Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Roya

    4.4 (50 reviews)

    Roya Photos

    ROYA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Roya

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Basmati rice Yogurt sauce Lamb beef kebobs Lamb shank
    Lucy V.

    So the location I have to say is very random for where it is. The restaurant overall is cute when you get upstairs it does feel very date night/Mediterranean. I do recommend a reservation cause it does tend to get packed. I have to say the waitress we had was amazing. She was so nice and knew how to explain each dish very well. I personally enjoyed it, but I will say some of the items were OK for the price points. I did go with somebody that's Persian and they said that this food was more Mediterranean than Persian. The only thing that I will say was phenomenal to me was the lamb shank that's definitely what would get me to keep going back just to order that. We ordered a couple of different plates as you can see there on the photos that I named I will say for the appetizers. I loved the mushrooms because they had that chard taste to them. The yogurt sauce was like tzatziki so really nice. The kebabs were OK. I felt the meat needed a little bit of more flavor. The rice was good, but it was interesting that it had like the crispy ends, but I didn't enjoy a lot of the saffron taste in there. Overall, it's a cute restaurant, but I will say the influencers are making it to a lot more when it's not. Definitely a date night/girls night dinner spot.

    Whipped feta appetizer.
    Lyla A.

    Our server Sammy was wonderful and the overall experience was first class all the way. We ordered: Bedemjan, paneer sabzi, and borani appetizers. The one with the mushrooms was the best bite of the entire meal. Do not skip. I have a mushroom hater in my family and he not only tried it but ended up finishing most of it. Our selected entrees were 2 orders of koobideh kabob, which were small and delicate and you could taste the lamb and beef combo. We all got the Australian Wagyu. My youngest liked it best. I enjoyed it but wouldn't choose it as my own meal. We also ordered the Sea Bass, which is my favorite fish. I did not enjoy this dish. The fish was "fishy" and quite expensive for just a piece of fish with nothing accompanying it. The Shirin polo (jeweled rice) was perfect to go with the meats and their taftoon bread (pita) was delicious. While we didn't leave hungry, we didn't have anything left to bring home. For 2 adults, a teen, and a child with 1 alcoholic drink (total) we spent $320. This was definitely an elegant and elevated experience. We love Persian food and are so pleased to have another option in Austin. They ended our meal with some delicious rose/saffron ice cream sandwiches. They were delicious and a perfect small bite to finish up our celebratory meal.

    Wild mushroom borani
    Minh D.

    Beautiful restaurant with good food + needs more service refining. Roya is a gorgeous space with beautiful decor and dim light dark interior. As you came in, you felt as if youre transported to a different space. We did reserve before hand but it was not hard to snag one. We had a few things to share: wild mushroom bogani (garlic labneh with very strong wild mushroom taste - very good), lamb kebab (came as two kebabs, very tender and flavorful, one of the best kebabs I have ever tasted), the beef with bone marrow and beans (Ghormeh Sabzi) was unique and quite tasty too. Beef was tender and melt in your mouth. Overall food was good, 8.5/10 in my book, I dont really have a strong taste for Mediterrenean so that might be me. Their service/staffs can be better though. We waited a while before anyone came to check on us and overall staffs probably need more training/refining. Makes sense since they just opened.

    Salad was amazing!
    Hillary R.

    We really enjoyed this place. The food was amazing - very exotic. My favorite was the beef dish with bone marrow. It felt like a home-cooked meal. The salad was also really good with a lot of fresh herbs. The pita was really fresh and complementary, which was great for dipping! Another favorite dish was the kebabs, highly recommend! They were very tender, and the flavor was unique. The service was great, although the server kept bringing out bottled water when we had asked for Tap several times. I'm not sure if that was to charge the bill or what?? Overall, it was an amazing experience, the ambience was very classy and the food was amazing. Would love to go back if reservations weren't so challenging to get a hold of.

    koobideh kabob: good
    Josh B.

