This is my first time here, and I walked in very pleasantly surprised with the decor. Simple and…read moreyet, very charming, very Arabian. I read other reviews and immediately that I wanted to try their lemonade with mint, which was heavenly. It was extremely refreshing, not too sweet, not too sour, tiny chopped leaves of mint floating around like confetti. I ordered the lamb shank, a plate of pickles, and also ordered falafel and avocado dip to go. The lamb was very well seasoned and fall of the bone tender. The accompanying cucumber bits in yogurt sauce was refreshing. The side of mushrooms with carrots and corn kernels that came with the dish was mediocre, particularly since the consistency and look of the mushrooms looked like they came from a can, but I may be wrong. The plate of pickles was delightful. I will admit that I was very disappointed because I had read that lentil soup would be complementary with main dishes when anyone dined in until 4 PM, but I'd never had any lentil soup at all, unless I am mistaken about the offer. Service was fast, even though there was only one server, who was, by the way, very polite and attentive. All in all, I will be back and I might actually end up being regular here.

Had the opportunity to try Layali Halab and was very impressed. We visited on a Saturday afternoon…read moreand seated without an issue. Our service was great, very patient in answering questions. The restaurant was very clean and very busy with customers. We were served lentil soup and was absolutely delicious. We ordered some traditional Mediterranean dishes and also very good. Prices were very reasonable and lots of dishes to chooses. Decor is very nice and plenty of seating for small and large groups. Great experience and will be back, highly recommend Layali Halab, give them a try.

I went with a girlfriend for dinner over a month ago and I'm still thinking about these dumplings…read more The only tiny critique we have, we were there on a Saturday around 730/8, they don't seem to have a good queue system. What I witnessed, was my cell number was typed into what appeared to be a personal cell, as opposed to a wait system, and then we never got called/ texted. We were watching the people in front of us get tables, then we asked if our name got lost, and immediately got sat. After that, 0 comments, food came out at a reasonable time. My eyes kept being drawn to these dumplings, usually I'm a low carb kind of person, so I was leaning towards the kebabs. But these dumplings kept calling my name. The sauce was so good. Creamy with a hint of dill, refreshing, with the savory ground beef inside. I definitely finished my plate and left the rice for leftovers. I can't wait to take my boyfriend back and get the dumplings again! My friend also really enjoyed her shrimp curry, I got to try a taste, the sauce was also delightful.

Our little supper club came in for dinner on Saturday. They do not take reservations but the wait…read morewas worth it. Our party got there a little before 6. We waited around 20-30 minutes to get a table to accommodate the 7 people in our party. We stood around by the entrance while we waited. When we were finally seated, they put us on the second dining room which has a better ambiance and much more quieter than the main dining room. Someone brought us a pitcher of water which fell slightly short of giving all 7 of us full glasses. Some of us ordered their lemonade mix. I had the one with pomegranate which tasted fresh and made in house. We shared 3 different appetizers: babaganoush, hummus and saksuka. They brought us a basket of naan. They were huge and still warm. The only thing I would have asked for would have been that the naans be cut into smaller pieces so people are not touching naans that others will have to eat. Our appetizers were all excellent. The babaganoush, specifically has fantastic flavors. This might have been the best babaganoush I have ever tasted! For my entree, I ordered the lamb kabob served with some dressed rice and salad. Okay, usually I don't care for rice. It's bland and pretty boring but they actually seasoned their rice here so well that I've completely forgotten I was eating rice. The kabob was so flavorful like it has been marinating for a while. The meat was tender and juicy. We didn't do any dessert as we were all very full in the end. At least 4 out of 7 brought home leftovers. My one friend had made a comment about his pilau being larger than his head! Service was good. You pay up front. If you come in with a large party and ask to split the check, they charge $1 per card. We asked to have our bill split 7 ways and then 2, 2, 2 and 1. She said she understood but then did the math wrong anyway. We didn't bother and just paid the even quarter split and my friends refunded me the difference. Other than a few nuisances, it was a great dining experience. No joke, this place has some seriously good eats. And to be honest, I can't wait to come back!

One of the best menus in St Charles. The food is exquisitely, prepared and impressively explained…read morefor someone that used to a Mediterranean meals. I had Zane as my server it was wonderful. My wife and I enjoyed one of our best meals ever in this county.

