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    The Mediterranean Chef

    4.5 (190 reviews)
    InexpensiveMediterranean
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    The Mediterranean Chef Photos

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    THE MEDITERRANEAN CHEF ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Falafel wrap with EXTRA VEGGIES (special request)
    Donna S.

    SO FRESH! I had been meaning to stop here for a long time (not easily noticeable from the main road). Finally, I drove by hungry AND with some time. SO GLAD I DID! The staff was friendly and patient with my special order. I was craving falafel but also wanted lots of veggies on it. They were very accommodating &, for a SMALL charge (less than $1) they FILLED IT! (see pic) Wrap was delicious, with very fresh veggies. Also had to try the baklava & it was gooey & delicious! That alone would be worth coming back for! Drink selection is limited, but FREE! Turkish tea, coffee & bottled water (also free!) TIP: I added a tiny bit (each) of the cinnamon & cardamom they had at the coffee/tea bar. AMAZING flavors together! Will DEFINITELY be back! I LOVE FALAFEL! AND their sauce on it is delicious &plentiful (some places don't put enough on for me). THEY CATER... so I've bookmarked them for that, too!

    Their bread and butter (well, pita and dip) which is what this cafe primarily does to make their money.
    Neil O.

    Updating my previous review to reaffirm that this place is still one of the most legendary and underrated Mediterranean cafes in all of Austin. Since I left my first review in 2016 they had closed to do some pretty big renovations and through COVID and everything in between I just hadn't had the chance to make it back until today. The menu is still just as it was in 2016 including the pricing, and I'll be damned if the Nikki Special isn't one of the tastiest and most unique Mediterranean dishes around to this day. I also decided to order a 9 oz of their babaganoush and the guy even threw in a free tub of their famous hummus and pita! This place is the real. deal.

    Super busy place! Lots of cooks, an assembly line and a sweet manager.
    Beverly M.

    What a find! In its category (inexpensive local casual healthy friendly deliciousness with easy parking), this place is As Good As It Gets. Thanks to Nickie B and Richard A for luring me to this place with their 5 star Yelp reviews. It ain't pretty. But you'll be greeted warmly with a big smile by owner and chef Nikki. Nikki is Turkish American and loves Mexico. NOTE THE HOURS: Monday - Wednesday: 10:00 am - 7:30 pm Thursday: Closed for construction Friday: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Saturday and Sunday: Closed Nikki started selling her celebrated humus and babaganush (vegan AND gluten free!) at the Farmers Market 12 years ago and they met with such success that her products grace the shelves of Whole Foods, Central Market, HEB and many other markets all over Texas today. The restaurant was an afterthought that came about 7 years ago. It's not central to her business, but it gives her a chance to interact with the community and meet the people who enjoy her food. And I completely truly wholeheartedly enjoy her food. Nothing on the menu is over $10. The portions are generous. Should you order the Nikki Special or the Greek Salad, consider sharing one portion with your lunch partner. There's Turkish coffee (not on the menu but I saw it being served) and Baklava for after. And Nikki caters! Nikki loves spicy peppers (jalapenos) and I'm a Mexican. I thought I was being overly cautious when I ordered medium spicy but it was just right for me, so take care... you can always order extra! My Greek Salad (I ordered + lamb) was so good and so huge that I had it for lunch and then finished it for dinner. Two excellent meals. The place really is on a residential street on a cul de sac. There was an assembly line of people preparing her products for retail and everyone seemed busy and happy.

    Cindy N.

    This place is so hard to miss if you didn't know what you were looking for. The place is small and quaint and is literally in a neighborhood - only residential houses around. Don't let it fool you though, the food here is amazing! I got the Nikki special and it was so delicious. It's a huge portion and I definitely got enough to take for home. It's an open pita bread Mediterranean salad with the balsamic vinaigrette. I got it in the hot flavor and it's not that spicy. It does creep on you ever so slightly, like a slow spice burn, not an immediate hot sauce sting. The servers are super nice and there's free coffee/tea on the side! Personally I wasn't a fan of the tea because it was a little bitter - or was brewed for too long, I'm not entirely sure. But I'm sure you can add assortments in there if needed. I left feeling light yet full and extremely satisfied. Definitely one of Austin's hidden gems!

