Posts Tagged Mediterranean

Zaya Mediterranean Restaurant, Inman Park, Atlanta, GA Review

Jan 5

Posted by in Mediterranean | No Comments

My consultant friend, Ori, is even more of a foodie than me. His work takes him to really cool destinations all over the world. But he did have a gig here in Atlanta for several weeks back to back. And during that time he was able to eat at some terrific restaurants here in Atlanta. Zaya, he told me, was one of those restaurants. Ori, who is Israeli, discovered Zaya on his own and liked it so much (he said this the kind of food he grew up eating) he dined at Zaya 3 times during his Atlanta stay. The last time, I joined him.

Whenever someone knows the food really well, especially what’s authentic and what isn’t, I always let them order for me. And this time being no different, I barley glanced at the menu, letting Ori order everything, even the wine. They were out of the Italian wine he wanted to order so we settled on an Argentenian red, although it was a tad more expensive. I think if a restaurant is out of the wine of your choosing, then they should give you the next higher priced wine at the lower price point.

Zaya Hummus

Zaya Mediterranean Appetizers

Ori told us that appetizers rather than entrees were to be ordered, as he found the apps to be more creative and tasty than the entrees which he said were decent, just nothing out of the ordinary. So, we started off with some hummus, lamb dip, mediterranean pizza, and the complimentary tepanade-like dip that is served with pita triangles. It resembles tepanade though not exactly the same. This spread is made with honey, sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts and a couple other items I was not able to identify.

Zaya Mediterranean Pizza

I thought the hummus was kind of bland, but found the other appetizers very tasty. The pizza-like app was especially good, with a nice spiciness to it. The 2 other apps we ordered were an eggplant dish which was nothing to get excited about and a tomato cheese app that really stands out. Although the look of it is like tomato / basil / mozzerella salad, the taste is quite different. I love this cheese as it stays solid at high temps not melting and really is quite flavorful, without being a strong, pungent taste.

Full from our meal, we decided to try a Hookah. This was a first for me, and three of us shared a mango flavored Hookah. We also decided we had to give coffee and dessert a try. We ordered Turkish coffee and a Rosewater dessert. It was a huge portion, plenty for the 3 of us to share. Definitely an unusual taste, but in a good way. It wasn’t overly sweet, more of a subtle sweetness. I loved not only the taste but the texture of it as well.

Zaya Dessert

I’ve had Turkish coffee once before at Cafe Intermezzo. Had I known you had to wait a while after pouring, to sip on your coffee, so that the grounds would sink to bottom instead of landing on your tongue, I think I would have enjoyed it more the first time. It is actually quite pleasant. Although it was freezing outside, we sat leisurely enjoying our coffee, dessert and hookah – the perfect end to our evening and to Ori’s stay in Atlanta.

Prices weren’t bad either. I had assumed that because of the Inman Park location and fancy decor, that it would be rather expensive. But for the all we consumed: 6 appetizers, a bottle of wine, coffee, dessert and hookah, the bill was just over $100, not too shabby.

240 N Highland Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30307
404 477 0050
Website

Tags: Inman Park, Mediterranean, Zaya

Sahara Mediterranean Cuisine, Roswell, Atlanta, GA Restaurant Review

Jun 16

Posted by in Mediterranean, Restaurant Reviews, atlanta, travel | No Comments

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I first visited Sahara Mediterranean about a year ago. My short review of visit #1 to Sahara is below. Wow,what a difference one year can make. Turns out, prices have gone up, portions have gone down, and only regulars get stellar service.

Visit #2
Although Sahara is a small restaurant, they’ve done well with the space and you almost forget you are in a strip mall with a Dunkin Donuts next door. The three main seating areas are 1) the outdoor patio, 2) the main dining room and 3) the semi-private, beautifully decorated space with about 4 tables. We asked to be seated in the semi-private area but were told it was reserved. While I do believe it was reserved, we never actually saw all tables occupied. I think it was a case of a private party reserving more space than they needed.

If you are often torn with your decisions on adult beverages, don’t worry you won’t have that problem here. There are only 2 draft beers, and 4 by the bottle. And there are about 10 wines by the glass or bottle in all. My friend Kim wanted a glass of Shiraz but our server said they were out. She didn’t offer anything in exchange just said they were out of Shiraz. So, Kim opted for a beer instead.

Not being excited in the least by any of the wine choices, Glen and I ordered bottled beer (Stella and Sierra Nevada). Our beers were delivered rather warm and we weren’t even offered a glass, which I would have expected for $4.50 per beer. We finally did get a nice frosty mug, but only after asking for it.

