Found this restaurant last night. Such a great experience. Food was excellent! Service was great! Elegant and relaxed atmosphere. Menu is diverse and varied with classic and creative Greek dishes. One of the best meals I've had in a long time. There's a liquor store in the same parking lot which was very convenient for this BYOB. But I cannot say enough about the food at Cafe 28. We'll definitely be going back and bringing our friends. read more

It started with the rose water and ended with my belly expanded tight with some the most delicious, delicately seasoned lamb I've ever had. Mohammed is my new best friend. You can taste the quality in all of his ingredients. I had to struggle not to inhale my arugula salad so I had room for the lamb. The restaurant's ambiance is warm and cozy and great to have a deep conversation with a date or enjoy getting the "itis" with good friends read more

Best Greek/Mediterranean food I had in a long time. The chicken kabob is delicious and the rice is actually a very good side dish. It was juicy and moist even as a leftover. read more

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

I don't like to go there any more the old man work there he add the tip in the receipt without ask me 17 $ it's to much and the way which he did it's not nice at all read more

Went mid-week with friends, the place was empty but welcoming. The host is a bit abrupt but really nice and helpful. We had a few cold and hot appetizers, hummus and baba ganoush among them, which were good but not very abundant. For mains we had grilled fish and a couple of other dishes that were overall good but nothing extraordinary for the price we paid. The three stars are not for the food or service, that was slow, but for the overall tab that was too expensive in my opinion for the kind of food served. Not sure if we'll be back but the food is good Mediterranean fare. read more

Anyway I can give this place 10 stars? Finally, I have had a chance to visit Mohamed's new place in Ocean Township. He's been here now close to a year. Great vibe! Not only is he a gourmet chef, but extremely talented in interior designing. The place is beautifully laid out, not over the top. My seat is covered in a Pakistani wool rug. Will definitely be bringing my friends here. Worth the trip. read more

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came across this gem with my family. The Ambience is traditional Egyptian which was a huge plus. The chef was super friendly and delivered AMAZING food. Hands down some of the best Mediterranean food we've had in the state. I live in union county and I will be back for more. read more

Yelp notified me of new restaurant in my area and so we decided to check it out. Called in advance and learned it is a BYOB (which I always like - save $). If you forget wine, a liquor store is literally across the parking lot (100 feet away) Arrived about 515 pm Friday for early dinner. No cars in front. Now, someone might think - no one is here, can't be any good. That would be foolish because this restaurant has just opened and 515 is early. So, we went in and it was, in fact, empty (several tables filled up during the next hour). This place is small, only 34 seats. But the ambiance is quite pleasant and Egyptian music was being played. The only waitress, Lisa, was very friendly and attentive, answering our questions about this restaurant (previously in Red Bank) and the menu. Speaking of the dinner menu, I took a photo that I am posting inasmuch as it was a bit out of focus on their website (you're welcome). We started with Baba Gannoush, very fresh and nice pita bread. For entrées, we had the tender, perfectly cooked lamb chops $30. which came with cous cous (but unfortunately no vegetables) and the tasty grilled medley of chicken, lamb, etc. $24. (partly served on kabobs) with rice and a few veggies. Everything was delicious and large portions reasonably priced. No room for dessert. We will be back soon, maybe with white wine and order seafood. read more

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

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While looking for a place to take my niece for her birthday I came across Café 28 on Yelp. We both like to try new places & I had never had Mediterranean food making it a done deal. The restaurant is very classing looking inside with some beautiful décor & is clean as a whistle! It was early in the day so we were the first ones there. There are maybe 20 tables inside. The waiter immediately came to our table offering drinks & filling our water glasses. He was very personable & seemed to like his job. The menu is extensive but I decided on the moussaka with beef. My niece falafel with fava beans. First out was a bowl of Egyptian rice, a very petite brown & white rice with a wonderful nutty aroma. My moussaka was a very thinly sliced eggplant in a red sauce with ground beef & spices. It was quite tasty but I thought it was a bit over sauced. It was also not as heat hot as I would've liked although the rice was. My niece loved her falafel & although I did try it, I wasn't really a fan. Just not my kind of food. Late in our meal our waiter brought out some plain, cut up pita bread. Not sure if that's the norm for Mediterranean food but I thought it unusual that it didn't come at the beginning of our meals, or if later come with some sort of dipping sauce. Afterwards I decided on a Frappe which I was thinking would be a coffee type drink. Silly me, it was far from it! What came out was basically a 16 oz. smoothie loaded with fresh whipped cream & chocolate syrup. Being as I was already stuffed I asked for a 2nd straw & the birthday girl & I shared it. Overall I think this is a great place & will definitely return. It's BYOB so maybe a dinner next time. My entire lunch cost just over $30, much less than I expected. read more

