Service- 5 stars Food- 5 stars Ambiance-2 stars, it's old school decor from the 80s, no music or tv playing. 90% of the folks walking were takeout orders. I had the steak shish kabobs, rice, and salad. All three were glorious and tasted oh so good! I'll probably do takeout next time. Enjoy! read more

Sahara Cafe - Steak Shish Kabob - Mediterranean Near Me - Gretna, Louisiana

Visited Sahara on Mother's Day! Service was the only downside. Took them close to 10 minutes to get our drink order. Lebanese tea always hots the spot!! He did take time to chat with Mom about her trips abroad. On a better note the appetizer came out quickly and was delicious. The hummus was smooth and creamy, the falafel was crispy and flavorful and the kibbey was perfection. I didnt try the grape leaves but Mom ate them all up. I ordered lamb chops which came with a fresh salad and more hummus which I shared with my Bf's Mom. Bf ordered two meats beef and chicken. The beef tasted more like lamb but the chicken was tender and delivered the Mediterranean spice. The pita opens so you can fill and eat or just dip. We had leftovers and the bill for three was around $100 including tip. I think the real waiter showed up towards the end and he was more attentive to the tables that came after. read more

Everything on my lamb chop plate was so good! Grilled perfectly. Salad was fresh. Hummus was great with their own sauce. read more

Sahara Cafe - lamb chop plate - Mediterranean Near Me - Gretna, Louisiana

Pretty sure I've had take out from here before but dined in tonight. Food was very good. Nice selection. Fairly priced. Felt good to dine somewhere that wasn't rushing you through the meal. Will definitely be back more often. read more

Question: Is your lentil soup made with chicken broth or vegetable broth? Answer: Vegetable broth of course! Me: Great! Question: Does you use anchovies in your Greek salad dressing? Answer: no, we have homemade dressing without anchovies! Me: Perfect! Question: (I thought I was going to get him with this one.) Do you fry the falafels in... (Interrupted before I could finish asking.) -In vegetable oil, sir! Me: Awesome! That's what I call a perfect 10. Since Yelp allows only 5 stars :( There you have it, and thank you so much for Sahara Cafe Restaurant for catering to peculiar costumers and for the excellent quality food! Highly recommended this restaurant in Gretna, LA for the sophisticated vegetarians! read more

Sahara Cafe - All that yummy platters I ate today (07/26/2024.) - Mediterranean Near Me - Gretna, Louisiana

Amazing find! Diamond in the rough. Great service very friendly place. Food was astonishing! Will be back ! - Orange Harley Guy read more

Sahara Cafe - 6 Piece Falafel Appetizer Half and Half Gyro Plate - Mediterranean Near Me - Gretna, Louisiana

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It was my first time eating here and it was definitely worth it!!! The customer service was great, you are greeted as soon as you walk in. You seat yourself but they are very attentive. We went at slow time so it was only 2 other customers there. Everything was so flavorful and clean. We were all stuffed but didn't feel sick. The hummus and the half and half are my favorite. I look forward to going back. They also have a lot of vegetarian options which I thought was nice but didn't get to try any. read more

Sahara Cafe - Mango Juice Guava Juice Fountain Drink Chicken Kabob Half and Half Kufta Kabob Chicken 4 Piece Lamb Chops Shawarma - Mediterranean Near Me - Gretna, Louisiana

Sahara Cafe has recently become one of my fav restaurants on the West Bank. Everything I have tried so far has been delicious. They even went above and beyond for an order I had. Awesome customer service! read more

Food is always delicious. I usually get the chicken shawarma. Service- friendly and fast read more

This is a small place in a shopping center. It's Dingy. The ceiling tiles were old and stained. There was one guy waiting tables and bussing tables. The food was good. I got the gyro plate and the half and half. The meat was crispy on one side and juicy and tender. Humas and pita were awesome. Zaater bread was heavily spiced and delicious. read more

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Place was pretty spacious. Customer service was good. Food was fresh and tender. Easy to find and parking wasn't a problem. read more

