Counter service with open seating concept indoor and outdoor. Service was friendly and helpful. Food was delicious and fresh! The hummus in particular was amazing! Great place go eat in a nice day as the indoor dining is still pretty open. It was busy but not noisy. I'm leaving this reviewing having noticed that they have unfortunately closed! My hope is they find a new location and keep the same menu! read more

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We came to Pomella after seeing Check, Please where they featured Ba-Bite. Found that the owners of Ba-Bite closed back in 2018 due to a landlord dispute and reopened as Pomella during the height of the pandemic. Pomella is located near Kaiser in Oakland. It's in the same little plaza as Dona. We ordered two items - a chicken wrap and the chicken tagine. Let me tell you, the wrap was full of pickled goodness. I loved the pickled veggies so much - perfectly tart and crispy that complemented the warm wrap and marinated chicken. The juices that kept dripping from both the pickled veggies and the juicy chicken was so flavorful that I would take bites from my wrap and try to use the drippings as a dipping sauce. I could probably get extra pita bread just to lap up the extra juice drippings. The chicken tagine, however, was a bit bland. Maybe it was an off day, but we didn't enjoy it as much as the wrap. The couscous was the smaller version and slightly dry. read more

Pomella - Took another photo of the chicken wrap because it deserves a second pic - Middle Eastern Near Me - Oakland, California

The food is amazing!! I'm so sad this place is closing. The hummus was so creamy, the Brussel sprouts were delicious, the pita was soft... I could go on and on. I will be going back as many times as I can before the close. The outdoor seating was fabulous on a nice day and the staff was so kind. A definite neighborhood gem read more

Pomella - Hummus Plate with chicken, Fried Brussels with Pixie Mandarin, Falafel, Majadra Plate with eggplant, lemon saffron shrimp - Middle Eastern Near Me - Oakland, California

Probably a 2.5 Chicken didn't have much flavor, some rubbery pieces in there. Pita was not soft and fluffy but crunchy and dense. Hummus had almost no flavor. Employees were pleasant. I just couldn't find much to like about the food. Nice outdoor seating area, still enjoyable on a hot day. read more

Pomella - Hummus Plate - Middle Eastern Near Me - Oakland, California

I'm going to be thinking about those Brussel sprouts and cauliflower for years to come.... And maybe that pistachio baklava too. I came here for a work event and so everything was buffet style and I got to try it all! The hummus was a hit, the service was top notch, and the drinks were unique and delicious. read more

I came here to eat with my mother in law on Friday night. Other than the parking in the area, this place was amazing! I had one of theie rice plates (pomegranate eggplant) and some baklava for dessert. We ate the cheesy falafel for an appetizer also. The staff was friendly when it came to picking items on the menu to eat, too and offering their suggestions. This would be such a great place to once the weather gets better but thankfully they had heat lamps so it wasn't too cold. Can't wait to try even more on the menu next time I go with her, highly recommend this place! read more

Amazeballs. So well thought of. From the sauces to the desserts. The cheese stuffed falafels are the best I've ever had. The Chicken Tagine is soulful and generous in its portioning. We had the lamb burrito thing and it was so soulful and delicious. Drinks all get a thumbs up and the space itself is warm and inviting. We had them cater a memorial this last weekend and the falafel balls were the hit. Thank you guys. read more

I visited Pomella with some friends when we were hanging out in the Piedmont area. Everything on the menu looked delicious, and I went back and forth on whether to order the tagine or a combination of mezze items. I opted for the veggie tagine and a side of hummus + falafel to share with my friends. We grabbed a seat outdoors while we waited for our food - there was plenty of seating indoors and outdoors, and the outdoor seating is secluded from the parking lot by lush greenery. The food was brought out quickly, and we were surprised by the generous portion sizes. In fact, my tagine was able to stretch for two and a half meals! We should have definitely ordered family-style and tried more of the mezze plates; however, we were all very satisfied with what we ordered. The tagine was well-spiced, the falafel wasn't dry (which tends to be its downfall at other restaurants), and the hummus was smooth and creamy. I imagine I'll be back soon because I'm still dreaming about the hummus and falafel. read more

