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    Roya

    4.5 (66 reviews)

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    O D.

    This restaurant was just lovely. From the moment you walk in you are welcomed. We were celebrating a special occasion a every person we encountered made sure to congratulate us, which although unexpected was a great detail. Our server, Nathan, was beyond wonderful. He took notes to my partners multiple allergies but never once made us feel bad about it and instead presented multiple options for substitutions while giving me the option for having the original dish as intended...while still sharing the plate as everything is presented family style. The food was incredible and beautifully presented. I will dream about the walnut vinaigrette, which sounds weird but trust me, it's incredible. I loved everything we got, but admittedly I don't remember all of it, whatever you order will be delicious.

    Sara K.

    Exceptional experience. I'll speak to my fellow Persians in this review. My husband had two cocktails. First was the Albaloo marg. Basically a very good and tart sharbat albaloo with tequila. And then the Ahura Mazda which was like a carrot juice/ turmeric/mezcal drink. Both very well executed cocktail interpretations of traditional Iranian drinks. They start with a fun bite of noon o paneer in a creative amuse-bouche. We ordered the following: Ghormeh Sabzi: one of the best I've had and the bone had so much marrow we didn't even have to fight over it. Luckily my brothers weren't there. Koobideh: super juicy. Great flavor from the lamb and they use a really fatty mix of meat the way it should be. Prob at least 75/25 ratio. Chengeh: really delicious sauce on top and the meat was super tender and well grilled. I would like to see a barg or chengeh option on the menu that's not waygu and maybe like $35-$40. I called my dad after dinner and couldn't bring myself to tell him I paid $65 for a seekh of chengeh. Still recommend though. Joojeh: again perfectly grilled. Great flavor. Really love the way they slice and stack it in thin layers. It makes it's really easy to eat. Nicely done polo sefeed. I was upset when I didn't see tahdig on the menu but turns out every rice comes with its own small tahdig dome. We ended with the akbar mashti ice cream sandwich. Very nostalgic. Tea was also lovely. Service was really top notch as well. I thinks it's hard to make elevated Persian food. l've been to serval resturaunts that try and fail. It's usually smaller portions and higher prices which sucks. Roya really did everything right. Meats and stews done exceptionally well, good portions, and an atmosphere that makes for a great vibey date night. 10/10 recommend.

    Dexter V.

    I've come here twice now. Once on valentines day and once this Friday. Photos are from my valentines day trip. We did the Sofreh, so the chef special. This time we did ala carte and we had 2 friends join us. The cocktails are really good. I've had the talla and Ahuta Mazda. Loved both of them but would do the talla again. My friend hadbtge Ajeel... Very interesting flavour profile. All the cocktails are unique so if definitely recommend. For the appetizers try the bademjaan and wild mushroom borani. For the mains we did Gheymeh and the Wagyu and Koobideh kebob.they were all wonderful. The Wagyu while expensive was a must try... It just melts in your mouth. If you love Persian food or want to try Persian food this is the place.

    Michael S.

    What an amazing dining experience! A friend of mine suggested this place and made us a reservation which we were late for but they were very accommodating. We were celebrating my work anniversary and they had a sign up for us as well. Thank you! This is a gem for sure. Really enjoyed it all. Service was excellent and covered all bases for us. We ordered a lot and they brought items out slow for us so it wasn't a table full of food until the end. Not a complaint. I'm having a hard time choosing a favorite because it was all so good. Unique to my pallet but savory and flavorful. I'd get it all again. I don't think you can go wrong on anything here. The place itself is very well put together. Very clean and pleasant all around. The decor is superb! Highly recommend for a date night. Must try!

    Michael L.

    THE BIG: Upscale Persian food has now hit the Austin scene! Located in North Central Austin and on the second floor of the building. The restaurant is beautifully decorated with a modern classic vibe. Plenty of parking in the lot. THE BLACK AND WHITE: We came here with a couple of other friends and got sat at a long table to enjoy an early dinner. Service is great, informative and fast. Food and drink wise, we got the jujeh (chicken), koobideh (lamb), polo sefid (persian rice), borani (eggplant yogurt), and glass of chablis. The chicken was very good, however was super small, it was around $30 and was one skewer... koobideh was delicious and tender. The sefid was nice and crunchy but lacked any flavor, which might be the point due to the flavorfulness of everything else. THE FINAL BAMBOO: Damage done for our feast was around $120. Definitely a delicious meal and I would definitely try some other items.

