My first experience at Aria wasn't as great as I expected, but my second was a winner! While the platters may not have been a home run, the gyros at Aria are SO GOOD!!!!!!!! The gyro kabob came with fries and I got them extra crispy, and they were great! The hummus and pita also can't be skipped. I will definitely be returning for more gyros. read more

Very fresh and flavorful food. We started with complimentary pita and hummus and ordered chicken kabob plates. The service was attentive and they were sweet to our two toddlers. read more

Excellent food!! Run by the sweetest mom and pop. Highly recommend! Lots of food for a very reasonable price too. read more

Aria Mediterranean Cuisine - Chicken Kabab plate. - Mediterranean Near Me - Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

Aria serves up Mediterranean/Middle Eastern eats, and their menu includes sandwiches and wraps, entrees, side dishes, and desserts. We came here for an early dinner, and based on their website, they were supposed to open at 3 PM on a Saturday; however, the 'Open' sign wasn't turned on and the door was closed. When we finally walked in, there seems to be a sense of being overwhelmed and being confused from the staff; not sure if they have never hosted a larger party, or if they were debating whether to officially state that they were open for business? We did see a party of 3 already dining in, which was odd. We ordered: +a Salmon Kabob Sandwich - it's a pita sandwich with grilled chunks of marinated salmon +a Chicken Kabob Sandwich - it's a pita sandwich with chunks of marinated chicken +a Chicken Kabob entree - comes with basmati rice, a grilled tomato, tzatziki sauce, pita, and a choice of cucumber or a Greek salad; the 'Greek Salad' is actually tabouleh, so we opted for the cucumber salad; the tomato wasn't even grilled and was just half of a raw tomato; the chicken, while some overcooked, others were RAW (please see photos); rice was not flavorful at all +a Chicken Curry entree - comes with basmati rice, a grilled tomato, tzatziki sauce, pita, and a choice of cucumber or a Greek salad; the 'Greek Salad' is actually tabouleh, so we opted for the cucumber salad; the chicken curry had an off-putting odor to it; the chicken itself seemed to be white meat and shredded, but super overdry; sauce seemed similar to a chana masala that's heavily tomato-based We did let the staff know about the raw chicken, but it wasn't addressed. When you sit down, a pita basket with hummus is provided; the pita was very warm, and the hummus, while more on the bland side, was a good starter; I just wished someone was available to refill the pita and/or the dip. Service was a bit nonexistent, and it was hard trying to request correct order of drinks, extra silverware, plates, etc. Overall, this was just not a good experience. Metered street parking and lot is available. +RAW chicken served +nonexistent service +metered street parking available read more

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A tiny Mediterranean restaurant with amazing food. Such friendly staff and reasonable prices. I loved the hummus and we had a delicious meal outside on the terrace. read more

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Very good homestyle -- if not quite what you'd call authentic -- levantine cuisine, heavy on the middle eastern side of things (kebabs, felafel, hummus, cucumber salad, et alias) basically the same dishes two different ways -- wraps, or platters. The felafel was tasty but a bit dry for my taste, as was the rice. There's some strange outdoor seating (our table was angled because we were basically in a parking spot) and the available tables inside are pretty basic; the restaurant clearly caters to a heavily takeout-oriented crowd. We tried all the vegetarian stuff (salmon, felafel, veggie, and gobi) and it was good, not transportive, but exactly what you'd want for a middle eastern comfort platter. The owners were friendly, if a little busy when we went on a Friday night, and we did not wait more than the expected amount of time for our food. One suggestion for the owners: add bowls to the menu. It will give you a third way to package and sell the same entrees, and properly done can provide a middle level for somebody who's more hungry than a wrap and less hungry than a platter. Plus, the packaging is a lot easier. read more

Great deal for some healthy food options. It's become r go to!!! Friendly staff also. read more

