Delicious food, beautiful setting, attentive and friendly waitress (Anastasia). Authentic flavors…read moreand warm atmosphere -- highly recommended!

Ela Mesa delivered one of the more memorable meals I've had recently, anchored by what might be the…read morebest spanakopita I've tasted outside of Greece itself. The layers were perfectly flaky, the filling rich and well-seasoned -- it genuinely transported me. High bar cleared. I also ordered the kotopoulo kebab, and while the chicken itself was solid and the rice unremarkable, the green beans that came alongside were a quiet revelation -- tender, deeply flavored, the kind of side dish that steals the show. Don't skip them. The menu has enough variety that I left already plotting my return visit to work through more of it. If the rest of the dishes hit anywhere near the spanakopita's level, Ela Mesa is going to become a regular stop.

Amazing! Amazing! Amazing! Everything was made fresh so it…read morewas about 15-minute wait but that's ok, I took the opportunity to look around the market. I picked up a few things. We got a medium Falafel sandwich and a Shawarma sandwich. Wow. Delicious. I actually may have liked the Falafel just slightly better but both were excellent. I also got an extra garlic sauce on the side... just love. Until next time.

I feel like I found a favorite near us. It's not one of those places where I would travel to, but…read moreif you're relatively close to Urbana, it's worth a stop. It's a small mart that specializes in middle eastern Mediterranean cuisine and ingredients. They place does not have seating inside, but plenty of seating outside. So plan on either take out or picnicking. They make the food right as you order so things are fresh. The part I really liked about this place was that the sauces were not overly salted - to increase shelf life - and the amount of oil/butter was not overly used to try to mask the ingredients. It's more on the "let the ingredients speak for itself" which I really dig. In the end, you don't feel heavy after the meal and you feel like you had a hearty and healthy meal. My favorite was the lamb shawarma. He toasts the outside pita and it gives it a nice crunch. The lamb is fresher than other places and he doesn't over season it to hide the lamb smell. Other places - if you notice - tends to use cumin a lot of mask the lamb smell. Not here though. The falafel sandwich was okay. It was colder than the lamb shawarma. But the falafels were made right there in front of you. I got the sujuk sandwich too (which is a type of sausage). It was a breakfast burrito basically. Our order took 20 mins to make and he makes it right when you order. So be prepared to stay there and peruse around. Some ingredients there were interesting. The one thing that caught my eye was a bottle of pomegranate molasses. He sells it close to 50% what Harris Teeter would charge and he has various brands of pomegranate molasses. I use pomegranate molasses to make grenadine for cocktails. Also has orange blossom and rose water (also both used for cocktails) I like this place and the guy is nice and sweet.

Excellent Mediterranean food. My husband is on a Mediterranean diet ever since he went to the GI…read moredoctor to get checked out, so this is all we could go eat out together. Delicious and mouth watering bites made me want to hug the staff!

Fresh ingredients, great flavors, big portions, and friendly service makes this a favorite take out…read morespot for my husband and I. Something we can always agree on when we can't decide what to eat. It's conveniently located right off of Shady Grove Rd & Gaither Rd and it's quick, easy, and nutritious! We usually order the supreme wraps that come with a thinner-than-tortilla bread on the outside, a heap of your choice of protein, and then the toppings are piled on. I get the supreme chicken as it comes with onions added. I ask for spicy garlic inside the wrap and harissa and s'hug on the side. They press the wrap under a large hot press and pack it up. The seasoned fries are really good too. Super crispy! I think if you order the regular shawarma, you get fries inside. I highly recommend this place and hope it's here to stay!

Brunch is the bomb!! So much yummy food and so many choices. Came here with our hot pilates…read morecrew for a birthday celebration and for a good time was had by everyone. Our server was also so very attentive. She knew every single item on the menu and made some really on point recommendations. For me, the standpoint was the 25 cent mimosas and the lamb eggs Benedict. The waffles with walnuts were also delish. I had so much food that I was able to bring every single dish that I had home to enjoy the next day.

My wife and I had such a wonderful experience at Cava Mezze for Valentine's Day. Everyone was so…read morefriendly, and I enjoyed the wood-like feel/vibe, making it cozy on a cold and windy day. We had a reservation, just in case for any craziness, but it seems like anytime right before 12 looked like a good time to go. The whole staff was friendly and very quick to assist with anything that we needed. We ordered the Brunch Mania each and I got the Nutella Banana Fritters, Smoked Salmon Toast, and Spicy Lamb Benedict. Each dish was full portioned, which was great, so that you got your money's worth (other Cava Mezze's I've been to before had tapas style, but it has been a long time since that time). Each dish was delicious, and luckily I was able to try some other dishes that my wife ordered, which were wonderful. Don't sleep on those hush puppies, I wish I could've gotten more. We also ordered mimosas, which were 25 cents each (if you get the brunch mania), all of which were strong and worth it.