    Indoor dining at The Mediterranean Chef.  They also have outdoor dining as well.

    Just had dinner at the Mediterranean Chef last night. Fantastic food and great service. Nice indoor dining as well as they provide free Turkish tea and coffee as well as a free bottle of water with every meal. The owner is a great chef and host.

    Dolmas, hummus, pita
    Noreen T.

    This place is hidden on a dead end street, so you don't really pass by it ever... Which is why I never heard about it! The decor is unusual for a Mediterranean restaurant. There's funky pop art everywhere plus painted skateboards on the walls. You order at the counter, eat, and then pay at the counter when you're finished eating. I ordered some plates a la carte: 2 dolmas, pita bread, and their famous hummus. Everything was so delicious, and you could tell that everything was also very fresh. The didn't have any free water that I could see, just some bottled water and drinks, but they do have free complimentary Turkish tea which was pretty good. The only bad thing about this place is that they have odd hours (close really early at 7pm) and it's more expensive compared to other Mediterranean restaurants in Austin.

    The Nikki Special

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    Fabulous cooking and wonderfully fresh! Always a joy and pleasure to be with owner Nikki and her exceptional fare

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    Aba

    Aba

    4.4
    (1.9k reviews)
    5.4 mi
    $$$

    My little son and I came for dinner here on Monday night…read more Firstly I will say parking is a bit hard to come here so I pre booked a spot in Vincent lot just so I didnt have to deal with circling around and it was only a 5 min walk away The restaurant as you approach it is so cozy and definitely gives you that ethereal lush feel The restaurant was buzzing and full on a Monday night. We had a reservation and the host sat us down immediately and was so friendly. Our server was there right away. Her service was just perfect ... friendly and not over the top. She was knowledgeable about the dishes and gave us suggestions. We had a mockingbird mocktail and my son a soda. The drink was perfect. We ordered the whipped feta, falafel and beef Lamb kefta. Everything came out really quickly. The falafel was absolutely delicious. The whipped feta was a hit with my son. The kefta was a little disappointing. A little bland and dry. I ordered the pannacotta my son the chocolate chocolate cake. I absolutely loved mine with the sorbet on top. My son loved his cake. Atmosphere wise the restaurant is beautiful and cozy and grand but the only complaint would be the music was too loud and it was hard to hold a conversation. For me it doesn't match a nice restaurant but rather a bar concept I would say it was great service and great food

    Good food as always, but pretty mid service. My wife and I have been here a number of times and…read morealways really enjoy our meal at Aba. But this most recent time we came for lunch left us with a bit of a sour taste in our mouth. Everything started out strong, the waitress was super engaging, and attentive. Food was really tasty (as always), and came out quickly. As we started to get to the middle and end of our meal thats when things started to go down hill. The waitress didn't come by to refill our waters, I had to ask the staff. And then we were sitting around for about 30 minutes to ask for boxes, and even the check. I am not entirely sure what happened to the server, maybe they got distracted or got busy. But Aba is an expensive meal, and I expect more from this kind of establishment.

    Photos
    Inside the restaurant
    Inside the restaurant
    Shawarma-Spiced Prime Skirt Steak Frites
    Shawarma-Spiced Prime Skirt Steak Frites
    Aloe? It's Me Cocktail

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    Aloe? It's Me Cocktail
    Almarah Mediterranean Cuisine

    Almarah Mediterranean Cuisine

    4.2
    (936 reviews)
    10.5 mi
    $$

    Checked the place out based on Yelp reviews and was absolutely floored. Clean space, friendly…read morestaff, quick service, and excellent food! We ordered the half order falafel with hummus, mint lemonade, lamb kabob platter, and beef kabob platter. Everything but the salad came in large Texas style portions. I requested the beef be cooked to medium and the temperature was perfect. Tips: Substitute the tahini in the kabob platters for tzatziki and request garlic sauce on the side. The garlic sauce enhances the flavor of rice.