Great food, even better kind and friendly service. I ordered the lamb and chicken gyro platter to go, with cucumber salad. I ended up getting a slice of baclava too, Soooo good. Everything was very tasty, and exceeded my expectations. I'll be back for sure. Do yourself a favor and stop by. read more

Review of Aria's Stall at Bryn Mawr Farmers Market: Wow this food is AMAZING! Vegetarian options include chickpeas and cauliflower, okra, falafel, tabbouleh, strange-but-magnificent corn dish, and samosas. For the carnivores, they serve lamb, chicken, and maybe seafood salad. The baklava is AMAZING, and only $7 for a piece that serves 4. You can order platters or purchase one-off containers (most containers are $7 each). Customer service is fun and friendly. They always remember their regular customers. Check out Aria Mediterranean at the Bryn Mawr Farmers Market on Saturdays from 9 AM to 1 PM...and arrive early if you want the full menu. Aria sells out -- popular demand! read more

One word- Fabulous! Picked up a platter at their Bryn Mawr Farmers market stand. Lamb patties, yellow rice, cauliflower/chick peas and okra. I've been looking a for a middle eastern restaurant Afghan or Persian . Not sure of the exact cuisine her but it is absolutely delicious. Reminds me of my friends Moms cooking - growing up in DC . I'm looking forward to going to the market again to get a platter. They also had pre-prepared cold containers of falafel, tabouule and other dishes to go. The restaurant people were so friendly. Please come back to the market. I will come to your restaurant too. read more

Aria Mediterranean Cuisine - Delicious lamb patties- platter. Sorry I ate it before I took the pic. Big portions! - Mediterranean Near Me - Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

Service is great, and the food is good (I would prefer more meat, but the food is tasty nonetheless. I avoid the lamb now because they've given lamb that's way too pink inside a few times. read more

i really enjoyed the food there I ordered lamb and chicken but the guy didn't want to charge me for the lamb I was very surprised :) but I left good tip for him and everyone was so kind read more

Unsure why the few mediocre reviews for Aria exist . I will attribute those reviews to the entitled and sometimes affluent nature of most of those who go to the college. Aria is just off the main drag and its next to the Co-op food store. If you are here looking for a downtown, 5 star (Stephen comes to mind) type of experience you've come to the wrong place. And Yea, they could improve the decor but then the price would go up ! You enter through an area that can be crowded because of the large takeout business they have. Once you are seated the food can't be beat and it is super cheap for not only Mediterranean but for this area- Swarthmore. Last night I was served pita and fresh hummus before my entree of Lamb curry which came with a side of Taboula. All for $9.99. There was enough to take home for a second meal . This is the 4th or 5th time I've been there and I can say the service is good, the food good and cheap . I've never had a bad meal here. read more

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Three entrees of delicious food prepared in 20 minutes. We had chicken curry, lamb kebab, and gyro platter. Everything was very good. The white sauce was especially tasty! read more

Food was great and service was above and beyond Don't miss stopping in here

What can I say about this place? Nice decor, three levels of tables, large windows with plenty of natural light. Every time I've been there, more than 20 times perhaps, I've been pleased with my meal. There's always new and interesting items on the menu and interesting cocktails as well. Don't worry about parking because there's a lot right down the street. Always pleasant and informative waitstaff as well. read more

We came to Aria when Bamboo Bistro didn't have space for us. The 4 adults and 6 kids in our group were seated in the front room at separate tables. The mirrored walls helped us to keep an eye on our kids. We got gyros and fries for the kids, splitting 4 between 6 kids. There was also hummus for them to enjoy as the food was cooked. We'd ordered potato pancakes as an appetizer for the kids, but they never came out. For the mains, I got the lamb curry with greek salad. I was unimpressed by both. The greek salad was ok, though the vegetables looked a little sad, and there was more celery than anything else. The lamb curry had clearly been reheated, as the center of the lamb bites were cold. The rice was overcooked, as it was some awkward combination of mushy and crumbly. When I ate what was left of my son's gyro, I did enjoy it, so I'd recommend you stick with that. 2019 Reviews #39 read more

