My friends very graciously hosted an Iftar dinner for about 12 adults and several children/babies this past weekend. With groups, especially those with children, there is shuffling in, lots of ordering and confusion but the staff handled it very well. Truthfully, the only reason I returned was because others were hosting. Being a fully halal restaurant, it is one of our go to places for guests with strict restriction, but I never really enjoyed the food. I think their new management has drastically improved the menu, taste and quality of the food and I enjoyed everything that made it to the table. Standouts were the hummus, dolmas and chicken shish for me. The saj, as always was excellent and brought out fresh and frequently to the table. Being such a large group, we ordered nearly every mezze and meat dish, and a variety of drinks so it was the perfect place to host a group and get to try a little of everything. While the staff was very good at handling the group and our requests, I will say that they were stretched pretty thin. I sincerely thank them bc lots of little ones and busy parents are not easy. read more

Friendly warm and inviting Food is delicious Small limited menu We are a table of eight and we are accommodated They kindly merged three small tables for us No alcohol Street parking One bathroom Cultural played music Take an adventure and enjoy read more

Food here was awesome. One of the more casual, sit-down restaurants on Magazine. We ducked in for dinner on Thoth Sunday seeking a seat and sustenance. I ordered two dishes from the small plates section. I got the dolmas (grape leaves) and kofta, which were a seasoned ground meat patty that was SOOOO GOOD. Service was great. The ambiance is pretty casual. Nice bathroom, nice people, comfy seat. That was all we could ask for. One drawback was that they weren't serving alcohol. I don't know if they never have alcohol, or it was just while we were here, but something to consider! Maybe there's a cork fee or BYO. read more

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Nice place. The ambience is stylish and modern, yet gives a sense of place as well, with clear Moroccan/Mediterranean design elements. Has both comfy booths and plenty of tables. Would be charming for date night. Service was great too, never neglecting us, and our food came fast. We decided on four small plates to try. These come with unlimited saj--a tasty flatbread dusted in spices, sumac or possibly or possibly zataar? I think I was expecting the bread to be a bit more flaky/tender like roti, but it more closely resembles a tortilla. Not a bad thing of course, who doesn't love unlimited tortillas? We got hummus, beet tahini, baba ghanouj, and falafel. There was not a single one I disliked, but the baba ghanouj and beet tahini were my favorites. Smokey, smooth... so satisfying. The falafel, too, was perfect. I'll likely go back soon to trying some more items. My only complaint was the price to portion ratio. Some of the dips barely covered the bowls they came in as they were less than an inch deep. Since they're 10 dollars each, I expected a little more, that's all. read more

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I recently visited Saj for the first time on a Tuesday. Let me preface my review with the fact that I didn't know what to expect but I suggested it as an option for a first date. I realized when I walked in that it was more casual than I'd hoped. Not a bad thing but the more casual environment, mixed with the fact that the A/C was out made it less comfortable, especially because I was already nervous lol. However, the food was tasty. My appetite was very light so I ordered hummus, olives and pita with some falafel. All very tasty. We also shared Mediterranean salad with a side of chicken that I didn't try. We didn't take any leftovers but it was just because we were headed to another spot after. I'd definitely order takeout or come back on a more causal occasion. The server on duty was very helpful but he was alone so he was busy even on a quiet Tuesday. read more

Saj - Mediterranean salad - Mediterranean Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

I'm a little perplexed, I ordered on DoorDash- I've been wanting to come here for a while, and I've tried to order DoorDash before and I live too far out of the area (Metairie near power) so they won't deliver, tonight I was in the area so I came to pick up. They had a BOGO on the salad, gyro plate, and hummus so that's what I got along with the Moussaka tapenade, if it hadn't been bogo I'd be a little annoyed, the portions are insanely small and it's mostly bread, the salad was shoved in a bread bowl, the gyro meat plate was a few small pieces of meat and the rest just copious amounts of bread, and the hummus and tapenade barely covered the bottom of the take out container. For $18 or $20 for the gyro plate, and $9 and $10 for the hummus and tapenade I'd expect so much more. Also, I asked for water and was surprised that they don't sell bottled water or have bottled water-- all they have is tap water, which was extremely surprising for a restaurant with these kinds of prices. read more

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What a wonderful place that is dog friendly and delightful. We started with the muhamara that was okay. It felt like it needed more, but it was very tomato based. My wife ordered the chicken shawarma while I ordered the gyro. The chicken was so tender and juicy with so much seasoning. The gyro reminded me of meatloaf in a way that it melted when I was cutting it with my fork. The rice and salad were nice accompaniments. Definitely going back their lunch was amazing! read more