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Great food and beautiful atmosphere! Tried a variety of foods and loved them all. Can't wait to come back and try their desserts next read more

Sahara Cafe - Sahara's Sample Appetizer, Kufta Kabob, Half and Half, Zaatar Bread, - Mediterranean Near Me - Gretna, Louisiana

This is one of my absolute favorite Middle Eastern spots in the city. The food is always on point! My go to every time is the grape leaves and gyro plate. I love the hummus and the dipping sauces that come with each dish. I am also a big fan of the Lebanese Tea, sweet enough , but not too sweet with Rose undertones. I ate off this plate for two days. read more

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never again made the whole family sick very unclean place was twp mice and other bbugs dont know how the pass inspection

The food was delicious, I got the lentil soup and greek salad with chicken shawarma and would highly recommend both of those!! Great portions too. My friend got hummus and pita which was amazing too. Our server Elizabeth was amazing and took great care of us, refilling our drinks whenever they were low. Will be back whenever I'm in the area :-) read more

Portion was good and food was delicious! Ordered veggie with saffron rice it was so good, the feta added perfect flavor. read more

Very friendly service. The family is simply lovely. This is a go-to for comfort food. Favorites: Falafel, Basmati rice, hummus, chicken and beef shawarma plate, and the best salad dressing. I know I am forgetting something. We always over-order, even when there are several of us, because there is so much we like, so it's hard to narrow it down. read more

It's hard to get hummus like you do in the Mediterranean and Middle East, but this place does it perfectly! Service is phenomenal by far one of my favorites in the area. read more

My first meal out since the stay at home mandate was lifted! Baba ganoush - Flavor was lacking. Def could have used some spice or something to take it up a notch. I love eggplant so this is usually my go to dip at a Mediterranean restaurant. All entrees come with hummus and side salad. The hummus is just okay. They put some type of sour oil on it. All the plates are pretty large portions as well. Nice to share if you want multiple things. Half/half plate - I did chicken and beef. Flavorful. The chicken was a little dry, but the beef was fatty. Gyro plate - super moist and flavorful. My fav out of all the dishes I tried. But, not the best I've ever had. Combination kabob - all the meats are seasoned well, but they are so over cooked. The meats were hard and dry. Had to ask for extra tzatziki to drown it in to be able to swallow it down. I don't think they make their own pita. It was dry and not warm. According to other reviewers, this place used to be popping. Don't know what happened. read more

My mom introduced me to Sahara's years ago. They hardly ever disappoint. Yes, it may not be fancy and super pleasing to the eye, but they are quality and authentic Mediterranean. I always get the lamb chops plate and veggies plate with their Lebanese tea. The Lebanese tea might be a bit too strong for some. I find it refreshing. It's a hole in the wall. My mom, sister, and I don't frequent as much as we used to, but no matter how long has passed, the owner always remembers us and checks to see if everyone is doing well. read more

Sahara cafe nails it every time. I get the chicken kabob with hummus and Salad. The chicken is grilled to perfection, their hummus is tasty and the dressing they use on the salad is impeccable! I have nothing negative to say about their food! I always get exactly what I expect every time. This is my go-to spot for takeout when I don't feel like cooking. read more

One of those places that's always consistent. Food is always hot and fresh. Some of the best chicken shawarma in the city. Not sure what the seasoning is, but it's very tasty. We always eat inside but they do a ton of take out. Lots of people coming in and out while we sit there. If you like Mediterranean food, then give this place a try. read more

Passed by here a few times during the pandemic. Finally pulled in and stopped for some quick take out. I don't have huge knowledge of middle eastern food, so I started with basics. I ordered an appetizer of humus, and a gyro. It was a short wait before my food was ready. THE FOOD: The humus was the best I've had for a few years. Light, flavorful and a bright, though subtle flavor. 2 pitas included were plenty. Being from Chicago, I'm used to a gyro being kind of squat, and overstuffed with meat sliced off of a revolving hunk of meat on a spit. The gyro here is long and tightly rolled. Not a ton of meat inside, but it has tremendous flavor also. Really tasty. The prices here are decent and I can see I will be trying other items here in the future. Plenty of parking, and friendly service. The only negative was the olive oil on top of the humus spills out of the container if not held even. Not knowing this, the outside of everything in the bag was oil. No big deal. Maybe a word of caution when carrying out (I didn't even think of it). read more

