Came for dinner after hearing great recommendations from friends about this DTLB staple. Did not…read moredisappoint! Food was great and the ambiance is really beautiful, totally transported to a whole different location. Our server was Francis and he was phenomenal, we asked for his recommendations on starters and entrees and also for a wine. We first had the mint lemonade which was refreshing, and then had a Chablis bottle of wine to accompany the entrees. All in all, a great experience and I am glad to have finally tried this spot out! Shoutout to Francis!

Excellent food with variety and many vegetarian options. Great service and ambiance. Would…read moredefinitely come back to try more items on the menu!

It's been 24 hours, and I'm still thinking about the black lime beef (Limoo Omani) I had. The meat…read morehad so much flavor and was incredibly tender. It was my first time tasting something like this, and I was not disappointed. I'm a sucker for white saffron rice or any sort of rice plate and this, paired with the veggie medley they offer you, was a dream. It was a hot day yesterday, so I cooled down with their cucumber mint drink, made with traditional sekanjebin. I needed a gallon of it, especially with the outdoor seating. But honestly, the food was good enough to take my mind off the uncomfortable heat. The server was kind enough to check on us and brought us ice waters to keep us cool while the food was being prepared. I can't say enough about the thought and detail that went into the branding and packaging for this cafe. I love a restaurant that thinks things through when it comes to its look, and opening these dishes with their almost gift-wrapped presentation was such a pleasant experience for me. Yes, this spot is a little easy to miss when you're driving down such a busy street, but once you've been there, you won't forget where to pull in for parking. It's only outdoor seating, I didn't see a public restroom either so be aware. I will be back to order the rest of the menu, desserts included! نوش جان!

So so good!! Exceeded all my expectations of service, taste, and quality. The spices in each dish…read morecomplemented one another creating a deliciously balanced meal. We especially loved the Sumac fries and the Persian Ice Cream which by itself is worth the visit. As a sticker collector I appreciated this place even more for adding to my collection!

Ugh what an incredible dining experience this was. My date and I went to Orla and had reservations…read moreat 6:15pm. Given that sunset was scheduled for 7:00pm the day we went, we wanted to have a nice view of the beach/pier as we enjoyed our dinner. Around 6:30pm we were both surprised by their Sunset dancers. Two beautiful ladies with feather fans danced around the restaurant. It was such a fun surprise. We were seated near the DJ in a booth facing the coast. We each had two drinks. I had the Oracle of Siwa and the Gold Coast (both NA). The GC was marketed to me as being the sweeter of the two, but it was really tart. It tasted like an Arnold Palmer. The OS was supposedly more citrus forward and tart. It definitely was citrus forward but NOT tart. My partner had their old fashioned, one the best he says he has had. He also had their King of Kings, and although it was garnished with a lovely truffle he preferred the old fashioned. We then had the following: Baba Ghanoush, the Grilled Octopus, the Kampachi (which was the market special) with both the Egyptian and the Greek Dressing, and the Asparagus. Everything was sooo flavorful and fresh. It was a great meal. The fish was already so dressed that adding the sauces felt a bit unnecessary, and between the two flavors the Greek dressing was much more to our liking than the Egyptian sauce. Overall this was a great experience, they also offer parking validation if you dine in. Our service was impeccable and the servers were so nice and accommodating. We will definitely be back!

