Levant Bistro (the bakery part has merged with the actual restaurant) is so special. My friend and…read moreI planned to meet here for Lebanese brunch on a gorgeous Saturday. It was such an unforgettable and refreshing experience. Chef Anita has such a vision. Every detail was well thought of, from the outdoor patio dining surrounded by olive bushes to the indoor wooden and oak touches with Fairouz playing overhead. What's even better is EVERY single dish is labelled clearly for allergy diners! AHHHH as a nut allergy girly this had me geekin. All the celiac diners can enjoy their dining experience without any triggering fears as well. I went with their famous Lebanese egg pie and my friend got the grilled salmon plate. We shared the ful mudammas, my fave dish. The gluten-free pita bread def changed my brain wiring. I don't enjoy gluten-free food, and I was drooling. The pita was pillow soft, like how do you do that? Magic, I tell you. The egg pie was SO special. Pillow soft as well and super filling. The flavors of every dish were legendary. We couldn't stop talking about the colors, the plating, the top tier service. Everything about Levant deserves to be raved about. Come one come all. Def coming to Levant next time I'm in Echo Park.

Levant Bistro is charming, the staff are warm and welcoming, and the food is absolutely…read moreoutstanding. From start to finish my experience was everything I could ask for. We arrived midday on a Sunday and we're promptly sat, having been given the option for patio or indoor. We chose the patio, and between the clematis, lantana, and olive trees it is a very lovely setting in which to enjoy a meal. We were promptly brought a bottle of cold water and glasses, and our beverage orders were taken. I had a honey lavender latte with oat milk, and my husband had Lebanese coffee (no milk no sugar.) my latte was fragrant, the perfect temperature, and just the right amount of sweet. The Lebanese coffee was smooth, floral without being perfume, and excellent. We started with the falafel and the batata harra. Both absolutely excellent. For our entrees we selected the shakshuka and the Lebanese egg pie. Both were also excellent. Everything was well cooked, well presented, flavorful without being overwhelmed by any component. We took home a baklava tart, because we simply did not have the ability to eat more at the table. It was tender, moist, not too sweet, the pistachio flavor coming through as nutty and grassy, seriously so good! And it's worth noting, this whole restaurant is gluten free. I would not have realised if I had not known ahead of time. The texture of the pita with the shakshuka was exactly what one would expect, as was the bread of the egg pie. The pastry of the tart was flakey and delicious. And having said all of that, the service is what puts it above and beyond. Everyone was warm and pleasant, and seemed to genuinely appreciate the compliments. Staff seemed like they liked their jobs, which for me is always a good sign.

I am mad that I never drove far enough down York to discover this place and only discovered it…read moreafter it was suggested for a lunch meetup. I needed this place in my life sooner! Let's start with the drink....I'm not a fan of anything rose flavored or scented so I wanted to make sure the rose flavor wasn't too strong in the Jallab. Since I was told the rose flavor is pretty prominent, it was suggested I do the Jallab with lemonade. What a perfect selection! I didn't pick up any rose flavor and the drink was so pretty. This is a refreshing alternative if you don't want to go with a soda. I already had my heart set on the appetizers and fortunately the other person was on board with the same choices. For dippers, I always go with a yogurt and cucumber appetizer and the Babaghanouj did not disappoint. These sides came with three pieces of pita bread. Neither side was overly garlicky and paired well with my entree. If you love cheese borek like I do, get you some cheese rolls. My only regret is only getting one. The cheese rolls were perfectly flavored and not overly salty. Now for the entree...I already had my eye on three meats so the waitress said to go with The Your Way Plate, which came with a kafta and tenderloin skewer. I also added a lamb skewer on the side. Both my lamb and tenderloin skewer were cooked medium and they were perfect. Lamb is one of those dishes that can be a hit or miss because if it's not cooked right, it will be chewy - mine was perfect! And, the spices they use to cook the lamb in will have you trying to pick up every last drop of juice with your pieces of meat. No complaints with the kafta either. I chose rice as my side because I love me the carbs. We went on a weekday for lunch and parking was easy enough to find on a side street. The staff was friendly and there was indoor and outdoor seating options. This place gets a yummy in my tummy rating and I will be back sooner rather than later.

Because I was familiar with the Skaf's restaurant located in Glendale, I was curious how Skaf's on…read moreYork would compare. I've visited twice for lunch, and both times I had great meals! I've tried both the regular and classic versions of the chicken shawarma wraps and liked them both. The classic style comes with fries on the inside of the wrap, and I thought the chicken was flavorful and not dry. The service was friendly, but during my second visit the staff seemed overextended given the number of tables they had to cover; this may have led to the error in getting the wrong side with my meal but they were quick to correct it once I brought it to their attention. They offer both indoor and outdoor seating, and overall I thought it was a great spot to have a casual meal.

What beautiful energy and amazing food. It feels like homemade food, which is very hard to find…read morethese days. Just the right amount of everything. A true hidden gem. Will definitely come back!

