Whenever I'm Uptown on Magazine Street, I am overcome with the desire for Mediterranean food thanks to longtime favorites, Shaya and Saba. Both are high end, not to mention it's not always a given that you can get a reservation, no less expect to walk in and get a table. Also, I'm just going to say it, sometimes I don't want a high dollar night out (it's rare, but true). Saj's food is just as delicious as the aforementioned restaurants and the atmosphere is lovely, though slightly more casual. No, they do not have a bar but you may bring wine/beer in. I never do this at BYOB places and I don't mind being held in check so that I'm not spending the bulk of my bill on drinks. The menu is small but there are several vegan options. We started with a deceptively humble hummus with flatbread. Anyone who knows and loves Shaya/Saba knows that their flatbread is the stuff of the gods, pillowy, exquisite carb bombs. Impossible to resist, though it's easy it fill up on this because it's that delicious (speaking as someone who isn't easily swayed by a bread basket). It's impossible to not make comparisons, but I will go so far as to say that I prefer the flatbread at Saj! It's very thin, yet still chewy rather than crisp as you'd expect, dusted with za'atar and fruity olive oil. The hummus is bright and tangy, thankfully not overwhelmed by garlic. For my main course, I had the veganized paella, which is absolutely delicious and a large portion, so I took half home. I rarely take leftover food home because I hate wasting containers, but this was an absolute must because it's that damn good! I can't enjoy food without lots of heat, so they kindly brought out their house made chili paste, which is like harissa but a little different, as well as a harissa aioli, which I didn't eat because it's not vegan, but my husband loved it. Service is attentive and really just perfect. We came at an early dinner hour (6:30) and the place was starting to fill up, but you can still count on being able to walk in, I believe. Huge fan of Saj! read more

AMAZING FOOD!!! Awesome prices, great service, amazing food! Treated us amazing and food came out very quickly. 10/10 Nola restaurant! read more

The saffron rice dish and the saj bread are amazing. The sumac makes the bread incredible. Easy 5 stars.

Excellent food! We ordered the lamb chops, snapper, and soup of the day, and all three were scrumptious. They also provide a side of Mediterranean bread which was perfectly seasoned and chewy. Highly recommend coming here! read more

Saj - Lamb Chops, Soup of the Day - Mediterranean Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

A friend recommended this place for lunch, and I'm so glad we went! Super cute place, our server was very nice and willing to recommend things, and the food was DELICIOUS! I was also pleasantly surprised by the huge portions, especially cause it was a lunch menu. Definitely a cute, quaint spot perfect for grabbing a bite and catching up with a friend. read more

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The food was incredible! Our server was so friendly. I loved e v e r y t h i n g! And the decor was beautiful, too read more

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a lot of people that we know had been to saj and recommended it so decided to check it out. it's a relatively small place with a cozy atmosphere. the kitchen still seems to be finding its footing as many times the staff was standing at the kitchen waiting for the food we started off with the 4 mezze and you could select ones that you wanted so we got the hummus, baba ganoush labneh and muhammara. everyone really liked the muhammara. this came with fresh bread but that took a while (staff waiting on the kitchen) we then got the kafte, spicy moussaka and lunch gyro and chicken shawarma. the kafte were decent, the spicy moussaka was good and was spicy and the lunch specials were plentiful. the food was a little pricey but the quality was good read more

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Food, amazing and fresh. Service, excellent and helpful. Clean, comfortable. Definitely a 5 in our group of 7s opinion.

