We came here for lunch. I ordered the mixed grill lunch for about $15. It comes with beef, chicken, and kofta, and 2 pita breads. The staff were friendly and quick with cooking the food. The rice pilaf was very tasty. I didn't care much for the beef because it was a bit chewy and dry. I would prefer if it was like medium rare to medium. The chicken was very tender and juicy. The kofta had some nice flavor. Pita bread was hot and fresh. Food portions are not small. There is a large dining area. We parked on the far right side where it's not so crowded. They have parking on the left and back but it's kind of cramped. read more

Cedar Grill - Cedar Mixed Grill (Lunch) - Middle Eastern Near Me - Downers Grove, Illinois

Stopped at the Cedar Grill today for to pick up dinner! Been seeing this place for a long time and finally decided to stop by finally :) Holly who took my order was very friendly and recommended the Gyro wrap with two falafels which was very filling along with an order of small fries & two baklavas. The grill has a standard middle eastern ambiance. Definitely recommend this place to all who are in the mood for some fire middle eastern food! read more

Cedar Grill - Baklava - Middle Eastern Near Me - Downers Grove, Illinois

Found this place on a Google search to meet for lunch. Sounded good since this is one of few restaurants that doesn't serve adult beverages (had an under aged pre teen). There is a very comprehensive menu behind the counter. Open cooking area and clean. Our order was taken by a pleasant cashier and the chefs/cooks were within ear shot hearing the orders and started preparing before we even paid. The eating space was clean with tables and chairs clean (we did not have to wipe down anything). The food did not take very long and everything was hot. The only criticism is the fries were very salty. Other than that everything was very good. The prices were very reasonable and a comfortable place to eat Mediterranean street food. Oh we didn't discover the larger dining space until we were leaving. read more

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Was recommend to try this place. I've visited three times since. My initial experience wasn't great. We came in around 30 minutes before close and were told we had to take our food to go, which is understandable. However,the cashier was rude when she took our order and appeared to just want to clock out as quickly as possible. Food was just as expected, really enjoyed it. It wasn't a huge portion but was cooked fresh and flavorful. Second experience, cashier was exceptional (same person), she had really upped her game. Food tasted just as good, we dined in. Ambience of the store was basic but was very clean, however I did notice a cook took food on the grill without gloves so that was a little upsetting. Third experience, food was ok. I think the initial hype had died down so it just felt like any other bowl with a small to medium size portion of chicken. It just didn't hit the same, however store was still clean. Ordered the chicken kabab bowl all three times, came with strips of chicken shawarma, rice, added feta and olives. Garlic sauce is ok, definitely needs some work to match up to other Mediterranean stores. The tzaziki was also underwhelming and needs work, tasted like bland yogurt. Bowl is about $14 all in. I likely won't make the drive to return however if I was in the area I would. FYI, they mention food is halal but there is no certification to authenticate this or signs anywhere in the store. read more

Cedar Grill - Chicken Kabob Bowl - Middle Eastern Near Me - Downers Grove, Illinois

First time trying Cedar Grill after hearing great things about the food -- and we can confirm, the food is fantastic! My husband and I arrived around 7:30 PM. We weren't greeted when we walked in, which was fine, but once we got to the counter, the energy from the staff felt off. The girl at the register came off a bit aggressive and seemed uninterested in helping us. Since it was our first visit, we had a few questions, but the interaction felt rushed and unfriendly. After ordering, we were told dine-in was closed and only takeout was available -- something that would've been helpful to know before placing the order. Especially confusing since there was a whole family dining inside at the time. Our food was ready quickly -- within 5 minutes -- and we ate in the car. And wow, it lived up to the hype. Seriously, 9/10 on flavor, freshness, and portion size! While we were eating, we noticed the staff leaving around 7:45, even though the restaurant's listed hours say they close at 8 PM. That urgency to shut down early definitely explains the rushed and cold service. Food: (9/10) Service: (1/10) Vibes: (3/10) Great food -- but if you're going close to closing time, just expect it to be a grab-and-go experience with a not so pleasant service! Ordered 2 chicken kabob bowls for $34. read more

Cedar Grill - Chicken Kabob Bowl - Middle Eastern Near Me - Downers Grove, Illinois

The chicken shawarma sandwich is the best sandwich on Ogden ave delicious and full of flavor. I've tried almost everything on the menu, was never disappointed. The lady that takes the orders at the register is awesome, knows the menu, she's constantly cleaning the place when she's not taking orders or answering the phone. The cooks are very friendly always smiling. Great hot delicious middle eastern cusine! read more

Food is great, so is the service. Plenty of seating- super low-key for a quick bite to eat and a healthier option. Their hot sauce and garlic sauces are very good! read more

Never disappointed. Great selection too! Love the shwarma! Very friendly atmosphere read more

