Driven by this place a million times, but never stopped in until recently. We ate at an odd time - maybe 2:30 pm on a Sunday, but it was still busy with nearly every table full, and people coming in regularly for takeaway sandwiches.
On the plus side, the food was delicious. You can see the shawarma cooking when you come in, and it looks like real big hunks of meat, not gyro meat, which makes all the difference. We loved the mixed shawarma with hummus, and they kept bringing more warm bread for us to eat it with. The Fattoush Special Salad was also fab - fresh lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, parsley, mint, radishes, toasted bread, drizzled with pomegranate sauce and sprinkled with sumac. So much more flavorful and zesty than usual Middle Eastern salads, it was bright and beautiful. I wasn't sold on the Sambousek Lamb - more pastry than bread, they looked like little pre-bought pasties. Admittedly the filling was tasty, but they looked and tasted like they weren't homemade, and just weren't as exciting. I did enjoy the crispy falafels though. We may have also gotten meatballs, I can't remember them - but either way I know we were stuffed, and really impressed by and large with the freshness and quality.
Service left a lot to be desired - slow and confused. Sat for ages before ordering, took forever to get water, that kind of thing. They're understaffed, servers were running around like crazy, they couldn't keep up! Sort of felt for them, rather than being too angry. But don't go here if you don't want to linger. It's a great little neighborhood cafe, diverse clientele, everyone from couples to friends to families. We're already planning to come back again soon. read more