I was super excited to try this restaurant because Mediterranean food is my favorite. The appetizers were amazing, we ordered the halloumi cheese and hummus. I would definitely ordering two small plates and sharing for an appetizer. For my entrée I ordered the Moroccan Snapper which came in a tomato based sauce with green olives and garbanzo beans. The fish took a minute to grown on me, but with a sprinkle of the lemon juice and the tomato sauce everything paired excellently. For dessert we ordered the Turkish tiramisu, it was underwhelming but the rest of the food made up for it. read more

Saj - Fried Halloumi Cheese, Hummus Small Plate - Mediterranean Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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We stopped by for lunch and ordered the chicken shawarma platter and the gyro platter. Both entrees were so good! Each platter came with hummus, saffron rice, house salad and saj bread. Everything was flavorful and portions were a decent size. We'll be back soon to try their small plates! read more

Saj - Chicken Shawarma Platter (bottom) and Gyro Platter (top right) - Mediterranean Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Ordered for delivery. Everything was fresh and tender. I had the chicken with rice, hummus and salad. Everything is perfect. What a gem! I'll definitely eat here again. read more

Stopped by on a whim, and glad I did... this place was great. It's such a cute spot! The portions were huge and very flavorful, and those house made sodas "BOMB. I'll definitely be adding Saj to the Mediterranean rotation. read more

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The food was really good. We got many different plates to share. It was annoying that everything was a la carte though.

This is one of the top restaurants in the city based on quality of food, price point, consistency, service, ambiance, and even the level of background music, and sound acoustics for conversation. They meet all of the standards. read more

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So many people recommended this place before I finally cheated on Shaya a block away. I am loyal to my favorites and had a hard time committing to trying something new that I already had a spot for, but I'm glad I finally did because I was absolutely blown away. Wow, what a spread! Thanks to an incredibly knowledgeable bartender, we sampled probably a dozen items and not a single one was a letdown. The presentation and rich colors of middle eastern food, accentuated by the staff here, makes me wonder why I do not eat it more often and I think I'm far from the only one that should reach this realization. Overall, just an incredible spot I would have kept walking past were it not for a persistent friend. I look forward to going back, trying new things, and learning more about the food. Go here if: you are on a date and want something unique and/or love a good Baba Ganouj Solo traveler rating: 10 - great bar service and plenty of small plates to sample to eat light for a pre-dinner snack or go HAM and eat enough for two read more

Saj - Mediterranean Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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This restaurant is very small with small booths and some tables in the middle. There's a cute instagramable couch in front of a greenery wall to take pictures. We ordered various small dip plates that came with the fresh Saj bread. The dips were exceptional, creamy, and flavorful, and we enjoyed the hot Saj they continue to bring out. We then ordered the Mediterranean salad, which we do not recommend. It was soggy and unappealing, which was disappointing since it was 16$. For the main courses, we ordered the Lamb Chops and Chicken Shawarma. The Lamb Chops were meaty and flavorful but came out lukewarm and not very hot. The Chicken Shawarma was overcooked, and the chicken was dry. The green sauce that comes with it had an opposing flavor and did not go well with the dish. The rice was just plain yellow rice, lacking in flavor and spices. We recommend this restaurant as a spot for cute pictures and good dips. We do not recommend the entrees. They also do not serve alcohol which isn't very pleasant in New Orleans. read more

Saj - Hummus Small Plate Muhamara Small Plate Beetroot Tahini Small Plate Labna - Mediterranean Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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Outstanding meal of small plates for dinner with my family and friends! The beetroot tahini, the muhammara, the labna, dolmas, and hummus were all so tasty! Falafels were fresh, crispy but not heavy. Really, the falafels were perfect. And the Palestinian flatbread with zaater was divine! We did the BYOB and picked up beer and a decent wine from the corner store a block away and Maya was a fabulous server and hostess. The decor is lovely and they do have the option of outdoor seating. And, going the route of small plates let us all enjoy the food immensely! I should add that my guests had all lived in Saudi Arabia for 6 years or more and they LOVED the entire meal! (Vaccination verification is done per city standard too.) read more

Saj - Our meal and our group! - Mediterranean Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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Great food. Lamb chops, rice and humus absolutely delicious . Wonderful hospitality by Sabah. Highly recommended restaurant you must try. read more

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10/10 LOVEDDDDD!!! Everything from the falafel to the hummus and the chicken shwarma were to die for!!! And Ty our server was so incredible and helpful with all the best suggestions!! Definitely ask for him if you can!! read more

