I am mesmerized by all the selections at Mezzeme!…read more The soup, beyti, and mezze plates were absolutely amazing. The truffle fries were so yummy too! I also tasted a little bit of the salmon from my friend's order. It was cooked over a wood fire, and the taste and aroma were incredible. Now I know exactly what I'll be ordering next time! We finished with cold baklava and Turkish tea--what a beautiful feast to end a Sunday night. Highly recommended!

I stopped by MezzeMe on a whim when I was looking for lunch in the Triangle and I'm glad I did! I…read morearrived around 1pm on a Wed and it was pretty hopping so don't expect it to be empty just because its a weekday! I put in a to-go order for a kibbeh wrap; the price seemed typically high for the area, but when I got my order its quite a sizable wrap so all-in-all a pretty good deal! The food did take about 20 minutes to come out- I wasn't going to complain as there was a line of people the whole time so I could tell it was busy, but when I did get my food they apologized for the wait and gave me some free baklava so even if there had been hard feelings that would have 100% fixed it lol I'm a huge baklava fan and had actually been considering adding some onto my order but didn't because of the long line! So service was great, but most importantly- the food! The kibbe wrap was huge; I managed to finish the whole thing but in two different sittings lol. The kibbe was generous, and the pieces were flavorful and juicy. The veggies were fresh and crisp, and the whole thing was lightly sauced but the flavor of the kibbe popped enough that I didn't think it needed more sauce. Delicious and I would 100% order again. Plus the (free!) baklava was top notch! Sometimes you get the ones where the filo dough is a little tough/chewy and it still tastes great but the texture isn't there- not with this baklava! It was tender, delicious, and a perfect end to the meal. Parking was limited on the street but I believe the Triangle has garages also- I was able to snag a short term parking spot for MezzeMe which is actually why I originally decided to check it out!

Wasn't sure what to expect but the restaurant was recommended by someone who had dined at the Round…read moreRock location. Let's get the negatives out of the way first. The strip mall that the restaurant is located on Lamar is grungy and rundown. And the restaurant has seen better days and needs updating. The dining room feels dingy. Now for the positives. The server was very friendly and helpful and made great recommendations. We ordered the hummus and tabbouleh as appetizers and they were delicious. The waitress also brought out a huge plain flatbread and it was served hot and was chewy and soft at the same time. The flatbread is unlimited so we ordered a second one. It paired well with the hummus but is delicious by itself. For entrees, we ordered the lahmbiajin and the sharing barbecue plate. Everything was well seasoned and delicious. The kebabs were moist and flavorful and it was enough to feed a family of four. For dessert, we had the baklava and a chocolate cake and they were excellent too. We found out that they have an in house person who bakes the cakes. All in all, I would recommend this restaurant if you aren't picky about the ambience. Definitely go for the food. I would definitely go back again. According to the person who has dined at the round rock location, that restaurant is nicer and has better ambience. Food: 4.5 stars Ambience: 3.5 stars

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.

The food was excellent and the service somehow better. Laurel was so kind, attentive, helpful and…read morefriendly. I can't remember a better server.