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Quaint little Middle Eastern cafe! The food is delicious and we return at least once per month. The owner is the chef and sometimes also waits on tables when his son Kareem is not there. Kareem is a sweetheart and takes extra good care of us! We even went there for New Years Eve with friends and we practically had the place to ourselves! read more

My wife and I went here solely based on the yelp and Google reviews. The food was absolutely incredible. Just calling it Mediterranean would do it an injustice. The vegetarian Moussaka was like nothing I ever had. The flavors were incredible. If you are looking for something out of the ordinary and a wonderful dining experience, give Cafe 28 a try. read more

Soooo amazing. Very authentic. And so many flavors. If you like Exotic foods and traditional Egyptian food you will lobe this place! My boyfriend god The bronzini and it was BOMB the best we've hadI got the stuffed pepper app, and chicken kabobs. Both outstanding! Been coming here quite a bit but never got to write a review. Oh also if you love good spice the chickpea soup is a must have!! read more

Excellent Egyptian/Mediterranean dishes. So glad we found this little gem. The service was amazing and the food was so good we felt right at home. We love Mediterranean cuisine & Egyptian is one of them. The hummus, eggplant casserole, chicken all excellent. Also had dessert (rice pudding with pistachio). It was so good and not too sweet. Perfection! The chef made a special iced coffee drink for us even though it wasn't in season yet. My pregnancy craving was definitely fulfilled & baby was happy read more

Cafe 28 - Eggplant casserole - SO GOOD! - Mediterranean Near Me - Ocean Township, New Jersey

Best Mediterranean food you can find outside the Mediterranean. Actually, best Mediterranean food you can find period. We spent 3 nights at the Jersey Shore and pretty much came back to Cafe28 for all of our main meals - lunch and dinner! Wait staff - extremely professional / top notch, very nice ambiance and hands down the best falafel, hummus, baba ganoush and moussaka in the world. A true hidden gem. read more

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Wonderful that we are able to sit and dine in... excellent and extensive menu, plus reasonable priced even under this Covid circumstances.. My favorite items to order are kofta, hummus and falafels.. This nice owner/chef is a very pleasant person.. read more

This hands down has got to be the highest quality Middle-Eastern food that I have ever eaten. Chef Mohamed Elbery is a true master at his craft, everything that came out of his kitchen was perfect. Nothing in this meal could be improved upon. Not only did he cook the meal but he also served us, and he did not miss a beat. I suggest in the strongest words possible that you need to dine here, in the back of my mind I am already planing my next visit. BTW 5 stars are not enough. read more

Great food, fresh made to order. If your in hurry, this is not for you. It's worth the wait. Savor every bite.

Food is fantastic, but often understaffed, so be prepared for a slow evening. Best eggplant

Incredible food, such a sweet owner. During the pandemic we did our best to go regularly or order take out from here. The chicken shawerma is to die for! And the fresh made hummus out of this world. Experience and service an A+ read more

Take a journey to Greece. Mom had never eaten Greek food, so I suggested the chicken schwarma. She loved it. My lentil soup was so tasty, I was convinced the thickener was wheat flour. Nope! Chick peas. It was reasonably priced. The mint tea was a wonderful way to end the meal. The owner thanked us for keeping our masks on. It's a charming spot. Sadly we were the only ones there. So, order to go. You and your belly will be glad you did. The food is made with love. Halal means the food is very nutritious. Enjoy! read more

Hands down, the best mediterranean food in Red Bank. Better than Zaitooni's, in my opinion. If you're in Red Bank a lot, there's a very good chance you haven't heard of Cafe 28 yet. It's near Hobby Masters and used to be Carmine's. The owner is very friendly and fanatical about fresh food. If you make a salad, there's a good chance he'll make it fresh right there. He also makes some great desserts and drinks. They've got falafel, gyros, tabouli, baklava, and all the stuff you might expect. Not sure what to get? Try the Cafe 28 special -- a platter with some of everything for under $10. A ton of food They've also got subs/sandwiches for those that aren't into the above. Something for everyone. This place has a lot of potential and more people should know about it. It's also open 7:30 am to 9:00pm most days, which are better hours than a couple diners in the area. read more