    Basmati rice Yogurt sauce Lamb beef kebobs Lamb shank
    Lucy V.

    So the location I have to say is very random for where it is. The restaurant overall is cute when you get upstairs it does feel very date night/Mediterranean. I do recommend a reservation cause it does tend to get packed. I have to say the waitress we had was amazing. She was so nice and knew how to explain each dish very well. I personally enjoyed it, but I will say some of the items were OK for the price points. I did go with somebody that's Persian and they said that this food was more Mediterranean than Persian. The only thing that I will say was phenomenal to me was the lamb shank that's definitely what would get me to keep going back just to order that. We ordered a couple of different plates as you can see there on the photos that I named I will say for the appetizers. I loved the mushrooms because they had that chard taste to them. The yogurt sauce was like tzatziki so really nice. The kebabs were OK. I felt the meat needed a little bit of more flavor. The rice was good, but it was interesting that it had like the crispy ends, but I didn't enjoy a lot of the saffron taste in there. Overall, it's a cute restaurant, but I will say the influencers are making it to a lot more when it's not. Definitely a date night/girls night dinner spot.

    Aruni G.

    Found myself here again for Mother's Day with several mom friends. They were booked for table reservations but one of the friends called them after we finished watching the Mama Mia movie at Alamo Village to see if they could accommodate us, and they did! They held 6 bar spots for us and the bartenders were awesome and gave us great suggestions for food and cocktails. Apparently they don't have a regular happy hour, but their shareable options are great for a group. We appreciated their hospitality and really like the decor. It's very interesting and artsy. Looking forward to my next visit!

    Whipped feta appetizer.
    Lyla A.

    Our server Sammy was wonderful and the overall experience was first class all the way. We ordered: Bedemjan, paneer sabzi, and borani appetizers. The one with the mushrooms was the best bite of the entire meal. Do not skip. I have a mushroom hater in my family and he not only tried it but ended up finishing most of it. Our selected entrees were 2 orders of koobideh kabob, which were small and delicate and you could taste the lamb and beef combo. We all got the Australian Wagyu. My youngest liked it best. I enjoyed it but wouldn't choose it as my own meal. We also ordered the Sea Bass, which is my favorite fish. I did not enjoy this dish. The fish was "fishy" and quite expensive for just a piece of fish with nothing accompanying it. The Shirin polo (jeweled rice) was perfect to go with the meats and their taftoon bread (pita) was delicious. While we didn't leave hungry, we didn't have anything left to bring home. For 2 adults, a teen, and a child with 1 alcoholic drink (total) we spent $320. This was definitely an elegant and elevated experience. We love Persian food and are so pleased to have another option in Austin. They ended our meal with some delicious rose/saffron ice cream sandwiches. They were delicious and a perfect small bite to finish up our celebratory meal.

    Wild mushroom borani
    Minh D.

    Beautiful restaurant with good food + needs more service refining. Roya is a gorgeous space with beautiful decor and dim light dark interior. As you came in, you felt as if youre transported to a different space. We did reserve before hand but it was not hard to snag one. We had a few things to share: wild mushroom bogani (garlic labneh with very strong wild mushroom taste - very good), lamb kebab (came as two kebabs, very tender and flavorful, one of the best kebabs I have ever tasted), the beef with bone marrow and beans (Ghormeh Sabzi) was unique and quite tasty too. Beef was tender and melt in your mouth. Overall food was good, 8.5/10 in my book, I dont really have a strong taste for Mediterrenean so that might be me. Their service/staffs can be better though. We waited a while before anyone came to check on us and overall staffs probably need more training/refining. Makes sense since they just opened.

    Amazing dessert!
    Sarah C.

