Cedars is definitely one of my favorite places to eat in Hyde Park. They have really great options for vegetarian dining, and my omnivorous friends and family have always said great things about the meat dishes they get here. There have been a couple occasions were service was on the slow side (they can be very busy for dinner!), but the wait staff has always been very friendly and upbeat so I rarely get upset if I'm kept waiting a little long for the check. A few times the manager will be around greeting customers and sending out little gifts of hummus appetizers to diners, which always gives you that warm fuzzy feeling of being oh-so-appreciated. I definitely recommend the eggplant/cauliflower/potato sandwich, which is far better in the restaurant than it is when you buy it at the UChicago Div School's campus. There have been a couple times that I got one through the Div School and it was unedibly salty, which I guess must have originated at the restaurant, but whenever I get one at Cedars itself I am never disappointed. The sandwich is a great price and if you're a lighter eater you can probably make 2 meals out of it (especially with the generous portion of fried potatoes they give you). Alternatively, they've been happy to substitute salad for my fries when I don't feel quite like eating a massive mound of starches. The food is similar to Hyde Park's other mediterranean place, the Nile, but the decor at Cedars is incomparably better. I've been to Cedars far more than the Nile though, so I can't give too much insight into how specific dishes match up. They also have an option for a multi-course family style meal, but I've never come here with 4 people and so have never been able to try it. It seems like a very good deal though if you should come with a group. read more

So this was my third visit to this establishment since my initial review a few months ago. I decided to give this restaurant another chance after I was contacted by Mike, who is the manager of Cedars. He was very honest and apologized for the bad service I had received before. I really respected the fact that he took the time to read my review and comment on it honestly and decided to give them another chance because of this. The first time, I ordered delivery and because I no longer eat meat I ordered the Curry Salmon and the plain kushary... And I have to say, the reason why I have given them two stars is because the food was delicious, the salmon fresh tasting and seasoned perfectly! Unfortunately, the service over the phone was atrocious but of course I gave them another go (because I am a glutton for punishment) and because my friend from the University, Jose loves this place and was shocked at what I had experienced. So under his coaxing I ate at this restaurant with him a few weeks ago and I was happy with how our waitress (I forget her name) was so great and seemed to really take pride in her job. She had very striking short red hair. But I cannot say the service was great the third time... I understand perfectly how hard it is to be a waiter but the service over the phone when I placed my order for pickup after I had eaten there with my friend was so bad that I contemplated not picking up my order at all. The lady who gave me my order when I got there was so rude, she all but threw my credit card back to me, it fell on the floor next to the counter/bar where she swiped it and I decided to forgive her as she looked really tired! But that was no way to behave as she did. I left ZERO TIP but the waitress whose name I forget was so nice, she saw what happened and politely gave me a smile, telling me to enjoy my day. She is great and she has given me exceptional service before. She has red hair and wore a faint reddish orange lipstick/lipgloss today! She is the only one in this restaurant who takes pride in her job and I thank her for her great service. But alas, I have to concede, this restaurant is the worst I have ever been to and I will no longer go there or order from there. Sorry Jose, I gave it a chance and it did not work out... My advice to others hoping to eat here? Do not call in and place an order, I think the anonymity of the telephone makes them rude AND, there are many better places in Hyde Park with exceptional service to choose from. Don't bother with this place. read more

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Hummus has brought me out of Yelp Retirement.... Cedars is one of those places you are not quite sure why is smack dabbed in the middle of strip mall in Hyde Park. Its decor and food much exceed its facade. Atmosphere: Kind of sketch around the outside, but inside is nice decorated in modern tones and cool arabic characters in the walls. Seating for about 60 people or so on 2-4 person tables. Has a hip Urban flow and feel to the place. Wish my new condo look like it, except not in Hyde Park. Service: very attentive and very helpful always making sure that we had plenty of warm pita for our tasty hummus Food: So I went in with a huge group and we had two kinds of grilled chicken, hummus, falafel which all was very good. There was a ground beef dish, like a shish kabob that also was quite tasty. Desserts included Baklava and an amazing chocolate cake. All in all very good middle eastern food. Mommy Factor: Besides being smack in a strip mall, this place would be a fine place for the folks to come crash at...my mom loves the pita. Date Factor: Not what I would call ultra-upscale, this has a "Toast, we are new but feel kind of worn" feel to it. Would be a fun place to take a date, but not unless you were trying to knock her socks off. Bling: Since I wasnt paying, overall pretty reasonable with dishes ranging around 10-20 bucks for an entire well portionate cuisine. Then again I was mooching off our party so I ate for free. Upshot: A hip, albeit hidden place to attain fine middle eastern food without breaking the bank. Again let us embrace the power of the chickpea. P.S. First post in several months....life happens. read more

