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    Ajja

    4.4 (132 reviews)
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    AJJA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Trendy
    Intimate
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Ajja

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    Slow roasted shrimp with all the fresh veggies and taro chips!
    Lauren R.

    When my son asked where I'd like to go on my birthday, my answer was immediately Ajja! Just walking into the space is like being transported to an oasis! The food is delicious and unique. Every dish a perfect blend of flavors and textures. It was potentially rainy, so we enjoyed the lovely enclosed patio and took a stroll around the outdoor area after dinner to take in the view of the Raleigh skyline. Every dish I've had was amazing, and this visit was beyond my high expectations. A fun fresh cocktail menu, and we loved the dips trio! Our mains were beautiful, and although we were stuffed, we had to share a dessert! We ordered enough for a party of 4 and enjoyed every bite! This is my favorite special occasion spot, but it's also got a nice casual vibe, because truly, the food is the main event! Already looking forward to my next meal at Ajja. If 6 stars was an option...

    Menu
    Mike B.

    Dinner for 6 recently at this fun spot in the Five Points neighborhood. Decor is ecclectic, definitely going for a bohemian vibe. Reservation honored to the minute; seats on the covered, heated patio. It's fairly loud, but we were able to converse without shouting. Our server, Abigail did a great job. Explained the menu and made spot-on recomendations. It's tapas-style and dishes are meant for sharing. There were a few gaps in service where we waited longer than we should have between. Portions are small-ish and we should have ordered 2 of a few things so that everyone had more than just a taste. The food is excellent. Started with an AJJA platter, with 3 dips and oil for dipping, plus bread. Hummus is served warm, creamy and rich with a touch of spice. Beet Mast-o Khiar - tzatziki-like but with beets added for color and sweet/tart. Lastly - my favorite - Sweet potato Masabach - pureed sweet potato, boiled peanuts, labneh and candied peanut dukkah. The taste combo is excellent - sweet and a little spicy, creamy and a little crunchy. Also tried Citrus Salad and Coffee Roasted Carrots. Carrots are roasted over coffee grounds, then rinsed and tossed saffron-infused yogurt and ginger glaze and sprinkled with candied pine nuts and dried cherries. We weren't sure about this one - the coffee didn't sound appetizing. But the combo really works, just a hint of coffee and the other ingredients made the whole thing shine. YUM. Next BBQ'd Short Rib, King Trumpet Mushrooms and Braised Lamb Tagine. The Short Rib is the winner - gorgeous chunks of super tender off-the-bone beef glazed and slow braised. The spices are perfect. Lamb Tagine is a stew... well spiced with the meat tender and flavorful. Honestly it didn't taste much like lamb, but was still delicious. All in all, the food was excellent. Service good, but slow. It's a cool vibe and fun experience, with plenty of other things to try for the next trip.

    Lamb Koobideh
    Maggie M.

    My son and I went for dinner when I was visiting him in Raleigh. The restaurant has such cool vibes. Lots of fun dining spaces inside and outside. Food was excellent. Portions were small but every dish is bursting with unique flavors. We ordered the warm olives, the hummus, the fried halloumi and the lamb koobideh. Highly recommend.

    Ghee roasted Delicata
    Meghan M.

    This restaurant is the brainchild of Cheeti Kumar, a chef here who has been nominated several times for the James Beard award. I was very excited to check out her homage to Mediterranean and North African cuisine. The ghee roasted delicata was fork tender and superb. The chicken tagine was okay and did not blow me out of the water. Also, we ordered a milk punch drink, and that was quite tasty. The service was very attentive, and on top of refilling waters and bringing food out in a timely manner. The restaurant is very colorful and beautifully decorated. I loved the different lighting fixtures and wallpapers. Overall, I would come back, but I think I would order a different entree other than the chicken tagine next time.

    Feta appetizer
    Jessica F.

    New trendy Mediterranean spot! We decided to sit at the bar and grab a quick appetizer w/a Lambrusco wine. The decor is bright orange with other lively colors and has several intimate seating areas. The feta appetizer was good but only came with one small piece of bread. It definitely should be served with 2 pieces of bread for 2 people. The bartender was nice and although very busy, he checked on us regularly. I would recommend this place for something different and fun!

    Crispy eggplant and Halloumi
    Hadja T.

