We entered for great food and a break from the chilly outdoors and got one of the two. I'll skip to the service and the food. The hostess was good, she wanted to seat us in an enclosed section, saying it was warmer. The waitress returned to our table often and met all of our needs. The food was yummy and fresh. I enjoyed bringing some home to eat the next day. This restaurant should have 3 dollar signs because 95% of the entrees are over $30. One star is lost for atmosphere. No matter how nice the decor was, needing my coat and scarf to eat indoors was ridiculous. You see the reason we weren't seated in the warmer section (the hostess's words) was because the owner told her to seat us elsewhere. We learned that he was the owner when our waitress gave us rice pudding from Rudy. We didn't complain and that pudding almost earned the star back. UNTIL my husband stopped at a room heater that was positioned away from our table. Ugh read more

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I bought a Groupon as a birthday gift for myself because I saw the deal and wanted to try something new. Initially my waiter was the bartender who was running around taking tables indoors and outdoors. I watched and observed him and another person who was working on the floor. She had maybe 3 tables. It took some time for him to come and introduce himself but I could see that he was swamped. Eventually I got a glass of red wine after I placed my dinner order. He brought me white wine first but maybe he didn't hear when I asked for the angora red. No problem. I ordered the Mediterranean salad with feta cheese and French fries. I ended up having 2 glasses of red wine. I used my Groupon with no problem. I think the service could have been better. I ended up closing out with the server Anna and we had a nice conversation about life and astrology. I will certainly return and have some lamb chops and try the Turkish coffee. I enjoyed the ambience, the traditional turkey decor and lighting was very engaging. Best kept secret in Howard county in a quiet business district. read more

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I wanted to like this place because it had many items that I liked or had heard of and I was interested to try the Turkish flavors. It was pleasant with nice chairs and an airy atmosphere. One thing I noticed about the customer service was that I was asking a lot of questions because of an allergy, but the server kept looking at and speaking to the other person at the table. Fortunately the server appeared to be knowledgeable and helped me eliminate some dishes. The unsweetened iced tea came without any sugar packets and mostly ice. Tea quality was very good. The baba ghanoush was fine. More tahini, less salt and smoky flavor than preferred or used to. The trouble started with the entrees. Besides the hidden pita, the food was unseasoned and the Doner meat was neither crispy nor tender. The lamb shish kebab was very tender. The rice was very buttery but was undercooked and inedible. It was the most seasoned food that day. When we were finally to bring the seasoning and rice issues up, we did not get great solutions. We asked for but never received grilled onions. For example, we asked for another (starchy) side besides rice but got more rice. We were offered sautéed vegetables, which were frozen except for some red peppers. When I discovered I was allergic to the entree despite asking and explaining, the server cut me off and wanted to leave before I finished talking. Even after the food allergy debacle, it was almost another forty minutes to get the bill and get the payment back. I never got the rice pudding that came with my meal special. Went somewhere else down the way after over two hours for a late lunch since all I had was some of the baba ghanoush with veggies and side salad. The food was not seasoned well despite being mostly fresh; the service was dour and inattentive after the first interaction; and it was unhelpfully slow despite being one of three small tables at its busiest. read more

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I've had Rudy's bookmarked for some time and now I'm kicking myself for missing out all this time. Mediterranean food is so delicious. Our party of 3 had their brunch which includes 3 courses; appetizer, entree and a choice between a salad or dessert. I was here for the doner so everything else was an extra for me. For appetizers we got, dolma, sigara boregi and calamari. Dolma was delicious. The stuffed grape leaves with rice, pine nuts and Mediterranean spices hit the spot. Sigara Boregi; the fried filo dough stuffed with feta cheese and fresh parsley did not disappoint. Calamari was not over fried and came out with tasty dipping sauce. We got a round of the doner for our entree. We thought it would be in the wrap; however it was not in the wrap. Either way, it was still very delicious. Next time, we'll clarify that. We ended with rice pudding, baklava and Turkish coffee!! All very fulfilling! read more

