So, on yet another day of my wife and I having no idea what we wanted to have for dinner we decided…read moreto let Google be our guide. Google pointed us to Yalda and I might be letting Google pick my restaurants for the forseeable future. Let's get into it! Location and Parking Yalda is located the bustling Aria Village in Sandy Spring, which is a small retail center that is home to quite a few businesses. Yalda offers valet parking or you can self-park for free in the garage. Venue and Atmosphere The restaurant was appropriately crowded on a Thursday night. It was warm that day so we opted to sit on the patio, which was almost full. The interior is beautiful. There's a semi-open kitchen - with a good view of the flames. The vibe teetered on between elevated and casual, either way you'd definitely fit in. Food and Drinks For drinks, my wife had the Mitra's Habibi which is a gin based cocktail and as always I stuck with bourbon had the Midnight Star. We started with the hummus and the Za'atar Labneh, both which were very good. The star of the show was the Soltani kabob we shared. It was marinated to perfection and cooked over the open flame. The basmati rice was fragrant and flavorful and paired nicely. We also shared the Shirazi salad, which added.a refreshing feel to the entree. Service Service was great. Our servers were professional and attentive. Verdict Always a lover of Mediterranean food, Yalda has definitely earned a customer in me. If you're ever in Sandy Springs pay them a visit. Until next time!

We came here for a random Friday dinner…read more We had the branzino. I thought the fish was a minute too cooked. It came with the rice with potatoes and spices. The spices in the rice were overpowering and my partner didn't enjoy it as much. The potatoes were extra crunchy and a bit burnt... unsure if it was overdone or on purpose. It smelled like was it cooked in coconut oil. I would say 7 out of 10 overall. The lamb neck was recommended by the waiter. It was really good, slow cooked and the meat was tender. The sauce was unremarkable. The waiter gave us a house made spicy sauce and made this dish significantly better. I would say 9/10 overall. The hummus with the pickled mushroom was amazing. It was topped off with truffle oil and I just couldn't keep my hands off of it. I would say 10/10. I just want to point out the bill had a notice that says "tips are based on check prices after taxes" was confusing and unsure why would company charge tips on top of taxes. Our waiter was amazing so we didn't mind paying the extra but it really made us wonder about the company policy.

Went to this spot twice in the past week and everything was surprising! The food, the service, the…read moreviber were all top-tier among the Middle Eastern restaurants I have tried in Atlanta. For food, I have tried complimentary Sabzi plate, Zafron Special, Grilled Chicken Wings, Khoresh Badenjoon and Lubia Polo. I will describe them detailly below. 1. Sabzi: sliced tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, walnuts, herbs, feta. Served with perfectly baked Naan 2. Zafron Special: an interesting app with mashed eggplant, diced mango, chopped green onions, herbs, and chili oil. Had a refreshing heat and sweetness. Perhaps the spiciest dish I've ever had in Persian restaurants! 3. Wings: I have tried the wings in Delbar, Divan and Yalda before, but Zafron's were just next-level. Perfectly coated in Saffron marinade, nicely charred, amazingly crispy skin and juicy meat. The side sauce was sweet and slightly spicy, whcih paired well with the wings. 4. Khoresh Badenjoon: Basically beef, eggplant and tomato stew. Compared to the similar items in Rumi's, Delbar and Sufi's, this one has the boldest flavor. It does not have beans (so good for a FODMAP control diet) and used lots of dried limes and (whole) cardamoms, which created a very bright, sour base. Compared to Rumi's and Sufi's version, this one also had more, and larger chunks of beef, which gave more texture when you take a bite. The eggplant was delicious, but I wish it could be skin-on like the one in Delbar. 5. Lubia Polo: Basically green beans and diced beef cooked with rice. I only had Lubia Polo in Rumi's Sandy Springs before. In comparison, this one had more beef, and slightly less salty, but did not have as much tomato paste. **Note** the comparisons are only for the purpose of a clearer description of the dishes. For service, the waiting time for both food and check were reasonable, and the staff were all friendly. During my second visit my server gave me 0.5lb of baked naan and extra Sabzi when I asked for a to-go box for just the leftovers... For vibe, it was quieter than many other popular Persian restaurants (but I like more noise haha), and thus walk-ins are possible. The trees inside the restaurant were beautiful. In short, highly recommended. I will definitely visit again to discover more dishes!

I was not very impressed as for lunch , it was not much different than modt American new menu…read morelunches without much Persian food unless you went to the expensive dinner options. There restaurant was parking was bad and yhe restaurant noisey yet only a few folks there on a Friday lunch.