    This delicious restaurant is tucked away in the 5 points neighborhood in Raleigh and offers the opportunity for herbivores and carnivores to eat in harmony. Think elevated Tapas and filling main entrees. First, there is ample street parking and availability in a nearby lot as well. Second, the restaurant has a very boho chic eclectic vibe with plants hanging from the ceiling and curtains that provide an indoor/outdoor feel. We were greeted warmly and seated right away. Our waitress was very familiar with the menu and knew which items were vegetarian versus vegan and gluten free. Third, the food is thoughtfully crafted and very tasty. For drinks we ordered House-made ginger beer ,which had a deep ginger taste without being overwhelming, and the Picard spritz, which was just as enjoyable. For our meal, we ordered the Chana hummus (which had the perfect amount of saltiness), crispy eggplant and halloumi (another divine dish), and the pan roasted shrimp. We ate everything! The portions are enough for two people to share and come away sated. If you are looking for a trendy, relaxed vibe with great food, definitely recommend this gem .

    Ajja Platter
    Joey C.

    I tucked away gem of Mediterranean excellence! Had an amazing diner here with very friendly service. Made the reservation for the patio and really enjoyed the more lively atmosphere but if you're looking for a quieter, more intimate environment, the inside dining has you covered. Only had the Ajja platter and Short Ribs, but that's all I needed to know that this place has top tier Mediterranean! Great spot for a nice casual date night or a dinner with friends

    Elizabeth W.

    AMAZING!!! Divine interior, incredible food, and lively atmosphere. Especially great in summer. Would not make any menu accommodations though - even for cilantro. Excellent otherwise!

    Ajja platter
    Dinh N.

    Great Mediterranean spot in Raleigh. Great ambiance for a quiet date or small group dinner. We got the Ajja platter mezze dip. The hummus and zaatar oil were great. I'm not a big fan of the whipped feta so I would avoid next time. We got a salad and the lamb seekh for the main course and I would recommend both. Service was good.

    Autumn Salad
    Erica S.

    Tried Ajja for the first time this weekend. I can say it's on my list for best meals I've had in Raleigh! We arrived on Sunday afternoon, without a reservation, and we're quickly accommodated with an indoor seating. I can't wait to go back and sit in their beautiful outdoor area. My husband and I share the dip platter and the flavors were out of this world. We then shared the Autumn salad and Grilled chicken entree. First bite of the chicken and I was blown away by how much flavor it had. We will definitely be back and will bring friends next time!

    Sana A.

    So this place was on our bucket list for some time so my husband and I dropped by for date night. The ambience was great. You definitely need reservations and I feel like they kind of messed up my reservation because I had asked for a table on the patio under the lights, but we were seated inside, the setting inside was nice as well. We got a vegetarian option and a seafood option because we eat vegetarian pescatarian or Halal and the shrimp was delightful. I had expected more of a Mediterranean vibe on the shrimp, but it tasted more like southern soul food, which wasn't a bad thing. It's just not what I expected. The portion was huge though. The mushroom on the other hand portion was kind of small, but my husband enjoyed it. We also really liked your appetizers and all in all, it was a very nice experience.

    Soft shell crab
    Peyton W.

    It lives up to the hype. I went here with a small group for my birthday and it was really magical. The atmosphere is charming. The waitstaff is professional, attentive, and helpful. The food is incredible. Everything we had was excellent, unique, and prepared well. Great experience. I hope to go back again soon!

    Inside resto
    Selin B.

    FOOD: really good, super flavorful with tons of herbs and spices. Meant to be shared - do not get your own entrees! Very veg friendly. PRICE: a lot. for small portions. Eg. The short rib was $44 and mushrooms ~$26 but neither are meals - just meat, just mushrooms - hence the share recc above VIBE: great service, very attentive. Gorg decorations and ambience with multiple dining areas. We got bread, pickles, short rib, mushroom, two NA drinks. Everything was fantastic and our bill was $100+ Would come back esp w friends for sharesies and feeling cute

    Interior

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    1 month ago

    Wonderful service and delicious food. Great atmosphere too. Would come back. Cocktails were great too.

