This piece of heaven may be East Bay's most underrated treasure. Food, service, ambiance, location, and wine menu are the loveliest and most charming this side of the Bay. It is the first place my wife and I think of when we want a respite from daily stress, or want to celebrate a special occasion. I cannot sing their praises sufficiently enough. We love Chez Mansour! read more

The lamb kabobs are ridiculously good with the fluffiest rice I've ever had. Thursday nights usually have something fun going on, such as live music. And the wine selection is can't-miss. Love it! read more

Poor service ... it was almost racist how they made me and my family wait in line to be called after 4 parties we came before. I asked for AMERICAN cheese I was told that cheddar was American read more

Friendly, neighborhood place. Food has been great every time. I like the salmon and the mazza platter best, although everything I've had there was good. read more

Really tasty food. Had the eggplant with blue cheese, fool, and okra appetizers. The appetizers sauces included blueberry garlic, tzatziki, and parsley pesto, all excellent. Also had the delicious scallops. The outdoor tables were an eclectic mix of computer enabled furniture, and other not actually designed for dining. But hey this is covid times, right? read more

I just discovered this place today and loved it! Very friendly staff, great service and the food is very fresh and tasty! I ordered the fatoush salad and lamb and beef shawarma, delicious! read more

A very special dining experience. Super cozy vibe as if you are in Chez Mansour's living room. He tends the bar and heads back to the kitchen to prepare certain dishes, like the lamb chops which were cooked to perfection. I mostly am vegetarian, but I call myself "flexitarian" for homemade food when it's prepared with love and passion, as it is by Chef Mansour. So I was planning to taste one bite of the lamb chops that my boyfriend ordered, but it was so good I ate the whole chop! And at Mansour's insistence, we picked them up and ate right off the bone. So fun to be encouraged to do that! I also ordered okra which I love and cook very well myself. His dish was very different than mine, stewed in olive oil, but I loved it too. It was a huge portion that would be great with rice. I took the leftovers home and happily ate it over rice the next day. Overall, it was a fantastic experience and we will be back for our date night again. Great wine list too and great recommendations. We felt very taken care of by Mansour and his wife. read more

Had our first dinner experience here last evening. Delicious! My shrimp kebab was cooked to perfection. Accompanied by very tasty salad and grilled potatoes. My vegan husband ordered the mezza platter, and was very happy with his delicious and generous meal. Relaxed, laid back atmosphere. Hard working and friendly folks. This is definitely now our go to restaurant for the Middle Eastern end of the menu! read more

We were 3 friends getting together for a nice dinner, we thought. However, the dinner was very disappointing. Most of the dishes needed more seasoning, just some salt would have been an improvement if added during preparation. The beets in the salad were undercooked and the salad rather bland as well. With so many other restaurants in the area, we will definitely not visit this one again. read more

Kefta kabob dinner was awesome (juicy and delicious)! Hummus and chips were really good too. Falafel tasty but a little dry. Very reasonable prices compared to other places. I will go here again. read more

Really flavorless food. We had high hopes. Beet salad had no seasoning nor did baked cauliflower nor did Brussel sprouts. Steak kabob was tender but no flavor. Falafel no flavor & humus was fine. There are too many good restaurants in the area. How can you make food and not season it. I hate to give a bad review but someone has to step up. New chef maybe? read more

The lamb kebab just melts in your mouth. We ordered cauliflower. I loved the greenish sauce.

Such a nice place, sweet service, great fresh food and really fair prices. We loved it!!