Sahara Adult Beverages

Remembering that the best thing on the mezza (appetizer sampler) was the Arayess, pita stuffed with a mixture of ground lamb and beef, onions and spices we couldn’t skip that. Now the Arayess was spicy and flavorful, quite adequate for 3 to share as an appetizer. The taste was just as delicious as I remember it being, although I don’t think it cost $8 last year. Too bad it all went downhill from there.

Sahara Arayess

Instead of ordering the mezza (choice of 5 different appetizers) we chose to only order 1 app and 2 entrees and split between the 3 of us. On my first visit, we ordered the beef skillet which was a huge portion even for 2 people. So, we opted for this again and added the lamb skewer entree as well, believing this would be ample food for 3 people. But we were sorely mistaken.

Sahara Beef Skillet

Sahara Lamb Skewer

Shortly after we finished our appetizer, the entrees arrived. We had to ask for a third plate even though we told our server we would be sharing the 2 entrees. I would be surprised if there were even 3 oz of meat on either plate. Kim and I each shared 1 skewer or the lamb kabob and the rice. Glen gave me a taste of his beef as well. Don’t let the picture deceive you, the meal mostly consisted of onions and peppers with little beef, which is really hard to excuse when you are paying $17 per entree.

I was surprised that it wasn’t more crowded at 8 on a Saturday evening, but I overheard another server telling some other customers that late night is when Sahara really picks up, turning into more of a bar with live music and hookah smoking. He said the patio gets completely packed with well over 100 people lounging outside. So, perhaps it is a case of Sahara being more of a bar that happens to serve food rather than a restaurant that turns clubby at night.

The bill was right around $60 without tip. Absolutely NOT worth the cost of the meal. We left, feeling somewhat hungry and miffed at the subpar service. We had noticed the entire evening as regulars were greeted with hugs and much more attentive service than we got the entire evening. I get that they want to treat their regulars to superior service. I would too if I owned a restaurant. But how will they ever convert a one night stand into a relationship by offering zero value and inadequate service?

Visit #1
Baba Ghannouj, Hummus, Stuffed Grape Leaves…..
If all of the above start to make your mouth water, then Sahara Mediterranean Grill is worth a visit.
Attached to a Dunkin’ Donuts in a quiet unassuming strip mall, you wouldn’t think there is anything that special from the outside. But step inside, and you’ll feel you’ve been transported to an exotic locale in the Mediterranean. And the staff is super friendly and is good about making recommendations if you aren’t sure about what to order.

My suggestion? Start with the Mezza, a combination of any 5 appetizers for $20. Don’t miss out on the ARAYESS – Pita bread stuffed with a bee/lamb mixture and a blend of seasonings. If there are only 2 of you, this will be pretty filling, so just split an entree after that. We had the beef skillet which was very tasty, and left us completely stuffed.

550 W Crossville Rd, Suite 102
Roswell GA 30075
(770)594-8463
www.saharamediterraneangrill.com

Tags: hookah, lebanese, Mediterranean, middle eastern, morroccan, north fulton, roswell

Ecco, Midtown, Atlanta, GA Restaurant Review

Jun 8

Posted by in Italian, Midtown, Pizza, Restaurant Reviews, atlanta, bar, kennesaw, outdoor dining, travel | 4 Comments

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Ecco Restaurant, part of the Fifth Group Restaurant Group, located in Midtown has always been one of those places that I’ve been meaning to try. I’ve had lots of friends tell me how fantastic Ecco is, but just never seemed to get around to visiting it. Until a recent evening in June that is. Glen and I took his daughter Hannah to Ecco for her 15th birthday.

We arrived promptly for our reservation and while it is really beautiful inside the restaurant, it is also rather cold for us ladies in our sleeveless tops and dresses. What is it with these restaurants and keeping it absolutely freezing inside when it is like 85 degrees outside? So, rather than feel like we are in a meat locker, we opted for outdoor seating and grabbed the last available patio table.

The weather on this particular evening was extremely pleasant, but I could tell halfway into a glass of red I’d be pretty warm. Red wine tends to make me hot, probably why I love to sip on it in winter time. So, while I love red wine, especially with Italian food, I went for one of their specialty drinks -In the Middle of My Buchtel, a cool drink, perfect for sipping on a warm summer evening. Made of aged rum, plum puree and purple basil, think of it like a fancy mojito. Glen’s drink, Long Live the Queen, made with Bombay Sapphire gin, was equally as good but a little stronger.

