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!

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!

Usta Kababgy is an excellent restaurant for authentic Middle Eastern cuisine in Austin, TX located…read moreon N. Lamar Blvd. The restaurant has well seasoned, charcoal grilled meats. The kebabs are the true highlight...juicy, flavorful, and grilled to perfection. The portions are quite large as the hubs and I shared a wrap. We were sufficiently full after eating the chicken tikka wrap. Interestingly, the wrap came in a Shawarma King packaging with their contact phone number. So, I assume that Usta staff are sub-contracting from Shawarma King. Usta also has freshly baked bread and classic sides like hummus and rice paired with the main dishes. The restaurant has a homey, lived in feel. It has a few middle eastern artifacts sprinkled throughout the restaurant. The menu offers a wide variety of options, from Iraqi and Adana kebabs to shawarma and traditional Middle Eastern plates, so there are food items for both first timers and regulars who want to explore beyond the basics. They also serve flatbreads where you can have two different toppings. The food focus is on bold, traditional flavors rather than modern takes on middle eastern foods. On the desserts front, they have an assortment of desserts and several sections of ice cream. I had the baklava, which was surprisingly delicious...it was not eye-squinting sweet like a standard baklava. It was crunchy, flavorful, and had nuts that were substantial. Layla, my server, was so super sweet and welcoming. She pointed out that Usta provides its customers free tea. How cool is that? I cannot remember last time I received a free drink.

I'm honestly bummed cause I was really craving Mediterranean food but this was not it. Granted we…read moregot our order to go, so it's possible that eating at the restaurant is better. We got the lamb/beef kebab 1lb and first off the picture online is misleading. It shows for the catering of kebabs, not 1lb. Which is probably on me for not catching that, but that's fine. The kebab itself was just alright. Could have had more seasoning and there chunks of either fat or onions that were not pleasant to chew. The pita was the size of a mini pizza which is nice, but they were so chewy it was disappointing. The sauce was more watery than I would have liked and also not as flavorful. Overall, this was a miss for me.

This place is everything you want a Greek spot to be! The baba ganoush was perfection - which is SO…read morehard to find well done these days! The hummus was flavorful, the gyro meat was moist and well seasoned, and the rice was awesome. The pita even tasted fresh! Not sure how much is made in store, but from a delivery perspective I'd believe they make everything in-house, it was that fresh. It was all so good and the portions were so great I was able to bring a little back with me for the drive home! Will absolutely be back when I'm in the are, and if you live in the vicinity, do yourself a favor!

My work day was quite busy. Decision point: what can I buy for lunch as I navigate two…read moreappointments. Light bulb moment: Kismet Café located in the Hancock shopping center across the parking lot from HEB. Kismet Cafe is a casual, affordable Mediterranean restaurant, which specializes in dishes like chicken shawarma, gyro wraps, and vegetarian options. I ordered the chicken shawarma wrap. The chicken was moist and flavorful along with the yogurt rich sauce, which complemented the tomatoes and lettuce. I was pleased with all the ingredients. The wrap itself was a bit hard. They were also serving baklava at $1.99 each, which is the cheapest price I have ever seen for baklava. The restaurant looked a little lived-in with a neighborhood feel. At the end of the day most folks take their food to go, so all that matters is the taste of the food. Kismet is open until midnight daily, which is rare for Mediterranean and other restaurants in Austin. It makes it easy for those folks to grab food after studying (near the University of Texas at Austin), after dancing or someone with a wild craving late at night. In addition, there is an abundance of free parking. Overall, Kismet café has good food at affordable prices and has convenient hours.

Came here on a Saturday for brunch/lunch with two friends after a meeting. The restaurant that was…read morethere before was a regular stop for me. Seeing how it was transformed into The Greek Bar made my heart smile. I couldn't believe how they had transformed it, especially the outdoor seating area. A little oasis off Oltolf. As soon as we got there we were greeted by one of the owners. Daphne was all smiles and instantly made us feel at home. She was so informative, you can tell she had a passion and was very proud of her restaurant... Rightfully so! We started with some cocktails... My friend had the Gin and Tonic, I had the Old Fashion... Very nice and our other friend had the lemonade. Even though it was an afternoon in July... The outdoor area was very comfortable with the fans blowing on us and the natural breeze coming through. The menu was explained to us and she gave us recommendations. Both of my friends got the Lamb Kefta skewers... What a beautiful plate.. All the vibrant colors. I ordered the Greek Fried Chicken. I wasn't sure what to expect but I was feeling adventurous. The menu description was Greek Style Fried Chicken with Loukoumades ( Greek Style donuts drizzled with honey), slaw and house made pickles. Another stunning presentation. I tried each item first separately and each item were both delightful and unique. The Brine of the Feta Marinade Chicken that was crispy but light and so tender inside with the sweetness of the donuts and topped off with crunchy slaw that had a great dill and fresh taste to it, all came together. Think Chicken and Waffles but Greek Style. From beginning to end, it was an absolute treat. Perfect place for a date, girl's night out, an important occasion to celebrate or just want to treat yourself. The Greek Bar is a great representation of what is South Austin.... Comfortable, Corky and just a Great Vibe. I look forward to coming here for Dinner, exploring more of their menu and treat myself to another great cocktail. A gem for sure!