My family of 5 came to the Peacock Grill for Father's day, and overall I would say it was a great…read moremeal, fun ambiance, and good service. Why one star off? We spent around $600 with tip and fees for 5 (mixed grill, two apps, two drinks each); and while the food was delicious the meats were luke warm not piping hot, our server while very friendly was not the best at giving suggestions (basically she said everything is good lol) and wasn't able to split the check 2/3 and 1/3 instead of 50/50 ("... I don't know how to do that"), and the cocktails while tasty didn't really feel special enough to be $21-25 each. It was a very enjoyable experience I just don't know that it lived up to the price tag. For that price I'm looking for exceptional not just very good. That being said the food was delicious! Pricey but pretty good portions. The server said the mixed grill was good for around 4 people, but with two apps it was actually a little too much food for the 5 of us. Mixed grill ($220): -Rosewood Wagyu Strip and Lamb Chops: tie between these two for the best dish; they were both juicy and tender and the sauces were delicious. Not served piping hot but they were so good I didn't really mind. -Harissa Marinated Beef Tenderloin: great flavor- a tad dry. -Spiced Lamb Kefta: also dry, I liked it best with the yogurt sauce. -Red Pepper Chicken Thigh: delicious, one of my fav kabobs. -Herb & Garlic Shrimp: tasty and not overcooked -Charred King Trumpet mushroom: loved the veggie option! they mushrooms were substantial and the sauce was great. -Crispy Shallot Hummus: very good- loved the crispy shallots in particular! -Manti Dumplings: top app- I would 100% order this again the dumplings were delicious and the sauce/yogurt on top of them was the best, we wiped up every drop with the pitas! -The pita bread was hot, fresh, and delicious and our service kept on offering more, so I don't know if they've changed their policy but my experience was not the same as reviews that said only one pita per person. We refused extra pitas 3 times I think! Cocktails- everything we tried was quite good, but again there wasn't the pizaz or just 'blown away by the flavor' to feel that the crazy price was totally justified. We tried: Spanish G&T (very refreshing- don't chew on the juniper berries lol), Banana Bread Old Fashioned (pretty good even for someone who doesn't much like whiskey!), Bonfire on a Beach (fun, smokey, love the harissa on the side), Peach Martini (teensy bit sweet for me but good). The manager stopped by a few times to check on us and our server was very attentive. She did give us good service its just for the high price I would expect some more detailed suggestions on drinks, being able to split the check other than 50/50 (or at least ask someone instead of just saying 'I don't know how'). It was friendly and enthusiastic service just not 'wow this truly is fine dining' service. Outside of the restaurant, parking is a bit of a pain but that is normal for down town. We parked at the Laz garage half a block away- $8 for 2 hrs instead of the $27 for valet.

Mind blowing food -Chicken Shwarma…read more-Beef Kabobs -Barbecue Chicken Pizza -Baba Ganoush

Food is very good, service not so good... I can tell people…read morecome for the food alone. The place is nice and has a nice layout. However, I'll think about coming here again because I didn't feel a good vibe with the service. We had to go look for someone to show us the table even though the place was empty for early lunch. Then, to get drinks or even the order was a problem. It took so much longer than usual. Our waitress was rude, and seemed bothered that we showed up. Then someone else came as the waitress and she was preoccupied with other tables and barely checked on us. A regular lunch which would've been one hour became almost two because of the lack of service. My friend had to stand and look for someone to give us a box to take out the good we couldn't eat because it was getting late and also to get the check because No one came in to check on us at all. It was almost like pulling teeth to get a regular service let alone good service. Again, the food was really good, and that alone was the only positive.

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.

I was really excited to try this place out, as Persian food is one of my favorites and it's pretty…read moretough to find. I decided to order a mini Persian feast: the beef koobideh with rice, doogh yogurt drink, and a saffron ice cream for dessert. This was my first time trying beef koobideh, and unfortunately, this just didn't seem to be very good. The meat itself was okay, decently cooked, and topped with quite a lot of some spice that I can't quite put my finger on. It was okay. The rice though, that is what really disappointed me. Persian rice is usually amazing, but this really didn't seem traditional and it had a strange taste to it. It also came with onion and a grilled tomato, both solid additions. Good portion though. The doogh yogurt drink wasn't homemade like I had hoped, but in all honesty, it still really hit the spot on a hot Austin day. Reasonable price. The saffron rice was also fairly disappointing. Large white chunks (clotted cream maybe? But they were pretty tasteless), gritty texture, not much flavor. Just not really worth it. All in all, a bit of a disappointing dinner in Austin. I'll have to look for a different Persian spot next time I'm in the area.