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Me and my parents went yesterday to celebrate Mother's Day! I will say that the atmosphere was breathtakingly gorgeous with its beautiful Turkish mosaic lamps and little sun flowers hanging from the ceiling. Absolutely fantastic service. The gentleman at the front who I assumed was the owner was an absolute sweet heart and was very friendly with us picking out our seat. Loved the food too. We had humus for an appetizer. My mom had shrimp kabab, I had beef kabab and dad had the veggie kabab. Everything was cooked perfectly and was delicious. Even desert was good. My mom loved her baklava and I had pudding cake. Thank you so much for making my mom's Mother's Day special! read more

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Enjoyed a nice, relaxing Saturday evening dinner at Rudy's. We were quickly greeted and sat at a booth in the dining room. Within minutes we had two full glasses of water and wam bread with a tomato spread for dipping. It is nice to find a restaurant that makes so many items in house. We selected both a Chicken Adana and Lamb Adana. Both were excellent, but the seasoning was more flavorful on the chicken adana. Our server (Oksana) was amazing! She was extremely attentive, personable and overall made our dinner wonderful. They also have a happy hour that recently started and is Monday - Friday from 4:00pm - 6:30pm in the bar and outside. read more

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We ordered a Mediterranean walnut salad. Menu says it should have freshly cut apples and oranges. We also received raisins and not cranberries. Or, they got our order wrong and gave us something else. Disappointed!! read more

An incredible dinner experience! Held a small gathering of friends in their semi-private room and they treated us like family. The entire staff made us feel welcomed as soon as we stepped inside. Most of us were foodies, so we did a family-style feast that consisted of shared appetizer platter of both hot and cold mezze: falafel, sigara boregi (fried cheese), mucver (zucchini & cheese patty), hummus (some of the best I've ever had), dolma, and muhammara (slightly spicy and my favorite dip). It was all so good with the bread and pita, this could have been dinner and we would have been happy. But, when they brought out a meat mountain platter of different kabobs, adana, lamb chops, all on top of a huge mound of fluffy rice and pita, we were really to dig in. The stars of the meat were the lamb chops (the best!), lamb patties, and shish kebab, but all of it was so good. Even the chicken was moist and very flavorful. Each meat mountain was enough for about 6 people and most tapped out with so much food on hand. But, we somehow had enough room for dessert: baklava and künefe (fried cheese topped with honey) which were both incredible. What started as a friendly gathering turned into an awesome night, would love to return soon. read more

Lamb Adana: just ok, a tad bit dry Izgara Kofte: (actually liked this better than the Adana) Came with 4 like little patties. Seasoned beautifully. Very moist. Rice was good but I would've appreciated a tiny bit more salt or something to brighten the flavor. Salad was drenched in oil and vinegar. Too much. Dolma: good but I prefer it to be warm Hummus: good but (again) I prefer it to be warm. The bread that comes with it tastes... Not homemade... I prefer it to be warm. Baklava: I think the best I've ever had. I've had a lot of baklava. Whoever made this batch this day did an excellent job. It was the perfect texture. Kunefe: it won my heart. I would give this place another chance because of the kunefe. It was definitely the best I've had. Not too sweet at all... Perfect texture! Perfect amount of cheese. I was scraping the plate. read more

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Bonjour! I want to share my experience at this establishment. I found out about Rudy's from Groupon. I purchased a deal and made a reservation for myself after work. I then invited a co-worker and advised her to purchase a Groupon deal too. When I arrived, I was seated and I waited for her to arrive before ordering. The jazz band played beautifully in the background from 6-9. I reviewed the Groupon deal and it does NOT state that we both couldn't partake in the deal using separate checks. The deal is only for one visit anyway. I have had no issues with Groupon deals in the past. The management, owner, etc could have made an executive decision to honor it since it's a one and done deal. My co-worker decided not to order anything as a result of being embarrassed by the server. Her name is attached to that bill (check) in the photos relating to my review. When you are a server, you welcome patrons, you smile, tell them your name, offer specials, popular dishes, ask if the table is celebrating a special occasion, etc. Our server did NONE OF THESE THINGS! The manager or owner went to everyone's table except the people of black descent. I watched and took notes. The table behind us said they knew the owner, still no reason to not saying hello or thank you for dining again. I feel extremely discriminated against. They need to work on customer service. As a result, my server did not receive a tip and it is shown in the photos attached to this review. I had a tomato based sauce with bread and Branzino that was served with a green pepper, a tomato and a side of rice. Something didn't agree with me and my stomach was upset later that evening. As a Chef with a Degree in culinary arts, I know the ins and outs of the restaurant, hospitality industry, etc. UNACCEPTABLE! Finally, I will NEVER patronize at Rudy's again and I hope they take my review seriously and make changes as needed. Bon Appetit! Chef Candra read more

