Wow wow wow! The food! The presentation! The ambiance (gentle lighting, semi formal, but cozy)! The service! I was beyond impressed. The food exceeded my expectations entirely. This place was quiet at 5:30 on a Sat night. At 6pm a party of 4 came in and at 6:30 a party of 2 came in. I don't know how this place was not PACKED because this food is INCREDIBLE! Truly. This gem is hidden away in a plaza right off of the highway. The chef is also the waiter, and likely the owner. You can tell he takes pride is his food and knows exactly what he is doing in the kitchen. Although we don't eat meat, both the lamb and chicken specials sounded delicious and I am sure they are! Do yourself a favor and have an incredible meal here. This guy deserves to have a line out of the door! read more

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I can see why the place was empty on a Monday evening when I arrived. The server who apparently is the cook as well was pretty slow and not very attentive despite the fact that I was the only one there, likely for the last few hours. Before I left, there was a couple who came in who he badgered loudly when they asked him for suggestions. He's definitely not a people person. He does a better job being in the back of the house as the food was grilled well. I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and tried something different that I wouldn't normally gravitate towards. Lamb is not my favorite but I ordered it anyway despite coming in for the salad. I also had the lime and mint drink. Pretty expensive for a small glass and no refills. The food wasn't worth the price and the service was poor. I literally had to go to the back to ask him for extra napkins which he eventually took from an adjacent empty table. Did I mention the place was empty for most the of the time I was there? I also had to get up and go to the back to ask for more water and finally for the check. He was busy washing dishes the last time. Glad I tried something different but next time I do it won't be at cafe 28. read more

Cafe 28 - Grilled Medley Dinner - Mediterranean Near Me - Ocean Township, New Jersey

My husband and I stopped in to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We had visited once before and we're very impressed with the food and enjoyed meeting the owner and chef. This time we tried the fava dish, lentil salad, rice pudding, sausage appetizer and falafel. Surprised and delighted with how light and crispy the falafel was! We learned Egyptian falafel is made with fava beans and not chickpeas. The sausage appetizer came with a very flavorful tomato sauce for dipping homemade pita bread. Hummus was also very creamy and delicious. The evening was rainy and cold so we were the only customers making it feel very cozy. The owner and chef was accommodating and shared memories of growing up in Egypt. We enjoyed our time very much. Food is a step above typical Mediterranean. ​ p.s. updated review to add pictures from our first visit. We fell in love with the mint tea, lentil salad, French fries, and pita wraps with tahini dressing. read more

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Hidden gem that deserves far more recognition . Everything is excellent, and I consider this one of my all-time favorite restaurants. Definitely my favorite restaurant in Monmouth County. Try the iced tea, hummus, falafel, and Sautéed Shrimp entree. I cannot speak highly enough about the quality of care the owner puts into his food, and how blown away I am every time by his expertise. read more

We went for lunch today and ordered a couple of pita sandwiches and a salad. Everything was fresh and delicious and we enjoyed the music, lighting, and service. I have not had better hummus, baba ganoush, falafel, beet salad, grilled eggplant, or chicken kabobs anywhere else. Treat yourself to a healthy, delicious Meditteranean meal! Plenty of parking and convenient to Route 35 in Ocean Township. read more

Don't you just love it when you discover a place off the beaten path that turns into a great experience and all of a sudden you've found a new favorite place? That's what happened to me and my wife this week when we searched for a restaurant for lunch near my doctor appt in Shrewsbury. Cafe 28 has next level Mediterranean food, a gracious and talented chef/owner, who also provides excellent service, and a homey, comfortable ambiance that instantly relaxes you. Just a great vibe! We ordered the lentil salad and fries to share, and each of us got a schwarma sandwich. My wife got chicken and I got beef. Now I've had all of these dishes at other restaurants but as I wrote earlier these were next level because of the freshness of the ingredients, the seasoning on the meats, the brightness, tanginess of the dressing on the salad and the sauce in the schwarma sandwiches. Even the fries were spiced deliciously and came with homemade ketchup. The fries are shoestring which I love. So if you're not a fan of shoestring fries take note although I can't imagine someone not liking the taste of the fries dipped in that ketchup. Prices are more than reasonable. The chef/owner is originally from Egypt but has worked in restaurants all over the world. He told us the story of a regular customer who comes from Brooklyn and asked him to open a restaurant in Brooklyn and they would be an investor. He turned them down, preferring instead to focus on this hidden gem in Ocean Township. For lunch he was chef and service person so we had to be patient for our food but it was well worth the wait. I don't know if that's the case for dinner but we plan to find our soon! read more