Monday, Dec 22. Ordered chicken & steak shawarma dinner, chicken shawarma lunch platter, large Fatoush dinner salad and Lentil soup. The Shawarmas were diced to bits not chunks and grilled til dried. The Fatoush salad was virtually flavorless and made of limp lettuce, limp cucumbers and flavorless. It was a leftover salad from Sunday or maybe Saturday. The soup was thick and showed promise, light on flavors. Very, very disappointed. Spent $62 on a less than average meal. I'm willing to try Cedar Grill again, however, I will ask for lightly grilled large pieces of meat and check the salad for freshness before ordering. read more

Great falafel, chicken shawarma, lentil soup, hummus, baba ghanoush and tabbouleh. Fast, I order ahead and it's ready in ten minutes.

Tried this place on a Saturday night with my husband. We were the second customers who had dinner inside the restaurant however there were many take outs. We ordered Veggie Grape Leaves, Falafel wrap and Gyro Plate with Rice Pilaf. Food was delicious and tasty. The ambiance was ok. The server was decent. As it's located in a plaza hence there is plenty of parking spots. I would recommend this place! Give it a try! read more

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I have eaten here for year's and it's always good. If like shawarma or kabobs you won't be disappointed

Delish! I had a chicken schwarma wrap delivered to my hotel since the restaurant here wasn't answering the phone. This was wonderful, still warm, just a tiny bit dry. When I'm in town again I'll definitely revisit the place. read more

I really want to support Middle Eastern food so we can have more of it but I wasn't that excited about my order. I ordered a kefta bowl. The kefta was not kefta but just chopped-up hamburger (no parsley, no seasoning etc). Wasn't grilled. What's weird is that I see pictures of real kefta in the older comments so I'm not sure what is going on. Not bad but not what I was craving. Wish I remembered to take pictures. The tabouli wasn't good and the side of fattoush wasn't fattoush either (used grape tomatoes (huh?) and vinegar instead of lemon juice). Hummus was store brand level. The rice and garlic sauce was good. Also annoying - my order was missing the pita that came with my meal. On a delivery, this is not good. I'm not sure if the owners are actually Lebanese or if someone else is making the food. It is not authentic or else someone over-Americanized it. Will not be back. read more

The portions are absolutely amazing and the food is insanely good. The lady at the front is incredibly nice aswell read more

Cedar Grill - Middle Eastern Near Me - Downers Grove, Illinois

Hidden gem of delicious food! Amazing gyros and great seasoned fires. Super clean and great staff, can't wait to try everything on the menu. Holly is a delight and the guys on the grill are pros. Must try! read more

I haven't had a problem with the food and this was a long standing lunch option, but now they won't provide or even sell a cup for water. Yesterday was my last visit here, not interested in supporting local spots that try and gouge their customers. read more

Great beef shawarma deluxe . I call it the Middle Eastern Burrito . Much better than the Mexican Version Good job Shay read more

I don't say this often, but they have the best shawarma in the area. It's full of flavor, delicious and not dry at all. If you get the plate, you get a hearty serving of rice and veggies to go with it. Their tabbouleh is perfectly seasoned, enough lemon, salt and oil to make your taste buds tingle. This place is fast casual and has the quality of a higher end Middle Eastern restaurant. The service is friendly, the prices are decent, and the food is beyond delicious. I highly recommend everyone to come and try it out, especially if you have never eaten Middle Eastern food. read more

My wife said Cedar Grill was now halal, so we stopped in for dinner. The interior is somewhat small and feels fast-foodish, but no big deal. Menu selection is reasonable; pretty much the standard Middle Eastern fare. We ordered a Cedar mixed platter, a chicken shawarma sandwich, and fries. The meats in the mixed platter were delicious, especially the kifta; tender & juicy. The chicken patties were pretty good (slightly dry). The rice was good; moist. The garlic sauce was excellent. The platter included pita bread and lentil soup; the pita was just okay, but the soup was enjoyable on a cold evening. The chicken shawarma sandwich was lackluster, unfortunately. It was very dry. There should have been tahini sauce or hummus or something inside. The fries were pretty good, though a bit soggy; since we were eating there, they should have been nice and crisp. I believe pricing was reasonable for the quantity of food we got. We had plenty of leftovers for home. Just a side note -- while I was getting utensils, my wife said she found a hair on the fries and on her sandwich, which she removed. However, she didn't take a picture, so I'll just take her word for it. If you're sensitive about food hygiene, just something to keep in mind. And a piece of advice -- get some extra garlic sauce for 50 cents. It's worth it. 3.5 stars overall. read more

Cedar Grill - a plate of food and french fries - Middle Eastern Near Me - Downers Grove, Illinois

The gyro sandwich is delicious and huge, had to eat half of the meat before I could even consider folding the pita. Killer onion rings. Sister loved the falafel wrap. Cooks are awesome and prepare everything to order. read more

