2nd time here and much more mellow on a weeknight. They do not do valet parking during the week. Came with a group of friends. My favorite drink was the Persephone's last stand. It's a nice refreshing summer drink. The dew drop and midnight train to GA were close 2nds For apps we got the hummus with blue crab. It was good just wish it had more crab, my favorite and the groups favorite is the seared octopus. they also liked the lamb fat butter, some how the server forgot to order the crudo and the entire group didn't realize it was missing from the table until the drive home. We shared the entrees. The beef kebab blew us away. Was not expecting it to be as good as it was, chicken shawarma is a classic and a very hearty dish. I loved the mango sauce that came with it. The group loved the lamb shank. The saffron rice is a must and we're pleasantly surprised with how good the beets were as well, My absolute favorite dessert is the Krembo (brown butter Blondie, banana ice cream, a vanilla meringue and a yummy sauce on top but the baklava sundae was definitely a close 2nd. Definitely on the sweeter side and great for a larger party to try. read more

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Seriously loved every single thing we ate! I went with a small group and we ordered so much food to share. We got the falafel, whipped feta (SO GOOD!!), hummus (best I've ever had), smashed cucumbers, chicken shawarma, rice, and two different deserts. Everything was a flavor journey, so unique and absolutely devilish. This place was in my list for a long time and it really lived up to the hype. I love any place that has orange wine! And they have a menu spot for it so you know it's common. The cocktails were also amazing, one person in the group ordered contrails and they looked craft. Service was kind and fast! Valet parking is free, tip what you want. I really love that because this neighborhood can be tricky for street parking. read more

Ezov - Orange wine, feta dip, buns, smashed cucumber, falafel, hummus - Middle Eastern Near Me - Austin, Texas

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The food is still very good. Best dishes were chicken shawarma, smashed cucumbers, butternut squash, hummus. What I didn't like was the atmosphere, seemed cold and of course the weather was too so the doors kept opening and we'd all be freezing. The music was very loud and it was constantly pounding. Techno, selected to make patrons eat, and drink faster. The waiter was overselling. read more

My wife and I came into Ezov for the first time with 2 friends on a Tuesday Evening at 5:30 PM. We made reservations ahead of time, about a week in advance--definitely recommend this! It wasn't so busy at first, but an hour or two later the restaurant was poppin' inside and outside. It was packed! Parking here was easy at the time we came. If I remember correctly, Mon. - Wed. you're allowed to park in their private parking lot, but the rest of the days you either go through their valet service or you find parking along the street nearby. The ambience was very chill and modern-like. Loved the different colors throughout the restaurant, music was nice and there is plenty of seating inside and outside. We were lucky enough to be seated inside and not in the cold outside, although they have plenty of heating lamps from what we could see on our way out. The service was super attentive and friendly. Being our first time in the server gave us the rundown on what was good and what she'd recommend, which we really appreciated. It's recommended that you order and eat your meal family-style, sharing with the rest of your table. The food was SOOOOOO delicious. Ugh. To start we ordered the "Hummus with Warm Blue Crab:" it included drawn butter, pickled celery and shawarma spice. The crab was meaty and mixed with the hummus, it just paired so well together. I wish I could go in detail of each plate we ordered, but just know each was delicious definitely worth ordering: Whipped Bulgarian Feta, Falafel, Lamb & Beef Manti, Kanpachi Crudo, Grilled Lamb Kebab and Chicken Shawarma. These plates were perfect to split among 4-2 Dips, 3 Meze, and 2 Mains. We also added a side of rice. Portioning was great for each, none felt too small. To drink I ordered the "Rose Tinted Glass:" a mix of strawberry gin, embered labne, elderflower and honey. It wasn't what I expected when it came to the table--and it tasted like cough medicine/liquid jello--super sweet, too sweet for my liking! Overall we had an amazing dining experience here and with all of the plates we ordered we were pleasantly surprised with the bill. So much quality and portioning for such a great price. I highly recommend this restaurant and I can't wait to come back! read more

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Everything about the experience at Ezov was wonderful. It was my favorite dining experience on my last trip to Austin. The ambience, service, food, pace, noise level were all perfect. The drinks were divine, we probably ordered too much food for 3 people and I didn't take pictures of everything but it was all excellent and I don't think you could go wrong with anything you order here. I absolutely appreciate this is somewhere where you can come and not have to yell at each other over dinner to have a conversation. The restaurant is very mindful of ambiance which allows for slow and easy dining with beautiful drinks and easy conversation over beautiful food and great service. I highly recommend for a night out with friends, date night, or business dinner. It's good for all of it! read more