Honestly, this was my jam and I miss this location. Perfect after work spot to catch up on emails…read moreand enjoy a healthy/filling meal. They also had comfortable, spacious and even cushioned seating. I was shocked and sad to see the location closed. Rio/Crown rent is probably high and it's disappointing to see a good fast casual like this go... What's next? Chipotle?

Business is closed! Seems the incredibly underwhelming service and food at least partially…read morecommitted to its demise.

On our way home Sasuns popped up on my timeline here on Yelp so I was curious as I thought I knew…read moreALL the middle eastern spots. So I was excited to swing by a new place. The gentleman (perhaps the owner) promptly took our orders. My son and husband got the chicken shawarma and fries and enjoyed that. I got hummus, rice and this most incredible cheese canoe with feta I believe? This thing is DELICIOUS. Reasonable prices with fresh food, is a win for Sasun's

Parking is in the back which is convenient and the seating is great! The owner was the one who…read morehelped us pick our meals! The sandwich wraps were so good and we got some traditional items- authentic taste and food- highly recommend if you want to try a new cuisine or need a quick bite! We were the only ones there and sat inside, it was relatively clean- but the outdoor patio seemed to be where it's at! It is located in a busy intersection so I don't know how it would go for having conversations. And the music inside was a tad bit too loud, but it was bearable. I think I would either do pick up or sit outside next time we go! Also- get their baklava - it's made to perfection

Had a wonderful dinner with my wife last night at Melina. Everything was absolutely top-touch from…read morethe excellent server who was so warm and took his time to explain the menu to us to the delicious mezze. We ordered a cocktail each and then had the daily bread/olives offering along the Melina salad, lamb kebab, and mousaka. Each dish was so flavorful and beautifully prepared. Highly, highly recommend this location. We're definitely planning to return.

Great upscale Greek restaurant in the Bethesda area. Food was very light and olive heavy. Bread…read morewas excellent. Drinks were stiff and hearty. Would skip the Sauce Blanc wine offered, didn't go with the meal. Make sure to get the cheesecake at the end of the meal. It was quite large but unlike a steakhouse cheesecake it was light and airy. Good dessert to split between 3 or 4 people! Service was prompt and consistent soon as we entered. Restaurant was moderately busy for a Monday evening. Lots of couples on dates and some business groups. Will be back for a nice dinner if in the area!

Great service and really enjoyed the lunch salad. We enjoyed the Greek with grilled chicken salad!…read more Made a reservation on Resy and it was quite easy to check in. Indoor and outdoor seating. Beautiful interior restaurant. The portion was very reasonable and delicious.

I'll never not appreciate Julii!!! Located in this super cute standalone in Pike & Rose, it mixes…read moreFrench and Mediterranean cuisine! I usually grab takeout but am happy that my friend and me were able to dine in. Tip: reservations are highly suggested as the restaurant does fill up. I can't remember the name of the cocktails that we ordered, but they were both super cute and refreshing! For starters, we ordered Brussels sprouts, which were crispy and super flavorful. I ordered the Julii burger (medium well) and my friend ordered the steak frites. We shared our dishes, which was smart of us. The burger is always a 10/10 and the steak was good too! Our server was also very pleasant and helped us with our drink choices. The place was clean and the ambiance was perfect for a Tuesday evening meal.

Excellent customer service. Muhammad was sweet recommended great food. Portions is a great size…read more Everything was surprisingly delicious. Greek Salad Keftedes (Meatballs) Spanakopita (Spinach Pie) is what I ordered. But the flat bread was the star of the show.

Vasili's Kitchen has some of the best tzatziki I have ever tried! Creamy, filled with flavors of…read morecucumber and other spices, delicious. Nothing on their menu disappoints from gyros to full dinner meals with lamb, and other magnificent choices you will not be at a loss on what to order. The service was amazing, prompt, polite and friendly. We sat for over 2 hours talking and eating and were never pressured to wrap it up...lol Inside is filled with light, several windows allow you to watch people walking. Outside has quaint tables, candles at night which really build on the ambiance.

