OMG!! Just had the best lunch evvaaaahhh!!…read more I built my own bowl with brown basamati rice, gyro meat, cucumbers, kalamata olives, feta, Tzatziki and hummus and wow was it packed with flavor!! I'll definitely be ordering it again!!

For mall food this was the best option here I think. My chicken Shawarmabowl was tastey. Lots of…read moresauce ans flavor. People here were super nice too. The place was clean. Lots of seating. I might again.

Great little hole in the wall! I read about Mazzat a while ago and finally made my way there. This…read moretiny Middle Eastern eatery is a hidden gem located in Portland's busy Forest Ave neighborhood. My falafel wrap may be one of the best meals I've gotten in Portland, solely based on food-to-price ratio. The falafel was perfectly cooked, and the wrap was quite yummy. It came with these deep-fried "chips" (I'm sure they are something else) and a side of delicious hummus. I paid about $10 for the whole thing, including a soda. You just can't beat that. The menu was extensive and included a mix of sandwiches, salads, and plates. Would I go back to Mazzat? If I'm in the area, yes, but I probably wouldn't go out of my way to make it there! In my opinion, this is more of a takeout spot. I did dine in, but the vibe is pretty much nonexistent -- a mix of about eight tables inside without much going on. All in all, I'm glad I tried it!

A hidden gem, I'd had cookies around the corner before and hadn't realized this was here. My…read morehusband brought home takeout items to snack on once and we realized we needed to make a point to come back and give it a proper try. Service was very polite and patient, and the food was awesome. They've got two vertical spits going for shawarma. The kebabs are displayed in the fridge and then cooked, so flavorful and interesting. There are several tables to sit and dine in if that's your vibe. It was torture driving home with the delicious smells. Don't skip eating the pickled veggies, they're unique and delicious! The portions pack a punch for the price. Next time I'll dine in and enjoy everything hot and fresh without the wait. The desserts also looked really good, next time!

Wow. Just wow. I am…read morenot going to lie and tell you that this has always been my favorite type of food or fare but we popped in here today after walking around monument square and I am glad that we did. Food ... amazing. Service ... super friendly. Clean layout with indoor and outdoor seating. Pros: fresh food packed with flavor. Prompt service and friendly vibe. Hand made drinks were amazing (especially the Thai chi) Cons: bathroom is downstairs on an elevator ride in the end of a corridor in the basement. Parking is very limited unless you want to hit the garage. We will definitely be back soon as you can see the dishes that we ate with the pictures I am posting.

Still the best falafel in Portland: slightly crunchy golden-brown exterior, bright green when you…read morebite into it, fluffy and moist and so delicious. If you're craving falafel in the city, THIS is going to be the place you want to get it from (why are all the other places serving up such dry options?)! I like the Falafel Salad (which is both plant-based and gluten-free): it comes with four or five falafel balls, a generous dollop of hummus, local greens mixed with radish and cucumbers and mint, and two small plastic containers of tahini sauce and lime vinaigrette. It's not a very big salad; I usually end up supplementing it with additional greens at home. The french fries are a miss for me: from here, they always seem quite soggy even after only a few minutes. The shawarma flavor is amazing, but there's just something unappetizing (for me, anyway) about a limp fry. At lunch it seems they prioritize their online orders more than their in person orders, so expect a wait (or have the forethought to order ahead of time online).

We were passing through on our way from Boston to Bar Harbor. We are so glad we stopped in!…read more First, the blue and white tablecloths and interior are super cute. The he staff was very friendly and welcoming. I liked that the menu was succinct. My party got the chicken pita, the chicken bowl and gyro along with the feta fries. Every item was delicious. The qty of ingredients was perfectly balanced. The feta fries were out of this world and I will daydream about them from hereafter. I was impressed by the pricing and thought it was super affordable as well. I highly recommend this restaurant

This is such a great spot in downtown Biddeford. I think a lot of people would overlook it like I…read moredid for many years but wow I will be back again and again now that i've finally tried it. Love space is actually quite lovely and very clean and welcoming. I was greeted right when i came in and was helped with all my questions by the nice gentleman. He recommended some dishes and he did not steer me wrong! I opted for the feta fries, the chicken rice bowl with pita, the dolmades, and the baklava. Everything was delicious and so fresh tasting. Get all the side sauces (tzatziki, hummus, garlic dip) they are so good and you can tell they are made in house. The chicken in the bowl i got was cooked perfectly and so fresh. The feta fries are such a fun addition as well as the dolmades since i had been wanting to try those! The baklava is a perfect sweet end to the meal you can't miss. What a great experience - it's worth noting how fast the can put together your order as well. I would also love to mention that a delivery driver came in and the man made him food to take with him which was extremely sweet. As someone who works in a similar industry i know how rare it is when you come across someone who thanks their delivery drivers like this man did. This is a must try spot!!!!

