3.5/5 The dolma was…read morevery pickley but the prices were very good as well as the sizes.

So good! The service is quick and efficient. The owner was clearly working up a storm…read more While everything was good, the standouts were the chicken shish taouk, hummus, and falafel. The hummus was definitely tahini forward but is topped with a vinegar that balances it out. Falafels are never on my go to order, but he recommended them and they blew me away! So crispy on the outside, but soft and moist on the inside. And the chicken was juicy and delicious. The portions are incredibly generous as well. We had enough for a full meal later.

We stopped by for dinner after our kiddo played at Next Level Play Center next door. I've wanted to…read moretry this restaurant forever and I'm so glad we finally made it! We ordered a combination platter #5 (chicken and falafel), a chicken wrap with fries and a drink, and hummus with pita. The food was amazingly fresh and delicious. The fries were so crispy and the hummus was very flavorful. I loved the Lebanese olive oil that was in the hummus... definitely one of the best olive oils I have ever tasted. I was only able to eat half of the wrap and have leftovers for lunch. The employees were kind and patient with my family when we tried to decide what to order. They answered questions without complaint. The restaurant had plenty of comfortable seating and was clean and well decorated. I will definitely be going back here with my family any time we are in the area!

Came back here again for catering (this is my second time) and they were just as amazing. I ordered…read morefor another event at my house and everything went so smoothly. They're always super friendly and attentive. They even offered to help me carry everything out to my car which I really appreciated. And the cutest part the owner's dad went and grabbed me two falafels for the road like that was so sweet. I love supporting family-owned businesses, especially when they're this consistent. The food is always fresh, and even a day or two later it still tastes really good which is a big deal for catering. This is definitely my go-to now for events. I'll 100% keep using them and recommending to my friends.

Great food. We could dine in or take out, but we usually take out. I highly recommend the chicken…read morekabobs dinner.

Saw this gem last year got to try it today. The shawarma is the real deal -- meat that's actually…read morebeen turning on the spit, crispy edges, juicy inside, and well seasoned. Garlic sauce is very good. Portions are generous, prices are fair, and the Mary and Marty are genuinely friendly. Place is small and unassuming from the outside, but that's usually how you know a spot is going to be good. Highly recommend the chicken shawarma platter and a side of hummus.

I first visited Al Bawadi Grill at their Bridgeview location, and it was an outstanding experience…read more The food was delicious, and the service was exceptional, which is why I kept coming back. I've since visited the Niles location several times. The food has always been consistently excellent, but unfortunately the service has never matched the quality of the kitchen. Today's visit was by far the worst. It took over 10 minutes for our server to come to the table to take our order. Throughout the meal, I had to repeatedly flag her down whenever we needed something. To make matters worse, she seemed to disappear halfway through dinner--I'm assuming she clocked out--because we had to get another server's attention just to receive basic assistance. The food, however, was fantastic. I ordered the Al Bawadi Seafood Mixed Grill, and it absolutely delivered. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. That's what makes this so frustrating. This restaurant serves some of the best Middle Eastern food in the area, but when you're paying premium prices, you expect service that matches the quality of the food. I still recommend the food without hesitation, but the consistently poor service at the Niles location is making it harder to justify returning.

I cannot recommend this restaurant enough. If you are looking for delicious food in a beautiful…read moreroom with excellent service, you've come to the right place. Our server was so kind and never let us make the mistake of ordering the wrong thing. She gave us her recommendations every step of the way and every single one was perfect. What we got: Mint lemonade: 5/5. SO refreshing and delicious. Perfect sweetness and the little bit of pulp you get is great. I only wish there was more of it! Chicken arayes: 4.5/5. Crispy, cheesy, garlicky. Need I say more? Get some extra garlic on the side if you wanna take it up a notch. Fried halloumi: 4/5. These are like a soft mozzarella stick, so tasty. Definitely eat the pickles with them. Lamb chops: 4.5/5. 4 tender lamb chops seasoned beautifully. Definitely recommend the red rice over the yellow if you can handle a little bit of heat. Kanafeh: 5/5. Whoever thought that cheese, sweet syrup, phyllo, and pistachios would go together is a genius. Definitely don't leave without getting this dessert. The salt of the cheese perfectly balances out the sweetness. No notes! And get some peppermint tea to go with it too. And the portion sizes are huge! Definitely get your money's worth here. My only issue is this place is right by my job so now I'm gonna go broke getting food here all the time. But that's a problem I'd love to have!

