First time to this place and the food and the staff were amazing. The meat was juicy their garlic sauce was lovely. Atmosphere was great perfect to take the family read more

Food My wife and I had the Al Bawadi mixed grill. It's a dish composed of chicken, lamb and steak. Also an order of muthawama. This is pretty much a whip cream composed of garlic and potato. We reallllly enjoyed our food and can't wait to our next visit. 2 stars Service We had excellent service by Noor and Sliman. They were super attentive to our table. They took the time to show us some Arabic words and made our experience more enjoyable. 2 stars Experience We very much enjoyed the "Arabi" music in the background. I felt as if I walked the streets of Istanbul. Our table was constantly visited by a gentleman wearing a foreign outfit asking if we wanted more coffee. This restaurant shows the typical characteristic of hospitality shown in the culture. 1 star read more

Al Bawadi Grill - Mediterranean Near Me - Bridgeview, Illinois

45 minutes for a chicken sandwich. It's killing . For a sandwich I have to wait till they get out of all the big orders . "They have No idea how to run a business " even though making a sandwich dose not cost a few seconds Ppl time it's important read more

This place was a total miss for us... Additionally, as we picked up, we noticed how lackadaisical the management was on covid restaurant regulations. Socially distancing wasn't followed, and tables weren't spaced out properly. FOOD: Dolma- 1 I don't know what this was, but it certainly wasn't real dolma. (arab style dolma is forgettable for a reason... Turkish or Assyrian style is best). Lamb was fatty, overcooked... and terribly presented. Tabouli was not authentic tabouleh, and was water-y, as was the fattoush. Hummus had meat in it, which was very unusual. Rice had a medley mixed in, almost like it was aiming to be Persian rice, but it was so bad and bland... did not come close. The falafel, on the contrary, were good. Service and ambiance: 1 Staff is off-putting, unfriendly, and aggressive. This place doesn't have the expected Middle Eastern vibe of great hospitality, friendly/ welcoming service, and good food. Best Middle Eastern restaurants by far in Chicagoland area are on the north side, incl. Linc Park, of the city. read more

We always used to order from this place when we lived closer to it. On Mother's Day my son asked what I wanted for dinner so I told him Bawadi. He called in and placed the order and picked it up. He ordered the family platter for 5-6 people. When I was opening the sides there was probably 2 tablespoons in each container. I was so shocked because this was never what we received in the past. They raised their prices and took away half of the food. I will be taking my money somewhere else from now on. read more

Cutting to the chase... Busy house (I think this is common), our table for 2 was about a 20 minute wait. - Service was decent overall. Our waiter seemed surprised it was our first time there, however no suggestions were made. - I was surprised to see the on the house starters: Plate with a delicious salsa, what seemed to be pita chips cut into strips nicely toasted with garlic & pepper, and pickled goods. Also a basket of fresh + warm pita bread. - Everything we ate was delicious! The portion sizes were large and I left feeling stuffed (roll me over). - We received our order in a timely manner although did not get any coffee I read was also complimentary. - Fairly clean and i really enjoyed the authentic vibes from the decor to the way some of the employee's were dressed. Let's not forget the cool Middle Eastern music. Lots of people doing take out orders. They have a waiting section which is convenient. read more

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Coming from Michigan where we had some of the best Arabic food outside of the Middle East, I was skeptical of this place. But I quickly found it to be very authentic. We ordered the mixed grill, hummus, stayed with meat and batata harra (potatoes with spices). The mixed grill was cooked really well. The beef cubes were my favorite. The rice tasted a little bland so that was not my favorite. And the batata harra were possibly the best I've in North America. We also ordered the lemon mint drink which brought back so many memories of home (Egypt) for me. This will definitely be one of our favorite go to places whenever we're in town. read more

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The meat was so nasty especially the way the kofta tasted. Something is not right about the meat never going back ..it really makes me so sick. The only thing I can say was good is the bread and the hummus اللحم مش مزبوط في شي غلط بالأخص الكفتة وأنا مروح إستفرغت كل شي. الكفتة زي التراب شي مقرف. للأسف بطل في ثقة في أي مطعم عربي . بس مش كل الناس بنضحك عليها وفي رب يمهل ولا يهمل هاد بنطبق علي المثل الي بقول إذا طلع سيطك افرش ونام لا أنصح أي عربي أو مسلم أو إنسان في هاذا المطعم. حسبنا الله ونعم الوكيل في كل واحد بغش الناس read more

Went there for Eid with the love of my life, and the food was absolutely amazing! We ordered Lamb Kebabs, Lamb Chops and Quail - and I loved all three. The rice pilaf it's served with is so flavorful and so comforting, and the food itself is amazing. I don't know how they do it, but they most certainly know how to honor the meat, but both imparting it flavor, but allowing it to retain its natural goodness. The meat was not over cooked or dry, and had a juiciness to it that's inexplicable. Oh, and their Turkish coffee is so fragrant, dark and strong - it'll knock you out (in a good way!). Love this place - highly recommend it! read more

