My family visited Cafe Mediterranean last night and had an outstanding experience. I feel that the 'personal touch' of a family owned restaurant is both unique and becoming harder to find. If this appeals to you, try this place. Their service makes you quickly feel right at home, and that continues throughout the meal. There were five of us, so we ordered several dishes to share. The hummus was fresh, the falafel was crispy on the outside and tasty, the lamb was tender, and the lahmacun ('Turkish pizza' for those that haven't tried this) was outstanding. The Lahmacun reminded me of my visit to a Turkish restaurant in Kazakhstan many years ago -- it was that good. My adult kids also had the salmon and a chicken sauté and loved both... I almost lost a finger getting a nibble. The drinks and desserts were also spot on. It's a very relaxed atmosphere and has seating to accommodate larger groups, so bring your friends and family and share. One recommendation for the Cafe -- we wish the lighting were a bit dimmer. Seemed a little bright in the main dining area. Other than that, thanks for a great night. read more

Amazing food and great service!! The tabouli and baba ganoush were stupendous and the main dishes spectay!!! read more

Our server was really sweet. They were super busy but extremely accommodating. The hummus and pita pillow is absolutely amazing! I could eat it all day long. The salmon wasn't as "well done" as I would have preferred but still very good. The cooked veggies were seasoned very well too. It's a great date night spot or for a girls night. Will definitely return! read more

Cafe Mediterranean - Atlantic salmon, rice and cooked veggies - Mediterranean Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

This was the second time I have been here and again they hit it out of the ballpark! Food was so delicious and so well presented! We had the appetizer sampler platter, the chicken soup, and husband had the iskander kabob. All thoroughly amazing! The food here is just so well done. Ambiance is very clean and nice. Service was amazing! I will assume he was the owner maybe but he definitely wanted to make sure we were taken care of. Definitely going to come back! My mother-in-law loved it as well. read more

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If you are looking for a nice quiet place to have to dinner on Erie, come to Cafe Mediterranean. Our first time here and will definitely return for a future meal. It was a cold day and there was no crowd when we arrived so service was quick. Staff and owner were very friendly. We ordered a lot of starters. Hummus, grape leaves, octopus and fried calamari. I usually gauge a Mediterranean restaurant based on grape leaves, hummus and falafel. Technically this is a Turkish restaurant. The grape leaves were enough to tell me it was going to be a great dinner. Owner asked if we would like to try their hot tea for the cold day and of course we took him up on the offer. It was so satisfying and warming. The grilled octopus appetizer wasn't what I expected. I thought I will be getting the usual grilled whole octopus head but it is more like a salad with some octopus tentacles cut up. The octopus was tender and flavorful though. So maybe I was hoping to eat more octopus than salad. The fried calamari was nicely done. I always like lightly battered calamari instead of those thickly doughy calamari. This dish was good. Hummus was good and went very well with the special puffy bread they served. The bread was puffed up like a ball and the owner gave us instructions on how to eat it. I won't spoil your experience by saying how. Special for the day was the grilled branzino fish. It smelled so good. The fish was fresh and tasty. If they have that again, that will be my preferred dish. The beef tenderloin kabab was very good. Tender and grilled to our liking. I prefer to let the photos do the talking so enjoy a great meal at Cafe Mediterranean the next time you are in Cincinnati. read more

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Wow. This restaurant is a hidden gem in Cincinnati. How have I not heard about this restaurant or been here before today?! My husband and I decided at the last minute that we were craving Mediterranean food and wanted to try somewhere new because we still hadn't found a favorite spot in the city. Well, we found it today. The service was wonderful. We came at a slow time in the day, around 3:00 and we're the only customers when we got there, which was perfect for our first visit because we were able to get extra time to learn about the menu and recommended dishes. Everything we ordered was flavorful and prepared perfectly. Obviously what I'm about to say is comparing different cuisines, but the flavors of these dishes were at the level of meals we've had in France, or restaurants of celebrity chefs like Tom Colicchio's CraftSteak in Vegas or Gordon Ramsay's flagship restaurant in London. We started with the Cold Appetizer Sampler (we both wanted to order a second one it was so good), Spinach Pide (cheesy doughy goodness), Doner Gyros Kebab (wow, even the carrots were delicious--I've never said that a carrot is delicious!), Swordfish Kebab (my husband got this one and loved it), and just when I thought it couldn't get better and I was too full to enjoy more food we decided to get the Pistachio Baklava. I don't have any superlatives left without repeating what I said about the rest of the meal, but it was amazing and delicious, definitely the best baklava I've had in my life and one of the best desserts of all. We will be back soon! read more