Good Friday lunch at Saj was better than good. It was great! I am a big fan of Mediterranean food. I've been to a few Mediterranean restaurants around the city and Saj ranks up there among the best. First of all, Saj is a BYOB establishment without a corkage fee. While many may look down on this I think this is a great setup. I would imagine this helps them keep their focus on the food and after eating there I can tell you, they are laser focused! We started with 6 Mezze plates to share. This also comes with the house made bread. All of it was amazing. I can tell you that 6 was too many for two people to split but it all sounded so good we couldn't narrow it down anymore. Then I ordered a 7th and I'm so glad I did because it was my favorite. The falafel at Saj is the best I have ever had. The perfect texture, inside and out. A flavor bomb with just the right amount of heat. So good I didn't even get a picture. I highly recommend ANYTHING from this restaurant. The staff were all very polite and everyone I interacted with wore a mask. I honestly cannot wait to go back to Saj. read more

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Ordered takeout from here last night and it was SO yum-definitely the best Mediterranean we've had in NOLA! The cold items were cool and the hot items were about room temp by the time they got to us, but that's not the restaurant's fault. It was all packaged with extreme care and basically no way to have messy spills or ruining of any dishes. We got the mezze trio with hummus, labna, and goat cheese-all delicious, creamy, huge portions for a combination style app! And a large pita bread to go with each one. The lamb meatballs were amazing-cooked to about medium, so soft and rich. The Mediterranean salad was pretty large with tons of lightly dressed fresh veggies sitting in a crispy pita bowl. And lastly, the gyro was yummy, although the meat was just a touch on the dry side-which was actually fine because it came with three sauces to spruce it up. We would definitely order all the same things again next time, but will have to force ourselves to try new dishes! read more

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I think management for this place needs to get more people to work for them ..we sat for 10min at the table without any recognition ..I know the 2 girls were running around like crazy and were busy for the amount of tables they could have handled and it's not their fault, but this is not what you want as an experience in a restaurant .. especially after all the previous reviews they have that are good, based on the food.. don't get me wrong, the food is good.. hummus is good, their version of nan is good ( a little too oily and spiced for me but my husband enjoyed it) but services matters as well.. let's not forget that!! Take the order and then bring the bill? I don't know about that .. read more

Excellent imaginative Middle Eastern cuisine in a cute space on a busy portion of Magazine Street. The service was slightly slow but the quality of the dishes was amazing and I guarantee it's worth it. read more

Saj - Vegetarian Dolmas Small Plate & Hummus Small Plate - Mediterranean Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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Saj has unique, delicious food with a convenient location on Magazine St and very nice staff. Pros: -option for BYOB (we brought our own wine); they also gave us an ice bucket assisted with opening the bottles -outside seating on magazine is very pleasant and several open tables -baked feta was to die for, so creamy and delicious, could eat all day & served with mouthwatering Saj bread (both in picture) Cons: -when we went last month they were out of several menu items including rice (impacting vast majority of their menu so we could only order small plates) - cost them a star as this was a non-holiday/event weekend evening. Hope to try again when more options are available! read more

Saj - Beetroot Tahini (top left) & Baked feta (bottom center) - Mediterranean Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

I tried Saj for the first time tonight and was so excited to find a great new place! (Or at least new to me if not new in general). They serve most of their food family style, and the portions are big, so it's great to share or take leftovers for later. Lots of food for the price, which is nice too. I wish I'd ordered less so I could've tried dessert, but that just gives me an excuse to go back! During Covid they're really strict about capacity and distancing so make sure to make a reservation. read more