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We liked this place so much, we went twice in a week. We were in the Big Easy due to a family member being in the hospital, and we spent some down time on Magazine Street, one of our favorite areas to hang out. We happened upon Saj and I'd had my eye on it for a while courtesy of all the Yelp reviews. Suffice to say, the reviews didn't steer us wrong. On our first visit, we decided to share some things so we could explore the menu. We tried the vegetarian dolmas, the moussaka tapenade, and the Mediterranean salad. It was served with the absolutely delicious flatbread. The bread was a mix of chewy and crispy and it was the perfect vessel for the other food. The dolmas were probably our favorite thing--that red sauce they are served in is dynamite! The salad was fresh and light and refreshing. On our second visit we opted to share dishes again to get to taste a variety of the menu. Once again, we got the veggie dolmas, and then we got the chicken paella, kufta, muhamara, and baked feta. The baked feta might have been my favorite this time around, with the mix of sweet and salty. The muhamara was also surprisingly delicious. Personally, I was somewhat underwhelmed with the paella, but the others liked it. Needless to say, if youre in the area, stop by. Great service and great food! read more

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The kabobs at Saj are outstanding. Perfectly grilled, juicy, and packed with flavor. The char from the grill gives them that authentic taste you don't find everywhere. Add the fresh saj bread and garlic sauce and it's a perfect meal. read more

Food was delicious! Everything was really good but I was particularly impressed by the baked feta with honey. The service was also excellent. read more

This place is a gem! My partner and I went on a Wednesday afternoon, I was unsure bc there wasn't anybody there, but we took a chance anyways. We are traveling through from the west coast, on a food tour, so we came to EAT!He got the chicken shawarma, I got the Mediterranean salad with a side of fries. I am currently recovering from SIBO, so I can't have most foods and spices, but was able to tolerate everything. The dressing on the salad was light but flavorful. The chicken was moist and cooked to perfection, the Saj bread was seasoned with a variety of seasonings that just made sense. Would highly recommend this place for a casual date night. The ambiance is cute, great location, and the service was amazing. read more

Saj - Mediterranean salad - Mediterranean Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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Very Yummy , I went for lunch . Ingredients tasted very fresh! ( Nice place to sit by the window on magazine and relax while dining) read more

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This was by far the best Mediterranean food I've ever had, and I've tried plenty of Greek and Lebanese restaurants. When most people think of Mediterranean they think of chicken shawarma, grape leaves, and hummus, which.. yes, Saj does serve, but it has so much more to offer!! I got the lunch portion Yemeni style chicken shawarma and it was a TON of food for only $18 which to me is incredibly reasonable, and WELL worth it. The shawarma and the plates come with the Saj wraps which are comparable in texture to tortillas, but thinner and more flavorful and oily (in a good way). I also enjoyed the picked carrots and jalapeños, they were a nice small appetizer to start off with and had the right amount of spice. The chicken was amazing and seasoned to perfection with a beautiful golden color from the turmeric. The decor and atmosphere was spectacular and even from the street it looks like a place you'd want to visit. Our server was incredibly fast and acknowledged that we seemed to love the food, which we totally DID. Overall, 11/10, after this meal I kept saying how badly I wish I lived in nola, this will be a go to next time I'm in town. read more

Saj - Yemeni style chicken shawarma (lunch portion) - Mediterranean Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

3/5 service 5/5 food 5/5 value for money 4/5 ambiance They do not serve alcohol Amazing and authentic Mediterranean food read more

Saj - Chicken Shawarma platter and salad with falafel - Mediterranean Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

"YALLAH HABIBI COME TO SAJ!" A newly owned Mediterranean resturant called SAJ located on magazine St. Hands down the best restaurant I've been to in all of New Orleans, YES ALL OF NEW ORLEANS! The restaurant experience with "the" 5-Star winning combination: Beautiful atmosphere, outstanding food/drinks and exceptional service! The atmosphere was layered with warm lighting, creating a peaceful environment, filled with beautiful decor and a special lounge chair for great pictures. The Tables, chairs, and restrooms were clean and sanitary and don't get me started about there food... Two words! Incredibly delicious! Me and wife enjoyed a was super fresh, and fulfilling family plate. And topped it off with a sweet dessert. We even got the chance to meet the owners of this restaurant. Extremely friendly and very welcoming made us feel like we were invited to their own home. Can't get any better than that! Great restaurant for family and friends, double dates, host special events and more! 10 out of 10 must try again and YOU SHOULD TOO! read more

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When we entered the restaurant it had a very calm and relaxed feeling to it. We ordered our drinks, and I opted for the peach iced tea. It was okay. My group got the house-made sodas, and I wish I got the strawberry mint one. It was really good. Perfect sweetness for me with the refreshing mint. We began our meal with the Saj bread, and the Baba ghanoush. The bread reminded me of a tortilla with different seasoning. It has a flaky texture and is thin. Seasoned very well! We dipped our bread into the baba ghanoush. They paired very nicely together, and did not make you too full. Next, we were served the middle eastern paella. It was my first time having paella and the chicken was cooked well, not too dry. The rice was a good texture and taste! I would order again. It was a perfect place to eat lunch, everything we ordered was seasoned well and it was not heavy. read more

Made a reservation. Came in and the server told us he just sat 4 tables so it would take a while to get to us. Was rude about it. We promptly walked out and went next door to eat. Will tell everyone. read more

Food was absolutely amazing and spiced to perfection, with quick and friendly service and a beautiful setting, Saj won't disappoint!

