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    Bavel

    4.4 (3k reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 11:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

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    Recommended Reviews - Bavel

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    Reviews With Photos

    The wine of the night...outstanding Cannonou from Sardinia
    Sidney S.

    To eat figs off the tree in the very early morning, when they have been barely touched by the sun, is one of the exquisite pleasures of the Mediterranean -- Elizabeth David, An Omelette and a Glass of Wine I wasn't a huge fan of Bestia so many years ago, but I love Mediterranean cuisine so was excited for a company team dinner at the sister restaurant Bavel. And boy did I love our group dinner here. Every course, every shared plate was absolutely outstanding with the highlights being the various breads, flatbreads, steak and lamb. I also loved the mushroom kabob and grilled octopus. The service was on point and the sommelier was extremely helpful with off menu wine choices including a Cannonau from Sardinia that was so good we bought (and drank) a second bottle. The restaurant is cool and lovely inside, the outside patio looked like a good space too. Valet parking is $13 but there is plenty of street parking too. Outstanding quintessential LA restaurant!!! Highly recommended!

    Fried Quail
    Haolun L.

    Thank god Bavel does not disappoint. I've been meaning to come back ever since I had that AMAZING duck at Bavel. I see why I love this place so much after watching the Odyssey too hahah the little lotus they served with the duck MUST be the lotus Charlize Theron has been feeding Matt Damon! That aside, this time we ordered the Fried Quail and the lamb manti. Both are just eye-opening delicious. It's fatty it's juicy and it's delicate. I do not want the food to run out, and it's much like the odyssey, hours later, I woke up to a different day and i still think about how insanely delicious they are! Different server this time, but still the and level of hospitality. Always checking in on us, bringing new utensils and recommending menus. It feels like we are the guests at a well run family dinner party. Loved the cocktails too. Nava and Semir are both excellent but maybe the former has a little too much ice. Loved their subtly. Definitely pricy, but I'd say it's on par with many of the Michelin starred place I've tried! Highly recommended for special occasions!

    Lamb neck
    Erin T.

    Overall an amazing experience. Our friends rave about this place all the time so I'm glad we got to try it Duck hummus - I love duck but I was worried this would taste too game-ey. It was actually very subtle and so creamy. Romano bean tempura - does it count as a vegetable if it's fried? Flavor was good, texture was surprisingly good. Also toddler approved! Grilled prawns - well cooked! I don't usually like Harissa but I didn't find it over powering. I HATE when shrimp is overcooked but this was just right. Chicken Tangine - this was probably my least favorite. It was tasty but it didn't have any of the complex flavor profiles the other dishes did Lamb Neck - hands down the best dish. So tender, well flavored, and I liked the accompaniments even more. I would've preferred the l pita come on the side vs soaked in sauce but I'm just grasping at straws at this point.

    Fazil A.

    This was probably one of the most memorable and enjoyable dining experiences of my entire life. Every single dish I tried was top-tier. MY favorite was the Hummus. The service here was excellent as expected. We had a last min walk-in reservation that they helped us secure quickly and easily. I love the table setups because the area that we sat in was sort of communal and were sitting close enough to others that we could all share the dining experience together. I will mention that of the 3 restaurants these 2 chefs own and operate, THIS one is my favorite in terms of the menu and ambiance.

    Cherry Tomato
    Stephanie K.