    Food is very good, service not so good... I can tell people…read morecome for the food alone. The place is nice and has a nice layout. However, I'll think about coming here again because I didn't feel a good vibe with the service. We had to go look for someone to show us the table even though the place was empty for early lunch. Then, to get drinks or even the order was a problem. It took so much longer than usual. Our waitress was rude, and seemed bothered that we showed up. Then someone else came as the waitress and she was preoccupied with other tables and barely checked on us. A regular lunch which would've been one hour became almost two because of the lack of service. My friend had to stand and look for someone to give us a box to take out the good we couldn't eat because it was getting late and also to get the check because No one came in to check on us at all. It was almost like pulling teeth to get a regular service let alone good service. Again, the food was really good, and that alone was the only positive.

    Photos
    Almarah Mediterranean Cuisine
    Mixed grill
    Mixed grill
    Mint lemonade

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    Mint lemonade
    Dimassi’s Mediterranean Buffet

    Dimassi’s Mediterranean Buffet

    4.5
    (309 reviews)
    9.4 mi
    $$

    We've been here a couple times now, on a Sunday and Saturday for lunch and it has yet to…read moredisappoint. It's one of those places that's reliable and feels pretty consistent, knowing you're going to leave happy and full after eating here. The two times we've been there, theres always plenty of seating and are able to walk right in. It's a walk in and seat yourself experience and then you pay upon leaving. The staff keeps the dining area and buffet line consistently stocked and clean. They even provide hand sanitizer and gloves for you. Even when foot traffic picked up while we were there, the food was replenished quickly and didn't look picked over. Now let's talk food...Everything tastes fresh, well-seasoned, and like it was made with care instead of just being "buffet food" an under seasoned. The variety is also amazing, and it's easy to build a plate for pretty much any type of diet whether you're keto, high protein, balanced, veggie-forward, vegan, etc... Some of our favorite dishes we keep coming back for: Shredded beef (SO good), Baked fish (tender and not fishy), Garlic baked chicken (wonderful crispy skin), Fried chicken, Baked kafta, Kafta kebab, Gyro meat, Roasted cauliflower, Eggplant, Greek salad, Fatoush, Kale Caesar salad, Zaatar pizza, Cheese pizza (pro tip: top it with shredded beef- a life changing buffet hack), Rice with lentils, Rice with mixed veggies. For the quality, variety and amount of food you get, this is easily one of the best deals in the city! It's rare to find a buffet that's both affordable and consistently this good! If I had one small wish, it would be for desserts to match how strong the rest of the food is. They're not bad, just a little more "fine" compared to how amazing everything else is. I've seen another Dimassi's (I think in Cali) that had a frozen yogurt machine and I'd LOVE to see that here because it would be the perfect finish! Make a cup and then crumble up some baklava on it! Overall we've LOVED it here and we'll absolutely keep coming back! Great food, clean, consistent, and worth it every time!

    In my family, we really like Demassi's. Not necessarily because everything there is amazing, but…read morebecause there is genuinely something to please everyone. Between me, my husband, and my mom, we have a lot of overlap in what we like to eat, but we also have some pretty distinct preferences, and Demassi's is one of those places where that works. My husband really loves Middle Eastern / Mediterranean food. I generally do not. I tend to find the meats too dry, I don't particularly like the spice profile, and I also find a lot of dishes in that category to be overly sour. It's hard to explain, but there's often a sharp, tangy acidity that I don't enjoy. For whatever reason, I don't have that issue at Demassi's at all. Here my husband can get his fix of dry, spiced meats, while I'm happy eating from the huge selection of rice dishes, cooked veggies, and soups. As far as protein goes, I actually really like the fish here, so I almost never eat the meat and still leave satisfied. It usually feels like a healthy pescatarian day for me, which I like. Then there's my mom, who just loves the abundance and variety of a buffet. She's happiest when she can sample a little bit of everything, build plates with lots of small bites, and then go back for more. Demassi's is perfect for that. On top of all of this, it's very reasonably priced, especially for lunch or on weeknights. It's always clean, the staff is consistently courteous, and they are really on top of bussing tables, which matters a lot to me at a buffet. Dirty dishes piling up are never an issue here. Overall, it's a solid, reliable spot for us and a place we're always happy to suggest when we're trying to please multiple people with different tastes.