Enjoyed the food and my cocktail! It was just what we needed on rainy Sunday. They do brunch on…read moreSunday and nice selection of items. Will be returning

Went here for brunch the other day and was impressed. The service was super friendly and they even…read moregave us a couple free mocktails. So refreshing and needed. They have a wide open space with lots of tables, and a big bar. It would be a great space for a big party as they have lots of room and a lot of the Old Port spots don't have much seating. We got brunch food and it was great as well. The waitress, kitchen staff and service were amazing! I will be back.

Stella is awesome- so is the food. We had Moussaka, grape…read moreleaves, an eggplant dish that I forgot it 's name. & bougassa(sp) not sure if I said it properly or spelled it properly all I can say is this dessert is OMG delicious. Everything we had was exceptional. The only thing I would do differently is keep the Tsasiki in a separate container from the the dolmades. The dolmades are best cold.

I loooove Greek Aloha Kitchen, even though they're only open two days a week. The food is BOMB, you…read morecan preorder on your phone, and the owners are just the nicest people around! My favorite items to order from here are: chicken gyro with Tzazkiki (you have the option of ketchup and mustard instead, but why??), moussaka (reminds me of lasagne except better!), Mount Olympus (gyro sandwich x 2 with choice of pork/chicken , melted mozzarella, tzatziki, fries, tomato, onions), and for dessert, the bougatsa (vanilla bean semolina custard wrapped in filo) and baklava saragli (think baklava roll). They have many other amazing items on their menu, but I am a creature of habit, and once I find my favorites, I tend to stick to them. p.s. they will be on vacation starting 5/22/2022, reopening some time in August 2022.

From the outside, it looks like a run-down tattoo parlor…read more When you go to the front door on Main Street, you are directed to the side door. Courage. The interior is transformative. The decor is Turkish; tables are flanked by comfortable sofas and pillows. No one was at the counter. The trick is you have to bang on the bell. The young lady who appears is cheerful, greeting, efficient. Indicate you are eating in, but stand there and order from the menu posted. The food: I dislike rice, or thought I did- their rice is sublime. What do they add to it? The baba ghanoush is the best I've tasted. My friend got chicken kabob and raved about it. My curried chicken was equally good. You won't have room for the baklava but take some home (and hide it from the family or it will disappear.) I'll be back. More of that rice for one thing.

We visited Istanbul together because it had been a long time. In the last few years this place has…read moreundergone a few changes. For a while there was also a market here. That is now gone, with only remnants remaining of that time period. It has gone back to looking almost exactly like my photos from years ago. We both got the mixed grill. It was fine. Lamb was a bit dry and salty. Beef was ok. Two types of chicken. Lots of rice. Salad and hummus before hand. Nothing to write home about, nothing to complain about. The guy who took our order was also our waiter and brought items to our table. Nice, energetic, kind of cute. We'd go back but prefer other places for similar food.

There's a little story attached to this review. We had just gotten off the unique ferry cruise…read morearound the harbor and we're very hungry. My daughter was craving pizza and I could've gone with pizza. I always like a good pizza. Anyway, we stopped in front of the Olive Café in order to place our order for the pizza place across the street. We are going back-and-forth we'd have to carry the pizza back to our hotel, etc. etc. All of a sudden we looked inside this little restaurant where people were eating. I turned my head, looked at the menu. My daughter immediately canceled the pizza order, and we went inside. The server host owner was phenomenal. The food absolutely outstanding. I am a true lover of Middle Eastern/Greek food and it was phenomenal. The sauce used that tahini was tangy. It was beyond fantastic.

We stopped into this Lebanese restaurant for a quick bite between meals, and it was such a great…read morefind. We ordered the grape leaves and baba ghanoush, and both were honestly the best we've ever had--fresh, incredibly flavorful, and perfectly prepared. The service was quick and friendly, making it an easy stop while exploring the area. It's conveniently located near the Old Port, and the restaurant itself was clean and welcoming. We'd definitely return!

last night we went to Magissa for dinner. First let me start by saying I am Greek and a very good…read morecook. When it comes to Greek food we are picky. It was Greek food with a modern flair. It was creative and delish. we had Calamari with a basil olio and of course I asked for more lemon, hey I'm Greek. It was tender and very yummy, we had a salad as well and that was delishious as well. We ordered the lamb chops with greens (horta) and potatoes. the lamb was from upstate Maine and was very fresh and cooked perfectly, the potatoes were crispy. The restuarant was in a nice homey neighborhood and we found street parking no problem. The restaurant is lovely inside, light and airy with an island feel. the waitstaff was very nice and friendly and our meals and drinks came out in perfect time. we met Nancy the owner who we became fast friends. she smart dedicated and creative. If you want a great meal, in a lovely cool place go to Magessa, the word means witch and you will be bewitched by this place and its food, you'll want to go back.

