Memorial Day. Great first visit…read more It won't be the last. Why? Fresh ..every thing. Hummus heaven. Meats , fish ,and vegetables. Grilled to perfection. Great service. Super deserts. Clean restrooms. So good.

The atmosphere is nice with indoor and outdoor seating. The parking lot is atrocious but you can…read morefind nearby street parking. The service left a lot to be desired and unfortunately we thought the reason was racism until we realized there is an automatic 15% gratuity. Started off with a mint lemonade and baba ganoush which came with pita. I wouldn't recommend either of these - the lemonade barely had a hint of mint and the pita was cold and a little stale, even after asking to have it warmed up. The baba ganoush itself was good but you don't really need it unless you're hungry and need an app. The food in main entrees were genuinely very good. Huge portions and everything was seasoned and cooked perfectly. My only small note is that for the lamb shank platter, i literally got only one potato wedge lol. Otherwise it was all fine. The prices are reasonable! We even got a dessert on the house but unfortunately i'm not sure what it was called (something like baklava) which was good. Overall a good spot but i left regretting the extra tip when our waitress kept forgetting to get little things like a plastic bag for our leftover containers and the receipt despite waiting for 5-10 minutes.

I first visited Al Bawadi Grill at their Bridgeview location, and it was an outstanding experience…read more The food was delicious, and the service was exceptional, which is why I kept coming back. I've since visited the Niles location several times. The food has always been consistently excellent, but unfortunately the service has never matched the quality of the kitchen. Today's visit was by far the worst. It took over 10 minutes for our server to come to the table to take our order. Throughout the meal, I had to repeatedly flag her down whenever we needed something. To make matters worse, she seemed to disappear halfway through dinner--I'm assuming she clocked out--because we had to get another server's attention just to receive basic assistance. The food, however, was fantastic. I ordered the Al Bawadi Seafood Mixed Grill, and it absolutely delivered. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. That's what makes this so frustrating. This restaurant serves some of the best Middle Eastern food in the area, but when you're paying premium prices, you expect service that matches the quality of the food. I still recommend the food without hesitation, but the consistently poor service at the Niles location is making it harder to justify returning.

I cannot recommend this restaurant enough. If you are looking for delicious food in a beautiful…read moreroom with excellent service, you've come to the right place. Our server was so kind and never let us make the mistake of ordering the wrong thing. She gave us her recommendations every step of the way and every single one was perfect. What we got: Mint lemonade: 5/5. SO refreshing and delicious. Perfect sweetness and the little bit of pulp you get is great. I only wish there was more of it! Chicken arayes: 4.5/5. Crispy, cheesy, garlicky. Need I say more? Get some extra garlic on the side if you wanna take it up a notch. Fried halloumi: 4/5. These are like a soft mozzarella stick, so tasty. Definitely eat the pickles with them. Lamb chops: 4.5/5. 4 tender lamb chops seasoned beautifully. Definitely recommend the red rice over the yellow if you can handle a little bit of heat. Kanafeh: 5/5. Whoever thought that cheese, sweet syrup, phyllo, and pistachios would go together is a genius. Definitely don't leave without getting this dessert. The salt of the cheese perfectly balances out the sweetness. No notes! And get some peppermint tea to go with it too. And the portion sizes are huge! Definitely get your money's worth here. My only issue is this place is right by my job so now I'm gonna go broke getting food here all the time. But that's a problem I'd love to have!

The food was really tasty, the woman helping us was so attentive and welcoming, and the restaurant…read moreitself was very clean and well maintained.

They have the best garlic sauce!! The chicken and rice is good too. But the pita and falafels are…read moreway better elsewhere. The hummus is probably the worst I've ever had. Their soup and salad is good and the staff is nice but not everything is consistent.

A Hidden Gem in Chicago - Taste of Lebanon Restaurant…read more Taste of Lebanon Restaurant 1509 W Foster Ave Chicago, IL 60640 If you're looking for authentic Lebanese food, Taste of Lebanon is an absolute must-visit! Every meal we've had here has been fresh, flavorful, and made with care. You can truly taste the quality and tradition in every bite. The lamb shawarma is outstanding--perfectly seasoned, tender, and packed with incredible flavor. The chicken shawarma is just as delicious, juicy, and cooked to perfection. But the true star of the menu is the lentil soup. It is hands down the best lentil soup I've ever had--rich, comforting, full of flavor, and worth coming back for on its own. It deserves to be the #1 item on the menu! What makes this place even more special is the amazing customer service. The entire staff is welcoming, friendly, and professional, making every visit feel like you're dining with family. A huge shoutout to Ali, who consistently goes above and beyond to make every customer feel appreciated. His kindness, professionalism, and genuine hospitality are second to none. He takes the time to make sure everything is perfect, and his positive attitude truly elevates the entire dining experience. Whether you're stopping in for a quick lunch or picking up dinner, Taste of Lebanon never disappoints. The food is authentic, the prices are incredibly reasonable, and the service is exceptional. I highly recommend Taste of Lebanon to anyone in Chicago looking for some of the best Lebanese food in the city. Thank you, Ali and the entire team, for your outstanding hospitality. We'll definitely be back again and again!

