Heard about this place and decided to try it on a whim . Finding a restaurant in New Brunswick area with parking is a big deal. But what's beyond that is the core of the visit . Walked in to a nice coffe bar area which did not seem functional .it well decorated with some antique accents keys if different shapes n sizes We were seated and a waiter took our order immediately. The place was a bit busy for a weekday. Complementary wam pita bread n ezme , sun dried tomatoes n spicy jalapeños were not bad . A paper form being warm there was nothing more to it. Got the mixed grill for two which was served with a side of soup and salad . Both sides were delicious. The grilled chicken kebabs and chops were passable though not juicy . All Lamb kebab choices were tough and chewy . This is a mediocre spot as I age v had better Kebabs in the same area . Not my kind of food. read more

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Here I am... 12 years later to update my review! My sister picked Sahara for my birthday dinner because she knows that I love Mediterranean (big change since my last review--a lot has happened in over a decade lol) There is a parking lot, but it is really small and was filled when we visited. On the street parking shouldn't really be an issue in the area. We found with no issue on a Tuesday evening. Inside is cozy.. could be a little warmer, but I'll give that it was an exceptionally cold December evening. The atmosphere gives cozy vibes though, which I appreciate. We were immediately seated upstairs, where they have plenty of large group seating options. Service was attentive and fast. We ordered a round of delicious appetizers.. hummus, saksuka, cheese rolls.. all of it was delicious. I especially loved the octopus app special.. magnificent! Entrees were especially of large portion, which was greatly appreciated. Everything tasted fresh and was beautifully presented. I ordered the Pyramid chicken which was delicious. Their chicken is flavorful and juicy. For dessert, my keskul was amazing! Plenty of pistachio on top with a delicate and very well balanced vanilla custard. I could eat that daily. I definitely plan on returning!! read more

Sahara Restaurant - Cappuccino - Middle Eastern Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

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Sahara is such a lovely spot in New Brunswick! The restaurant is clean, beautifully decorated, and has a great ambiance that makes it perfect for a nice night out. The staff is super attentive and welcoming, which really adds to the experience. We started with the baba ganoush, and it was absolutely delicious--creamy and full of flavor. The Adana chicken kebab was tender, juicy, and came with a tasty soup starter that was a nice surprise. We finished the meal with their baklava, which was the perfect sweet ending--flaky, fresh, and just the right amount of sweetness. Everything from start to finish was excellent. Highly recommend Sahara if you're in the area and looking for amazing Mediterranean food in a beautiful setting! read more

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Came here for a late lunch and everything was great! Got the Chicken Kebab Sandwich--SOOOO GOOD! The House Hummus, Phyllo Cheese Rolls with Red Sauce, and Mozzerella Flatbread. It was all amazing! The server was great and attentive. The vibe was nice and quiet, easy to hear around you. Bought two extra orders of hummus and pita to go, AND a gift certificate to a friend. Will definitely be back soon! read more

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Dinner on a Saturday evening - packed, even lot was packed. Waited about 10 min and was seated. Staff very attentive w water refills and plenty of hot pita. We had a very hummus platter for the four of us. We had a nice fatoosh salad with grilled chicken - nice and fresh veg but the chicken waa a bit overcooked and dry, with kalamata olives and olive oil vinagrette: two adana kebab entrees with ground lamb, rice and burgol and one greek salad. The highlight was the house hummus and the many pita provided. Nice restaurant, excellent, tight quarters but a private parking lot. read more

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Can't believe I'm finally writing a review after coming here for years but wanted to share! For the most part we get the hummus, baba ganush, lentil soup and chicken kebabs or chicken Adana platter. Everything is awesome, served hot and delicious. Just go. read more

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I have visited this place a couple of times over the past few years, hoping for improvement, but unfortunately the experience has remained disappointing. The kebab was expensive yet undercooked, and none of my guests were able to enjoy their meals. On a recent solo visit, I gave it another chance. While the location and parking are convenient and the setting feels authentic, the food quality was again poor--over-seasoned, stale, and generally lacking flavor. At this point, I do not plan to return. read more