    My husband is half Iranian and we love Persian food and were so excited to try out Roya! I've had a number of the dishes on the menu (though not all of them by any means) and I was absolutely impressed by the flavors as well as the presentation of everything we tried.  We actually attempted to walk in a few weeks back with another couple and were told around 7pm on a Wednesday that their first opening would be 9pm, so this time around (7pm on a Monday) we make sure to make reservations!  When you first walk in you are greeted by a cozy little library nook filled with books of Persian poetry, with the staircase leading up to the restaurant to the side with lovely tiled risers.  It is beautiful as soon as you walk in! I love the vibe that is throughout the entire restaurant, entry way, stair case, dining rooms, and patio! The decor is lovely and really makes you feel like you could be in a restaurant in a different country.  Our server was so pleasant with the perfect balance of friendly and approachable without being overly attentive or in the way (which drives me crazy). When we said we hadn't been before she told us a little about the chef and the restaurant, and made suggestions for the number of dishes to get for a party of 4 which was helpful! Without her we would have probably each ordered an entree and been buried in food! There was not a thing we ordered that I wouldn't recommend or order again, and I look forward to coming back to try everything we haven't yet!!  The food! We ordered:  Starter: Bademjan $17- black tahini hummus with grilled eggplant: this was amazing! The black tahini really gave it an extra punch of umami and each time you got a dried garlic chip it was a blast of flavor.  They were also kind enough to provide us with thin sliced veggies in addition to the flatbread as one of our party was gluten sensitive.  Mains:  Gormeh Sabzi $27- short rib and herb stew with kidney beans and bone marrow: Gormeh Sabzi is the most classic Persian dish (and one of my absolute favorites) so we had to try it! This was delicious! Rich and savory, the kidney beans and meat were cooked perfectly, and the bone marrow was just an extra splash of rich flavor.  My only very small complaint is that I love to actually cut up the dried limes into my stew and eat little bits with each bite; but I don't know that I've ever seen them in the dish in a restaurant so oh well. -Mahiche Geymeh $42- braised lamb shank with split peas and shoestring potatoes: I had never had this dish before and it was fantastic! Again so rich, but with the lovely tartness that so many Persian dishes have, and the nice hefty split peas to go with it.  Delicious!  -Jujeh Kabob $25- chicken thigh kabobs: chicken kabob is always one of my favorites, especially when its thigh meat! The typical lime flavor was there and they were nice and juicy, definitely no complaints.  Rice & extras: Polo Sefid $6- their 'plain' rice and Shirin Polo $9- jeweled rice with barberries and nuts: the rices were great, ordering two for 4 people was probably more than we needed but I think if we had just ordered 1 we would have run out.  The tahdig was good, though slightly more chewy and less crunchy than we make it at home. Still tasty! I think we didn't really pick out the best mains to eat with the jeweled rice; personally I preferred the plain rice with the two stews we ordered.  -Torshi $5- pickled veggie condiment: my husband makes torshi so we had to try Roya's, it was delicious though spiced a little differently.  I love the vinegar crunch of the pickled veggies, especially with such rich dishes as the two stews we ordered.  Cocktails $18/:  All 3 cocktails were very good (though I'm not a bourbon person so I didn't love the Talla but my husband did).  I think the Ajeel was my favorite, I loved the nutty flavor! It was so nice to have cocktails that were both genuinely unique with flavors and infusions I hadn't seen before and also genuinely tasty! -Ajeel- pistachio/walnut infused vodka, golden currant syrup -Ahura Mazda- mezcal, carrot juice, honey turmeric -Talla- bees knees but with turmeric infused bourbon Desserts- I can't remember the name but it was a layered cake with a pistachio sponge, cream, a jelly layer, and crispies on top; unsurprisingly it was amazing!

    Dominique E.

    My first time at Roya and it was exceptional. When you walk in, you transported to another country. The music, the ambiance, the dark lighting, the mosaic art, I was mesmerized. Then the food. Wow. The meal was delicious I don't know where to began. Thankfully our server was helpful as it was my first time having Persian food. We started with a whipped feta, followed by saffron rice and beef. Ending the night with a rose tea. I went almost 3 weeks ago and I still think about that meal. I will be coming back!

    Stacey A.

    The restaurant is absolutely stunning from deep jewel colored paint, table cloths and lighting. Our server was amazing and they made my birthday special. We did the Sofreh meal and they were able to accommodate me being a pescatarian. The dips, breads, rice, seafood - all amazing- and the tea! So flavorful! I cannot wait to go back!