Saj - Green Tahini Salad - Mediterranean Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Saj is a great addition to the numerous restaurants we have in the city. My friend and I stumbled inside when our first choice for lunch was not open. I had recently read about Saj in an article and I was so excited when I spotted it! The decor was beautiful and modern, I knew we were in for a treat! We ordered Peach Watermelon Iced Teas, Falafel, Hummus, Chicken Shawarma Baked Wrap, and a Gyro Baked Wrap. We were a bit hesitant when choosing items because it seemed a bit pricey for lunch, but we did not know that the portions were going to be HUGE! The falafel, hummus, and flatbread came out first and I was quite amazed at the presentation and portion sizes. The hummus was delicious, but the flatbread was the best I ever had! It was so fresh, hot, and absolutely flavorful! My friend and I were already getting full a few minutes before our entrees came. My eyes almost popped out of my head, when I saw how many fries that came with our baked wraps! This was definitely going to be lunch and dinner for us. We traded our baked wrap halves so we can both have a taste. They were both very flavorful and filling! Overall, I will definitely recommend Saj to anyone looking for a great lunch or dinner spot who can EAT! It is a nice casual restaurant to bring friends, family, or even a date to enjoy time with. Check it out! read more

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I can't wait to return to Saj! I recently visited for lunch on a whim and I'm sure glad I did! Every bite of the food was amazing! I had the chicken shawarma plate which came with hummus, a side salad, rice, and Saj bread. The portions are large and the prices reasonable, especially considering all that you get. The only miss was the mint iced tea, it was a little sweet for my taste, but learned afterward that you can ask for it to be less sweet. The service was friendly and the atmosphere was relaxed. read more

IT'S BYOB, Y'ALL. Literally the ONLY reason I'm giving 4 instead of 5 stars is because they don't serve alcohol. Everything we tasted was incredible. Initially, we ordered the hummus, beetroot tahini, baba ganouj, and tapenade, which were served with very large pieces of pita. Later we ordered the baked feta and the goat cheese- my friend and I debated all night and truly couldn't decide on a favorite. Flavors were incredible and as a very fitnessy, protein-loving gal, I was impressed with how satisfied I was with this meal. Mind blown. read more

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Best food we've had in New Orleans! Delicious Mediterranean. Our group had chicken, salad, hummus and a delicious Middle Eastern bread. Excellent service. Beautiful ambiance!!!! read more

Very dissatisfied and the food was mediocre. The photos are not what is on the menu. The lamb was more fat then the meat. The fish was dry, the dessert was like baby food. The drinks were very watery. The olives from the appetizer menu , were from a can. The only positive was the bread and the cheese platter . The server was sweet . For what we spent... it was not worth it. read more

Ordered delivery from this place twice and this was my experience..... 1st order : meatballs in gravy, saffron rice and the meat plate. While the meatballs tasted good- sadly it was undercooked on the inside and I couldn't eat them. The saffron rice was really fluffy and nice. The meat plate was ok. We didn't manage to finish it because it was very salty. ( on the plus side I drank loads of water of the meal). 2nd order: I ordered the sirloin kebabs and the chicken shawarma. Sadly oh so sadly the sirloin steak was black ( burnt) on the outside and very underdone on the inside. Once again..... couldn't it eat as it was not good. The chicken shawarma was nice but once again waaaaaaaay tooo salty. Couldn't finish it. While the portions are quite large l, sadly wasn't good. The fries were soggy and not good either. I really really wanted to like the food here and hence the 2nd order weeks later, but sadly I won't order from here again. While the in-house made bread is delicious and so was the saffron rice... the proteins could use work. Very sad indeed. read more

What a delightful and delicious surprise! After initially being annoyed that we were turned away from a similar place down the street, we came upon Saj and I'm so glad we did! We ordered the baked feta, hummus, grape leaves and saffron rice. It came with saj bread, and all of it was fantastic! Service was very, very good and with a smile! It's a small-ish place so if you have a big party might be good to call ahead. read more

Saj - Hummus, grape leaves, saffron rice, baked feta, saj bread - Mediterranean Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Our party of 6 included 3 international travelers who have extensively visited Israel and other locations in the Middle East and two vegetarians. All agreed this Mediterranean fusion restaurant is the best cuisine of its kind in NOLA. Every single dish was a hit and the vegetarians never had so many choices. Even the Turkish coffee with a hint of cardamom and lemon zest was grit free and as good as you'll find in Palestine. Don't let the lack of a bar discourage you from trying this place. BYOB or visit the nearby liquor store and the restaurant will give you a free set up. Cheaper and more interesting food than Saya or Saba this place is a must try. read more

