Amazing hidden gem!! I've been wanting to check out this place for many years and finally had a free day to stop in. I've definitely been missing out! Nawal makes you feel like family from the moment you meet her. Her cooking speaks to her experience and love for food. So fricken delicious. The atmosphere is clean and beautifully decorated. As soon as you walk in you feel like you're transported to a different world. Loved it! Also the hibiscus tea is amazing. read more

Nawal's Mediterranean Grille - Moroccan chicken / champagne chicken plate with saffron rice (bottom) - Desserts Near Me - Big Rapids, Michigan

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"Lamb Shank, Baklava & a Side of Pure Magic" If there were a Hall of Fame for Restaurants That Changed My Life, Nawal's Mediterranean Grille would be in it. I rolled in with my crew, ready to eat, and from the very first sip of Turkish coffee, I knew we were in for something special. This wasn't just coffee--it was a bold, rich, straight-from-the-gods experience, brewed right at our table. I took one sip and instantly felt smarter, more powerful, and possibly able to predict the future. It paired perfectly with the appetizers--hummus, pita, grape leaves--each bite making me question why I don't eat like this every day. Then came the lamb shank. I barely touched it, and it fell apart like it had just received life-altering news. So tender, so juicy, so perfectly seasoned that for a moment, I forgot where I was. It was that good. Meanwhile, the chicken shawarma and rice were disappearing at an alarming rate--by the time I looked up, it was almost gone. No one spoke. Just the sounds of pure joy and occasional "Oh my gosh, this is amazing." Dessert? Oh, we didn't hold back. Four cupcakes and big, glorious slabs of baklava came home with us. The kind of baklava that haunts your dreams in the best way possible--flaky, nutty, drenched in syrupy perfection. Food? Flawless. Service? Incredible. Turkish coffee? Life-changing. I'll be back, and I regret nothing. read more

Nawal's Mediterranean Grille - Lamb Shank & Rice - Desserts Near Me - Big Rapids, Michigan

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A Hidden Gem Worth the Drive! Finding authentic Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and Egyptian cuisine in a small northern rural town is rare, but this place is an absolute treasure! The chicken shawarma is tender and flavorful, the lamb gyro juicy and perfectly cooked, and the pita soft and melt-in-your-mouth. But the spicy lentil soup steals the show. The lentil soup is perfectly balanced with warmth, flavor, and spice. I only wish I would have thought to grab photos before we enjoyed. The owner, Nawal does it all (often by herself!!!) cooking, serving, and managing, so be patient and enjoy the experience. As someone who regularly seeks out authentic North African and Mediterranean cuisine in our daily life and travels, I can confidently say this spot delivers! read more

Nawal's Mediterranean Grille - Moroccan Chicken served with warm dates, carrots, almonds on a fresh bed of rice. This is a favorite! - Desserts Near Me - Big Rapids, Michigan

Drive to Big Rapids. Talk to the owner. Eat her food. Go back and do it again. If you don't try everything on the menu, you'll have a chance to go back. read more

Nawal's Mediterranean Grille - Tea and lunch - Desserts Near Me - Big Rapids, Michigan

Food was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. Mediterranean fries, Greek salad, Gyro, grape leaves, and desserts were all SO EXTRAORDINARY. The service was excellent, and the whole inside is so scenic and beautiful. read more

Found this place on drive home to Chicago. Had the Chicken Tamook and the best Lentil soup I ever had for lunch. Got food to go I liked it so much. Highly recommend! I will be back! read more

This place is a hidden gem! The food is absolutely delicious! I had the chicken shawarma and my husband had the gyro. My granddaughter had the special which was the Madagascar chicken which I tried from her plate and was chef's kiss!!! I was so glad that we ordered both so I could experience each of them. Our entree's came with soups which were also incredible. I had the black eyed pea and my granddaughter had chicken noche. She ate the whole thing minus the couple of bites me and her grandpa took. We ended with dessert. She had two miniature cupcakes and me and my husband split a piece of baklava. Everything was amazing and the only thing that would make it better was if this was located closer to where we live! read more

Nawal's Mediterranean Grille - Our granddaughter enjoying a cupcake for dessert. - Desserts Near Me - Big Rapids, Michigan

amazing experience (service/food/atmosphere). Nawal the owner makes all dishes and I felt like I was at my mom's for a home cooked meal. I recommend all the apps/lamb shank/kafta and most everything on the menu. She doesn't disappoint read more