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Stellar experience, wouldn't expect anything less from the Emmer and Rye group. We ordered chicken Schwarma, all appetizers were amazing too. My server encouraged me to try Raki and I'm glad I did. It was delish ! read more

An absolutely fantastic Meditterannean experience in the culinary sweetspot of Austin! It was my first time visiting Ezov, and I hope to be back in the future! My bf and I mad a visit on a Saturday evening, making reservations that morning so we could be sure to have a proper table and not be forced to sit at the bar! When we arrived, it didn't seem too packed, but there was a steady flow of patrons. The menu has a good amount of options for vegetarians, but when it comes to protein, falafel will be your best bet. But maybe reserve your "carb savings" when dining here because that's where things will be well spent! We started off with the whipped feta that came with two fresh loaves of frena bread! It was my first time having frena, but it reminded me of a puffed version of Lebanese bread that my childhood friend used to eat. Ezov's frena was so light, warm, and fluffy---it made the perfect accompaniment to the feta, although the latter was super crumbly and took some skill to spread over the bread without too much spilling off the plate! Next was the falafel plate. There were four falafel total over tahini sauce. I always know the falafel is going to be good if the outside is super crispy and the inside has a rich green color, which the falafel here checked the boxes off for both! My bf tried the octopus which he said was cooked well. For dessert, we shared the Krembo! It was extravagant to say the least---a base chocolate shortbread topped with a hard chocolate disc, turkish coffee ice cream, creamy meringue, and chocolate sauce with cacao nibs. It was super rich and it was rational for two people to share it, but to be honest I wanted it all for myself! Definitely pay a visit to Ezov if you haven't yet---it should definitely be on any Austin Mediterranean list you might have going! read more

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A third visit here has me convinced this is a top ten restaurant in Austin, and perhaps top five. The Israeli cuisine is complimented by nods and additions from other middle eastern cuisines. The service is enthusiastic - they'll happily explain what something is if you aren't sure. The interior is fun - yes, a bit too loud with the music that can slightly dampen conversation - but simultaneously upscale and modern. And the food...oh, it's so good. They know their way around beef and lamb and fish, but perhaps the real stars are things like labne and hummus - comfort foods elevated in exciting ways. They say their Everything Bagel Martini is hit or miss with people. It's a hit with me, so unusual with tastes of gin, feta, and dill oil. But dang, one was enough for me. It's a sipper, for sure. Go and enjoy. Ask questions. Explore the menu. Ezov is superb. read more

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Great flavors. Our waiter was very good. Very nice interior. Our lamb shanks and hummus were delicious. read more

Ezov - Pastrami seasoned lamb shank. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Austin, Texas

Stopped by for a late night dinner tonight and we loved it! Our server, James was super helpful and gave us great service. The restaurant has such a cool vibe, unlike anything I've seen in Austin. From the graffiti to the light fixtures--it's different and we loved it! The roasted corn hummus was the perfect summer app. We had the Lamb Shank along with the saffron rice for our main and we were impressed The meat was well seasoned, juicy and tender. I wish they offered a pita option instead of the lettuce wrap but we still enjoyed it. They have a cool drink selection as well. My boyfriend had the Amba Marg but the mango was a little overpowering. Other than that, this place is a gem! read more

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Ezov is a vegetarian dream with enough veggie options to give you choices without feeling overwhelmed. I loved that everything felt like an elevated twist on a standard. So many restaurants just put basic veggie options on their menu to cover their bases, but Ezov makes them fun and experimental. We ordered: Hummus with Egyptian Fava Beans with bread Smashed Cucumber and Smoked Labne Eggplant Sabich Everything Spiced Beets Chocolate Marshmallow Dessert Every single item was delicious - I would reorder them all if/when I go back. Also, my sweet tooth is at an all time high, so I'll be thinking about that chocolate marshmallow for days to come. read more

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Ezov is another great effort by the Emmer and Rye hospitality group. I fully enjoyed this unique Israeli , Mediterranean inspired fare. We started with a whipped feta which was divine. The octopus was fantastic. Do not miss on the lamb kebabs. They really are outstanding. We had the cheese cake which blew me away. A baklava base with a sour cheese cake layer topped with sorbet. Scrumptious! Service by Daryl was impeccable. The hummus was a bit bland to my liking. I feel like there is some easy seasoning changes that would pick up the fantastic textures. Chefs know what to do. Look forward to my return! read more