    Some meals deserve a novel - at least with this one, we're lucky to have a COOKBOOK. A husband-and-wife team has taken Middle Eastern fusion next-level on all fronts, centered in the ARTS DISTRICT - if you sit in the bar, you can eat under a waterfall of pathos & take suggestions from SAM & MULLIN. Food is best enjoyed family-style, but not if you don't want to share, as in my case. It's magical in the way only LA can be, beautiful because Genevieve is hands-on with artful touches (in atmosphere and PASTRIES), and 100% delicious for all senses. To begin, CHERRY TOMATO a BOMB @ss party in my mouth!!! One dish that's actually more delicious than it is beautiful (and it IS both) - silken feta, like yogurt without fermentation, underlies genuinely sweet cherry tomatoes and strawberries that are a bright, fruity POP next to roasted harissa & cilantro - cuts through like FIRECRACKERS with sesame crunch. It's MAGIC. Second, some FRIED QUAIL - THE MOST ELEGANT fried thing I've ever eaten, and I mean that in the BEST way. SO tender, moist quail in the crispiest, tastiest buttermilk semolina coating with XO (a little bit spicy, a lotta bit savory - not ashamed to say I licked the plate) and a sprinkling of ROSE petals. GET IT, SHARE IT, no more than 2 per plate (and you may want an encore...). THIRD, an otherworldly DUCK HUMMUS - SMOOTH like butter, SAVORY like 'NDUJA and slightly curried with fluffy HOT PITA fresh from the oven. I dare you to find better, please tell me if you do. A proverbial cherry-on-top (except this one is a...) PEACH TART! Perfect peaches fanned over a buttery crust that melts in the mouth - it's a marrying of barely-there crust and creamy center (underlying whip is barely sweet, like happy clouds). My greatest disappointment is not having friends to share my delight & order more - I have no doubts everything on the menu is equally exceptional, and CANNOT WAIT for the day we return together!

    Slow Roasted Lamb Neck Shawarma 5/5
    Yvonne Y.

    We went to Bavel for a special dinner and, overall, had a good experience, although it was definitely on the pricey side. I made an OpenTable reservation about 10-15 minutes before arriving, and I'm glad I did because there was already a short line when we got there. There's valet parking for $13 for smaller cars/SUVs and $20 for larger trucks, plus tip, so definitely factor that into the meal cost. Street parking looked pretty difficult, so we were happy to just hand over the keys and not worry about it. Even with a reservation, we waited about 10 minutes. The restaurant is beautiful, and as you walk toward the dining room, you can see the fire blazing in the background. Unfortunately, our table was close enough to the fire that one side of us was basically being slow-roasted. We asked to move, and the staff was incredibly nice and switched us to another table immediately. Food-wise, this was definitely a mixed bag. The 26 oz prime ribeye ($185) was the biggest disappointment. I know it's an expensive special-occasion dish, and I saw a Yelp review calling it 10/10, so we thought, why not? Sadly, it was probably the worst ribeye I've ever had. There was a lot of silver skin/tough connective tissue throughout the meat, and for $185, I just don't think it was worth it. 1/5 for me. The grilled prawns were my favorite dish of the night and were excellent. My husband loved the lamb neck shawarma ($61). It was a little too rich for me, but I can see why he liked it, and at $61, it actually felt like one of the better values of the meal. We also enjoyed the duck hummus. The hummus with two pieces of pita was $19, but that definitely wasn't enough for three people, so we ordered two more pieces for another $10. That brought us to $29 for hummus and four pieces of pita. Delicious? Yes. A bargain? Absolutely not. Even in California, that's a lot of pita math. We also tried the Samira cocktail ($18), which they said was their most popular drink. It was good, but not particularly memorable for that price. There's also a 4% "Healthy LA" charge, so that's something to keep in mind when looking at the menu prices. For three people, our total was about $375 before tip, or a little over $120 per person. That's actually more than we spent at Nobu, so yes, I think Bavel is overpriced. But was the food good overall? Also yes. I'm glad we tried it, and I'd probably come back for the grilled prawns and maybe the shawarma. But the $185 ribeye? That one can stay at Bavel.

    Slow Roasted Lamb Neck Shawarma
    Derek T.

    Yeah okay fine, I see what the fuss is about for Bavel. Good food, rich flavors, overly inflated prices. What's new in the higher end dining of LA? Bavel is a good restaurant where most things on the menu will be good. If you're with a group, then lucky you, you'll be able to sample all sorts of dishes. If not, then maybe I can try to help narrow it down. The oyster mushroom kebab is probably a must, you wouldn't even know it's oyster mushroom if you tasted it blindly, it's that good. I was a fan of the grilled prawns as well, but I'll say their baba ganoush and hummus dishes are definitely richer in flavor than other places I've tried. The rack of lamb was good but I'm not sure it's worth the price it's set at. Anyway, most things are yummy just be ready to drop a pretty penny. Valet parking is available or street parking if you're feeling lucky. And plan to make a reservation cause it's crowded any day of the week.

