For two millennia, Afghanistan, a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central and South Asia,…read moreboasts a rich and diverse culinary heritage. The country's cuisine reflects its multicultural history, with influences from Persian, Central Asian, Indian, and even Mediterranean culinary traditions. Though the food was served quickly, it wasn't made quickly. Rice, particularly long-grain varieties like basmati, is blanched for a day before it's cooked. Meats are marinated in carefully prepared concoctions for hours to ensure tenderness. Lamb shanks are stewed for hours each day. Never had Afghan food? You're not alone. There are only a handful of Afghan restaurants in NJ. Located at the Westfield Plaza off of South Avenue E, some of my colleagues decided on takeout as first-timers for lunch, which came recommended as the food tastes and feels like home from this family-owned and -run establishment. We called the order in for their family platter consisting of Ground Chicken, Lamb and Beef Kababs, Garden Salad, Brown Rice, Fresh Naan Bread, and a side of Potatoes with a red sauce and yogurt. Upon arrival at Famous Kabab Cuisine, my colleague and I were greeted by the owner, Ahmed, who has more than 25 years of experience in making fresh bread and kabob, and informed us of a 5-minute wait. The food remained hot back into the office, would feed 5, and have some for leftovers. The kebabs (ground chicken, beef, and lamb) were well seasoned, tasted delicious, and paired beautifully with the brown rice. Top that bread or kebab with the trio of sauces. A white yogurt sauce with dill is very reminiscent of tzatziki sauce, a vinegary green sauce with cilantro and pureed walnuts, and, for those who do want the heat, a red habanero sauce that should have come with a warning. Overall, one can tell the food was made fresh with quality ingredients. It is not cheap, but one gets decent portions, which we can recommend.

This was my first time trying Afghan food, and it was absolutely delicious! I'm already craving the…read morebolani again. On paper, the bolani description doesn't sound like much, but it's a flavorful, fragrant flatbread stuffed with potatoes and spices. The additional dipping sauces made it all the more tasty. We also tried the kofta korma, which was a saucy dish of spiced ground beef patties that paired perfectly with rice. Can't wait to explore more of the menu. We ordered takeout but next time we'll have to stop by and dine-in.

I tried Hummus Republic for the first time yesterday and it had a similar vibe to cava…read more Unfortunately in comparison to Cava I still prefer Cava taste wise. At hummus republic I got the bowl with rice as my base and my protein I got the lemon chicken and the falafel. Then I selected my toppings, hummus/spreads, and dressings. The falafel was way too crispy and the lemon chicken was not very tasty in my opinion. There is something about cava's falafel that hits the spot for me. Hummus republic just did not do it for me. BUT one thing I did enjoy from hummus republic was their mango lemonade! Their lemonade tastes way better than cava. I say it may be a good alternative if there isn't a cava around. Maybe next time I would try switching around the ingredients I put in my bowl so hopefully I can enjoy it better next time.

Healthy fast casual place in downtown Westfield. Similar concept to Chipotle, as well as some…read moreMediterranean options such as Roti. You can choose from a pita, wrap of bowl. The pita and wrap starts at $13, whereas the bowl is $15. I got the bowl, which was really stuffed with food. It is more expensive that Chipotle, but I believe portions are larger. It was a little on the salty side, but I think this is because of the pickles. I will skip those next time. I did appreciate the various hummus options they offer. They let me use 3 different types. Husband got the pita, which he enjoyed. Note that this is a lot smaller than the bowl. Probably not enough for a dinner.

Once again we had the most Amazing meal and service tonight. Wendy and the rest of the waitstaff…read moreare so attentive and go over the top to ensure you have a great meal! The food is always so fresh and always leave me anticipating our next visit!!