    Great Persian restaurant! Booked a reservation for Wednesday night so we got seated right away. The interior is really beautiful and the seating was comfy. Came with a group of 5 so we ordered a bunch of things and ate family style. Started off with some appetizers. We got a few dips which come with some bread. The Wild Mushroom Borani and Bademian (eggplant base) were my fave. The Paneer Sabzi was solid. Since we were a group of 5 we destroyed the bread and our waiter was nice enough to get us more. We also got the Olivieh was delicious, would highly recommend. For our main dishes we ordered the Ghormeh Sabzi, Aash-e Anar, Fesenjoon, and Koobideh Kabob. They were all great. We also ordered the Shirin Polo, which is a jeweled rice which was great to eat with all the entrees we ordered. The Mast and Torshi were great additions too. We were real big back and ordered the Bastani Sonnati and Pesteh Entremet for dessert. Of the two I think I liked the latter more. Washed it all down with some Black Tea which was served in a beautiful teapot and glasses. Really glad I got to try this spot. The service was fantastic and we all had a great night eating to our hearts content. Would absolutely recommend!

    Taftoon Bread
    Bing G.

    Went last night (March 9, 2026) and overall left pretty impressed! The restaurant itself is beautiful. You walk up a staircase to get to the dining room, and the space feels warm, almost transportive -- dark blue walls, dramatic chandeliers, and a lot of Middle Eastern design elements. It's stylish but still cozy, and the lighting makes it feel like a good place for a date night or a long dinner with friends (though I prefer more bright spaces). Service was excellent throughout the night. The staff was attentive and knowledgeable about the menu, and our server took time to explain the dishes and the story behind the restaurant. We decided to do the Sofreh tasting menu ($85 pp). Price-wise it doesn't really save money compared to ordering à la carte but the benefit is that it gives you a more complete experience. They start by laying a tablecloth at our table. The kitchen also sends out a small complimentary bite to start (for us it was a puff pastry with whipped feta I think inside). One thing I did find interesting though: the server mentioned the dishes are chef-selected and might vary depending on the night. But after looking at other reviews, it seems like most people end up getting almost the exact same lineup of dishes. Olivieh - 4.5/5 This was the first dish. It's essentially a Persian chicken salad bite with a creamy texture, but the flavors were surprisingly complex and really well balanced. A small bite but a great way to start the meal. Bademjan - 5/5 Probably my favorite dish of the night. It almost feels like baba ghanouj, hummus, and tahini combined into one dish. The roasted eggplant, chickpeas, black tahini, crispy garlic, and herbs worked beautifully together. Gojeh Farangi (Tomato Salad) - 4/5 Very fresh and clean -- tomatoes, cucumber, herbs, feta, and vinaigrette. It's nicely done but compared to the other dishes it feels more traditional and not particularly innovative. Ghormeh Sabzi (Persian Herb Stew) - 4.5/5 A classic Persian herb stew with very tender short rib. The sauce is deep and aromatic with a slight tang from dried lime. Not necessarily innovative, but definitely very good and comforting. Koobideh Kabob & Jujeh Kabob - 4.5/5 Both kabobs were cooked really well. The meat was juicy and nicely grilled. Flavor-wise they lean traditional rather than creative, but the execution was strong. Taftoon Bread - 4/5 Freshly baked sesame Persian flatbread. Nothing particularly unique but clearly made fresh and great with the dips. Shirin Polo (Jeweled Rice) - 5/5 This was honestly one of the highlights of the meal. The rice arrives dome-shaped with a crispy tahdig layer on the outside and soft fragrant rice inside. It had nuts, yogurt, and zereshk (barberries), and the crispy layer added incredible texture. They also brought small sides like mast (yogurt dip) and torshi (pickled vegetables) which worked well as palate resets. Pesteh Entremet - 5/5 Dessert was beautiful and very well executed. It's a pistachio layered cake with kataifi crunch, pistachio sponge, white chocolate, raspberry gelée, and yuzu pistachio mousse. The textures were great and the flavors were balanced without being overly sweet. They served it with Persian tea, which was incredibly fragrant and honestly one of the better teas I've had at a restaurant. The whole place feels very intentional. From the atmosphere to the pacing of the meal, you can tell a lot of thought went into the experience.

    Delores L.