    Khoda
    James J.

    My wife and I met up with some friends at Bavel for our first visit, and I can say it did not disappoint! The place was busy, lively, and full of energy. Thankfully, we had a reservation, so our wait wasn't long. Once inside, the restaurant was buzzing and packed with people, but even with the crowd, the service flowed smoothly. The waitstaff was on point throughout the evening. The beauty of dining with a group of four is that you can order a bunch of different dishes and share the experience. And that's exactly what we did! For cocktails, we went with the Nebuchadnezzar, Semira, and the Khoda. Then came the food: * Hummus Duck 'Nduja * Chicken Liver Pâté * Fried Quail * Farm Cheese with Buckwheat Toast * Oyster Mushroom Kebab * Slow-Roasted Lamb Neck Shawarma * Wagyu Beef Cheek Tagine For dessert, we finished things off with the Fresh Peach Tart. Everything came out timely, fresh, and cooked to perfection. There were a lot of great dishes on the table, but the standout star of the night was the Slow-Roasted Lamb Neck Shawarma. Tender, flavorful, and absolutely delicious! Overall, Bavel was a great first experience. Good food, great energy, solid service, and the perfect spot for sharing a meal with friends.

    26oz Margaret River Ribeye
    Valentine D.

    Overall great experience at Bavel! Was not able to find street parking therefore used their Valet service - $13 for service. Our waitress was very attentive and made recommendations since it was our first time there. We ordered the Baba ghanoush where it came with small 4 pita pockets. We also shared butter lettuce salad which was very refreshing. The prawns were delicious- probably our favorite because of the Tzatziki. For our main entree: we shared the monti which was crispy on the outside and the sauce melted in our mouth. Lastly we ordered the ribeye- which was perfection! Highly recommend if you're in the LA area to try!

    Grilled Dorade, Slow Roasted Lamb Neck Shawarma
    Fion L.

    If I could only recommend one restaurant in LA, hands down, it would be Bavel. It's technically the sister restaurant to Bestia, but in my opinion, it's even better. What we ordered- We always start with the duck hummus and chicken liver, rich, flavorful, and pairs perfectly with their fluffy pita. The lamb neck shawarma is a non-negotiable, falls right off the bone, juicy, and comes with the perfect accompaniments. We also got the grilled dorade and oyster mushrooms, both are consistently excellent. This time we swapped our usual shrimp for the crudo and peach salad, and honestly, both were amazing. Still team shrimp overall, but it just goes to show you really can't go wrong with anything on this menu. Service is always attentive and the ambiance is upscale with lots of natural lights and greenery. Parking - There is valet parking and a pay to park lot across the street by Girl and the Goat. While there is street parking in the area, I've noticed a lot of smashed glass from break ins. (I've also had my car broken into before by the pottery studio ... they stole my pink picnic blanket)

    Ethan P.

    Great date spot in one of the hidden corners of the art district! Highly recommend you make a reservation since it was jam packed. Parking is relatively easy if you do street parking near urth cafe. Service and decor was fantastic and I enjoyed the lamp neck, octopus and naan bread the most

    Slow Roasted Lamb Neck Shawarma
    Chloe H.

