My Albanian wife and I loved our lunch experience here. It was our first time…read more They had a special hummus with ground lamb appetizer. The ground lamb didn't overpower the already expertly executed hummus and added fantastic depth and richness. We also sprung for the grilled calamari tubes and the chef did a great job of not overcooking while achieving an excellent char. We shared the baked cod and the spice was delicate and perfect. Using cured lemon was a very clever idea as the sauce was not too strong but still had depth; the saffron and turmeric were well balanced. The fish itself was NOT overcooked and flaked perfectly. The vegetables were also executed well and cooked so they could be eaten with the same bite. The star of the show was still the cook on the fish with the wonderful sauce. The sever gave us some Moroccan mint tea which was also wonderful. We will be making the drive from the Maine Line to just to dine here again.

Our first time at Blue Olive was to celebrate a birthday and it didn't disappoint…read more The fusion of Mediterranean/Tunisian/Greek food was nothing short if spectacular. The service was incredibly friendly and gracious and the ambiance charming. We started with hot appetizers of roasted artichokes, pan fried Halloumi cheese, Spanakopita and an evening special hummus with spiced, minced lamb served with warm pita. All so delicious we were tempted to forego our main courses of moussaka, lamb kebab and delicious lemon/caper cod served over a bed of roasted root vegetable. Desserts, celebrated with a happy birthday candle on a scrumptious chocolate/hazelnut cake , walnut baklava and Turkish coffee made the evening complete. This BYOB gem is a culinary find and we will be going back soon.

COME HUNGRY! I came here to celebrate my brother-in-law's birthday with my husband's family…read morerecently. There were 6 of us and we split the Efsane Family Special for 4 people and added lamb chops thinking we wouldn't have enough food lol the special also came with dessert but my sister-in-law also ordered a rice pudding. The 6 of us could've easily had the family special for 4 without ordering anything else - there was so much food and we had leftovers to take home!! For context, we all eat a LOT so to say we had leftovers is saying a lot! Quantity aside, the food itself was delicious. The bread is served fresh and steaming hot, the dips are delicious and flavorful, meat is seasoned and cooked perfectly (the chicken shish and lamb adana are my favorites), and the bitter black tea and sweet baklava are a perfect way to end the meal. I left there stuffed and so happy! The staff was also very friendly and attentive. I'll definitely be back!

I just moved from Montclair, which is very near the famous middle eastern food scene in Paterson,…read moreNJ. I was very worried that, after the move, I would not be able to find middle eastern food that would compare. However, I was wrong, and Esfane definitely satisfied my craving! I was in the mood for a light lunch, so I ordered the Shepard's Salad, the Baba Ghannouj, and the Lentil Soup. The Baba Ghannouj was excellent and came with lots of pita bread. It could've been a little smokier for my taste, but overall I got a huge serving and it was very creamy and flavorful. The Sheppard's salad was similarly huge and delicious. The lentil soup tasted home-made and was so comforting to dip all of my extra bread in. At the end of lunch, I was also served some complimentary tea, which definiitely was the icing on the cake to this exceptional experience. Overall, I was extremely satisfied by the quality of the food, but also by the amount. The service was similarly excellent. My water was constantly filled and the waiters checked on me numerous times to ensure everything was going well. The decorations inside were also exceptional, and the restaurant definitely gives high-class date night vibes. I could totally see coming back for a date night with my husband. I think the only downside is that I didn't find the food to be QUITE as good as some Paterson joints like Al Basha, and the price felt like it was 1.5x-2x as much. Probably worth it though, because this has got to be one of the better restaurants around in Flanders.

Everything about this place is a 10! The food, the wine, the service, all great…read more Went with a couple of girlfriends on a Saturday and had so much fun. We ordered a white flight, a red flight, and a champagne flight so we could try several different wines. We ordered a couple small bites which were good too. We got the truffle fries, the burger, and the smoked salmon sandwich. Our server Anthony was so friendly and was giving really good suggestions. Definitely will be back!