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Excellent flavors, very nice ambience and good service. I loved the baba ganoush and the crispy feta rolls. The dipping sauce was amazing and the warm bread just melted in our mouths. The juicy chicken Shish Kebab was the right amount of charring- tough on the outside, bouncy, juicy on the inside. The shrimp sautee really surprised us, adding the rice really made the saucy dish almost like a gumbo which we loved. 10/10 for the Turkish coffee and baklava, can't wait to try the rest of the menu . read more

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Wow! I was surprised by the very pleasant ambiance and delicious Mediterranean food. We thoroughly enjoyed the sampler platter of appetizers with wonderful sesame bread. The special with grilled sea bass was fresh and delicious and our friends enjoyed the lamb, the salmon and grilled vegetables. They complimented us with a tea and baklava at the end of dinner which was a pleasant and delicious surprise. We also enjoyed the halva, flan, and rice pudding. The service was excellent. The proprietor was delightful and attentive. If you enjoy Mediterranean food, give this wonderful place a try! read more

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Was in town for a conference and Mentioned to a local my niece was headed down for a really good dinner. She wanted something with unique flavors since she lives in a small town without many options. We were blown away with the food! The appetizer was big and so we over ordered... ended up taking a lot home which will make her lunch and dinner! The staff was great too! Friendly and helpful. (Found this place thanks to Jon at TQL who gushed about how great it was, he was right!) read more

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As good as Mediterranean food gets! the service is so nice and authentic. The decor is cute and has outdoor options. read more

Cafe Mediterranean - Mediterranean Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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This is the 2nd time we've come here. And we are NEVER disappointed! Service was great, food was delicious. And the atmosphere was comfortable , not horribly noisy, but not so quiet you needed to whisper to avoid other table from hearing your conversations. This trip we had 5 folks, each ordered something different. Between us we had the following: Chicken Shish Kebab, Grilled Atlantic Salmon, Heartland Heritage Farms Lamb Shish Kebab, Shrimp Saute. Several of us also had some wine. I'll keep this short, ALL of us were very pleased and Quite satisfied with our selections. This is a bit of a drive for us, but it is well worth it since everything is so consistently excellent. read more

Great date night spot! The food was great but the service and ambiance were even better. This was one of those places that has such great energy you'll probably make dinner friends with the table next to you. Our dinner friends highly recommended the baklava and I still regret not trying it so will be back! read more

I hosted 12 friends at Cafe Mediterranean and they did an amazing job!! The atmosphere was fancy and casual at the same time, with mood lighting, a dark wooden table, and a quiet ambiance. They seated us at a long, wide table tucked in one side of the restaurant, giving us our own privacy. The owner waited on us himself, with a lot of enthusiasm and a great sense of humor. And the food was amazing!! The surprise for me, as I had only gotten take-out from here before, was the complementary balloon bread. They brought 3 loaves for the whole table -- made from scratch, right out of the oven with "performance art" attraction -- we got to puncture the bread open ourselves and cut and/or tear off the flavorful pieces. It was warm crisp comfort food, especially when topped with the equally complementary hummus. The soup of the day was chicken soup, and it had a complex authentic flavor. And for my entree, I ordered the lamb saute, which came out as a rich tomato-broth stew with authentic Greek flavors that warmed me down to my toes. In fact, everyone was pleased with their dishes. I heard that the kabobs were amazing, the accompanying rice was flavorful, and the pork chops were perfectly cooked!! Throughout, the service was attentive, the environment was pleasantly perfect for conversation, and the food was authentic, well-spiced and delicious. read more

The food was terrific and the service was excellent! Our server was extremely friendly and helpful with our selections. I highly recommend the food and will be back to sample other dishes. read more

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Hands down the best gyro I have ever had. Real meat and great flavor!! Whenever in Hyde Park I will stop and visit.