    Salad was amazing!
    Hillary R.

    We really enjoyed this place. The food was amazing - very exotic. My favorite was the beef dish with bone marrow. It felt like a home-cooked meal. The salad was also really good with a lot of fresh herbs. The pita was really fresh and complementary, which was great for dipping! Another favorite dish was the kebabs, highly recommend! They were very tender, and the flavor was unique. The service was great, although the server kept bringing out bottled water when we had asked for Tap several times. I'm not sure if that was to charge the bill or what?? Overall, it was an amazing experience, the ambience was very classy and the food was amazing. Would love to go back if reservations weren't so challenging to get a hold of.

    koobideh kabob: good

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    I ate at the bar and they were friendly and accommodating. There are 8 seats at the bar. I really liked the unique rice.

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    2 months ago

    Food , service and ambience were amazing. This is the spot for real, delicious and authentic Persian food!

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    Caspian Grill - Kabob Beef Koobideh and Rice

    Caspian Grill

    4.5(541 reviews)
    4.8 mi
    $$

    The was best Persian cuisine in Austin! Very authentic!…read more I'm Persian (my dad's side) and grew up eating traditional meals. Oh, the nostalgia... so fulfilling to my soul, especially since my dad is no longer earth-side.

    I was really excited to try this place out, as Persian food is one of my favorites and it's pretty…read moretough to find. I decided to order a mini Persian feast: the beef koobideh with rice, doogh yogurt drink, and a saffron ice cream for dessert. This was my first time trying beef koobideh, and unfortunately, this just didn't seem to be very good. The meat itself was okay, decently cooked, and topped with quite a lot of some spice that I can't quite put my finger on. It was okay. The rice though, that is what really disappointed me. Persian rice is usually amazing, but this really didn't seem traditional and it had a strange taste to it. It also came with onion and a grilled tomato, both solid additions. Good portion though. The doogh yogurt drink wasn't homemade like I had hoped, but in all honesty, it still really hit the spot on a hot Austin day. Reasonable price. The saffron rice was also fairly disappointing. Large white chunks (clotted cream maybe? But they were pretty tasteless), gritty texture, not much flavor. Just not really worth it. All in all, a bit of a disappointing dinner in Austin. I'll have to look for a different Persian spot next time I'm in the area.

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    Caspian Grill
    Caspian Grill
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    Troy ATX - Turkish Iskender

    Troy ATX

    4.5(629 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    Troy ATX on Mesa Drive in Austin, TX is a neighborhood restaurant that quietly delivers an…read moreoutstanding dining experience. The restaurant specializes in Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine. Troy ATX provides food and outstanding service...feels like home. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, making it perfect for dining. The menu offers a great balance of familiar Mediterranean favorites and traditional Turkish dishes, all prepared with care and bold flavors. Portions are generous, ingredients taste fresh, and the dishes homemade. In fact, the son of the owner was managing the restaurant which he does not do often. He had nothing but rave things to say about his family and the restaurant. I really love that! I stopped to pick up some hummus. It was packaged with pita bread and nicely packed for travel. The hummus felt thick and hearty...not normally how it comes at the grocery store. If you're craving authentic Mediterranean and Turkish cuisine, Troy ATX is absolutely worth a visit.

    Stumbled across this hidden gem in North Austin and absolutely love it. I've always said Austin…read moredoesn't have enough "Mom and Pop ethnic places," so finding Troy was a dream come true. The staff was so warm and welcoming the entire time. From giving recommendations, to offering Turkish tea, it was a great experience. The food was solid as well! Definitely recommend the lamb in whatever you get! I had a few coworkers get the wraps, I will say, I do feel like they were a little light on the meat in those, but everything else that was ordered was solid. We will definitely be back!

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    Troy ATX - Interior ambiance and design

    Interior ambiance and design

    Troy ATX
    Troy ATX - Turkish Coffee

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    Turkish Coffee

    Almarah Mediterranean Cuisine - Half order of falafel with hummus

    Almarah Mediterranean Cuisine

    4.2(934 reviews)
    8.3 mi
    $$

    Checked the place out based on Yelp reviews and was absolutely floored. Clean space, friendly…read morestaff, quick service, and excellent food! We ordered the half order falafel with hummus, mint lemonade, lamb kabob platter, and beef kabob platter. Everything but the salad came in large Texas style portions. I requested the beef be cooked to medium and the temperature was perfect. Tips: Substitute the tahini in the kabob platters for tzatziki and request garlic sauce on the side. The garlic sauce enhances the flavor of rice.

