Found this place on yelp a travel a lot so I'm constantly checking out new spots. I love a good Mediterranean Greek place from time to time and let me tell you some of that best service from the bus boy to the person taking the order not to mention how delicious my meal was. I got a steak hummus plate. I believe delicious I'll be back. Pretty pricey for sure, but the quality is there to back it up. I think with my tip that plate was $31. Yummy though I don't think I can afford to go there as much as I would like to however, I'll definitely be back. read more

I've heard for years about how great this place is still. I supported early on and it lost its flavor but tonight. NEVER WILL I EVER COME BACK. The waitress was lack luster in personality, we sat down asked for hummus and the young guy with long hair on staff said they didn't have change for a $20 so a 7.99 hummus turned into a 20 dollar bill when he never brought back the $5 my friend said just to bring back as a tip. Then my mom's hummus lamb plate had a clump of hair in the hummus. The staff, "would you like us to remake it or a refund" no I'm sorry not anything to remedy the situation. Between the 5 of us with to go plates was nearly $130 ish. I'm so disappointed and know the owner would be upset with how his staff handled this. My chicken saaj bowl also was lack luster in flavor, I go to another Mediterranean place locally that is way way way more flavor. Hope the owner has a talk with his team about back of the kitchen etiquette so there isn't food in other people's food. read more

Knew nothing about the "world recognition" of the restaurant before coming in. Staff was great. Ambiance was simple. Expected a better food experience from a place that has above 4 stars on yelp and the cost/dish. Ordered Beef Schwarma. While the flavors were good, the cuts of beef were not great. Didn't love it. Those in my party ordered a chicken dish that they enjoyed, but not the 4 star wow we were expecting. read more

Love the creamy chicken dish - outstanding!! And their homemade drinks are awesome. Have tried the beef shawarma as well - everything is delicious! read more

The food here is an huge delight and will expand your international palate exponentially. The flavor is so outstanding. Absolutely the smoothest, fresh made hummus I've had in TN & the pitas tasted fresh too. Chicken swarma wrap was a great lunch bite. The menu wasn't available on their QR code/website, nor did they have any physical menu's to provide full scope and explanation of options which is a huge detriment to someone walking in first time. Because the food isn't Taziki's or other Gyro places that you encounter on a "Mediterranean" search here, they really need to address that. Staff is nice but alittle passive, & it is hard to know what options to ask them without any point of reference other than the few popular items listed on a board by name only. I even checked here, which doesn't have their full line up either. But - if you are adventurous, definitely give this a go! Small but not tight in seating; clean and cute cafe set up. read more

Cafe Rakka - Hummus & Falafel plate - Greek Near Me - Hendersonville, Tennessee

Vibe I so wanted to love this place. But I'll be honest--when I saw that Guy Fieri had featured Café Rakka, I got a little nervous. I know it sounds harsh, but for me, that kind of spotlight often marks a turning point. Sometimes success and a rush of attention can shift the soul of a place. That said, the story behind Café Rakka is incredibly compelling. The book The Road from Raqqa--which is proudly featured at the restaurant--tells the powerful, true story of owner and chef Riyad Alkasem. It chronicles his journey from Syria to Tennessee, the hardships he faced as an immigrant, and how he channeled that experience into building Café Rakka. It's a story of resilience, identity, and cultural pride--and it made me want so much to love this place. The vibe inside is simple and low-key: order at the counter, grab a seat, and they'll bring your food out. We noticed lots of takeout going out the door. No-frills, but charming. Service Service was friendly, though just a bit offbeat. Not rude in the least--just not particularly warm or welcoming either. The interaction felt a bit transactional, which was surprising considering the heartfelt roots of the restaurant. Eats/Drinks We ordered the Chicken on the Sajj Rice Bowl and the Falafel Arabi Sandwich, with Red Tea to drink, and finished with the Ma'amoul Cookies. The Chicken on the Sajj had great potential but fell a little short--dry chicken, flavors that didn't quite come together, and pita that was just okay. The pickled turnips, though, were excellent--tangy, vibrant, and easily the most memorable part of the dish. The Falafel Sandwich had good falafel and more of those pickled turnips (seriously, they're a highlight), but the pita was dry and made the sandwich difficult to eat. The tahini didn't quite tie things together. On the bright side, the Red Tea was warm, spiced, and not too sweet--really enjoyable (though my friend did question just how caffeine-free it actually was). The Ma'amoul Cookies, though, were hands-down the star of the meal: buttery, delicate, with a perfectly balanced date filling. A must-try. Final Thoughts Between the inspiring backstory and the national attention, I walked in truly hoping this would be a home run. And while there were some bright spots, the overall experience just didn't deliver the kind of magic I was hoping for. Still, I admire the heart and heritage behind Café Rakka, and I'd love to see it evolve and thrive. I'm not sure I'll be back right away--but I'm rooting for them. read more