This is a hidden gem right in my neighborhood and I had no idea! We had the cold appetizer sampler, comes with six dips and a giant loaf of balloon bread. I loved all of the dips. For my entree, I had the shrimp sauté, it was out of this world. I would have licked the bowl if I thought I could. The owner stopped by our table several times and was super friendly. The only thing that docked them a star, the server was a little rough delivering the food and drink. She would just kind of slam it down on the table, not a huge deal but a little more polish would be good. I am already planning my next trip back. read more

Excellent food, quick service, and lovely staff! I came during lunch on a Saturday and got a cocktail, tabouli, and a lamb doner kebab. The cocktail was an absolute surprise since it had yogurt! It was a gintini with gin, yogurt, mint, and cucumber and it reminded me of a mojito. Tabouli and the entree were delicious, including the lamb and the rice. The entree also came with grilled veggies with a perfect crunch (green beans, peppers, and a tomato) and a yogurt-based sauce. The staff was very welcoming and we chatted about our Croatian and Turkish heritage. I will definitely be back! read more

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Cafe Mediterranean quickly became one of my favorite restaurants when moving to Cincinnati. I cannot emphasize the excellence this restaurant achieves and really writing a five star review for this restaurant is effortless. The restaurant is in Hyde Park near Ault Park. A part of the strip mall set in a neighborhood setting, it is perfectly set for a leisurely walk if you live nearby. While there is parking, there are a number of competing restaurants and bars that have patrons as well, leading scant availability at times. One can be seated outdoors where a number of patio tables can sit two to four people. Indoor seating is available and plentiful also. The atmosphere is elevated with soft classical guitar music in the background. The food is, you guessed it, mediterranean and Turkish in offerings. It offers a generous variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. I'd emphasize that there is also a fair number of seafood options as well. I've dined in on several occasions but usually order take out. Dining in comes with complimentary bread and a small dish of hummus for dipping whereas takeout only comes with bread. If the food can be prepared to order, it will be. I have have had the hummus, falafel, Greek salad, beef tenderloin kebab, lamb Sautee, and chicken kebabs. The meats are cooked perfectly, tender, and prepared to appropriate temperature per customer's request. Flavors are wonderfully balanced. Portions are generous. Really it is rare for me to be disappointed by the food here. The staff are incredibly welcoming and accommodating. They know the menu and can make well informed recommendations based on customer wishes. The owner works regularly and shows regular appreciation to his patrons and staff. Really a great restaurant in a great location with great staff and food. I rarely give out five star ratings and these guys are deserving. I highly recommend! read more

Cafe Mediterranean - Beef tenderloin kebab - Mediterranean Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Had the best date night at Café Mediterranean! We made a reservation on Open Table for Friday night at 7 PM, although I do not think one was necessary as the space was always busy but never every table full. When we arrived we explained we had never been in before and received many great recommendations from our waitress. We both started with drinks - I had the Cosmo and my partner an IPA. The drinks came out fast which was great. Later in our meal I ordered a glass of their Lebanese red wine (they were out of Turkish wine) which I was a little nervous for as I had never had Lebanese wine but this was a great little surprise and was full of flavor that evolved as you drank it. For food we started with the Cold Sampler Platter which had Hummus, Eggplant Marinara, Babaganoush, Tabouli, Labne and Stuffed Grape Leaves (the first 6 items on the Small Plates part of the menu). The Eggplant Marinara, Hummus and Tabouli were our favorite - they were bursting with flavor and we could not get enough! This came with some house-made bread which was also tasty. For our main courses we had the Chicken Shish Kebab and the Moussaka - and WOW both were so good! The chicken was SO flavorful and perfectly juicy and you could really taste all the different flavors in the Moussaka. Each entrée came with roasted vegetables (zucchini/carrots and tomato/bell pepper) and a side of rice. The rice deserves it own call out as it was perfectly cooked and also FULL of flavor! We were very pleasantly surprised by the rice and appreciated it had its own rightful spot on the plate and was not just a space filler. Overall the portions were HUGE and we did not finish either meal and took leftovers home. We ordered the pistachio baklava for dessert which came with vanilla ice cream and strawberries on the side. The piece was also surprisingly HUGE and cut like a pie slice. It was bursting with pistachios and perfectly flaky on top. The ice cream was also so tasty with a ton of vanilla flavor - it was so good we questioned if it was also house made?? With dessert we also received little glasses of tea - a cute little surprise and perfect ending to the meal! We will DEFINITELY be back here for more!! read more

Cafe Mediterranean - Moussaka - Mediterranean Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Ate here with a large group on a Friday evening. Parking can be a little difficult at peak times since there are several good restaurants in this area. They brought us some very large bread for the table which was large and crispy (like a large balloon) and hummus to go with it. It was somewhat unique and very good. I started wiith a bowl of lentil soup, then a small spicy salad called Acili Ezme. It was hot and spicy (probably too much heat for most people) but I loved it. If they had had a larger size one I would have ordered that one. For an entree I ordered the lamb shish kabob. That was excellent also. I probably could have ordered 3 or 4 different entrees and been happy with any of them. On a future visit, I probably will. Service was attentive and friendly (probably the owner.) Even though we had a large group, the gratuity was not automatically added. It was a pleasant experience for all, and I hope to return soon. read more