Lovely place with the sweetest owner! My friend and I came here for outdoor dining (with a reservation) and had a wonderful time. I got the chicken kebab, so juicy and tender! We also got the mezza platter for appetizer! Really like the hummus, not too salty and very fresh. But most of all, the service was amazing! The owner is very very sweet, and told us that the place used to have belly dancers on certain nights before COVID hit. Would stop by again when I'm in the neighborhood! read more

Great place with a French cafe feel! I got the dolmas and beet salad, I took the server's wine suggestion and was very happy. They have a nice menu that is not overly extensive, so I suspect that they are good at what they do given what I tried so far! I would definitely be interested in their meat and fish dishes. They have a nice outside area with sturdy tables, it would make a nice outside date night place as well. read more

Chez Mansour - Dolmas and wine at chez Mansour - Lebanese Near Me - Albany, California

This was my favorite meal of shelter-in-place. The outdoor seating is cozy, the food was perfectly seasoned, and it was a kind and welcoming environment. Service was attentive and warm, but not overbearing. The wine and champagne was exquisite. The hummus, labneh, and the veggie kebab were our favorites. Friendly ambience and clean bathrooms. Good for an anniversary dinner read more

Chez Mansour - Lebanese Near Me - Albany, California

This was a beautiful surprise especially in this Covid crisis! Strolling down Solano after celebrating Juneteenth, this lovely restaurant caught my eye! Meeting the restaurant's Hostess Tanya was like meeting a long time friend. She explained the current health circumstances for the restaurant and made us feel at ease! A canopy provided shade for my friend and I as we ate our succulent chicken and lamb kabobs, fresh salad, traditional hummus, and OKRA! Everything was delicious, but the Okra was by far the best Ive had in a very long time. Thank goodness my friend saw it on the menu last minute and shouted it out in excitement. It wasn't overdone, had just the right amount of oils, and perfect soft texture. It was definitely the highlight! Passing through Solano Ave, many are shocked to see how restaurants are accommodating guests with outdoor seating and actual health precautions! Come to find out the people that made this kind of space possible for Solano Ave were sitting under the canopy 6-10 ft away! They were kind hearted, open minded, and generous! The conversation flowed like we'd all been long time neighbors. A warm thank you to everyone that makes this kind of experience warm, memorable, and possible. read more

The reviews saying the waitress is rude are so right. She's not just rude to customers, she's brutal to the poor guy who works there. We ordered the kefta kebab and the lamb kebab. Both were terrible. The kefta kebab had a very unpleasant flavor. The lamb kebab was tough. Really weird, right? Have you ever gotten tough lamb in a Middle Eastern restaurant? Me neither! It's always melt in your mouth tender. The rice had huge clumps in it - like maybe it was scraped off the bottom of the pot. We didn't even finish our dishes. Never had an experience like this before and we won't be going back to see if it was just an off night. Too many other people had similar experiences. read more

I was looking for an outdoor dining during Covid. We found this on Solano Street. A family owned business which we loved more. The food was great. Very very authentic middle eastern food. The chicken wasn't dry either. Falafel was delicious and so was the hummus. We were satisfied. They gave us three different sauces which I enjoyed ALL. We will definitely be back. read more

Horrible service and disrespectful. Food was okay but the food portions were really small. read more

Went today for lunch with a friend. We had very different takes on the restaurant. First, the pluses-nice ambience, excellent prices and good amount of food. I ordered lamb kababs with potatoes. The lamb had no flavor at all. The potatoes were ok. It also came with a green salad which i didn't order and didn't want. I don't like to waste food, but I didn't eat it. For the first course I ordered baba ganouche. That was wonderful and their home made pita chips were excellent. About two minutes later the main course arrived. I would have preferred one plate at a time. There were 3 other tables occupied while we were there, so I think the timing could have been better. Black tea was lipton's. My friend said she would go back. I said I wouldn't. read more

Well seasoned and tender kabob and kofta. Decent potatoes. Decent prices. But unfortunately all was not so good. Rice was soggy and over cooked. Salad was meager and ordinary. Service was unpleasant and not at all gracious. Lemonade was sour, not homemade, and only about 4 ounces. Moussaka was not at all like the Greek moussaka I love. There was no description of it on the thoughtlessly improvised menu. This Lebanese moussaka was a chickpea dish, and I'm not a fan of chickpeas. Though the waitress finally agreed to take it back, it was a struggle. This appetizer arrived cold after the main course. Atrocious art work on the walls, left over from the previous owner, almost killed my appetite. read more

Female owner was rude to my elderly mother in law last night. Food was mediocre Mediterranean. Spend your money elsewhere.