We loved the food and the atmosphere there! Unfortunately, I…read morecouldn't choose a wine because all of the wine glasses had a synthetic smell (maybe from dishwasher soap or the rubber mats they were stored on), so I ended up getting a can of beer and drinking it straight from the can

When my boyfriend and I decided to try out Marmara we weren't expecting anything as great as it…read morewas... It's in a fricking mall! We've been there once every week for the last month...... I've enjoyed the Branzini very much ( fillet it to avoid bones) Their balloon bread is amazing with the Tapenade they serve. We always get their hummus. And their grape leaves. The Shephards salad which Is mostly tomato &cucumbers w a flavorful dressing (we put on side) .. there's just something about using their balloon bread to scoop up your salad and dips... Yep, we always get a second order of the bread... It's very light and thin and doesn't feel as gluttonous. Everybody is very courteous... It's like going to a restaurant in the city... A belly like dancer surprised us on a Friday night which was fun. I don't really wanna recommend this too much because I don't want it to get so busy that I can't get in when I want to lol but seriously it's a really great experience. They do have wine, but we bring our own and they are happy to fill a glass! Enjoy

The food is delicious, 10/10. I've been here about 5 times and have never had a bad meal…read more The service on the other hand is very slow. Consistently. It takes about 30 minutes to get your food and even longer to get a check after the fact. Which is crazy because my table was only one out of 3 other tables in the restaurant. A 20% tip is automatically applied to your bill, and then still asked if you want to tip ON TOP OF THE FACT so pay attention to your bill! Part of me thinks the reason the service isn't as good is because they know they're automatically getting that tip, but another part of me hopes that isn't the case. Ambiance is nice, very beautiful and great place for pictures.

For us, this restaurant is perfect for romantic occasions like anniversaries and Valentine's Day…read more It's BYOB, and the menu offers a fantastic prix fixe selection with options for everyone, from appetizers to delightful desserts. The service is excellent and attentive to all your needs. Plus, I have a soft spot for the name "Brian" since it's also my husband's name!

Our meal at Hamilton's Grill Room 20+ years ago had been so memorable, I searched the web to…read morereserve a dinner for our anniversary, when we'd be staying in Stockton. Upset to learn that HGR had closed, I learned that Brian was back....at the aptly named "Brian's at the Grill", at the same great location! I love it when a restauranteur has the confidence to design a dinner service that he knows will serve his diners best. We appreciated the beautiful prix fixe menu, with plenty of diverse choices for appetizer, entree and dessert. I guess we've been married 37 years, since we made the same choices...tuna tartare and grilled Swordfish with a delicate lemon, caper and butter sauce. Everything was perfect...the mashed potatoes and al dente veggies ...amazing. We enjoy bringing our own wines and appreciate when the restaurant focuses solely on cooking and leaves the wine to us. And Lambertville has a wine shop a few blocks away. The restaurant accepts cash, personal checks and Venmo. I actually found that refreshing, since Venmo is so simple and they made us well aware when we made our reservation. Many restaurants are now charging a credit card fee for the convenience of using a card, which they rarely disclose; we found using Venmo a great option. Of course food reigns supreme, but not if the service is spotty or brusque. Patricia is a gem and greeted us so warmly and paced our meal graciously. She asked if we wanted to move on to our entree rather than assuming that the kitchen's timing matched ours. How often do you receive that type of treatment? We were stuffed after two courses and rather than pushing the pot de creme and bananas foster on us, again, she asked whether we'd prefer it in the restaurant or back at the hotel....and when we preferred the latter, she packaged them so we could take a breather! Pretty remarkable. We felt we had a new friend by the end of the meal....she is a real asset and has been with Brian for maybe 14 years(?). Front of house excellence complements kitchen talent at this special, twinkling place. We appreciated that we had the option of dining with them on a Monday night, when businesses may be closed in Lambertville or New Hope. Brian's back and we're so glad we found him and Patricia. Enjoy!

We stopped in today and enjoyed some Laughman soup…read more Absolutely fresh and delicious. Consistently delectable. I love this soup and the service is so magnificent. I enjoy my time here every time. How wonderful. I recommend making a reservation. I'm very grateful to all the hard-working people here who take care of us so well!!

I had a very disappointing experience at Samarkand Restaurant:…read more the quality of food including tiny dry pieces of shish kebab , salads portions and freshness should be improved, and finally, overpriced meal made me think that the place is little less than a mediocre dinner. You'd better have something in the fridge at home, because the likelihood of your total disappointment. We all seem annoyed at having to be there, Nobody should pay this much money to be left sad and almost hungry.