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We ate there Tues the 19th, and were so happy with our meal and dessert, I had the shrimp kabob and my husband had chicken breast with rice and they were both really delicious. Often chicken breast is dry and chewy, but this was succulent and moist. Their rice is about the best I've ever had, slightly sweet and chewy. I wish I could remember the names of the desserts we chose, but just know that they were excellent too. The iced tea was above average. Will definitely return soon. read more

Bonjour! I want to share my experience at this establishment. I found out about Rudy's from Groupon. I purchased a deal and made a reservation for myself after work. I then invited a co-worker and advised her to purchase a Groupon deal too. When I arrived, I was seated and I waited for her to arrive before ordering. The jazz band played beautifully in the background from 6-9. I reviewed the Groupon deal and it does NOT state that we both couldn't partake in the deal using separate checks. The deal is only for one visit anyway. I have had no issues with Groupon deals in the past. The management, owner, etc could have made an executive decision to honor it since it's a one and done deal. My co-worker decided not to order anything as a result of being embarrassed by the server. Her name is attached to that bill (check) in the photos relating to my review. When you are a server, you welcome patrons, you smile, tell them your name, offer specials, popular dishes, ask if the table is celebrating a special occasion, etc. Our server did NONE OF THESE THINGS! The manager or owner went to everyone's table except the people of black descent. I watched and took notes. The table behind us said they knew the owner, still no reason to not saying hello or thank you for dining again. I feel extremely discriminated against. They need to work on customer service. As a result, my server did not receive a tip and it is shown in the photos attached to this review. I had a tomato based sauce with bread and Branzino that was served with a green pepper, a tomato and a side of rice. Something didn't agree with me and my stomach was upset later that evening. As a Chef with a Degree in culinary arts, I know the ins and outs of the restaurant, hospitality industry, etc. UNACCEPTABLE! Finally, I will NEVER patronize at Rudy's again and I hope they take my review seriously and make changes as needed. Bon Appetit! Chef Candra read more

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This place is legit Turkish food. Bring a Turkish friend and let them handle the ordering. Also, Rudy is hilarious and should be sought out at every meal. Be warned that the servings are quite large which can be a problem because the complimentary sundried tomato dipping sauce for your bread is addictive. The menu is pretty deep and you're sure to find something for even the most picky eater. read more

Rudy's Mediterranean Grill - Mediterranean Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

Overall: tasty Turkish food, fine service, fancy ambiance, extremely high prices, multi-stall gendered restrooms If I had never been to Cazbar, I think I would have been excited by the food here, but Cazbar does every part of the experience better- the food, prices, ambiance, and service. We tried 4 cold mezzes- the shakshouka and babaganoush were the best of the four. We tried the doner and yogurt kebabs. The serving size of meat on both meals was giant. It was tender and tasty. Each meal was over $30 which I felt was steep. They had a pretty big drink menu with lots of fun options. Cocktails ran about $15 a piece. We went at 5:30 on a Saturday night and the place was empty. More people showed up by the time we left. read more

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We ate here did the first time and had a wonderful lunch. We ate lunch at 11:20 am and pretty much had the restaurant to ourselves. The service was fantastic and our waiter answered our questions. The menu has a lot of choices. I picked the lunch special, lentil soup, mixed vegetables with spices and Doner lamb kebab. We got complimentary bread and pita and was so fresh. My colleagues enjoyed their food too. The restaurant is large and has outdoor seating, booths and tables. At the end of our email, we had complimentary Turkish tea which was lovely. I would definitely eat here again. read more

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What a fabulous place to eat. The food and service are the best. We had some delicious lentil soup along with some hummus and followed that with chicken kabobs. Wonderful! read more