First time visiting, I decided to get a Chicken Shawarma sandwich. It was even better than I…read moreexpected. First they used a very generous portion of fresh grilled chicken, it was wrapped burrito style in a tortilla. It was infused with pickles, a mild garlic sauce and melted cheese. It was delicious, much better than the chicken that comes from a spit. I visited on a Monday night around 8. pm. Atmosphere was casual and not rushed. Very friendly service, will definitely visit again and try other selections.

Store front restaurant in a strip mall is find! Plenty of parking. Half a dozen tables for dining…read more While we were there, they had a steady stream of take out orders. Their is a nick-nack with a flag of Jordan, maybe the influence is coming from. Their Gyros is not the typical style in the USA, all the same ingredients firmly wrapped in their flat bread rather than a pita. Baba Ghanouj is one of my favorite dishes from middle eastern cuisine, EZ Shawarma does an excellent version. Also impressed by their Lamb Chops at $24, serverd on Basmati yellow rice with grilled vegetables. We also had chicken Shawarma entrée also served on Basmati yellow rice with grilled vegetables. We finished off with Baklava.

Finally had a chance to try Shemroon, which caught my eye very quickly upon moving to the northwest…read moreside. To start, let's talk parking since I had a hard time finding info about this. I parked in the Park Ridge 90 minute lot across/down the street, which I think folks often use for Panera/Oberweis/etc. I would not recommend parking in the Chase lot. There's also 3 hour city parking near the library, and apparently at 11 N Prospect according to the sign on their door. There's an entrance on Touhy and along Prospect, and there are two different rooms (one near each entrance) so if you're confused and looking for your party like I was, take a look in the other section. Service was really friendly. Our server was attentive, very helpful with all our questions, and happy to get us what we needed. When we didn't have questions, he came back with the answer. I had the green joujeh kebab and it was really good. I've had "plain" joujeh at other places before, and having the different flavor profile was a nice change. I also ordered the dill rice as a substitute for the basmati, which was a slight uncharge. The dill rice was good as usual but next time I might just get the plain since it too would be good, I don't like lima beans (as comes with the dill rice), and I could skip the upcharge. I also ordered a drink, the Windy City, and it was really good! Their cocktail list was very nice. I was here with my book club and everyone enjoyed their meal. The portions were plentiful too; no one went hungry and several people took a portion of theirs home. In addition to the meditteranean food, they have a couple burgers and some wraps too. The soups looked so good but we were here on a rather warm day, so next time I'm trying their chicken noodle soup, made with a tomato base, or their lentil since you can't go wrong with that.

Cozy, lightly lit restaurant with super friendly and welcoming staff! Food was great, I really…read moreloved the kebab and dill rice!

I like the Algerian food they made it's delicious Especially the Algerian tacos , chapati and meat…read moregrilled.

First timer! Came in today for lunch and had the falafel sandwich. It came with a size of hummus…read moreand I asked for hot sauce. Naeem the chef was so kind and Cooked a delicious meal. It was so hot and fresh and perfect. I also met the owner Nasser and he was awesome. I love this little gem in Jefferson Park neighborhood. I hope they expand to more locations in the city. Would love to be able to have their food delivered in Logan Square. You can also get their food delivered on all the apps.