Ezov completely blew me away -- easily one of my new favorite spots in Austin. The space is lively and stylish, perfect for a fun dinner out for two. We started with the hummus with warm blue crab (4/5). The crab itself was buttery and sweet, but the hummus flavor slightly overpowered it. I'm sure the lamb option would have been an even better choice -- something to try next time! The kanpachi crudo (5/5) was bright, fresh, and beautifully balanced with pistachio and pomegranate -- definitely a standout. The seared octopus (5/5) was tender and charred just right, with a rich sunchoke purée that added so much depth. For the main, the crispy fried snapper with market greens (4.5/5) was light yet flavorful, with perfectly crispy fish and bright, tangy sides. I had the Rose Tinted Glass cocktail (4/5), which I really enjoyed for its floral and yogurt-like notes. The labne flavor was great, but the liquor itself was a bit strong for my taste -- still a fun and creative drink worth trying. We finished with the labne cheesecake (5/5), which was phenomenal. Light and tangy, with pistachio and pomegranate-sumac sorbet tying it all together beautifully -- the perfect finale. Ezov nails creative, exciting flavors while staying warm and welcoming. Already looking forward to coming back to try even more! read more

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Food was good. Nice ambiance. Not too crowded for brunch on Sunday at noon. Service was a little slow. Overall, good place for brunch. read more

Ezov - Shakshuka - Middle Eastern Near Me - Austin, Texas

It was easy to make a reservation online, and I changed it a few times before the actual day. I did mention the dinner was for celebrating a birthday, and restaurants normally notice that and make you feel special, but Ezov did not even mention it. I noticed service was lacking and our server disappeared towards the end of our meal. Hopefully this is not a normal occurrence. The food was delicous and very flavorful. Mediterranean is one of my favorite cuisines. I liked all of the sauces and dips that would come with the dishes as well. The frena bread was buttery and salty. We ordered the blue crab hummus (YUM), burrata salad (if you can call it a salad), falafel (super spicy!), chicken shwarma (DELISH), lamb kabobs (GOOD), rice and tabbouleh. May be tad on the pricy side for being family style, but we enjoyed tasting everything. read more

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We went out for a Friday date-night dinner and Ezov absolutely blew us away. Before I get to the food, I just have to say our server Darryl (sorry if I spelled that wrong) was phenomenal. He was friendly, attentive, and really knowledgeable about the entire menu. He gave us great recommendations and really made the entire meal a wonderful experience. I know their menu changes, but here's what we had. We had two cocktails each: the Dew Drop, Kardia's Cure, Amba-Rita, and Tom Selek. All of them were tasty, but my favorite was the Dew Drop. His favorite was the Tom Selek. For food, we split a bunch of different items. We started with the Fire-Roasted Eggplant and Whipped Bulgarian Feta which was served with their house bread. The bread looks like it would be dense, but was light and airy and perfect for dipping. The Eggplant was good, but it was absolutely outshined by the Feta (which was our favorite dish of the meal). Next we decided to have some veggies. We tried the Pickles and Spicy plate along side the Smashed Cucumber and Smoked Labne. We liked all of our dishes, but the cucumber was at the bottom for us. It just didn't pack the flavor punch the rest of the dishes had, but it was still good. The Pickles and Spicy is a good name because it definitely was spicy. We really enjoyed that dish as well. Finally, we ended with the Pastrami Lamb Shank. That lamb was so crazy tender and the pastrami seasoning was perfect. It came with a garlicky sauce and interesting mustard for dipping. We left Ezov satisfied, happy, and with plenty of leftovers. I'm sure we will be back soon to try more dishes. read more

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This place was truly amazing! The flavors are all there, and the plates are so unique. When we first arrived and got a glance at the menu we wanted everything.... It truly is right up our alley for mediterranean food with every dish having an amazing flavor and great size. Service was amazing and the ambiance is casual but still a nice spot. read more

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Food was delicious. Service was on point. I sat at the bar and the service was fast and friendly. Ambiance was modern and artistic. I will be back. read more