Excellent customer service! Beyond excellent food! We made a special order to try a few different kabobs and they all will be ordered again. Flavorful, fresh, and more than enough for two people. Both the corn salad and cucumber salad that came on the side were also delicious by themselves. They're understaffed but that didn't hold them back from perfection! Will eagerly be ordering from them again in the very near future! read more

Aria Mediterranean Cuisine - Mixed kabob platter. Chicken, lamb, beef - Mediterranean Near Me - Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

The first time I came here for lunch take out, I wasn't impressed at all- the gyro was cold so was the eggplant. But then tonight we decided to give it a try again. So glad we chose to come here! I got the lamb curry and it was really tender and flavorful. The rice was well cooked as well. Portion size was so generous that the leftover would be enough for tomorrow's lunch box. My husband got lamb gyro and it was absolutely delicious. Did I mention the pita and hummus they served before the meal? Warm pita matching with garlic flavoured hummus is THE BEST! Keep up the good work and I'll definitely come back soon! read more

We had kabob, dolmas, baba ganoush, tabouleh and eggplant - all were excellent! Very fresh, clean (not overly salted, oily) and delicious. Thank you, so glad we stopped to meet you at the farmer's market! read more

I have been here three times now, and was hoping it would be a great alternative to Sahara Grill in the city. Unfortunately, that was not the case. As a college student looking for ways to get some good eats without taking SEPTA, I can't complain about its location. However, the only thing that I have had that was good was the hummus dip. Sandwich and platters are so-so, but what really brought this place down was the deli assortment. I've tried a few things, but truly nothing is more disgusting than super oily eggplant salad that makes you feel afraid to eat any more because of potential stomach issues. Also, their stuffed grape leaves are usually half-solid from being too cold. I am extremely disappointed in this, as the proprietor's market stall at the local farmer's market was one of the most popular and delicious. Then, it was worth the money; now, I see my money sadly thrown into the trash can. I can only hope this place improves with time. read more

Aria Mediterranean Cuisine - Photo by Jiuxing June Xie - Mediterranean Near Me - Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

TLDR: Mediocre food and messy kitchen. I hate to give what is clearly a small local institution a bad review, but it is warranted. To begin, Aria is a tiny hole in the wall. Normally, the more hole-in-the-wall an ethnic restaurant is, the better the food is. Not in the case of Aria. The food selection was the first warning. There was no particular regional specialization, with Central Asian mantu dumplings, Greek gyros, and Indian curry alongside Levantine staples such as hummus, falafel, and baba ghanoush. We got the mantu, the lamb curry, and the gyro. None of the food was made to order, all of it was preprepared and reheated. The mantu in particular were only warm, rather than hot. None of the food had very much depth of flavor, and the spices were basic. The pita seemed store-bought. The yogurt sauce (which seemed to serve simultaneously as raita and tzatziki) was clearly just store-bought yogurt mixed with some cucumber. Unimpressive, to say the least. Finally, the kitchen was messy, making me concerned regarding Aria's hygiene quality. Usually, restaurant hygiene is not one of my top concerns, but this worried me. Ethnic food doesn't have to be expensive or fancy. In fact, it's usually better the less expensive and more down-to-earth it is. However, it still needs to taste good and be prepared well. read more

Wow! Absolutely delicious! I had the vegetarian entree and I don't have a single complaint about the food or service! Above and beyond!