Pomella - Hummus with falafel - Middle Eastern Near Me - Oakland, California

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A tasty spot for Mediterranean food on Piedmont. My friends and I came for an early dinner Monday evening at 5 and we were one of the few parties there. The restaurant shares the same building as dona, and we were a bit confused where Pomella was until we walked through the parking lot to the side of the building and saw the Pomella sign. There's a small parking lot next to the restaurant, but we didn't realize this and got a metered spot on the same block. Pomella has both indoor and outdoor seating. It was a nice day out, so we decided to sit outdoors. There are heaters available for outdoor seating. The way ordering works here is you order inside and grab your food when the buzzer goes off. In fact, everything is self service here, including getting water and putting the dirty dishes and cups back after you're done eating. If I had known that, I would've given a little bit less tip when ordering. I asked the cashier about their most popular dishes, and she said for the rice plates the chicken and the lamb sirloin were the most popular meats, so I opted for a rice plate with the lamb sirloin and saffron rice ($17.50). I also got the almond paste baklava ($7.50 for 4 pieces) to share. My lamb sirloin rice plate was super tasty. It came loaded with a good amount of rice, vegetables, and the yogurt tahini sauce. I really liked the lamb, which was very flavorful, but I wish there was more of it. When I still had 1/3 of my rice left, I was already out of lamb. I ended up taking my rice home and eating it with some leftover meat I had in the fridge. My friend got the chicken rice plate with lentils, and he really enjoyed that. I took a bite and thought his dish tasted better than mine, since they load it with a ton of fried onions. We were very disappointed by the baklava. It was overly sweet even for baklava, and we really had to struggle to finish it. I'd love to come back and try another one of their rice plates next time, maybe with the lentils! read more

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This was a cute restaurant with a nice outside area! They had great options for vegetarian and meat. They actually had vegetarian options that wasn't falafel so my wife was a huge fan! Pros: lots of options in the menu, good spicy sauces Cons: lamb could have been spicier, almond baklava was too sweet Ambiance: 4/5 Taste:4/5 Value:4/5 Service:4/5 read more

This review is only for the shwarma spice lamb sirloin saffron rice plate I just inhaled. My friends and all ordered the same dish and loved it! The portions are generous. It was delicious, flavorful, the lamb was tender and it was loaded with veggies for extra texture. All the ingredients were perfectly married together and the hot sauce on the side made it even better! We sat in the outdoor patio area on a warm day and it was quite busy on a Monday for lunch. The staff was nice and helpful and the restroom upstairs was clean. There is paid metered parking at the parking lot in front and more metered parking and free parking on the street. I saw the meter maid making her rounds so make sure you feed your meter! We also ordered the lemonade and it was delicious. The perfect balance or sweet and sour. Just the way I like it. I'll definitely be back to try other items. read more

Pomella - Shawarma spiced lamb sirloin with Saffron Rice - Middle Eastern Near Me - Oakland, California

Pomella will always be a ten out of ten for me. Fresh ingredients and fresh herbs great customer service and great ambiance. They've never disappointed me my go to is the salmon saffron bowl. I normally eat half for lunch and half for dinner. So next time you drive past this hidden gem don't forget to stop by and grab you a bowl or pita with a side of hummus. You won't be disappointed tell them Nya sent you Muah read more