The food and service were both excellent!! Started with the Cold Appetizer Sampler and every item on the plate was absolutely delicious. I had the Doner Gyros Kebab and the meat was full of flavor and very tender. My wife had the Stuffed Cabbage Roll with the perfect amount of lamb & beef inside. The restaurant was nicely decorated with a modern vibe but with traditional Turkish decor. Highly recommend!! read more

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Everting is very delicious I highly recommend this establishment to all people who love fast food, the service is very kind and courteous, we will come again many times! read more

Cafe Mediterranean - Amazing balloon bread - Mediterranean Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Had a most delicious mean at Cafe Mediterranean tonight. A great way to start the new year. Everything was so fresh and healthy. For starters we enjoyed the sampler plate, octopus and calamari appetizers. The entrees consisted of salmon, bronzino, lamb chops, and falafel entrees. All dishes were amazing! The service was great and the ambiance was welcoming. Can't wait to return! read more

Cafe Mediterranean - Wonderful homemade bread and the cold appetizer sampler plate. - Mediterranean Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

First time I was there, very impressed with the service and loved the balloon bread. I had the lamb shish kebab, and the moussaka. This is a really good restaurant if you like Mediterranean food. The prices were fair for what you got. read more

This is some of the best Mediterranean food I have ever eaten! Oh my gosh. The stuffed grape leaves, the humus, the vegetables, the spinach pide, the kabobs, the desserts....where do I start? Everything is seasoned so perfectly and cooked with great attention to every detail. The service is impeccable. The owner takes great care to make sure every customer is treated like family. I have been here twice and both times were an epic culinary success. Highly recommend and we will be back for sure. read more

Lovely server was helpful in recommendations and food was yummy. Dessert particularly tasty. Even with a full restaurant it was not overly loud and very comfortable. A definite thumbs up! read more

Really good! A little different than most Mediterranean. Had the grilled chicken salad, fantastic. The dressing was amazing with fresh herbs. Ice tea was great too. I can't want to cone back. read more

Every time I go here, I leave full and so happy! I've tried to eat new dishes each time and am never disappointed, and the staff are welcoming and friendly. Tonight was the first time my husband and I had dessert, and the pistachio baklava is out of this world. The outdoor patio and lights make for a great date night spot. read more

The food is so fresh and delicious. The service was kind, attentive and helpful. The outdoor seating is perfect on a nice night. I will 100% return. Loved it. read more

I love this local establishment. We dined on a Monday evening and it was a wonderful welcome to the week. This visit we ordered the grilled octopus appetizer and it's my new favorite! That's tough because the hummus is hard to beat. As are so many other faves on this menu. Every dish is so incredibly fresh with so many ingredients that blend perfectly. Outstanding healthy options. The baklava topped with a mint leaf took this dessert to a new level. Going forward I'll break up the leaf so each bite includes it. Wow! I love the Turkish tea and all the beautiful dishes and details our food is delivered on. A must visit. (There is still room to improve on the service). read more

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Food was delicious! Had the appetizer sampler came with bread and asked for cucumbers, amazing. Dinner was whole Branzino deboned at the table, grilled salmon and chicken. The service and drinks were excellent. Baklava Pistachio Dessert was so tasty and such a great atmosphere with Cozy tables. We will be back! read more

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First impression was "wow what a cute place" Loved that they have outside seating! My husband took me here for my birthday dinner and enjoyed it very much. We sat on the front patio and enjoyed our delicious meal. I could not stop eating the bread and hummus at the start, kind of embarrassed that I pretty much ate all that bread. I normally don't eat bread when restaurants put it out. It was just that good. I even pushed the rest of the hummus to the end of the table in fear that the server would take it away with the empty basket of bread. Just so tasty! We shared the Shepherd salad which was so fresh (also good for lapping up with the bread, just saying!!) I ordered the Chicken Shish Kebab and it was delicious, my only nitpick was that the chicken was just a bit dry, but that's where the rest of that hummus came in and it was perfect. The veggies were so tender and perfectly seasoned. Towards the end, who I'm assuming was the manager, came out to make sure we had a nice experience which was nice. Just some small tidbits Sitting outside was very nice especially with the warm weather but you do get a lot of traffic noise as the cafe is on a main road. Had a hard time hearing my husband a few times in conversation. The service was just a okay, I felt our server was friendly enough but fast and to quick to take our order. Felt like she was into much of a hurry and made it uncomfortable to ask any questions. Overall I am excited to go again and explore more of their tasty dishes and bread! =P read more