Wow, Oh Mama Grill sure has gotten an upgrade! Beautiful tiles, love the black-and-white, crisp,…read moreclean look, and new booths -- though I didn't try sitting in one yet, didn't think to as I was on a mission to get to all the Israeli restaurants around for and on Israel Independence Day, ha ha! (And yes! I succeeded!) The benches are a light, bright-looking wood. There are also regular tables for those who prefer that .... It's amazing how much spacious seating is packed into this little place! I wish the outside reflected the new, light beauty but I guess the treasure is only to be found by those who venture in .... As an Israeli-in-America, I appreciate the selection of Israeli drinks in the cooler, and of course the national snack of falafel! Some say they don't put fries in the pitas -- well, yeah! That's true! If you don't ask, you don't receive! I ask! I receive! I do sometimes find the sandwiches to be kind of messy, so I try to sometimes get less various salads and pickles and such so it's not completely overflowing -- because this place is GENEROUS! Of course, if you're not used to kosher food, you'll probably not understand that it does cost more because for one thing (out of many!), there has to always be an 'extra' person called a mashgiach (supervisor in Hebrew) who oversees everything to make sure it's all, well, kosher! Kosher meat is more expensive, too. And yeah, meat doesn't come with dairy! So that is not available. I heard someone asking if they had a cheeseburger and had to work to not crack up about it! I LOVE the grilled eggplant bits you can get put in -- they're special, not in the regular line up, right there at the end -- because not only do they add so much flavour and texture with so little bulk, but eggplant is one of those things I usually cannot eat because it hurts my oh-so-sensitive tongue, but this place makes it per-fect-ly, mmm ... ! So delicious! I enjoy both purple and green cabbage and carrots, but I don't like the flavour of the onions. That makes me sad, because I LOVE onions, but these ones have something on them that I don't like (looks like it's sumac -- which is ironic, because that's something that I normally love and use all the time!) and I end up picking out when I sometimes forget or get hopeful and just get them again anyway .... Actually, the onions are one of the few condiments here I do not like! The pickled beets are great -- and of course, great for your liver! They are cleansing, nutritious, and boost your Russian-ness, to boot! Or your Russian Jewishness, anyway .... I know that eating them makes my grandmother proud! The benefits of eating here are not and are also not like ones you can attain in just any regular restaurant, and it's here for people who want this kind of thing. It literally is a cornerstone, being on the corner and providing the things certain of us need -- Israeliness, Jewishness, kosherness, etc. It's too bad it suffers from bad reviews by people who don't understand or care. By the way, the work that goes into making all these salad items fresh every day is, let's just say, a LOT! I almost always get the falafel -- I used to get a platter, but it was too much for a meal so I switched back to the classic pita version and that's a perfect amount for me for a meal, plus I feel it's better for the environment because it comes packaged minimally in a little parchment paper rather than a recyclable aluminum plate with a non-recyclable aluminum-and-paper top. Truth be told, I could have trouble finishing writing this review because thinking of Oh Mama Grills' falafel is making me so hungry! I am really getting in the mood for some right now! Other things I eat from here regularly (and have for years): Israeli salad Moroccan (vegetarian) cigars Rice Other things I know are great by way of seeing the delight on my eating partner's face while consuming: Okay, I so I don't remember, but various meat things! Chicken, I think .... Things I don't love from Oh Mama Grill: Bean soup -- didn't have enough flavour for me .... Sabich. I dunno. Just didn't love it! It's hard to top falafel, in my opinion -- well, this falafel from this place, that is -- so I don't feel the need to explore the menu very much .... There aren't a whole lot of places (if any!) that offer such a variety of salads, pickles, and sauces! As an absolute pickle-lover who finds pickles and not just that but a variety of pickles a MUST for my diet, this place has it going on like no other! Update! Tried sitting on a bench at a booth! It's pretty hard, not super-comfortable, but doable -- however, a harder seat is better for your posture and health long-term! The falafel pita with toppings aplenty is so delicious, I am craving one right now ... and, in case you've ever tried some of the marinated types of vegetables here and found them too sour, I did too! Now, that is fixed. They are no longer so sour, and are therefore much more eminently edible! My eating partner agrees.

Since being sent into the office in Rockville I have driven past Oh Mama Grill every morning and…read moreafternoon and have thought about stopping for a visit. Well the day finally came when hubs was picking me up & we had time to kill before our evening plans. I had mentioned this place several times while driving past it & we decided to make a stop. It's basically a take out place with some fast food restaurant style booths. You place your order, you pay, and you wait for ur food to be prepped. Unfortunately this was a let down. His burger was sad, looked like someone had worked out their aggression on it. Seriously, I've never seen any burger & bun that flattened. It was my mistake, I was excited because of the description (it contained lamb) but wasn't anywhere close to the Greek burger we get in VA, I'm not sure it was even up the fast food level, although it was definitely in competition for flatness. My dish was composed a lot of very dry meat. I'm no longer considering a stop as I drive.