Ecco Cocktails

As an aside, if you need a laugh, visit Ecco’s online menu and read their drink descriptions. They must have hired a retired greeting card writer for these things….

But enough about that, onto the food.

I knew I couldn’t leave Ecco without tasting the Meatballs with Saffron and Almond sauce. I didn’t taste the almonds, but there was a great smokey flavor to these meatballs. And don’t be fooled by the small bowl, there are enough for 3 or 4 to share as an appetizer.

Ecco Shrimp with Fennel, Saffron Meatballs

Now the shrimp appetizer was a surprise hit for me. Here’s why: The description says it is made with fennel. I HATE fennel. If you aren’t familiar with fennel, it has a licorice flavor which I cannot stand.

So, when my 2 other companions honed in on this, I resigned myself to the fact that I’d only eat the Meatballs. However, I couldn’t NOT try the shrimp. I actually didn’t taste fennel at all. It was just a spicy tomato taste that I found absolutely delicious. There was something in the sauce that gives it the slightest Asian flair. Now, there were only 4 shrimps in the small bowl, albeit big shrimps, but this isn’t going to be enough for more than 2 people. If you order this, don’t let the sauce go to waste- put that bread on the table to good use.

Timing here was perfect. As soon as our appetizers were being taken away, our entrees were coming out. I really appreciate this, as I’ve eaten at plenty of restaurants that bring out entrees 2 bites into your appetizers. And then you sit there, wolfing down your apps, not wanting your meals to get cold. But Ecco had timing perfectly balanced.

Ecco Chili-Braised Pork

I had ordered the Chili Braised Pork, which was solid, except I was expecting something spicy due to the word “chili” in the description. So, either someone forgot to add the chilis, or my heat barometer was off that night. Glen had somewhat of a similar experience with his Cobia. The description doesn’t say anything about a spicy broth, yet he found it to be pretty spicy. Are you beginning to see a pattern here?

Ecco Cobia Fish

He didn’t mind the spiciness of the sauce, in fact, he quite enjoyed his fish, however, it was just unexpected. The chicken fettucine was equally enjoyed by the birthday girl. But if you are expecting the typical creamy sauce that usually goes hand in hand with chicken fettucine, you won’t find it here.

Ecco Carrots

Now the highlight of the entire meal: the side dish of carrots. Seriously, the carrots were the best thing I had all night. And that isn’t a slight at the other dishes, the carrots were just that phenomenal. I don’t know what they do that makes them so delicious, but I would have gladly traded my entree for a plate of these. And their presentation with the thyme and onions wrapped around them, is beautiful. Please don’t visit Ecco and not order this side.

Service was spot on the entire night. Our server, Charles, made sure the evening was absolutely perfect, even bringing out a piece of chocolate cake for the birthday girl at the end of the meal.

Prices are reasonable. Drinks and glasses of wine are around $10. However, I’d like to see more wines by the glass available as their selection seems somewhat limited. The small menu is reasonable with prices between $15 and $20. But I’d like to see a side dish offered with the mains. After adding a side dish prices are more like $25 an entree, which is rather high.

Extras: They have a Sunday special of your choice of pizza or pasta and a drink for $15. So, basically they are giving you a free drink and you are paying the regular menu price for the meal.

40 7th St NE
Atlanta, GA 30308
404-347-9555
Website

Tags: Ecco, Fifth Group, Italian, Mediterranean, Midtown Atlanta

Mediterranean Buffet, Acworth, Atlanta, GA Restaurant Review

Apr 11

Posted by in Acworth, Mediterranean, all you can eat, buffet, morroccan | 1 Comment

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Mediterranean Buffet and Hookah Lounge

Seems like everywhere you turn, these Hookah lounges are popping up. Even Acworth, GA now has its own Hookah bar which is part of the new Mediterranean Buffet Restaurant. Located on Bells Ferry Rd, just south of Highway 92, the Mediterranean Buffet is a huge space that offers a lot in terms of food as well as a separate area for Hookah smoking.

The Mediterranean Buffet is very new and just started advertising in the local coupon book that all us Kennesaw residents get delivered to our mailbox. My coworker, Brandon is a big fan of Mediterranean food, especially hummus. So, on a recent Monday we decided to venture over to the Mediterranean Buffet for lunch and take advantage of our coupon.

Upon entering we were immediately greeted by the hostess / waitress who invited us to sit anywhere we liked. After choosing a booth near the food, we hit the buffet. I never took time to find out if you can also order off the menu or if it strictly the buffet, but I have a feeling it is buffet only.