Cafe 28 - Beef schwarma sandwich in the foreground. Fries in the back. - Mediterranean Near Me - Ocean Township, New Jersey

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Went with another couple on a Friday night. None of us had been there. The owner greeted us warmly & that started a wonderful evening, our food was excellent & we were not rushed, had plenty of time to catch up with our friends. It's BYOB. We DEFINITELY will be back. Such good food! read more

Don't be in a rush here. They have a good selection of Mediterranean food. I rate the food B to B- There's a small dining room. The place was clean but the air vents needed cleaning. I was hoping for better. read more

Mediterranean food in a comfortable setting. Located in a small strip mall, the restaurant offers many vegetarian options. Nothing stood out as outstanding, but the variety of dishes and vegetarian options made for a pleasant meal. The service was attentive, perhaps because there were very diners on the off-season weekday when we visited. One word of warning: the hot mint tea served at the end of the meal seemed to be caffeinated tea with a mint leaf. read more

Cafe 28 - Exterior - Mediterranean Near Me - Ocean Township, New Jersey

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This was my first time stopping by, and I think it will be my last. I'm not sure if he was the owner or a waiter, but a tall man wearing glasses had a terrible attitude; he seemed agitated while speaking to me. When I asked for the bill, he didn't even provide an official receipt, instead charging $27 for a dish with very little rice, very little chicken, and exactly four pieces of zucchini. If the owner wants to improve, I hope he stops employing people like that. read more

Place was DEAD empty and took us a good 30 minutes to get a tunafish wrap and a grilled chicken wrap.

We dined at Cafe 28 with another couple on a recent Friday night. None of us had been there before. The owner greeted us & from there on in the experience just got better & better. Our food was SO delicious (4 different entrees & 2 appetizers) and the service was perfect. We were not rushed so had time to catch up with our friends over a delicious meal. It's BYOB as is our preference when dining out. I highly recommend this restaurant & will definitely be going back! read more

Cozy, warm and intimate place. The staff was very friendly and very attentive. Delicious food with fresh ingredients.

Never going back here. From the moment we called him to ask if he's open, the experience was bad. The owner answered the phone with a whole attitude, acting like we were bothering him just by calling. That should've been our first red flag. When we got there, we ordered our first thing and it was cold, and the meat wasn't even warm. Then it took forever for him to prepare just two wraps, and when they finally came, they were honestly disgusting and the meat stank. I almost never hate on food, but this was just really bad. And as if that wasn't enough, when it came time to pay, he had the nerve to ask, "Why no tip?" even though the food and service were both horrible. When we said we didn't enjoy it, he started arguing, saying, "If the food was bad, why is the plate finished?" We only ate it because we didn't want to waste the $50 we paid .Overall, a terrible experience from start to finish. Save your money and go literally anywhere else. read more

The food was delicious. Portions were large. The place was well kept. Overall the experience was good.

This place is a gem. I stopped in with my family when we were traveling through NJ, and I honestly wish this was closer to where I actually live. The menu seems to have EVERYTHING, and usually places with a large menu aren't able to deliver on quality, but the 4 of us ordered a good amount of food, and everything was great. It can also be a bit tricky for us to agree on a restaurant--I'm vegan, and we have someone on a low-carb diet and a pescatarian--but here we found plenty of options for all of us. It's also a BYOB, which I always like. The Lime Sumac salad dressing and the za'atar for the manakish were delicious. Everything with eggplant was excellent. I had the Koshari Famous vegan dish (lentils and chickpeas in tomato sauce are some of my favorite things) and we also ordered the beef moussaka, seafood medley and sea bass, plus a number of hot appetizers, and there was not a single disappointing dish. Dessert and the specially spiced coffee are also very much worth trying, and the owner is really nice. I will definitely look for an opportunity to return when I'm next in the area. read more

Stopped in by chance while at a wedding in the area. Food and service were fantastic. Lamb shank was among the best 'I've had, as was the Molokhia. Middle Eastern desserts were also outstanding. If ever back this way, we will definitely come back. read more

Amazing hidden gem. The food is phenomenal every time and the chefs passion truly comes through in the food which is delectable. I always order the hummus to start, it's always creamy and delicious. The koshari is my favorite entree, and the sauce really makes it shine. I always save room for dessert-- bread pudding and baked rice pudding are both incredible. The rose water they make in house on the weekends is a beautiful touch. The owner is the chef and often server, he is so passionate about his food and he would be proud, best restaurant around. read more