Mediterranean Magic: A Meal We'll Never Forget We stopped in for lunch at Nawal's Mediterranean Grille--and ended up having one of the best meals of our lives. From the moment we walked in, we felt completely at ease. The space has a warmth and charm that's hard to describe--like stepping into someone's home where every detail is meant to make you feel welcome. Then came the food. Dish after dish, we were blown away. Everything was full of flavor, clearly made with fresh ingredients and a whole lot of love. We also really appreciated how vegan-friendly the menu was. There were so many delicious options, and everything felt thoughtful and inclusive--no boring substitutions, just vibrant, satisfying food that stands on its own. And the host? Absolutely stellar. So kind, attentive, and genuinely passionate about making sure every guest feels taken care of. She brought the experience to a whole other level. There's something magical about this place - we're already talking about when we can go back. Simply put, it has become our favorite restaurant! read more

Nawal is a wonderful and welcoming host! We arrived late after a long drive but she opened her kitchen and made us a delicious dinner! I only wish we lived closer so we could back. I highly recommend her restaurant. read more

Great food! But the Baklava was the absolute best I have ever had!! We had the chicken shawarma and the Beef shawarma and the gyro. But the best was the house made baklava!! read more

Nawal's Mediterranean Grille - Baklava - Desserts Near Me - Big Rapids, Michigan

Excellent food and friendly service. The owner is open and fun to talk to. The food was absolutely delicious. Great cupcakes too! Highly recommend. This was one of the highlights of our trip to this area. We will be back! read more

Family of 5 here, stopped for late lunch on our way home from Michigan to Chicago. Excellent food, main dishes, superb soups, sauces, and tasty drink selections/ juices; Many made from scratch. This restaurant has won many awards, and we can see why. Topped off lunch with the best cupcakes! Better than cake boss. Highly recommend this place. read more

Food was good however portions seem to have shrunk. Service is good and friendly. Nice option when you are bored with the rest of the selections in town. read more

We have been here 4 times now in the last couple of years. The first time I spoke with the owner and watched her make baklava. On one visit we brought my daughter and her family and watched (and danced with) the belly dancers from a local school. A lot of fun and the food each of us had was wonderful! On our last visit we brought an out of town guest. We arrived 15 minutes before closing and hating to keep them, since no one else was in the restaurant, I suggested we could come back some other time. The owner graciously insisted we stay and took her time with us. Again the food and service was great! read more

If you are looking for middle eastern food in the Big Rapids area make it a point to check this place out! Nawal is extremely personable and will tell you all about anything on the menu! As with most places they are short of help but our service was still good! As far as the food goes, some was ok and other dishes were above average. The hummus had a good but yet a different taste and the tabouli was ok. It didn't seem fresh nor old either! I did like their spicy lentil soup, which wasn't really that spicy at all, but maybe that's because I can handle some heat?! I'm wondering if things tasted a bit differently as I believe Nawal is Egyptian, so maybe that's why I noticed a difference?! My friend ordered their moroccan chicken, (a favorite of his as he's somewhat a regular), which is served on rice, my friend has had this before, and that dish had a really unique and tasty flavor to it. Was it the cumin? cardamom? nutmeg? The only downside to that dish as it's served with carrots, and I detest cooked carrots, and it's all mixed in together. (Ate a few bites and the dish was good). My friend also ordered their lamb shank, which I didn't try as it's not my thing, and my friend thought it was good, but he realized he's not really a fan of lamb shank after all! They offer many desserts but cupcakes are her specialty, their chocolate and peanut cupcake sounded good but they were out so my friend and I split a red velvet cupcake which was delicious! For the area I'd give this place a 4 but by my high standards, as I've been spoiled with fantastic middle eastern food, I'd give it a 3. Due to the personality of Nawal, they get a 4! read more

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Amazing. Try the Moroccan chicken. Can't wait to come back! The owner came out and treated us like family. Wish we had saved room to try the desserts. read more

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Stopped here for lunch while traveling and got the most pleasant surprise! Don't let the outside fool you- this place is a treasure. My husband and I loved everything we tried and we even got the seal of approval from our 1.5yr old. We loved our lunch so much we drove 2 hours out of our way a few days later to try their weekend dinner specials and they did not disappoint! The Moroccan chicken was incredible. I look forward to going back for more delicious Mediterranean next time I'm passing through. read more