Quite excellent. Loved tge shepherd salad and hummus. Lentil soup amazing. Entrees all delicious. Great service in a very simple venue

Delicious!! Visited this spot because me and my gf were already in the area and wanted some good Mediterranean food. We were seated quickly on a sunday night. It wasn't packed at all. We were greeted by the waitress and ordered sodas. They don't have alcohol but they have a selection of sodas, juices, teas, and coffees. We ordered the Baba Ghanoush to go with our pita bread. Both were soo tasty! The portion size was very big too. For our mains I ordered the Chicken Kebab that's served with rice and burgol. My gf had the Adana Kebab (lamb) that's also served with rice and burgol. We both enjoyed our meals. It was very flavorful and cooked perfectly. I've never tried burgol but I like it! Pricing was fair around $23/$24 a plate. I'd love to come back for dinner again. read more

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Great appetizers! Very good entrees. Great desserts. Five friends (usually six but one of the wives wasnt feeling well)who get together every few months to catch up, eat, laugh, and have fun got together at Sahara today and loved it. We had fried calamari. Baba ghanoush, grape leaves, and fried halloumi cheese for appetizers. Not one disappointment among the bunch. Swordfish, Bronzini, and Couscous salad with grilled shrimp were the entrees that were shared. Only one lacking in flavor was the Bronzini. Keskul (a light vanilla custard with crushed pistachios), Kazandibi (A brown top pudding sprinkled with cinnamon), and Panna Cotta were the desserts we ordered. All were delicious with the Kazandibi being the consensus favorite. Service was great. Big plus, especially in New Brunswick. Is that they have their own parking lot. Repeat visit is definitely in the cards. read more

PROs - food , price CONs- parking , service was average , gratuity for 4 people ? Someone referred this restaurant and also looked at google rating (4.3) and hence went to this restaurant . From location perspective it was a little busy and the area is crazy with traffic and parking ! No road side parking even on a Monday evening . Even the parking inside the restaurant is so small (just 8 cars) had to park 5 mins away and walk to this restaurant ! Didn't like this part much .. Food was good though. No wait time . It was kinda busy inside restaurant but they gave is a small table for 4. Service was average .. the guy was running around because it was crowded . And he hardly comes and asks us what we needed !! Chipotle Hummus was so awesome .. kid had a flatbread ! It was good . Fries were good too: was like Popeyes fries . .. felafel rice platter was super good ... felafel was crispy. And super good . We didn't have meat .. overall it was good .. They added 15-18% gratuity for 4 people too . I thought min gratuity was generally for 6 people .. I would have still given a good gratuity but didn't expect an automatic addition of gratuity ! read more

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The food is fresh, flavorful, and made with high-quality ingredients. Their hummus is creamy and rich, the falafel is perfectly crispy on the outside and soft inside, and the grilled meats are tender and well-seasoned. The portions are generous, making it a great spot for sharing plates with friends or family. The service is friendly and attentive, and the restaurant has a cozy, welcoming vibe. Whether you're craving a quick lunch or a full Mediterranean feast, Sahara is a must-visit. Highly recommend the chicken adana kabobs and the baklava for dessert! read more

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Wifey and I stopped in here a while back and had an absolutely fantastic dinner. We stopped here on a cold night and were lucky enough to have been seated without a reservation. We started with their hummus and fresh pita...wow, seriously, if you stop in here and like hummus then do yourself a favor and order it. The salads were actually decent for side salads, but the dressing was great. For our entrees Wifey ordered the Feta Chicken and I had the Chicken Adana Kebabs (came with two). While I certainly could have finished this meal, I took half to go so I could have dessert...which was 100% the right decision! For dessert we both had coffee and Wifey had the Baked Rice Pudding and I had the Baklava...and we shared. Both desserts were amazing. I didn't ask of the baklava was made on the premises, but it was fresh, crispy, and delicious. The rice pudding was also great-creamy with a nice caramelized top. Service was fantastic...food was fantastic, ambiance was fantastic. I wish I lived closer because I'd be here monthly if I did. read more

