five of us were there for an hour crowded into a four person table, ordered 2 pots of hot tea, 3…read morecold drinks, and an appetizer. we received only the initial free naan with feta, radish, and mint; hot tea; and one bottled drink. we never even got ice water. the hostess told us about halfway through they were out of clean glassware and having trouble getting everything washed, but that was the only explanation we got until we decided to leave, when she said they were understaffed and the kitchen was focusing on online orders rather than the restaurant. the location was pretty and everything was clean and well-kept, but it was too warm, there was a strong glare from the unshaded windows, and it was very loud. it seemed mostly to be set up for family groups.

Pretty disappointing experience after I heard all the positive reviews. I was searching for good…read morePersian food. Koobideh specifically. I ordered a family plate meal for 4 people and another koobideh plate for myself. Family plate came with 3 tomatoes and 3 jalapeños for 4 people. The koobideh was dry and bland. And on top if it all my order pick up was late. Not sure why the reviews are so good but my experience was lacking. Terrible service and food will not be back.

Really good food here. The bread is huge. But not large enough for the amount of dip they give. The…read morekebabs and rice were made really well. Lots of seating in the area. The tea was good but $8 for a small sugar mint tea felt a bit high.

Usta Kababgy is an excellent restaurant for authentic Middle Eastern cuisine in Austin, TX located…read moreon N. Lamar Blvd. The restaurant has well seasoned, charcoal grilled meats. The kebabs are the true highlight...juicy, flavorful, and grilled to perfection. The portions are quite large as the hubs and I shared a wrap. We were sufficiently full after eating the chicken tikka wrap. Interestingly, the wrap came in a Shawarma King packaging with their contact phone number. So, I assume that Usta staff are sub-contracting from Shawarma King. Usta also has freshly baked bread and classic sides like hummus and rice paired with the main dishes. The restaurant has a homey, lived in feel. It has a few middle eastern artifacts sprinkled throughout the restaurant. The menu offers a wide variety of options, from Iraqi and Adana kebabs to shawarma and traditional Middle Eastern plates, so there are food items for both first timers and regulars who want to explore beyond the basics. They also serve flatbreads where you can have two different toppings. The food focus is on bold, traditional flavors rather than modern takes on middle eastern foods. On the desserts front, they have an assortment of desserts and several sections of ice cream. I had the baklava, which was surprisingly delicious...it was not eye-squinting sweet like a standard baklava. It was crunchy, flavorful, and had nuts that were substantial. Layla, my server, was so super sweet and welcoming. She pointed out that Usta provides its customers free tea. How cool is that? I cannot remember last time I received a free drink.

Very cute restaurant and friendly staff. They even gave me free dessert. Today I ordered a large…read moresalad with grilled chicken. The salad was good, but the chicken was overcooked. I suspect it was not cooked fresh for me. It seemed/tasted reheated. It was dry and overly seasoned. I'll have to give them another try as I really like Greek food and it's really close to my place of work.

If you're looking for authentic Greek food, incredible hospitality, and a welcoming atmosphere,…read moreAthens Cafe is a must visit. It was my first time dining here, and from the moment I walked in, the experience was fantastic. The environment is cozy, vibrant, and beautifully designed it immediately warm-welcomes you with a relaxed, Mediterranean charm. What truly sets Athens Cafe apart, though, is the service. The staff offered the kind of genuine, attentive kind service that makes you feel like family rather than just a customer. To top off an already exceptional meal, they brought out a complimentary dessert at the end, which was a lovely, generous surprise and absolutely delicious! I honestly couldn't have asked for a better first impression. I definitely recommend everyone check this spot out I'll certainly be coming back!

Awesome food ! Great customer service . I tried , Karahi,…read morechapli kabob . The chai was awesome ! Home made I must say.

As soon as I walked in, it was dark kind of warm and it looks like the inside needs to be updated a…read morelittle bit of facelift done to it, including the menu. I thought the waitress was very nice. We ordered the Tika Kabob and the Shamik Kabob rice. I think the kebabs both have good flavor. I like the lentils and the rice. I really thought everything had good flavor to it. The only thing I would say is they don't offer you water and you have to buy bottled water or bottled drinks. Also, it's pretty warm in here. I would get it as takeout . I am definitely coming back. The only other thing I would add is definitely check your receipts. They overcharged us by a lot and they ask you do you want your receipt and if you don't take it you won't know that you're overcharged.