Loved our lunch outside after visiting the college. Meals were excellent and portions generous. We had lamb and gyros. Yellow basmati rice out of sight good as was a small bean salad. Owner and server team couldn't have been more friendly and helpful. We had a great visit and would definitely return! read more

The food is good!! Also good prices, relaxed environment, waitress was really nice and helpful with questions about the menu. Would recommend :) read more

This place is the best. Owner is awesome food is great check it out. Loved everything so far especially the gyro

A yummy place for a quick meal if you love the mediterranean way or Greek cuisine. Their quantity and quality both are amazing and most of all their hospitality is exceptionally cordial. Go for the chicken kabab platter as the chicken is super soft and also try Baba ganoush as it's super tasty read more

I just love this place for the people that work there and the good food!!! They always doing their very best

We were led here by other Yelp reviews, particularly Dee's, so thank you, Dee. With the slow-but-steady demise of our former go-to spot for moussaka (Minella's), we've been looking for a Mediterranean place that serves a good old moussaka. All the places nearby (in Malvern and Media) are too trendy to make the traditional casserole, so we've had to search a while. We were so glad to find it on Aria's menu! They did not disappoint. It was a traditional dish, but not traditionally made, at least not traditionally made for the predictable Americanized version you'd expect, and that was a nice surprise. (We wanted moussaka, but it did not have to be the same-old/same-old by any means.) They offer a lamb or veggie version, which is a nice touch, but probably expected in a town like Swarthmore. At first glance, I was scared it had curry in it because it was bright yellow on top. I don't know if that was egg or what, but my husband tasted and assured me no curry (yuk). The flavors were amazing. They had pepper in it, which I would never imagine could go in moussaka. The eggplant pieces were more chunky, but well-cooked and blended nicely with the lamb and (yellow) bechamel. Someone put a lot of thought into the seasonings and proportions of ingredients. It was very well made, and delicious. I did not get a big enough piece, that's my only complaint. We did not experience the large portions mentioned by others. My moussaka was about 3" square, and the majority of the big cavity in my takeout carton was occupied by white rice. The salad, too, was not in its own separate container like a side, it was a scoop of salad put in the little cavity of the carton, with pure tzatziki sauce filling the other little cavity. So I would say the portions are fair for the money, but not an amazing value. That all said, we did really enjoy and appreciate the flavors and attention to culinary detail going on in the food. The chef has talent for sure, and this will keep us going back. Location? We drove past it at first because apart from a neon "open" sign (which is generic to any business), there was no lit signage for this place, and the sign they do have is a small painted black and white one over the door (see my photo). We'd read they were near Co-op, which we're familiar with, as we are with Swarthmore in general, but arriving when it's dark out, with the one-way streets and all made it tough. They are right near Co-op, but across the one-way street, and, like Co-op, they are facing the library and that public triangle space where the teenagers gather to hang. We would say that the online presence of this restaurant is all chic and sleek, so it kind of leads you to believe the restaurant is the same. We have no issue with linoleum tile, florescent lights, and deli cases lining the wall by the register; in fact, we prefer non-bs places like that. But it's just a little contradictory how they present themselves online as more hip and trendy, vs the older, barebones appearance of the restaurant. Why not just be barebones online and show some photos of yourselves? If nothing else, it might prevent the snooty low Yelp reviews. All in all, a very solid choice for some very good food. If you need a trendy-chic place, go to the restaurant at the new "Inn At Swarthmore," and you'll get plenty of bs ambiance, and the bs-ers who go for that thing. If you want a place that prioritizes their food over the bs, then Aria is the place to go. ------------------------------ UPDATE 11/22/16 We tried to go back tonight (Tues, 8:30pm) but they had closed for the night. Yelp does not have correct hours posted for Aria. So please note the correct hours, from Aria's website: Monday & Tuesday 11 am - 8 pm Wednesday to Saturday 11 am - 9 pm read more