I was incredibly lucky to attend Magissas first Drag Brunch! What an amazing experience. They went…read moreall out with Mamma Mia inspired decorations and the atmosphere was stunning. Great drag queens hosting the party and kept it lively, even getting all the staff and customers to dance. I ordered the greek shakshuka and it was delicious! perfect runny egg and a great dish with the naan addition. I got a glass of the house white and the house red wine and both were divine! I hope they continue to do these fun brunches, the staff was amazing and it was such a great time.

Evo was recommended to us, and we were not disappointed during our recent trip to Portland. Our…read moreserver was friendly and knowledgeable. We chose to sit at a table upstairs (mezzanine). There was also an option to sit at the counter downstairs. We started with the chickpea fries, which were spiced well with a crispy exterior and creamy texture inside. It was a unique way of serving chickpeas. I had the NY strip steak, which I enjoyed, but a tip if you're going. The medium rare was closer to rare in my opinion. If you like medium rare, I'd ask for medium. My wife had the mushroom shawarma, which she enjoyed thoroughly and raved about the unique spices.

My wife and I popped in here last night for dinner and a first round of drinks. It was 7pm on a…read moreWednesday and it was at about half capacity, so we had no trouble walking in and being seated right away, though the upstairs seating (which looked really cool) was sadly full. No matter - we got prime seating at the bar with full view of the kitchen and watching everyone prepare everything! Right out of the gate, we were impressed with the friendliness and professionalism of the staff and the vibe of the place. Even though it was relatively small, it never felt cramped at all and the decor and look just felt so sleek and modern but also warm and just a place you wanted to be. We started with drinks - an Emerald Oasis for me and a Desert Rose for the lady. The Emerald Oasis was tasty, refreshing, slightly minty with a hint of cucumber, and relatively mild in flavor. The Desert Rose was also equally refreshing with a good amount of smoke flavor and some pleasant floral notes. What's weird to me though is that it's a tequila drink with smoke added... why not just use mezcal and call it a day? I actually mistakenly thought it was mezcal when I tried it as it had a very similar flavor profile. Overall, both solid but not necessarily earth-shattering flavor bombs. For an app, we ordered some seared halloumi to start. It was a pretty small portion (two pieces for each of us equated to about 4 normal size bites each) but the flavor was really nice with a touch of heat from the peppers and a little crunch from the sunflowers. I'm definitely glad we got it and I know halloumi is expensive, but I feel like I could've used just a little more oomph somehow. Next up was the whipped feta. My wife is celiac so they got me some pita on the side and her some crudites in the form of sliced carrots and cucumbers. The pita was warm, slightly chewy, slightly crispy in some spots, and a good amount of fluffiness. The whipped feta was tasty with the pomegranate molasses giving it some depth and character but the whole thing started getting a little soupy and hard to really scoop up without a spoon towards the end. Again, another solid dish but maybe would try the hummus next time. Lastly - entrees. I started with the paprika shrimp. It was a good amount of sauce to cover the whole dish though I feel like it relied a lot on the spiciness instead of depth of flavor. Also, and maybe this is a personal thing, any dish that has shrimp with tails still on but covered in sauce is kind of annoying to get the tails off without getting your hands super messy. I get the presentation of it but still. Also, the chickpeas were slightly dry and crunchy, but that may very well be the intention and design of the dish. I didn't mind it and the sauce balanced it out nicely, but it was a bit unexpected. My wife got the Moroccan mushroom (after an oopsie that sent what was supposed to be hers to another table by mistake first and then fired up a new one right away in about 10 minutes). It was a really nice dish with lots of flavor and locally foraged mushrooms. I'm not a mushroom fan and I even thought it was pretty tasty! All in all, a really solid experience but at the same time just about every item feels like it could have been just a little bit more - whether it was flavor or amount or something. The presentation on everything was full-blown Michelin star quality too (as it was on all the other dishes we saw floating around too), though I question why the large amount random space on the plate on our two entrees. The shrimp I guess you could get away with but half an empty plate on the mushrooms just felt like it was being a little too artsy. I'm not a chef or even a professional food critic though, so what do I know? :) I wouldn't mind going back here but I wouldn't go out of my way to go back either.