Let me just first say that the food was good. Not amazing, but really good. The service, however, was surprisingly and shockingly bad. When my parents and I entered, the waitress led us to a table that was breezy. My mom, who is rail thin, gets cold easily and wanted to sit farther away from the open door. Although the restaurant was almost empty, the waitress said that table was the only one available, and that the others were reserved. Strange, but when we left an hour and a half later, only two other tables had been filled. From reading the other reviews, I now realize the waitress is frequently untruthful. But this was just the beginning of her unwelcoming behavior. We tried to ignore her brusqueness, but it seemed the longer we were there, the more dismissive and irritated she became. Finally, when I asked for two additional forks for the baklava we were going to share and she responded, "just tell me everything you want right now, we don't have service," I had to say something. I was so dumbfounded and confused. What did she mean? Were we supposed to help ourselves? Had we been demanding or overstepped in some way? She said something about it being a family-owned business and stormed off. So I got up and asked the guy at the bar to explain their service model. Yes, they do have table service, he said, and no, they were not understaffed. When I said the waitress seemed agitated and rude, he "don't worry about it," and "'somebody' was having a bad day." From reading the other reviews, it appears this waitress has a lot of bad days. If this woman is an owner, she should seriously consider taking a position where she has no interactions with customers so this otherwise nice restaurant doesn't go down in ruin. read more

We had the perfect evening out at Chez Mansour. It felt like we had travelled far away from sleepy Solano Avenue (which so love but everything was closed by 9:00 last Saturday!) Mansour greeting us with old-world charm and a relaxed, familial warmth. We will definitely come back for the food! read more

We really liked the concept. It's not a regular place. I think the vibe their is different than any place I went to. I like the food and drink. Very recommended read more

Nothing like it. Mansour and Tanya are consumate hosts and their food is impeccably authentic Lebanese, which my Lebanese wife can attest. The variety is limited, but I'm sure that when the clientele quadruples, so will the menu. Looking forward to it! read more

Came in tonight with a friend. We ordered the mezze platter, shrimp, salmon, scallops and beef kebab. Everything was amazing. The dolmas were wrapped so tight and the most delicious I've tried at any Mediterranean restaurant. Hummus, falafel and tabouleh were out of this world. Ali, the chef-owner is so incredibly personable and the love and care he puts into his food shows. Prices are reasonable and portions are big. Check out this hidden gem in Albany! read more

Wasn't sure what to expect... my mom is Lebanese so I'm super picky (my experience is middle eastern food "out" is never as good as my mom's cooking!). My husband (also Lebanese) and I came here for dinner with my mom and dad. All I can say is wow! We will be back! The owner is such a pleasure. He spent a lot of time at our table talking w us. My mother loved him! We ordered the mezza plate and chicken livers as appetizers owner also sent out a taste of his Bammi dish (okra) - the mezza plate was so amazing. I then ordered a small dinner (1 skewer chicken shawarma) $8 and my husband had a small plate (lamb kabob-$8) my mom and dad got larger plate - $16...2 skewers instead of 1). My mom had chicken kabob and my dad had kefta. Kefta was amazing!!! My shawarma was a little dry (missing a tahini sauce or something) but it was tasty. Lamb kabob was slightly over cooked but again still very tasty. Chicken kabob was really good and juicy! I needed to add salt to some dishes. But my parents did not think it needed it (so personal taste. And salt is on table) We will be back again and again. Want to try other things on the menu. Price was reasonable too (under $100 for the 4 of us and we took food home) I can't wait to come back. read more

We've gotten take out from Chez Mansour a couple times before and was always very happy with the food, but on a recent stroll down Solano, we realized they had re-opened for outdoor dine-in. They have set up a few tables on the sidewalk/street area out in front of the restaurant under a canopy and you order inside, but they bring everything out full-service. The staff was amazingly friendly, properly masked, attentive and eager while still maintaining enough physical space between us and others. The food did not disappoint, their hummus is always delicious and their lamb kebab was cooked perfectly. Would highly recommend for anyone who wants delicious Middle Eastern food and bonus points for being able to enjoy it in a little fresh air. read more