Ezov - Eggs - Middle Eastern Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Kanpachi Crudo was the star dish among everything we ordered. Also loved whipped Feta. Falafel were bit dry and hummus with blue crab was just okay. Menu has good mix but dishes were mostly okay nothing outstanding. read more

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The outside looks scary, but the inside is actually very exquisite and pleasant. Love the vibes, the staff were so welcoming and accommodating. They have really good service and were also very attentive, especially when refilling our drinks! The food was gobsmackingly delicious and I really fancied their salad! My partner enjoyed their dessert pistachio ice cream & chocolate dessert (the Dubai); for me it was not to my taste, but that's just personal preferences. read more

Dear Mr or Ms Ezov Chef, Those cucumbers? Best Ive ever had. Those falafels? Best Ive ever had. The crudo? Yup--also frickin up there. Top 3. The Krembo? Rikki Tikki Tembo? My husband said it was the best he's ever had. So yah. Needless to say, it was delicious and impressive. Thank you. Fin. read more

Ezov - Krembo - Middle Eastern Near Me - Austin, Texas

Calling itself a New Jerusalem style restaurant, Ezov is a fantastic blend of Israeli, Turkish, and Greek flavors that may just be my new favorite Mediterranean restaurant in town. The plates are shareable and our server recommended six for our table of three and she was absolutely right. The the hummus and roasted corn served with a delicious puffy flatbread that was something between cornbread and a pita was fantastic. The whipped feta and Lamb and Beef manti were amazing and the beef Kebab was melt in your mouth tender. Friendly service and a great patio rounded out a fantastic evening at this east side gem. read more

I had dinner at Ezov with a few friends about a month ago when we were visiting Austin. We had a reservation for 7:30, but we waited a tiny bit for our table. The restaurant is cool (very modern and young feeling), but we all (in our late 30s-early 40s) thought that the restaurant was too loud (I swear we're not 90, but it was hard for us to hear each other and we definitely had to shout. The service was good throughout - everyone was really friendly. Since they're were five of us, we tried a lot of the menu (maybe 10-12 dishes in all). From the small plates, we had the smashed cucumber (with smoked labne, nigella seeds, amba, and aleppo), the fattoush (with embered apple, preserved lemon tahini, and croutons), the halloumi (with date molasses, pistachio dukah, and greens of Galilee), the crispy maitake mushrooms (with caper amba remoulade, pickled lemon, and fried herbs), the hummus special of the night (with lamb), the frena bread (served with lamb butters and beet horseradish). I think all of the small plates were pretty successful and delicious. We finished every last bite of each. My only complaint about the smaller plates was that the frena comes with things to eat it with (the lamb butter and the horseradish), but the hummus came with no bread at all. We asked to order some bread once we realized we had no way to eat the hummus except with what was left of our frena. The other breads aren't on the menu, but we learned they had laffa bread and ordered some of that with the hummus. The laffa bread worked out great with the hummus, but I wish the staff had explained we needed to order extra bread with our hummus (or that laffa was included with the hummus). The menu changes up a lot, so I can't remember all of the entrée-sized dishes we tried now. We definitely had the sabich (eggplant, tomato, amba, tahini, fried egg), the kofta (of lamb and beef, with pine nuts, fire roasted eggplant, and spring onion), a lamb shank, and a fish dish (I think it was halibut). All of these were good as well, but I'd say the halibut was probably our least favorite. With the exception of the lamb shank, even the larger plates aren't that large, so I only remember having a few bites of each with five people at the table. Their drinks are also creative and interesting - from cocktails to wine, arak to beer, they have something for everyone. Their Everything Bagel 'Tini had mixed reviews at our table (it's everything bagel gin, feta vermouth, and dill oil); I think the everything bagel spice rim put the savoriness/saltiness over the top for some of us. I also had a Lebanese skin contact wine that I enjoyed. The food was good overall even if it wasn't that memorable? I think with five people, I had so few bites of each dish, that they just don't stick out that much in my mind. Still, I enjoyed catching up with friends over this interesting, delicious, creative meal. Definitely worth a visit if you're craving some Israeli/Levantine/Lebanese/Middle Eastern fusion! read more