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This is definitely a local gem. This restaurant is a cozy little place to get fresh Middle Eastern ( Syria ) inspired food. It's a scratch kitchen and they make everything fresh daily, including some house brewed teas. There is limited seating, but they also have a covered outdoor seating area. Chef's Rakka opened this place about 15 years ago. It's about 25 minutes from Nashville located in Hendersonville and it's worth the drive. They offer Apps, Lentil soup, Salads, Entrees, Hummus Bowls, Rice Bowls, Sandwiches, Wraps and Desserts. The Dinner menu offers some dishes that you can't get on the lunch menu and they are closed on Sundays. You place your order at the counter and they give you a number. The friendly staff bring you the food when it's ready. Check it out !! read more

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This place is a Hendersonville staple. I've been going here for years and everything is delectable

We are here as a family on June 18 ! I want to start with the staff!! The sweetest young ladies! They helped accommodate seating, told me about the different ways to order, went over the popular items and more! For the customer service alone it's worth driving to Hendersonville. The space is very casual, very relaxed. Come eat and chat at your will. You can order from a tablet or at the register with the staff. Find a seat inside or out. The hummus was sooo good! And so were the falafels. The lamb burger and shawarma were awesome but the lamb rice bowls lacked in flavor, I did get mild and should increase the spice level. The overall experience was good they have a nice size menu and I believe it's worth coming and trying more. read more

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I met a group of friends at Cafe Rakka for dinner. It had been on my radar and I was looking forward to trying them. This is a small place with both indoor and outdoor seating. You place your order at the counter, and the menu posted consists of mostly bowls and sandwiches. Be advised that if you check their website or ask when placing your order that they also serve entree plates. I decided to try the chicken shawarma since I knew I really like that dish, but it wasn't quite what I was hoping for. I found the chicken a little on the dry side, atop their turmeric rice, and served with salad and pita bread. I think I would have enjoyed it more if they offered some sort of a sauce (garlic or tzatziki) with it. My friends ordered hummus bowls, which were a meat of choice served on a bed of hummus, so if I go back that is what I will try. They said their food was great. We also shared a small hummus, and for me this was the star of the show. Smooth creamy hummus topped with garlic cloves and onion. It was absolutely delicious! Hands down the best hummus I have ever had. Service was friendly and the company was great. With more of the menu to explore, I hope to have the opportunity to give Cafe Rakka another try. read more

Cafe Rakka - Greek Near Me - Hendersonville, Tennessee

Hands down, the best food in Hendersonville, TN! Been blessed to get to be a customer for years. A rare gem of a family, the service is friendly, helpful and enthusiastic. The space has a vibrant, cafe & welcoming vibe. As always, thank you for your beautiful food and offerings! read more

Cafe Rakka - Lamb Korma, delicious fresh salad & dressing, saffron rice - Greek Near Me - Hendersonville, Tennessee

Had a great meal here with a friend. The food is spectacular. I was looking for a good Lebanese or Mediterranean restaurant in the area that served lamb (other than gyro) and other favorite dishes. This place didn't disappoint! Fabulous all the way around and great service! Come check them out! I'm sure they'll win you over too read more

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Excellent food, true Greek flavor. Enjoyed the ability to sit outside. The service was also wonderful and our food was delivered with a smile and we were checked in a couple mire times. Highly recommend! read more

We recently had our first meal at Café Rakka-- why didn't we do that sooner! Our food was absolutely delicious! We had lentil soup, hummus & pita, and lamb shawerma. Amazing! Run, do not walk, to Café Rakka! read more

The menu and the food are excellent. This is a smallish restaurant, but the atmosphere is charming. Check them out!