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This is the most remarkable Mediterranean food I've eaten since leaving the New York City area -- and that's high praise, indeed. Aria's food is fresh, artfully seasoned and cooked to perfection. Start with their Persian tea. It's brought to your table piping hot in tall mugs. It's a strong but not bitter spiced black tea expertly blended with cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and a touch of ginger. The brew is so pleasantly fragrant that you'll know it's on its way from all the way across the room. The hummus is as good as it gets -- slightly smoky, with a perfect texture and just enough garlic to make it interesting without becoming overpowering. The owner brought a basket of warm pita to our table along with a small clear glass dish filled to brimming with a black bean and olive hummus topped with a thin layer of savory, shimmering oil. There's just enough cumin in the hummus to be noticeable, and the combination of beans, ground olives and lemon creates a strong and remarkably complementary blend of savory, salty and slightly tart flavors in the mouth. Perfect. Aria's falafel sandwich is a delicious mix of crispy, delicately flavored fried chickpeas, hummus, tzatziki, tomatoes and lettuce wrapped in warm, crispy bread. The Tandoori chicken (yes, they have Tandoori chicken) blends just enough cayenne and turmeric and the meat is tender and moist. The overstuffed chicken kabob sandwich (highly affordable at around six dollars) is especially satisfying when served with a large dollop of their signature tzatzki sauce, which combines fresh yogurt with mint and just a hint of basil. Top off your meal with the most mouthwatering pumpkin and cinnamon bread pudding I've ever tasted and you have a perfect middle eastern meal in the heart of downtown Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. Oh, and the owners are as friendly as they are accommodating. The premises are small and tastefully simple, with a deli-like ambiance and no frills table service. But you're not here for the setting -- you're here for the dazzlingly delicious middle eastern cuisine, at affordable prices. read more

Another 'where the hell is this place' suburban locale that's not up to par. It was very hard to find this place first of all, and maybe it was better that I didn't. But anyway...this place is around Swarthmore College near the train stop on the overpass above chester road. It has a teeny sign that's not that obvious. I ordered take out and this place seems to do that best since it's kinda small inside and not that much seating. The huge food cabinet in front is filled with pre made food that looked divine, but then again looks are deceiving. I had a gyro sandwich which was blah to say the least. The meat didn't speak to me, and each bite just made me more bored with the whole thing. The tzatziki was just ok. I moved on to a couple falafel balls, which besides giving me my daily supply of fiber, didn't do much for me. Finally I shared a chicken thigh kabob, which I would actually say would have been good if it was freshly made, since I think it was sitting out too long and developed this leathery, hard to chew feel. I tried to like it but I couldn't, and to top it off service was annoying. I don't know if its just me but I hate teen servers, cashiers etc, who have no idea what the word service means. The young girl at the counter who checked me out, showed no etiquette when it comes to serving a customer. I guess gone are the days when people appreciated your business. I paid, she took my money and gave me my change and that was it. No thank you, have a nice day... nothing. Not for me! read more

Super flavorful and moist chicken kabob. Falafel had great flavor and texture. Samosas were perfectly seasoned and crunchy. Salads sides were plentiful and delicious. Great menu and value! read more

Take out place at best. The poor waitress was both cooking and serving and what resulted is some of the worst service I've ever had. Couldn't get water for over a half hour, parts of meal missing, food was ok. Nothing fantastic but not inedible. The table got lamb curry (not bad but no nearly as favorable as expected) fallafel salad that took forever to come out, salmon Kabob (she said it was pretty good) and A chicken Kabob sandwich all of which took about 50 minutes to come out. With other options I have for better medeteranian take out I don't think I'll ever come back here. read more

Got take out on a whim one night and was absolutely thrilled with my food. Gyro, chicken kabob platter, and hummus were fantastic and the three bean salad blew me away. The pumpkin bread pudding was the perfect end to a great meal. I definitely recommend this place and you will most likely order more food if you order pick up and see the food display case . read more

