Amazing new restaurant at San Diego absolutely beautiful decor . Food was delicious served by wonderful staff amazing friendly professional Amina She gave us a wonderful warm welcome with beautiful smile and gave us a lot of good recommendations . The owner came and welcome us as well he was very nice and friendly Everyone at this restaurant was amazing . Food was great Service was top notch Thank you very much for your service and hospitality I totally appreciate you all I recommend this beautiful restaurant See you soon . read more

Dunya Lounge - Vegetarian delicious Falafel - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

This restaurant is absolutely beautiful. It's giving a luxury vibe. We came here after celebrating my birthday dinner at a different restaurant, and as soon as we got seated, we immediately fell in love with the place. The decor is gorgeous, and the entire layout of the restaurant feels luxurious and high-end. The food was delicious, and the hookah was such a nice touch to enjoy the evening while having quality conversations with friends. The only thing to keep in mind is that they don't serve alcohol. Aside from that, this place is beautiful. The food is presented really well, and everything we ordered was full of rich flavor. The hookah starts at $40 and up, and it's definitely worth it for the experience. I'd definitely come back. In the website it says they close at 10 PM but we were told they usually remain open until around 1:00 or 1:30 AM, depending on when the last customers are finished. read more

Dunya Lounge - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

This place is WOWWW! The food was absolutely amazing, and the quality of the meat was outstanding. The shrimp plate completely blew my mind, especially paired with the flavorful saffron rice. It's incredible to see how much effort was put into making this place so beautiful. The servers were super attentive, and the hookah is definitely one of the best in town. Highly recommend I'll definitely be coming back! Just two small observations for improvement: the pita bread wasn't warm, which slightly affected the taste of the hummus and baba ghanoush, and the lighting felt a little too bright. A warmer, more lounge style atmosphere would make the experience even better. read more

Dunya Lounge - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

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Absolutely amazing experience at Dunya Lounge! The atmosphere was beautiful, welcoming, and such a great vibe. Food & hookah was amazing . Everything from the service to the overall experience was perfect. A special shoutout to our server, Tavio, who truly made our night even better! He was incredibly friendly, attentive, professional, and made sure we had everything we needed the entire time. His customer service was exceptional, and he went above and beyond to make us feel welcomed and taken care of. We had such a great time and will definitely be coming back. If you visit Dunya Lounge, definitely ask for Tavio you won't be disappointed! Highly recommend this place! read more

After a late play at the Civic Theatre, we were in search for some good food to wrap up the night. We found Maestro Lounge a few blocks away and so glad we did! It's a casual Mediterranean restaurant/hookah bar in the heart of downtown San Diego. They have comfortable lounge couches with tables to enjoy your food or hookah. A major plus is their late night hours (Fridays and Saturdays until 3am!). The food was really delicious and filling. The salad was fresh, the trio of dips flavorful, and the meat cooked to perfection. We got the combo for 2 people which came with a salad, rice, 3 skewers of meat, and different dips. We also got the potato appetizer which was delicious. The avocado smoothie was a nice treat especially with the pistachio on top. Our server was Sarah and she was fantastic! She has a warm and bubbly personality which made us feel welcome. She was kind enough to take some pictures of us and at the end, she even held the door open for us as we left! Definitely would return for some more late night meals! read more

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Had the shakshuka it was delicious. Ghada was helpful and nice. Place was clean and looked nice. read more

Dunya Lounge - Shakshuka - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

The wife and kid were off doing tourist things while I had some work to do on the laptop so I went here solo for lunch. It was a gorgeous day so I sat outside and watched the street traffic go by. It's definitely not in the main tourist area but was close to our hotel and I knew this was my chance for some Middle Eastern food with the girls away. I had the gyro with fries and it was excellent. The meat was tender and there was not too much sauce. They included little pickles that I can never remember the name but they give a slightly sour taste that contrasts with the sweet sauce. The fries were excellent: crispy on outside, tender on inside. I thought the prices were reasonable. I am glad to see that this place has such good reviews. Based on my experience, the high rating is accurate. read more