Extremely disappointed. Checked menu before driving from another city to get the vegetarian platter. One employee said no problem but another said this option is no longer available. read more

Super good food! I got the Lamb Yahkney which I've never heard of before but it was great- their rice is really well seasoned too. My husband got the Shawarma which I gotta say wasn't either of our favorites, it was pretty dry. A friend of mine got the Babaganoush plate and that was also super good! The pitas were fine, they didn't feel very made-in-house but I really enjoyed my meal. We ordered take out so no idea what the service or ambience is like. So maybe a 4 star for my husband but a 5 star from me read more

Hands-down, my favorite place to eat in the whole area. Don't pass this place by the wraps are to die for.

I'm never really in the Hendersonville area, so when I was here this week, I was really looking forward to grabbing food from Cafe Rakka. Unfortunately, all I was served was disappointment. I tried Cafe Rakka a few years ago around 2016 and the food was phenomenal! I remember they had a tandoori chicken pizza which was sooo tasty. The entire menu was also fully halal. I called to make an order this week and I asked if their meats are halal and they told me only the Lamb is halal... when I got to the restaurant to pickup my food the cashier asked me what that word even means . I'm assuming they had management changes and maybe different owners within the past few years. I still ordered the Lamb Korma, Lamb Hummus Bowl and the Baba Ghanoush since they were halal. The lamb korma was $25 and such a tiny portion... they put maybe 5-6 small lamb pieces in chicken tikka masala sauce and called it korma. The lamb hummus bowl was $20 and also overpriced for the portion size. It came with a salad but the one they served me was old and rusty. The lamb shawarma in the bowl wasn't very flavorful at all. Everything was extremely overpriced for the portion sizes and quality of food. For a second, I wondered if this was even the same restaurant I tried multiple times a few years ago... but the huge poster of Guy Fieri on the wall confirmed that it is indeed the same spot. Similar to me, I'm sure Guy would not approve of the restaurants current food quality. read more

Ordered the lamb korma and chicken tandoori hummus plate. Flavors were on point, will absolutely be coming back!

Pre-COVID, I went to a food event and Cafe Rakka was one of the vendors. They were SO delish and I have been wanting to eat at their restaurant. With COVID, we wanted to support a local business and made the trek to Hendersonville to eat at Cafe Rakka. I read the review that shared that prices weren't on the menu at the store which is accurate. If you order online, it had the prices so I am going to include them below. We started with the falafel hummus bowl. This is a traditional Syrian hummus topped with three falafels served with tahinah sauce and pita bread. This is a large helping of hummus. The falafel was DELICIOUS! I loved it and wish it came with four so we didn't have to split the third one. haha This dish is $13.99. For the main, we ordered the lamb korma. This dish was featured on the Food Network and we were totally upsold! This dish was a leg of lamb, cubed, and cooked in korma sauce which was very tomato-y and cream based served with turmeric rice and pita bread. I wasn't impressed with this dish and wasn't he biggest fan of the korma TBH. The lamb was tender and I loved the rice. The price point for this dish is a bit high at $23.99. I am glad we tried it but wish that I would have ordered the Biryani Lamb. For drinks, we ordered the red tea (caffeine free made with hibiscus) and cardamom sweet tea (black tea leaves, black and green cardamom and other super spices). Each drink is $2.99 and were both beautiful! I LOVED my red tea and wish they were closer because I'd order it a lot more. We ordered a dessert that they had out but I can't remember the name. It was bread, berries, and some ricotta. It wasn't good and I wouldn't order it again. Our lunch bill for two of us was a little over $50. I was a bit surprised bc I didn't know the prices until I checked them online afterwards. Food is delicious here and I will make sure and know prices before ordering next time! read more