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Some restaurants earn a spot in my heart through the whole experience, with others, it's love at first sight. Walking into Al Bawadi, I felt as if I was teleported to a Middle Eastern country. The lighting, interior decorations, dress of employees, languages spoken and seen on menus/signs, and clientele all seemed to fit perfectly, and didn't seem gimmicky. Sadly, I had already placed my order as to-go, so I only had a few minutes to enjoy the atmosphere before taking my food, and heading back to my hotel. At the hotel, I was impressed by how well everything was packaged, and how much food I received. This was my first time trying Muthawama, which is a garlic dish, and it's one of the greatest things. Even the small dish of pickled veggies and olives was phenomenal. This is a restaurant that I can't wait to go back to, and I've been recommending it to everyone I know. The experience, price, quantity, and flavor are all outstanding. read more

Al Bawadi Grill - Grilled seafood platter. - Mediterranean Near Me - Bridgeview, Illinois

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Oh my goodness! This place is amazing! Authentic Mediterranean! Music, ambiance, service, food. Generous portions, fresh and delicious. If you are close to Chicago, you must try it! Across the street, the NUTHOUSE is beyond words and next to nuthouse is a Mediterranean bakery. The finest cuisine in a block. read more

My sister and I were there on 1/31/20 at around noon. The food was fabulous and the wait staff very warm and friendly. However....my sister paid for lunch with credit card and tipped with cash. She noticed on her statement they charged her card an extra $12.30 for a tip. She called the restaurant and spoke with someone who said they were the manager and argued with my sister about the charge. The "manager" said they would reimburse the $12.30(we shall see) and that was only after my sister threatened to call the bank and file a complaint. This place has great food, a welcoming atmosphere,and plenty of business and I hope the owner of Al Bawadi Grill sees this review. Its a real shame his employees are ripping off the customers. I suggest you check to make sure the staff isn't charging your card more than you signed for. read more

Al Bawadi Grill - Mediterranean Near Me - Bridgeview, Illinois

I haven't been here in quite a few years and I still can't figure out why, this should be a regular stop for me, considering how much falafel I have been eating recently. And its only like 25 mins away from home. Every employee is beyond pleasant and attentive. So kind and welcoming. Genuine great people that make and serve EXCEPTIONAL middle eastern food. You get complimentary coffee once you sit down, I dont know if it's real coffee, or just strong tea. Regardless, it's served by a really kind older man that has a huge smile and awesome get-up. We got salmon kabobs, falafel, 2 kinds of rice, and muthawama. It was so excellent!! I highly recommend!! read more

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I come every year. Food is amazing same with the service. 10/10 overall looking forward to going again this year

Probably the best Middle Eastern food that I have ever had, from the food to the service to the ambiance, nothing really that you can complain about. The decor of this place will make you feel like you are in the desert eating with bedouins. So we ordered the meat platter which can serve up to 7 people. what it included was shawarma, kabobs, lamb chops, quial, and much more. the food was perfect, cooked to perfection, tender and with the right amount of spices. definately a fan of this place. read more

Al Bawadi Grill - Meat Platter - Mediterranean Near Me - Bridgeview, Illinois

Love their Areys. It's basically a pita quesadilla and it's delicious. Everything tastes so fresh. Will definitely be returning soon!

Excellent Food. Best Middle East Restaurant in area. Good size portions too. We typically order delivery and it is always good but dining room experience is even better. Nice decor and atmosphere. read more

Fantastic food and great service. We always make sure that we go to Albawadi when we are in Chicago.

We ordered $280 worth of food and received pickles and a baklava. No one answers the p hone. Messed up entire evening. To hell with these people read more

Huge portions. One entree is enough to serve 2 people with leftovers. Ordered 15-20 minutes ahead and the food was ready for pickup when I got there. I've tried the kufta kabab, meat schwerma, and chicken schwerma. Each entree comes with biryani and saffron rice, pita bread, salad, and pickled veggies. The chicken schwerma was my favorite. The beef schwerma is cooked with lamb fat so it's a bit too gamey for me. Would recommend this restaurant if you're in the area or like me, driving nearby on Hwy 55! read more

Al Bawadi Grill - Kufta kabab $15.99. Comes with pita and pickled veggies - Mediterranean Near Me - Bridgeview, Illinois

Went there for lunch the other day, the food was great, but the service was trash. The woman I'm assuming was the manager was very friendly, but the waitress, I'm pretty sure does not like white people. She went to every table other than mine, numerous times while I sat for 20 minutes after finishing eating waiting for her to come over with my check. read more

The food here is excellent, the food is authentic and tasty. The service is top notch and the wait time is reasonable for for fresh food. I love the ambiance, its as if you have stepped into a beautiful middle eastern haven... The lentil soup is great, wraps are addictive and the drinks are everything...a bit sweet but gooooood!!!! read more

This place is a gem in the Midwest! You'll feel like you traveled to a Mediterranean country soon as you walk in. Everything we ordered were delicious! From salads to entree and drinks. What an amazing culinary experience it was for our family, especially for our kids. Welcoming, friendly vibe and outstanding service. read more

Probably has the best Mediterranean food in the area. The place is extremely authentic, staff is awesome too. Thank you!!!!!!! read more

Such a bad food. Bad service and bad customer support and bad delivery time and no response from customer service

One of the best middle eastern spot in little Palestine! Great ambience and an authentic taste.