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Amazing and unique flavors that I have tasted at other middle eastern places. Every dish had a spin on it that made it different from the run of the mill recipe. The kabobs had a unique marinade that permeated throughout with a complex tangy flavor. I would go back for the appetizers alone. read more

Cafe 28 - Chicken Kabob - Mediterranean Near Me - Ocean Township, New Jersey

The best food I've had in a while! The owner is a superhero with all that he does in his restaurant and an amazing cook! You have to try the foul moudammas appetizer! read more

I recently had lunch at Cafe 28 and it was a wonderful experience all around. The Chef/Owner is very nice and is a top rate chef (and was also our server). We had the Cafe 28 platter that came with generous portions of the creamiest most delicious hummus and babaganoush, which came with a basket of pita bread, moist and tender white meat chicken that was perfectly grilled, a falafel patty that melted in my mouth, thin sliced grilled or pan roasted marinated eggplant with a delicate tzatziki sauce, and a lightly dressed salad. Everything was seasoned to perfection using the finest spices and fresh herbs like dill and parsley. We also enjoyed the beet salad and the chicken salad wrap (served on lavash). The weather was perfect so we sat outside. I highly recommend this cafe if you enjoy fresh and delicious Mediterranean cuisine read more

Let me preface this by saying I went at an odd hour so maybe thats why I didnt absolutely love the food. I had the chicken schwarma wrap and kanafeh, both a go to favorite of mine. The chicken didnt taste like the usual spices of schwarma and more like plain grilled chicken. The wrap had a nice mint added to it that I liked alot. The kanafeh was my leaat favorite so far. If im going to be 100% honest with you. Tasted a lot like granola. Wasnt a huge fan I wanted to love it the guy was very polite the service was good read more

This is a joke of a place. I have no idea how these reviews are real. Truly one of the worst experiences I have had at a restaurant. The service is horrible. Food is sub par. There needs to be a 0 star option. I wouldn't even be writing this review if the gentleman didn't harsh my husband when he asked about the 2-3% credit card transaction fee because nothing was stated on the bill about it or menu. We would have given cash if we even knew... The gentleman came at it as this is so normalized and "everyone does it." Which isn't true but that's a different topic. I then questioned on why did he add a 20% tip automatically/ default on the bill for 4 people without letting customers know. There is no where that this is stated. Also he justified saying that "this is normal." The way the gentleman spoke is absolutely horrible and can see him then come out with other bills he has gotten saying "others do it"... WHAT. I am shocked. Literally yesterday I was at a Michelin star restaurant in NY and had such a pleasurable time and PAID THE SAME AMOUNT EATING THERE AND HERE. Please save yourself and go literally anywhere else. On top of that the gentleman was racist and saying "I don't know where you are from, but this is the case here." Sir, we are from here... I am traumatized by this experience. This is not only just about day time "legal"robbery of what he is doing but how he treats people. It was a question that could have just been answered politely but he was argumentative and angry. Just be upfront with this ... that way customers can decide if they even want to come into the establishment. read more

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food was absolutely delicious, his presentation was great and I can't explain how good the food was, he was the sweetest guy was so happy to show off his food. it's a 1 man army he a great guy please show love to this guy and his great food! read more

Fresh and deliciously prepared Middle Eastern food! We absolutely love the Foul Madamas (fava bean dip), the humus dip as well as the Moussaka's (both), the Fattoush salad, Sujuk (lamb sausages) and Baby Lamb Chops which we order with just some salt, pepper and lemon juice for flavoring! It's the only really good Middle Eastern food place in the area that we have been too! read more

We've been dining at this local gem for many years and have enjoyed delicious meals each time. Starting with a warm and relaxing atmosphere, we settle into varied and interesting appetizers, generous entrees and the best Middle Eastern desserts. Great for vegans or meat eaters, there's something fresh and beautifully prepared for everyone. A neighborhood gem! read more

I love this place! Been many times & always have a great meal. Owner is very welcoming and passionate about the food he serves his guests! My go tos are the Chicken Shawarma or course & medames platter but I really haven't had anything that was great. Fresh, good quality food! I also tried the baked Riz Bel Haleeb today yummmmm! read more

Cafe 28 - Baked Riz bel haleeb - Mediterranean Near Me - Ocean Township, New Jersey

