Ho-hum, just another fast-casual Mediterranean joint? What an erroneous assumption on my part! The…read moreambience is bright, spacious and mod with a preponderance of yellow trim and yellow neon signs. Dark gray marble walls and LED light fixtures add a touch of class. Tables are spread out and the seating is much more comfortable than most restaurants. The Missus and I were warmly welcomed by the worker who took our order and gladly answered our questions. The traditional recipes and unique ingredients are inspired by the cuisine of Jerusalem, and all of the meats are zabiha halal. About ten minutes after we ordered, a friendly server brought our meal to our table. On the warm summer day of our visit, no ice was available for beverages and neither the canned sodas nor bottled water were sufficiently chilled. Apart from that, the food far exceeded our expectations. Portions are huge and prices are reasonable. Our appetizer, baba ghanoush, was fresh and creamy although I prefer a bit more smoke flavor. My Missus ordered a steak shawarma on crispy pita, which contained a generous amount of nicely seasoned meat, with a side of yellow rice. But the chicken bashka sandwich, best described as a Middle Eastern cheesesteak, blew me completely away. This enormous thing is served on a remarkably good sesame-studded roll cut into fours and accompanied by two cups of sauce - garlic and sweet chili - both heavenly. Each quarter was so overstuffed that it was difficult to maneuver to my mouth without some of the contents spilling out. It was so filling, I took half home. I'm putting Hello Shawarma's bashka on my personal list of favorite Chicago sammiches.

Great food. Really exceptional. But…read more.. 1) Don't go if you're in a hurry. There was an absurd backup on the line, and nobody seemed like they were in a hurry. There wasn't a manager fixing things or expediting. There's a sign that says "this isn't fast food," but... IT IS. I've seen countless kitchens burn and turn the *same exact food* with half as many people on the line... all over the world. My food was cold when I got home, and there was no tahini. The place was a mess. I felt embarrassed for the woman at the register. It was like the opening scene of an episode of Restaurant: Impossible. 2) The takeout packaging is insanely wasteful. I get that y'all want your branding to stick, but people care about the environment, and your brand is filling up an entire landfill. There's lots of this food all over the city, and lots of it is phenomenal, and comes out quickly. It's a very crowded market. I wish I was walking away remembering how good the food was instead of what a hot mess your line and your packaging are.

Really impressed for a restaurant that just opened. The Mandi had perfect balance and the ambience…read morewas excellent. What stood out most was the staff.... knowledgeable about the menu, super attentive without hovering, and they handled a packed house like pros. Server was patient and helpful extremely attentive and friendly.

I don't know if it's the same owners or not but it not the same quality. Also the guy is front is…read moreterrible at customers service and also he is not very sanitary I seen him touch food and money with the same old dirty gloves. I wish that sweet lady was still running the front. Worst lunch around because never consistent and the guy who thinks is running the front is awful

There are plenty of choices for everyone! We weren't sure about a few of the dishes so our server…read morehelped describe everything and made wonderful recommendations. The food was delicious and the service was great! Looking forward to our next visit.

First time at Al Badia Tandoori with my family for my Birthday!…read more Very Arabian nights ambience with beautiful lighting. We were a party of 6 and were seated immediately and our order taken very shortly after. We ordered on huge platter that came with hummus and bread and lots of meat! Overall a pretty decent tasting platter which was more than enough for us! Worth checking out if in the mood for Mediterranean food!

Delicious food! The crispy chicken on a pretzel bun is to die for. The steak wrap is savory and…read moredelectable. Definitely one of the best kosher joints in Chicagoland!

A hidden gem in an office building (Wi-fi building) on McCormick! Definitely would not know there…read morewas a restaurant in this area but a pleasant surprise. It's a kosher restaurant with sushi as well. We got the BBQ Brisket Flatbread, The Mac Crispy Sandwich + Fries, and The Nashville Crispy Sandwich + Sweet Potato Fries. Food was delicious but on the pricier side. Would recommend splitting the food. Honestly even the flatbread would be enough to fill two people alone. Service was friendly and the seating area is in a separate room. They have a Paris type of aesthetic.

Absolutely delicious, and huge portions…read more I got the vegetarian qorma, which is a vegetable stew. It was nicely flavored, with a good amount of spice. The liquid in the stew went nicely with the Afghan rice, which had saffron, carrots, and raisins. The chicken kabobs were also nicely roasted, not too dry. Interior was pleasant, and folks are able to have a nice chat in a fairly laid-back environment. Great place!

Kabul house provides an exceptional dining experience that beautifully captures the essence of…read moreAfghan hospitality and cuisine. The atmosphere is stylish and welcoming. The Afghan rice is aromatic and fluffy--often topped with carrots and raisins--providing the perfect base for the savory meats and chutneys.

This place is tucked away on a unique corner with a drive-up, making parking tricky when driving in…read morefrom the west. There was plenty of parking available, but the adjacent lot was gravel. If you park at the back of the gravel lot, you'll have a bit of a walk to the front door. It was raining lightly, so the walk was very inconvenient. Upon entering, we walked down a dark foyer, leading to a rundown bar area........Cash Bar.... We attended a wedding anniversary celebration, which was in a neighboring room to the bar area. We arrived late, so we had just missed dinner, but the staff was friendly. They offered to bring us dinner, although we were late. We declined. The room was spacious, with more than enough room to accommodate guests with a dance floor in the center. The venue seemed to be more than sufficient for the needs of our friends.

I really enjoyed my birthday dinner here. Food was delicious…read moreas we ordered a fatoush salad & steak kabobs. It was mouth watering delicious!!! It was great Mediterranean food. Service was really good too. I will be back in the very near future...this place is a hidden gem for sure!

EXCELLENT food! I've got to say I was not a fan of Persian food before this but this was excellent…read more Particularly the Adas soup and Ash reshte were very good. Very kind and friendly staff, and a nice relaxed environment. Honestly pretty cheap compared to other Persian restaurants for a lot better quality. We will definitely be returning again! Also approved by my Persian boyfriend who can confirm authentic recipes!

My book club and I visited Taste of Persia after finishing The Lion Women of Tehran, and it turned…read moreout to be the perfect way to continue our journey into Persian culture. From the moment we walked in, the owner and his sister welcomed us with the warmest hospitality. The food was absolutely beautiful and tasted even better. Every dish was rich, flavorful, and clearly made with so much care. We were especially impressed by the generous portions, which allowed us to try and share a variety of plates without feeling rushed or limited. My personal favorite was the beet salad and the bone in chicken. Taste of Persia is more than a restaurant--it's an experience. Our evening was filled with incredible flavors, heartfelt kindness, and a sense of connection to the story we had just read. Highly, highly recommend!

Best MAC AND CHEESE I have ever had. 100% I don't remember ever going to a pizza shop and getting…read moreMac and cheese, but I did here and did not regret it at all, every time I come back here I will be getting the Mac and cheese. I recommend coming here just to get the Mac and cheese.

Ambiance, service and food left much to be desired. Tried the pizza and wondered if it were cooked…read morefrom frozen. Space is dingy and dark. Friendly demeanor is kind of mandatory in a service industry and we got way LESS than friendly service. Honestly lost as to how they get repeat customers. Almost never give bad reviews but hopefully this can save someone a huge disappointment down the line.