    Had a chance to finally try Bavel this past weekend and am still thinking about it! First off, the restaurant is beautiful. We sat outside which was nice but the interior of the restaurant is really the star of the show. The hostess who checked us in did not make eye contact with us which I didn't love, but the other hostess who walked us to our table and our waiter were great. For cocktails, we tried the Yara and Semira. Both were amazing and complex in their own way. Our waiter gave us a run down of the menu. He recommended we order between 4-6 dishes, focusing mainly on the appetizers and ordering just one entree. I think that was a fair recommendation because 4 dishes left us feeling full and satisfied. The Grilled Prawns were incredible. Slightly spicy but flavorful, cooked to perfection, and beautifully complemented by the tzatziki. The Roasted Asparagus was another showstopper. The burnt apple & almond puree had such a unique flavor and I honestly could have licked the plate clean. The Oyster Mushroom Kabob was good but just okay. The avocado puree it came with just fell a little flat for me. The highlight of our meal was definitely the Slow Roasted Lamb Neck Shawarma. A hefty piece of lamb neck beautifully seasoned and cooked in a way that almost reminded me of brisket, served on a piece of laffa with a side of green ajika, tahini, and pickled vegetables. It's hard to put into words just how good this dish was. The lamb was beautifully tender and I loved sandwiching it with the laffa and eating it with the different condiments. It was also a generous portion for two people. Now why 4 stars instead of 5? Honestly I think for a restaurant of this caliber, I expect GREAT service from start to finish. Also, I acknowledge the higher price point but I think for some of the dishes it just wasn't justified. But all in all, I really enjoyed Bavel and would highly recommend trying it at least once.

    Grilled Octopus
    Christine D.

    Middle Eastern restaurant in downtown LA. I didn't realize this was the sister restaurant of Bestia. Overall, I enjoyed every dish we got. I would consider reordering everything we got. Definitely on our list of restaurants to visit again when we're in the area. Ordered: - Hummus Duck 'Nduja - First off, we need to take a moment for the blistered pita. That stuff was soooooo yummy might be my favorite pita I ever consumed. Hummus was also good, nice balance of flavors that complimented each other well. - Grilled Octopus - Had a good amount of chew and wasn't too chewy. Dill flavor was a bit on the strong side but I don't mind it. - Potato Flatbread - Very light and also good. - Slow Roast Lamb Neck Shawarma - Soooo tender fell off the bone so nicely. My favorite dishes were the lamb neck shawarma and the blistered pita. Family style restaurant. We were recommended to order 2 spreads, 3 appetizers, and 1 entree for 3 people. We ended up doing 1 spread, 2 appetizers, and 1 entree and I'm very happy with our decision. We were soooo full after our meal. I think if we did the 2 spread and 3 appetizers as recommend we wouldn't be able to eat the entree at all. Seems like a really popular celebration restaurant (saw many graduations). We did make a reservation and I would recommend doing that. All tables were filled when we were there, not sure how the walk in situation is. Music is a bit loud inside the restaurant but I don't think it was as bad as Bestia. The outside patio was good though in my opinion. I didn't feel like i was yelling across the table to talk on the patio.

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    Page 2 of 77

    Bavel Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Bavel

    Do you accept walk in or reservations only?

    Walk in fine, but make a reservation or there is a wait.

    What is vegan on the menu without modification? (please only answer if you know - i heard some things have hidden fish sauce if you don't ask)

    So many of their items are considered vegan, but you must must call ahead and ask what does not have fish sauce. They are not hiding it, they don't claim the item is vegan. And ask to speak to a manager.

    How easy (or not easy) is nearby street parking on weekday nights?

    Parking is really tough in the area, even on weekdays. I would look into valet parking or one of the nearby lots.

    Can you walk in and eat at the bar pretty quickly at 5pm?

    No way. Maybe if it's dead

    Apple pay possible?

    I think so: they process your payment at the table and most of those doohickeys accept card tap.

    Are there kosher menu options?

    No, didn't see any

    What is the "dress code"?

    Pants with an expandable waist! :)). (Because the food is good, you will have a hard time stopping)

    Can advance reservations be made for party of 6 aside from using OpenTable? Looking at Sat, 8/20. Thanks, Zeke

    Delayed response... answering in case others are looking to book a group reservation. Yes, OpenTable… 

    Is the pate seasonal? If so, when is it expected to come back? I don't see it on the menu.

