Usta Kababgy is an excellent restaurant for authentic Middle Eastern cuisine in Austin, TX located…read moreon N. Lamar Blvd. The restaurant has well seasoned, charcoal grilled meats. The kebabs are the true highlight...juicy, flavorful, and grilled to perfection. The portions are quite large as the hubs and I shared a wrap. We were sufficiently full after eating the chicken tikka wrap. Interestingly, the wrap came in a Shawarma King packaging with their contact phone number. So, I assume that Usta staff are sub-contracting from Shawarma King. Usta also has freshly baked bread and classic sides like hummus and rice paired with the main dishes. The restaurant has a homey, lived in feel. It has a few middle eastern artifacts sprinkled throughout the restaurant. The menu offers a wide variety of options, from Iraqi and Adana kebabs to shawarma and traditional Middle Eastern plates, so there are food items for both first timers and regulars who want to explore beyond the basics. They also serve flatbreads where you can have two different toppings. The food focus is on bold, traditional flavors rather than modern takes on middle eastern foods. On the desserts front, they have an assortment of desserts and several sections of ice cream. I had the baklava, which was surprisingly delicious...it was not eye-squinting sweet like a standard baklava. It was crunchy, flavorful, and had nuts that were substantial. Layla, my server, was so super sweet and welcoming. She pointed out that Usta provides its customers free tea. How cool is that? I cannot remember last time I received a free drink.

I'm honestly bummed cause I was really craving Mediterranean food but this was not it. Granted we…read moregot our order to go, so it's possible that eating at the restaurant is better. We got the lamb/beef kebab 1lb and first off the picture online is misleading. It shows for the catering of kebabs, not 1lb. Which is probably on me for not catching that, but that's fine. The kebab itself was just alright. Could have had more seasoning and there chunks of either fat or onions that were not pleasant to chew. The pita was the size of a mini pizza which is nice, but they were so chewy it was disappointing. The sauce was more watery than I would have liked and also not as flavorful. Overall, this was a miss for me.

Hands-down, this is the best Middle Eastern restaurant that I've been to. Being brought up in the…read moreMiddle East, I could tell authentic mid-eastern food when I taste it. The Kebab are to die for.

Troy ATX on Mesa Drive in Austin, TX is a neighborhood restaurant that quietly delivers an…read moreoutstanding dining experience. The restaurant specializes in Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine. Troy ATX provides food and outstanding service...feels like home. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, making it perfect for dining. The menu offers a great balance of familiar Mediterranean favorites and traditional Turkish dishes, all prepared with care and bold flavors. Portions are generous, ingredients taste fresh, and the dishes homemade. In fact, the son of the owner was managing the restaurant which he does not do often. He had nothing but rave things to say about his family and the restaurant. I really love that! I stopped to pick up some hummus. It was packaged with pita bread and nicely packed for travel. The hummus felt thick and hearty...not normally how it comes at the grocery store. If you're craving authentic Mediterranean and Turkish cuisine, Troy ATX is absolutely worth a visit.

Stumbled across this hidden gem in North Austin and absolutely love it. I've always said Austin…read moredoesn't have enough "Mom and Pop ethnic places," so finding Troy was a dream come true. The staff was so warm and welcoming the entire time. From giving recommendations, to offering Turkish tea, it was a great experience. The food was solid as well! Definitely recommend the lamb in whatever you get! I had a few coworkers get the wraps, I will say, I do feel like they were a little light on the meat in those, but everything else that was ordered was solid. We will definitely be back!

I stopped by MezzeMe on a whim when I was looking for lunch in the Triangle and I'm glad I did! I…read morearrived around 1pm on a Wed and it was pretty hopping so don't expect it to be empty just because its a weekday! I put in a to-go order for a kibbeh wrap; the price seemed typically high for the area, but when I got my order its quite a sizable wrap so all-in-all a pretty good deal! The food did take about 20 minutes to come out- I wasn't going to complain as there was a line of people the whole time so I could tell it was busy, but when I did get my food they apologized for the wait and gave me some free baklava so even if there had been hard feelings that would have 100% fixed it lol I'm a huge baklava fan and had actually been considering adding some onto my order but didn't because of the long line! So service was great, but most importantly- the food! The kibbe wrap was huge; I managed to finish the whole thing but in two different sittings lol. The kibbe was generous, and the pieces were flavorful and juicy. The veggies were fresh and crisp, and the whole thing was lightly sauced but the flavor of the kibbe popped enough that I didn't think it needed more sauce. Delicious and I would 100% order again. Plus the (free!) baklava was top notch! Sometimes you get the ones where the filo dough is a little tough/chewy and it still tastes great but the texture isn't there- not with this baklava! It was tender, delicious, and a perfect end to the meal. Parking was limited on the street but I believe the Triangle has garages also- I was able to snag a short term parking spot for MezzeMe which is actually why I originally decided to check it out!

We visited MezzeMe on a Saturday for dinner and had about a 30-minute wait…read more The highlight of the meal was the complimentary warm pita and hummus. The pita was soft, fresh, and delicious, and the hummus was creamy with great flavor. We also tried the Truffle Feta Fries, which were just okay--I was hoping they'd be crispier with a stronger truffle flavor. For our mains, we ordered the Forever Falafel, Lahmacun, Falafel Pita Pocket, and Chicken Shish Kebap Pita Pocket. The fillings were flavorful, and the portion sizes were generous. The only downside was that the pita pockets were served cold and felt a little dry. I'd recommend ordering the Forever Falafel and enjoying it with the complimentary warm pita instead. We finished with the pistachio baklava and honey cake, and both desserts were delicious. Overall, we enjoyed our meal and would definitely come back to try more dishes.