    Roya was recommended by a Yelp friend. Roya is a whole vibe. It's located on Shoal creek Blvd next door to District Kitchen. The name means "vision" in Farsi. You are transported to another place in time...tranquil, calm and meditative. Colorful mosaic steps leas you to the restaurant. You are first struck by the decor...middle eastern flavor, spectacular chandeliers and dark blue soothing walls. The restaurant has a large mirror which reflects the restaurants ambiance. If feels like every square feet of this restaurant was thoughtfully planned. First, the kitchen delivered a gift...petit for of puffed pastry with whipped feta. It was a happy mouth flavor explosion. Roya also have partitioned off rooms for ultimate privacy. I ordered the lamb shack initially but it was a little too fatty for me. My server, David, gladly exchanged it for the Chilean sea bass.. The sea bass was light and extremely flavorful topped with caviar. Really enjoyed this entree. A colleague ordered the short ribs with bone marrow. He enjoyed it very much. There is free parking in front and on the of the building..

    Menu
    Jens B.

    Amir finally get's to cook from his heart and I'm a little bit mad at him for waiting so long. Roya, imo, is the jewel of his food empire, joining Keepers, The District, Oasthouse and Daisy. I met Amir when he opened a little place called District in my hood and has blossomed to multiple restaurants all of different themes. I was ecstatic to hear he was going to bring food from his culture to Austin. Roya is a Persian delight. We were able to snag a seat at the bar, which is where we find ourselves often. He had 200 covers on a Monday night reserved. Best to get a reservation or show up at 4.15pm like we did. The restaurant is very well thought out and beautifully decorated and appointed. It's warm and cozy. Amir came out to say Hi. Our barkeeps were smiley and talkative with us. Amir went through the menu and the obvious choice was the Sofreh, where we could sample several of the dishes and let him choose. Brilliant choice. Suzie had a Zeytoon Martini and I a glass of Chablis. We also had a celebratory sparkling Berlucchi. Delicious. Then the food started showing up: Bademjan. This featured a black tahini with eggplant, onions, chickpeas, crispy garlic, mint, kashk and taftoon. This was a first and will repeated as soon as possible. The puff bread that came with was perfect for dipping/scooping said hummus into my gob. Reminded me of a puffer fish, with sesame seeds on top. Perfect. Grojeh Farangi Salad. Fresh, crispy, tomato, cucumber, with walnut, feta, olives and a herb vinaigrette. Great way to cleanse a palate before tucking into our mains. But prior to that we needed to chomp on an amuse bouche. Olivieh. Just go ahead and bung the whole thing into your pie hole. It was seriously delicious and complex. All the parts paired together for a wonderful punch. Get these.. heck get two orders. Ghormeh Sabzi. Ok, the shiz just got real. What an impressive presentation. Caveman style short rib peaking out of a dark, saucey, roux ocean. It wasn't a roux by any means. Rich herb stew with chunks of short ribs through out. A well placed demi spoon was sticking out the top of the shank and I just grabbed it and took a spoonful of the rich, umami "meat butter". It had a mild, slightly nutty, and sweet flavor profile. The stew was hearty, tangy and delicious. Chunks of tender shank were delicious. The crown of the meal so far. Koobideh and Jujeh Kabobs. A blend of two different kabobs. One of chicken and the other lamb. Each were prepared well and very tasty. Again cooked appropriately, not chewy and lathering some of the sides, like the Mast for instance worked well. Mast, Shirin Polo and Torshi. These are all little like side dishes to munch on and dip stuff into, like the Mast with the Kabob's in my case. The rice (Shirin Polo) which had nuts, yogurt and Zereshk. The outside of the rice will remind one of Socarrat you find in Paella. The rice arrives dome shaped, crispy outside and flavorful soft well spiced rice inside. The Mast was delicious, with the Museer (Persian Shallots) shining through. Where the heck can I get some Persian Shallots to replicate this at home? Bueller? Bueller?.. anyone? Torshi was a pickling concoction of veggies with a herby base, a little goes a long way. We were stuffed, I bagged the rice to take home. There was a special desert, which I didn't get enough information on, served with aplomb. Caramelly in texture and perhaps hazelnut, swimming in a sauce poured on at serving. With a fantastic twill chocolate on top courtesy of the TV Chef winning rock star Dennis. As we finished up and got our tab, two little boxes showed up from the staff. It was a special gift due to our 16th Wedding Anniversary I think. No big presentation, just a heartful Thank you for coming in. Not going to share what was inside, you need to go and check it out yourself. It was a delightful end to an amazing evening. Staff, all were welcoming, efficient, knowledgeable and kind. They all seem as excited to be there as we were. Thank you Amir, for cooking from your heart and bringing this to the rest of Austin. Michelin worthy me thinks.

    cocktails
    Aruni G.