    Food is very good, service not so good... I can tell people…read morecome for the food alone. The place is nice and has a nice layout. However, I'll think about coming here again because I didn't feel a good vibe with the service. We had to go look for someone to show us the table even though the place was empty for early lunch. Then, to get drinks or even the order was a problem. It took so much longer than usual. Our waitress was rude, and seemed bothered that we showed up. Then someone else came as the waitress and she was preoccupied with other tables and barely checked on us. A regular lunch which would've been one hour became almost two because of the lack of service. My friend had to stand and look for someone to give us a box to take out the good we couldn't eat because it was getting late and also to get the check because No one came in to check on us at all. It was almost like pulling teeth to get a regular service let alone good service. Again, the food was really good, and that alone was the only positive.

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    Almarah Mediterranean Cuisine
    Almarah Mediterranean Cuisine - Mixed grill

    Mixed grill

    Almarah Mediterranean Cuisine - Mint lemonade

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    Mint lemonade

    Levant Halal Mediterranean Cafe Cafe & Grill - Shawarma!

    Levant Halal Mediterranean Cafe Cafe & Grill

    4.5(484 reviews)
    10.0 mi
    $$
    Healthy dining
    Halal

    A Fantastic Introduction to Mediterranean Food!…read more I recently visited Levant Halal Restaurant and brought my parents, who are visiting from India. It was their very first time trying Mediterranean food, and they absolutely loved it! We started with two different types of hummus served with pita. The hummus was incredibly flavorful, and the pita was exceptionally fresh. We also ordered the falafel, which was perfectly prepared and delicious. For the main course, we shared the Chicken Shish Taouk with sides of beet salsa and Lebanese potatoes--everything was cooked beautifully and tasted amazing. Honestly, the highlight of the meal for us was the drinks. The mint juice and beet juice were so refreshing and easily the best part! We finished our meal with baklava and basbousa for dessert, and both were fresh, sweet, and incredibly tasty. Beyond the fantastic food, the ambiance is very neat and clean, and the staff are extremely friendly and welcoming. I highly recommend Levant Halal, especially if you are looking for a great place to introduce family to Mediterranean cuisine!

    My first time here and everything is laid out beautifully. Levant is the French name for Lebanon…read more The place was super clean and I didn't feel grunge while there. It has both indoor and outdoor seating. But because I was early there was plenty of seating and I chose indoor. The counter server talked me thru everything and gave me samples of the different side dishes. I chose not to get rice nor bread and stuck to the sauces and veggies. I ordered the Chicken and Lamb Levant bowl. The mixture of all the different flavors was exceptional. Thank you Levant Cafe & Grill for a wonderful dining experience. May 2026 bring you much success! Happy New Year everyone.

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    Levant Halal Mediterranean Cafe Cafe & Grill - Levant restaurant dining room

    Levant restaurant dining room

    Levant Halal Mediterranean Cafe Cafe & Grill - Entrees, Plates, Bowls, Stuffed Pitas & Specialities

    Entrees, Plates, Bowls, Stuffed Pitas & Specialities

    Levant Halal Mediterranean Cafe Cafe & Grill - Sides & Salads, Kids & Dessert

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    Sides & Salads, Kids & Dessert