Last week I was in Atlanta for work and had a chance to grab dinner with a close friend. She…read moresuggested we go to Rumi's because of how good their food was and had told me about how they just renovated the new Sandy Springs location. Let me just tell you, that this recommendation did NOT disappoint. The moment I dipped my pita into the lamb hummus I already knew this was about to be one of my favorite meals and boy was I correct. From the lamb hummus, to the grilled veggies, the chicken kebob to the rack of lambs- everything was truly delectable!!!! Ofc we couldn't skip on dessert. We got the burnt honey pistachio cake that was both of our favs and the mahlab s'mores sundae that was also incredibly good. Our service was really great w/ our server giving us incredible recommendations. And the ambiance was so chic. The bar was truly stunninggggg!!! If you're in the Atlanta area and have a chance to check this place out, absolutely do not sleep on it!!!

Yesterday, went to the restaurant to celebrate a family birthday for a late lunch. The upgrade to…read morethe facility is five stars. But, the line cooks/cooks/chefs and daytime manager failed. Our salad, vegetables, herbs, and wine were five stars, but the meats were all cold. We had to send all meats back three times. This is unacceptable in any restaurant. The manager did not apologize or even try to do anything. She failed. Our server/Asser was/is five stars. Great service, courtesy, and very professional. The review deserves to be one star, but due to the facility, server, and food is five stars, we had to rate it higher. The cooking team and manager failed miserably. So overall it's three stars max, until they can get their act together. Hoping to see improvement as we really like this restaurant and food... Sincerely

Great little Mom and Pop place for falafel and wraps. Quick…read moreand friendly service with a smile. Highly recommend.

So I stopped in because I pass it all the time but never gave it a second thought. I was feeling…read morelike Mediterranean food and I wanted something I haven't tried before so here we are. It's in a shopping center so there's free parking. It's right off Roswell Road so you really can't miss it even though it is kinda off in the corner but it's still easy to find . They have a little outdoor area so you can actually sit outside if you wanted to be in the element and it's actually covered as well because it's right under the awning of the building so that's an option too. You come in and it's a large shop but it's not a lot. Most of the space there is going to be seating. You can look around and they have a little market area but the market area is very small. They do have particular specific items so you can check that out while you wait for your food. You can see the menus on the board and everybody there is super friendly and they'll explain anything to you. We had a pretty good short conversation while I waited. Love the customer service . Hummus - I tried the hummus and it was okay. Nothing crazy about it and it was just regular and not like it was roasted red pepper or garlic or anything like that but it was decent . Chicken shawarma wrap - the wrap was pretty good. It wasn't great but it was pretty good. It had a lot of color to it, meaning they were seasoning it for sure, but the flavor was only okay. The flavor was not popping out of your mouth but it was a decent but subtle flavor. It was super tender! Chicken kabob - the kebab plate came with two skewers and rice with a salad and it came with some garlic sauce as well. I think that the kebab was better than the shawarma to me. It had the same char flavor but mixed with the rice and the garlic sauce, it took it up another notch as well. You got a lot of it though so it wasn't like you only got two pieces of meat per skewer and a small handful of rice. You got a bed of rice so it was really good. The salad was low quality but I really didn't care about that because I didn't come for salad lol. Overall you paid maybe like $12 or $14 for this. It wasn't bad for a full plate . All in all it was a pretty decent experience. They're very customer-oriented and customer-friendly so you go in there, you will be fine. They'll take care of you

Layaly Mediterranean absolutely knocked it out of the park! Every single dish we ordered was…read moreoutstanding. The za'atar chicken was perfectly seasoned and incredibly juicy, the lamb shank was fall-off-the-bone tender and packed with flavor, the dip trio was fresh and delicious (you can't go wrong with any of them), and the grape leaves were some of the best we've had. What really made the experience exceptional, though, was our server, Camila. She wasn't just 5 stars--she was 10 stars. Friendly, attentive, knowledgeable about the menu, and she made us feel genuinely welcomed from the moment we sat down. Phenomenal food, outstanding service, and an experience that will absolutely have us coming back. If you're looking for authentic Mediterranean cuisine, do yourself a favor and eat here. Highly, highly recommend!

Went there on a Sunday night for my wife's birthday. The place was practically empty, but you…read morecouldn't tell by the slow service. Overall, the best part of my meal was the old-fashioned. We ordered musakhan rolls, which were warm at best and really heavy on the cinnamon and or all spice. We also ordered grape leaves, hummus, batata harra and planned to share the lamb kebabs (or so we thought). The food was underwhelming, like seasoning and flavor. The lamb was overcooked and look like someone had eaten part of it before it made it to the table. We've been to several mediterranean restaurants but won't come back to this one. Don't believe the TikTok hype!