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    Madre

    Madre

    4.3
    (168 reviews)
    1.0 mi

    One of our most exciting and flavorful dining experience in months. Our downtown Raleigh dining…read morescene has amazing options, and Madre has stayed under our radar for no particular reason. We dined at their lovely bar back in the first months of their opening, and it was good. We had met the general manager, Red, and were impressed with the flavors of our one appetizer, Calabrian Chicken, yet we never rushed back. Now, we feel compelled to return ASAP to enjoy these exceptional flavors, fabulous teamwork system of service, and a comfortable chic atmosphere. The place was happening at 5:45 pm on our recent dining night out with friends. Grateful to have a reservation we were seated at a very comfortable banquette type of seating. It felt like dining in a friend's home. Our server, William, is excellent at his job. Very efficient, great input on food choices, and quite personable. The meal started off with a burst of flavor as we enjoyed their fairly new offering of a ceviche called Eye of the Tiger that featured a sauce you can never get enough of. Wish their bread service was a bit more inspired, but the Le Farm bread did soak up some of the various sauces sent out from a very inspired kitchen team. Food runners help make certain the tapas come out fresh and hot when needed. They are a friendly group of hospitality workers who seem to genuinely enjoy their work and treat their guests with sincere appreciation. It all starts at the top, and GM Red is a personable and sound leader. We loved the Chef's pasta, our octopus dish was stellar, the Calabrian Chicken almost stole the show, but the unctuous flavors on the plate of the Seared Halloumi was hands down my favorite. I love how this culinary team can crank out such outstanding flavors table to table and patron to patron without missing a beat. The energy in the room must feed their souls & for that we are grateful. Lastly I wish to mention the thoughtfully curated wine list where my husband discovered a treasure of a wine from the Familia Torres brand. It was exquisite and paired perfectly with Madre's flavors. Our friend who frequent their bar often rave about their Mezcal margarita! Another visit. See you soon Madre familia!

    This used to be one of my 3 go-to first date restaurants, but I've had to cut it from the list…read moreafter realizing it makes literally everyone in the place seem irresistibly sexy, and that is not wise. Truly, though, I'm here often and love it - my dear friend and I are both heavy-duty allergy kids and the Madre squad is exquisite at managing cross-contamination and adapting plates to be accommodating. If you have nothing else, order the cauliflower with the green goddess dressing. Maybe order that two or three times, actually. The salchipapas are probably my favorite app in Raleigh. Also, the owners are both super cute, and the Bryan Costello design is magnifique. I would hire that man to redo my entire home to feel like Madre.

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    Snacks: Gaufrettes, Negroni Olives, & Prosciutto
    Snacks: Gaufrettes, Negroni Olives, & Prosciutto
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    Neomonde Mediterranean Raleigh

    Neomonde Mediterranean Raleigh

    4.2
    (777 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$

    Just WOW! A veritable smorgasbord of Mediterranean fare!…read more You select from cases of appetizing cold and hot entrees, as well as an array of delectable desserts and a cold case of unique beers and other beverages - the selection is simply amazing. And the service - totally awesome! When we entered, Alex was behind the counter - she was welcoming and offered us tastes of whatever dish caught our eye, all of which were amazing. As we were eating in the large and open seating area - there was Alex again, busily clearing tables and ensuring the dining happiness of nearby patrons! She was amazing - welcoming, knowledgeable and made us feel so welcome - thank you Alex, we'll be back for more epic eating! Check the pics for visual detail. Better yet - go there, it's well worth the drive!

    We stopped in to visit and enjoy some Lebanese foods. We have been here a few times and enjoyed our…read morevisit but this past weekend our visit was very disappointing. We ordered the grape leaves, baklava, namoora and tabbouli. I am Lebanese and these are staples in our home. The grape leaves were extremely dry and tough. The rice was very undercooked and the leaves themselves were so dry and tough we could barely chew through them. We ordered 12 and thought maybe it was a fluke but all 12 were completely inedible and we threw them out immediately. The baklava was okay, nothing to write home about. Very simple syrup forward and you couldn't taste much else (we ordered the walnut). The namoora was stale. Very dry. Namoora should melt in your mouth with with a slight chew. This was again, tough and stale. We threw those out as well. Lastly, our favorite salad, tabbouli. The lemon taste was nonexistent. The parsley wasn't chopped fine as Tabbouli should be. It was a watery mess. Overall, we won't be back. We spent over $75 on 4 items and left feeling hungry and bamboozled. There are other Lebanese food spots to visit in the Raleigh area, I will stick to those. Please do better when representing Lebanese cuisine. 15 workers behind the counter can seem like you're doing something right but in the end, it all comes down to the freshness and authenticity of what you are claiming to serve.

    Photos
    Remodeling
    Remodeling
    Pistachio Baklava
    Pistachio Baklava
    Tantalizing baklavas and other desserts.