Dunya Lounge - Menu cover - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

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We visited yesterday and had a mixed experience. First, the positive: the food was genuinely excellent. Everything we ordered was delicious. Unfortunately, the pricing experience completely overshadowed the meal. We were initially planning to order two smaller dishes (initially listed as $28 each), but our server recommended that we order the larger platter. Based on the menu we were given, the platter was listed at $75. When the check arrived, we were surprised to see that we had been charged $100 for that same item. When we questioned it, the server brought over a different menu showing the $100 price. We explained that this was not the menu we had been given. After investigating, he returned and admitted that we had been handed outdated menus and that the current price was indeed $100. At that point, we were still charged the higher price. If customers are given a menu with incorrect pricing, they should not be expected to pay more than the price that was advertised to them. Whether the outdated menu was an honest mistake or not, charging us an additional $25 after the fact was unacceptable and left us feeling misled. The food was fantastic, but this experience left a very bad impression. Warning to all, take pictures of the menu prices so you don't get jipped when the check comes. read more

I've been here several times in the past month. The first couple times the service was terrible, but it has improved since then. The ambiance is amazing and the food is pretty good. I would recommend basically everything I've tried. My favorite are the chicken shish kabob, fatoosh, kibbeh niyeh, and the lemon mint smoothie. I'm not really crazy about the filet or the lamb personally and the batata hara was decent, but not great. The shisha has been good as well. My biggest piece of feedback to this place would be to keep doing better with their service, stop shocking people with how loud the happy birthday song suddenly comes on, and adjust the red meats. I'll definitely keep going back and I hope to see them improve more and more. read more

The ambience here is cute, the music is on point, and the food is actually great, but for a hookah lounge, the actual hookah was terrible and the service wasn't any better. Also, it's way too bright in there~ they need to dim the lights to capture a true lounge vibe. It has potential and we'll be back soon. read more

I visited Donny Restaurant in Downtown San Diego during the World Cup. The food was decent, but the customer service was very slow, especially during busy game times. One thing that disappointed me was that the game commentary and audio were only in Arabic. While I understand that many customers may speak Arabic, the restaurant also had guests from many other nationalities. Since the World Cup is an international event, it would have been better to use the English broadcast or provide audio that a wider audience could enjoy. Overall, the experience was okay, but the slow service and limited language choice for the game broadcast made it less enjoyable. I visited Donny Restaurant in Downtown San Diego during the World Cup. The food was decent, but the customer service was very slow, especially during busy game times. One thing that disappointed me was that the game commentary and audio were only in Arabic. While I understand that many customers may speak Arabic, the restaurant also had guests from many other nationalities. Since the World Cup is an international event, it would have been better to use the English broadcast or provide audio that a wider audience could enjoy. Overall, the experience was okay, but the slow service and limited language choice for the game broadcast made it less enjoyable. read more

Dunya Lounge - Ginger tea - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

Went here with a group of friends and wow were we all impressed. The service was amazing! Staff were friendly and recommended the family platter which was so good!!! I recommend ordering the spicy potatoes, kibbeh, and hummus. read more

The food is delicious! The staff are very knowledgeable on their menu items. As you can see the photos before and after of the food! The music is very good, and the booths and seats are comfy. Bathrooms are very clean And there's street parking and paid parking as well available read more

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This was one of the most disappointing dining experiences I've had. The food quality was absolutely terrible, especially considering the prices. It felt like the restaurant was more focused on maximizing profits than serving good food. Every dish was underwhelming, and nothing justified the cost. One thing that really surprised me was the water service. Every restaurant bring you water for free. When we asked for water, they brought small bottled waters without mentioning there was a charge. We later found out they were $7 per bottle, which is excessive. The service was also frustrating. While I was still eating, multiple servers came by asking if I was finished because they wanted to clear my plate. Being interrupted several times while I'm still working on my meal made me feel rushed instead of welcome. To make matters worse, the restaurant added a 4% credit card processing fee to the bill. Between the poor food quality, overpriced bottled water, feeling rushed throughout the meal, and the extra credit card fee, the entire experience felt like the restaurant was looking for every possible way to charge customers rather than provide a quality dining experience. I won't be returning, and I wouldn't recommend this restaurant. read more

The food was tasty, but the service was slow and 45 minute wait was a bit much. They could have bought the salad out while they were preparing the main course. The restaurant was clean. The music was loud and annoying. The lamb chops were cooked well done if that such a thing; let's say the crunchy kind. read more

Dunya Lounge - Mediterranean dish, lamb chops salad, rice, and hummus. - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

Nice place, but unfortunately have no respect for their patrons. It's hot like Heck and they would not turn the ventilation on!