    Met a couple of friends for a last minute happy hour here last month. This location has been many restaurants so I hope this one sticks around for a while! It was authentically decorated inside. We sat at the bar and the bartender was extremely helpful in making choices in food and cocktails. We tried a couple of their apps to share and enjoyed all of them! He custom made a martini for my friend. I look forward to dropping by here again for a full meal and I'm sure future Happy Hours! Easy parking is a big plus too!

    Paneer Sabzi
    Samyukta S.

    Elevated Persian dining at its finest and the hottest new restaurant on the Austin dining scene! My amazing girlfriend snagged reservations for opening week because she knows how obsessed I am with Persian cuisine. This place does not disappoint!!! Stunning ambiance, interesting artwork - a beautiful blend of ethic and modern. Creative, moody, vibey. Perfect for date night or any special occasion. We kicked it off with a couple of mezcal cocktails (absolutely delicious) and decided to splurge on the Sofreh (tasting menu). For $75 per person we received a huge sampling of signature dishes. Each item was better than the next! The small bite appetizers to start (paneer sabzi and chicken salad bite) were bursting with flavor. The salad was refreshing. My favorite items were: - Bademjan - an eggplant dip appetizer served with a delicious soft sesame bread. Presented beautifully with edible flowers and all! - Gormeh Sabzi - fantastic short rib dish in spinach and herb stew. Just melted in my mouth! They served a lovely surprise Persian tea after dessert. It was the perfect end to the experience. The only things I thought could've been better: - The kabobs were a bit undercooked/rare for my taste. - Plates were tiny; would've been nice to have plate and utensil changes between appetizer and main courses. - Service was good but not great. I can't wait to come back!

    Den V.

    Amazing! We were in the area and dropped in on a Friday evening. Since all tables were booked, we sat at the bar where we were able to get full service. First off the cocktails were pleasantly good, I ordered the Talla which features a turmeric infused bourbon. The kabobs were delicious and the rice was too. I've never see it served that way, crispy on the outside! Overall we had a great time, especially talking to the bartender/servers. This is a beautiful spot to spend an evening or date night. We'll be back again to try out more of their menu!

    Halwa
    Laura B.

    Absolutely 10/10 experience. Every single dish was a banger. Service was amazing. Get the Sofreh (chef's tasting menu). Trust.

    sofreh on a plate
    Amber R.

    Hot take: all restaurants serve food. Very few serve experience and hospitality. Roya does. From the second we walked in we were being welcomed, not just fed. The food? Insane dude. Layered, thoughtful, rooted in history yet still a fresh and exciting take. But the part I can't stop thinking about is hearing chef talk about the journey of having a vision and waiting until it could be done fully, the right way. This isn't his business, this is his heart and legacy and it's so beautifully vulnerable to share your culture in your own way. You can feel that patience in the space. In the food. In the way you're taken care of. We did the Sofreh tasting and honestly they could probably stand to raise their prices lol it was an incredible value. 4 good appetites still had some leftovers for this family style tasting experience and everything was just perfect. all the flavors were robust ranging from savory to floral to herbaceous. all the meats were high-quality and perfectly cooked and the rice. Well, that's just a thing of beauty. The tea and dessert service at the end was adorable, but the appetizers were such a strong start. The little Iranian chicken salad cups (I know I just totally butchered that) but oh my God I could've eaten 78. I just had an amazing experience and can't wait to go back

    See all

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mike S.
    101
    10
    0

    10 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    21 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Josh B.
    1041
    921
    2206

    1 month ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 3
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Delores L.
    4966
    1067
    13928

    3 months ago

    Helpful 30
    Thanks 10
    Love this 39
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    28 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1
    Photo of I l.
    0
    116
    6

    3 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Laura B.
    98
    19
    30

    11 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    3 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Amir T.
    6
    56
    24

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Aditya A.
    612
    29
    48

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    15 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 days ago

    I had a great meal at the bar. Hunter was a great bartender and server. Service was amazing and food was great. Definitely going back.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    I ate at the bar and they were friendly and accommodating. There are 8 seats at the bar. I really liked the unique rice.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Roya