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I took my partner out for our 55-month anniversary to the most charming little restaurant downtown. The vibe was cozy, the lighting was perfect, and the food was incredible--fresh pita, Turkish coffee, kabobs, you name it. We started with a mozzarella flatbread that was packed with flavor, then I had braised beef with tomatoes and peppers in a rich sauce while my partner got lamb chops with two kinds of rice and creamy garlic sauce. For dessert, we couldn't resist ordering two--rice pudding (absolutely a must-try) and baklava, which totally lived up to the hype. Such a beautiful night with amazing food and the best company. Big thanks to Sahara for hosting us--I'll definitely be back! read more

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Been here several times for lunch. Prompt and attentive service. Very reasonably priced. Nice atmosphere. Labhne and the seafood risotto are my favorite. Great turkish coffee. read more

My daughter recommended Sahara during our visit to Rutgers. Sahara is nicely decorated restaurant with excellent ambiance and service. The menu was right up my alley with Mediterranean/middle eastern specialties. I enjoyed the Hummus, babagonush, falafel and homemade pita. My wife had a Greek salad which was very good as was my daughter's shrimp kebab. I will not hesitate to return. If in the area check out Sahara. Parking is available in their private parking lot and on the street. BYOB read more

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Fabulous food, very reasonable prices and wonderful service.... One of our favorite restaurants! Definitely try it and you will go back again and again. read more

We've eaten there a few times, and the food and service have been great. We only had a problem this last time when our lamb chops came out very well-done, though we had ordered them medium. The service was top notch though as they brought us a new batch made to order, and even packed it up to go as we were tight on time and had to leave. Really impressed with the effort they put into their food and customer service. read more

Been going here for over 10 years and it is by far the best Turkish restaurant! Food is always amazing and fresh. The only complaint I have is that at times the servers rushed serving the main course before I was finished with my soup. That waiter yelled, "What do you want me to do?". It was my birthday and I wasnt paying so I couldn't tell him what I really wanted him to do if you know what I mean. Haven't seen him since and went back several times. Just remind them to wait until everyone is finished before bringing out the next course. read more

A cute and homey Mediterranean place with flavorful food! The chicken adana plate is always my pick for lunch or dinner here, plus the vegetarian appetizer dip sampler which gives you the perfect amount of 5 of their delicious dips to try along with unlimited bread. There was an older couple seated right next to my table, and when they got up to leave they rudely told us to shut up. It was 1pm on a Friday. After hearing all the commotion, our waiter apologized on their behalf, who apparently are regulars, and even offered us a free dessert. So kind! Would recommend this place - just be aware that their regulars might go off on you for no reason. read more

Sahara Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

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Food is always decent - Period!! I've had several dishes. All were delicious!!! Their oven baked pita bread is worth going back for, softand good!!! read more

My husband and I went for Valentines dinner. They are so busy but food is excellent and service is very good. They are attentive and welcoming people. Highly recommended! read more

This is my first Yelp review as I just arrived in the USA last month. I have tried a few restaurants and deli in NB, but so far, this restaurant is the best that I have tried. My husband got Chicken Kebab and Lemonade, I got Gorgonzola Cheese Flatbread and Mango Juice. Everything is delicious, my husband was so full, he couldn't finish his bulgur and salad but they're good. We have no complaints at all, and idk why they didn't include our drink in the bill, and when I want to pay for it, they don't want to accept it nor make another bill for our drink!! A+++ and definitely would come back again and again. I fell in love with the food and the ambiance. I'd tell my husband we should go here for our wedding anniversary next year. read more