Great little Family style Greek Restaurant in Kenilworth. We grabbed a late lunch and shared a…read moresalad, an order of Spanakopita and the grilled Shrimp, Octopus and Calamari plate with lemon potatoes. The food portions were perfect for sharing. Also our server was great. We asked for extra red onions and dressing for the salad and she brought them quickly. In addition she gave us some extra tzatziki when she packed our leftover spanakopita. We enjoyed our grilled seafood platter so much that I missed taking a picture. Will have to do it next time. Definitely recommend place.

Fresh, tasty food...but wow, the server was SO confused even though there were only 3-4 tables…read more Wrong orders going to the wrong tables multiple times, and they even had to ask the customers what they ordered every time a dish came out. Not to mention, the server was running around between the kitchen and dining area, which made me feel like this place was way more stressful than it needed to be. Service aside, food was nice but somewhat overpriced. The chicken shawarma platter was $20 but the portion didn't seem reflective of that. I probably won't dine in again, but may consider takeout when the craving hits.

I'm a bit sad to see the quality dwindle from Chutzpah Westfield's glory days. My favorite cashier…read morehas moved on too. The last experience I had was a meal with side of hummus, shawarma pita sandwich, and side of chili. Hummus portion started being reduced from what it once was in 2023 and 2024. Chicken shawarma was still good, but what really did it for me was being served a liquid turkey chili. I've had their turkey chili several times before, and it was a nice and viscous textured. The poor preparation in quality showed on my face and the server only said sorry when I told her it wasn't good. I messaged the owner the decline of quality on the restaurant Instagram, but was left on read. An anticlimactic end to the food quality that used to shine consistently here.

Soooo good! Food was great, the atmosphere was so cool, and the stuff was great. The oasis salad is…read morethe best salad I've ever had! Definitely recommend

I fell in love with Moroccan cuisine and culture during my 2021 trip to Marrakesh, and every so…read moreoften I crave those bold, comforting flavors. I'm so glad I found this place -- it did not disappoint. The decor and artwork instantly transported me back to the riads and vibrant streets of Marrakech. It genuinely felt like a piece of Morocco right here in New Jersey. The food was authentic and beautifully prepared. I even got to try dishes I hadn't experienced before, which made it that much more special. The service was great and genuinely pleasant. I was attended to efficiently from start to finish and felt truly welcomed throughout my visit. Whether you've never tried Moroccan cuisine or you're longing to relive your time in Morocco, this spot is absolutely worth visiting.

I don't come here often, but when I do with a small group of friends and/or family it's a great…read moreexperience! This place is Byob, so we typically bring a bottle of wine with company. The appetizers are delicious and pretty large (without jeoparding quality). My favorite are the horiatiki salad (a refreshing salad with feta) and the midia axnista (steamed mussels with broth). If you're a pita bread kinda person, you can't go wrong with their pita and dips! For entrees, you cant go wrong with their grilled fishes (I liked the lavraki branzino the most). Their hirini brizola (grilled pork chop) was delicious too! The service is good here and the wait staff is friendly. One time, we were running late for our reservation, but the staff was very accommodating and still sat us down.

Wonderful meal here. Did the Horiatiki salad added gyro. A delish dish!! Complimentary pita and…read morehummus were served when we sat down. And the owner was outside sitting with a few people he knew, just a good sign when the owner is present at their own restaurant!! The staff was sweet and tentative and I overall really enjoyed the meal.

I had my birthday dinner there last night and the food and the service was AMAZING! The restaurant…read moreis small but quaint and intimate. The vibe is cozy & the service was excellent. My family and I had had the fresh bluepoint oysters as an appetizer and they were phenomenal! I had the lobster bisque soup and Greek salad to start, and pictured below are all of our various main dishes. My Chilean sea bass was good, but the chickpea/ mushroom fushion was really odd and I could've done without that part of the dish since it came with sautéed spinach and potatoes. Overall, the service was excellent and I do really recommend this restaurant if you're in Westfield NJ and looking for a great seafood spot.