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Middle Eastern 818 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Caspian Grill - Kabob Beef Koobideh and Rice

    Caspian Grill

    (539 reviews)

    $$

    Wife and I were headed to See's for some Easter candy and wanted to have a hearty lunch to keep us…read morefrom over indulging. Looked around and found this Iranian/Persian spot. We have never had food from that regional cuisine so we thought we'd give it a shot. So stoked that we decided to go there because it was delicious. I got the mixed koobideh with rice and Wife had the beef kabobs with naan, and we both had the Persian hot tea. Wife's plate came out with 2 giant naan, one underneath her kabob, lime wedge, mint, onions, and a grilled tomato and the other on top of it all. Mine had a huge amount of rice along with one chicken and one beef kabob all dusted with sumac, lime, mint, onions, grilled tomato, and a pat of butter. Every thing looked, smelled, and tasted delicious. Seasoned, tender meat-fluffy rice, yum. Yum. Yum. Wife gave me one of her naan. It was larger and thinner than other naan I've had. I tore it into sections and created mini wraps with the meat and rice. Delicious! The hot tea came with sugar cubes and had a lovely rose fragrance. It is an order at the counter restaurant, so make sure you peruse the menu ahead of time so you're ready to order. The decor was traditional and gave the place a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere. Great food, will be back when we are in the area again!

    I was really excited to try this place out, as Persian food is one of my favorites and it's pretty…read moretough to find. I decided to order a mini Persian feast: the beef koobideh with rice, doogh yogurt drink, and a saffron ice cream for dessert. This was my first time trying beef koobideh, and unfortunately, this just didn't seem to be very good. The meat itself was okay, decently cooked, and topped with quite a lot of some spice that I can't quite put my finger on. It was okay. The rice though, that is what really disappointed me. Persian rice is usually amazing, but this really didn't seem traditional and it had a strange taste to it. It also came with onion and a grilled tomato, both solid additions. Good portion though. The doogh yogurt drink wasn't homemade like I had hoped, but in all honesty, it still really hit the spot on a hot Austin day. Reasonable price. The saffron rice was also fairly disappointing. Large white chunks (clotted cream maybe? But they were pretty tasteless), gritty texture, not much flavor. Just not really worth it. All in all, a bit of a disappointing dinner in Austin. I'll have to look for a different Persian spot next time I'm in the area.

    Troy ATX - Turkish Iskender

    Troy ATX

    (629 reviews)

    $$

    Troy ATX on Mesa Drive in Austin, TX is a neighborhood restaurant that quietly delivers an…read moreoutstanding dining experience. The restaurant specializes in Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine. Troy ATX provides food and outstanding service...feels like home. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, making it perfect for dining. The menu offers a great balance of familiar Mediterranean favorites and traditional Turkish dishes, all prepared with care and bold flavors. Portions are generous, ingredients taste fresh, and the dishes homemade. In fact, the son of the owner was managing the restaurant which he does not do often. He had nothing but rave things to say about his family and the restaurant. I really love that! I stopped to pick up some hummus. It was packaged with pita bread and nicely packed for travel. The hummus felt thick and hearty...not normally how it comes at the grocery store. If you're craving authentic Mediterranean and Turkish cuisine, Troy ATX is absolutely worth a visit.

    Stumbled across this hidden gem in North Austin and absolutely love it. I've always said Austin…read moredoesn't have enough "Mom and Pop ethnic places," so finding Troy was a dream come true. The staff was so warm and welcoming the entire time. From giving recommendations, to offering Turkish tea, it was a great experience. The food was solid as well! Definitely recommend the lamb in whatever you get! I had a few coworkers get the wraps, I will say, I do feel like they were a little light on the meat in those, but everything else that was ordered was solid. We will definitely be back!

    Almarah Mediterranean Cuisine - Half order of falafel with hummus

    Almarah Mediterranean Cuisine

    (932 reviews)

    $$

    Checked the place out based on Yelp reviews and was absolutely floored. Clean space, friendly…read morestaff, quick service, and excellent food! We ordered the half order falafel with hummus, mint lemonade, lamb kabob platter, and beef kabob platter. Everything but the salad came in large Texas style portions. I requested the beef be cooked to medium and the temperature was perfect. Tips: Substitute the tahini in the kabob platters for tzatziki and request garlic sauce on the side. The garlic sauce enhances the flavor of rice.