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Visited cafe Rakka again and enjoyed lunch with a new friend. You scan the menu and order at the counter and they bring your food to you. Several vegan options to choose from which I was excited to try, they are marked vegan on the menu so it's easy to order. I was a bit disappointed to see they were out of baba ganoush which I was craving. The cold hibiscus tea was so refreshing with a slight hint of spice, I couldn't believe how flavorful it was. I ordered the falafel Arabi sandwich which had falafel, hummus, greens, pickled turnip, tomatoes and herbs and a tahini drizzle. It's served on a plate cut into slices so a bit messy to eat but so delicious! It's a generous size so I brought home half. The restaurant has a small dining room and outdoor covered patio area. Really a delicious spot to enjoy a taste of the Mediterranean. read more

Cafe Rakka - Falafel Arabi sandwich - Greek Near Me - Hendersonville, Tennessee

My friend would take me to a "Schwarma" style restaurant in North Hollywood, California. This place reminds me of it. My gosh, it's fabulous! I had the vegetarian platter with delicious hummus and assorted roasted vegetables, pita bread and Pomegranite tea. It was so good! Yes, they have many other dishes too with chicken, and lamb (check out their menu). Everything is seasoned to perfection, plentiful, and you get a lot of Pita bread with most dishes. By its nature, the food is very healthy, but does not lack taste or quality. Great service, and good prices too, about $$ what you'd expect for such good food! The parking is decent but can fill up quickly, so bring your truck, Tesla, covered wagon, or Camel and try a taste of the exotic! You'll be glad you did! read more

Guy Fieri and his Food network show dined here and Cafe Rakka was featured on the show. All sauces and cheeses are homemade. Had Chicken Tika Masala, Turkish coffee and Mediterranean iced tea. A bit pricier than what you may be used to paying for Mediterranean fodd but well worth it. Our second visit and we will be returning. read more

Cafe Rakka - Greek Near Me - Hendersonville, Tennessee

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Service was excellent. Place was clean and smelled fresh. The food was not what we expected . We were hoping for Gyro's and that was not on their menu. Our fault for not looming in advance. What we did get was fine but was not what we were use to . read more

All I have to say is I wish they would open a location in Davidson county! I love this place! Small sized restaurant serving up great flavors of Middle Eastern food. The hummus is my absolute favorite--dig in to creamy hummus with a warm pita and it makes for an amazing snack. I usually get the falafel, and beef sajj entree . This time I also tried the chicken and cream entree and it was delicious....they come with rice and salad and 2 small pita slices. read more

Cafe Rakka - Falafel hummus bowl, beef sajj , chicken and cream. - Greek Near Me - Hendersonville, Tennessee

The best Mediterranean food in Nashville . I've ate here for 5 years and from the first bite I knew I'd be a life time customer .

Great service but disappointing meal. We had 2 entrees with chicken and a chicken wrap and chicken in all 3 dishes was so extremely dry. The falafel was amazing though! read more

Was a few years since I've been. Went with a friend for lunch. Food & service both are still very good. read more

Dry! Flavors were fine, but it was hard to tell without any tzatziki or yogurt or garlic stuff or nothin. I picked up lunch for five, everybody tried something different. Nobody's meal was served with any sauce! No dang sauce! No ketchup, no mustard, no bbq, just dry, dry rice. Dry salad too! And nineteen dollar shawarma with no tzatziki. Can you even imagine? read more

Cafe Rakka - Side salad - Greek Near Me - Hendersonville, Tennessee

I had read The Road to Raqqa book and was excited to try this restaurant on a trip to TN from CA. We ordered food inside and were able to sit outside on a lovely TN afternoon. We shared chicken, falafal with hummus, and the lamb korma which Riyad made for Guy Fiore Show. Everything was delicious. Wonderfully spiced , bursting with flavors. The chicken portion was generous, but we all felt for the price we would have liked to have had more lamb as it was our favorite. The restaurant is in a random strip mall of sorts, but it felt just right. I'd go back again. read more

Cafe Rakka - Chicken Tika Masala, Falafel With hummus and Lamb Korma - Greek Near Me - Hendersonville, Tennessee

