We wanted to take our vegetarian friend out for some Mediterranean food and Alev was the perfect local spot. The owners are super friendly and accommodate most request with a smile. It's a BYO, so be sure to bring whatever adult beverage you like and they will serve it to you. The mixed appetizer platter had something for everyone. Their hummus is fresh and delicious. Also comes with babaghanoush (smoked eggplant w/tahini, garlic, lemon and olive oil), lebni (strained yogurt w/ walnuts, garlic and dill), & stuffed grape leaves. It comes with plenty of pita bread to spread or dip with. I absolutely loved the zucchini pancakes because they were not at all greasy! We also ordered the Turkish tea and coffee to enjoy there but were too full for dessert. They have something for everyone. Stop in and enjoy delicious food in a calm and peaceful setting. They also give you delightfully scented hand wipes before sending you back into the real world. read more

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It's a beautiful spot they show nice scenery on video . People enjoy authentic middle eastern , still learning the menu . The falafel is a little crispy for me but the rice has nice flavor , still need to explore more options. It's a family business and they work hard to keep it going. As a feminist I Can do less of the sweetness hun and sweetie talk from server but it must be the old school language that doesn't sit well with me . Yet I will be back ! read more

I was really in the mood for a gyro; really in the mood. On Friday afternoon 9/5/25 at 2pm I went in hungry, and I came out disappointed. Easy parking in an adjacent lot. Friendly staff. I was served water and warm pita wedges; ordered a gyro. Nice ambiance. First I was given an ample serving of a delicious shepherd salad, and I was psyched for my gyro. Served with a portion of warm pilaf (delicious) and a couple of limp lettuce leaves and a wedge of tomato, the gyro meat was mediocre, at best: obviously not freshly sliced, it was dry and tough. As usual, the tzatziki sauce served wasn't enough. Plus the lunch special I ordered was supposed to include a soda, and I chose iced tea instead (which I was charged for). All in all, quite disappointing. Forgettable. Not for me. Once is enough. read more

ALEV Mediterranean Grill - Dry Homemade Gyro Lunch (dry) - Mediterranean Near Me - Rockaway, New Jersey

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The food and service here was absolutely the best! Amazing platter with so much I had to take the rest to the house. The dining room was beautiful and the service was so friendly. I highly recommend this place and have suggested it my friends in the area. You wont go wrong with this jewel!! read more

ALEV Mediterranean Grill - The platter with an assortment of tasty treats brown rice. Freshly grilled and veggies fresh with an amazing sauce!! - Mediterranean Near Me - Rockaway, New Jersey

Great food. I was impressed by the quality of the food at this casual, suburban restaurant. The standouts were definitely the grilled meats. Everything item from the combo was juicy, tender, and flavorful. The rice was good. The portions were generous. If it came with a side salad or some grilled vegetables it would be nice. The hummus was not bad. The lentil salad was mild, but comforting. Service was very friendly. Recommended for a quality meal. read more

What a great experience eating at this restaurant. Some dear friends brought me over to have their famous lentil soup. Definitely didn't disappointed. So good. The consistency and favor was delicious. Then we order as appetizer the egg plant. And for main courses was the Chicken, Adana and iskender. Absolutely delicious and the quantities are very big too. The attendees were very helpful and sweet. A must place to come and you won't be disappointed. There is also tons of other dishes. read more

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I want to thank Gina, her husband and family for a wonderful meal. The food was delicious as always.

Stopped in for lunch special. Immediately met with a happy hello & a grateful smile. Delicious warm pita was served within 1 minute accompanied by a few delicious olives. My order was taken soon after; a large portion (certainly for a lunch special) of shepards salad was served first. Fresh & lightly seasoned . The chicken gyro was ample as was the wheat (I think) rice that was served. But the flavor was what really surprised me! It was absolutely wonderful! Spices used seemed like a family recipe as there was a slight kick but not aggressive. For under $20, including a soft drink, it was really very nice! Do not miss this establishment - it is a clear 5 stars! read more

The food here is always delicious and made with love. The shish kabab is so tender it melts in your mouth and the bulgar rice pairs perfectly. The bean salad, chicken, and lentil soup are also all very tasty. These are flavors and aromas that I grew up up eating from the Mediterranean and the food here takes me right back. read more

