Ecerytime I come to school from my classes I get off around 12 and I come straight here and…read moreeverytime its so good, when I finish my bachelor's degree ill be very sad because I won't be able to eat here anymore because the prices are so good and they fill you up with good food.

Although the food was good? The restaurant was not clean to my liking. The falafel was great and…read morethe tzatziki was a nice added touch.

I drove almost an hour to have my shawarmas here but when i reached they were out of halal chicken,…read moreso I would recommend calling them first and checking with them if they have the chicken available. Got the lamb shawarma and it was really good but was a little bit disappointed because I didn't get the chicken.

We had been big fans of the food truck, we used to follow it around whenever possible. We were very…read moresad when it closed down. We saw that this had opened awhile ago, but have not had the opportunity to go up and give it a try. It was well worth the wait. We got both the chicken and the steak shawarma and gave each other half. The meat is rich with an amazingly deep flavor for something so simple. Add the bite of the pickles and both of these are superb sandwiches. The food truck had different sauces for each sandwich, that has changed. Just the one sauce now, but it is a lovely yogurt based bit of tastiness. We also got a side of falafel. Falafel is always hit and miss for me. This was a definite hit. Once again a wonderfully complex taste from something so simple. The wrap had a nice bit of crunch to it after being on the grill. This is not as long and involved as a lot of my reviews, but it doesn't need to be. It's a very small, simple menu, but oh my it is great. We will get back up there when we can, we hope that they will open a shop in Des Moines.

Great fresh Mediterranean food, friendly service, and generous portions. The Green Olive is a Des…read moreMoines gem.

5-Star Plus Plus Review: Green Olive at 1960 Grand Ave, West Des Moines, IA 50265…read more Green Olive absolutely delivered a meal that felt like comfort food and a special treat at the same time. I ordered the combo meal, and it was the kind of plate that makes you slow down and enjoy every bite because there is so much flavor and variety. The chicken was tender and well-seasoned, with that perfect balance of warm spices that tastes rich without being too heavy. The beef had a deep, savory flavor and a satisfying bite, and the lamb was the real standout. It tasted clean, bold, and cooked just right, with that hearty, slightly smoky taste that makes lamb worth ordering. Every protein on the plate felt like it was prepared with care, not rushed. The rice was fresh and fluffy, and it did exactly what great rice should do. It held the meal together and soaked up the flavor from everything around it. Then came the best part, the variety of sauces. Each sauce brought something different. One added a creamy smooth finish, another gave a bright kick, and another brought that deeper, bold flavor that keeps you coming back for one more bite. I loved being able to mix and match because it made the meal feel like several meals in one. To finish, I had the cheesecake and coffee, and that was the perfect ending. The cheesecake was smooth, rich, and satisfying without being overly sweet. The coffee was warm, strong, and comforting, and it tied everything together like a great closing note. Bottom line: Green Olive gave me a full, flavorful, and well-balanced experience from the first bite to the last sip. If you want a meal that is filling, fresh, and packed with variety, the combo meal is the way to go. The staff were friendly and kind absolutely OUTSTANDING!!!

4.8* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 4*…read more Service: 5* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $50 05/15/2026 My wife is fond of her Lebanese heritage, so when we saw Open Sesame on the Des Moines Register's Must Go List in East Village last month, we knew we needed to check it out. Last night was our opportunity and boy was it ever a memorable experience! Their website speaks of it being a colorful decor - and that is true both inside and out (see pictures)! We were warmly greeted and promptly seated - and asked if he could take our picture under the billowing, colorful ceiling (see picture). We started with a a round of drinks - my wife ordered the Ishtar's Revenge (see picture) and I went with the Yazmina (see picture). All of the cocktails are quite unique and we enjoyed both of these. As we started talking with our server, MJ - he looked familiar and his story sounded familiar. We asked and he confirmed that he used to own Gazali's in Clive, IA - a restaurant closer to our home that we enjoyed several times. MJ recommended the the Vegetarian Sampler Plate (see picture) for an appetizer and we loved it - offering the opportunity to sample several different Lebanese menu items on one plate. For our main courses, my wife ordered the Shawarma Chicken Pita Wrap (see picture) and I opted for the Combo Rice Plate (see picture), done spicy per MJ's suggestion. As we always do, we shared tastes of each of our dishes and loved them both! Lastly, the Jalab (rose and date infused water - see picture) caught my eye - so I ordered one of those to enjoy with my meal. Again, it is highly recommended! What visit to a Lebanese restaurant would be complete without Baklava (see picture), which MJ recommended that we enjoy with Turkish Coffees (see picture and video of pouring). We even got an education on how best to each the Baklava - pick it up with your fingers, take a bite, then keep that bite in your mouth while you take a sip of the Turkish Coffee - then enjoy! While it is hard not to enjoy Bakalava, it was even better when paired with the Turkish Coffee. If you found this review helpful, please Share, Follow & Like.

It's just wonderful to find a taste of the Middle East in the heart of Des Moines! The Lebanese…read morecafé specializes in many handheld's delicacies that include falafel, Shawarma, and gyros. Sides accompany most sandwiches that includes salads or soup. At the base of the state capital, you'll find metered street parking available and easy access. The restaurant is open for lunch hours and then closes for a few hours mid afternoon reopening in the evening. We were there for lunchtime and there was a nice bit of dining and takeout traffic going on while we were at the restaurant. Soft drinks, wines, and a nicely stocked bar is available with specialty cocktails. The food was freshly prepared and nicely seasoned. It's been years since I had falafel and I found theirs to be absolutely delicious! Pricing was very reasonable and service was pleasant and attentive. I would definitely come back to this restaurant to try some of the other specialties offered as the menu is extensive.