Favour heaven! The hummus, tabouli, pickles, schwarma, if it's Taste of Lebanon time, it's feast…read moretime. I think of them and my mouth waters

Excessive citric acid in hummus and baba ganoush. Cucumber salad wilt and soggy, no flavor…read more Falafel freezer flavor. Wish I liked it. I drove to Sahara in Rockford after throwing this veggie platter away. :(

I am happy to report that this business has reopened. The sign now reads "Shawarma Kabob Falafel…read moreHummus." Same management, same great food. They still sell bananas and local Middle Eastern cookies from Chicago bakeries for desesrt. The menu might have changed slightly, but fans of Pita X-Press will probably find their favorites. We ordered a vegetarian platter, which had baba ghanouj, hummus, two kinds of cucumber salad, four falafels, and a generous, freshly warmed pita. It was enough food for a light lunch for two. We enjoyed watching the cars pass under the Belvidere Oasis as we ate our food. So glad that this business is back.

Our meal was delicious!!! Service was great very fast and…read morefresh One of the things I love is they are not far from a parking lot!!!

Great customer service. The Middle East Grill is connected to the bakery.. Nice sit down to get a…read morequick lunch in... They also do catering if you need to..

My husband and I celebrated our anniversary at this amazing restaurant. The service and food were…read moreabove and beyond our expectations. Jorge was an absolute pleasure and made our experience even more special. Thank you Jorge you are phenomenal. Dorothy and Oscar

This is my go to place for all things delicious! I love the sultani platter with both chicken…read morebreast and ground chicken kebobs. Of course the dill rice is always perfect and the green spicy sauce is a definite must as a dab that will add a perfect kick to each bite. My friends and I hit Noon at least once a month for our "vent session" and the waitstaff know us by now. They know we will need a nice glass of wine (heavy pour is needed-lol). And they bring the food in waves so we have time to sit and enjoy. I love this place on a weeknight because it is always bustling with people. Families, groups of older gents out for their weekly get together and friends like my table. Love the vibe! Please know- you can choose the dine in "north side" of the building for a nice outing with full bar service or you can choose the "south side" entrance for a casual faster service vibe geared for delivery pick up and tv to watch for a quick dine in. I find the staff to be very nice, welcoming and they will explain anything you don't know about. The menu is very detailed and lots of pictures. Last week, Jorge, our server, made sure our wine glasses were full and told me I would love the chicken fassenjan. As always- his suggestion turned out to be my new favorite!! Thanks, Jorge! You know we will be back-

Delicious food; the extra sauces are worth it. Tzatziki, garlic, hot sauce....all so goodread more

Just went here to order a gyro sandwich for $12 and received the tiniest portion I have ever…read morereceived from a local Mediterranean place. Have to be honest the price doesn't match the food you receive. I know at least 3 nearby places that give you way more for the same or less price. Please work on your portion sizes or else your place isn't worth it Also had a friend order separately and the workers never called out his order. He had to ask if his order ready and it was just sitting on the counter for 8 mins already at that point. Do better

I went for breakfast and got the Lahsa and the chai. The food was outstanding. It was served with…read morefresh vegetables, including cilantro, tomatoes, bell peppers. They brought us out a freshly made pita bread that paired so well with the food. The cost was incredibly affordable for the amount of food that we got. The chai was also made fresh. They made it right behind the counter in front of us and adjusted the sugar level accordingly. The service was excellent. The waitress brought us our food in a timely fashion, along with plates, forks, water, and napkins. It was a very comfortable environment with lots of hustling and bustling, making a really nice café for brunch. I would go back over and over again. The food was fresh, the service was incredible and the ambience was perfect.

The prices for the amount of food you get is great. The $9.99 pizzas are tremendous and generous…read morefor filling two people maybe three. Service is under 10-15 minutes all made fresh to order and hot. Simple clean shop but terrible parking lot with monster pot holes. I've been back 4-5 times in the last two months.

This is a wonderful place with some great food. It's in a convenient location with its own parking…read morelot. Inside, there was one room with basic tables, and another with linen tablecloths (choose which you prefer). You order at the counter, get a number, get your own utensils and such, and they bring the food to your table. I went with some friends who got the lunch special (very good), but I couldn't resist the Spring Lamb Shank. Oh, that was so good. The lamb shank had incredible flavor, good seasoning, and tons of jus. The carrots and onions on that platter were perfectly cooked - just enough, but still with a crunch (onions) and a bite (carrots). It comes with a platter with rice (I got both kinds), hummus (could have used a bit more of that), sauce, onions, pickled turnips (perfect for balancing the richness), and bread (lavash?) that is great for making a wrap. They have very good to-go containers (it's a lot). This is a flavor-bomb and great food.

I ordered the Beef & Lamb Koubideh with dill rice. Good flavor, not dry, not juicy either. Dill…read morerice was properly cooked but wasn't particularly flavorful. Great portions. Friend's chicken kebab was a little dry. Bread and veggies were fresh and tasty. Service was good and friendly. Plenty of seating inside.