    Food is very good, service not so good... I can tell people…read morecome for the food alone. The place is nice and has a nice layout. However, I'll think about coming here again because I didn't feel a good vibe with the service. We had to go look for someone to show us the table even though the place was empty for early lunch. Then, to get drinks or even the order was a problem. It took so much longer than usual. Our waitress was rude, and seemed bothered that we showed up. Then someone else came as the waitress and she was preoccupied with other tables and barely checked on us. A regular lunch which would've been one hour became almost two because of the lack of service. My friend had to stand and look for someone to give us a box to take out the good we couldn't eat because it was getting late and also to get the check because No one came in to check on us at all. It was almost like pulling teeth to get a regular service let alone good service. Again, the food was really good, and that alone was the only positive.

    Phoenician Resto Cafe - mixed grill

    Phoenician Resto Cafe

    (424 reviews)

    $$

    University of Texas

    Really love this gem! Portion is large (especially the sides!). It feels warm and welcoming. The…read morespace has a rustic vibe--lots of wood, stones, and a big mural on the wall. Fresh pita & dips (free) - 5/5 As soon as we sat down the waiter brought out pita and a special dip that I never tried in other restaurants, and the pita was still warm like it had just come out of the oven. Soft, fluffy, and really fresh. I used it to dip into the sides we ordered later--the Baba Ghanouj and Hummus. The baba ghanouj had that roasted eggplant smokiness, while the hummus was thick, creamy, and very sesame-forward. Both were solid. Flatbread Trio ($15) - 5/5 This comes with three pieces but you can order a plate of three in the same kinds: meat, za'atar spice, and cheese. The za'atar one had that unique flavor--thyme, sumac, sesame seeds. The cheese flatbread came out hot and stretchy with three cheeses melted together. The meat one had minced beef and vegetables on a thin crust with slightly crispy edges. This one really impressed me. Lamb Kabob Platter ($19) - 4/5 Ground lamb mixed with onion and spices and grilled. The texture was fairly firm and the seasoning was pretty strong--you mostly taste the spices rather than the lamb itself. It comes with grilled tomato and onion, which adds a nice bit of sweetness and balances things out. It also comes with 2 sides--we chose baba ghanouj and hummus. The sides portion is really generous. Mixed Grill Combination ($23) - 4.5/5 It includes beef tenderloin, kafta skewers, and chicken shish tawook. The beef had a nice smoky grill flavor and was quite tender. The kafta had the strongest seasoning, and the chicken ended up being the lightest and juiciest of the three. It also comes with 2 sides--we chose baba ghanouj and salad. House dessert (pistachio pastry, $6) - 4/5 Looks pretty simple, but inside there's pistachio filling that gives it a really nice nutty sweetness. Not overly sugary, which I liked. I hope it could improve its appearance a bit. The food felt comforting and homey rather than fancy, and the portions were generous for the price.

    Such a good find! I was in town with family trying to find a place for 11 of us to get something to…read moreeat and as soon as we walked in we knew we had found the spot. Staff were super welcoming and happy to quickly seat us. No waiting right away we had glasses of ice water and full baskets of their fresh warm pita while we made looked over their light up menus with helpful explanations from our server to help guide us. So many delicious things came out just as fast. Meats were all juicy and seasoned to perfection the chicken, steak, and kafta Delicious! Baba ghanoush and hummus to top all of it yummy! You can really taste all the work they put into making all their food great!

    Aba - Crispy Short Rib Hummus*

    Aba

    (1.9k reviews)

    $$$

    SoCo (S. Congress Ave.), 78704 (South Austin)

    This is one of the few places in town where I know I'm guaranteed to have an amazing experience…read more There are no misses on the menu, everything is pretty much assured to be absolutely delicious. There's really nothing to complain about, the patio and interior are stunning and transport you out of south congress. Service has always been prompt and good, they always refill the pita when you're running low. My personal favorites are the steak frites and the eggplant dip, seriously SO good. Everytime I come here I look forward to the next time I can go again