My boyfriend and I loved our meal at Saj! There are a lot of Mediterranean options on Magazine so it took me a while to make my way here but I'm so glad I did! Everything we had was delicious. We got the fried halloumi, chicken shawarma, beetroot tahini, and salad. I loved the flatbread as well. I will definitely be back! read more

Delicious food, great service, beautiful restaurant! There are still dishes that I need to try, but so far my favorites are the chicken kebab, the Yemeni chicken shawarma, beetroot tahini, baked feta with honey, & the fresh mint tea of course! Oh, I can't forget about the stuffed grape-leaves! They are the best I've ever had. Highly recommend!! read more

Food was absolutely amazing! Best Mediterranean food in NOLA. The amount of food you get is worth the price & the quality is even more amazing. read more

Saj - Lamb chop lunch plate - Mediterranean Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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The food at Saj was delicious! A friend and I shared a Paella and a Shwarma Plate. Their bread was also pretty unique and topped off with Zaatar. Food was fresh and the service was great. They also had an interesting drink selection ranging from tamarind soda to raspberry tea - something I would like to explore in the future! read more

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To me Saj is probably one of New Orleans' top culinary offerings. They have so many wonderful flavors and dishes to share with friends and family. Everything is so healthy and delicious. Bright flavors and all kinds of savory and sweet dishes. Just order lots of plates and let the house bread tie everything together. They also brought us complimentary items. Oh and try the Turkish coffee. read more

Visited today at SAJ Mediterranean Restaurant with my family and we order a little bit everything. The food was absolutely amazing! Perfectly balanced flavors, beautifully presented, and cooked to perfection. It's a must-try! read more

Saj - Mediterranean Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

We love trying Mediterranean places. I'm kind of picky, though, in what I'll eat. Gyro meat Smooth hummus salad pita . The salad is a balsamic dressing with lots of veggies added. The bread is more like a flour tortilla, warmed and doused with seasoning and olive oil. My husband had the chicken schwarma platter. Oh, and the rice is a jasmine of some kind. It was an orange color. Not sure if that's due to seasoning. Overall everything tasted great! Service was okay. She got our drinks and order fairly promptly. The place is adorable. I loved the decor and the bathroom smelled good. read more

Saj - Gyro platter - Mediterranean Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Overall fantastic experience loved the food and the service was amazing! Beautiful restaurant too!!

Saj is a Middle Eastern restaurant that seems to be offering a similar dining theme to the nearby Israeli restaurant Shaya. This location was the former longtime home of Mona's Café which was also a Middle Eastern cuisine restaurant that I enjoyed eating at for decades. They have some really nice bread here and the lamb kabab I had was nicely cooked. This seems to be more of a group dining themed joint so eating here solo isn't as pleasant they way they have the menu structured. It would be nice if they offered more plates that came with sides. Overall the food here is good but it is generally going to be a better experience eating here if you are not a solo diner. My video review of Saj is here: https://youtu.be/IT1T372mBPI read more

Let me tell you about a dish that stole the show - the baked feta & goat cheese. It was pure heaven on a plate. The flavors were so intense, and the texture was incredibly creamy. Every bite was a burst of deliciousness, and I couldn't get enough of it. If you dine here, don't miss out on this culinary gem. If you come here I recommend sitting outside to enjoy all of what magazine has to offer read more

Saj - Baked Feta Goat Cheese Hummus Small Plate Falafel Small Plate Falafel Freshly Baked Wraps - Mediterranean Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

What a great spot for lunch! We started with the goat cheese. So yummy! Followed by one of their lunch plates. I got the gyro and my friend got the chicken. Fresh and simply delicious. Giant portion as well, ended up bringing half of it home. If you go, try the homemade sodas with your meal. Overall, great food and friendly attentive service. Highly recommend. read more

Saj - Gyro lunch plate. - Mediterranean Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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AMAZING FOOD!!! Awesome prices, great service, amazing food! Treated us amazing and food came out very quickly. 10/10 Nola restaurant! read more