Ezov - Everything bagel tini - Middle Eastern Near Me - Austin, Texas

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This was our first time here and we were not disappointed. For 3 of us, we ordered hummus with corn, smashed cucumbers, falafel, chicken shawarma, beef kabob, fried snapper and rice. The sauces that went with the dishes were beyond comparison - smoky, spicy and creamy! The chicken shawarma was the most tender and moist I have EVER had! The falafel was crispy and very well seasoned. OMG!!! EVERYTHING we ordered was delicious!! Plus the service is top notch! Darryl , thank you for making our dining experience so memorable. We had a great table at the front of the restaurant and the ambiance is wonderful We will DEFINITELY be back! read more

Absolutely fantastic food and guaranteed to be a unique experience. Servers are amazing and the whole place has a vibe that is so great. read more

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This place has the best upscale Mediterranean food in South Austin. I was surprised to see they have rakı which is a Turkish delicacy. If you like soju, then you'll love rakı. The ambience is also top tier- perfect place to take someone on a date. read more

Tried this place on a whim. We got a late reservation for 9pm and it turned out to be one of the best meals I've had in Austin. I'd consider this place to be a little treasure on the East side. The service was excellent and the food was out of this world amazing!! Highly recommend the whipped feta, the hamachi tuna, the octopus, and the baklava sundae for dessert. read more

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Incredible food here! The lamb kefta was to die for, and the humus melts in your mouth. You can also order a side of crudité to go with it if you would like. It's tapas style which makes the experience all the most enjoyable. The music can get a little clubby (which I thought was pretty fun and vibey) but if you are looking for a more quiet experience I would recommend sitting outside on their patio. read more

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We went to Ezov on a Friday night around 7. I had been wanting to go for a while and definitely felt the hype about this place. It's decorated so well inside and even outside - love the graffiti. I got the tom selek and I love mezcal and beets but I feel like the sweetness could've been turned up a bit since it also had pineapple in it but overall a good drink, more on the beet side. We started with the crudo (amazing, loved the pistachios and pomegranate) the smashing cucumbers (honestly we could not finish it :( it was such an odd combination of flavors for us). We also got the hummus with the frena (delicious!!! Just get it). We got the kofta and the chicken shawarma as well. Personally the beef kofta itself is delicious but the sides on the plate weren't our favorite. The chicken shawarma it's a huge portion and comes with delicious sides - highly recommend getting for two people to share for dinner. We were so stuffed we couldn't get dessert but the olive oil cake kept coming out to tables around and looked amazing. read more

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From the wise words of Nacho Libre "It's good, really good"! So that said, Ezov is a must. The curators of TLV (that is sadly now closed) has brought us some amazing Tel Aviv dished. We ordered a variety of items and loved everyone I can't name a favorite because they were filled with so much flavor. Be sure to start out with frena (bread) and hummus. For our main courses we had chicken shawarma and Sabich. My friend is allergic to eggplant so they were kind enough to prepare the dish with a he eggplant on the side. The restaurant is a fun and welcoming place from dim lighting, to bright art and great music. We had reservations early and I'm glad we did because it got busy fast. If you're looking for a nice date night place or just something new I highly recommended Ezov! read more

Ezov - Chicken shawarma - Middle Eastern Near Me - Austin, Texas

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mediterranean food isn't my go-to, but i was pleasantly surprised with Ezov, one of emmer and rye's hospitality newest concept. their fresh bread to start was delicious. as for the mains, i was impressed with their seared octopus (my favorite) and grilled lamb kebab. chai mocktail was a hit for me. we snagged a reservation at 5pm and had a wonderful dining experience, thanks to the lovely servers. also love that they offer complimentary valet! read more

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Made a last minute reservation at Ezov with some family friends visiting. It was a blustery cold day and we were sat on the patio (they were busy so couldn't accommodate inside) however they did offer mini heaters and blankets which was nice- though the heaters weren't working for us! The interior space was really cute and funky, felt like something you'd see in New York or San Francisco. Our server was great and had fabulous recommendations, so we just ordered several dishes to split as a group. The chicken shawarma was my favorite I think but we enjoyed the lamb and hummus plates as well. My only complaint is it felt like you are not getting much food given the cost, however it seems they appear as a more elevated restaurant so that could explain it. Overall good food and drink options but get the wallet ready! read more