OMG, this place is absolutely awesome! My wife and I celebrated our anniversary last Friday evening…read moreand the atmosphere was incredible. Inside and out! I was glad we were seated outside though because even though it was a warm evening, their fans were very effective creating a constant gentle breeze. The music enhanced the experience with a fun and upbeat vibe. I truly felt like was sitting at club/bar/restaurant during a cool summer night in Greece! Just incredible. The staff were also great! Friendly and accommodating from the time we checked in for our reservation. Our server was super friendly, knowledgeable and helpful with my gluten sensitivity! The food was delicious too. Shout out to the chefs! The village salad (also reminded me of a traditional Greek village salad) was refreshing, the hot honey halloumi was like nothing I have ever tasted before, I regret not ordering extra to-go!, the Lamb chops made me feel like we were celebrating Easter - the seasoning was spot on and cooked to perfection, the Lamb and beef kefta with rice was also tasty, but the lamb chops are the clear winner. Don't forget to get dessert! If you have a gluten sensitivity like me, you are safe with the Pistachio Panna Cotta. It was a flavor high I didn't want to end! Lol. But seriously, it was super delicious, sweet, and just the right portion. Also FYI: we shared every plate. It's the way to go there, and I'm glad our server recommended that we order everything up front and they simply bring it out as each plate is ready. (Except for dessert and drinks - order those at the appropriate times of course). Speaking of our server, Lauren S, she was on it!!! Not only was she able to serve us and other tables extremely well, there was also a very large party of around 15 people next to us that she also served. Yet she always seemed to be around when you needed her and always with a friendly smile and positive attitude. Shout out to Lauren!!! You were amazing. Thank you for making our anniversary dinner memorable. Can't wait to visit Aba again!

A lively yet inviting vibe--think abundant greenery, warm lighting, modern Mediterranean touches,…read moreand a standout multi-level patio under a big heritage oak that makes outdoor seating especially appealing when the weather cooperates. The indoor space flows nicely with the outdoors and feels trendy and polished without being overly formal. Parking is the typical South Congress challenge. There's access to the Music Lane underground garage (with a small validation discount from the restaurant) plus nearby paid lots and street options, but it can feel competitive and a bit chaotic, especially on busier evenings. Plan ahead or use rideshare if you can. Service was great--attentive and smooth throughout our meal with two adults and two kids. We ordered the whipped feta spread (excellent with the pistachios and oil; the house bread was a bit salty), Brussels sprouts (cooked perfectly), grilled chicken kebabs, the shawarma-spiced steak frites, and the grilled Branzino. The Branzino was the clear star of the show--flavorful and well-executed. The chicken and steak were mediocre at best. For dessert we shared the sticky date cake, which had a nice crunch outside and was warm and moist inside. It's a bit pricey (we paid over $240 for the four of us), but the setting, strong service, and that excellent Branzino make it worthwhile. I'd definitely come back.

Mezze Café has quickly become one of my favorite places in Austin. From the moment you walk in,…read moreyou're welcomed with genuine hospitality that makes you feel like more than just another customer. The atmosphere is warm, inviting, and perfect whether you're stopping in for dinner, hookah, or a relaxing evening with friends. The food is consistently fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. Everything we ordered tasted authentic, the portions were generous, and the hookah was smooth, long-lasting, and expertly prepared. What truly sets Mezze Café apart is the people. The owners have clearly built a business around quality, hospitality, and taking care of their guests. The manager does an outstanding job making sure everyone feels welcomed and that every detail is taken care of. You can tell the entire team genuinely cares about the customer experience, and it shows in every interaction. It's rare to find a place that delivers exceptional food, outstanding service, and such a welcoming atmosphere all in one. I highly recommend Mezze Café to anyone looking for authentic Mediterranean cuisine, excellent hookah, and a team that truly values its customers. I'll definitely be back!

I gave 4 stars to give them the benefit of the doubt, but my actual experience felt closer to 2…read morestars. The main problem was the noise. The acoustics were very bad. The hardwood ceiling and the glass window in front of me seemed to amplify sound from every direction. I was with a group of six men, and none of us could hear each other. As the noise increased, every table seemed to raise its volume just to communicate, and it became painful. The food had a BBQ flavor, which was different for Mexican food. Some people may like that, but it was not what I expected. It was 4 star food. I think sitting outside would probably be much better.

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!

Always feels good to eat here! The food is great and plenty of it. The restaurant is clean and the…read moreservers are very nice!