Ok, I'll start off with saying this place has flaws. 1) The falafels are always overfried, not good. 2) The Kibbi is nowhere near as good as (now departed) Yahalla in St Augustine. I'm sure no one has heard of it, but their Kibbi was amazing. 3) They tend to forget my salad when I order take out. All that said I find this place inventive, with large portions and amazingly low prices. For me falafel isn't a prerequisite to a good middle eastern meal. The baklava is also rather tough, but again thats not a deal breaker for me. The soup is great, and while none of their food is traditional per se, its really quite tasty. The rice they have can be improved, here's a quick recipe: Dice some onion, tomato, garlic and saute quickly in olive oil. Toss in some raisins, cashews, salt, pepper, then add the rice. Serve with whichever dish you ordered. I did this with the lamb in yogurt and it really enlivened the dish. read more

The people were very nice today and welcoming.. the food was also very good. I love the idea of collaborating with Shawn Michelle's ice cream as well... everything was good. The wings and potatoes were full of flavor and the banana pudding ice cream was good read more

I can't tell you about their whole menu. What I can tell you is that I still try to recreate their salad dressing for their fattoush salad on a regular basis. I know it has olive oil and sumac, and possibly a red wine vinegar, but I've never quite managed to recreate it. Those pitas were toasted and charred just right, too. I love that salad so, so much. Used to eat it regularly. Miss it. Miss it lots. read more

I love Mediterranean food with how simple and wholesome the ingredients are, but Cedar's never manages to get it quite right. I've had their food a bunch of times as they cater to a lot of UChicago events. Although the spices are there, the texture of the chicken is always off -- it's always too rubbery, as if I were eating chicken-flavored plastic/gum. I went to the restaurant to see if the food was any better and unfortunately that was not the case. I ordered the Shekriya. It was too creamy and rich, and there was barely any lamb meat! Quite pricey for the lack of protein... While I won't say no to free Cedar's, you won't find me sitting down at their restaurant any time soon. read more

This is probably my favorite place to eat in Hyde Park. Mediterranean food also tends to be healthy and clean tasting, but I think they put crack in the rice pilaf. Must ... eat ... more ... pilaf ... And pretty much everything else is great too. If it involves carmelized onions, you want it. read more

I've ordered delivery from Cedars a bunch of times and I've always ordered Mediterranean staples like hummus and dolmlades. It's always been pretty good. Today was the first time I actually went inside and sat down for a meal. I was surprised how full it was for 3 in the afternoon on a Sunday and the pleasant decor. I was expecting something kitschy, but it had a very classy feel. Before the meal came, the owner came around and gave every table a serving of hummus on the house that was delicious! I ordered a pita sandwich with lamb and beef that was delicious. It came with a small salad that had REAL vegetables. It wasn't all iceberg lettuce with a ring of onion like most places. There was actual romaine, cucumber, a yellow pepper and mint. The sandwich was great, with some more real salad ingredients inside. The fries are more like fresh thick-cut fries and were super great. The Turkish coffee was strong and delicious with strong notes of lemon-grass. Although Cedars will always be a staple of delivery in Hyde Park, I can't wait to go back in and enjoy table service. read more

What's up with all the negative reviews? This place is great. I've come here 3 times now. As a local university student, there are three things I love about this place: 1. The price. It's pretty cheap. 15 dollars for dinner? Not bad compared to a 20 dollar pizza. 2. Service is always good. It takes a little long, but waiters are always attentive. 3. Food is excellent. I get the lamb kabob with tomato sauce every time. Always hot and fresh, with nice, bold flavor. Come check this place out! read more