    The chicken liver pâté is on the menu now!

    Can you dine at the bar?

    Yes. This restaurant is die for!!! I live in OC and it is worth the travel, traffics and everything in between

    Is ut kid friendly?

    Not especially.

    Trying to make a reservation, and Open Table is asking for a credit card to confirm, but doesn't say how much will be charged to my card. Does anyone know the reservation fee?

    No reservation fee. Just need your card to hold the reservation. Your card will be charged if you DONT show up to your reservation.

    Is meat kosher here?

    No do you read the reviews?

    Is this place kid friendly?

    It is zero friendly for loud children, or messy children. It is also long dining and slow service… 

    Are you asking for vaccination proof to dine in or for patio area?

    Yes, they are asking for vaccination proof. Showing digital proof on your phone works fine.

    How crowded is the setup inside - is it spaced out for Covid precautions (in the past month)?

    It's pretty full inside. If you get a table it can be a bit more spaced out then the bar area.

    Best Parking where?

    They have valet, but it's not too hard to find curbside parking within a block or two.

    Is it better than Bestia?

    Supposing you liked Italian and Middle Eastern cuisine equally, giving the slight edge to Bavel for highlights like their prawns, the lamb neck shawarma, and the stand out cocktail program. Check out my review.

    Walk in available around 5pm?

    I don't think so. Just make sure and make reservation.

    View All 51 Questions

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    Berenjak - House Rice, Kabobs, sibzamini, mast o musir

    Berenjak

    4.1(248 reviews)
    0.7 miDowntown
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    My wife and I came to Berenjak on a Friday night and absolutely loved it. Honestly, I couldn't have…read moreasked for a better place to spend the evening. I was born and raised in Iran and I'm Armenian, so I grew up with this food and culture. I see some reviews complaining that the portions are smaller and the prices are higher than a traditional Persian restaurant, but I honestly don't understand that comparison. Berenjak is clearly trying to offer something different. This is a modern, elevated Persian dining experience. You're not just paying for a huge plate of rice and kebab. You're paying for great food, beautiful presentation, service, atmosphere, culture, and the overall experience. People go to Michelin-starred restaurants all the time, pay two or three times as much for much smaller portions, and nobody questions it because they understand the concept of fine dining. Persian food deserves to be appreciated in that same way. And honestly, I didn't even find Berenjak that expensive for what you're getting. It was worth every dollar. The food was amazing, the portions were completely reasonable, the presentation was beautiful, and the ambiance made the whole night. I actually love seeing the food and culture I grew up around presented in such a beautiful and elevated way. Places like this deserve more credit. We enjoyed it so much that we literally made another reservation on our way out. 5 stars from us. We'll definitely be back.

    Food - A+ Location - C…read moreAmbience -A + Service - A+ Probably one of the best quality and most expensive Persian restaurants around but the food is delicious, fresh and quality. A must go. Loved that Niloufar the manager came by each table to say hi.

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    Inside dining and bar area

    Berenjak - Tikkeh Masti Kabab and Chenjeh Kabab

    Tikkeh Masti Kabab and Chenjeh Kabab

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    Open Sesame - Chicken Tawook plate. So good!

    Open Sesame

    4.2(1.1k reviews)
    7.3 miFairfax
    $$

    We just got home from dinner here and my wife and I loved it. The food was absolutely top notch. We…read morestarted with the potatoes in garlic sauce and an order of the haroumi and watermelon. What a great kick off! As for our mains, we both ordered a variation of the combo plates. I had the chicken tawook and beef. The Mrs. had the chicken and lamb. All good. Based on the food alone, we would recommend this place to anyone with a beating heart and more importantly, a mouth. This is quality food at a quality price. The atmosphere? Really great. It's a little dark and twinkly inside which sets a nice tone. There is cool artwork adorning every piece of wall, the place is very easy on the eyes...including the restrooms. Very clean. Our sever, didn't catch his name, but what a nice dude. Was super helpful without being "too much" he should teach a server class. He's pretty much who you want taking care of your table. He knew the menu well and made great suggestions. It was actually refreshing. We will come back, most likely with the family. Our waiter told us that they can accommodate larger groups which is great. I recently ate food at Saffy's and I didn't enjoy it one bit. The servings there are too small, too pretentious and too overpriced. Open Sesame is the exact opposite and that's why it rules. A wonderful experience in Beverly Boulevard.