A couple of years ago, during Covid, we tried to stop here for lunch but they were closed. Now, 2 years later, we finally got back. This is a good Mediterranean restaurant with plenty of choices. The first thing that I really liked was the bread served on the table with olives. For appetizers, we ordered Lebni and Cigar Borek. The Lebni on pita bread was delicious! My wife really liked the other which was phyllo dough stuffed with feta cheese, and fried. For entrees, we ordered gyro dinners (chicken and lamb). The food was good, but I'd try something different next time. I topped my meal off with a Turkish coffee. The restaurant is much smaller than I thought it would be. Staff was very attentive and friendly. I'd suggest giving this place a try for a different type of dinner. read more

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I work in the area and was driving past this place during my lunch break. I was craving some gyro and rice so I decided to stop by. I live in an area with many mediterranean options, however I never tried one around here so I decided to give it a go! I saw that it was rated 4.7 on Google so I figured I'd try it! The food was delicious (Gyro Lunch Special with salad and ayran as my drink). The prices were very reasonable as always so it's no surprise that I'll definitely stop by again! Service is super friendly and the ambiance gives modern Ottoman vibes. read more

ALEV Mediterranean Grill - Homemade Gyro Lunch with Ayran - Mediterranean Near Me - Rockaway, New Jersey

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Food at ALEV is amazingly delicious and the portions are generally large. This was our experience: We had dinner around 6 pm on Christmas Eve. Right after we sat down, we were greeted with a smile and a courtesy plate of olives with some warm pita bread slices. The server also served us fresh house water. For appetizers, we started with a feta cheese salad with tomatoes and cucumbers and Cigar Borek. Cigar Borek are delicious hot rolls that are a must-have. (Careful, they come very hot!) Cigar Borek is one of the best appetizers we ever had from a Turkish restaurant. After the appetizers we had the ALEV Mixed Kebab platter as our main course, which had samples of all meats, and came white and yellow rice with some tomatoes and vegetables. The important aspect of this platter is 1. Although is around $50, 2. Two can share it and there will be enough to take home for a third. We took a lot of food home. The portions of ALEV Mixed Kebab platter are definitely larger than other restaurants of the type. For dessert we had a Kazan Dibi that tasted amazing. Kazan Dibi is a sweet custard like flan which is delicious. My wife had a green tea (Turkish tea). I had a Gazoz, a Turkish soda white in appearance and sweet, but not too sweet. I would point that it tastes better than regular soda. I really enjoyed this Turkish soda. I have eaten in the Best Mediterranean restaurants in New Jersey, and this place is on the very top. It deserves five stars on the food alone. Service was great because the server was very friendly, polite, informative, and gave us enough time to choose, explained all the plates when we were making a decision, and she was very helpful. She made sure no used plate was left at the table and new plates replaced the used ones once we were finished. There was a second server who was also very helpful. Overall, the service was five star and the place is very clean. Ambiance at ALEV is fantastic. First, there is a huge high definition flat screen TV with images of exotic and important landmarks of Turkey. You feel you are flying over Turkey and, if you are planning to travel to Turkey, the video is definitely encouraging because it shows how beautiful Turkish nature, castles, buildings, cities, and landmarks all are. Second, the music is so relaxing that you feel you are inside a spa. If you come from a hard day of work, you will be absolutely relaxed by the background music. Finally, the lighting combined with the background music and the images transports you to the Mediterranean atmosphere and makes the experience more interesting and intimate on all levels. The check comes in a beautiful box, but ALEV prices were worth every penny. ALEV is a precious gem hidden in Rockaway, New Jersey. I wish all foodies out there at least give it a try. They are also open for lunch and holidays. I definitely recommend this restaurant. read more

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If you want great Turkish food in a warm and cozy restaurant with great service then this is your place. Food is delicious! Wanted to eat out on a Friday night and came to yelp for ideas. I fell upon Alev Restaurant based on the reviews. Am I glad I did! I was greeted soon as I entered by the host and the owner, both were super nice. The inside is very warm and great ambiance. We order the humus and sigara borek both were great. But what we loved was the Kibbeh! Recommend by the waitress and I made sure to tell her great recommendation. For Dinner we had the Adana which was cooked to exact temperature I like and it was very moist with juices. Wife had the Iskender which is not on menu but have to ask for it, it's her favorite turkish dish and she loved it. read more