Really excited about all the new spots coming out to the east side! The restaurant vibe is pretty eclectic, and the artwork vibes remind me a lot of East Side King with graffiti-style lanterns and graffiti-type artwork scattered around the entire space. If you're looking for an intimate romantic spot, this is probably not the place for you, even though the food is superb. Our server was great at helping us figure out a reasonable amount of food and, with the best flavor profiles, onto the highlights of the menu. We first ordered the Crudo, which surprised me with all the textures, especially the combination of pistachios and pomegranate. It has a bit of a kick to it, but not so much for those that don't like spice. The charred cabbage was next and had a smokiness to it. The sauce that accompanied the dish was superb! Falafel was the last app that we ordered and came accompanied with 3 different sauces that were true to their Mediterranean styles but had a bit of a twist to them. As a group we ordered the Chicken Schwarma as the server described it as the largest entree. The chicken came on skewers, a large laffa to share, pickled veggies and some more sauces. Such a great dish to build your own Schwarma Wrap! We left some room for dessert and opted for the Olive Oil Cake with a Lemon Sorbet. The perfect balance of citrus and savory! I would love to come back and try more dishes! read more

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Ezov offers a fun dining experience in a funky, eclectic atmosphere. I appreciated the graffiti inspired art throughout the restaurant - on the lanterns, the bar, etc. I'd give the food a 4/5. We tried the crudo, frena, halloumi, chicken shawarma and swordfish. The only item that stood out to us as outstanding was the chicken shawarma, which was cooked to perfection and served with really unique and delicious sauces. The swordfish was also tasty, with a tangy flavor. The rest of the items were good but nothing to write home about. I don't eat lamb and several items were cooked in lamb fat. I wouldn't say this is the most vegetarian friendly restaurant. The desserts were phenomenal. We tried the olive oil cake and sticky pudding, both of which were to die for! The cocktails are also on point - the Tom Selek was the unanimous favorite. Couple of things that could have been better: 1. The service. The experience felt very rushed; our server repeatedly asked us what we wanted without giving us adequate time to read the menu & discuss. I understand that it's a small restaurant and they're booked up with reservations, but rushing customers isn't a great dining experience. 2. She also strongly encouraged us to order 8 small plates for 4 people and gave us some attitude when we decided to just order 6. 6 ended up being more than enough for our party, so we didn't appreciate the pressure to over order. 3. The restaurant was really loud. We had to yell to each other across the table. Worth a visit, but definitely has room for improvement. read more

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We had an exceptional meal at Ezov last weekend! Every dish was an incredible mix of unique flavors unlike anything I'd ever had, perfectly blending Mediterranean classics with a modern and elevated feel. Small plates are really where Ezov excels. We ordered 4 and the flavors blew us away: -Smashed Cucumber -Crudo -Falafel -Hummus with Lamb The Smashed Cucumber and Crudo were refreshing and a delightful blend of sweet, tart, and savory. The Falafel and Hummus with lamb were rich in flavor and combined different complimentary textures and tastes. Also, the Frena bread is a must! On its own the Frena was delicious, but combined with the different sauces, hummus, and lamb butter, it was incredible. Our main dish was the Chicken Shwarma and while it was good, it wasn't as impressive to us as the small plates we had. For dessert we had the absolutely delicious baklava with tahini ice cream, caramelized bananas, and pistachios. We were on the fence about ordering dessert because we were stuffed, but I am so glad we tried it! Atmosphere of the restaurant was lively and it had cool decor. The restaurant was full, but we didn't feel overly packed, and it wasn't too loud despite being the amount of people. Overall I was very impressed by Ezov and will definitely be back! This was one of the first new elevated Austin restaurants in a while that truly exceeded our expectations and felt worth the price tag. read more