My favorite place in the westbank for Mediterranean food. Great price! Great taste! It's never really packed when I go, so i don't have to wait long. Place is always quiet. Good place to eat and chat with a friend. They have huge portions for the amount you pay! I love this place. Food: 10/10 Price: 10/10 Service: 7/10 Experience: 9/10 Environment: 5/10 read more

The food (combination platter) was flavorful and authentic! Before and after, I thoroughly enjoyed my food! read more

Sahara Cafe - What more can I say? - Mediterranean Near Me - Gretna, Louisiana

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Some of the best Mediterranean food in the New Orleans area. Delicious hummus and huge plate portions. I recommend the Gyro plate, and if you have room, try the baklava for dessert! read more

I travel a lot around the country, and I can say with great confidence that this restaurant -near my house- is one of the best in many states. The service is fast, the food is exquisite, and the prices are affordable. I recommend to all tourists, local people, if they don't know this place, you should go and visit. You will be surprised by the quality and efficiency of the products they sale in the restaurant and also in the supermarket attached, with European products very affordable, healthy and exquisite to buy. Also you will never have trouble parking comfortably. read more

Not as good as Shawarma on the run! But it's pretty good. Service is so sweet. The son is so pleasant! Ambience is casual. Nothing spectacular. Lebanese tea was fairly ok as well. Pita bread is kinda tough. read more

Sahara Cafe - Falafel Veggie Platter (6pieces of falafel.Greek salad.pita bread and hummus) Basmati Rice (a La carte) - Mediterranean Near Me - Gretna, Louisiana

New Orleans is known for fancy downtown restaurants, but it's not lacking in quality suburban strip market joints. When I walked in to this modest West Bank establishment, I seemed to be the only non-Arabic speaker, but the steady stream of customers behind me eventually came to represent just about every demographic you'd see in New Orleans. Probably because the food is good. I got a platter with grape leaves that probably would be a decent lunch on its own, but with the foul I ordered as well, I had leftovers. Their foul (an unfortunate transliteration which refers to a fava bean stew) delivered a tart lemon hit up front, but delivered a flavor not lacking in in nuance, with warm spices and plenty of richly filling beans. The grape leaves and their accompanying hummus were likewise both lemony and delicious and I was glad for a bit of salad on the side. I tried them because they came up in my search for vegetarian-friendly places on the West Bank, and they do have several options I would find appealing, light on dairy as well for those with concerns. If you want upscale ambiance, you're probably on the wrong side of the river, but if you want food, stay right here. read more

The food is authentic and delicious. The appetizer sampler was the perfect introduction to the amazing dinner that followed. Pick up is the way to go read more

This is my go to for Middle Eastern food on the Wank. Im 50/50 on the amount of times I have eaten in or ordered to go. The owner is super polite and friendly. Once one evening I was eating there with my family and a fella walking in the door asking for money. The owner asked him what he needed money for and the guy said to buy food for his kids. The owner without hesitation said to bring your kids here and I will feed them. Wow. That's when the walk in guys charity stopped though, he said his kids wouldn't eat Med food and rather just have the money. The owner again said I will cook them nuggets and fries. The guy walked out and didn't come back in. That alone sealed my deal to this establishment. There is a few Mediterranean Lebanese choices on the westbank, definitely try this one out!! read more

Sahara Cafe - Mediterranean Near Me - Gretna, Louisiana

Not only were multiple parties served before me, a single patron, the wait time was very long like I'm talking ~1hr for 2 entrees. Wasn't even terribly busy (who I presume to be the owner even said it himself that it wasn't busy). After a long wait I'm thinking wow this food is gonna be great! Terribly wrong the food was very bland almost unflavored. Maybe I went on an off day. Don't know won't be going back. read more