    Photos
    Dimassi’s Mediterranean Buffet
    Dimassi’s Mediterranean Buffet
    Dimassi’s Mediterranean Buffet

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    Ezov

    Ezov

    4.4
    (257 reviews)
    5.4 mi

    The food was top tier! My friends and I stopped in and ordered a mix of appetizers and main meals,…read moreand they were sooo fresh, flavorful, and delicious! I wish I lived near Austin, otherwise I'd be here once a week.

    I met one of my sorority sisters for dinner, someone I hadn't seen in quite a while and we chose…read moreEzov for our long-overdue catch-up. One of the first things you notice when you walk in is the eye symbol displayed throughout the restaurant. According to the staff, it's meant to bring positive energy, and honestly, the vibe starts working immediately. As first-time Ezov diners, we were completely captivated by the décor. From the beautiful oversized colorful lanterns to the vibrant graffiti art (which also extends to the exterior of the building) and sleek modern furnishings. The space felt both stylish and inviting. We instantly slipped into relaxation mode. Ezov's menu features Mediterranean-inspired dishes designed for sharing, so we selected three items: the Whipped Bulgarian Feta, Lamb + Beef Manti, and Grilled Branzino. Let me start by saying I don't recall ever having whipped Bulgarian feta before, and it was a delightful surprise. Smooth, creamy, and packed with flavor, the combination of honey and hazelnuts elevated the dish even further. The Lamb + Beef Manti was the standout of the evening and easily my favorite dish. It was an incredible explosion of flavors and textures...a thin, crispy flatbread layered with rich tomato ragu, tangy yogurt sauce, and chili oil. Every bite was absolutely delicious. If I could have ordered a second round, I probably would have. The Grilled Branzino, served with peas, kale, and peppers, was also enjoyable. To be fair, the kale was a bit coarse for my taste, but my friend happily took care of most of it. James, our server, was fantastic. He guided us through the menu, offered helpful recommendations, and checked on us at all the right times without being intrusive. While the shareable plates are on the pricier side, sometimes it's worth treating yourself to a memorable dining experience. Between the flavorful Mediterranean cuisine, the energetic atmosphere, and the opportunity to reconnect with a dear friend, our evening at Ezov was well worth the splurge.

    Photos
    Ambiance
    Ambiance
    Frena bread with whipped feta
    Frena bread with whipped feta
    Parking

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    Parking
    The Peacock

    The Peacock

    4.2
    (445 reviews)
    4.6 mi
    $$

    I tried this restaurant for breakfast and lunch while staying at the hotel and both meals were…read moreamazing! The Greek omelette was so unique with the roasted red peppers and dill, and the sunflower salad with chicken kebabs was fantastic.