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The Emmer and Rye group is so damm good! Canje is one of the finest meals in Austin - period stop the end. Ezov takes the Emmer and Rye talent to Eastern Mediterranean cooking. I think I'm in love. * * * I won't describe everything we had on our trip to Ezov. I will simply mention four high points: One Original Rarity One Great Execution of a Standard Middle Eastern Dish Rarely Served in Austin One Great Execution of a Standard Middle Eastern Dish We See All The Time in Austin One Great Alcoholic Beverage * * * The Rarity: Their Charred Cabbage. This is an oddity because the greatest cabbage cooks in the world are Germans rather than Middle Easterners. So even in Syria or Lebanon, this dish would be an oddity. But it is a complete and total triumph. Basically, they take a half of a cabbage and broil it like a steak. The cabbage looks like a Thanksgiving turkey being delivered to your table. It is served with labneh, fresno chiles, amaranth and tomato daga. Labneh is the thick yogurt that is one of the most amazing comfort foods on the planet. Tomato daga is Gaza's answer to pico de gallo - a tomato chile mix meant to be piquant. I gotta learn how to make tomato daga. Chiles are chiles. Amaranth is one of those intolerable ancient grains served by organic yuppies who are holier than thou. The only justification for amaranth on the planet is that it is really good in this dish. The flavor ingredients are all outstanding. The mix is fiercely original. But the dish only works because of the amazing grilling job on the cabbage itself. The charred cabbage left me in awe for the rest of the night. * * * The other good stuff. The rarely served dish is hummus with grilled lamb. Carnivorous hummuses are a Middle Eastern staple. They are as common and served in the same way as queso with chorizo. This is one of those dishes that is always good. Even if the meat is cheap and is a greasy mess - the hummus soaks it up absorbing all sins. You can put in any flavor ingredient you want and it will go with both the hummus and the meat. Every Middle Eastern restaurant needs to be doing a meat based hummus. Thankfully Ezov does. The commonly served dish is falafel. Ezov makes some of the biggest and best executed falafel on the planet. Falafel is still falafel. In general, falafel won't thrill you. It won't kill you. It is never bad. It is never more than just good. This falafel is actually better than good - thanks to a wonderful crust. If I was serving falafel at haute cuisine prices, I would take Ezov's "best case for falafel" falafel - and garnish it with other stuff. But I was happy to have their "go for the classics" simple version. * * * Now for the piece de resistance. Their arak collection. Arak is ouzo if you are not in Greece. Bad ouzo is foul. Good ouzo is heaven. Ouzo is one of the few alcoholic beverages that absolutely positively non-negotiably has to be served on ice. Ice opens up the beverage and draws out the flavors. Otherwise the drink is syrupy. Ezov's offers a Lebanese Arack de Musar that can hold its own with the finest ouzos I have had in Greece. Do NOT have this with your meal. It will blow out the taste of everything else. Do NOT have this with a dessert. (Sugar and Arak is something you only do when you are clinically depressed and stuffing your face with chocolate and bourbon. Having sugar with Arak is a call for help.) But by itself, just the Arak and the ice cubes ... is one of the finest Act V's in an evening that can be possibly imagined. It easily can end upstairs in Act VI if you are with rapturously beautiful company. But the Arack de Musar is so good all by itself that Act VI is not all that necessary. After your long slow wonderful drink, you will be completely content all the way to the down to the very depths of your soul. And you will have gotten that way without the fight with the alcohol that would characterize a challenging brandy or a German mark. And you won't have the "trying to make friends with cough syrup" experience you get with an Amaro. Of course, the Arak works because you have just had an extraordinary meal. The Ezov's kitchen scored the touchdown - and you are now going for the extra point. * * * As you can see, I kinda sort like Ezov's. The same way I kinda sorta like sunset on the beach on a tropical isle Or kinda sorta like looking at a Gainsborough when there is no one else in the museum. Ezov's is not a cheap night out. But it is worth absolutely every single solitary Lebanese pound. read more

The food was incredible! Went on a Monday and took advantage of their Monday night schnitzel special. They suggest doing family style which is what we did and we all enjoyed all the dishes. They have plenty of vegetarian options available. It came out to about $50 per person and we left with some leftovers. The service was very quick and all the servers were friendly. They also were great at suggesting dishes to us based on dietary restrictions. The restaurant itself is decorated beautifully. It's bigger than we had expected! Regardless, I suggest making reservations before going. If you're looking for some genuinely good Mediterranean food in Austin, I highly suggest this place! Enjoy! read more

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Food is fabulous. Service a little too fast but they are trying to move people out. Definitely have to get reservations read more

Excellent! The Emmer and Rye group really know what they are doing! Everything we had was excellent and great for sharing. The whipped feta dip is so fantastic but everything was so good. We will absolutely be back to try more things but will definitely get the feta and the lamb kebab again. The cheesecake was also a perfect balance with pomegranate sorbet and a baklava inspired crust. Restaurant is clean with a fun vibe. Wait staff is kind, efficient and professional. Valet parking in the lot was also helpful. The cocktails were also very unique and tasty. The Lebanese wine flight was interesting and fun but not something I'd try again, I prefer a more full bodied wine and they were all quite light. read more

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One of the best falafel dishes in town. This place never disappoints! Another one of my favorite restaurants in Austin