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Warmly greeted by the friendly owner, interested in where I am from and how I got there. Food was freshly made, and had plenty of flavor from fresh herbs and veggies. I ordered the strawberry juice, and was a little disappointed when it arrived pack with ice and topped with whipped cream. However, it was not too sweet and was delicious. I am looking forward to going back, the salads sound really nice. He also offers snacks, cookies, and candies... And there is parking on the side of building for Cafe28. read more

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

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My mom and I found Cafe 28 by accident when the restaurant we intended to dine in was closed. Finding Cafe 28 was a very happy accident! When you walk in there is a small dining area with tables comfortably spaced. The register is towards the kitchen. The decorations are minimal and everything appears very clean and effort fully placed. The menu is not huge but offers something for everyone- including a vegetarian like me! There is a good selection of hot and cold appetizers which somehow always end up my favorite part of the meal. The appetizer selections we ordered did not disappoint here. We shared the classic hummus and halloumi cheese. The hummus was rich and creamy with a slight texture instead of a completely smooth dip. It was seasoned on the heavy side with salt but in the moment nothing could have been more perfect. Sesame and caraway seeds along with a drizzle of olive oil adorned the top. Served with warm pita. The halloumi was served chilled with sliced cucumbers, a tasty diced tomato-cucumber salad and fig jam. The dense and salty cheese was delicious paired with the sweet, fruity jam. The tomato-cucumber salad was a nice acidic palate cleanser after each bite. The main dishes offered include shish kabobs, salads and pita sandwiches. My mom and I both decided on pita sandwiches. My mom enjoyed the Cairo a great deal. It included chicken, marinated eggplant, some veggies and a sauce that we believe was tahini and garlic based. My pita sandwich included delicious, crispy and bright green falafel with marinated eggplant, some veggies and the same tahini-garlic sauce. The eggplant offered a very mild spice to the sandwich. All this for $30! Brilliant little place with a lot to give. The only man there seemed to be owner, server and cook. He balanced the roles well and did an excellent job in all areas. read more

Amazing dining experience! Best chicken ever -- moist, perfectly prepared. Lamb shank. Mousakka. BYOB. Also, most amazingly -- we have had the place to our selves! Much as we enjoy such personal and exclusive service we also worry that by keeping this gem to ourselves it may close. We have been often and never had anything but an excellent experience. read more

Went there on a quiet, Wednesday evening. The owner, Mohammed couldn't have been more helpful with assisting us on food choices. And his choices were great! We were a party of 4, we all completely satisfied sharing 2 appetizers and 3 main entrees. We will be going back! read more

Absolutely delicious. It was a rainy day at Asbury Park and we wanted to get some tasty lunch. We made the 10 minute drive and it was so worth it! The hummus was extraordinary. The falafel was fabulous, so full of flavor. And I took a risk getting the Medames Platter which I never have seen before at other Mediterranean restaurants. It was fantastic. Such a great blend of species. I highly recommend! read more

Just happened to find this place near my job, and THANK GOODNESS!! It is so yummy! Best falafel I've ever had. I ordered the Cafe28 Special.. definitely get it. Falafel,eggplant, babaganoush, hummus, salad,chicken.. I don't write a review unless your bomb and I'm coming back Lol. If you like Mediterranean food this place is a must have read more

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

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I am still full hours later. The food was delicious, fresh and abundant. We sat outside and the owner/chef Mohammed was very conscientious about Covid regulations. I ate the Moussaka. The sauce was exceptional. My husband ate falafel, but never made this way. It was wonderful. We asked if he had kanafeh for dessert and was told that if we were willing to wait 20 minutes Mohammed would make it fresh for us. Our friends said that it was one of the best desserts he's ever had. We can't wait to go back and bring friends. read more

This is our favorite local spot. The shish tawook is delicious - chicken is so tender and flavorful. Hummus with ground beef is also a win. The owner Mohammed is always appreciative of our patronage. Highly recommend! read more

Outstanding food every time. Personal service and a great experience for lunch or dinner. Try the coffee too! It's a real treat. The owner is friendly and customized the dishes. There's parking in front and the atmosphere is authentic and pleasant. Today was my third time here and I'll be back! read more

The best middle eastern restaurant in New Jersey!!! From the beginning to the end the food was delicious. The place is kept immaculate. You can eat off the floors. The owner prides himself in his cooking. You will not be disappointed. We walked out stuffed and very happy. Will definitely make it back often Don't miss it. read more

Honestly the food is mediocre. Zatar bread is just a store bought bread with the spice blend and heated up in the oven pretty oily. Chicken Schwarma is very dry with a small amount of white sauce. I'm not a fan of the rose water they serve...but you might be. Just be aware its coming without asking. Like other reviews the two times i have visited the place was empty. Prices are OK at best but ultimately the value just isn't there for me. read more

Great food and excellent service! The food is authentic and always has a surprise kick!