I thought I'd been to Rudy's before, and if so, they've done a massive renovation since my last visit. What I recall is an restaurant with scenic murals on the wall and an old world charm. Rudy's now is all sparkling tile and modern fixtures. I like the new look (but also liked the old one). I went with the donor sandwich for lunch. Unfortunately I was so hungry when my food came, I neglected to take a picture. The donor sandwich was massive, bigger than any donor sandwich I've had previously. It came with fries and dipping sauce. Unfortunately the dipping sauce was simply tzatziki, and I'm used to a paprika based sauce with my donor sandwiches. Overall tho, the donor meat was well seasoned, and everything tasted good. Service was decent though there seemed to be a bit of a language barrier. Would return. read more

Rudy's Mediterranean Grill - The only picture I took there. The menu. - Mediterranean Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

Decent Mediterranean food. We visited Rudy's Mediterranean Grill on a Thursday night, and it was mostly empty. Music that featured electric guitar and piano played during our visit. The decor is fun with ivy hanging from the ceilings, bookcases, and Turkish lamps. Before we ordered, we were brought warm bland breadsticks with an uninteresting tomato sauce. I ordered the madame Istanbul to drink and we split the calamari, mucver, and spinach and feta pide. My drink was all right, but it wasn't nearly as good as I hoped it would be. All of the food was served piping hot. The calamari was chewy and paired with a boring sauce. The mucver was delicious and paired with an excellent yogurt sauce. The spinach and feta pide had a good crust, but the filling was missing a sumptuous quality. Overall, I had a decent experience at Rudy's Mediterranean Grill, but there are better options in the area. read more

We took my mom to Rudy's Mediterranean Grill while in town visiting over the Christmas Holiday. She wasn't familiar with Turkish food, so we ordered the appetizer sampler. We had every intention of ordering an entree, but our eyes were bigger than our bellies. The sampler was delicious and a generous size, even for a party of 3. We had leftovers. Our waiter was very attentive and helpful, pronouncing the difficult food names and describing the appetizers. We asked him to recommend a dry Turkish white wine that we absolutely loved. The decor was reminiscent of my time in North Africa, with globe mosaic chandeliers and Turkish pendant lights. We would visit again when we're in town and go straight for the entrees. read more

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Excellent happy hour and the customer service is on point. The calamari is amazing. The stuffed grape leaves were the best.

We were really looking forward to trying Rudy's after reading all the positive reviews, especially for a special Mother's Day meal. Unfortunately, it left us disappointed. The kebabs were bland, and the service was inattentive, which was disheartening on such an important day. I hope the usual quality returns, but this time it just didn't meet expectations. read more

Went here for a Christmas work social. Food was good. Really can't go wrong with Mediterranean food, in my opinion. Ambiance was great, bartenders were nice, and of course I participated in the interactive belly dancing showcase! With it being a work event, I didn't take much pictures, you know-evidence and all lol. Just try it. You won't be disappointed. read more

summary: located in a pretty quiet business strip corner, Rudy's is tucked away from plain sight, but delivers a solid upscale dining experience for a date night or a family meal. context: went on a Saturday evening around 5:30 and was surprised by how seemingly quiet it was. The dinner traffic started to pick up around 630 though. The menu offers a lot of options, but isn't as a la carte friendly as some of the other Mediterranean restaurants nearby (e.g. there aren't samplers listed for the different dips/sauces for appetizers and such). We were able to build our own sample tray by asking the server, so just know you aren't necessarily limited by the menu items. The food was tasty and well-balanced. The reason I took off a star is because it was really hard for me to justify the entrees we got at the cost we got them at. The average plate was mid $20s or higher and although the food was good, if the price is that high, I was expecting a bit more as far as sides or presentation. Rudy's does run a lot of promotions with Clipper magazine, so you can look for their coupons to save some money. conclusion: Rudy's is very solid and has the ambiance of an upscale dining restaurant. I would say it's perfect for a formal family dinner or a date night with the expectation that there aren't too many cheaper options on the menu. read more

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Came for dinner with wifey and friends on a busy Saturday night. Place was filled and they sat us quickly. Started with Babaganoush, Hummus and another app that escapes my memory/ Everything was delicious and satisifying. Nice portion size for 4 of us. For main meals we had Chicken, Turkish Doner and Shrimb Shish Kebab. Everything was spiced well and savory. Portions again were good. Ended with some sweet Baklava and Turkish coffee for the ride home. read more