We came to lunch on Thursday afternoon and we we're blown away. This place has the most incredible Middle Eastern food! We started out with the four choices appetizer, and we couldn't decide what we liked more. The spinach pie was right out of the oven and was so very special, but the hummus had a depth that was simply indescribable. We loved the grape leaves, too. There is no doubt that these are homemade - it turns out, in fact, everything is homemade! We split the chicken, Shawarma, but ordered the dinner size meal. There was so much food on the plate, we didn't think we would be able to eat it. But once we started eating that dish with her homemade tahini and fresh tomatoes, parsley, and onions, we polished off the plate pretty quickly! We had a Egyptian and hibiscus tea, but couldn't put a favorite there either. And bonus, there are the most gorgeous cupcakes on the dessert menu. As luck would have it, the owner started out as a baker. So not only do you get an incredibly delicious Middle Eastern meal, there are the most gorgeous cupcakes to finish it off! The restaurant itself is absolutely charming. The decor is fun and tasteful, and our little booth was very comfortable. There's a giant table out front that I will someday have a large enough group to use! By the time we left, we felt more like family than customers. adorable restaurant, incredibly delicious food, and the loveliest people! Can't wait to come back! read more

Nawal was a lovely ambassador for our family at our first visit to her restaurant. She guided us through the menu, and the daily specials. She glowed with pride describing her award winning Moroccan Chicken dish, which I ordered with great anticipation. WOW, the Moroccan Chicken exceeded my expectations, and my tastebuds celebrated the delectable complexity. The spices were warm and savory, the meat moist and separated with a fork, and the veggies and fruit were stewed to perfection. This dish was served on a bed of plump saffron rice, which welcomed the stewed sauce. I'm so glad I got full on the combo platter with excellent grape leaves and hummus, so I get to have Moroccan chicken leftovers for tomorrow! Come visit Nawal's - I know we will be back! read more

I heard great things going into this place which is why I had good expectations. I just moved to big rapids and decided to take a coworker there to explore of of big rapids more ethnic restaurants. I was very surprised to find an Egyptian owned place in this area. Somewhat of a hidden gem. Coming inside it's really nice establishment. The decour is clean and comfortable. There is some nice art and motifs from Egypt. I was greeted by Nawal who is very nice and sweet. She gave us amazing service and some good reccomendations. I ordered the morrocan chicken which was very tender. It came with a Savory sauce and carrots which was flavorfull. It was on a bed of rice which absorbed the flavor. Salad was a good addition. Next time I would want the tea as well. Keep an eye out for their specials they do fish and other special menu items as well also soon they will do live music and dancers once the current events get better. Overall a wholesome meal and great service, will be back. read more

Nawal's Mediterranean Grille - Morrocan chicken - Desserts Near Me - Big Rapids, Michigan

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My mother and I thought we would stop by and try out what Mediterranean food was like and was BEYOND amazed! Besides the food being spectacular, well priced, the restaurant and paintings and scenery being stunning, the workers were so sweet with great insight in the food, and the owner is one of the most amazing and personable people I swear! I adored my experience here, we even took some food to go after eating. Do not skip out on dessert - it is SO well worth it! We will be going back! Hope y'all will try it! read more

Very good authentic Mediterranean food! Love their gyros and desserts. Not sure if they are still catering, but we have had them cater for work occasions as well read more

Don't sleep on this place. Don't let it being located in a strip mall keep you from coming in like I almost did. The food here is great. Wonderful flavors. Everything is fresh and made to order. We tried the Egyptian tea which was good, the burger which was phenomenal, the chicken Shawarma, the beef Shawarma and the Falafel wrap, all good. The cupcakes in lemon, coconut, cherry and strawberry all have filling in the center, all homemade, moist and yummy. And, the Baklava which was fresh and yummy as well. But the best part of our visit was getting to meet Nawal, she is full of energy, and lots of fun. We chatted with her about the different food offerings. You can hear and feel her passion for her cooking. We watched a Youtube video with her that News9&10 did of her a few years ago making her highly sought after Friday night special -Moroccan chicken, and her infamous bread pudding. This was her 1st time seeing the video for herself. We told her she should start her own cooking channel. We will be back to work our way through more of the menu. I'm anxious to try the Turkish coffee! And to visit their downtown Big Rapids location! read more

Amazingly meal! The service and owner were lovely. They even have hummus, tzatziki pastries, to go, which was great. So much is homemade. I'll be there anytime I am nearby. read more

The food was good, can't say as much for the service. Lamb Gyro is as good as any I have tried elsewhere.