I've been here twice. Both times, we had the mezze platter. The falafel was very dry and overcooked. The second time, the falafel was cooked properly but lacked flavor.The other items, hummus, etc. we're unremarkable. Everything was bland and in need of seasoning. The lamb kofta were like small bricks and tasteless. The chicken kebab was tender and moist. The sw one time, I had lamb kebab which was cooked correctly but lacked flavor. I normally don't salt my food but here, I had to add salt to get any flavoring. My husband had the chicken shawarma which was strange. It was a pile of grilled chicken with no sauce or seasoning. There was no pita either. I felt the portions for the price and quality were a little steep. The kebabs were 3 or 4 pieces of meat with rice or potatoes and a bit of salad for $8 and change. One kebab could barely make a meal. Service was ok. Our server was perfunctory but she did her job and nothing more. I wanted to like this place but found it to be a big disappointment. read more

I want this place to do well hence my additional star...It's cozy, the food is good, prices are very reasonable, the owners are nice, BUT the waiter is too lackadaisical and casual. Basic hosting skills are lacking. I have been there on busy and very slow nights. No eye contact, no proper greeting and no good bye. Hmmm.. these skills are especially important at new restaurants. read more

Great Lebanese food. They have many vegetarian options. The Mezza plate was delicious. We sat in the beautiful outdoor area and felt very safe there. read more

Deliciously fresh food and great atmosphere. The people who work here are just as fantastic. Highly recommend for a dinner out with friends or family. Casual and relaxed enough for kids as well. Our favorite neighborhood spot. read more

Chez Mansour is the place to go if you want good food at a good price. After swinging by, I stepped in and was introduced to the owner Ali. Ali was raised in Lebanon and has a special connection to the Mediterranean food he delivers. The Baba Ghannouge is delicious and unique to the restaurant. Can not go wrong paying a visit to Chez Mansour! Everything is delicious! Oh not to mention a great place to share a few laughs and drinks. I will definitely be coming back to enjoy this hidden gem. read more

Wandered in on a quiet Monday yesterday. The menu looked delicious so we got a window table. Started with the eggplant with pomegranate sauce and took a bite to feel my mouth explode with flavor. Had the scallops with a fresh and yummy salad and the potatoes instead of the rice. My wife had the chicken. The staff was awesome and friendly. I HIGHLY recommend this place. read more

I ordered the Falafel balls (veggie) appetizer, and yogurt cucuumber mint salad which I loved also the prices are .so low-- like WOW!!! They are a new restaurant. I highly recommend. They do not serve alcohol temporarily. My partner, on the other hand, ordered the Lamb and he said it was under cooked he was disappointed because he was so hungry plus the table over shared the same concerned to the waiter about her lamb being undercooked. read more

You can tell the owner is passionate about food quality upon your first bite here. Jumbo scallops, huge shrimp, and incredible lamb. A lot of restaurants these days are caught up in cheapening their food quality and Chez Mansour started off in the opposite direction. The owner is also a sweetheart and is very accommodating. Yet another reason to venture on to Solano Ave. read more

Fantastic food. The shwarma was absolutely delicious! Quaint dining room, friendly staff.

Thank you Chez Mansour for an exquisite cuisine and amazing service. I had the best lamb kabob I ever tasted with fresh fattoush. Great waiter Nasim, who is quite attentive and courteous. Best wine and glad alcohol is now served. We love the warm owner Ali. I will go back again and again. I am quite surprised at the negative reviews. The restaurant cuisine has improved tremendously in service and cuisine. Give it another try and you will not be disappointed. It's outdoors canopy and they follow strict Covid guidelines. I had my big milestone birthday at Chez Mansour and it was the most fun. This is a family owned restaurant that you will enjoy. Thank you. Sophia read more