Cedar Grill - Gyro and onion rings - Middle Eastern Near Me - Downers Grove, Illinois

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Hands down the best chicken shawarma platter in the Chicagoland area. I love Mediterranean food, it's usually a great decently healthy option and fairly consistent. As far as the western burbs are concerned I have pretty much tried them all. This is the bar that I compare all of them to. My order is usually the chicken shawarma dinner plater, it comes with a ton of rice, grilled veggies and what seems to be a pound of tasty chicken with plenty of crunchy burny bits that usually are the best part of a shawarma. The staff is always incredibly friendly and has your order ready FAST. Throw on a few falafel if you're a fan, they're great. read more

Cedar Grill - Chicken Shawarma Dinner with a side of falafel - Middle Eastern Near Me - Downers Grove, Illinois

Called tonight at 7:30pm and no one answered just continually rang. Arrived at store front at 7:45pm and it's all dark as the employees are piling out the back door. Website and door sign say 8pm close on a Friday night no less. Workers need to go get their party on I guess. read more

Great Mediterranean food, delicious lentil soup to start, then we had a beef kebab plate with yellow rice and grilled vegetables. Everything was fresh and delicious, with generous portions so we had two more meals to take home! Oh and the baklavas were delicate and tasty as well. We will be back! read more

Solid Mediterranean fare! We ordered online for pickup and everything about it was A+! We tried the chicken shawarma dinner and the gyro Mediterranean bowl as entrees. Both were great! Very filling and everything tasted fresh. The meat was very high quality and well seasoned. The best part? The garlic sauce. It was so tangy and garlicy--could never get enough of it!! read more

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Ordered a vegetable falafel wrap-very good! Chicken and beef shawarma plate/dinner was awful. Chicken and beef were like eating chalk! It is also WAY overpriced! Do not order unless you enjoy tasteless, dry, overcooked chicken and beef! read more

This seemed like a nice place for a quick bite after a trip to the Morton Arboretum, but I feel like I was led astray by the 4-star Yelp rating. Nothing was terrible, but the portions were meager, the vegetables were scant, and there wasn't anything particularly exciting about the flavors either. Now as I think about it, the baseline of Middle Eastern food is sufficiently good, that even thoroughly bottom-mediocre Middle Eastern food is still quite tasty, and I scarfed down my wrap quickly and got back on the road. At the same time, that means I can't think of the last time I had worse Middle Eastern food and plenty of times I had better. (I do try to get places a lot of slack for delivery and logistics issues during the pandemic, but there didn't seem to be anything about our quick take out experience here that would have been different during normal times.) read more

I cannot explain my 4 star review 9 years ago. Five stars all the way. Our husband wife favorite now is falafel super deluxe. Neither of us are vegetarians but this tastes great. CG baklava is not wholesale made in Chicago (I like that too). It's homemade, much more delicate pastry, and topped with ground pistachio. They do a lamb cut with beef thing. So aromatic, and with yellow rice ?saffron? I kind of doubt saffron, it's so expensive for fast food. It is delicious though. read more

Cedar Grill - My tabouli Baba Ghanouj hot dog made w excess Cedar Grill sides. I liked - Middle Eastern Near Me - Downers Grove, Illinois

Had an intense craving for falafel and took a chance on a new place--Cedar Grill absolutely knocked it out of the park!! No skimping here, I actually had leftovers. Great falafel, great hummus, great pita, no complaints. I ordered ahead on grubhub and didn't have any problems grabbing it after work. read more

Cedar Grill - Falafel Bowl - Middle Eastern Near Me - Downers Grove, Illinois

Five stars isn't enough for this place! Double it! Give them 20! I'd give them 100! I used to work around the corner from here, and thanks to COVID, I now work from home and save the commute. Great for my car, but bad for my belly. Every time we visit the office for a meeting, Cedar Grill is the treat we all crave! I've been visiting Cedar Grill for years and haven't had a bad item off their menu. We've also catered. In fact, the night I had my second child, we had someone pick food up and bring it to us in the hospital...now THAT's dedication. Everything here is fantastic, so you can't really order incorrectly. The pita wraps are perfectly pressed and toasted, and the fries are great. My favorite order is currently the hummus bowl with a pita on the side, because you get allll the things. Tip: Extra garlic sauce. Always! read more

This was my first visit, but will definitely not be my last!! I had the falafel wrap and the tabouleh salad. Both were excellent! The lady who took my order was very personable and helped me identify their vegan options. They made my falafel while I waited and it was worth it. After I had eaten most of my meal, the lady checked in to see if I liked what I had. I told her I liked it very much and next time I will try the falafel bowl. Since the rest of my family is not adhering to a vegan diet, I asked about their gyros. She said they are very popular and she has a customer who drives all the way from Saint Charles to get their gyros! So next time, I will be coming back for gyros and a falafel bowl. read more