Excellent meal at this long-time Westfield spot…read more It's a storefront restaurant, with a dining room to the left, and one in the rear, with the kitchen central. BYOB so don't forget to bring your favorite wine. As the name would suggest, the menu is heavy on seafood, although there are a few options for the landlubber. We had the advantage of visiting with a couple who have been coming to Limani for years and are on a first-name basis with the team. Needless to say service is impressive. Warm bread is served immediately, with olive oil for dipping. Crusty, fresh bread and nicely seasoned oil - the perfect start. I opted for one of the specials, Bronzini. I chose the de-boned version. The fish was perfect. Crisp skin on the outside, tender and juicy flesh on the inside. A wonderful medley of spices enhanced the sweet, flaky white fish. It's served with roasted potatoes cut into chunky logs and wonderfully garlicky sautéed escarole. Mash up those potatoes to soak up the white wine sauce and juices from the escarole. Yaaaas! Others ordered crab cakes. 4 large cakes to the order, adorned with scrumptious remoulade sauce, with a mound of garlic mashed potatoes, and that sautéed escarole. No filler in these crab cakes, it's all crab - encrusted and fried to a brown crispy perfection on the outside with chunks of succulent crab on the inside. To celebrate a birthday at the table, the house comped us small slices of baklava. Delicious filo layered with chopped nuts and honey. Their prep here isn't too much honey, so the result is both sweet and tart. It's a disappointment that I don't like closer to Westfield - this is the kind of place to return to again and again, to experience everything on the menu. Go! You'll LOVE it.

Olde City Cafe is a go-to for great Mediterranean food. The kafta and shish kebab platter is one of…read moremy favorites, well-seasoned, flavorful, and always satisfying. Their hummus is smooth and really good, and the hot sauce adds a nice kick that brings everything together. Definitely a spot I keep coming back to.

I absolutely love Old City Cafe & Grill! They serve some of the finest Lebanese cuisine I have…read morefound in New Jersey. Located in the heart of Cranford, this intimate yet homelike restaurant features a hospitable staff that takes the time to explain the menu, making the entire experience feel so warm and inviting. They offer a comprehensive menu ranging from lamb and chicken to shawarma, seafood , falafel, and so much more. Since they are a BYOB establishment, they will gladly open and serve your bottle for you without any hassle. For starters, we opted for the dip sampler, which includes pita and three distinct spreads. The Mouhammara is my personal favorite; it's crafted from red peppers with a pomegranate syrup that adds a hint of sweetness, while crushed walnuts provide an incredible texture. Next is the Baba Ghanouj, a roasted eggplant dip with garlic and tahini that creates a savory, slightly smoky, and velvety delight. Finally, it includes their classic homemade hummus, which is a classic and delicious choice. I love that you don't have to choose, you truly get the best of all three varieties. For our main course, we ordered the Old City Mix. It's a generous portion for two that typically comes with a garden salad and rice. I personally prefer the greens, so I swapped the rice for two garden salads tossed in a zesty minty vinaigrette. The platter features kafta, shish tawook, shish kebab, lamb chops, shawarma, and four falafels, all served on a bed of pita with tahini and garlic sauces as the finishing touch. Everything is remarkably fresh and seasoned perfectly. The falafel is crispy on the exterior and fluffy on the inside, the meats are grilled to your liking, and the salad perfectly balances the rich platter. I thoroughly enjoy this spot for both lunch and dinner and am even looking into their catering for my next party. Do yourself a favor and visit them soon!

Before I wrote this update, I reread my earlier review. Everything in my initial review remains…read morethe same, except one. The hummus is no longer a standard served to every table without cost. They still serve the pita and olives, but hummus is now an extra. You can thank Trump for that extra cost as per the response to our inquiry. We've now dined here several more times. It's a favorite, as it's consistently excellent. Our most recent meal was an order of hummus, which is ample for 2-4 people, the beet salad and the special crab cake appetizer, which was better than any I've had all year. Seriously exquisite. While we've sampled many of the menus main courses, all of which we have enjoyed, we went with two orders of our favorite, the tiger prawns, as they were said to be extra, extra large this evening. Served with tasty sautéed spinach and fries, which we were graciously permitted to substitute for the lemon potatoes. The tiger prawns are beyond great. Simply delicious and must be experienced. Better than lobster and rival any type of superior crab or any shellfish. Call ahead to be sure they have them when you plan to dine. This place is not to be missed.