Always great food with the friendliest most personable service. It was early so it was quiet and not busy. The Lebne is a perfect starter with the softest warm pita. Had lunch service of kofta with bulger - came with a soup or salad, shepherd salad was great. Absolutely delicious. And a Turkish tea and baklava to go is never a bad thing for later. read more

Had dinner at ALEV and it was an wonderful experience. The food was delicious. I got the gyro plate. The complimentary bread and Pita with olives was warm and delicious as well. I cleaned my plate but may take a doggy bag next time. There is a big screen TV that displays stunning views of Turkey and makes you consider making travel plans for your next vacation spot. Prices are reasonable and Service was great. And if your looking for Halal food, this is the place. Looking forward to my next visit and trying some additional dishes on the menu. read more

ALEV Mediterranean Grill - Homemade Gyro (Doner) Platter - Mediterranean Near Me - Rockaway, New Jersey

1st time at Alev. We had to door dash it to try it. Perhaps that was a factor of my rating. I ordered homemade gyro with a Shepherd salad lunch special. The presentation was great! The Shepherds salad I was good. The homemade gyro meat was a bit dry but luckily I had yogurt sauce and hot sauce. The rice was delicious that was the best part for me! The marina bread tasted good and I mixed it in...yummmm. I have to give it another try but next time sit in the restaurant not take out. Give it try let me know your thoughts! Enjoy read more

ALEV Mediterranean Grill - Door dashed alev since I've been meaning to try this - Mediterranean Near Me - Rockaway, New Jersey

So hard to find a good Turkish restaurant in NW NJ. This place has excellent food in a very casual setting. Located on route 46, the exterior & interior of this place is nothing much but don't let that deter you! Although you may be hearing the phone ringing for the multitude of to go orders, you quickly forget about it one your food arrives! Pita/bread w/olives & oi are served. We tried the falafel w/hummus, garlic shrimp, cigars borek, & the shish. Everything was excellent - the steak on the shish was so tender & tasty! For dessert we enjoyed the baklava - fresh baked of course with Turkish coffee & tea. A very enjoyable experience & very reasonable priced! Definitely a place we will go back to! read more

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Here's the deal: great find on rte 46. Has tables for dine in and great take out / delivery options. People are friendly and helpful. Lunch specials are fantastic !! Great BYOB SPOT ! read more

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Simply said :The food is all delicious (love the bean salad,order it every time) ,the staff is friendly, efficient and helpful!

Food was great, service was excellent. It's a small place but big on flavor and delicious food. read more

Ambience: Cute! Not a lot of tables. Service: Amazing! The lady who took our order and served us was so nice Food: Very good! Zuchinni pancakes were the favorite. They were hot and crispy. Loved the falafel platter and the chicken Adana kebab was juicy. read more

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I was in the mood for Mediterranean food and found this spot. I called in my order of the tilapia lunch special with a very nice lady. When I arrived I parked in their lot. I walked in and was greeted. I paid about $15 and I left. When I got in I ate and the meal was very bland. The tilapia and the rice didn't have enough salt and seasoning. Wasn't a fan but had an ok experience. read more

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Great food and people! Recommend for awesome experience I loved the gyro platters we ordered! Will be back again. read more

Run, don't walk to get to this amazing restaurant! I was in town on business, and a colleague recommended this place for dinner. When I pulled into the parking lot, I was skeptical because it's not much to look at from the outside but decided to try it anyway. I'm so glad that I did! The food is absolutely amazing - very fresh and everything is made to order. The Hummus is to die for. Staff was super friendly, and everything came out in a timely manner. It's small inside and kind of like a hole in the wall hidden gem. This is the type of place Anthony Bourdain would have loved read more

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This is a find: A BYOB restaurant in Morris County with a warm welcome from an attentive staff, a great menu, delicious food, and and a relaxing atmosphere. As an aficionado of Turkish cuisine, I can attest to the quality of the preparations. The special salad was fresh and crisp. The babaganoush creamy and flavorful. The chicken platter mixed juicy kebabs, perfect chicken chops, crunchy chicken doner, and wonderfully spicy Adana. We had rice and bulgur on the side. No room for dessert, but we will return again and again. So glad to have a quality Turkish restaurant in the neighborhood. Next time, we will try the branzino -------------- So, here we are in the midst of the Covid-19 Crisis, and we picked up a wonderful dinner from Alev. The mixed chicken platter, shepherd's salad, and grilled vegetables were PERFECT. We are so glad you have remained open for take-out! Everything was fresh, perfectly made, and so delicious. We cannot wait to dine with you again, Tulin! read more