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Ordered the Lamb Korma and I was not disappointed. The flavors went together very well and the meat was not strong at all. We also had the Chicken Tikka and ordered it Hot. It was great. The Serrano peppers were delicious. We also got red tea and cardamom tea. The cardamom tea was spiced, and the red tea was a bit "fruitier" both were great and would order again. read more

The hype for this place is just that, HYPE! As in OVERRATED! I get it. When you're the only game in town and not many of your customers have truly experienced life changing Mediterranean food this place might seem out it's world, but to the average food snob this would be a 100% NO for me dog. The baba ghanoush was bland, needed more garlic and olive oil, and less tahini. Oh and lets not forget more fire roasted eggplant flavor. The rice was microwaved bag rice and overcooked. Also the Chicken Tikka Masala lacked tons of spices like coriander, cumin, and "gram masala." Not to mention the tomato based sauce was extremely acidic and tasted more like spaghetti sauce than Tikka Masala cream tomato sauce. The chicked was over cooked and tough as well. All and all I give this 2 stars because they are nice people and local and clearly have loyal customers. I am sure they adjusted their recipes to suit those customers bland palate, but if you are craving delicious Mediterranean food, Cafe Rakka is not the place to go. read more

What acute little Middle Eastern lunch place. We happen to be in the neighborhood and stop by. Hubby had a chicken wrap sandwich and I had the chicken hummus bowl. If you don't think you can eat at all, make sure you get it in a to go container to start with. Scraping it off the plate into a container was a bit of a chore. Everything was super tasty. My only complaint was that the cucumbers were quite limp and they were only two of them on my hummus bowl read more

Delicious. And the people working there were so nice. The hummus was some of the best I have ever had. The falafel was excellent - crunch for days. Minor little quibbles not worth mentioning gave it 4 instead of 5 stars, but i highly recommend. read more

Ordered to go from the screen pad at the counter. Entered name and phone number as requested, and went to car for a phone call. After over 15 minutes I went inside, and asked if my order was ready. Server reached back, and handed me my order. I asked why she didn't call me when it was ready. She said that the phone number information doesn't show up on her screen. So why do they request it at ordering. My chicken shawarma was DRY, as was the rice; and the raw onions were a harsh disappointment. The flavor expected from the shawarma was also a huge let down. Won't be back. Sorry. read more

We were visiting family in Hendersonville who enthusiastically recommended Cafe Rakka for lunch and they were spot on. The place is not large but it was busy, and we even had a later lunch time (well after 1 pm). We were able to put 2 tables together to eat and there was a steady stream of people coming in while we were there. Clearly this place is beloved by the locals. We started with the hummus which is not fancy or different to standard hummus, it was just really good with the olive oil and spices on top. They're not getting super creative, they just make really good food, and the hummus and pita was a great start. I went with the lamb burger and fries and it was spectacular. The burger is large and served on a pita with cheese, sauce, and some pickled veggies. The burger was preparedly very well, it was not overly dry in any spot and was very flavorful. No additional seasoning needed. The fries have more spice on top and were cooked fresh, they were very hot and crispy when they arrived. This is great quality food and healthier than what you'll typically find for lunch. Will absolutely return and highly recommend you check it out as well. read more

Cafe Rakka - Large hummus - Greek Near Me - Hendersonville, Tennessee

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This place is a bit of a hidden gem. The food quality is very very good. The ambiance is nice though the location is a bit off the beaten track. I'd go here a lot more frequently if the prices were more reasonable. A typical full meal will cost you $30 or more. I'd say it is worth it but wish I could afford to go more often. read more

We've been three times (the most 2 recent were this year and the first was many years ago) and all 3 times the food was excellent.

A great and welcome surprise, Syrian style food (yes, there's a difference!) with delightful flavors and excellent service. Points off only for confusing menu and limited seating. If you're here for some strange reason, eat at this joint. It's good. Buy some of their pickles too; good for the guts. Drink the house-brewed teas; I recommend the unsweetened cardamom... Pride in products and service - this is the kind of stuff we need to back. Highly recommended! read more