This is a wonderful place with some great food. It's in a convenient location with its own parking…read morelot. Inside, there was one room with basic tables, and another with linen tablecloths (choose which you prefer). You order at the counter, get a number, get your own utensils and such, and they bring the food to your table. I went with some friends who got the lunch special (very good), but I couldn't resist the Spring Lamb Shank. Oh, that was so good. The lamb shank had incredible flavor, good seasoning, and tons of jus. The carrots and onions on that platter were perfectly cooked - just enough, but still with a crunch (onions) and a bite (carrots). It comes with a platter with rice (I got both kinds), hummus (could have used a bit more of that), sauce, onions, pickled turnips (perfect for balancing the richness), and bread (lavash?) that is great for making a wrap. They have very good to-go containers (it's a lot). This is a flavor-bomb and great food.

I ordered the Beef & Lamb Koubideh with dill rice. Good flavor, not dry, not juicy either. Dill…read morerice was properly cooked but wasn't particularly flavorful. Great portions. Friend's chicken kebab was a little dry. Bread and veggies were fresh and tasty. Service was good and friendly. Plenty of seating inside.

I LOVED my meal here! Ēma (Ay-mah) brings some glamour and glitz to the Mediterranean dining scene,…read morewith an airy, elevated hotel-lobby feel that still doesn't demand a dress code. Dresscode: Smart Casual / Casual Noise Level: Medium (it gets buzzy after 5:30pm) Thursday night Happy Hour was lively, so it took about 10-15 minutes for someone to come around, but service was attentive once we got going. The food is where Ēma really shines. From the Happy Hour menu, the Charred Eggplant Hummus and Crispy Potatoes were generously portioned and great for sharing. On the main menu, the Indian-Mediterranean fusion Bhel Hummus was a party for my taste buds, while the Hot Honey Halloumi and Chicken Kefta rounded out the table nicely. The halloumi is more of a side than a main, but that sweet-and-salty hot honey combo was chef's kiss. For our finisher, the Chocolate Torte knocked us out. Decadent, delicious and chocolate with lots of depth. Overall, Ēma is an excellent spot to order a bunch of dishes for the table and get an elevated meal without feeling stuffy, and delicious without taking itself too seriously. DO's: - Make a reservation ahead, especially for happy hour 4-6pm - Treat apps like small plates, order 2-3 to sample - Entertain their wine list, they have a lot! - Bring vegetarians here, there are plenty of options DON'Ts: - Dismiss the desert menu. It's fantastic and shareable! - Forget to ask for extra pita with the hummus! - Miss out on the LettuceEats loyalty points (check-in with your server before paying your check)

Came for a late lunch. Split a meal: *Whipped spicy feta -…read moreVery tasty. The pita was warm with lots of za'atar. Enough to share with 2-3 people *Braised short rib sandwich - In a pita stuffed with cabbage. The beef was extremely tender. Unfortunately there was several large pieces of cabbage core vs shredded. The fries were crispy and seasoned with za'atar. The au jus provided, tasted it had a bit of red wine vinegar. That was a winner! Would order both items again. The decor is beautiful. Sat at the bar and the bartender wasn't in the best mood. Minus one star for the combination of the large pieces of cabbage core and sat at the bar for about 15 minutes - no one was there to serve us.

What an awesome experience here on a short layover in Chicago. Just a few blocks from my…read moredaughter's apartment in Jefferson Park. We walked over and had some amazing food and service. I had the beef shawarma "Arabic style" with fries. It was so good I will definitely be returning here on our next visit to Chicago.

Was driving through the hood and decided to grab carryout for dinner. A couple friends were…read morestopping by and Mediterranean fit our dinner needs. We split chicken shawarma sandwich, lamb kabob sandwich and a small hummus with beef shawarma (requested they add this on). The shop provided two pita breads for the hummus. The lamb kabob was out of this world. Meat was juicy and condiments within wrap worked. Unfortunately the other items were mediocre. I waited in the shop as they put together my food. It's exasperating how the shredded chicken and beef were both overcooked and dry. Then the hummus which was lacking flavor. Tahini and lemon juice weren't properly incorporated.