Looking for something affordable and healthy in the Long Branch area during a recent trip East. This looked good and so ... let's go! Very empty when we got there (Tuesday at 6). And it stayed empty. But not because of the food - that was tres yum. Greeted by the chef/owner (I guess), who wasn't the cheeriest of souls. Brought us a menu and disappeared. Then came back to take our orders and that was the last we saw of him. But the young waiter who took over was pleasant and helpful. Ordered Makdous (tiny eggplants stuffed with walnut, drizzled with olive oil) (you get two but by the time I took the pic one had ... disappeared). What else? Lubia (black eyed peas in tomato sauce), Mujadara (best I've ever had) and Lentil Salad (I think). All dishes were fresh and well prepared. Clean taste and nice interplay of flavors. Would certainly return if I'm again in the area. read more

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What great food and a spotless place by an innovative chef/owner who takes total pride in all he does even as to the restaurant decor. You must try this restaurant. It is small and it only has 13/14 tables. I came in for lunch and ordered the following: apricot juice, and Fattoush Salad. This was probably the best Mediterranean food I've had in a long time. My dessert was Turkish coffee straight up, excellent. Again, A MUST. Update 11/27/17 This time I did takeout cuz I was pressed for time. I ordered the Baba Ghanoush: what smooth consistency of the sesame butter and eggplant. I'm a fan. I also ordered the Fattoush Salad. read more

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An early evening dinner found a wonderful cozy restaurant with exceptional staff and some of the most flavorful food you'd imagine. The menu is diverse and more middle eastern than Mediterranean. I really had difficulty choosing my meal but settled on the goulash which is nothing like what you'd expect if you've had European goulash. Flavorful but a bit scant meat within filo pastry with grilled and cold marinated vegetables make this a flavor explosion. I purchased a beet salad for later and was not disappointed with the fennel adding an aromatic and flavor. Perhaps a tad pricey but the quality is worth it. read more

Cafe 28 - Beet salad - Mediterranean Near Me - Ocean Township, New Jersey

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Please read the 1 star review below before you come here. Let me address the food first Food: The food was OK. I don't understand how this spot has so many 5 star cause the food was just OK. Nothing more. I ordered the beef kofta which was extremely salty. the price was egregious! The proportion was unacceptable for the price. I didn't even get one full serving You will leave hungry and unsatisfied from this place. This place is not very welcoming. For example when we came in, the whole place was empty and my mom wanted us sit in the middle table but the owner rudly said no and made us sit at a corner table. The ambience is pretty depressing. The restaurant is connected with a deli store. So the owner runs them both at the same time. He was our server and chef and the deli clerk Reading the horror story below really put us on the edge here. And I reccomend you take that into consideration before coming here. Just from an economic standpoint, the value was terrible. I won't be coming back for sure. Update on this review. The owner messagede at 2 am. Screenshot below! read more

Cafe 28 - Message from the owner. - Mediterranean Near Me - Ocean Township, New Jersey

Café 28 is a quaint eatery in Cobblestone Village. Our party of four came in to eat for lunch around noon and the restaurant was empty at the time. We ordered the falafel platter, two chicken cairo sandwiches, and two chicken over rice platters. It's a family run business and the service is very friendly and attentive. The walls are crowded with decorations and they also started to play Middle Eastern music when we walked in--a little gimmicky but not terribly so. The falafel and hummus platter ($12) came with four falafels, a side of hummus, and a small salad. The falafel was really moist and had a lot of sesame seeds on it. It was still very crispy on the outside and flavorful. I had the Chicken Cairo ($10) sandwich and really enjoyed it. Chicken and eggplant are two of my favorite foods, and this sandwich was satisfying. The eggplant taste was pretty subtle in the sandwich though (since the slice of eggplant was a little small). Shish Tawook ($11) was tender and cooked well. For the most part, I was very happy with my meal at Café 28. I would return again and would recommend the place. Two caveats though: the food takes awhile to come out and the portions are on the smaller side. Be prepared to wait awhile for your food and make sure to order enough to compensate for the portions. read more

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There are very few restaurants that serve authentic Egyptian cuisine. This is one of the most delicious Mediterranean cuisines and most Americans are missing out. Would highly recommend for service, and again authentic Egyptian ambience with Om Kalthoum (Egypt's national treasure also dubbed "The Lady") singing continuously in the background. read more

Fabulous array of food. We loved everything. Fresh and authentic I'm Armenian and appreciate the foods I grew up eating. Thanks. We WILL be back. Lots of takeout orders were being picked up. Popular place. read more

The BEST Mediterranean place I have ever dined! A fine dining feel for a causal quick lunch, and individualized customer service from the owner & chef . read more

What a hidden gem. We couldn't believe the place wasn't packed. The food was absolutely amazing. Everyone one of us thoroughly enjoyed our dish! Highly recommend. read more