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My boyfriend and I had dinner here recently and we really enjoyed our experience. The food was amazing! We started off with calamari and baba ghanoush. The calamari was fresh and the baba ghanoush was some of the best I've ever had. For my entree I had the Shish Kebab and he had the Pyramid Chicken. The flavors of my dish were great! We both enjoyed our meals. I gave them 5 stars because the food was very good but I will say that everything came out too quickly. We had just started enjoying our appetizers when our entrees came out and it was a bit overwhelming. We'll definitely be returning. read more

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Being Egyptian, I appreciate good middle eastern food, and Sahara definitely passed the test! The bread was OUTSTANDING! It was fluffy and warm and I think I ate 3 baskets by myself lol. You can never go wrong with fresh hummus and bread! Later we got the large family platters (since i was there with my large family) and each player came with soup or salad. There lentil soup was a bit too minty for me, but the clam chowder was really savory and I would recommend to anyone! What I love about places like these are the meals are very shareable!! read more

Sahara Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

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When other reviewers state that Sahara is a hidden gem, they are not mistaken.  Service and ambiance is really top notch.   My husband and I ordered the Chicken Combination Platter for 2. It included Chicken Kebab, Chicken Chops & Chicken Adana and was served with rice and burgol. However, the Kebabs fell a little short. They all tasted the same and didn't have a flavorful punch to them. The amount of food was plentiful that we had leftovers. The accompanying house salad was really good and I loved the dressing. The complimentary pita are hot, fresh and yummy.  I could see the pitas coming straight out of the oven...so good.  In the past I've ordered the Nile Chicken, Tilapia, Shrimp Sauté, and Caesar Salad, which are all very good. The interior is beautiful with painted wall murals and perfect lighting.  We had a 6:15 reservation and where quickly seated at a table.  By, 7:00 pm all the tables in the main dining area were full and there restaurant was bustling. It is a popular spot for a Friday evening. Make sure your have a reservation!! read more

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The bread here is to die for, fresh and warm right out of the brick oven. Call me carbie Barbie, but it's the best. We ordered the chicken platter which was a big serving for 4 people plus we had leftovers. The Fatoush salad was great as well, but a little too tangy for my liking. 5 stars for the bread!! Yum yum read more

WOW. This place was sooo good! We decided on Sahara for take out on a Friday night and it did not disappoint. We had rolls filled with feta & dill (forget the actual name) as well as their house hummus that came with huge pitas!! I had the shrimp Kebabs as my entree and it was absolutely amazing. The flavors were incredible and the shrimps were pretty large and meaty! Definitely need to come back to dine in! The wait was not long at all and decently priced! read more

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Good food and good service. It gets busy on the weekends. It a nice family restaurant.

I hadn't been back here in 14 years, so probably time for an update. Interior decor is exactly the same as I remember it, now getting a little dingy. The service was attentive, but they brought out our entrées before we were finished with our appetizers, and jammed all the plates onto the table. I don't like feeling rushed when I go to a restaurant. They are known for huge portions. Nearly every table was seen packing up leftovers and walking out with doggy bags. However, quantity does not necessarily make up for the quality of the food. My Mediterranean salad was dressed with a sweet balsamic dressing which was not a good pairing with the feta cheese and kalamata olive components. A lemon or red wine vinaigrette would have been more appropriate. The hummus and house-baked pitas were very good, but the grilled chicken and shrimp were charred black. The shrimp were ike chewing on pencil erasers, and the chicken as dry as the Sahara, practically inedible. Probably won't return. read more

Sahara Restaurant - Sahara Mediterranean salad with inappropriate dressing and burned chicken - Middle Eastern Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