This is the best hookah lounge in the entire San Diego service service is amazing literally best hookah in all San Diego hands down.... I highly recommend you check them out!! read more

Dunya Lounge - Best hookah ever - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

This place was absolutely wonderful! We enjoyed sharing lots of delicious food, drinks, and heartfelt laughter. The Lemon Mint tea I tried was truly perfect--refreshing and flavorsome. We also shared the Maestro Family Meal for 4-5 people, which had generous and tasty portions. I genuinely recommend visiting this place. The Maestro Lounge provided us with excellent customer service, great quality, and cleanliness. read more

Dunya Lounge - Maestro Mega Mix for 4-5 people, fries, and wings - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

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Came in after a late night out not expecting some of the best Mediterranean food in a hookah lounge!!! The pricing is great... $128 for 7 people!!! The service was fast to get seated (it was 1 am lol) but the hosts were so nice and gave us recommendations. The food was so tasty and big portion size. We got the plate for two people and it was definitely so worth!! Can't wait to come back read more

Dunya Lounge - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

I recently visited Dunya Lounge and unfortunately had a very disappointing experience. Due to what appeared to be a severe staff shortage, the service was extremely slow and disorganized throughout the evening. What concerned me even more was the way the owner interacted with the employees. From a customer's perspective, it seemed like staff members were being spoken to harshly, and several employees appeared visibly uncomfortable and intimidated. While I cannot know exactly what happens behind the scenes, the atmosphere suggested that employees may not be receiving the support and respect they deserve. As a customer, I understand that busy nights happen and staffing challenges can occur. However, the way management treats employees has a direct impact on the quality of service customers receive. The staff seemed overwhelmed, and rather than seeing leadership and support, I witnessed behavior that made me uncomfortable as a guest. I hope management takes these concerns seriously, both for the well-being of their employees and for the overall customer experience. A positive workplace environment benefits everyone. read more

Food was good, ambiance was beautiful but they don't serve alcohol. We were there to celebrate my husband's birthday with 10 people and wasn't aware until we got there that it's a non-alcoholic place. read more

Excellent food and friendly service for a to go order. I definitely will return and recommend. It's also very walkable to and from the Marriott hotel. read more

Dunya Lounge - Maestro Mega Mix for two - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

After a long night me and my bestie found Maestro Lounge! We ordered the chicken plate and toshka, ( the best chicken of my life) the freshest mint lemon juice, iced coffee, hookah and Kunafeh Cheese. Amazing! Can't wait to come back read more

Dunya Lounge - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

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Was craving something different and interesting after an early Yoga class. After checking Yelp saw that this had some unique items and I was sold! Not very busy inside the restaurant, menu had pictures and was able pick a few items that turned out delicious and couldn't have been more impressed. I forgot their Mansaf Friday's and need to go there and compare it with other places that serve this famous Jordanian staple. For sure will be back! read more

Came here to celebrate a milestone with a friend. Sara was the staff member that attended to us and helped answer questions we had. My friend and I were wanting chill ambience where we could still hear each other and catch up and this place fit the bill. As a lover of mediterranean food around San Diego, I'll definitely be coming back.... a blend of creative presentation and I could tell they took the time to get the dish right. The hookah was spot-on and a kind gentleman came by to ensure the hookah was doing good with the burn which was appreciated. read more

Amazing food, beautiful atmosphere, and excellent service! Everything we ordered was fresh and full of flavor. A special thank you to Khalid he was incredibly kind, professional, and made our experience truly special. We will definitely be coming back! read more

Dunya Lounge - Beautiful Middle Eastern breakfast/Brunch - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

Outstanding food and service. Location was close to our hotel. And I'm so happy we found this place. Food was over the top if you like GOOD Mediterranean food. Next time we are back in the area. We will be going back. read more

Here for desert and coffee! Service: fast and friendly! Ambiance: chill. No one makes middle eastern food as good as this restaurant! read more