Don't judge a book by its cover - is the adage for Cafe 28. My expectations as we arrived and walked inside were low...the decor was warm, not wonderful...a lot of yellow...a bit dim'ish...but the cleanliness was good during Covid...those dining were spaced well...and our table of 5 wasn't sat until a couple vacated - about a 10 minute wait even with reservation. Once we sat - the owner immediately opened the bottles of wine we brought and asked who would like red and white glasses. Nice touch for a BYOB. The menu was loaded with our table's favorites. The owner of Cafe 28 is very proud of each selection. We ordered three appetizers and were provided one complimentary selection by the owner. It was then that I realized - this man is the ONLY person working. He's the chef, the waiter, the one who clears your plates and sets you with new utensils for your next course. I asked him about this and he answered "it's the way I've run my restaurants for 12 years." And he followed up with "if you're expecting a fast meal...run in, run out...this is not for you." I knew right then that this meal would either be very special or a crash and burn night. Fortunately Cafe 28 was full of great surprises. The appetizers were wonderful - the right balance of herbs, spices and textures. The entrees were equally as balanced and delicious - nothing was over cooked. These flavors are not "salty" as some reviews state. The flavors are not for someone who looks for Applebee's or their favorite run of the mill Italian as their night out. The plates of Cafe 28 are filled with complex aromas and spices. Desserts - we ordered all three - shared among 5 people - the riced pudding topped with crushed pistachios was a highlight for me - others at the table preferred the baklava. True Turkish coffee with seven spices is an owners original and it's utterly fantastic. We correctly guessed four of them - the owner laughed as we tried to guess the others. He said he would never share his secret recipe. Even the table water is infused with rose oil - which may put off some - but that's the attention here - to heighten the senses. Cafe 28 is a place where you have to show your respect for food. And respect for the individual operating this wonderful gem - because it's like no other in the area. My advice - make a reservation, bring some wine or your favorite beer, order a bunch of great food, talk to the owner, and most of all...relax and enjoy an evening out where you don't feel rushed to leave. And definitely order garlic paste - not sure if the owner really wants to give it out as it's not on the menu but this very spicy little dish is over the top good. When we asked for it at the beginning of the meal - his short answer was "why...what do you put it on" and then followed with, "my recipe is very spicy." Our reply was "we'd love to try some please." To which he smiled. Respect. It goes a long way. Enjoy! read more

Wonderful meal. Kind, attentive service, lovely intimate setting. I had the Cafe 28 special and it tasted great, along with some unexpected flavors. I also got a rice pudding dessert topped with a delicious béchamel and cinnamon. I will definitely be back! read more

Cafe 28 - Cafe 28 Special - Mediterranean Near Me - Ocean Township, New Jersey

Cafe 28 What a delightful little restaurant we happened upon. Cafe 28 is truly a find. We were on our way to try the Japanese restaurant Ginza, but to our surprise they were closed on Wednesday. and thus randomly decided to try a restaurant in the same Cobblestone area. it was our good luck we did. Although this family business advertises Mediterranean food , and there is plenty of good seafood dishes to substantiate that claim, the meals we chose had to be "inspired Egyptian." For an appetizer we had Hummus with ground beef. The appetizer could have served 3 people. It was served with a pita bread. It was far above any other hummus I've ever had. I had Goulash platter with meat and grilled vegetables with marinated eggplant . The melding of flavors was perfect. My husband ordered Koshani Egyptian gourmet Dish. A medley of lentil, thin short pasta, chickpeas with a flavorful tomato sauce. I wish I knew the flavors used to enhance this dish as it was a mystery to me but it was delicious. Yes, I tasted it. If you want to add a little change to your dining experience, this is where to start read more

Happened to be working down in ocean Township and took me over a month to stumble upon this delicious, new go-to lunch spot!! I'm only one guy with an appetite of two, so I ordered the chicken Cairo sandwich and the Kanafeh dessert...because honestly, is it even a meal if you don't have dessert!! On to the food, one word... FLAVOR!! That sandwich packed seven different satisfying punches, from the juicy, well-marinated chicken, to the salad, veggies, eggplant, fresh pita, and the amazing sauce that I literally poured into my mouth to not waste a drop!!! The dessert...freshly made to order, so give it 20 minutes but definitely worth it as long as you are into something super sweet and honey based. Also, it is enough for 2-3 to share and each have a significant amount!! Place itself is well decorated and super clean. It is located in a large, 15-20 unit strip mall right off Rt 35 so if you haven't been, I highly suggest you make it happen! read more