Sometimes I wonder where I will start and finish a review, but this one is easy. Pia, the…read morerestaurant manager. She should start a school on restaurant and hospitality management. Seriously. Places should send their people to watch her work. She is the best I have encountered. My buddy was taking me out for my birthday and our reservation (which was somewhere else TBH got cancelled due to a kitchen issue). He suggested Orla, and being a big Michael Mina fan I was in. The restaurant is big but typical for a hotel spot, but it has a warmth to it. A lot of that is due to being greeted by Pia, escorted to your table, and getting a wonderful history of the restaurant, chef, menu and drinks. As the day turns into night, we were treated to a gong and some dancers. Nice touch. And then the food and drinks! Forgot to take a pic of the cocktail menu, so I cannot recall what we had exactly, but both were exceptional, especially the one made tableside (Porus I think, with ocho plata tequila, aperol strawberry, grapefruit and butterfly tea in a tableside infusion) I think I had the Son of Amun with yola mezcal, apricot, ginger, lemon and miracle foamer. Expensive? Yes, but delicious. I looked online for the menu, but it seemed different when we were there. Pia suggested a half and half on spreads since we were indecisive, and that was a great call. Half Whipped Chickpea Hummus with tahini, paprika, za'atar, extra virgin olive oil and half Muhammara with toasted walnuts, roasted peppers, pomegranate molasses. Both were phenomenal but know extra pita comes with a charge. There is homemade chili crisp on the table that you might be tempted to drink. It's that good. We started with Grilled Octopus with gigante beans, red onions, capers, sea beans. Perfection in flavor and texture. The Saganaki finished tableside came with roasted wild mushrooms, black truffle honey, greek brandy and was some of the best I've add. Wish that recipe was in the book, but I will figure it out. For the mains I went with the Mediterranean Sea Bass and my buddy had the Swordfish... both the Greek Way with lemon, caper, oregano, vinaigrette. The Sea Bass was cooked to perfection and one of the best I have had. After all that food we were way too stuffed for dessert, but Pia made sure to end the meal with a birthday gift for me. Wow. Did I mention how good she is? Now I need to come back and have Michael sign my cookbook... and tell me how to make that Saganaki. Thank you to Pia and the whole staff. What a great B-day dinner!

All of my hooka lovers.. COME HERE!…read more I was recommended by this place from a really good friend of mine, so she decided to take me. If you're looking for a place with aesthetic, this is not it. But, the outside seating is beautiful, you can watch your sports here, do homework and get a little wine buzz. the hooka was very cheap, I would say around $35 with endless flavors. We went with the spice chai, very smooth to my liking. The hosts are so nice and very fast to put out orders. This is a local spot so building a relationship goes a long way. Now for the food! WHEEWW! I recommend, it's very filling and flavorful. I had the shawarma bowl which comes with; sharwma, rice, cucumbers, hummus, greens and pickled onions. You have to try their bowls with a side of pita bread and the spicy tahini sauce. DELISH. My bestie had gotten their salmon bowl, which came with everything except for the shawarma. Everything together, hooka and too entrees left a total of $75 something. Not bad for the experience. Did I come back again? YES I DID. it's my second time going and possibly will be my third sooner or later.

Very enjoyable indeed! Easy on the wallet too…read more Unusual, the Food Truck is parked directly in front of this truly delicious cuisine. They cook the food on the truck and bring into the dinning room. Where there is a variety of music and tables and booth seating, outdoor too. Give them a try, they won't disappoint. Pop Rock music, Middle Eastern music 50/50. This is Lebanese. Ask for Mr. Redar.He's the owner, from Egypt.