Hasn't been here for a while so we stopped in with another couple for dinner. Got right in on a…read moreTuesday without a reservation. My wife and I split a bottle of wine-they have a pretty good selection to choose from. For dinner I got the Gyro. It had chopped lamb, which was a different twist, but it was pretty good. My wife got the Hangar Steak. It was tasty and came with a generous portion of fingerling potatoes and Brussels Sprouts. The other couple got a pizza and Fig and Pear Bruschetta. Their pizzas are always good and the Bruschetta was tasty too. Our server Reagan was excellent-checked in on us regularly and was very personable. Good menu with a lot of variety. Great patio too when the weather cooperates!

We stopped in for an early dinner and ended up leaving before even being served…read more We had our baby with us in a car seat and asked for a booth along the wall so we'd have a safe place to set him, which has never been an issue for us at other restaurants. After being initially seated in a booth that didn't fit the car seat, we asked to move to a small half booth in the (completely empty) dining room. One hostess told us that was perfectly fine, so we got settled. Shortly after, another hostess came back and asked us to move again to a standard table where the only option was placing the car seat on the floor, which we weren't comfortable with. At that point, we chose to leave. What was most disappointing wasn't the seating issue itself, but how it was handled. The restaurant was empty at the time, and the interaction felt unnecessarily rigid and unwelcoming--especially as new parents just trying to have a quick, low-impact meal. We ended up going elsewhere and had a completely different experience. Unfortunately, this visit changed our perception, and we won't be returning.

Chicken shawarma wrap - YUM!!! Kefta wrap - my partner tried…read morethis and said he preferred the shawarma, but it still tasted pretty good. Lots of tomato.

The World Food Festival is my #1 favorite annual event in Des Moines, and Tarboosh is my #1…read morefavorite restaurant at the festival. The chocolate Baklava is absolutely one of the best desserts I have ever eaten in my life. It is as good as any other treat in the Des Moines Metro. I am absolutely elated that they are now going to have a regular food truck. They say that they are going to be at 221 4th Street, Des Moines - the parking lot near Fong's Pizza.

Excellent, fresh food. Many healthy options. Order one of the bowls and don't forget the mushrooms!read more

I generally avoid leaving reviews, but I hope management will review this feedback. Our drinks and…read morefood arrived separately, which was inconvenient. I was unable to finish my meal because the panini was burnt and inedible. The drinks were warm, and my margarita was particularly bright green and excessively bitter. It was evident that we were dissatisfied when the waiter approached, noticing our minimally consumed food, and offered dessert. However, he then stood over me, holding the credit card machine and not handing it to me, while looking over my shoulder, which created an uncomfortable atmosphere. Unfortunately, despite our appreciation for the district, the quality of the food was unacceptable.

Absolutely one of the best food trucks in Des Moines! The food is fresh, the seasoning divine, and…read morethe customer service rocks! Price is right and worth it.

We were excited to try out this Mediterranean food truck when it came near our home. We headed…read morethere after our daughter's soccer practice was done. That meant it was close to 7:00pm before we got there (the truck had been set up starting at 5:00pm). When we arrived, their generator had stopped working which meant anything that needed fried wasn't available. I felt bad for the people working the truck because I could tell they were flustered. On to plan B for our kid's meals. I ordered the Falafel platter as they had just enough of them left for that. My husband got the Lamb Gyro and we got the mini chicken gyro for our kids. The food was ready quickly. We ate at a picnic table that was nearby. I wasn't the biggest fan of my falafel platter. The falafel was really dry and lacked a lot of the flavor I desired. The rest of the platter was fine. My husband seemed to like his lamb gyro and our kids liked the chicken in the mini gyro but left the rest alone. We admittedly didn't choose this food truck at the next two events we saw it at. Not that it wasn't something we'd eat again, it just didn't wow us.

Tasty food, wish the portions were bit more but all in all I was full, fortunately I ordered a side…read morepiece of pita bread which helped with fullness

I can't understand how there are so many good reviews for this place. The food is terrible! I have…read moreto say it's probably the worst tasting food I've ever eaten. There were no Mediterranean spices on the meat and it was so bland and tasteless. I wish I could give this zero stars. My husband and I had a graduation to go to at the Knapp Center so we wanted to grab a quick bite somewhere close beforehand. We both got the beef and lamb gyros. The meat wasn't cut fresh off of a big hunk of meat like it is at most gyro places. It was pre-sliced and kept in a bin at the counter along with the other cold ingredients. The man making the gyros did put a lot of meat and vegetables on the pita but it was all flavorless. I have made much tastier Mediterranean food than this. We both couldn't believe how awful the gyros were. The meat was so dry and unseasoned. I have never missed Gazali's food more. Their gyros always had such great spices and flavor and that's what I was expecting of this place. I don't know how this place can call themselves a Mediterranean grill. Their food is just unseasoned meat and vegetables on a pita. There's nothing Mediterranean about it.

We decided to try this place after reading an article. So glad we made that decision. We went for…read morelunch but the full menu was available. We were greeted when we walked in and seated immediately. They placed warm pida bread with olive oil on our table - it was fantastic! Our server was very polite and made a few suggestions. My wife went with dumplings and I got kebabs. Both were delicious! I had Turkish Coffee and my wife had Turkish tea. But the main thing was the baklava! I've had it many times before but the variety and flavor here was outstanding. We plan on returning just for the baklava!

Located on 100th at the end of a strip center, Istanbul Grill is well decorated and has comfortable…read moreseating. Service was very good and took the time to explain various aspects of the menu. I ordered the Sultan's Delight while my companion order chicken skewers. My entree was fine but I thought the chicken was very good. Prices are reasonable.