Amazing food! I love falafel! With that being said, I tried falafel in over 20 different restaurants across Chicago. These are among the best I've tried so far! (If not the best). I also had lentil soup and the soup didn't disappoint. Also, this place is totally adjusted to COVID-19 requirements. I'll be a regular costumer! read more

It's an inconspicuous delight!! Finding great Middle Eastern food in the city is hard, finding great Mid East food at a reasonable price is near impossible. Cedars meets and exceeds the bar. The food is great, from the hummus to grape leaves and entrees like the lamb shwarma, all of them are well plated, large in portions, and fresh. read more

Got takeout from Cedars Mediterranean tonight and it was excellent. The food was hot and delicious, and the service was great. They forgot to put one item in my order in the takeout bag, and when I went back to get it, they were apologetic and courteous and even gave me a free cookie! I will definitely go here again and I strongly recommend it to anyone looking for high-quality Mediterranean food in Hyde Park. read more

It never fails me !!! I'm always pleased with my orders. I mostly order from Uber Eats and I love how they wrap and package their food for safety. Yummy and delicious all the time. read more

Looking for amazing 5 star food ! Looking for amazing Tandoori Chicken sandwich! Looking for best taste in town! Looking for reasonable price menu! Go To Cedars!!! read more

I tried them a few weeks ago and I've literally ordered from them almost every day since. The food is amazing especially the tacos and wings. I've also had the chicken shawarma plate which will leave you wanting more. I even have my co-workers at University of Chicago ordering. The staff is so friendly and nice. You won't be disappointed! read more

Byob. Enough said. Nice service. Very friendly waitresses who take the time to ask about your day and make sure everything is going your way. One of their waitress is also from the east coast, wut up!!! Great food. Now I don't mean all of their food is great, but my particular dish was delicious. My friend had their NY cut sirloin, which was a bit dry and bland (but he did get it medium, so I'd recommend ordering rare-medium rare). I got their combo plate with their tika chicken, pomegranate-braised short ribs and roasted veggies. The roasted veggies were ok, and the tika chicken was also suffering from a case of dryness. However, their pomegranate-braised short ribs were absolutely out of this world. The tender, juicy pieces of ribs were marinated in a pomegranate based sauce that enhanced every single bite. If nothing else, get their ribs!!! Did I mention it's byob? read more

As we entered into the almost empty restaurant, there was a sign that read PLEASE WAIT TO BE SEATED. We waited as several staff members walked back and forth cleaning tables that were already clean. Finally, after several minutes, a waiter said, "Oh, you can have a seat wherever you'd like." The waiter took our order (see pics of food) and everything seemed fine until I noticed that the salad that I received was not what I ordered. The waiter was out of sight and never checked on us until the end of our meal. I ate what I wanted out of the salad and explained that this was not what I ordered. I wasn't charged for the salad. Mediocre service at best!! read more

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The measuring stick for me, of a decent Mediterranean/Lebanese place. is the falafel... Without fail. If they can't do that right, everything else is sure to be doomed. Sure enough, my falafel were like rocks... battered rocks. We had 2 full meals outside of the falafel, and ohhhh the humanity! I need say no more! Got it? Don't bother. Go without Lebanese in Hyde Park. It's not worth it... really. Go somewhere outside of HP if you must have it! Life is too short to eat bad Falafel. read more

This place is close to my home so now and then I'll go and grab a bite. First, only the lamb on the menu is halal and so that limits my selection from the get go. From the lamb dishes, I'd say only 3 are worth getting: lamb chops, Kefta Kebob and Pan-Sauteed Lamb (Kallayah) They get 3 stars because they are very inconsistent in what is or isn't halal. I have been told on many occasions that the lamb is halal but two times I went there, once on Eid and then recently, the server told me EVERYTHING was. Really, you work there and don't know your own menu?? read more

I was excited to come to Cedars and try another Middle Eastern restaurant in HP. I only wish I had known they had a parking lot with free parking!! I walked, like, an extra 3 blocks. =) But once I got there, the food was fast and SUPER fresh. My sandwich had so many good flavors going on, and I didn't care that I looked like I just had a shot of Novocaine trying to stuff all that yummy goodness into my mouth. Thankfully the waitress brought extra napkins. The restaurant is super clean and neat and has a very nice ambiance. But the most impressive thing?? Well, let's just say that I have the stomach of a champ-- seriously, the amount of food I can eat is impressive and borderline dangerous. I actually needed a box!! So uncharacteristic....in fact, I left the box at the restaurant, since I am so unaccustomed to having leftovers. I still have visions of the thin fries and tandoori chicken.... read more

The shrimp kebab, tabolah, warm grape leaves, and baba ghnouj were quite tasty. I'll be back.