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I've heard a lot about this place and I finally had the chance to check it out! The best I ordered was probably the hummus, it was super creamy and flavorful. When you order it as takeout, it also comes with 2 pitas on the side and each additional piece is an extra up-charge (the pitas are delicious!). The falafel entree was pretty good and filling. However, the chicken kebab sandwich was disappointing and would not recommend. The chicken was burnt to the point it tasted bitter rather than charred. Also, if you do order takeout via yelp, make sure to ask about your order! After inquiring about my order after 30 minutes, it ended up never going through to the kitchen so it took over an hour to receive the food. Overall, I would come back again but maybe do sit in instead next time. read more

Sahara Restaurant - Hummus - Middle Eastern Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

We visited this place for the first time as we picked our kid from Rutgers. And what an amazing surprise. We were seated right away after we parked right in their parking lot. We were served one of the freshest bread with awesome sauces. To be honest I wanted to just eat that bread and fill myself. It is a must try. Then came the grill platter. Simply great! Meat was tender and well seasoned. There are other good grills in NJ but seasoning of this grill is something else. Servers were attentive and not even once we felt ignored or not attended. Place is filled with middle eastern paintings and looks so grand. Very nice. Turkish tea is the only thing I can say was average. Rest was all 10/10 read more

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Ate here after attending the Yuen Shen show at the State Theater in New Brunswick, April 1st. This restaurant serves Mediterranean dishes. It's very cleanly and attractively furnished. Very light and airy downstairs. There's also dining upstairs, but that wasn't opened. Maybe when they have overflow. The attractive waiters were attentive. Checking in periodically, but not rushing us through our meal to turn over the table. There's a flat bread bakery in the back, where flat breads are constantly being made. We were immediately served large bottles of cold water. Next came a basket of the warm, freshly baked flat breads, along with a dish of pickled beets, olives, and a spicy hot red sauce. All main dishes come with soup or salad. We chose the lentil soup, which was pureed in a tomato base. It was not the typical American lentil soup and quite good. Hubby ate his so quickly, a waiter stopped by to make sure he had been served! Lol! There were specials and I couldn't make up my mind between the lamb shank, cooked Mongolian style, or their regular lamb dish. So I asked the waiter the difference and he said the Mongolian dish was a glazed dish, served with couscous and vegetables. The menu staple was lamb shank served stew style with vegetable in a tomato based sauce. He suggested the special (only $1 more at $30), because, as he pointed out, the regular dish would be available on the next visit. Made sense... My dish was generous. The lamb was flavorful, but I would have liked a little more spice. The lamb was fresh, lean, and falling off the bone tender. Hubby chose one of the many chicken dishes, Feta Chicken ($24), which is sautéed chicken breast topped with fresh tomatoes and melted feta cheese, finished with a lemon garlic sauce. Served with vegetables and mashed potato. He inhaled it almost as fast as the soup, so I'd say it was a winner! I had plenty to take home and when we asked for a container for our one leftover flatbread, our waiter handed us a brown bag with two extra flatbreads! We ended our meals with dessert. I can't remember the name, but it was essentially a sliced vanilla and chocolate ice cream bomb with almond and cherry filling, with a scoop of ice cream in the center of the dish that was topped with whipped cream ($8) and sharable. Very tasty and a perfect ending. I forgot to order the expresso latte ($4). They do not serve alcohol. A couple brought in a bottle of white wine and were given an ice bucket and wine glasses, so I say BYOB is allowed. They serve plenty of meat, chicken, or shrimp kebobs and have several vegetarian dishes, and appetizers as well as salads. Dinner for two with dessert and no alcohol and enough left over for one full dinner came to $66! Our waiter was attentive with other waiters checking in with us when they thought my husband hadn't received his soup while I was still eating mine or to check on whether or not we wanted dessert, while we were waiting for the order. Our experience was very pleasant in a light and airy environment. The tables and chairs are wooden and easily moved to accommodate larger groups. Noise level was low. This is a good date night place. read more