Obviously overall everything is superb Food to die for so…read moremany choices Service is excellent and friendly Ambiance looks very clean and amazing Affordable

I'd been wanting to check this place out for quite some time. There's another location in Round…read moreRock, but many reviewers said the original spot is much better, so we decided to start with the OG location. Parking is plentiful right in front of the restaurant. We came by on a Saturday around 1 PM, worried it might be packed, but it was actually pretty quiet. You can sit anywhere you like, grab a plate, and pay when you're done. The space is large and open, with three full rows of food and drinks plus a dedicated station for fruit and desserts. Everything was fresh, not overly salty, and there were plenty of options. My favorites were the hummus with eggplant (so flavorful with great texture), the salad and cucumber salad (fresh and refreshing), the dolma (perfectly done), gyro (tender and tasty), baked cauliflower (so good), fried chicken (juicy, crispy, and not salty), falafel (extra crunchy), and the lentil soup (simple but delicious). And don't miss their coffee at the checkout--it has a hint of warm spice and is the perfect finish after a meal. Surprisingly, I ended up loving the vegetable dishes even more than the meats. Overall, yes, $26 per person is on the higher side (what doesn't cost these days, right?!), but it's a great spot to try a variety of Mediterranean dishes that are fresh, simply seasoned, and let the ingredients shine--perfect whether you're new to the cuisine or just want a bit of everything.

Me and my boyfriend got dinner here this weekend and are already very excited to come back. I was…read moresuper impressed by everything we tried! I got the shish tawook plate with baba ganouj and taboulleh. The chicken was incredible and their baba ganouj is great! We also got a side order of fries and hummus, both were great as well. My boyfriend got the chicken shawarma wrap and it was good but probably our least favorite item that we tried. I think it could've used more chicken and less fries. The employees were so nice and service was pretty fast. So excited to come back again soon!

AMAZING.... Being middle eastern myself we have tried few "Lebanese/middle eastern" establishment…read morein Austin and by far BEIRUT is the most authentic flavored spot. Love that they are in the South Domain area which is less crowded and they are infront of the big grass area where you can enjoy your meal and kids can play. Service was amazing. Ordered the Chicken Shawarma wrap & Lamb Shawarma wrap The chicken was sooo flavorful, just enough aioli and perfect size. Husband loves the lamb and said it was flavorful. We will for sure be back and try other wraps/menu items.

First time back in a long time, too long. I have to ask…read moremyself why I stayed away for so long. Busy weekday lunch spot, but still had a great vibe to it... Had lunch with a client nice spacing between tables no problem carrying on a conversation you felt could be kept private, even though we were in a public spot The food was outstanding. Super fresh ingredients wonderful taste and a plentiful serving size offered at a reasonable price. So what's not to like?? I will definitely put this place back in the rotation and make sure I don't stay away too long.

Friendly staff always ready to help even though there's a couple of self service kiosks. Whether…read moreyou order at the counter or at the kiosks, food comes out pretty fast and boy, it's pretty fresh and tasty. Can't decide which is my favorite thing to order as every is just so damn good. Their sauces are all fantastic and no matter which one you use, they compliment whatever you order perfectly. Really love how quickly (relatively for everything made as you order), quality of their food and great customer service.

I want to love this place more. The hookah place next door is tops, which is how I first noticed…read morethis restaurant and added it to my bucket list. I was so excited to try it out, and from the moment I walked in, I thought i was going to be in for a real treat. The ambiance was fantastic, ugly outside but a transformation inside. Sure it looks dated and tacky with Persian rugs dressing up cheap wooden benches, and middle-eastern floor seating that seems off limits unless/until they determine whether they like you or not, but it's Austin. There's real personality here. We were pumped for the food, ordering a pretty epic spread. Great: Gyro. Clearly roasted and carved properly on a spit versus the pre-sliced garbage that often graces lesser Greek and Middle-Eastern establishments. Falafel was exceptionally crispy on the outside and moist inside, accompanied by a lovingly crafted hummus. Meh: literally everything else we had was pretty boring or bad. The rice was clumpy, a clear sign that the rice had been cooled and reheated. That's pretty unforgivable (the only time that's permissible and proper is for fried rice or rice desserts like rice pudding). The chicken was overcooked and bland -- no salt at all. Kofta, which I always look forward to was undercooked and slimy inside. No thank you. From its location, kitschy decor, and friendly service I really REALLY wanted to love this place, but sadly, the food is what fell far from the mark. I hope they find their mojo.

One of my dining companions has been coming to this place for years, was finally able to join him…read moreto enjoy a little pizza. This Mediterranean establishment has a very cool decor and you're really transformed into a different place as soon as you walk in the door. I will be coming back to try their other food choices and I definitely will be becoming back again for the pizza. The crust was a perfect balance between thin and deep and had a wonderful flavor it was just the right thickness to be foldable and enjoy all the luscious toppings. You ordered at the counter and they brought you the food, there was really no table service. No alcohol, but iced tea and fountain drinks.