I've been to the restaurant twice and ordered through food delivery services many times prior to visiting the actual place. The food is delicious and plentiful. The first time I went I got the vegetarian platter. It was perfect since I got to try the baba ganouj and have the hummus as well. The second time I got the green salad, the falafel sandwich, and the baklava. The gentleman that was there was kind enough to use sugar instead of honey. I can't guarantee that my meal was 100% vegan since I didn't ask about the sauce in the sandwich and baklava usually has butter. The bottom line is the green salad was huge and fresh. The Sahara dressing is light and not oily. The falafel sandwich was so delicious with fresh veggies (lettuce and tomatoes), grilled onions, falafel, and some orange looking sauce. The baklava definitely made it a complete meal. read more

Sahara Cafe - Green Salad - Mediterranean Near Me - Gretna, Louisiana

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Can I please give this place 6 stars? This local Lebanese eatery has all the warmth and comfort foods anyone familiar with the community could want. From homemade hummus and Babaganoush to perfectly seasoned schwarma and flaky baklava. The owner operator was warm and friendly reminding these new transplants of our favorite Middle Eastern market and deli back home. Not only did we get an amazing meal, but felt right at home, as if we had been invited into the family kitchen. I can't wait to go back for another meal. The quality of the food was amazing and the portions overly generous as well. read more

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This is a nice little Middle Eastern spot right next to the Crescent Market halal grocery. They have some nice fresh food here that I might guess uses some ingredients from next door at the market but I might be wrong or I could be right. The portion size on my kabob plate seemed a bit smaller than most other Middle Eastern places I've eaten at in the area but there was plenty of good flavor involved. Service was a bit on the slower side and it took a bit longer to get a refill on drinks than I would like even though there were only a couple of other tables with guests. Overall it seems like they have one guy working the front of house and then some folks in the kitchen so they have some good food but are stretched a bit then with service. read more

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I don't leave reviews, but coming from a guy that's traveled all over the world (especially the Med), I had to review this place. Sahara's Cafe is hands down the best restaurant around here, AND I AM FROM THE AREA. I grew up on poboys. When you need a break from the fried bread, fish, shrimp, boudin, and any other southern soul food, Sahara Cafe does it and does it right. A salad and some lamb never hurt any of y'all!!! read more

Sahara Cafe - Half and Half - Mediterranean Near Me - Gretna, Louisiana

Love this place. I call ahead and Shakur has my order ready just as I Like it. Try the Garlic sauce so amazing!

I just at the best falafels I have eaten in years!! The Shawarma chicken was superb. And my daughters were delighted by the rosewater tea and delicious baklava. Incredible food at a very reasonable price. Truly amazing food. Bonus: the waiter has a great sense of humor:) A++++ restaurant. read more

We moved from New Orleans to Southern California in 2020, and Sahara Cafe is the only restaurant that we seriously miss. It was one of our top favorites when we lived in Algiers Point, and we squeezed in one more lunch here during our recent short visit to the area. We have tried many Lebanese and other Middle Eastern restaurants in our new area and have found nothing that pleases us as much as Sahara's cooking. My husband usually orders the half and half schawarma. I often order one of the specials, such as the lamb shank, but the "upside down chicken" and stuffed cornish hen are also delicious. And one thing that makes Sahara really special is the vegetables. We love both the sauteed vegetable platter and the sauteed veggie sandwich. We used to say, "how do they make carrots taste so good?" In addition, the proprietors are always friendly and efficient. We miss them and their delicious cooking so much and wish them long continued success. read more

I ordered takeout and got the Baba Ganouj dip (it came with 4 pieces of bread). It was simply DIVINE. Inexpensive and was really so so good. It was my first time trying this restaurant and I'm so glad I did! I'll definitely come back to get it again and try other foods. Highly recommend :) read more

Sahara Cafe - Baba Ganouj Dip - Mediterranean Near Me - Gretna, Louisiana

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