After living in the Middle East for decades, this restaurant is the closest in authenticity and the…read moreflavors I would expect in Lebanon/Palestine. It's delicious! The staff also offers the same personable service one would experience in the Middle East. They offer suggestions to the novice and indulge the connoisseur. Plus, I've used them for catering, for a more exotic flair, at an event. The guests raved about the taste. Jafra's location is hidden, making it feel like you've found a secret indulgence. It's a quiet location perfect for a tete a tete or a family gathering, where you feel wrapped in the experience. My husband will tell you, the only draw back is the price. It's not crazy expensive, but not cheap. But no matter what my husband says... it's worth every penny for delicious, exotic flavors that leave me satisfied, everytime. My husband too. LOL

Went for dinner. The owners are so kind. The service was amazing. Waiter made recommendations &…read morewas very careful with our allergy issues. The manti (dumplings) were amazing. Would not order the burger again- just a burger & there are many other options. Cute space, clean & well lit & decorated

Super friendly and quick service…read more Authentic atmosphere and menu through and through. A small wine selection but of unique origins. I'd recommend the Iskender (beef & lamb with a yogurt & tomato purée/sauce).

I have heard so many good things about J's and I was finally on the neighborhood. It's not a huge…read moremenu, but it was a tough decision. I settled on the chicken panini and it was fantastic. It was everything I wanted it to be: warm, flavorful chicken, garlicky, and cheesy with some fresh veg. It came with a side of chips, so I put a few on the panini for a nice crunch. I was a little overwhelmed walking in to the small-ish space, full of people and music (great music!). I saw a sign that said to take a seat, so I did and a nice gentleman brought me water. There was a menu on the table, but after a bit, I questioned if I should order at the counter. Not the case, they will take your order table-side, have you pay, and bring you the food. It was nice. Everyone was friendly. Comfy plush seating. Looking at past photos, I noticed they ditched those awful metal chairs and had a little make over. I loved the new look.

I'd heard great things about this place and had been wanting to try it for a while. We ended up…read moregoing as a group when a friend was visiting from out of town. I didn't realize it was quite so far away, but it was worth checking out. Overall, I really enjoyed The Berliner with chicken, and the fresh Somun Bread & Kajmak was also a standout. The food was flavorful, and everyone in our group seemed to enjoy their meal. The only downside was that several of us ended up with upset stomachs afterward. That said, no one had anything negative to say about the food itself, and overall it was still a positive dining experience.

My mom and I were trying to find a place to grab a quick bite that was also at least somewhat…read morehealthy. Yelp led us to Troy and we were pleasantly surprised! The interior is adorable. The chicken gyro meat is quite tasty and they certainly don't skimp!! We didn't try the desserts, but must say the baklava and other sweets looked tempting!

We took our order to go, and I will say that it was my fault to pick it up about 40 minutes late…read more However, we were not impressed with our dinner. My daughter had a gyro sandwich combo, for which she did not get her drink that was supposed to be included in it, and I got the liver kebab since it was a Sunday night and I wanted to try a specialty. Off the bat, the food was mediocre. The rice that came with my liver, which was way overdone, even though it was ordered medium rare, was extremely dry, and tasteless. The pieces of liver were hard to chew.. There was no sauce, and all in all, after two bites, I discarded my dinner. The lentil soup that I ordered, was thin and underwhelming. My daughter's Gyro sandwich was filled with only the stems of lettuce instead of lettuce leaves. The meat that came with it was rubbery and underseasoned. I will try to give this place another chance at some point, but not now. I will plan to dine there in person, to see if there would be any improvement in our meal. One of the improvements I plan to see is not being served only lettuce stems in any kind of Gyro that's ordered.

ordered the tabouli, hummus & falafel wrap. so flavorful, and what an excellent combination of…read moreingredients in a wrap. the falafel is crunchy. the fries are seasoned and tasty. very satisfied.

A favorite that needs to become a default! Ordered takeout last night and it was ready on time and…read morethe amount of food we got in the entree dinners was enough for dinner and lunch the next day! Ordering and pickup was easy and friendly. They have a patio out front with tables and umbrellas right on south Grand that is prime people watching. Pro tip: default to the millennial pizza ordering days and call it in directly to save some $$ compared to using third party apps!