We began with imam bayildi, an eggplant appetizer. The onions pine nuts and currents added interest, but the dish came off a little bland due to the eggplants. We followed with a Greek salad. They omitted the chicken for us since we didn't need the extra protein. It had fresh ingredients and a nice dressing. One of us got the baby eggplant stuffed with lamb. He had ordered this dish several times and loved it. This time the dish had too much garlic and not enough tomato. I got the famous Iskender kebab. It had thinly sliced lamb, a well seasoned tomato sauce, and a garlic yogurt mix on the side. Really good. One of us had the shrimp kabob, and another had the lamb shish kabob. Both excellent. So a mostly excellent dinner with several near misses. read more

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Fantastic food and wonderful ambiance. The staff are very knowledgeable and their recommendations are perfect. My experience was just as good the second time as was my first. Looking forward to more! read more

So after my first visit there, I was thoroughly impressed with it. I went back in the hopes that it was just as good. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Just like last time, I ordered the Iskander Doner meal. Last time it was good but the meat was cut too thick. This time the meat was much thinner, but pretty dry. I can get by it with the sauce and yogurt that it comes with , which were still good, but man they messed up the underlying bread of the dish. It's supposed to have a nice flat bread under everything. The bread was there, but it was hard and crunchy like a crouton. That alone ruined the dish for me !! The spinach pie was still very good though, so go ahead and order that if you go there. The falafel looked like fried turds that had been fried too long. Not a good look to be honest. The Hummus was pretty good though. Overall, based upon this last visit, I don't think I'll go back. That's unfortunate because I love Iskander Doners, but if they can't get it right, andnobody is QA-ing thefiod there is no point going back. Oh well, looks like will need to find a new Turkish restaurant to go to..... read more

Rudy delivers the flavor, hospitality, and ambiance designed for a memorable meal every time we visit! We love this venue ! Rudy has introduced us to so many Foodie dishes! The lamb chops are amazing and a family favorite for sure. It's really life changing to taste all the ways to make these authentic ingredients in the masterpieces we have enjoyed here. Hummus, special rice that comes all the way from Turkey, and breads!! The desserts are cray awesome! Baklava, Kunefe, rice pudding, and baton of the pan pudding are just a few of our favorites! A bottle of Malbec wine or a Turkish tea or coffee! And the best part is the staff makes it so easy to relax and enjoy spending time together! read more

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This review is long overdue! I will be forever loyal to Rudy's as my go-to Greek place when I work in Columbia. I've dined in twice and gotten takeout once, and nothing is ever a failure. The chicken kebab is my go-to for lunch and it always comes with salad and rice and is super filling. The waitstaff is always very kind and serves in a timely manner, which is super helpful when I visit on lunch breaks. I ordered the Turkish wrap as part of a work lunch, and I loved how quickly everything was readily made and was still fresh. Working right down the block from here has its perks! It's always really quiet during the day -- however, I've only come for lunch, I'm imagining a peak during dinnertime. I have yet to try it for any other meal, but always recommend it to everyone I know. A fantastic Greek option in the Columbia area! read more

Met some friends here for an early dinner. We had the happy hour specials: baba ghanoush, hummus, and calamari. All were good but the calamari was a bit chewy. We also had the Mediterranean walnut salad and Turkish salad. We enjoyed them but wish there were more greens. Service was excellent. We will return next time we are in town. read more

Our dinner was enjoyable in every way-- fresh, beautifully prepared foods and generous portions (enough for a take-home meal) attentive service,   in a warm and inviting, setting. We have been there numerous times and are never disappointed. read more

It was unforgettable! We came in right after the hockey game with 6 hungry kids. Kids got a separate table, got chicken kebab from kids menu. The waitress was such a nice lady they kept them busy from the start by giving them drawings contest task. The kid danced after the meal. Parent were happy as instead of serving their own kids we could focus on talking to each other. Whoever owns it- keep doing it. The food was delicious. By all means and all my hockey parents could not agree more - it was 10 out of 5. thank you for great service, life music, dancing, amazing food experience! read more

Rudy's Mediterranean Grill - Mediterranean Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