My coworkers and I eat here probably once a week. The lunch buffet is out of this world good. Small…read moresalad bar with some delicious hummus, and then the hot food is just amazing. Rice, grilled vegetables, chicken some beef skewers and then a couple other dishes are there every time. It's not very big, but the flavors are huge. The place is super nice inside and the service is outstanding. Definitely a small family run place, but you feel like you're stepping into their home to eat. I truly cannot express how much this place is a diamond in the roof. The outside there's not much signage, I did not know it was there until a coworker brought me. But it is now my favorite place to eat.

Family owned and operated, and we have always had a good experience here. Food is always cooked…read morefresh to order and very tasty. Good portion sizes and selection at reasonable price. We've been going here for years. Highly recommended!!

Perfect Pre-Movie Meal! Great Gyros, Lemon Potatoes & Fresh Vibes…read more I stopped by The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill, and it is the perfect spot to grab a bite if you are heading to the AMC theater, Main Event, or iFLY right across the street! The food here is fantastic and tastes fresh. Their greek potatoes are absolutely great--perfectly cooked and well-seasoned with a delicious lemon flavor. I also loved their grape leaves (dolmades), which were excellent.It is a fresh little fast-food style place that gives you really good portions for your money. On top of the great food, the staff is friendly and welcoming. I will definitely be making this my go-to dining spot whenever I am hanging out around Parkway Pointe!

The food was tasty, I wish I could have tried more! I just had a Greek salad with pita and it was…read moreso tasty I even went back for more pita. The service was outstanding.

I strive for authentically good and I've gotten it here 2x already…read more I've only tried the chicken, but the service has always been so friendly and attentive. It's one of the last NOT crazy, pressuring, loud, scammy, apathetic small spots I've been to. I never hesitate to want to eat here. Good hummus, baba ganoush, pita, real meat, all the things I love in one plate. I can't complain at all.

I'm stopping in Cafe Sababa after a car emissions test; it turns out since my 2000 Camry is 25…read moreyears old that I no longer need it so I'll count this as a free lunch. The interior is very mom and pop with soft lighting and old ceiling tiles but well maintained with an obvious attention to detail and care. There is limited seating inside; you've got long padded benches set in the walls and small tables. They seem ideal for parties of 4 or take-out. You can squeeze maybe one bigger party inside if you really want. I snagged a lamb sandwich on recommendation; it comed your choice of a chopped salad, cup of soup, or rice. I ended up going with the soup of the day which is a curry chickpea. The lamb sandwich was a definite winner. There's a lot of care and that same attention to detail to constructing it. There was a 15ish minute wait but perfectly acceptable since it all came out fresh. The lamb slices were super juicy and flavorful and the sauce added that extra spicy but not too spicy kick that went well with the softness of the pita and the crunch of the fresh lettuce. The soup was piping hot so I had to wait a few minutes to let it cool but flavorful and smooth. I'd gotten it as a potential dip but the sandwich did'nt need it so I'd probably go with the chopped salad next time. Overall, Cafe Sababa does a lot of what I enjoy in Mediterranean. I'd definitely stop in again and try out more items on their menu if I was in the area. A very good first impression.

Really good service very attentive. The food is very delicious. Also very good portion size for…read morewhat you're paying. Definitely will be coming here because how fresh the meat was and also the rice especially a person that's in a calorie deficit. Definitely should go here.

We stopped in for lunch today. The dining room is lovely. Bright, open, very nice…read more We ordered samosas and narenj pulaw. My husband asked the waiter which samosas he preferred since we couldn't decide. The beef samosas were good and quite filling. Two come with an order and they are large. The rice was wonderful. Lots of orange rind and almonds! The lamb was a little tough but delicious. The portions are very generous. I think this restaurant is more suited for dinner and am looking forward to coming back.

This business is unique as it has a bakery and a store in the same building. We grabbed some Olive…read moreOil in the glass bottles, it is delicious to use for cooking and salad dressing. The Jerusalem cheesesteaks from the cafe were delicious but not your typical Philly cheesesteak. It was in a wrap and had a curry flavor to it. It was delicious. Also bought some baklava and other treats from the bakery. Glad we do not live close because I would be larger than I am now. The gentleman working at the store/bakery are very nice.

We happen to stumble upon this establishment while were staying overnight at the nearby Hampton…read moreInn. We had just driven for several hours and were looking for a good place for dinner. This establishment was within walking distance of our hotel which made it an easy choice. We were both able to order a couple of middle eastern sandwiches along with soup or salad. Both of our sandwiches were delicious as were the lentil soup and the fattoush salad. If you like authentic middle eastern pastries or cookies, the attached bakery is the real deal.