    My family of 5 came to the Peacock Grill for Father's day, and overall I would say it was a great…read moremeal, fun ambiance, and good service. Why one star off? We spent around $600 with tip and fees for 5 (mixed grill, two apps, two drinks each); and while the food was delicious the meats were luke warm not piping hot, our server while very friendly was not the best at giving suggestions (basically she said everything is good lol) and wasn't able to split the check 2/3 and 1/3 instead of 50/50 ("... I don't know how to do that"), and the cocktails while tasty didn't really feel special enough to be $21-25 each. It was a very enjoyable experience I just don't know that it lived up to the price tag. For that price I'm looking for exceptional not just very good. That being said the food was delicious! Pricey but pretty good portions. The server said the mixed grill was good for around 4 people, but with two apps it was actually a little too much food for the 5 of us. Mixed grill ($220): -Rosewood Wagyu Strip and Lamb Chops: tie between these two for the best dish; they were both juicy and tender and the sauces were delicious. Not served piping hot but they were so good I didn't really mind. -Harissa Marinated Beef Tenderloin: great flavor- a tad dry. -Spiced Lamb Kefta: also dry, I liked it best with the yogurt sauce. -Red Pepper Chicken Thigh: delicious, one of my fav kabobs. -Herb & Garlic Shrimp: tasty and not overcooked -Charred King Trumpet mushroom: loved the veggie option! they mushrooms were substantial and the sauce was great. -Crispy Shallot Hummus: very good- loved the crispy shallots in particular! -Manti Dumplings: top app- I would 100% order this again the dumplings were delicious and the sauce/yogurt on top of them was the best, we wiped up every drop with the pitas! -The pita bread was hot, fresh, and delicious and our service kept on offering more, so I don't know if they've changed their policy but my experience was not the same as reviews that said only one pita per person. We refused extra pitas 3 times I think! Cocktails- everything we tried was quite good, but again there wasn't the pizaz or just 'blown away by the flavor' to feel that the crazy price was totally justified. We tried: Spanish G&T (very refreshing- don't chew on the juniper berries lol), Banana Bread Old Fashioned (pretty good even for someone who doesn't much like whiskey!), Bonfire on a Beach (fun, smokey, love the harissa on the side), Peach Martini (teensy bit sweet for me but good). The manager stopped by a few times to check on us and our server was very attentive. She did give us good service its just for the high price I would expect some more detailed suggestions on drinks, being able to split the check other than 50/50 (or at least ask someone instead of just saying 'I don't know how'). It was friendly and enthusiastic service just not 'wow this truly is fine dining' service. Outside of the restaurant, parking is a bit of a pain but that is normal for down town. We parked at the Laz garage half a block away- $8 for 2 hrs instead of the $27 for valet.

    Photos
    The Peacock
    The Peacock
    Flaming saganaki
    Flaming saganaki
    Private Dining Room at The Peacock

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    Private Dining Room at The Peacock
    Gràcia Mediterranean

    Gràcia Mediterranean

    4.6
    (114 reviews)
    1.0 mi

    I met some friends for an early dinner at Gracia Mediterranean this past weekend. Since we were…read morethere early, the place was pretty empty so we were seated at a nice booth/table near the bar. Our server gave us great suggestions and helped us make yummy choices. My friends had mocktails and I had the beet cocktail with alcohol. My friends forgot I like to take photos for my reviews so some of the photos of the items we ordered we started eating before I took them so they show as half eaten in the photos I shared (haha)...must have been good! I was also happy to discover they are on the InKind app so I was able to use some credits I had available to help pay the bill. I look forward to going back again to try more items!

    This is a tapas restaurant so the plates are smaller and meant to be shared. It is on the pricier…read moreend but the food is really good. They have happy hour 5-6 pm and we got the hummus half off! The hummus was so good. I love the pepper oil on top that gives it a little kick. It comes with pita bread but if you order more, it's an extra $3. We also got croquetas (ham and cheese fritters). There are four of them and they are sooo delicious!! This is a must get especially if you love warm and creamy stuff. The outside is nicely fried and if you never had it, it's similar to Japanese takoyaki. Although I love it a lot, the portion was just right for sharing because it really fills you up. We also got the potatoes (nice, but nothing that blew my mind) and chicken empanadas that I thought had a strange, sour taste. I wouldn't get that again. I highly recommend getting different tapas instead of the main courses so you can try different things. We were completely satisfied with the meal after getting these but still made room for the orange almond cake!! This was extraordinarily good!! Not too sweet and the cake has a nice moist texture-not dry. It took a while for food to arrive so service was a bit slow. You can also sit outside if you want but we sat indoors since it was chilly. It's a smaller restaurant so it's nice for an intimate meal or date. They have a bar. There's parking in the back, which is where the entrance is. Btw, this is also on inKind so I got to claim $25 off $50.

    Photos
    Gràcia Mediterranean
    Gràcia Mediterranean
    Gràcia Mediterranean

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    The Mediterranean Chef - mediterranean - Updated July 2026

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