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    Tantalizing baklavas and other desserts.
    Taverna Agora

    Taverna Agora

    4.2
    (1.2k reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    Absolutely delightful! From the moment we sat down as a party of six friends, Diondre took…read moreexcellent care of us. His service was greatly appreciated as all of us wanted to make it somewhere to watch The Canes game! He was efficient with opening the wine and getting our dinner orders in right away. Thank you Diondre for a great start to our evening. All of us raved over our food. Two of our friends had the Tomahawk Pork Chop featuring spinach, barrel-aged feta, herb aioli, and yummy Greek lemon potatoes. Both people agreed the kitchen team cooked them perfectly. One person absolutely loved his fire-roasted lamb chops that also had the delicious Greek lemon potatoes. Another one of our friends loved her Chicken penne Mykonos which we have ordered to-go many times. It looks even better in the restaurant as it has spinach, feta, mushrooms, tomatoes, white wine lemon cream sauce, and parmesan. This dish is a must try when you visit Taverna Agora in downtown Raleigh. Lastly, someone at the table exclaimed that their grilled salmon was one of the best salmon dishes he had ever enjoyed as its unique presentation features pickled beetroot, sautéed spinach, and a lemon caper sauce. I had the Poseidon Branzino which was fabulous. The dish had roasted branzino, medley of sautéed cherry tomatoes and onions, fresh herb rice, and skordalia (I had to look up what that is - a fascinating Greek garlic puree). The blending of all those flavors made for a scrumptious dinner, and thanks to the kitchen team for preparing it perfectly so that I could even eat the skin of the fish. We shared two bottles of Assyrtiko wine which is one of our favorite Greek wines after visiting Greece a few years ago. The wine list at Taverna is simple but thorough and fun to experiment with. Great job Taverna Team!

    Such a fun rooftop, definitely don't skip sitting on the roof…read more When you arrive parking can be a bit difficult around the restaurant but there is street a couple blocks away if you don't mind walking. Walking in you'll feel like you've been transported to a village like, Greek atmosphere. To sit down you'll check in with the host and then be seated either inside or on the rooftop. We opted for the rooftop as it was a nice evening. To start I ordered the Baklava Old Fashioned (Bulleit bourbon, homemade baklava syrup, Angostura bitters, and Amarena cherries) which was amazing. Next we ordered the trio of all three spreads (Tzatziki, sun-dried tomato hummus, and spicy feta spread) and the calamari. Both dishes were excellent and I definitely prefer the spicy feta and tzatziki sauce. For my main course I ordered the Tomahawk Pork Chop (Chargrilled tomahawk chop, spinach, barrel-aged feta, herb aioli, Greek lemon potatoes) which was a bit disappointing. I probably should have sent the pork chop back as it was cooked well done and was very dry but was I was too hungry and didn't want to make my parents wait. For dessert I ordered Baklava Cheesecake (New York-style cheesecake with nuts and baklava filling) which was very nice and my mom ordered the Limoncello cake (lemon cake with lemon cream frosting) which was definitely the star of the show. If I'm back downtown I may try Taverna Agora again but will definitely avoid ordering the pork chop.

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    Taverna Agora
    Proteins from the Grecian Feast
    Proteins from the Grecian Feast
    Menu Outside

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    Menu Outside
    Sassool

    Sassool

    4.3
    (476 reviews)
    8.5 mi
    $$

    I absolutely love eating the fresh salads and sides at Sassool! It can get pretty busy during…read morelunchtime, so plan ahead if you're in a rush--but that just shows how good the food is. I usually order the two chicken skewer kabobs with rice, a super salad, and the jalapeño cilantro hummus. The hummus is *so* good that I often grab a small container to take with me when I travel. Everything tastes incredibly fresh, and you can really tell they use quality ingredients, especially with olive oil as a base. They offer both fresh pita and gluten-free pita, which is great for anyone with dietary restrictions. Honestly, I could make a meal just out of all the sides--they're that good. The menu is consistently solid, and I feel like you really can't go wrong with anything you order. It's a perfect spot for a low-key lunch or dinner. Also worth noting: on Tuesdays, kids eat free with a paying adult, which is a great bonus for families. Highly recommend!

    The ambiance is nice and welcoming. This is an order and pay restaurant where you place your order…read moreat the counter, receive your food, and can sit anywhere you'd like. The portions are very generous, so if you can't finish your meal, it's easy to take the leftovers home. They conveniently provide to-go containers and bags for customers. One thing I found a bit challenging was the ordering process. There is a huge selection of food, which can be overwhelming for first-time visitors. I would have appreciated a little more guidance from the staff when making my choices, as I think it would have helped me order more confidently. Overall, it's a good place with plenty of options and great portion sizes.

    Photos
    Sassool
    Pistachio Baklava
    Pistachio Baklava
    Storefront

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    Storefront

    Ajja - mideastern - Updated July 2026

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