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We were here in San Diego for a long weekend trip during the winter break. We booked the tickets for The Nutcracker at the Civic Theater, and we came here for dinner before the performance. We ordered a beef plate (that comes with rice, bread, dippings, and a side salad), a shakshuka, and another seasonal salad. The food is flavorful and well-seasoned. As a vegetarian, I do think there are quite a few options for me to choose from. While the menu does not have clear labels, the staff was very helpful with explaining to me the ingredients of the different dishes. The only thing is that we did not know beforehand that this place is also a hookah lounge and there were diners smoking while we were there. Something to note for customers who may be sensitive to smoke. Overall a positive experience! P.S. Parking in downtown San Diego is a nightmare. We parked at the Civic Parking Structure that is around 5 minutes walk away. We had a discount ($15 flat fee) because we were here for The Nutcracker. read more

When we first arrived at the restaurant, we were welcomed with lemon water shots and told that our table would be ready in about two minutes. Thankfully, they seated us quickly, but unfortunately, the experience went downhill from there. After being seated, we waited around 10 minutes before a waitress approached us and asked if we were ready to order. We noticed that physical menus were not provided and were instead told to scan a QR code to view the menu on our phones. I asked if we could have physical menus, and the waitress said she would bring them shortly. It took another five minutes for her to return with the menus. We ordered non-alcoholic refreshers, which were priced at $15 each, along with appetizers because we already noticed the service was very slow. About 20 minutes later, the appetizers arrived, but we still had not received our drinks. Five minutes later, only two out of the six drinks arrived, and the remaining drinks came another 15 minutes later. By this point, it had already been about an hour just to receive appetizers and drinks. After finishing the appetizers, we were ready to order our main dishes, but our waitress disappeared for around 30 minutes. During that time, the only interaction we had with her was when she briefly asked if everything was okay. We mentioned that we still had not received any water, so she brought six bottled waters to the table without informing us there would be a charge. After that, she disappeared again. Eventually, she returned, took our main course order, and the food arrived about 30 minutes later. However, we did not receive pita bread with the dishes, and again, we could not find our waitress anywhere. What made the situation more frustrating was that the restaurant was mostly empty. It was around 9 PM on a Sunday, and there were only about five occupied tables. Despite everything, we tried to remain understanding because the restaurant had recently opened. Toward the end of the meal, we noticed they were doing birthday celebrations for other guests, and since my sister's birthday had been the day before, I wanted to surprise her with one as well. Since our waitress was nowhere to be found, I walked to the front desk and informed the hostess that we wanted to arrange a birthday surprise for my sister. I specifically asked her to let the waitress know quietly because it was meant to be a surprise. About 10 minutes later, the waitress came directly to the table and loudly asked, "Who is the birthday girl?" which completely ruined the surprise. I explained to her that it was supposed to be a surprise, but we still agreed to order the birthday cheesecake and another dessert. When she returned with the dessert menu, she only brought one menu for the entire table. While we were deciding, she pointed her finger directly in my face and said, "Wait one moment, I'll be right back." She then left to participate in another birthday celebration, despite several other staff members already handling it. The gesture felt dismissive and disrespectful. Eventually, she returned and took our dessert order. About 10 minutes later, the staff came out singing "Happy Birthday," but they initially gave the cheesecake to the wrong person at the table before correcting themselves. After dessert, our waitress disappeared once again. We had to ask another employee for the check because we were ready to leave. When the bill arrived, we were shocked to see that we had been charged $42 for six bottles of water without being informed beforehand that the water was not complimentary. In addition, a 20% gratuity had already been added to the bill without our approval. I spoke to the manager about the poor service and unexpected charges. While he apologized for the inconvenience, he did not make any meaningful effort to resolve the situation. Instead, he simply reduced the gratuity from 20% to 18%. Later, another waitress brought the payment machine and mentioned that we could lower the gratuity to 15%, but even after all the issues we experienced, we still felt pressured into paying a tip for extremely poor service. Our total bill was originally around $471, and after the adjustment, it only dropped to approximately $460 barely any difference considering the experience we had. Overall, the service was disorganized, inattentive, and disappointing, especially for a nearly empty restaurant. Unfortunately, after this experience, I do not plan on returning. Disappointing! If I could give 0 stars I would. read more

Everything was delicious ! I give this place a 10/10 def will be coming back. The service was amazing as well. read more