I LOVED Cedars a few weeks ago until today. They had the BEST falafel sandwich in the city. However, not only did the go up on the meal by 1.50 but it doesn't come with a salad anymore. The rice isn't yellow anymore, the sandwich doesn't come with hummus anymore so if you're vegan, you will have to settle for a mango salsa which is unheard of.... Lastly, they were skimpy on the falafel pieces in the sandwich which l was very disappointed in. There is a lot of changes. Especially to one dish. They've changed the entire menu. It's unfortunate. I hope they stay open longer. Not a lot of customers are happy with these changes. I trust that you all will make some changes. Sending love. read more

I love a good Chicken Shawarma plate and I'm newer to the neighborhood, so I had just been going to Roti which has been decent. Living up further north in the city, I used to go to a Lebanese place called Falafel and Grill and they have what I would consider a fantastic Chicken Shawarma Plate, but again I'm down here now and I've been feeling a little lost with lost without this great meal....until today. I found Cedars last weekend while waiting in line for the ATM. There was a guy handing out samples, which I was like....don't mind if I do! The sample was pretty good so I remember saying to my wife, we should remember this place and try it some time. Then came this evening, and I remember the guy that gave me the sample saying they delivered. So I call for delivery and order. A few minutes later I get a call that they don't deliver to Bronzeville, which I felt like, that sucks and kinda bogus but I want the FOOD! Lol. I get to the restaurant and the place is nice and quaint little spot that smells heavenly and the guy welcomes me in and states he's given me a $10 discount (like okay guy...I like it) and I get my food and head home because I'd Covid and all. When I get home....I have a plate full of rice, fantastically seasoned, well cooked chicken Shawarma with some veggies, garlic sauce, some spicy tahini sauce and this warm flour tortilla under all of the food. I'm tellling! Great portions! Great taste! Best in Chicago for sure! It's hard to say because I've been going to my place up north, but it's true....sooooooo good!! We'll be back!! read more

I freakin love this place! Chicken Shawerma is ridiculously good. Falafel with their lentil soup, my favorite comfort food.

Food is okay . Not bad. Not that good . Portions are pretty big . But the quality is not there . You would find better quality at the Nile restaurant on 55th. They try but the flavor is just not there. The bread is not good either . Every time I get a sandwich from there the bread just crumbles everywhere which is annoying . read more

I like Cedar's but I don't love it. Here's why: The Pros: ~Parking ~Cheap ~BYOB (this alone bumped it up a star) ~Decent food - especially the sandwiches. Not the best, but certainly not bad. The Cons: ~Inconsistent quality. ~Not very good with modifications from the menu ~Servers who don't seem to know much about the menu and are therefore not helpful when you have questions or need to modify due to dietary restrictions ~Service can be slow. read more

good but but not great. I say that because i personally think their food is a bit overpriced, and while the food is great, there is NOTHING, on their menu that stands out. The lamb here is pretty decent, cooked medium well. Pair that with some rice. No complaints other than i wish they would expand their menu. Great for a quick to go meal. But don't choose this place as a date night. You will be disappointed read more

The staff is incredibly nice, and the revised menu that emphasizes Middle Eastern food is a marked improvement. I especially like the new falafel, hummus, and tabouleh. The owner is incredibly personable, and it is so nice how much they have done for front line workers during the coronavirus pandemic. read more

I really like this place, even if the U of C law school orders from here several times a week. Actually, it's probably my favorite lunch option when a student group caters from here and gets the chicken shawarma, the falafel balls, and the pita bread with hummus. All of the options are very flavorful and tasty, and the chicken is not very dry. I've also come here for dinner before with the use of a Groupon - the lentil soup is really good. The dinner portions (also ordered the chicken shawarma again) was very sizable, although the chicken was a bit dryer than what I normally see for lunch. All in all, this is one of the better options to get food in Hyde Park. read more