Cute atmosphere, good food and delicious cocktails…read more 3.5 stars - My group had the Evia Fizz and Greek God Bless You cocktails - both delicious. While good, the spreads are a bit underwhelming compared to similar Greek restaurants in the Austin area. Similar thoughts on the skewer and rice (not pictured). Inside is adorable but loud. Cute date spot but not good for yapping; it was hard to hear girlfriends over music and bar noise. They do have a patio with fans.

Saffron Austin is known for their Indian and Nepalese cuisine, offering a thoughtfully crafted menu…read morethat highlights both traditional Indian flavors and unique Himalayan dishes. According to a close friend, Safran Austin located on Far West Boulevard, is especially known for being the first in Austin to feature a dedicated Nepalese menu I was not very hungry so I ordered the Chicken 65 (spicy deep-fried chicken with tomatoes, curry leaves, and ginger) ...a South Indian specialty. The chicken nuggets were doused in a flavorful curry seasoned and they were super moist and fresh tasting. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming. My server, Dipka, was kind and helpful. She offered me water to go as it was pretty hot outside...nice touxh. There are a plethora of vegetarian, vegan, and halal offerings. Looking forward to returning and exploring more menu items...

Good enough food for to go!…read more We got your general white person basics: - Nepalese Momos - chicken tikka masala - garlic naan I will say though that the packaging was fantastic (some may disagree it's wasteful) and ensured that everything travelled safely with no spills in the car!

The was best Persian cuisine in Austin! Very authentic!…read more I'm Persian (my dad's side) and grew up eating traditional meals. Oh, the nostalgia... so fulfilling to my soul, especially since my dad is no longer earth-side.

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.

When I found out Ezov was a sister restaurant to Emmer & Rye, I had high expectations, and it…read moreabsolutely delivered. It's easily my favorite Mediterranean restaurant in Austin, even surpassing Aba for me. The restaurant itself is cozy and inviting. While the decor is understated, it's clear that most of the attention goes into the food and drinks. Every cocktail and dish I've tried has been thoughtfully prepared and full of flavor. One of my favorite dishes is the seared octopus. It's cooked perfectly--tender with just the right amount of char, never rubbery. You also can't go wrong with any of the dips. I ordered the classic hummus, which was smooth, flavorful, and exactly what I was hoping for. The smashed cucumber with smoked labneh is another must-order. It's refreshing, savory, and makes the perfect appetizer to share. For drinks, I loved the Everything Bagel Martini. It's such a fun and creative twist on a classic martini, and somehow it really works. Overall, Ezov is a restaurant I happily recommend to anyone who enjoys Mediterranean cuisine. It continues to be one of my favorite dining experiences in Austin, and it's a place I'll definitely keep coming back to.

I met one of my sorority sisters for dinner, someone I hadn't seen in quite a while and we chose…read moreEzov for our long-overdue catch-up. One of the first things you notice when you walk in is the eye symbol displayed throughout the restaurant. According to the staff, it's meant to bring positive energy, and honestly, the vibe starts working immediately. As first-time Ezov diners, we were completely captivated by the décor. From the beautiful oversized colorful lanterns to the vibrant graffiti art (which also extends to the exterior of the building) and sleek modern furnishings. The space felt both stylish and inviting. We instantly slipped into relaxation mode. Ezov's menu features Mediterranean-inspired dishes designed for sharing, so we selected three items: the Whipped Bulgarian Feta, Lamb + Beef Manti, and Grilled Branzino. Let me start by saying I don't recall ever having whipped Bulgarian feta before, and it was a delightful surprise. Smooth, creamy, and packed with flavor, the combination of honey and hazelnuts elevated the dish even further. The Lamb + Beef Manti was the standout of the evening and easily my favorite dish. It was an incredible explosion of flavors and textures...a thin, crispy flatbread layered with rich tomato ragu, tangy yogurt sauce, and chili oil. Every bite was absolutely delicious. If I could have ordered a second round, I probably would have. The Grilled Branzino, served with peas, kale, and peppers, was also enjoyable. To be fair, the kale was a bit coarse for my taste, but my friend happily took care of most of it. James, our server, was fantastic. He guided us through the menu, offered helpful recommendations, and checked on us at all the right times without being intrusive. While the shareable plates are on the pricier side, sometimes it's worth treating yourself to a memorable dining experience. Between the flavorful Mediterranean cuisine, the energetic atmosphere, and the opportunity to reconnect with a dear friend, our evening at Ezov was well worth the splurge.