Whelp. Now that I've scrolled through some of these reviews, don't I feel a little sheepish writing this? Between all of the photos and the positive reviews, it seems I may have done a horrible job with ordering... When my friends and I decided to stop into Pomella for dinner, I had no idea what kind of food they even served, let alone just how popular and beloved they seem to be. Personally, I just thought the look of the place was pretty cute and that their outdoor seating was perfect for such a warm night! As I skimmed through the menu, I was pleasantly surprised by how many things caught my eye. The menu initially didn't seem super extensive, but there's actually a ton of options to choose from amongst their varieties of cold mezzes, hot mezzes, salads, wraps, rice plates, hummus plates, and tagines/stews. Which, in turn, is the reason why I wonder if I just chose poorly - with so many tasty looking dishes, surely I didn't get their best, right? -- FALAFEL (6pcs) with Tahini Sauce...$6 (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/pomella-oakland?select=0zohdZMh_TKsJ_Zx1z3_GA) Honestly, these were such a bummer. The taste of them didn't seem bad, but it was hard to say for sure given how overcooked they were. Every piece was far more crunchy than crispy and super dry (the tahini helped, but it could only do so much). -- LAMB KEFTA RICE PLATE with Saffron Rice, Grilled Vegetables, and Yogurt-Tahini Sauce...$18.50 (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/pomella-oakland?select=xjUTMTtyU8x4DUKoTfVJVA) Perhaps my hopes were too high? While the kefta itself was okay, the rest of the plate didn't do it for me. The rice (which there was a ton of) was both hard and bland and the veggies had a strong, herbaceous flavor that I found a bit overwhelming. Truly, it kind of kills me that I didn't have the same sort of experience with Pomella that so many others have had. However, while nothing about my meal was awful, it was undeniably underwhelming. Based on the bite of my friend's chicken tagine that I tried, I might have had better luck with that or one of the wraps and salads that the folks at our neighboring tables seemed to be enjoying. In the end, I wouldn't make it a point to come back and find out, but in the event we're in the area and I do, it's definitely something I'll keep in mind! read more

Pomella - Lamb Kefta Rice Plate with Saffron Rice, Grilled Vegetables, and Yogurt-Tahini Sauce - Middle Eastern Near Me - Oakland, California

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I was pleasantly surprised by this place! The flavors in everything were distinct and done differently than most places that serve similar dishes. I ordered the hummus plate, which serves a TON of hummus. They ask if you want extra pita, which I do think you need, but wish they just gave you to begin with, lol. The cheese stuffed falafel are absolutely delicious, and NOT dry!!! Yay. My partner tried the chicken and shrimp mezzes with the pita. Shrimp was a little lacking, could have had more lemon, but the chicken was yummy. Both of us enjoyed the pita a lot, as well as the green hot sause. I tried it a second time, and the wrap version of the falafel was ok. It was huge, but leftovers got soggy fast. I added feta to it, which was a $2 upgrade. The outdoor ambience is absolutely lovely, with lots of seating available, but nicely secluded from the parking lot/road. Overall good, but I wish they would adjust the portions to make more sense and not have so many additional fees. read more

This was a beautiful spot to check out on the border of Berkeley and Oakland. The decor is indoor outdoor appropriate. We sat ourselves outside after ordering. The service wasn't so great minus the one star in my review. No one ever checked on us if we needed water or how our food was. We saw waiters running around, however, I think the restaurant was moreso self-service other than the food being brought to us. The ambiance was gorgeous aesthetic. The food choices were had were Mediterranean inspired fusion with Mexican. I had a great time catching up with girlfriends here. The menu is more earthy and clean eating for my taste just a heads up! read more

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Love their falafel. Their flatbread is wonderful. Just those two things would be enough -- but try the falafel wrap! Amazing. Make sure it's hot and fresh and it's all you need for lunch. Great little local business w lots of heart! read more

I have been so intrigued by this place after seeing the owner featured often in Mornings on 2 and via Instagram. Could not be more excited to have been treated here to lunch with the kids for the first time. It's a very nice outdoor space as well as indoor space that is bright and colorful. We ordered the saffron roasted Cauliflower salad, falafel wrap, coucus with lamb and beet salad. The food is so very colorful and delicious! The flavors are "exotic" in that the combinations are quite new to me. My cauliflower salad cam with a side of sauce, maybe dressing that was delicate with a hint of curry and a slight tanginess. I added some lamb that was also flavorful and tender. Yummy! My one not is that the cauliflower could have been roasted more. The kids enjoyed all of their meals with the portions being so nice that we all had leftovers. I also had the hibiscus tea which was unsweetened. No problem because the flavor of the hibiscus really came through. There was a nice variety of items to go such as desserts, hummus, pickled veggies, etc I can't wait to come back!! Support this amazing local business! Parking is tough so best to park on Howe Street and walk over. You can also park at the Kaiser garage in Howe. It might be free on the weekends. read more

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This was my first time there. Nice area but the food was bland. Not sure I would return.