    Phoenician Resto Cafe - mixed grill

    Phoenician Resto Cafe

    4.4(424 reviews)
    4.5 miUniversity of Texas
    $$

    Really love this gem! Portion is large (especially the sides!). It feels warm and welcoming. The…read morespace has a rustic vibe--lots of wood, stones, and a big mural on the wall. Fresh pita & dips (free) - 5/5 As soon as we sat down the waiter brought out pita and a special dip that I never tried in other restaurants, and the pita was still warm like it had just come out of the oven. Soft, fluffy, and really fresh. I used it to dip into the sides we ordered later--the Baba Ghanouj and Hummus. The baba ghanouj had that roasted eggplant smokiness, while the hummus was thick, creamy, and very sesame-forward. Both were solid. Flatbread Trio ($15) - 5/5 This comes with three pieces but you can order a plate of three in the same kinds: meat, za'atar spice, and cheese. The za'atar one had that unique flavor--thyme, sumac, sesame seeds. The cheese flatbread came out hot and stretchy with three cheeses melted together. The meat one had minced beef and vegetables on a thin crust with slightly crispy edges. This one really impressed me. Lamb Kabob Platter ($19) - 4/5 Ground lamb mixed with onion and spices and grilled. The texture was fairly firm and the seasoning was pretty strong--you mostly taste the spices rather than the lamb itself. It comes with grilled tomato and onion, which adds a nice bit of sweetness and balances things out. It also comes with 2 sides--we chose baba ghanouj and hummus. The sides portion is really generous. Mixed Grill Combination ($23) - 4.5/5 It includes beef tenderloin, kafta skewers, and chicken shish tawook. The beef had a nice smoky grill flavor and was quite tender. The kafta had the strongest seasoning, and the chicken ended up being the lightest and juiciest of the three. It also comes with 2 sides--we chose baba ghanouj and salad. House dessert (pistachio pastry, $6) - 4/5 Looks pretty simple, but inside there's pistachio filling that gives it a really nice nutty sweetness. Not overly sugary, which I liked. I hope it could improve its appearance a bit. The food felt comforting and homey rather than fancy, and the portions were generous for the price.

    Such a good find! I was in town with family trying to find a place for 11 of us to get something to…read moreeat and as soon as we walked in we knew we had found the spot. Staff were super welcoming and happy to quickly seat us. No waiting right away we had glasses of ice water and full baskets of their fresh warm pita while we made looked over their light up menus with helpful explanations from our server to help guide us. So many delicious things came out just as fast. Meats were all juicy and seasoned to perfection the chicken, steak, and kafta Delicious! Baba ghanoush and hummus to top all of it yummy! You can really taste all the work they put into making all their food great!

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    Phoenician Resto Cafe
    Phoenician Resto Cafe - Lamb Kabob Platter

    Lamb Kabob Platter

    Phoenician Resto Cafe - Baba Ghanouj as a side

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    Baba Ghanouj as a side

    Aba - Crispy Short Rib Hummus*

    Aba

    4.4(1.9k reviews)
    7.4 miSoCo (S. Congress Ave.), 78704 (South Austin)
    $$$

    Last night was our second visit to ABA, and considering that it's a two hour drive to get to, that…read moresays a lot. Both times, the food has been spectacular, the service off the page, and the atmosphere and ambiance magnificent. We tried three mezzes last night, and each was killer. The hummus was the smoothest I've ever eaten and with the brisket, it was killer! We tried the whipped feta with pistachios, and it was special -- salty/sweet and a little something special to make you wonder just what the spice was. The lamb & beef keftas were also excellent, with the lemon rice and a nice tsadziki -- and we make keftas at home fairly regularly, so we know what a good one tastes like. The only regret that we had was that we only have one stomach each. A second would have allowed us to keep tasting... Don't miss it. Even the patio dining was cool and refreshing -- and it was 86º when we were eating dinner!

    I booked this spot roughly 1 month in advanced, and I was only able to snag a 7:15pm reservation…read more(even as a solo diner). Music Lane is a beautiful area with corridors bustling with fresh air, which greatly contrasts the area not too far south of it. Aba lies within these corridors, so I was completely gobsmacked to see the size of the establishment and its number of seating. There are outdoor tables, a dedicated bar section, a decently large interior, and patio and sofa seats for the people waiting. Even then, the place was completely packed, so getting a reservation is an absolute must. Not only are the prices completely reasonable, the food itself had everything that I was looking for: a delicious spread starter, a balanced fiber dish, and an entree with intentional flavors and texture. The Short Rib Hummus is a must get! It is incredibly filling and completely worth the price. The short rib was a nice meat protein since I opted for a seafood main, and the pita bread that it came with was lightly seasoned and was as fluffy as it could possibly be. I could not eat much of my Brussel Sprouts because it was also very large. However it was not too oily or drenched, and each bite had a perfect light crunch, which is the standard for Fried Brussels Sprouts. Top it all off, the Grilled Branzino was the finisher to my savory dishes. The grill gave the fish a roasted flavor, which was complimented by the sweetness from the corn purée. The various greens, roasted tomatoes, and corn pieces themselves added bites of textures and secondary bursts of flavor. I can see why it took a month in advanced to book a decent time at Aba Austin. The atmosphere was so perfect because the air flows through all the doors and windows, allowing the diners to enjoy fresh oxygen. This place is a must visit, both as an experience and a meal that is WORTH the bill.