The prices are slightly higher than you might expect, but the portions are extremely large. For me personally, I prefer quality over quantity which means I likely won't be ordering from Saj again. And let's be honest, for anyone who says this place is better than Shaya or Saba I need to question both their intentions and their taste buds. I hope Saj makes it, any restaurant in today's world needs a break - especially a new one - but somebody needs to be honest about this place. Baba ganouj is chunky and decent but for my palate doesn't match up to other places in town while Muhamara is quite good on its own. Unfortunately, there are no pitas and the dips are served with Saj Bread which is an oily, thin "bread" more closely related to a thick flour tortilla that has been cooked on a grill and tastes of acrid meat and smoke. Totally overpowers and pretty much ruins any subtlety or freshness in the the dips. Wraps were of course disappointing in the same overpoweringly meaty/smoky Saj Bread and with soggy fairly tasteless fries interspersed throughout the wrap - that's about all I got in quite a few bites along with a bit of lettuce and occasional tomato. Gyro meat was fine, and Kufta would have presumably been better if not within a wrap but also seemed a bit dry and uninspired on their own. Overall an initial effort at supporting a new restaurant definitely didn't go well. Make sure you get the Lebanon Nights dessert to end your meal, it's decent but will most importantly get the sour grease smoke taste out of your mouth. Saj doesn't appear to be for me, and heaven help any vegetarians who dine here but I'm hoping things will get better. read more

They had me at fries inside the wrap. I've been watching the construction of this place for a while. I'm glad to see they were able to open despite Covid. The gyro wrap was pricey at $14 without a side, but it was large. The fries inside were a unique touch. I liked the grilled tortilla wrap instead of a traditional flatbread. Overall the quality of ingredients were lacking. The meat and fries both dry. Tasting a fry alone tasted like day old French fries. There seemed to be hints of a sauce but with the overall dryness, I wish there were more sauce. I'll definitely be back to try more! read more

Saj - Outdoor seating - Mediterranean Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Best kept secret in NOLA. Everything is wood fired and you can really taste it. The Baked Feta, The Chicken Kebab, The Snapper. Everything is crazy delicious. Also - excellent service. Cannot recommend highly enough. read more

Once I heard that a new Mediterranean spot was opening on Magazine, I definitely wanted to give it a try. We started with the falafel and hummus. The best part of our entire meal was the hummus, which was very creamy and delicious. It also came with saj, which was a very thin flatbread drizzled in tasty oil mixed with herbs. The falafel was tasty when dipped in the sauce, but a little dry. We also ordered the lamb kabab, which tasted good, but it was overwhelmed but the excessive charring. However, I did like that our server brought us more saj to eat with the lamb. Saj does not serve alcoholic beverages, but it is BYOB! Overall, I had a nice time at Saj and the interior is decorated very well, but unsure if I would return for the food at its current price point. read more

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Great spot, and the food was terrific. Service was great, and the Turkish coffee was really good. read more

Saj - Salad with shawarma, flat bread. - Mediterranean Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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Food was delivered quickly. Chicken kabob was flavorless. "Greek Salad" consisted mainly of wilted/rotten lettuces. Bread-pita was cold and greasy. "Saffron" rice was orange and flavorless c/w the cheapest of Mexican restaurants. All for the bargain price of 100 dollars with tip. Many better "Med-Lebanese" places to dine in NOLA. read more

This has to be a hidden gem. The place gives me a nice retro vibe. The server was very sweet. Food was spectacular and fresh. I recommend everything ate. Portions are big, you are able to share ( we ate it family style). We had Petit Four Mezze as appetizers, they were all nice whipped and airy. The Goat cheese was glazed with honey. Pita was nice and flaky (you get unlimited refills). We also ordered the gyro for dinner- it's not listed so you just have to request it. The lamb chops are nice and tender! Definitely recommend! read more

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