The layout is spread amoung 3 different carts, 2 of the smaller carts have the salad and what I would call the appetizers – pita bread for hummus and meat pies. The other main cart is longer and has the main courses. This cart had about 8 different offerings on it.

Appetizers - Meat Pie

So, we both started off with the hummus and meat pies. While I liked the hummus (Brandon gave it a thumbs up too) I didn’t care for the meat pie. It was ok, but seemed a little dried out and there were much better things to be had on the menu, so I didn’t have anymore of that as I wanted to save room for the other offererings.

Salad Bar with Hummus, Tabouleh, and Tahini

Next it was onto the salad bar. I tried the Tabouleh and Tahini and thought that they were pretty good. Tabouleh was a tad better in my book. About this time, our waitress came over and asked if we’d like some fresh Falafel. Apparently they don’t put it on the buffet as they think it won’t stay warm very long. We tried some, but it was pretty forgettable. I think the Falafel at Casablanca nearby is much better.

Falafel

Ok, so onto the main dishes. Like I said, there were about 8 different offerings, and I did try to get a taste of everything. I started with the squash stuffed with rice. Brandon loved it but I didn’t really like the rice stuffing. I wasn’t big on the tomatoes inside, they had about 2 other kinds of rice on the buffet and I was able to find one (I think it had carrots in it) with a really good flavor.

Squash, Dolmas, and Spaghetti

Cabbage Dolmas

As for the dolmas (stuffed cabbage or grape leaves) I definintely would say the cabbage ones were better. I think the grape leaves were vegetarian. Please confirm this before eating, as I am not completely sure. I did like the beef/spaghetti dish as it defnitely was not like traditional spaghetti, much more of a mediterranean flair to it.

Mediterranean Buffet Dessert

Of course, I couldn’t leave without trying dessert. I opted to skip the fruit although its nice to see that they offer it. And it is a pretty arrangement. Instead I had some sort of orange coconut square. Different but tasty. They also had some sort of cupcake looking dessert – but I skipped that too.

I know that’s a lot of information so let me sum it up. Must try: Hummus, Tabouleh, Spaghetti, Dolmas, and various rice offerings. They did have baked chicken (legs and thighs only) and green beans, but that was about the only traditional food they had on the menu, so don’t go with someone who just wants traditional American food, cause you won’t find it here.

Hookah Bar

We also took a peek at the Hookah bar. I asked how much it costs and I was told $10.99 per Hookah. I haven’t really priced them out so I guess that is reasonable. The buffet cost was $7.99 per person, but the staff told us they have a much wider selection including lamb on the weekends, so that is when you really want to visit. I’d still like to see some sort of build your own gyro area kinda like a build your own fajita area like you would see at a Mexican restaurant.

Staff was super friendly, definitely worth checking out if you live relatively close by.

Tags: Dolmas, hookah, Kafta, Mediterranean, middle eastern, Tabouleh, Tahini

Casablanca Restaurant and Hookah Lounge, Kennesaw, GA Restaurant Review

Sep 5

Posted by in Mediterranean, atlanta, culture, kennesaw, morroccan, travel | 3 Comments

So, there was a huge wreck on Barrett Parkway in Kennesaw the other day when my coworker Brandon and I wanted to go to Casablanca Restaurant for lunch. So, we decided we’d venture up to Wade Green and try this new Mediterranean restaurant. Casablanca Restaurant is tucked away in a strip mall near I75. There’s also a Johnny’s Pizza and Cold Stone in the center.

I don’t know what the place was before it became Casablanca Restaurant but obviously a lot of money went into decorating the place. Lots of curtains (more for decoration than privacy) and low seating with comfy cushions. Very colorful setting. This would be great if you have a group of people to go. And I bet they would draw a bigger crowd if they had belly dancing.

Appetizers to try? Stuffed grape leaves and Falafel. I always thought Falafel was like a wrap but apparently its some sort of meat and spices that are fried and resemble a small doughnut. It was exquisite. We each had the beef wraps (I had the ground beef and Brandon had the beef tips). It was good but a little salty. Next time I’ll try the gyro.

Prices are like $7 for the wrap which comes with a side of fries. So, it is definitely reasonably priced. Hookahs are like 15 bucks if I am remembering correctly. I can’t wait to try these next time. Didn’t have enough time as I was on my lunch hour.

Casablanca Restaurant & Hookah Lounge
3490 Cherokee Street #303
Kennesaw, GA 30144
678-797-9373

Read my Sahara Restaurant Review

Tags: Barrett Parkway, hookah, kennesaw, Mediterranean, stuffed grape leaves, wade green