My boyfriend and I were too tired to drive from Hyde Park all the way to Spacca Napoli, so we headed to Cedars instead. Good choice! I've eaten at Cedars many times, and the experiences have ranged from good to mind-blowing. Last night was pretty darn excellent, despite the flaky service. Okay, so I got my Egyptian red lentil soup before our appetizer, and my boyfriend never did get that salad, but he actually forgot about it, due to the thrilling appetizer of fava beans with lots of garlic and a nice amount of peppers. Other good starters are the Jerusalem salad and the 3-cheese flat bread. I usually order the lamb kifteh kabobs, but there is a new lamb dish on the menu, and it is divine! The generous chunks of lamb have been braising in this yogurt-garlic sauce forever, and it's velvety and super tender. My boyfriend got the lamb and beef shwarma, which was accompanied by delicious herbed potatoes and grilled vegetables. I usually make sure to save room for the pineapple harissa or one of the many kinds of bakalava, but my lamb dish was too superb. I still managed to take a nice amount home, which is exciting. We did manage to swallow down some of their excellent coffee. Everyone is very nice, albeit at times spacey, at Cedars. Often times the owner is there too, making sure you feel at home. It's BYO, so the bill is always much lower (my boyfriend and I walked out of there for $34 before tip!) than expected. If you go with four or more people, be sure to take advantage of the family style dining--it's probably THE gastronomic experience in Hyde Park. And especially if you live in Hyde Park, make sure Cedars is a regular dining spot. Life will be better, i promise. read more

The prices are a bit high. The husband likes the grilled cauliflower sandwich and the lentil soup. The flat breads are a nice substantial snack. I particularly like the garlic spinach. The trio of dips is good. If you request it, you can get whole wheat pita instead of white pita which is a plus! The dinners are not that appetizing when received, in my opinion, usually they have fat floating on top and in the stew. The family likes the food better than I do. There is free parking in the strip mall's lot. It is BYOB and recently was remodeled so that it is much more attractive inside now. Credit cards are accepted. read more

Best wings in Chicago, hands down. Their kale, sweet potato chicken salad is so filling and flavorful and delicious. The shawarma tacos are even better. This is one of my go-to neighborhood spots to order from and they seriously never disappoint. I've never dined in, so I'm not sure how the service is but the food keeps me coming back and getting take out. read more

This is one of my mom's local restaurants, so we ate here during a recent visit. My mom knows that I LOVE hummus - in fact, my friends and I ordered from a Med restaurant in DC almost daily for a while. So I was excited to try Cedars. It was pretty good. I was a little weirded out that the hummus comes with meat. WHich I found was totally overkill. Rather than giving me lamb on top of what's already a viable protein, could I have some warm, FRESH pita? No one mentions yet if their pita is fresh on a typical day (I made exceptions for a holiday weekend), but the over grilled store bought pita pockets was disappointing. Mom and I also had entrees - I had the Mashawar and she had the combination plate. Her Jerusalem salad wasn't bad, though you could tell it had been sitting for a while as the cucumbers were soggy. My Tabulleh was also pretty good - though a little too minty (it was completely green). My platter was pretty good. The meat was tender, but lacked...something....in flavor. Mom remarked that the lamb from her shish kebob was tough. She also remarked that you get a larger helping of hummus for takeout than for eating there. All in all - it's a reasonable meal. Decent price. Good, but not great food. It's a nice local place to have, but it's probably worth it to travel out of the neighborhood for better med food. Edit: Mom said that the bread was odd that night we went. So I'll try again some time for the full experience. read more

This is the best falafel I've had outside of two places: 1) Israel and 2) Amsterdam Falafel in Washington DC. So so so good. Amazing. I also love the kifta sandwich. Come to think of it, I pretty much love everything I've ever gotten here. Quite literally the only thing I don't care for is their fries (usually a bit soggy). Otherwise, it's a ton of DELICIOUS food for really, really reasonable prices. I'm a huge fan. read more