Came here for a group dinner on a Wednesday evening with some friends to celebrate our…read morefriendiversary! Bavel has been at the top of our list of places we've all wanted to try, so we were very excited to finally make it happen. Walking in, the space is beautiful and feels very elevated while still having that open-concept feel. There are cute plants and vines hanging from the ceiling and an open kitchen where you can see everything happening. The lighting was interesting though. Our table was lit very brightly, while some of the other tables looked much more dimly lit and intimate. Our server was great, and the sommelier was wonderful as well. We went with wine pairings throughout our meal, starting with a splash of sparkling white wine. HUMMUS DUCK 'NDUJA (tahini, parsley, cilantro, sumac, blistered pita)10/10. This was DELICIOUS. The texture and flavors were everything. SILKY smooth hummus with that fatty, deep flavor from the duck 'nduja. My goodness, I would like to drink it. The warm pita that came with it was pillowy soft and perfect for scooping everything up. Amazing dish. I would order this every single time, hands down. DRY AGED TROUT CRUDO (coconut citrus broth, charred chill & onion, mandarinquat, turmeric ginger oil, kaffir lime) 8/10. Crudo was yummy with the coconut citrus sauce. Tangy, a little sweet, herby, zesty, with the fattiness of the fish. But I didn't taste anything especially different even if it was dry aged. ROASTED CAULIFLOWER (vegetable curry sauce, rose pickled beets, garam masala, horseradish, cilantro)7.5/10. This dish was good, but nothing spectacular compared to everything else we had. The flavors were there, but overall it tasted a little more muted in comparison to the rest of the meal. GRILLED OCTOPUS (skordalia potatoes, broccoli, lamb XO, dill, lemon, olive oil)9/10. Loved! SO TENDER. I've had plenty of octopus that ends up chewy or overcooked, so I really appreciated how perfectly this was cooked. ROMANO BEAN TEMPURA (cashew cardamom cream, tomato date chutney, black garlic aioli, smoked habanero)8/10. The sauces were SO good with the tempura beans. The batter was very light and crispy, while the beans themselves were cooked until just tender enough. Such a good bite in terms of both texture and flavor. SLOW ROASTED LAMB NECK SHAWARMA (tahini, ajika, pickled vegetables, carob molasses, laffa)10/10. AMAZING DISH. The meat literally fell off the bone. I already love the flavor of lamb, and this one was just chef's kiss. The tangy pickled vegetables paired with the rich lamb and tahini worked so well together and made for the perfect bite. 10/10 would recommend if you like lamb and have people to share it with! 22OZ BONELESS MARGARET RIVER RIBEYE (fermented mushroom cream, marinated cucumbers, dill)9.5/10. This was cooked SO WELL. The fermented mushroom cream was an amazing sauce to pair with the steak. There are a lot of rich, fatty elements here, so the marinated cucumbers were perfect for breaking everything up and balancing the bite. One of my biggest takeaways from the entire meal: DO NOT SKIP THE SAUCES. Every sauce, condiment, and side that came with the dishes felt intentional and elevated the flavors exponentially. 10/10 sauce situation going on at Bavel. For dessert: STRAWBERRY SUMAC & SWEET CHEESE PASTRY (pistachio ice cream, sheep's milk ricotta, cured sumac)9/10. I'm not a huge sweets person, but this really hit the spot. I do love a good pastry, and the ricotta was just sweet enough without being too sweet, which in my eyes makes for a perfect dessert. NOUGAT ICE CREAM BAR (dark pecan caramel, chocolate butter cake, chocolate shell)9/10. Another great dessert. Loved the chocolate, the deep caramel flavor, and the nuttiness from the pecan. Great textures too, although the chocolate shell made it a little difficult to cut and share! Honestly, I want to come back just for the hummus. Everything was delicious, the wine pairings were great, portions were generous enough for sharing, and the service was wonderful. Bavel is such a lovely spot for an elevated dining experience, whether you're coming with a group or for a date night. Loved our experience here. Thanks for a great meal, Bavel!

the good: mushroom kebab was nicely seared with crisp edges (waiter suggested a pistachio sauce…read morerather than cream); the pinkish trout was pretty much a cebiche in a coconut-type marinade. didn't try the salad nor the pâté, but sitting at the counter watched both being made and they seemed appealing. the mediocre: the shawarma is the most written-about item. it's a sizeable lump of very fatty meat, and treated as such--more akin to the most gelatinous cut brisket or pastrami than to shawarma. ok, but not keen to eat this again. the bad: mostly the price...ok, it's not street shawarma or cebiche, so one would certainly pay far more in for the restaurant versions. but this is now about double even the inflated pricing. the place is hopping with a mostly younger crowd and just enough tourists to keep it filled...

This place was so good. My new fav Mediterranean spot. Well deserved Great reviews…read more Owner was very nice. Also the workers. Got myself a combo plate. Chicken and some meat over rice with hummus. Some pita. Flavors really good. Meats seasoned perfectly. Rice cooked well. Love the pita. Garlic sauce is bomb. Also have a spicy sauce that I really really liked. I will definitely be back again and again.

This place has to be the most slept on food. Better than any restaurant you can eat at AND the…read moreprices are way better than the overhyped aesthetic Mediterranean restaurants. I will be coming back and a possible frequent flyer now. Everyone worked so hard and was hospitable. My recommendations: go with the chicken kabob plates over the shawarma -- the shawarma's are still very good but the kabob is so unique and out of this world. You'll understand what I mean when I rank them so highly. We had one plate with shawarma and fries that was 10/10. Fries were perfectly made even 10 minutes before closing. I ordered the chicken kabob plate with extra salad instead of rice or fries. The hummus is my top 5 in LA. I'm so glad I got to randomly try this after having an itch for Arabic food. Because I told one of the workers how delicious and unreal it was... they gave me a free baklava and refused to let us walk out without it.

