Atmosphere: Came on a whim on a Saturday night. This place was packed. Although we arrived before…read morethe rush, they had a lot of tables reserved and still the restaurant was full. Fortunately, they had some space on the patio. It was a hot night however they had couple fans to blow away some heat. Food: Started with a salad which was fresh, flavorful and with large chunks of beets, watermelon, and feta cheese. Great appetizer. My wife and I wanted to try a couple of items to share for the main entree, I had branzino. The whole fish, filleted, and grilled. The flavor was rich, without being overly salty nor too oily. The sides 1. Grilled Branzino - Served with quinoa arugula salad 2. Ali Nazik- Chargrilled lamb shish over smoked eggplant puree served with bean salad on the side Both were fantastic. The lamb was cooked just right and turned out moist and tender. The eggplant puree was a great texture; neither too smooth to lose its integrity nor too chunky. The staff was attentive and helpful. Verdict: 9/10: Would definitely go back but with a reservation or in a mindset to sit in the heat on the patio. Also, the deboning process for the fish could've used a little more care, but that didn't take away from the flavor.

Disappointed at the experience. I had been to the restaurant…read morein the past and had enjoyed it and perhaps this was an off night and I'm sorry to leave a poor review but there is room for improvement. The good : flavors were delicious. Our server was attentive and the entire staff seemed happy to have us.The flat bread pide (at another table) looked sumptuous . Chicken shish kebab chunks were cooked well and seasoned nicely and were juicy. The complementary bread is superb. The yogurt dip that went with though was not enough for us to have more than a few bites. Needs improvement: there was no reason why the accompanying (delicious) bean and cucumber salad was 24 to 48 hours old with Limp cucumbers and parsley and flavorless tomatoes. Needs to be fresh daily and use cherry tomatoes or Campari tomatoes for flavor and crispness. Turkish Rice was meh. It was cooked properly but not a whole lot of flavor and perhaps I was expecting more of a Lebanese style pilaf with butter, nuts, spices, onions, etc. to brighten it up. Beyti minced beef had good flavor, but why did they have gristle in it? My dinner companion complains was that this was a cheap cut. The butcher supplier is not paying attention. It also could've used a little bit more sauce on the bread wrap pieces for added juiciness. We ordered the.Tzatziki yogurt dip which helped add juiciness . There was no reason why the Turkish red wine came out warm. I realize that we were in a Dallas summer at 95° at 9 PM and the restaurant was slightly warm but still. Lastly, the owners might think about mitigating the hard surfaces that reflect sound in the restaurant. It's a lively place, but we were subjected to the group of six women who were drinking enough to be loud and screechy across the room - all too common across the city -and I did not need to hear them yukking it up. The place was full on a Saturday night, which bodes well for this restaurant. The staff attitude is good, but I'm afraid this will not be a repeat for me and my companions. .

Hen kabob was so so good. Staff was nice. Cozy place. Really happy. Oh no really, happy happy.read more

Shared the Cornish Hen with my Persian wife and it was great by both our standards! It is not…read morecommonly found on Mediterranean menus. Service was attentive and cordial. My wife really appreciated the Persian calligraphic poems on the wall and the cultural artwork, and loved the eggplant appetizer - "not too oily." The Tabouli is done very green here and Salad Shirazi is finely chopped. Live out of town, but will definitely return when in the Dallas area again.

I have visited this cafe several times with families and friends, the place is clean organized…read morebuffet with multiple options and it is always delicious and with special taste Owner always there visiting tables and serving customers I recommend you visiting the place and you will like it a lot M Zibari

Honestly, I felt like I was transported somewhere else. The food here was SPECTACULAR. I felt right…read moreat home, it was quiet, clean, organized, and it did feel like a hole in the wall at first. Nevertheless, the food speaks for itself, the tender and juicy beef kabob and the fried fish and rice were so perfectly done, that I felt like I've been missing out on the past 20 years. Service was A1, and the staff allows you to serve yourself at the buffet (you can either pay the all you can eat or order a dish). With fair pricing and great service, this for me is a hidden gem in Dallas.

For as long as I can remember, my family and I have been visiting this Mediterranean institution on…read morePolk Street. Afrah is THE place to be for Mediterranean food - before Greenville Ave became Arab central, before there was anyone, there was Afrah. A beautiful, airy restaurant with gorgeous seating, a bustling dessert case, ice cream center and so many treats to offer under one roof. Afrah is to the Muslim community in Richardson as a glove is to a hand. It truly is a one stop shop for all your nostalgic cravings, and it would be a grave injustice on my part if I didn't stop by here and sing praise to one of the most loved Mediterranean restaurants in the DFW area. We visited here recently for an iftar buffet experience and were very very happy with the food we got. The buffet line was running smoothly, from staff working diligently to hand everyone a tray with napkins, plates and cutlery already set for you. Waiters were going around the massive dining hall clearing plates, making sure everyone had what they needed, seating patrons and asking if everything tasted good. This establishment runs like a literal well oiled machine and I am so impressed. The food was as always out of this world. Carefully prepared menu that satisfies everyone's taste buds. A good selection of classic cold appetizers like the baba ghanoush, hummus, and variety of salads. Always including something unique for a typical Middle Eastern flare. Hot lentil soup available with bowls carefully placed in the vicinity. So many different types of kebabs and freshly made hot pita bread being replaced like clockwork. The buffet had many of my favorite classics like Shawarma meat, beef kebab, chicken kebab. Lamb, chicken stew, baked chicken, everything was present in abundance. They even had salmon which I deeply appreciated as a seafood lover. My only complaint is the food wasn't hot enough which can be annoying with a buffet that is serving so many people during a busy time like Ramadan. Everything tasted absolutely phenomenal and when I returned for dessert, I was greeted with six different types of sweets from all over the world. That's the thing about this place. There's always something for everybody. The dining hall was bustling with not just Muslim patrons, but also a lot of American white patrons who equally enjoy the food here as much as we do. Inclusions of dishes like shrimp pasta, fried fish, chocolate mousse, and other fan favorites is a humble nod to non-Arab customers who love to frequent this place as much as we do. If you are looking for a quality Mediterranean experience look no further than this long-standing Mediterranean Haven. Thank you for nourishing the community.