Walking into EVOO & Lemon at 645pm on a Saturday night and seeing exactly one other table occupied…read moregave us momentary pause. Despite the moderately upscale ambiance and clean, contemporary aesthetic, the emptiness made us wonder: did we miss a memo? Was there a sudden local embargo on Mediterranean food? Luckily, the dining room eventually filled up, saving us from eating our dinner in a complete echo chamber. My dining companion and I started off with the Hummus appetizer ($11) served with a modest side of toasted pita. It was tasty and definitely hit the spot. We both decided to keep things light and ordered salads with a side of grilled salmon. I went with the Marouli salad ($16) -- crisp romaine lettuce, dill, and scallions with a lemon-olive oil dressing -- and my companion chose the Greek Village salad ($19), a shepherd-style salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, Holland peppers, feta cheese, olives, and Greek dressing. Both were fresh, well-prepared, and hit the mark. The salmon was also delicious, which is a good thing, because it came with an $18 upcharge that was not listed on the printed menu. For dessert, we ordered the baklava ($13), three pieces of an already intensely sweet treat that had apparently been subjected to an excessive dusting of powdered sugar. As for the service, our server and the food runners were competent but not overly friendly towards us or other diners. I also noticed that the staff tended to take care of tables out of order in which they were seated.. resulting in diners who arrived after us being served before us. Overall, it's a perfectly fine 3-star experience. I'd gladly go back if someone else was picking the spot, but if I'm the one in charge of dinner plans, I'll probably cast my net elsewhere in the area. PRO TIP #1: Bring a bottle of wine or beer from home or stop at the Wine Shop liquor store located on the opposite corner of the intersection of Main Street and Millburn Avenue for some adult beverages to enjoy with your meal. EVOO & Lemon is a BYOB establishment and does not serve alcohol. PRO TIP #2: EVOO & Lemon does not have a private parking lot, but there is plenty of on-street parking and municipal lots nearby. Use the mPay2Park app for the pay-by-plate meters ($0.50 per hour). Meters operate Monday through Saturday from 8am to 7pm; all street meters are free after 7 pm and all day Sunday. If the street is full, the Essex Street parking deck (24 Lackawanna Place) is a reliable backup.

This place is a hidden gem. Went here late on a Saturday morning with my boyfriend to get falafel…read moreand it did not disappoint. The service was friendly and the location casual, but comfortable. We both got the falafel platters, and we split the fried cheese and fries. We also both got cokes. The bill was around $40 which is extremely reasonable for the portions they give. The falafel was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Perfectly cooked and seasoned. It came with three little sauces which could have punched a bit more flavor, but was delicious nonetheless. The falafel came with a small side salad and plentiful rice. The rice was perfectly cooked and delicious. The fried cheese was seasoned perfectly, and packed with flavor. The fries were crisp deliciousness. I'd come back here in a heartbeat, it really didn't disappoint. I wish I lived closer.

I've been to House of Falafel twice now and it was really good both times. The portions are very…read moregenerous and everything tastes fresh and homemade. The falafel was crispy outside and soft inside and the pita was warm and soft too. My favorite part was the sauces, especially the hot sauce. It actually has real heat and flavor. The second time I went back I had to ask for extra because I kept putting it on everything. I uploaded photos from two different visits and the food was consistent both times. The atmosphere is welcoming and the staff is friendly, they make you feel like family instead of just being served at a random restaurant. Definitely a nice local spot and worth trying if you're in the area.