I met a friend here for lunch and, though the area was super busy due to the classic car show, it…read morewas really easy to find a seat. When I went to order at the counter, the staff said we could sit and they were serve us, which I wasn't expecting at all! I really appreciate they that have both the fast-casual order style and the sit down and enjoy style duality to this restaurant. I got the chai latte and a hummus bowl with falafel (though as I write this I can't remember if that was the actual menu name of the dish). It was delicious--the falafel was one of the best I've ever had taste wise, and a bit on the airy side instead of being super dense, which I appreciated. Sometimes falafel is too dang dry, and they really got it right. The hummus was phenomenal. I'm really such a sucker for a good, quality hummus and it was so creamy and the oil they topped it with was wonderful too. The veggies were fresh and the pita was such a star: it was thick and chewy and clearly freshly made. Immediate 5 star for the food. So glad I stopped by here and will definitely be back!

In a town full of great dining choices we have been here several times…read more Small, friendly, and fresh seems to sum it up. Indoor and outdoor seating. With mild music allowing you to enjoy your food and company. Meats prepared as ordered, amazing sauces, and a very solid burger.

The food is amazing! There seems to be only one worker during the time we went so it does take a…read morewhile for you to get your food but it was worth the wait. I really needed to use the restroom but there isnt a restroom there. There is a hookah lounge next door that seems to be connected, so if you need the restroom you can use that one!

I was disappointed....The food is typically fresh and good, but ordering from a wall tablet makes…read morethe dine-in experience feel impersonal--especially at these prices. Human interaction adds something important to the dining experience. Today was my first time ordering delivery. The price was significantly higher with fees, yet the food lacked the sauces and flavor I normally experience in person. The small side sauces I usually receive were also missing. I also ordered the $7 hummus for the first time. The portion was substantially smaller than pictured, with whole chickpeas and oil/sauce filling the center. Unfortunately, the hummus itself was very bland and tasted more like basic supermarket hummus. Based on this experience, I would not order delivery again.

We just got home from dinner here and my wife and I loved it. The food was absolutely top notch. We…read morestarted with the potatoes in garlic sauce and an order of the haroumi and watermelon. What a great kick off! As for our mains, we both ordered a variation of the combo plates. I had the chicken tawook and beef. The Mrs. had the chicken and lamb. All good. Based on the food alone, we would recommend this place to anyone with a beating heart and more importantly, a mouth. This is quality food at a quality price. The atmosphere? Really great. It's a little dark and twinkly inside which sets a nice tone. There is cool artwork adorning every piece of wall, the place is very easy on the eyes...including the restrooms. Very clean. Our sever, didn't catch his name, but what a nice dude. Was super helpful without being "too much" he should teach a server class. He's pretty much who you want taking care of your table. He knew the menu well and made great suggestions. It was actually refreshing. We will come back, most likely with the family. Our waiter told us that they can accommodate larger groups which is great. I recently ate food at Saffy's and I didn't enjoy it one bit. The servings there are too small, too pretentious and too overpriced. Open Sesame is the exact opposite and that's why it rules. A wonderful experience in Beverly Boulevard.

How Do I Start This Rationally ? Atmosphere Is A 5/5. Service Is 5/5. Food was 2.5/5. I Will…read moreExplain. If You A Charging $145 For A Group Platter, Then Everything Must Me PERFECT ! The Chicken Shawarma Was Inedible Because Is Was Obviously Dry And Lying Around For The Next Customer. The Beef Was Good. The Beef Shawarma Was AMAZING ! Probably The Best Thing. On The Menu. Tabouli Was Great. $260 With Tip Divided By Three Is Too Expensive For My First Experience Here. I Told The Manager That They Shouldn't Have Served The Chicken Shawarma If It Was Dry. Anyways.