Marrakesh is one of my absolute favorite places to eat in Philadelphia!!…read more I wish it existed in more cities. This is a multicourse journey through Marrakesh that cannot be repeated anywhere else except for maybe in the real Marrakesh. From the Bastilla pastry, which is DIVINE, to the salads, the chicken and kebabs... all the way to the baklava and tea.... there is no bad bite at Marrakesh. The owners are welcoming and super amenable and make you feel like you're coming home every single time you visit. It's in a odd location, and you may feel like you are making a questionable life decision as you walk up the alley to the door, but when you arrive, you realize that in fact, it was one of the best decisions you've made in years!! When you enter, it's like you've been transported to a beautiful room in Morocco. The music, the decor, even the authentic seating make for an unforgettable experience. And if you get really lucky, you also get to see the belly dancers who are top notch! There is not a single thing I can think of to say that Marrakesh needs to improve. It is a one of a kind experience that I feel everyone should have at least once in life!

What an incredible experience and much better than our last visit almost 7-8 years ago. The last…read moretime we came, the AC was broken on a hot day in the summer and it completely turned me off despite having an amazing visit my first time. I'm so glad my friends wanted to come here to celebrate our Friendsgiving. The food was as good as I remembered , the service as ever warm and welcoming. Since I hadn't been for so long, I ate everything as was prepared - but I'm happy to hear it sounds like they have veg options on their tasting menu. I'm looking forward to trying that my next return. But I couldn't say no to their chicken after almost a decade I highly recommend checking out this business for a delicious family style cooked meal.

We are frequent patrons and often invite our friends along. Ahmed and his family are always warm…read moreand welcoming. The food is consistently fresh and delicious. I can't imagine the amount of work that goes into making some of the spreads we order. Walking in to the restaurant, I feel we are in a different country. Very tastefully dressed to complement the food.

Absolutely the worst Mediterranean food I have ever had and I grew up eating this cuisine, so I…read moreknow what it's supposed to taste like. Within minutes of eating, my husband became sick and started throwing up. That alone should tell you everything you need to know about this place. The hummus was bland, watery, and completely flavorless and the portion was laughably small for $10. The lamb shawarma was so dry it was practically inedible, while the chicken shawarma was aggressively over-salted and loaded with spices in the worst way possible. Even the rice was undercooked, which is basic and hard to mess up. We spent $100 here and it felt like we literally threw our money in the trash. This place is a complete disappointment and honestly concerning from a food safety standpoint. If you value your money -- and your stomach -- stay far away from this restaurant.

Of all the restaurants we have patronized, Aspendos Mediterranean Cuisine in Princeton is one of…read morethe best ever, by far! The menu is extensive with emphasis on Turkish dinning. Four of us dined there each having a different meal, plus delicious appetizers & balloon bread. Service was superb with a wait staff that is fully knowledgeable about all of the dishes on the menu. We intend to go back many many more times.

An upscale chi chi Mediterranean joint…read more The emphasis is on elaborate dishes with the strategy of raising the tab. If you are going to charge me more by being fancy, You had better be fancy and good. Fortunately Aspendo's delivers. * * * I was there on an academic lunch with an exciting scholar. That kind of thing can happen in a restaurant next to the Princeton campus. This is one of the dangers of eating in a college town. So most of my observational powers and intellectual energy were turned towards general issues of demographic processes and global welfare and the way that these could be re-positioned in the social sciences. There was elaborate stuff going into my mouth. I was paying more attention to the elaborate stuff going into my ears. What was going into my mouth seemed overly fussy for what it was. But it was not unpleasant. * * * Had the agenda been a romantic evening, There been a bottle of wine on the table and The goal being to make the dinner last forever, Elaborate interesting dishes could have been welcome. So this place has its uses.

Six of us had dinner there to celebrate a marriage. We had a few special requests re seating etc…read more They accommodated us and the food was delicious. Our server, Magda, was very professional and exceeded our expectations. Great experience

The drinks are consistently on point--not watered down, not rushed--just well-made cocktails and a…read morestrong wine selection. The bartenders know what they're doing, and you can tell they care about the experience. Food-wise, this is where they separate themselves from typical happy hour spots. The appetizers aren't just filler--they're restaurant-quality dishes. The calamari is crisp (not greasy), the flatbreads are loaded but balanced, and everything comes out with attention to detail. The atmosphere is a huge win. It's not loud or chaotic--you can actually have a conversation, network, or just decompress after a long shift. Service is attentive without hovering, and the crowd tends to be a good mix of laid-back professionals and locals who know they found a solid spot. Bottom line: Erini's happy hour feels like a hidden gem--elevated, consistent, and worth making part of your weekly routine.