    We recently visited Aba on a Sunday evening for dinner, and it turned out to be a wonderful…read moreexperience overall. I absolutely love the vibe of this place--it's definitely a high-end Mediterranean restaurant, perfect for special occasions. What really stood out was how beautifully everyone was dressed; it added to the upscale, elegant atmosphere of the entire space. The restaurant offers both indoor seating and a beautiful outdoor seating area, which really elevates the overall experience. The outdoor space, in particular, adds to the charm and makes it a great spot for a relaxed yet upscale evening. Since reservations weren't available, we decided to arrive early, expecting a long wait. Luckily, being a Sunday evening, it wasn't too crowded, and we were seated within about 20 minutes. For drinks, I ordered a Tender Robot Hazy IPA, while my husband went with the Verdant Mai Tai. I was a bit disappointed to learn they only serve canned beer and don't offer draft options, as I personally prefer draft beer and am not a big fan of cocktails, which tend to be too sweet for my taste. For the main course, I had the Heirloom Chicken Thighs, and my husband ordered the Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes. Both dishes were cooked to perfection--flavorful, well-seasoned, and the meat was incredibly tender. That said, the portion sizes felt a bit small considering the price point. We ended the meal with the Sticky Date Cake, and it was hands down the best I've ever had--rich, perfectly balanced, and absolutely delicious. Overall, we had a great experience. Between the beautiful ambiance, flavorful food, and exceptional service, it's a place I'd definitely return to. I'm giving it 4 stars mainly because of the lack of draft beer and the smaller portion sizes for the price, but it's still a fantastic spot worth visiting.

    Dimassi's Mediterranean Buffet

    Dimassi's Mediterranean Buffet

    (635 reviews)

    $$

    Barrington Oaks

    Thanksgiving came around and we had zero desire to cook or clean. Our "plan" (and I use that word…read moreloosely) was Golden Corral. We figured if we got there early, we'd beat the crowd. Cute of us, honestly. We pulled up and that parking lot looked like Beyoncé was performing. Cars everywhere: on the grass, on the curbs, people creating their own imaginary parking spaces. People circling like it was Black Friday. Absolutely not. We left with no backup plan and even less hope. Pulled up Yelp and I remembered that Dimassi's buffet had been on my radar for months, but was it open? Called them up and CHA-CHING!!! Money! They were open, guys. That phone call felt like hitting the lottery. Thanksgiving was saved. We arrived and Dimassi's was calm, clean, and the buffet bar was fully stocked with hot food fresh out of the kitchen. They had your Mediterranean favorites: dips, salads, gyro meat, dolma, chicken kabobs, saffron rice, the good garlicky toum, warm potatoes, fresh pita, everything. They even prepared a turkey for patrons who wanted some. Wow. They understood the assignment. Now a couple things could be tweaked. I like my baba ganoush served warm...and maybe they could have had some lamb options? But, honestly? For a buffet on Thanksgiving at $23 a person ($9 for the 3 yr old with us), they delivered HARD. Dimassi's didn't just feed us...they rescued us from the Golden Corral Hunger Games. Thank you for being open. Thank you for coming through in the clutch. You saved Thanksgiving.

    I'd been wanting to check this place out for quite some time. There's another location in Round…read moreRock, but many reviewers said the original spot is much better, so we decided to start with the OG location. Parking is plentiful right in front of the restaurant. We came by on a Saturday around 1 PM, worried it might be packed, but it was actually pretty quiet. You can sit anywhere you like, grab a plate, and pay when you're done. The space is large and open, with three full rows of food and drinks plus a dedicated station for fruit and desserts. Everything was fresh, not overly salty, and there were plenty of options. My favorites were the hummus with eggplant (so flavorful with great texture), the salad and cucumber salad (fresh and refreshing), the dolma (perfectly done), gyro (tender and tasty), baked cauliflower (so good), fried chicken (juicy, crispy, and not salty), falafel (extra crunchy), and the lentil soup (simple but delicious). And don't miss their coffee at the checkout--it has a hint of warm spice and is the perfect finish after a meal. Surprisingly, I ended up loving the vegetable dishes even more than the meats. Overall, yes, $26 per person is on the higher side (what doesn't cost these days, right?!), but it's a great spot to try a variety of Mediterranean dishes that are fresh, simply seasoned, and let the ingredients shine--perfect whether you're new to the cuisine or just want a bit of everything.

    Roya - mideastern - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...