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I had been wanting to try this place for years and finally met some friends for dinner after work. We started with the hummus which was excellent. Their pita bread was different but in a great way. Nice and fluffy and homemade, I loved it. I got the Adana Kebab which was good. I think the lamb could have been cooked a little less as it was more medium well and lacked a bit of tenderness. It came with some rice and lentil soup. The soup was pretty good. My friends got the lamb chops and the shrimp dish and both enjoyed. The place itself is pretty casual and service was okay. It got busy for a Wednesday night. Also, BYOB so bring your own alcohol. read more

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We went to Sahara to celebrate my birthday. I've eaten here before for lunch and have wanted to bring my family for quite awhile. My husband and I arrived early and asked if we could be seated to have a drink while we wait (it's a BYOB place). They graciously allowed us to sit at our table. Our server, Brian, even brought us some of their wonderful bread while we waited. Once everyone arrived, the feasting began. We started with a new special, Calamari Fantasia. OMG - it was fabulous!! The calamari was lightly fried and served in a pepper, tomato, onion, balsamic sauce. Everyone was even putting the sauce on the bread once the calamari was gone. Highly recommend if it's on the menu! For dinner, I again choose from the specials- another new dish- Zoppa Di Marie. It was a combination of various seafood in a saffron tomato lemon sauce over risotto. Again, OMG! Wonderful! It's a very generous dish, I was unable to finish it all. My husband had the lamb chops. He loved them, they were perfectly cooked and quite tender. Anna had the lamb shank. She thoroughly enjoyed her meal. James had the Cowboy steak from the special menu- it came on a sizzling plate and smelled wonderful. He has no complaints! Allyson had the feta chicken which she really enjoyed. The wait staff was very efficient in serving and clearing. The dishes were cleared away very quickly. For dessert, we had the chocolate lava cake. It was cute, Brian had figured out we were celebrating and they came and sang happy birthday to me. Candle and all. I enjoyed it! I've enjoyed this restaurant every time I go. Definitely check it out! read more

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I went for my birthday dinner. It was incredible. We started with baba ghanoush and hummus. The pita was made on site and was warm and fluffy inside. I had the chicken special and my friend had the snapper special. The chicken had golden raisins and pears in a demi glaze sauce over mashed potatoes. It was phenomenal. The snapper was in a pesto sauce and tasted so flavorful. Mind you the crisp on that snapper skin was perfection. The only down side... we weren't helped or acknowledged for quite a lil bit. They all thought the other servers were helping us. read more

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The place is actually very nice, the ambiance is good, and the service was good, the only reason they are getting three stars is because my shish kabob was overcooked, the flavors were fine, the other dishes I tasted were pretty good, next time I'm on the area I will stop and order something different. read more

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The girlfriend said we have to dine here before ending our NYC holiday but the restaurant does not take reservation and the wait is said to be long, even on a weeknight. We came on Friday, a little before 7 pm, and after circling for over 15 minutes, we finally found parking. Thankfully, even though there was quite a number of folks waiting, we were seated after 20 minutes. The girlfriend thought wine/beer is on the menu, but the waiter banished her assumption, saying byob is the name of the game. I told the girlfriend Yelp says there is a liquor store nearby so look through the menu and order something good while I walk/run to get us a bottle of wine. She ordered Morrocan lamb shank, Baba ganoush and Chicken adnan kabob. All 3 items were amazing but I especially loved the lamb shank. It was richly delicious, it was flavorful, colorful and a large piece of meat. The restaurant was packed and yet service was prompt and fast. The staff must sleep well because they really hustle. The best part is when I got the bill - $63.44. I am so used to paying SF Bay prices that I almost keeled over. I showed it to the girlfriend and she said there must be a mistake, look it over again. I did. It is really that affordable. The girlfriend is sad we don't live closer because we will come all the time. read more

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Great tasting food with nice ambiance. We ordered the mezze plate for appetizers and they bring hot and freshly made pita bread which is a touch above as many places do not do that. read more

The restaurant got packed quickly! The pita was superb. I enjoyed the feta chicken. The ambiance was nice. There was nothing special about the shrimp dish... the rose tea was okay..... read more

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