    How Do I Start This Rationally ? Atmosphere Is A 5/5. Service Is 5/5. Food was 2.5/5. I Will…read moreExplain. If You A Charging $145 For A Group Platter, Then Everything Must Me PERFECT ! The Chicken Shawarma Was Inedible Because Is Was Obviously Dry And Lying Around For The Next Customer. The Beef Was Good. The Beef Shawarma Was AMAZING ! Probably The Best Thing. On The Menu. Tabouli Was Great. $260 With Tip Divided By Three Is Too Expensive For My First Experience Here. I Told The Manager That They Shouldn't Have Served The Chicken Shawarma If It Was Dry. Anyways.

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    Open Sesame - Dining room

    Dining room

    Open Sesame - Chicken Tawook

    Chicken Tawook

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    Carousel Restaurant Hollywood - Weekly Rotating Homemade Cooked Meals

    Carousel Restaurant Hollywood

    4.4(1k reviews)
    5.7 miEast Hollywood
    $$$
    Gift cards

    Carousel is hands down the best Mediterranean spot. I've been coming here for years and it never…read moredisappoints. Their arayes are a must -- it's basically like a lahmajun with two pieces pressed together, and it's insanely good. I usually go all in and order the tabbouleh, babaganoush, a pound of lula kebab, and shish kebab. Honestly, if you're with 2+ people (or even just really hungry), ordering by the pound with sides is way better value than getting individual plates. You get more variety and it just feels like the right way to eat here. Every now and then I'll switch it up and get the liver plate -- it comes with tons of greens and onions, and when you wrap everything in their fresh pita, it's incredible. Not an everyday order, but when you're in the mood for it, it hits. If you dine in, the indoor decor is super nice and really gives that authentic Mediterranean vibe. They also play a lot of 90s music, which somehow fits perfectly and adds to the whole experience. I've dined in plenty of times and the service is always solid -- staff is friendly and attentive. Just a heads up, food can take a little longer sometimes, but that's because they're always busy and everything is made fresh, so it's worth the wait. I've also done takeout here more times than I can count -- probably over 100 orders at this point -- which says everything. This is easily one of my go-to spots and I keep coming back for a reason.

    I've been enjoying this restaurant for many years and always like to pop in occasionally for an…read moreitem or two. While I usually enjoy the chicken sandwich toasted, today I decided to try the chicken Shawarma plate. It came with a nice side of hummus, garlic spread, tahini, and a few other tidbits to layer your flavors. The people here are always very friendly, although they did miss one of the items on my over the phone order, even though when they read it back to me all my items were there... I really like the carnival vibe on the exterior of the building and you will be surprised that the interior of the restaurant is nicer than you would expect. The location is a little out of the way and the parking lot always seems too full, but this is a great place to check out if you've never been here, highly recommend the chicken wrap sandwich, make sure you get it toasted!

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    Carousel Restaurant Hollywood - Our Weekly Rotating Homemade Cooked Meals are back.

    Our Weekly Rotating Homemade Cooked Meals are back.

    Carousel Restaurant Hollywood - Weekly Rotating Homemade Cooked Meals

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    Dune - Meze Plate with Grilled Chicken and Falafel

    Dune

    4.4(1.2k reviews)
    5.5 miAtwater Village
    $$

    We had the steak and fries, chicken plate and steak sandwich. You only sit outside so on a not too…read morecold day this was perfect. The flavors were amazing. Love the hummus that comes with the plate and the fresh salad and rice. It was delicious. Only small complaint: I wish the meat portion would be more generous. It was a little for the price you're paying. The fries were also spot on. We found a new go to Mediterranean food spot. Would definitely come again. It was not too hard for us to find Street parking on a Friday night.