One of my favorite lunch places on Piedmont Ave. alongside Doña, which is convenient as they share the same space. I enjoy their salads (the Shirazi composed salad, when they have it, is great) and their warm vegetable tagine with couscous. Their desserts and snacks are fun too; I usually get a nutty halva or baklava. I love that they have a reusable takeout container option, tons of outdoor seating (that fills up at noon), and efficient ordering/pickup areas. Sometimes takeout is a bit backed up, so I'd recommend placing your order, going on a walk around the block, and coming back for it. read more

In Oakland's vast array of terrific restaurants, Pomella stands out for offering a unique menu, beautifully prepared, at an affordable price. A true fusion of different middle Eastern cuisines, there is no similar restaurant in this foodie town. read more

Great spot. Hummus: nice and smooth. Hummos aficionados will still argue about it, but his is a great version of hummos, and for those of you who have only had storebought, you should try this. Pita: was nice and fluffy and served warm. Eggplant with pomegranate and a side of saffron rice : tasty, however it needed more pomegranate. I didn't see any seeds or any pomegranate molasses and it would have benefited from both. The saffron rice is served with veggies, which this time included red and white onion, green pepper, and zucchini. These are not my favorite veg, but I felt healthy. Next time I will order the shawarma lamb mujidara rice. Shawarma lamb sirloin with side of mujidara rice: this was yummy, yummy, yummy. The rice has a nice cinnamon flavor. The lamb is not fatty and tastes good. Sauce and lentils and rice help stretch the modest amount of meat such that the dish will fill you up. In the past we have ordered other things, like chicken shawarma and fried cauliflower appetizer and neither blew us away, so I think when one reads other reviews and sees some raves and some meh, it is about what was ordered. I will for sure be back for the lamb shawerma rice, the hummos, and some rotating side dishes. Seating indoors and out. Outside had heaters overhead. Next to Dona, so if you want Mediterranean and your friend wants Mexican, everyone is happy. Parking can be tricky but you will find something soon enough. read more

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Consistently delicious food. We've tried the hummus, lamb, falafel and cheese falafel, plates, and wraps -- everything is fresh and high quality. Love it! read more

Rarely do I find myself surprised by how good food tastes. It happens, but it's rare. Their chicken wrap was really something, or maybe I had low expectations. Whatever it was, it was freakn amazing. The best part about the wrap was that it was filled with healthy ingredients like cucumber, lettuce tomatoes, and chicken. The wrap itself wasn't like a burrito, but more of a thin naan. It tasted fresh and it felt good going down into my tummy :) read more

Pomella - Chicken wrap. Really not the best picture but WOW was this a surprise. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Oakland, California

I have been to Pomella a few times now and have always enjoyed my meal! The service is always fab! They have both indoor and outdoor seating. Their outdoor seating is my favorite place to sit- it is mostly under a covered patio, and has heaters! I went this past Sunday with a group of friends and enjoyed everything I had which included: 2 orders of cheese stuffed falafel (pictured)- my fave! Hummus and pita - yum as always Side of chicken shishlik - first time trying, great flavor Chocolate cheese cake with torched meringue - this isn't always on the menu, it was a special. I took this home and ate over a couple of days. So good! If you love or want to try Israeli style food with a California flare- check out Pomella! read more

Pomella - Cheese-Stuffed Falafel a d a piece of Pita - Middle Eastern Near Me - Oakland, California

Finally made it to Pomella, a restaurant that's been on my wishlist for a while. Tried the Lamb Wrap--an amazing combo of house-made Laffa flatbread, hummus, cabbage salad, Shirazi salad, and your choice of protein, topped with tahini and green lemon sauce (not spicy). It was worth the wait! Conveniently located near a hospital, which was perfect for me after a routine check-up--I just walked a block over after my lab work. Plus, there's a public parking lot behind the restaurant, making it even more convenient for pick up. Waited around 15 minutes for my food, but it was definitely worth it. read more

Pomella - Lamb Wrap - Middle Eastern Near Me - Oakland, California

I'm so glad I finally got to try Pomella. Service was friendly and fast. We both ordered the saffron rice plate, but opted for chicken and lamb. The freshly made mint lemonade was refreshing and not overly sweet. They also offer home made green and red hot sauce which is a bonus. The green is more tangy in flavor, while the red is more smokey. The restaurant has outdoor seating which we enjoyed. If you are looking for a casual dinner or lunch spot, the serves up simple, yet high quality Mediterranean dishes, you have to try it out. read more