Wow. Perfect meal from start to finish. The owner is so sweet and does the cooking and serving. Felt like he was serving us at his own dinner table. Also, this was hands down the best shawarma I have ever had. So fresh and moist and had a personal touch. He even stood with us for a few minutes and answered all our questions about the cuisine. Cannot wait to come back! You will not regret coming to this incredible restaurant! read more

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Service: 0/10, The owner's mannerism lacks normal human decency. You can't ask for a preferred seat as they will decide where you will be seated, and if by any chance if you accidentally seat yourself wait till you get schooled by the owner/waiter about the seating policy posted by the door. Food: Average Price: Overpriced CAUTION: IF YOU SHARE YOUR FOOD WITH ANYONE ON THE TABLE THEY WILL CHARGE YOU EXTRA. Proceed with caution. They don't advertise it explicitly. But the owner came several times just to verify if we are sharing our food. You should not pay to go somewhere where your voice is not accounted for, your preference is not acknowledged and you're being peeked on by someone just for they can charge you more. read more

Mohammed, Thank your for your compliments marginalizing my review. I want value for my $ and your restaurant is just average. Your waiter ruined our experience, ok ? We came some few Saturday nights ago after watching Lion King. Your place was empty except for one table at about 8:00 PM. We sat ourselves after waiting for your waiter to show. As he brought the menus, he said, next time wait to be seated, you didnt read the sign on the door. That is how he greeted us Mohammed. My wife, son, and guest suggested we just walk out. I said no, lets give the place a try. I spent well over $100 plus I did not stiff the waiter as per my families request, I gave at least 18%. Eventually a large Indian family came in and I did not want to make a scene. Your food is just average, ok ? that is my opinion, your service sucks, ok ? If I want good value average food, I go to Halal guys on rt 18. If I want to spend over $100 I go to Buena Sera in Red Bank. If I want unique food, I go to Edison to Indian restaurants, ok ? If I want expensive but good corned beef, I go to 2nd ave deli, in NYC and gladly spend $40 for a sandwich. I am a good cook and I want to enjoy eating out. I will not return to your restaurant. Take this commentary like a man and not marginalize my personality. I work hard for my $ and I want to enjoy. Food was good but over priced. Why poor marks ? Because of poor service. 4 of us came in and say ourselves. The waiter teptemanded us for sitting by ourselves. He had no clue I have a knee problem and could not stand. His attitude ruined the good feeling. The bill was over $100 I will not return because of his demeanor read more

I've eaten here twice so far and it really deserves 5 stars. The menus are extensive and the food I've tried is all very good. It is also Mediterranean food with Egyptian influence which is a big plus. (Where else are you going to find that around here?) I had the cafe 28 salad today and it was wonderful: fresh falafel, chicken and marinated eggplant plus baba ghanoush and hummus with pita on the side. While everything was excellent, there was some wilted arugula, not sure if that's as intended, but some fresher greens would work better, or side dressing. Despite that minor thing, it's excellent, and we will return in the future. Having fresh herbs and seasonings incorporated into the food is a real plus, too. read more

Cafe 28 - Cafe 28 Salad really wonderful stuff! - Mediterranean Near Me - Ocean Township, New Jersey

I had high hopes for this place after reading the reviews, but we were very disappointed. My girlfriend and I love middle eastern and/or Mediterranean cuisine, but sadly I don't think we will be back here. First they sent out the wrong appetizer which was ok enough as it was fixed quickly. Then our entrees arrived and it was horrible. We got the meat medley to share, but they sent out two which would have been $24 each. The meat was all burnt and had no flavor besides burnt char. The meat was also very tough and inedible. To top it off after sending it back the chef came from the back and instead of apologizing he yelled at us and insisted this is how its always made. In that case, I guess its always burnt, tough and flavorless. Suffice it to say we won't be going back or recommending Cafe 28 to anyone. Babur Garden is steps away and much better. read more

The food is amazing. Very delicious. The owner is very friendly. Definitely recommend the Soujok for appetizer, Okra(bamya) or molokheya for entree & konafa/baklava for dessert. read more

Took out a few vegetarian dishes and couldn't believe how great the food was. I love finding "hole in the wall" restaurants that are great. The menu is extensive and I cannot wait to try more. I love Lebanese-Mediterranean food. 5 out of 5 stars. read more