Dunya Lounge - Greek food - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

I came here randomly as it was close to my hotel. It was close to closing hours close to empty yesterday the service the food and the passionate DJ win me over as a repeat customer. I ordered a variety of dishes, but in particular was pressed that a shrimp and calamari stew dish was not rubbery at all(I was ready to be underwhelmed). Sara my waitress was warm and engaging-like the feeling of a family owned restaurant (I don't know that this is.) The highlight for me was DJ Moses. When I came in he was mixing passionately to some classic and contemporary Arabic sound... then like an attuned DJ he skillfully transitioned smoothly and unexpectedly in a hip hop track then to Latin then to Afro beats. I'm told they have a DJ every night. At this point I was the only customer left, but I felt like the staff went all out for my enjoyment. It my new favorite gem to go when I'm in town. read more

Great service, good food, hookah was enjoyable. Ambience is chill. Went during the day, very laid back atmosphere. Will be back, thanks! read more

Dunya Lounge - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

Was so excited to try this place today with a friend. The reviews looked great and the photos were beautiful. We arrived about 12:15 and were the only customers there. The decor was beautiful, but the initial welcome seemed a bit off? Like they weren't prepared for customers, even though they had been open since 9 AM. I had also attempted to call repeatedly between 9 am - 12pm and was unable to get anyone to answer the phone? That should have been my first red flag. We were seated and immediately noticed there were quite a few small, flying gnats or some type of flies everywhere. So many so, that there were electric lanterns plugged in to zap them in an effort to control the large amount. Once our food came out, the flies were so unbearable that we were unable to even take a bite of food because we were constantly trying to swat them away from dive bombing into our meal! We were unsuccessful and many of them landed in our hummus, our salad, and on my sandwich. I got up to go ask one of the employees if they could bring us fresh food, and if we could move to a different table, and after standing at the counter and saying "excuse me" over and over again with no response and not seeing anyone down the hall, my friend and I just walked out, leaving our untouched meal on the table. We never got to take a single bite other than drinking our bottled water that came to the table. I'm disappointed because the food looked delicious but the service was less than satisfactory and I can't imagine unless they deal with the gnat issue I would ever go back. read more

This is my second visit this year and will now be my go to restaurant when in San Diego. The food and service is impressive. I enjoy the vibe with the dancing and music. I did sample the hookah last visit and will do again. read more

Dunya Lounge - Lamb chops - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

This Mediterranean lounge is truly a warm and inviting place to enjoy great food, drinks, laughter, and hookah. During a double date, we shared the Family plate designed for 4-5 people, which was generous and delicious. We also ordered fries and wings; everything was cooked to perfection and truly satisfying. There was so much food that we had leftovers to take home. For drinks, we chose sodas and a refreshing lemon mint tea that was both yummy and refreshing. The service was exceptional! Everyone was so welcoming, friendly, and attentive, making us feel cared for and comfortable. I can't wait to come back next time we are in town. read more

Dunya Lounge - Maestro Mega Mix for 4-5 people - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

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Maestro Long Hookah is easily one of the best spots in town if you're looking for a real Middle Eastern atmosphere. From the moment you walk in, the ambiance feels authentic -- the decor, music, and overall energy genuinely capture that warm, social vibe you'd expect from a true hookah lounge overseas. The hookah quality is excellent. Smooth pulls, rich flavors, and clearly prepared with care. You can tell they take pride in what they serve. The staff is welcoming, attentive, and make sure you're taken care of without hovering. It's the kind of place where you can relax for hours, whether you're catching up with friends or just unwinding after a long day. If you want great hookah, authentic Middle Eastern vibes, and a comfortable atmosphere that feels both lively and laid-back, Maestro Long Hookah is the place to go. Highly recommend. read more

Very good service and good food. Had a great time and definitely will be back soon Good DJ and great appetizers read more

The crew here are always so friendly and welcoming--you're greeted with smiles every time. The food is consistently delicious; my favorites are the fresh arugula salad. creamy hummus and the tasty grilled meats. The hookah is great--I especially enjoy the apple or double apple flavors. We finished our meal off with red tea and the kunafa, which was the perfect ending. The ambiance is lovely too, with Arabic music that really adds to the experience. Highly recommend this spot! read more

Dunya Lounge - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

Sara's lemon mint smoothie was excellent! We also had the Maestro mix, for 2. The beef was perfectly prepared, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. This was a very nice meal. read more