Cafe Mediterranean - Chicken Shish Kebab - Mediterranean Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

This was my first visit with and my friend and i both had a delightful meal & experience. The server and anyone else that stopped by were very friendly and took my coat when realizing i had no place to put it. Our server provided recommendations and answered all our questions. The pre meal bread and hummus were a pleasent surprise! i had the salmon, which was beautiful but i think i asked for it to be overcooked because i wasn't used to being asked how i'd like it cooked. I may have also added salt if there were some on the table. The desert tray was fantasic. We had 2 and enjoyed them both with some to take home as well since the bakalava was gigantic. read more

Visiting Cincinnati for the first time. Cafe Mediterranean is a lovely, authentic cafe. I ordered the salmon with tarragon sauce. It came with fresh veggies in light olive oil and herbs and a very tasty mixed green salad. My husband ordered the chicken kebab platter. It also arrived with the salad and a sub of fries. Both portions were very generous and very fresh. I opted for the rice pudding. Delicious. Served in a crock with a generous amount of cinnamon on top. Oh so creamy and decadent. We sat outside under an umbrella and enjoyed the summer day and great food with very friendly service. read more

Had my first dinner here and was very impressed with the service. There aren't a lot of good Mediterranean places in Cincinnati - especially ones that are sit down with their ambiance. The bread, hummus, and shrimp sauté were delicious! I even had enough to take half home. It's also located in a great strip of places in Hyde Park, and I can't wait to go back! read more

Cafe Mediterranean - Shrimp sauté - Mediterranean Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Great experience at Cafe Mediterranean. We went on a Wednesday night around 6:30 and had no wait. There is both indoor and outdoor seating. The staff was very friendly. We ordered the grape leaves as an appetizer. It was brought out with complimentary bread and hummus. Everything was great, especially the grape leaves. For entrees l, we ordered the chicken thighs, Moussaka, and Shrimp Sauté. Everything was great, but the Moussaka was especially good. Overall very pleased with our experience and looking forward to returning soon. read more

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What a great place. Everyone was friendly and helpful with the menu. The falafel had great flavor and the hummus did not disappoint. The place was quiet and cozy. This is a must try. read more

I chose this spot when my fam asked me to choose a place for Mother's Day. I was not disappointed! The variety on the menu was quite good, as was the service. We requested to sit outside, where I was initially a little concerned about noise level, but it was very pleasant. when I had a question about one of the items on the cold sampler appetizer, they made sure I got the answer, I'm assuming it was the restaurant owner, who came out to explain it to me. All of us thoroughly enjoyed our meals and the restaurant staff was highly attentive and knowledgeable. We really like to choose locally owned over a chain any day of the week and Café Mediterranean Was outstanding. Being a Sunday afternoon, we finished off with a stroll around Ault Park. What a gem of a place! read more

Wow. Stopped in for lunch and was amazed. Everything was so fresh and so delicious and the service was incredible. Babaganoush and zucchini pancake to start. Wow. Then we had chicken kebab plate, falafel plate, and the salad with lamb. All three were delicious. We weren't going to have dessert but the owner, who'd been helping serve us, strongly suggested the baklava...the large one with pistachios. It was definitely the best baklava any of us had ever had. Amazing. Definitely will be back! read more

Cafe Mediterranean - The large baklava with pistachios and ice cream. - Mediterranean Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Let me start by saying the service here is phenomenal!! When my friend and I first arrived we were greeted by either the manager or the owner and he took care of us right away! Then to top it off our waiter and the others around us were very attentive and were able to give us wonderful food and drink recommendations! For drinks we ordered a bottle of their bubbly rose! I think they said it was the French one? It was soooo good and light and perfect for a summer evening! For food the waiter recommended the med salad and I wish I would have listened because that's what my friend got and she loved it! I ordered the shrimp sauté. I wasn't a big fan of the dish as the rice was a little chewy/undercooked for me and the dish was flavorful but not the sauté I had in mind! However my friend tasted mine and loved it so It probably speaks more to my personal preference vs a problem with the dish itself! And although I didn't love my food I would definitely come back and order something else! When we arrived we were told everything on the menu is good so I will give something else a try next time.. like the med salad! To end the evening they brought us out some tea which tasted like a mix of black tea and maybe earl grey? It was great!! All in all it was a great dining experience and the inside AND outside eating areas both are super cute and comfortable! read more

Cafe Mediterranean - Tea - Mediterranean Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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