Interesting and charming Mediterranean restaurant in one of Manchester's many large shopping areas,…read moreright next to Dierbergs. We came for a late lunch (2pm) and enjoyed the place to ourselves (besides one other couple). Service was amazing; Pranitha was the sweetest! We ordered two entrees. The servers surprised us by bringing out a small sample of three of their dips which were delicious. My favorite was the black bean dip -- amazing. We had both a Chicken Shawarma Sandwich and Beef Kafta Sandwich. We enjoyed both equally. Great flavors and tender meat. I wish they had more sauce on the sandwiches themselves, but the garlic sauce provided helped cut the dryness. The fries were crispy as well. They have some unique and different options on their menu. I wish they had gyros. No frills, but a clean and quaint dining room. We would totally return, mostly due to the free appetizers and Pranitha's service ;)

Interesting Mediterranean restaurant in one of Manchester's many out-of-the-way shopping areas…read more Came for a late lunch and enjoyed the place to ourselves. Service was great! Ordered shareable, entree. Surprised by servers bringing out a small sample of three of their dips which were delicious. Have some interesting and different options on their menu. No frills but nice setting in this small but very good restaurant.

A real treat yo self experience is to be had at this restaurant by the Bengelina Hospitality Group…read more Recommendations: At this coastal Mediterranean restaurant we enjoyed the Stracciatella consisting of grilled grapes, rosemary almonds, and aged balsamic and the shrimp oreganata as starters. For the grilled over charcoal portion of the menu, we enjoyed the the Denver steak and skirt steak. For the side, you can't go wrong with the fire baked potato with truffle fonduta. Dessert: The limoncello tiramisu is delightful and fresh. The homemade chocolate truffles are made by Chef's mom and are a must try menu item. Ambiance: Warm and intimate with great music playing in the background. Staff: Ellie was knowledgeable, friendly, and provided excellent recommendations. Jonathan's keen sense of hospitality and operational excellence further enhances the restaurant experience.

I was excited to try Esca after friends were raving about it. My husband and I dined here for our…read moreanniversary meal, and I wish we would have chosen a place with a little more enthusiasm and less pretension. The server seemed annoyed with being there, never asked my husband if he wanted a refill, took forever to check on us, and messed up the bill, which I didn't catch until after signing it. I've been to plenty of fine dining restaurants where our server has introduced themselves and asked about the occasion, and this place did none of that. Esca has the service of a fast casual restaurant- zero rapport with the customer. Oh and I was charged a 20% service fee. Super tacky to do that for a table of two at a nice restaurant. Bruschetta was such a small portion and flavorless. The artichokes claimed to have anchovy but my husband said he couldn't taste any, so he essentially got a tiny $20 artichoke as an appetizer. My $16 spritz was so loaded with ice I had maybe three sips of the actual drink. I noticed every other table had bread service but we weren't offered any. Our dinner was finished and I finally asked our server for bread. The best part of my meal was the gelato with olive oil, that's it. I don't think I'll spend the $$ again at this place. It's such a bummer because I had high hopes for a stellar Mediterranean meal.

hands down BEST shawarma i've had since living in bahrain!!!! we were only in STL for 3 days, and…read morei'm very glad we made this our last stop. highly recommend 10/10!!!!

We've probably tried too much Middle Eastern food - and especially too much shawarma - because…read moreunfortunately, this just wasn't the place for us. We ordered The Original Palestine and Summer in Dubai. Usually, shawarma meat is sliced thin and practically melts in your mouth, but here it was on the dry side and cut into pretty thick pieces. The flavor was just okay, but honestly, neither of us was impressed. The portions also felt way too small for the price. We ordered just two shawarmas and paid around $40 total, so we definitely expected more. You can only sit inside. There are no outdoor tables like you can see in some of the other reviews. The atmosphere itself felt more like a typical fast-food spot than a place where you'd want to sit and enjoy your meal. One thing that really surprised me was the soda situation. I grabbed a cup to get myself a drink, and an employee had to turn a key to activate the drink machine while I was standing there. It honestly felt like there was some kind of limit on how many drinks I was allowed to get, which was pretty strange. Parking is also difficult. There's no parking along the main street, so we had to park farther away and walk. Overall, based on our experience, I wouldn't recommend this place. There are plenty of other spots where we've had much better shawarma for the price.