Service was quick, well organized , but held up by the kitchen. This is an enormous place, clean,…read morenice and inviting, but a bit noisy at lunch. I had a Gyro. Very tasty, meaty and warm. Pita was soft with tzatziki and veggies. They also have a buffet, that I did not try, but it looked fresh with a wide variety of items. Their dessert case had many different items. I will be back for the buffet.

The food was awesome and service was friendly. I got a bowl with falafel. The falafel was perfectly…read morecooked and flavorful. The rice had a lot of flavor & had caramelized onions in it too. I got my bowl with the Persian honey soy dressing & it made my food even better. The prices were great too! This is my favorite Mediterranean spot now, and I will be recommending it to friends.

Mayas is such a great restaurant!! The ambiance is sleek, yet comfortable (somewhat small), you…read moreorder at the counter and there is a large board that shows the menu and all the build-your-own options. The food feels light, fresh, healthy, and cooked well. The chicken shawarma is great along with the pita and salmon as well! If you haven't tried this place, please give it a shot! It's authentic and delicious!!

The most authentic Iraqi food in the Dallas area. Gilgamesh in Richardson is the real deal…read more We tried the Family BBQ Mix,a massive platter of lamb, chicken, and kebabs with rice, grilled vegetables, and the biggest flatbread I've ever seen. The beef shawarma was juicy and well-seasoned, and the lentil soup that comes at the start of the meal is one of the most comforting soups I've had. Don't leave without ordering the Lamb Kozi -- slow-cooked fall-off-the-bone lamb over Iraqi rice. Highly recommend for anyone looking for something different and genuinely delicious in DFW.

Appetizers (got the sampler of 6) which included hummus, baba ganoush, toum, eggplant salad,…read moretabbouleh were all solid. Toum and eggplant salad were stars of the show here For entrees, we got the beef kabab, chicken kababs and shish tawook. Chicken was also good but beef tasted pretty gamey and definitely not as flavorful. Arrayes were disappointing. Not nearly enough filling and beef also tasted gamey. Apricot juice and the Gilgamesh juice were both pretty good and refreshing. Water is NOT free so be prepared. Service was good as well. What's keeping this from 4-5 stars is if the beef was fresher and had more flavor. Value was solid just wish the food tasted better.

Delicious Mediterranean and BYOB option! I've had lunch and dinner here. Lunch is a tremendous…read morevalue and super tasty. Dinner is great as well but a little pricier (still a great value). The fact that they are BYOB with no corkage fee is a huge plus I've had their hummus, appetizer sampler, branzino, chicken kebab, and lamb kebab. All were super tasty. The staff is very attentive and takes great care of you and your guests. I'd highly recommend checking out Ephesus for lunch or dinner soon!

Just a wonderful understated restaurant with excellent food, and friendly service. The shopping…read morecentre where Ephesus is located really keeps this a neighborhood gem, but trust me that if Ephesus was is a more prominent location, it would be hard to get a table, and way more expensive. Delicious fresh bread is served with each meal, the hummus is also fantastic with pita. My wife and I eat very differently, (more meats for Me, and for her more veggies). and our meals are always fantastic. Kinda don't want them to get too popular:), but writing this because they are a small business that deserves to be recognized by local foodies and customers looking for a great meal.

Schwarma was very good. Both salads, Arabic and Greek were also top notch…read more Only suggestion is don't be afraid to explain the menu items. You are going to get a lot of new people in that don't know what Sujak or other items are. Tell us. Be proud of your food. It's great. See you again soon!

Third time here in a month- and I brought my BFF with me so she could see what she has been missing…read moreout on. She loved it too! Still 5 stars. Delightful Family serving Authentic Arabic Food that takes me back to my childhood. IYKYK. On this visit, I ordered the Meat Fatteh with Almonds and Olive Oil. Also shared a Zaatar/Cheese pie and split a Tabbouleh Salad with Mom. BFF ordered the Hummus with Ground Beef and the Lentil Soup. Friendly, attentive service, relaxed ambience, contrast and balance of flavors and spices, and ideal portions for a reasonable price. Traditional vibe. Mint and Cardamom Tea is the golden ticket here! It is so flavorful. We will continue to patronize this Family Business as often as we are able.