I came by with a couple of friends because we wanted to see what the hype was all about. We got the…read moreMirza Ghasemi w/ Barbari bread, Kotlet Plate, Turmeric Braised Chicken, Lamb Gheimeh, Kofteh Tabrizi, and the Sholezard for dessert. Turmeric Braised Chicken - The dish was a bit on the basic end, not a lot of seasoning but you could taste the tumeric. Chicken was tender but slightly on the drier side which was a bit surprising considering it was dark meat (6.5/10) Kofteh Tabrizi - The tomato taste was prominent in the broth but the meatball itself was overly salty. The flavor was one note, I can't see myself ordering this again as I've heard this dish should have more complex flavors so I was disappointed (5.5/10) Kotlet Plate - As you can see from my picture, the kotlet was burnt beyond repair and I could taste the bitterness from the overused oil they used to fry it. I did like the yogurt spread and the pickles that came with it but I did not like the kotlet at all. We didn't bother asking them to replace it (4/10) Mirza Ghasemi w/ Barbari bread - The star of this whole experience was the Mirza Ghasemi, the roasted eggplant and tomato spread came cold and it was the most delicious thing we had. One of my friends vacuumed it right up before the rest of us could have seconds. Bread was a bit dry but it was a great vehicle for the Mirza (8.5/10) Lamb Gheimeh - Lamb was tender and it had some nice spices infused in there but it didn't wow me in any way (7/10) Sholezard - Our waitress brought over some complimentary Ceylon tea with the Sholezard which was kind. This rice dessert was not too sweet. The warmth and saffron ended our meal in a comforting way. It wasn't bad but I wouldn't get it again (7/10) +1 star for the service

I went to this restaurant on a Sunday in the early evening with a friend. It was not crowded at…read moreall, which is great because it's a pretty small restaurant. We had a reservation, so it would have been fine anyway. The menu is super simple in the sense that it's not very descriptive and doesn't have a lot of words, but the servers are very nice and helpful. For example, I told the server that I had dietary restrictions, and I told them what they were. He took my menu and marked it up with what I could and could not eat and what could be turned vegan for me, which was super helpful. The food was also really good. My favorite dish was actually the crispy potatoes. I didn't expect the level of flavor that came on them. The cabbage was good as well. I've never had cabbage layered with flavor and infused with herbs like that, so that was cool. I've also never had crispy rice, so that was a good experience. We had ours without the egg yolk in it. The fish, which is listed as a yellowtail, was pretty good. The cauliflower was one of my favorites, along with the potatoes, and I like the olives. It was a nice touch as a quick appetizer while you wait for your food. The service was just really good. They were very accommodating and very patient, and the restaurant is very clean. The bathrooms are clean as well, so I would definitely come back here. I thought the vibe was welcoming and nice, and the quality of the food was delicious.

I've had dinner here many times, and it's always a great experience. The service is consistently…read moregood, the wine selection is excellent, and the food is genuinely delicious. My favorite thing on the menu is the crispy rice. My only qualm is that they charge what they do simply because they can. I've accepted that the food and the prices don't match when I decide to go here. A $36 cabbage steak and a $24.00 artichoke feel hard to justify (the best wood-grilled artichoke is up the street for $15.00 at Little Dom's). I also frequent Kismet Rotisserie next door, which makes the pricing even more noticeable. My second favorite dish here is the braised half chicken leg, $36.00. It's delicious, but on my last visit I couldn't help thinking that I could walk 20 feet next door and get a whole chicken from the same people for $29.50. I think for $36.00 it should at least be half chicken and more lima-beans or something. That said, it's still a super cute spot for date night, dinner with friends, or even dining solo. I definitely recommend it, just go in knowing the prices are a little audacious.

I've been craving Kabob for a while, and Kabob Bowl did amazing in helping with that craving!…read more And it was the Chefs birthday, we celebrated a cake with him! Happy Birthday Chef! Will definitely be coming back in!

Kabob Bowl is a little outside my normal area but I was down the street at an emergency vet…read more(LAASER) with my family and we needed a bite while waiting for our doggie. So we traveled down the street (this happened about 3 weeks ago and I'm just finishing the review so forgive the delay. Everyone in our party (3 of us) enjoyed our meal which felt healthy and flavorful - lots of options and lots of choices. The folks behind the counter were so helpful in helping us choose our meals which were well portioned and they wee so friendly! All in all, if you're looking for a casual bite of middle eastern food - this is a great option. Plenty of free parking and a nice, easy, tasty experience.

Wait... why does Google say "permanently closed"? I was just there a couple of weeks ago…read more I've been coming here since 2014 and it's been such a special place for me. I even stayed loyal through the loss of brunch (best brunch ever!). Really hoping this is some kind of mix-up or April Fools situation. If not, I just want to say how much your food and space have meant to me over the years. Raise prices if you need to, I'd happily support. I'd be so sad to see you go. Pinching myself that this is some kind of bad dream.