    Made the drive from Studio City to Dune for Dine LA lunch. It was 98 degrees outside and although…read morethere was no traffic midday, parking in Atwater is always a challenge. I hunted a bit before tracking down a spot and paying the meter. I have not been to Dune before, but the value of the lunch special along with the promise of a fried chicken shawarma, coupled with unexpected free time, sounded like a promising moment to stop by. Walked up to the window and after no acknowledgement, I peaked inside the door and asked whether I place an order at the counter or wait to be seated. When I tell you the jarring elder Gen Z stare and incredibly unfriendly direction to sit on the bench and wait my turn (in the literal sense that I was told to sit on the bench and wait my turn. There was only a party of 2 seated at the bench and no line to speak of) made me regret coming out to eat entirely. I'm not lying when I say I thought about leaving immediately and driving home in my air conditioned car instead of sitting on a hot bench in nearly 100 degree weather with no acknowledgement of party size, no offer for a drink or water while I wait, and just existing in my bizarre humiliation ritual for having asked what the procedure is here for any kind of recognition of my interest in dining or simply existing. And yes, after sitting down I saw there is a small low contrast sign on a post stating to sit on the bench and wait, but it is positioned parallel to the counter window and only when turning away from the glass toward the seating area was it placed in a way that I would see it. Not very useful for someone who is walking up or down the sidewalk as it's not visible. I held my breath for about 10 minutes before being asked my party size (one) and seated at a shaded table. I regretted my choice to dine out the entire wait time for the table, while ordering and then being required to pay upfront before my meal was even presented to me, while seated awaiting my order, while my food (loaded fries, fried chicken shawarma, date shake and an added unsweetened iced green mint tea) was dumped at once on the table in front of me, while eating feeling humiliated for existing inside human skin, and again when having to walk to the window and ask for a to-go box. I felt like a massive inconvenience for the staff and fully regretted bothering them every step of the way for normal things like a Dine LA menu which was not initially offered, adding an iced tea to my order, existing in a metal folding chair and generally taking up space. I don't like being treated like a turd by people, and certainly don't want to be treated this way when I'm paying for a service. But after the initial flubbed interactions, demanding payment with tip upfront before receiving any kind of service was rendered, and then dumping my food at the table without ceremony, it's truly no wonder why the LA restaurant scene is dying. Between poorly trained staff, rising costs in rent and utilities, the outrageous cost of staffing and the fact that eating at a restaurant is completely unnecessary when cutting household expenses, restaurants are disappearing left and right. Some of the foods I still dream about are lost forever to closure after closure. Customers being treated like they're inconsequential isn't the only reason people like me usually choose to dine at home, and it's not the only reason restaurants are disappearing. But it's one of the only controllable elements in a world of runaway hospitality expenses. Customers deserve even a modicum of respect if restaurants are going to survive. $48 for the meal including tax and tip. More than enough food for lunch, I took home half. Loaded steak fries / wish they were served with a whipped feta or dipping sauce instead of ketchup but they're good. Generous portion of steak. 9/10 Fried chicken shawarma / fun idea, execution made it difficult to pick up to eat. Serving in a metal basket made it impossible to cut in half since there was not a solid surface to cut against. Flavor is yummy, wish those middle eastern flavors were more prominent in the batter but the chicken is extra crispy. Enjoyable. 8/10 Date shake / luxurious, creamy, flavorful. No notes. 10/10 Unsweetened green mint iced tea / overpriced, underdelivered. I'd skip it unless you're parched. 5/10 **written without the assistance of AI**

    Photos
    Dune - Outside / ordering window

    Outside / ordering window

    Dune - Pickled Beets Sandwich 8/10 delicious

    Pickled Beets Sandwich 8/10 delicious

    Dune - Mint iced tea

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    Mint iced tea

    Bavel - mideastern - Updated September 2026

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