If you don't yet know that Caspian Grill has a whole vegan menu, you should. I'm late to the game…read moreand now working to make up for lost time. Not only are they incredibly kind, but also very knowledgeable about the vegan options, and even keep all vegan prep separate from animal products. For the first time ever, I was able to try real tahdig, so thoroughly crispy that you can hear it crunch between the teeth of your dining companion across the table. Khoresh bademjan is typically made with lamb, but in this case, tender lentils carry the eggplant with enough meatiness that you'd never think the dish had ever been prepared differently. If you only get one thing, though, make it the ash reshteh. Don't be fooled by the size of the bowl; this is one hearty entree, absolutely packed with chickpeas, lentils, kidney beans, soft wheat noodles, and more herbs and spices than I could identify on a single spoon. I'm already plotting how I can recreate this at home, ASAP. There's even a vegan dessert! Sweet and sticky halva, which is rich enough to split four or five ways at least, if you weren't already stuffed from the main meal. It's a double-edged sword that it was so quiet on a Saturday night. No fight for a table or wait for service, but it worries me that there's almost no buzz for this family-owned business. Get out and support them, early and often!

The was best Persian cuisine in Austin! Very authentic!…read more I'm Persian (my dad's side) and grew up eating traditional meals. Oh, the nostalgia... so fulfilling to my soul, especially since my dad is no longer earth-side.

AMAZING food, fantastic service. we got the beef and chicken shawarma with hummus, tabouli, and…read morewalnut baklava. super generous portions. if i wasn't from out of town I would make this a regular spot. highly recommend!

My second time here and I am still good with the food here. Everything looks delicious so no matter…read morewhat you get, you will probably love it. I enjoyed the leg of lamb this time with rice, beets, egg plants and pita bread with hummus. The meat was tender and easily peeled from the bone. This is set up likeva cafeteria so the service is from that point, but with that being said it is as fast as you are.

Yum yum yum! This is…read moresimilar to the old Dimassi but so much better. More choices, fresh fruit and more special drink choices. Keeping the review short, liked Dimassi, but love Ehab! Give it a try.

Happy to try! Have not been to this old dimassi location. Wasn't pleased with south dimassi but…read moreloved the RR dimassi when it first opened but then several times family members went and said it wasn't fresh. Mediterranean buffets need to be fresh. Hard to be when there is so much variety Pros: so many choices -big place -kind owner -roasted cauliflower so good -fried chicken was pretty good -lamb shank was super tender -rice pudding was good -eggplant was good -limited parking -clean and organized buffet Cons: sticky tables -some items not fresh -bread stale -desserts a tad dry -chicken roll was dry -roast chicken was dry -wish drinks were included in the price like dimassi was -wish tea was free

A Fantastic Introduction to Mediterranean Food!…read more I recently visited Levant Halal Restaurant and brought my parents, who are visiting from India. It was their very first time trying Mediterranean food, and they absolutely loved it! We started with two different types of hummus served with pita. The hummus was incredibly flavorful, and the pita was exceptionally fresh. We also ordered the falafel, which was perfectly prepared and delicious. For the main course, we shared the Chicken Shish Taouk with sides of beet salsa and Lebanese potatoes--everything was cooked beautifully and tasted amazing. Honestly, the highlight of the meal for us was the drinks. The mint juice and beet juice were so refreshing and easily the best part! We finished our meal with baklava and basbousa for dessert, and both were fresh, sweet, and incredibly tasty. Beyond the fantastic food, the ambiance is very neat and clean, and the staff are extremely friendly and welcoming. I highly recommend Levant Halal, especially if you are looking for a great place to introduce family to Mediterranean cuisine!

First off the friendly manager was not there... it was 45 mins to closing and I dunno if they…read morewanted to go pray or go home but the whole staff today 9/10/2026 was not happy. They looked like they were unhappy that I walked in. The food was alright but the pita was burnt (not good to serve to the customers). Otherwise... I'll check and see if the friendly workers are working before coming back. And the guy started cleaning right next to me with his spray bottle of chemicals. He stopped after cleaning the two tables on each side of me. That could've waited till they closed or he could've started on the other end. Naughty! They need to learn better customer service! Also I ordered the Levant Shawarma plate and I didn't even get to choose the sides.. very very disappointed!