Food was delicious. We have been looking for a Mediterranean restaurant in northern Michigan, and this will be our go to. Portions were reasonable for the price. We had chicken shawarma platter and the gyro. Both were served with saffron rice. Can't wait to try other offerings on a future visit. read more

Visiting from the Chicago area to bike a nearby trail. So glad we stopped in! The owner (Nawal) was warm and welcoming. Friendly service and delicious food. We liked it so much we came back the next day for another dinner! Chicken shawarma wrap was so good I ordered it again. Served with saffron rice and side salad. I tried the spicy lentil soup. A little heat and a lot of flavor. My husband enjoyed the beef shawarma wrap and lamb gyro wrap the next day. Both were filling and flavorful. Sure wish we lived closer. We would be regulars! read more

Traveling north on 131 towards Leland, I had a schwarma on my mind and my mind on a schwarma . Google points us to Nawal in Big Rapids. Long story short, a delicious lunch at a fair price. The staff was delightful. Highly recommended! read more

The food here is authentic, full of flavor, fresh, and phenomenal! Nawal brings her roots into the cooking and is a fantastic host! And the decor is also authentic. We plan to stop by here every time we pass by Big Rapids on our way up north. read more

Impression of the new Northland drive location: I like the look of the new place! It really encompasses Nawal and puts her out there for all to see. The decor is spot on with hand painted works of art on the walls, sharing the very heart of Nawal. I learned today that these works utilized a local artist and is literally painted onto the walls then frames are glued on which really makes them pop. It's like an Egyptian art museum! I would love to see the artist's signature though. Really spot on decor. I love that you can look into the new kitchen, this seems to be what people like these days. Being able to watch Nawal work is great. I would love to see more of her baked goods though. I had hoped to see the cupcake cooler. No worries though, I understand her downtown location will still display these and special orders are always welcome. The new menu: I am pleased to see some of our old favorites and even more pleased to see a kids menu!! I was hoping to see Moroccan chicken become a regular though. I also hear the menu changes from lunch to dinner and on special holidays. This is exactly as it should be! Great job Nawal! Overall impression: I've been saying for years that Nawal's potential for a bigger and nicer location was so BIG! So glad to see Nawal take the next big leap! I am excited to see where this goes! Room for improvement? Service and dessert! The new cakes are... eh... but I sure missed a classic Nawal's cupcake today. Dessert left me underwhelmed and a little disappointed. Time to work out the kinks of the new location and rock it out!! I have faith Nawal can do it! read more

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Horrible food and even worse service. After ordering water with the waitress who sat us the owner made her way to our table. She quickly spat out the special of spaghetti and meatballs while giving us a Cock eyed blank stare as if she was offended we didn't jump at it. we started ordering off the menu and she rolled her eyes mentioning she was too exhausted to cook anything other then the special. At this point my cousin asked if we were ok with leaving.... At one point we told her the meatballs were good and she said "I know, that's why you get the special." These awkward and rude interactions went on for the rest of the night, what an exhausting experience. What an exhausting interaction, NEVER GO HERE HORRIBLE FOOD HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE read more

GO HERE. I set up a reservation to celebrate a college graduation and our graduate was met by the owner with a big hug and a jolly congratulations! The place smells so good the second you walk in and the pastry case shines with lovely cupcakes. Food selection has everything you'd want in a Mediterranean grill plus amazing Egyptian and Moroccan specials to round things out. Everything is cooked perfectly and seasoned to perfection. From the saffron rice to the warm soft pita, every bite was a delight. The stuffed grape leaves are some of the best I've ever had. I also highly suggest the Egyptian lemonade! Amazing food. Fantastic service. And the price point was great for all the increíble meals we enjoyed. I plan to make another trip to Big Rapids to eat here again. read more

Amazing food- melted in my mouth! I feel spoiled... thank you Nawal. The entire dining experience was truly wonderful.

Such a hidden gem in Big Rapids! We always enjoy visiting. Today my husband had the Chicken Gnocchi Soup and he said it was the best soup he has ever had! I enjoyed the Lamb Gyro lunch combo. We all had the lemonade. read more

This is a wonderful secrete in BR. Awesome home made Mediterranean dishes you will truly enjoy! You will not leave hungry ! Thanks for the wonderful meal ! We will be back ! read more

Food is great but there was a little girl that was the owners child was eating off my plate

Outstanding Mediterranean cuisine, everything I have tried here is made with care and passion and has been delicious. The chicken shawarma and baklava are the best I have tasted and a must-have for first time visitors. The combination of fine cuisine and hospitality has me going out of my way to visit here anytime I am nearby. read more

There are no workers and that are slow and they do not clean the dishes And it's small and the workers complain read more

Best meal out we've had anywhere in a very long while, of any type of cuisine. If you're in the area, this is the place to go for lunches or dinner. Worth going out of the way for. I had the koshary with a side of lentil soup. As a vegetarian I really appreciate the options they have. My wife had the falafel salad. You can also get the falafel as a wrap, but if you want gluten-free, the salad is a great option. They do the falafel baked rather than fried, which was delicious and light. Everything tasted amazing. Service was fast. The owner, Nawal, is so friendly and real and her husband is great too. You must have a cupcake. They were the best ever and my wife got to have one gluten-free! Prices are super reasonable. In most cities I would expect them to be almost double. read more