service.

From the owner: Family owned business with separate operations. Main floor is you local neighborhood smoke shop. We…read morehave all of your smoking needs and if we don't, we will make sure to have it for you next time. Second part of the business is our middle eastern take out and catering service. Everything is homemade and from scratch. Feel free to call if you have any questions

This cafe is a small location but a prominent one in Roanoke's downtown. It was open when not a ton…read moreof things were, and had an impressive menu including numerous vegetarian and vegan options. Sometimes it's the simple things in life, though, and rather than go for a more complex platter when I found that you could get a bagel with falafel in it, I found my breakfast. There is a za'atar bagel available, which adds an extra flavor note to what was a compelling and filling breakfast. Their display of desserts was sufficiently impressive (and several of these were labeled vegan as well) that I decided to sample a baklava labeled as the Burma flavor. I couldn't figure out what the sweet pistachio mix had to do with Myanmar, but whatever was in there was good. I did not get a beverage in part because I didn't read the whole menu; maybe I missed out. Regardless, the food they offered was great for vegetarian diets, substantial, and delicious, and you'd struggle to find better in this part of the country or in most other parts of the country.

The interior is a little busy because there are a lot of items but staff are nice and patient. He…read moreoffered free chai samples to everyone. The chai was not too sweet and had a nice light cinnamon/clove flavor but the tea wasn't strong enough for me. They have 16 flavors of homemade baklava and Dubai chocolate and Dubai chocolate strawberries. I ordered a four berry banana smoothie, sample 1, gyro burrito and an iced Turkish coffee to go. There were two sizes of coffee on the menu but he immediately charged me the larger size without asking if I wanted that. I figured I needed the caffeine since I barely had any sleep so it was fine but just be mindful to anyone else. I've had Turkish coffee in Turkiye so I know it's strong and knew what I was looking for. Unfortunately the coffee neither strong nor good tasting. It had a nutty flavor profile and felt watered down. I finished half the cup during the day and was still very tired. The berry smoothie was good and tasted like berries. If you don't like bananas in your smoothie, you can still get this one because it doesn't taste like bananas at all. The sampler 1 included hummus, baba ganoush, salad, falafel and tzatziki. The hummus is fine. The baba ganoush was lacking in terms of flavor and I was disappointed because I really like baba ganoush. The falafel were crispy and moist. The gyro burrito was full of rice. There was only eat in one quarter of the burrito which seems a little ridiculous considering it was around $11-12. There were barely any vegetables in the burrito. Maybe that was my fault for getting a "fusion" item instead of a shawarma or a platter. The lamb gyro meat didn't really have a lot of flavor.

Looks very abandoned when you walk in. Dimmed lights and no one but one person working. We thought…read morethey only ordered takeout because no one came for a good 5 minutes after we went in and we had already looked over the menu. We already knew what we wanted by the time we were seated. The dining area was dark. There was a large TV on screensaver. All of the tables had silverware but we really thought maybe it was only takeout until dinner service or only opened on certain days. Bottom line, don't let the dim lights deter you from a dine in experience. Of course I got the cheesesteak and he got the beef shawarma. He said his was too salty and nothing special. It came with some rice, salad, and a side of bread. Mine came with... American cheese. This is a first for me. Sad because it could have been good had they used the correct cheese. The fries were odd, unseasoned, and dry. We both think it could have been older oil used for the fries. I didn't finish them. We skipped the store bought dessert that was in the display. I think they're from Sam's if that makes a difference. I suppose someone would like them. I prefer something that is homemade with my restaurant desserts. Friendly service albeit absent. We got our food and never got a chance to order drinks. It's tough to be a one-man show! I might go back and try something else. I'm on the fence. He says we should try again another time. He definitely wouldn't reorder the shawarma and wanted to try the pizza. The parking lot was private so there's plenty of parking. You can't miss the green, white, and red signage and pillars decorating the building.

Ordered to go. Started with the Greek salad and the Grilled Chicken Pita Wrap. The salad was a…read moregenerous serving, fresh and well prepared. Feta, olives, salad greens with tomato and some peppers with sliced onions. A decent salad to start. The Grilles chicken was cooked nicely, stuffed in a fresh pita with lettuce and tomato along with a nice yogurt dressing. This is a large wrap and totally splitable. I had half a wrap leftover for my lunch the next day. I wanted something sweet too, so ordered a slice of Baklava aling with a piece of Pecan Pie. Both were okay, the baklava was the better of the two. The pie was okay, on the small side for what was charged. This is a decent place to grab some mediterrean style food, served its purpose. 3 Stars it met my needs and was pretty good overall. 01022