I feel guilty for not liking Cedars more. The decor is elegant, the service is quick and friendly, and the food is plentiful and well-made. The problem is that I just don't like Mediterranean food. I returned to Cedars last night with a friend to support a fundraiser for a University of Chicago student group. The deal was that if you identified yourself as supporting the fundraiser, 15% of your final bill would be donated to the group. Bonus points to Cedars for being so friendly even in the current economy! My friend and I shared the Kibbeh as an appetizer, and it was delicious, warm, crispy on the outside and moist on the inside (in a good way). For the main course, I had a lamb dish, which was marked "New!" on the menu; I can't remember the name of the dish, nor is it on the online menu (so it really must be brand new!)...but essentially it was chunks of tender lamb served in an onion-flavored sauce with a side of perfectly cooked and spiced rice. I absolutely loved the sauce and the rice, but the lamb was very fatty. Unfortunately I had to put aside all of the meat because I can't stand the texture of fatty meat in my mouth. I could eat that sauce for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, however. My friend tells me that this is how lamb normally is, so, if you like lamb, you won't have a problem! I was too full to have any dessert or coffee, but I noticed that they have Turkish coffee on the menu. Next time I go to Cedars I'll probably stick to dessert and coffee just to get a taste of Turkish coffee (yum). read more

More like 3.5 stars, verging on 4. The new interior (now a year or two old at least) is nice and always bustling at dinnertime. Portions are very big, it's a great place to come with an accomplice to split an appetizer and entree, with a bottle of wine or a sixer of beer to boot. (Otherwise I'll have to concur that this place is a bit overpriced.) Service is decent at least, food is hearty and solid with a wide selection. Try the lamb kefta kabob, and the crisp and savory falafel. A convenient restaurant to have in your backyard, and worth a visit if you're in the neighborhood. read more

Went to Cedar Mediterranean Kitchen, it's in the Hyde Park neighborhood mixed in at a strip mall location. The restaurant is super clean and nicely decorated. The staff was helpful and present. The lentil soup was good after adding salt. Everything was good but a little under seasoned. Once you add salt and pepper everything is YUMMY. I had the combo of chicken Tika and ribs, it was so tender and delicious. It wasn't crowded when we arrived at 5pm on a Saturday. Enjoy its a good, solid restaurant. read more

Cedars Mediterranean Kitchen - Cedar Mediterranean Kitchen Hyde Park neighborhood, Chicago IL - Middle Eastern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is so close to my apartment it's ridiculous, and I do really like it - but having had muuuuuuch cheaper, equally good or better mediterranean food in other parts of the city, I'm a little less rah-rah-rah about cedars. The atmosphere is nice. The shwarma is great, as is the kefta kabob sandwich. When I get a bunch of people who want to go in on family style, it's fabulous. Good food in giant (as in, three meals' worth of leftovers) portions with dessert. Their hummus is to die for, their baba ghanouj and falafel less so. And it all is seriously too expensive. Falafel for $7.50? Highway robbery. But it's one of the few "nice" places in Hyde Park - a place I would, and do, take my parents for dinner out, which is really nice to have around. read more

Oh Cedars. I ignored you for years, but pardon my ignorance. The kefta kebab dinner is amazingly delicious (especially when you get it with the basmati rice), and so this is what I almost always order when I go (tho I will switch it up to the sandwich depending on my hunger level). And the price is oh so right. Some days I love the Jerusalem salad, others it's just okay. The accompanying side salad that comes with the dinners leaves a bit to be desired. But I enjoy the atmosphere, it's got an incredibly diverse middle eastern menu (that includes a ton of vegetarian items which makes it good for diverse groups of eaters), contrary to other reviews I've read, I think it's pretty decent for groups (I've had my birthday dinner here a couple times and it's gone pretty smoothly) and the BYOB makes it awesome, especially with its proximity to a liquor store! It's not the BEST food of its cuisine I've had in the city, but it's still pretty solid. And the price is generally pretty right (as I rarely can eat a whole dinner and end up taking a lot of it home for leftovers). It keeps me coming back. My biggest gripe is the person who takes the delivery orders gets them wrong, and you end up with a lot more food than you'd planned on. Other than that, It's a pretty decent place to grab a tasty bite. read more