Pomella - Chicken Shishlik & Lamb Kefta Rice Plate w Saffron Rice - Middle Eastern Near Me - Oakland, California

This was so disappointing. I can't understand the other positive reviews. I don't know what food they were eating. The majadra (mujadara) was downright DISGUSTING. It tasted like it was sugar-sweetened for some reason. Other than that strange sweetness, there was no flavor. Gross. The mujadara at Zaytoon in Albany is about 100x better. Not even the fried onions tasted good. The falafel is labelled on DoorDash as having 4 pieces. Instead, I got 8 tiny balls. The falafel had no flavor at all. At least the tahini was good. The fries had no salt on them. I never had to add salt to fries before this. I would never go here again. Before the owner replies to say "no John ordered from DoorDash this day", yeah it's because we used my buddy's account, not mine. read more

Nice spot for a casual lunch or dinner - they have a lot of outdoor seating, first come first serve. It wasn't the best meal (maybe I should've gotten a salad), but I enjoyed it. I got a falafel wrap which was massive. Adding hot sauce was $2, which felt a bit silly. In the end I thought it was just ok - the falafel was tasty but the wrap was just very soggy and uninteresting. You must go to Fava in Berkeley for a beautiful wrap. Lamb rice bowl was tasty, a bit 1Dimensional in taste, but still large and satisfying I regret not trying one of the salads, perhaps I will come back one day to do so read more

Pomella - Middle Eastern Near Me - Oakland, California

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I remember feeling pretty bummed when I found out Ba-Bite closed sometime before the pandemic hit because they offered really fresh Mediterranean bowls that I came back for periodically. Then Ba-Da Boom Ba-Da-Bing, and now I see this expansive space across from that location on Piedmont Avenue which turns out to be run by chef Mica Talmor who ran Ba-Bite. Jamie W. and I were taking a Saturday afternoon stroll when I noticed the appetizing menu. At first, we were confused since they share the space with Dona, the hipster progenitor of Dona Tomas. However, we gained clarity as we made our way through the parking lot to find the terrace area bustling. We coincidentally gravitated toward the same order, the $17 Shawarma-Spiced Lamb Sirloin Rice Plate which was more conveniently served in a bowl. It came on a bed of saffron rice with grilled vegetables and quite a ladleful of yogurt-tahini sauce (photo: https://bit.ly/3tEOb71). Even though I could've done with less sauce, it was delicious in the fresh manner I recalled vividly with Ba-Bite. Glad to see Mica bounce back so well with this new space. FOOD - 4 stars...fresh Mediterranean done right AMBIANCE - 4 stars...a more open space than before still on Piedmont Avenue SERVICE - 4 stars...efficient and unobtrusive TOTAL - 4 stars...Ba-Bite is back with space and style.. Ba-Da-Boom Ba-Da-Bing Ba-Da-Bite RELATED - Exploring Temescal? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2I0RAHj read more

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Worst meal I've ever had! Do not recommend! It's not authentic middle eastern food! I've been sick all weekend

Love how colorful the space is! There is indoor and outdoor seating. The food came out pretty fast which was great. Chicken Tagine- Couscous can naturally be a bit dry, needed a bit more moisture and a sauce. Otherwise it was delicious and the portion can feed two! Chicken Saffron Rice Plate- The rice didn't have much of a saffron flavor and the dish didn't have many spices, a bit plain. Portion also large! Falafel- Flavorful and warm! We ordered their homemade Hibiscus Tea and Spa Water drinks and they were both fresh, light and flavorful. They have precooked meals near the register! read more

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Amazing authentic food. Perfectly prepared and fresh. Four of us shared several dishes. Hummus, kefta, jicama, fried cauliflower, lamb , shrimp, pita bread, pickled vegetables, salads. Everything was delightful. Friendly helpful staff, cute bright and welcoming and clean space. Meter parking lot too. read more

Amazing food - anything on the menu is amazing . The place is warm and the atmosphere is so inviting - highly recommended! read more

Pomella - So many amazing dishes - amazing Hummus , Cheese-Stuffed Falafel is a must , Falafel and so much more - highly recommended:) - Middle Eastern Near Me - Oakland, California