We went on Valentines Day. It was my girlfriend's first time there. I knew she'd love the…read moreaesthetic. It's small, dark, quiet, and romantic. I love the way they serve: the food comes out when it's ready. It's so easy to pace ourselves and really enjoy the food, but also to get lost in conversation. I never felt rushed to move on, and I felt like we could have stayed there half the night. Brian checked in on us and was so friendly. We decided to share everything, and I'm so glad. Honestly I wish we could have tasted every single thing on the menu. The restaurant smelled so delicious. We started with the Roast Beets. The bed of whipped herbed ricotta the sweet creaminess of the dates, and the crunch of the pistachio was so dreamy, and the contrasting textures of beet chips and the beets made this appetizer beautiful and delicious. We ordered the pan-seared branzino which is served with puréed cauliflower beets (which tasted totally different to our appetizer), and wilted greens. The fish was exquisite, but I didn't eat as much as I wanted to because we also ordered meat and she's trying to not eat much meat, so I wanted her to have more fish. Next we shared the baby back ribs with were spiced with Turkish Coffee, grape molasses, and a perfectly balanced spice rub. There was perfect caramelization. The meat fell off the bones it was so tender. For dessert we had warm rice pudding which balanced out the meal perfectly. It was a wonderful meal in a beautiful space. I wholeheartedly recommend this restaurant. It's lovely for a romantic meal, but, that said, it's not a very large menu - if you go with 4 or 5 friends you could order everything and share all of it! I hope I do that one day. Sorry I didn't take pictures. I was too busy looking at my girlfriend. The only negative thing I have to say is that there is no valet and parking was difficult - at least it was on Valentine's Day. I hate looking for parking, so I actually can turn this negative into a positive by saying that the food is good enough that I'm willing to drive in circles to go there.

Amazing and fresh food, the service was incredible and the outdoor patio was relaxing. Will…read moredefinitely be returning!

This place has great service and are very friendly! We were waiting in line while the first couple…read morewas ordering and the gm stopped what she was doing just to take our order. You don't see that kind of service anywhere else anymore. The food was amazing! Very authentic and packed with so much flavor. The pita bread that comes with the plates is fresh! The seating area is also quite nice. My wife and i stopped by because we were looking to try something new and we were not disappointed! 10/10 would try again

Yala is such a hidden gem! This family-owned café, has such a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Within…read moreseconds of walking in, I was greeted by a friendly employee who made me feel right at home. I ordered the Fig & Vanilla Matcha Latte, and my husband had the Yala Latte. Both were absolutely delicious--perfectly balanced, smooth, and not overly sweet. You can really tell they put thought and care into their drinks. The café has great music, wonderful people, and such a positive vibe. It's clean, inviting, and a place you'll want to come back to again and again. If you're looking for amazing coffee and matcha with exceptional customer service, Yala is definitely worth a visit. Highly recommend!

Honestly... not really for me, but I think it's more a matter of personal preference than the…read morequality of their matcha. Their matcha was really strong, and I personally didn't love how intense the flavor was. I also didn't really taste much of the fig or vanilla, which was a little disappointing. That said, I can see this being a good option if you prefer a stronger, more pronounced matcha flavor.

Have enjoyed Elena's many times by now. The food has tons…read moreof great flavor and the staff is always friendly and provide great service. You can use the church's parking lot that's across the street and about a hundred feet away, which makes a parking super convenient.

PARTY OF 4 plus? Get ready for a 20% "large party fee" + an additional "Service fee" to be added…read moreon to your bill. Newborns and babies included! That's not all, tip will also be requested when checking out. Our Visit: My family and I have visited Elena's before and had a good experience, which is why this visit was so disappointing. This time, we noticed a clear drop in food quality, portion sizes, overall service and an unexpected new surprise on the bill. I came in with my wife, our two young children (10month old and 2 year old), and my mom. Unfortunately, the pita bread was stale, a portion of my wife's chicken was undercooked, the portions were noticeably smaller than before, and the server completely forgot my mom's drink. Those issues alone were frustrating, but what really stood out were the added fees at the end, fees that were not charged in the past. We were charged a 20% "large party fee", along with an additional "service fee". When I spoke with the owner, he explained that their system automatically applies a large party charge to any group of 4 or more people, including babies who don't even order food. That threshold seems unusually low, especially since most places consider 6 or more a "large party" and from my experience typically don't consider babies 2 years and younger as occupants. Even more concerning, none of these fees were clearly communicated to us beforehand. Being surprised with multiple charges at the end of a meal feels misleading and leaves a bad impression. To add to that, after already including these fees, the payment process still prompts customers to leave an additional tip. I've only seen this type of fee structure at higher-end restaurants and for more people, not at a casual spot like this, and even then it's usually disclosed upfront. If a business is going to charge extra, the service and overall experience should reflect that. My recommendation for Elena's, if you want to make more money, just raise your food prices so your customers at least know how much they're going to spend at the end. Not slap surprise charges at the end and force your customers to pay. On a positive note, at least they were playing Fast and the Furious on their TV. PLEASE CHECK YOUR BILL. Please be aware of their shady business practices.

Need update prices , ask for few crackers or extra tostadas and they denied, also hot Sauce was…read morelimited, not enough!!

My mom told the owner to put the chile aparte on the tostadas, he responded with "no pica" she…read morestill insisted it be on the side as it is OUR food and OUR preference, when we got home and opened the food all of the tostadas were drowned in the chile. We've been coming for YEARS and always got the chile on the side so I don't understand what the problem was today.