Yum. Walked in for a takeout order and it was ready within 15 minutes. The place was very busy and the food was delicious. Big portions that we had to save for a second meal. Would definitely recommend, even with the plethora of middle eastern restaurants in the area. read more

best place ever idc what anybody says best vibes best food best staff best dessert 100% recommend the wait is so worth it read more

Al Bawadi Grill - Mediterranean Near Me - Bridgeview, Illinois

Best Ramadan buffet (ever!) Ramadan month: reservation only Buffet starts at sundown Awesome customer service Great variety of food... read more

Al Bawadi Grill - Mediterranean Near Me - Bridgeview, Illinois

As it was our first visit, we ordered the dishes recommended by our waiter, who was one of the most professional and attentive I've ever experienced. We ordered the meat sampler platter and the seafood sampler platter. Each of the entrees was delicious and grilled to perfection. The lamb and sea bass were particularly flavorful. With this feast, we also had a big salad, hummus, fresh hot bread, and a plate of mixed pickles with zatar-sprinkled pita strips and an eggplant/tomato dip. We enjoyed a pot of mint tea, freshly prepared at our table. Realizing we would need boxes anyway, we finished with an order of the semolina kenafa, which was absolutely fabulous. This place is an EXPERIENCE. Go hungry, take your time, and savor it all. read more

Amazing food and atmosphere. Everything was fresh and delicious. Our server was extremely helpful if we had any questions and even gave recommendations when we asked will definitely be back! read more

This place is hit or miss. I loved this place when it opened. Great food. I am being generous by giving it this rating. We went there on a Saturday morning we ordered sharwarma and other things. The sharwarma had hummus on it. No one ordered hummus. The pita bread had a bite mark on it. The food was reused. I have tried it two years after that because someone bought and fed us. It made everyone sick. The best thing they have their is there kanafa it's very good. read more

Always come here for the atmosphere Ordered the mix grill, some of the meat was surprisingly cold.. i tried to flag down the server but he was running around and I couldn't catch him Other than that, I was definitely satisfied read more

Al Bawadi Grill - Mediterranean Near Me - Bridgeview, Illinois

Last year my father died and a friend got me a gift card to this restaurant so I had one less thing to worry about running around town taking care of things. I was not a fan of this place because the customer service sucked and the food is way overpriced and that was before the recession. Well, fast forward to today I tell my wife to call and just double check with Al-Bawadi Grill because I believe it was sold and wouldn't mind giving it a second chance. We have a bunch of family fly in from out of town for the holidays and figured it would be a nice dinner for everyone. My wife calls and the manager informs her they cannot accept the gift card because they use a "new system" now and it is "incompatible". And for that reason they cannot accept the gift card. I have never heard of such a ridiculous excuse in my life. Gift cards are never supposed to just expire or not accepted because the system was changed. I am pretty sure the previous owners pocketed the gift card money and sold the restaurant without mentioning it and the new owners don't want to lose $100 but instead will lose far more because I'll never come here again. This would have been a great way to regain a previous customer but instead my review will remind people to eat elsewhere. My suggestion would be Noon-o-kabab, Kabul kabob or Fatoosh. Anything but here. read more

French fries were so hot My kids couldn't eat it and the french fries were so weird The services were cooking really weird

My favorite Mediterranean restaurant. Food is quality and worth the cost. The ambiance is very relaxing but elegant.

Read the twice grateful. Oh good fish and lamb. Need more vegetables on the menu we're still grateful.

Walking in the ambiance took me to the Middle East immediately, as I was on vacation. The service made me feel extremely welcoming. The food was the best I ever had, our waiter was very helpful to guide us to new dishes. The food was so delicious & the dessert was out of this world!! I would eat there weekly, it's that good! read more

We tried this place yesterday after seeing it on a list of best restaurants outside of Chicago. To say we were happy is an understatement. This is some of the best middle eastern type food I have EVER had. Hands down, it was REALLY good. The ambience is on point and the service is really good. The servers are attentive , polite and prompt. They start you out with some pitas, pita chips and pickled vegetables, all of which were good. We ordered the Kafka kabobs and the chicken tiki kabobs. They were really good. The meat was moist and the serving size was solid. They each game with two kinds of rice, which was cool. We also ordered a pot of mint tea and my girlfriend said it was some of the best she's ever had. Overall, we were very happy and will be back!! Word to the wise, it does get crowded so plan accordingly. read more

Al Bawadi Grill - Mediterranean Near Me - Bridgeview, Illinois

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Had our besties winter birthday celebration here. It was fantastic. Food was great! Service was amazing. Michael was our server, very attentive, great sense of humor, had a great time. The whole staff was great. Thank you for a fantastic night! I will be back! read more