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I've been here a couple of times now and have had pleasant dining experiences. I really love the outdoor dining seating options- especially on a warm day. Food: the highlights for me are the shrimp and rice bowl, the falafels, and the falafels filled with CHEESE. The desserts are also a winner IMO! My partner loves the halva and I really enjoyed my lemon pannacotta. (lamb keftka was mid, and the wrap got super soggy and wet after sitting on the plate for a little) Price is a little high but honestly, its fresh and good for a night out. read more

Pomella is a very aesthetic restaurant with spacious indoor and outdoor seating. This is a place where you go up to a counter and order yourself. I had the Lamb Kefta with Saffron Rice ($18). You have the option of choosing between Saffron (rice, grilled vegetables, yogurt-tahini sauce) or Majadra (rice, lentils, pine nuts, yogurt-tahini sauce) for the rice plates. The meal was delicious, but there were only 3 pieces of meat and the Saffron Rice portion was overpowering. Also, it looks like a lot of yogurt-tahini sauce in the photo, but it ended up not being enough. read more

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Ordered through a food delivery service, Uber Eats for my birthday lunch at work. The food was ok, not as I recall from last time I ordered the same meal for my birthday last year. I ordered the hummus falafel dish with a side of feta and tatziki. The feta was rotten, sticky and smelly, and the pita seemed stale. Too bad, not sure I'd try again for the price tag of $48. Crazy for such a small dish and a few tiny sides. read more

Our family absolutely loves Pomella. We have ordered take out, pick up and dined in person. We love the wraps, the plates, mezze, drinks and desserts. We have never ordered something we didn't like. My absolute favorite is the fried cauliflower in tahini sauce. The people I live with love pickles and the mixed pickles here are among their favorites. If all you order is the hummus and pita chips, you will leave happy. Some sort of magic is used when creating the hummus, I have asked for the secret and was told by staff it was love, whatever the secret is, the hummus is light and fluffy. The space is super welcoming with both indoor and outdoor seating. Restrooms are upstairs, there is an elevator. Staff are always friendly and helpful. I am on the Pomella email list, by choice, and I love how the owner celebrates her employees and on their birthdays she interviews them. read more

Don't waste your money. Over-priced bland food. I was disappointed in every item we ordered: rice plate, lamb salad, "crispy" cauliflower, cheese stuffed falafel, and a cookie. EVERYTHING was under-seasoned. The Cauliflower was DRENCHED in tahini and thus you'd have no idea it was supposed to be crispy, the salad was primarily just arugula (barely any other ingredient), and the cookies were dry and more like biscuits. Items looked tastier than they actually tasted. Dumped $80 on this place. Have had better Mediterranean food at many other places in Oakland. Won't be back. read more

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It's been a while since I came into Pomella and I have to say it's better than ever. We enjoyed every single bite for dinner tonight. Falafel terrific, stuffed falafel off the charts, lamb wrap tender and flavorful, chicken tagine was savory and comforting, hummus and pita and pickles were a highlight as they always have been. Go check them out! Delish! read more

Cute Mediterranean restaurant in Piedmont. Parking is weird. The lot is a 24-hour paid lot no matter what time you get there. Park on the street if you can. Menu is simple with salads, hot/cold tapas, stews and rice plates. Lots of drinks plus bottled and canned bevies. I ordered a sangria. It was like drinking wine juice. Fruity and fun but just a heads up. It's not a Spanish sangria. I ordered the Lamb Kefte with Saffron rice and the Pomegranate Eggplant hot mezze. The Lamb Kefte shape did not look appetizing. The flavor was okay. I wish the meat was more juicy. It was kind of dry. The rice was also dry. I wanted it to be buttery or have flavor. I did like the yogurt tahini sauce. The eggplant did not come with pomegranates. (Sad face) It had the same yogurt tahini sauce as the rice plate. I wish it had a little less sauce because the eggplant tasted good but the sauce overpowered it. My friend ordered the Vegetable Tagine. She said it could've used salt. Lots of vegetarian and vegan options. Service was okay. The people at the counter are friendly and helpful. The people who bring your food out don't talk. They just give you your plate and walk away. No smiles. No greetings. read more

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