ALEV Mediterranean Grill - Mediterranean Near Me - Rockaway, New Jersey

This review is long overdue but I finally got to it. My mother-in-law had her 100 years birthday in January and we celebrated with family and friends at ALEV. It was the best decision we have made to have the celebration at this place. The service, the food, everything was top notch. Before I could even ask for something, it was already thought of and done. Everyone was impressed by the organization, the quality and plentifulness of food and the atmosphere. I cannot express my gratitude to the owners. I would highly recommend ALEV as a place to have your celebration. And we love to go there for regular meals as well. read more

Food was amazing, have been to Turkey many times and enjoyed the cuisine at this restaurant even more. The Grilled lamb chops are great along with the hummus plate and falafel. Service was excellent catering to our every need. Nice Turkish ambiance was provided read more

An absolute gem! The menu was left in our mailbox. On a whim, we decided to try this place. The food was amazing, and the folks there were warm and friendly. It is small, so call ahead to reserve your spot. T You won't be disappointed! read more

Great take out restaurant. The food is always concurrent and really tasty. I have never had an issue with my orders and the food is really flavorful. The girls at the counter there are all so sweet and nice to chat with. Cute place to dine in as well read more

The food was absolutely authentic and delicious. They were very attentive to us and I will be returning to enjoy another absolutely terrific meal with my wife again. read more

The food for take out was wonderful, portions sizes weren't bad either. Our order didn't have utensils other than that definitely worth coming back to again. read more

We got take out. Food was excellent. Chicken was tasty and juicy. Portions were plentiful. Will definitely go back.

Tried this restaurant last night. I wouldn't say it's exceptional. If you're in the area and this is the closest, go for it. A little pricey. I ordered the gyro, kibbeh, and baklava and all were tasty. Like I said, overpriced. I'd go to Paterson/Clifton and gotten more. read more

Incredibly delicious! Had Alev cater my Christmas Eve dinner, my family enjoyed every bite. Not only great food, but wonderful people. I am so happy to have Alev as part of my holiday celebration. read more

What a great meal and great experience! The hosts/owners of this little gem of a restaurant were so pleasant and delightful to talk with, especially as we recounted our experiences of traveling in Turkey. The food was delicious and so authentic! I capped off a lovely meal of Adana Kabob with a plate of some of the best baklava I've ever had (pistachio, sweet, but not overly sweet, so perfect) and rich, aromatic, Turkish coffee. I'll look forward to eating here again next time I'm in the area! read more

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Food was so so, had a traditional gyro to go and the meat was not the normal intense garlicky flavors I've come to expect. It didn't have the cucumber tzatziki either. Just what appeared to be a salad dressing. It was also not well priced, for 13$ You expect a bit more value. Finally the bill was 13.81 with tax, handed a 20 and got a 5 back and she kept the change . Didn't complain as I would have left as a tip but really?? read more

Nice food selection and the food was very tasty. Great service ... server was very nice and attentive. Mediterranean ambience was warm and enjoyable. read more

Stopped in on a Friday night around 7 and so glad we did. The staff is wonderful, the food is delicious and quite reasonable. We had the hummus appetizer which is way better then anything you can buy in a grocery store. We split the mixed kabab platter and it was so good and a lot of food for 2 people with leftovers . read more

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If you order a gyro on DoorDash, it's over $25. All you get is meat and either rice or fries. No lettuce, no tomato, no onions. Nothing. It's not a platter nor is it a sandwich. Just a small container of meat. For $25. We also got the Shephard salad. The description says it comes with tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, onions, parsley, herbs and the picture has feta cheese. All we got was tomatoes and cucumbers. This place is robbing their customers and when you call, they act confused. There's no way they don't know what they're doing. It's intentional and it's wrong. read more

ALEV Mediterranean Grill - Shepherd Salad - Mediterranean Near Me - Rockaway, New Jersey

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Very delicious Turkish food in the north jersey area! The quality of the chicken was really good, especially the chops. Wasn't crazy about the beef but overall my meal was quite good. Their appetizers were really tasty, including hummus, baba ghanoush, and ezme (really good with everything, it's like a tomato spread). The service was good and we were able to get a table with very short notice on a Saturday evening. I would definitely come back here! read more