I wasn't sure about this one. After all, this is New Orleans here. Grabbing lunch here meant not going to 1000 Figs, which is delicious. It meant not going to Shaya across the street, which is legendary. It meant not going to a hundred other restaurants, some known to me, some exciting and new. And frankly, given how much I ate on this particular New Orleans trip, I could have done my wallet and my waistline a favor and not grabbed an indulgent lunch on the way out. So while it might seem like faint praise, it is not when I note that relative to all these other options, this new place was not a crushing disappointment. My mint tea arrived with several mint leaves (and was too hot to drink until I was well into my meal). The falafel lunch special was a beautiful spread that begs the question of what you are supposed to do with all these ingredients? The answer is: everything! Dip the falafel in hummus, or crush it and sprinkle bits over the salad. Mix the salad in with the saffron rice, or go it alone. And the bread, a remarkably delicate flatbread covered in spices, is perfect for cleaning up. The whole spread was bursting with fresh flavors; you couldn't ask for a better falafel lunch platter. Their broader mezze menu has some more interesting options, but you'd have to bring a group to really take advantage of it. Getting together people is not straightforward these days, but I'd make the effort. read more

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I absolutely love this place. It's easily one of the best restaurants I've ever eaten at! New Orleans is filled with restaurants serving up amazing food but Saj stands out! The complimentary bread is out of this world! Paired with the goat cheese appetizer is another level! The lamb chops were perfect. The rice, the hummus, everything was perfection. We also tried a variety of their homemade sodas and teas and everything was a winner. There isn't a bad morsel in this place. The restaurant itself is super cute and every inch of it is a photo opp! The staff were super friendly and welcome! I can't wait to visit again and again! read more

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The saffron rice dish and the saj bread are amazing. The sumac makes the bread incredible. Easy 5 stars.

Food service and atmosphere are wonderful The dips are so fresh! Get extra homemade bread The 'paella' is to die for Everything is so amazing here read more

Whenever I'm Uptown on Magazine Street, I am overcome with the desire for Mediterranean food thanks to longtime favorites, Shaya and Saba. Both are high end, not to mention it's not always a given that you can get a reservation, no less expect to walk in and get a table. Also, I'm just going to say it, sometimes I don't want a high dollar night out (it's rare, but true). Saj's food is just as delicious as the aforementioned restaurants and the atmosphere is lovely, though slightly more casual. No, they do not have a bar but you may bring wine/beer in. I never do this at BYOB places and I don't mind being held in check so that I'm not spending the bulk of my bill on drinks. The menu is small but there are several vegan options. We started with a deceptively humble hummus with flatbread. Anyone who knows and loves Shaya/Saba knows that their flatbread is the stuff of the gods, pillowy, exquisite carb bombs. Impossible to resist, though it's easy it fill up on this because it's that delicious (speaking as someone who isn't easily swayed by a bread basket). It's impossible to not make comparisons, but I will go so far as to say that I prefer the flatbread at Saj! It's very thin, yet still chewy rather than crisp as you'd expect, dusted with za'atar and fruity olive oil. The hummus is bright and tangy, thankfully not overwhelmed by garlic. For my main course, I had the veganized paella, which is absolutely delicious and a large portion, so I took half home. I rarely take leftover food home because I hate wasting containers, but this was an absolute must because it's that damn good! I can't enjoy food without lots of heat, so they kindly brought out their house made chili paste, which is like harissa but a little different, as well as a harissa aioli, which I didn't eat because it's not vegan, but my husband loved it. Service is attentive and really just perfect. We came at an early dinner hour (6:30) and the place was starting to fill up, but you can still count on being able to walk in, I believe. Huge fan of Saj! read more

We went to Saj on a Friday and it was not too crowded and good service. Pros: great appetizers. We had the baked feta and grilled halloumi. Baked feta was perfectly sweet with a layer of sugar and under a caramel iced some of honey...delish Cons: only used vegetable oil (soybean oil) and could not accommodate for an allergy even though some items on the menu said they were cooked in olive oil. BYOB but a store down the street that sells wine. read more

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Excellent food! We ordered the lamb chops, snapper, and soup of the day, and all three were scrumptious. They also provide a side of Mediterranean bread which was perfectly seasoned and chewy. Highly recommend coming here! read more

Saj - Lamb Chops, Soup of the Day - Mediterranean Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Food, amazing and fresh. Service, excellent and helpful. Clean, comfortable. Definitely a 5 in our group of 7s opinion.

Ordered for delivery. Everything was fresh and tender. I had the chicken with rice, hummus and salad. Everything is perfect. What a gem! I'll definitely eat here again. read more

A friend recommended this place for lunch, and I'm so glad we went! Super cute place, our server was very nice and willing to recommend things, and the food was DELICIOUS! I was also pleasantly surprised by the huge portions, especially cause it was a lunch menu. Definitely a cute, quaint spot perfect for grabbing a bite and catching up with a friend. read more

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