Not good quality Middle Eastern food. I ordered the beef shawarma plate for lunch. It comes with diced pieces of low quality gyro meat that had no flavor, yellow rice, 1 pita, and a some tahini sauce for $12. No salad. Unfortunately, the food made me throw up when I got home. I gave Cedar an extra star because the staff was friendly. But, I won't be back. Pita Inn is right down the street and is orders of magnitude better. read more

Lack luster Mediterranean food. I ordered 2 things and my bill was over 20.00 for very small portions as well as shorting me the main ingredient in one of my orders. If you are desperate and nothing else is open for miles and you may pass out from lack of any energy, please pass this place by! I get a little suspicious when you enter a Mediterranean food joint and there are Hispanics at the grill. This place is horrible. read more

Writing this review really pains me. I have been getting delicious food from Cedar Grill. Over just the past month I have eaten food from here at least 4 times. I know that we are all making concessions for many reasons but, I have to say that the quality has dropped considerably. From the Lentil soup to the Falafel, to the Shawarma, these foods are not as flavorful as they were in the past. Even the Hummus has declined in quality! (Too much Tahini.) read more

Honest review: idk why all the bad reviews the foods amazing homemade and actually hot. Its an order n sit down type of restaurant. They have hot sauce its really good n spicy so ask for it. The garlic sauce is really good. Been here twice once to dine here n one for take out. The artichoke chicken takes 25 minutes to make so order it a head of time. Best things: mixed grill, gyro, humus, falafel, baba Sample appetizers (humus, falafel, tabuli, baba ghanouj) $8:95 it was really good n fresh. Humus was good wasnt bitter falafel wasnt dry or bitter. Tabuli was refreshing the baba was really flavorful Mixed cedar grill lunch portions a good size the sauce was to die for ask for more. The kefta was really flavorful and tender. The beef n chicken kabobs were delish! Would order again n the rice was actually good Chicken n beef sharwma these were good but the kabobs were more flavorful Stuffed grape leafs $3:95: i would pass on this wasnt that good wish there was a sauce Lentil soup: it was good but nothing worth buying Gyro $6:95: this was so flavorful. There is so much meat and its tender and crispy loved all the onions n they put a lot of sauce was the best gyro i ever had Baklava: didnt like was to seeet Chicken artichoke: (takes a while to be made) its really good but there are other tastier things its like a greek chicken alfredo is the best way i could describe it read more

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Mediterranean Bowls are amazing and the lentil soup is the best . Also had one of the best Gyros from them a couple weeks ago. read more

Cedar Grill - Mediterranean Bowl and lentil soup - Middle Eastern Near Me - Downers Grove, Illinois

Let me start by saying that the food is really, really good. We used to go here for lunch every couple of weeks and enjoyed it a lot. That said...I went in recently to pick up an order I placed online which should have been ready in 15 mins and it hadn't even been placed yet. And I was concerned that the woman at the register and the food prep folks were not wearing masks. So, went to wait in car and they said they would bring it out. After 45 mins a and watching other customers come and go, I went in to see what was up and oops, it was ready and they were just about to take it out to me. Sure. It happens, I get it, sometimes an order is screwed up and it's forgivable. But what really chapped me was that they were not wearing masks. read more

Cashier wasn't wearing a mask when I came in. Staff making food didn't wear masks at all. Customers that came in weren't asked to wear a mask. This is at the height of the pandemic. F this place. read more

Don't bother ordering through the yelp app. No food and tried to tell me the food was delivered when it wasn't. Silly way to lose business.

This place was another of my "famous" Yelp finds. -Which I'm always proud of, since I'm a self-proclaimed "big, dorky Yelper." My coworkers were all headed from Cicero to Downers Grove for a meeting in a nearby office park. I wanted a chance to catch up with them before the meeting so, HEY LET'S LEAVE EARLY AND GO TO LUNCH FIRST. I'm always full of unusually grand ideas. Anyway, I was on my phone and didn't really read what kind of place it was. I assumed a "bar and grill" and saw the good reviews. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw it was Middle Eastern food, which I love and had not had in a while. I've been to plenty of places like the Pita Inn or "add your favorite middle eastern place here." I found the food to be of really, really good quality. It was made fresh to order and was AWESOME. My coworker, who is Polish (wasn't sure if he liked this kind of food) was super impressed too. He said, "Good choice, Q." That is a high compliment from him. I ordered a chicken and steak plate with rice and pita bread. It was really good. I don't remember what he ordered. There was meat and rice (helpful, aren't I?) but he enjoyed his food too. A really nice surprise that I would not have guessed by the name. Cute place. Great food! read more

Cedar Grill - The plate I ordered-great variety! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Downers Grove, Illinois