    Photos
    Aba - Inside the restaurant

    Inside the restaurant

    Aba - Shawarma-Spiced Prime Skirt Steak Frites

    Shawarma-Spiced Prime Skirt Steak Frites

    Aba - Favorite Dips

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    Favorite Dips

    Dimassi's Mediterranean Buffet

    Dimassi's Mediterranean Buffet

    3.8(635 reviews)
    5.0 miBarrington Oaks
    $$

    Thanksgiving came around and we had zero desire to cook or clean. Our "plan" (and I use that word…read moreloosely) was Golden Corral. We figured if we got there early, we'd beat the crowd. Cute of us, honestly. We pulled up and that parking lot looked like Beyoncé was performing. Cars everywhere: on the grass, on the curbs, people creating their own imaginary parking spaces. People circling like it was Black Friday. Absolutely not. We left with no backup plan and even less hope. Pulled up Yelp and I remembered that Dimassi's buffet had been on my radar for months, but was it open? Called them up and CHA-CHING!!! Money! They were open, guys. That phone call felt like hitting the lottery. Thanksgiving was saved. We arrived and Dimassi's was calm, clean, and the buffet bar was fully stocked with hot food fresh out of the kitchen. They had your Mediterranean favorites: dips, salads, gyro meat, dolma, chicken kabobs, saffron rice, the good garlicky toum, warm potatoes, fresh pita, everything. They even prepared a turkey for patrons who wanted some. Wow. They understood the assignment. Now a couple things could be tweaked. I like my baba ganoush served warm...and maybe they could have had some lamb options? But, honestly? For a buffet on Thanksgiving at $23 a person ($9 for the 3 yr old with us), they delivered HARD. Dimassi's didn't just feed us...they rescued us from the Golden Corral Hunger Games. Thank you for being open. Thank you for coming through in the clutch. You saved Thanksgiving.

    I'd been wanting to check this place out for quite some time. There's another location in Round…read moreRock, but many reviewers said the original spot is much better, so we decided to start with the OG location. Parking is plentiful right in front of the restaurant. We came by on a Saturday around 1 PM, worried it might be packed, but it was actually pretty quiet. You can sit anywhere you like, grab a plate, and pay when you're done. The space is large and open, with three full rows of food and drinks plus a dedicated station for fruit and desserts. Everything was fresh, not overly salty, and there were plenty of options. My favorites were the hummus with eggplant (so flavorful with great texture), the salad and cucumber salad (fresh and refreshing), the dolma (perfectly done), gyro (tender and tasty), baked cauliflower (so good), fried chicken (juicy, crispy, and not salty), falafel (extra crunchy), and the lentil soup (simple but delicious). And don't miss their coffee at the checkout--it has a hint of warm spice and is the perfect finish after a meal. Surprisingly, I ended up loving the vegetable dishes even more than the meats. Overall, yes, $26 per person is on the higher side (what doesn't cost these days, right?!), but it's a great spot to try a variety of Mediterranean dishes that are fresh, simply seasoned, and let the ingredients shine--perfect whether you're new to the cuisine or just want a bit of everything.

    Photos
    Dimassi's Mediterranean Buffet - Humus, Beans, salad and Baba Ganoush

    Humus, Beans, salad and Baba Ganoush

    Dimassi's Mediterranean Buffet - Vegetarian plate of deliciousness

    Vegetarian plate of deliciousness

    Dimassi's Mediterranean Buffet - Vegetarian plate of deliciousness

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    Vegetarian plate of deliciousness

    Roya - mideastern - Updated May 2026

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