I think this place is a solid 2.5*. Hubby and I tried Aria tonight for a casual Friday, end of the work week dinner. Next to the dining room is the takeout case, where many of the salads and foods are displayed -- this was the first hint that dinner here is not made to order, but is cooked in advance and served to you in the dining room. That's fine, especially at these super-reasonable prices -- but just be aware that this is VERY casual restaurant. Pluses: the side tabbouleh and greek salads were fresh, generous, perfectly citrusy and authentic tasting. I love tabbouleh (tiny bulghar, curly parsley, scant tomatoes, scallions - lemon - yum!!!) and this was the best tabbouleh I've had outside Center City! A note about the greek salad that others have written about -- yes it's got celery instead of cucumbers, plus red onion, peppers, kalamata olives and lots of feta -- it's awesome. I didn't miss the cucumber. Another plus was the complimentary char grilled, fresh pita that came with a smoky mixed bean hummus, and the smoky baba ghanouj. The minuses: there was WAY to much salt in the hummus and baba ghanouj. I love well-seasoned food, but this was almost inedible for me. I did mention this to the owner (chef?) afterwards -- he said he didn't pre-taste these and may have mistakenly put double the salt (!) in the dishes. He apologized and asked me to hit him in the head next time if it's salty :). He was very sincere, and this made me want to give Aria another try next time. Hubby had the curried lamb stew and enjoyed it. I had the lamb moussaka and was disappointed that it was a square of heavy, pre-prepared casserole-like cut. It was also microwaved (tell-tale hot and cold spots). The bottom was a potato layer, the middle was potato and eggplant cubes, and the top was some thick bechamel like topping. This wasn't the moussaka I was hoping for. The portion size was very generous, however, and it came with a grilled red ripe (delicious) tomato half and plenty of long-grained basmati-ish rice. I love rice and was very happy with the rice. It was NOT rice-a-roni and had no pasta noodle things (as someone else here claimed). Dessert was a very large square of baklava, which I adore (when it's made the right way!). This was decent but sadly not as good as homemade. It lacked the hallmark honey, butter, lemon and cinnamon notes. Bottomline- stick with the basics here, ignore the decor or just do take-out, and you likely won't be disappointed. The salads and pita are the real deal. I'll be back to give the smoky baba another shot. read more

Aria Mediterranean Cuisine - Mediterranean Near Me - Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

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Delicious food-prices are reasonable. Cucumber salad-awesome tabouli-awesome their homemade humus is the best I've ever had If you like Middle Eastern food-give this place a try-you won't be disappointed. read more

My girlfriend and I saw all the positive reviews on here and we decided to give this place a shot. First off, everything looks dirty and very disorganized. We ordered the pita and hummus, which the bread was burned and the hummus itself very bland. We had to put a lot of salt just to get any flavor out of it. My girlfriend ordered the moussaka which also looked burnt, was bland and very mushy. I got the gyro wrap which wasn't bad but by no means anywhere near the best I've had. Nothing seemed fresh. My girlfriend's meal tasted microwaved and I'm not sure how recently mine was made. I really can't recommend this place to anyone. read more

Aria Mediterranean Cuisine - Mediterranean Near Me - Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

I ordered a chicken kabob sandwich with a side of fries, and the serving size was perfect for me. Food quality was pretty good, though I would have liked my food to be served a little hotter than it was. It was only a little warmer than room temperature. They weren't heavy on the spices at all; I wouldn't have minded a little more. I love how they gave two baskets for free pita and dip. It may just be one basket for those not in a group. The room in the back for larger groups was very dim and offered fans instead of air conditioning, which is found in the front room. Staff was very friendly. Might try it as take out next time. I also learned that after your meal, you're supposed to go to the register by the front to pay for your meal - they don't bring a check to you. read more

Mediterranean hospital food. I ordered the stuffed cabbage platter that comes with salad to go. the price was $11.50 or so. what I got: only one small stuffed cabbage, baby handful sized salad, and a big pile of microwaved rice. just wasn't good at all quality or quantity. especially for 11 bucks. will not ever go back. read more

My absolute favorite place to go around Swarthmore - delicious, quick, volume of food was even enough for my 6-something-foot brother. I'd post a photo of it with this review, but we've already eaten it! :) read more