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Not awful, but not some place I'm excited to go back to. For starters, the hummus was bland. It had great texture and consistency, but lacked flavor. The chicken shish kebabs were good overall, but for the price it lacked depth. 6 lonely, yet flavorful kebabs with no accoutrements besides a pile of rice and tomato. The sampler platter was a hit or miss for some in the group, but everyone seemed to find something they liked. Comme si Comme sa read more

Rudy's Mediterranean Grill - Chicken Shish Kebab - Mediterranean Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

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Date of visit: 2/16/22 Food: -Complimentary bread: fresh and delish -Chicken Pide: fresh, cheesy and gooey. My husband and I enjoyed it. -Lentil Soup: First time having lentil soup and didn't care for the texture. -Side salad: Bland -Chicken Shish Kebob with rice: Chicken was dry and not very flavorful. My husband thought it could have used yogurt sauce. He had a similar dish at Cazbar and preferred theirs. -Kunefe: My favorite item at dinner. Simply perfection! Highly recommend. -Verdict: Good food, but IMO, is not on par to the other Turkish restaurants in the area. Service: We came on a Wednesday night around 5:15 and there were only two other tables occupied, yet the food being prepared was considerably slow. Our server, Oksana, was very nice, but wasn't knowledgeable when we asked questions. Ambiance/Decor: -Beautiful decorative light fixtures and photos of Turkey around the restaurant. -Booth seats were too distant from the table. We asked to be moved to a table. I am 5' tall and it felt like a toddler being seated at the grown up table. Lol. Misc Info: -Belly dancers on Saturdays -Gift cards available -Pickup order available - Delivery within 5 miles radius coming soon Tip: -Check out LocalFlavor and Groupon to purchase a discounted voucher, $15 for $30 worth of Mediterranean dinner cuisine. read more

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Wonderful experience! Got to meet some cool people & try new food. My partner & I split the platter appetizer along with lamb shank and cocktails. read more

Ridiculously expensive with extra costs when you use a credit card. Do not be mislead with a couple of fixtures....

Rudy's is a hidden jewel in Columbia! It's a delightful place tucked away in the Columbia Gateway area. We recently went to Rudy's with friends and found the atmosphere, the food, the drink, and the service to be top notch. If you want great Mediterranean food with ambience and service to match, look no further! read more

I came here on a Thursday evening for dinner with a friend. We were seated very quickly. Service was quick and friendly. Sigara Borgi: This appetizer is soooo good! I I could eat the whole appetizer and probably more. The phyllo dough on the outside is perfectly crisp and the inside is hot with lots of feta cheese. This app is a must try! Doner kebab: this was an okay dish. It's a mix of lamb and beef. I wish it had more flavor. Chicken yogurt kebab: this dish was actually really good. Very flavorful with a tomato and yogurt sauce. I'd get this dish again if I were to come back. The chicken is mixed with pita pieces so it looks like a lot but it isn't. The serving sizes are a bit small for what you pay for but be sure to check out this place for good food! read more

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On a lunch visit to this lightly-trafficked and somewhat hard-to-find restaurant (in an almost hidden strip shopping center buried in a tree-lined office park), the dining room was sparsely populated with patrons, somewhat unsurprisingly. We had to work to find Rudy's. A sign along Columbia Gateway Drive would work wonders. Despite the place being almost empty, every aspect of table service was inordinately slow. We're patient people, but clearly there was adequate staffing although getting their attention was somewhat frustrating. Part of that was that at least a few of them seemed flummoxed by the pickup of a large carryout order it seemed. Still, certainly considerable room for improvement in the service department. That's a one-star ding. A persistent alarm was sounding, intermittently, from behind the back wall someplace. Eventually it was explained that work was being done on an emergency exit door in the rear; one that is alarmed. Okay, but it would have been nice to know sooner that there was not a fire. Sounded like a fire alarm might have sounded. Disconcerting to say the least. The good part was the food. If you like Middle Eastern cuisine you will love Rudy's. Generous portions, very fresh ingredients, fair pricing for the location and portion size, and zero pressure to turn the table. I had the turkish salad with chicken and it simply was outstanding. I'll give them a while to get their front-of-the-house chaos in order (other recent reviewers had not dissimilar experiences), and fix their back door, but hope to come back for dinner maybe sometime. read more

Very nice inside. I eat so much of the combination appetizer I can barely eat my meal. Man is it good. Friendly. Overall love the place