Local Guides World
Top Mediterranean restaurants in Madison, United States
Top Rated Mediterranean restaurants in Madison
Top Reviewed Mediterranean restaurants in Madison
Parthenon Gyros
Mediterranean Cafe
Naf Naf Grill
Madistan Indian Restaurant
Dubai Mediterranean Restaurant and Bar
Banzo
Parthenon Gyros
TURKISH KITCHEN
Caspian Grill
Kosharie
OLIVA Italian Mediterranean Cuisine
Olive Garden Italian Restaurant
Reviews
Food was OK, but nothing really impressive. Salad was among the worst we ever had at Olive Garden, but edible. Not one of the better Olive Gardens we have been to for food quality, but everything else was good middle of the road Olive Garden. But the food is the most important. Probably won't go back, but maybe just a bad day there.
10 year anniversary, & went to Oliva for the first time to celebrate. It was sooooo good! My only complaint is how difficult it was to choose from the menu (everything sounded amazing!). We ordered the tomato caprese & cigar bosek, & both were phenomenal. My main course was the lamb delight, & it was definitely a delight, & unlike anything I've ever had before. So very good. My husband got the gyro which he really enjoyed (next time he'll add tomatoes & extra onion). I ordered a glass of moscato, my husband a soda. We would have loved more after finishing them, but the server got pretty busy at the end. Will definitely go back again!
Do yourself a favor. Come here with some friends for an extended breakfast. Plan for at least an hour, to sit down, chat, catch up and eat while you talk. As someone who comes from a Middle Eastern family, this food felt like going home to my overseas family. The whole place was warm, friendly, and inviting. Eat here, and you will not be disappointed. I wish I could somehow mark this above 5*, it deserves a Best of Madison award!
Stopped in for drinks on a Tuesday night. The drinks we had were delicious! The bartender was pretty attentive. They had TVs playing above the bar, which felt out of place at a restaurant with such a sophisticated design.
Literally the best mediterranean food of my life. I got the kofte kebab and it was juicy and so well-seasoned. My partner got the lamb chop kebab and while the outer part was a tad bit salty, the meat inside was juicy and tender. Their salads were nice and fresh and their onions with some zataar on them were so sweet and good. I highly, highly recommend this establishment to anyone looking for some quality kebabs.
I’m not one to usually review a place, but omg was this place amazing! I’m from out of town, and after doing a quick google search, Banzo was everything I was looking for and more.
The staff was so nice, professional, and kind. The food was absolutely incredible. The falafel was so fresh and probably the best I’ve ever had! The place had a great vibe and nice ambience to it.
This place gets five fire signs from me 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
The staff was so nice, professional, and kind. The food was absolutely incredible. The falafel was so fresh and probably the best I’ve ever had! The place had a great vibe and nice ambience to it.
This place gets five fire signs from me 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Food was a bit slow. I got the freaky gyro and the skewers were pretty good but the gyro meat was too salty. Plus for 18$ I'd like more than one piece of pita to balance out all that meat. Very much a run of the mill American style gyro place.
love this place! food is fabulous and beautiful, great atmosphere and really friendly staff! favorite is Maqloubah. hummus is silky perfection! a Madison gem!!
Can't wait to go back! I was recently in Turkey and Turkish Kitchen brought me back! WOW! Can't say enough about this place! Food was AMAZING! Best lentil soup and hummus I've ever had! You will not be disappointed! Our server Ufuk was amazing! Always smiling and the complimentary wine is a BONUS!
Great food. Loved the personal service we received. Clean. We polished the Adana kabobs!
This place is amazing!!!! The food was absolutely delicious and very fresh when I came. I rarely eat outside because I love my wife's cooking so much but this place is an exception. All the food I ordered tastes just like authentic Turkish food and was absolutely delicious.
On top of the food, our server Med was so friendly and helpful.
Everyone was very professional and respectful and made the atmosphere a great place to eat at. 5 stars for everyone and everything in there!!
On top of the food, our server Med was so friendly and helpful.
Everyone was very professional and respectful and made the atmosphere a great place to eat at. 5 stars for everyone and everything in there!!
The food was delicious. The waitress was really sweet. All the food here is halal. Loved it. Will definitely recommend.
Weekend dinner with fiends. Nice, chill atmosphere. Great drinks. Wide selection of dishes. Timely service, excellent spicing, good advice from the host. Will definitely repeat.
WATER DOWN YOUR SAUCES MUCH?! I asked for delivery to my office suite and please give to front desk. Left at side entrance with security!
Clean, well priced, large portion, okay flavor, and nice atmosphere.
The orders are pretty quick. There aren't too many options, but they're good. The flavor isn't plentiful, but it's not bad either. The fries were good though, especially the cheese with it.
The orders are pretty quick. There aren't too many options, but they're good. The flavor isn't plentiful, but it's not bad either. The fries were good though, especially the cheese with it.
Very warm and comforting atmosphere. Food was very high quality and so unique to the Madison area. Definitely one of my favorite restaurants in the city. The Turkish Breakfast came with unlimited hot tea and hot, fresh pita bread. The sauces/jams were so flavorful and such a wonderful experience. Service was very warm and kind. Will be bringing many friends back here.
Great local spot for falafel, schwarma, lentil soup, salads, pita… vegetarian and vegan options. Counter service. The food travels well - great for grab and go.
Edited on June 18th. I went to this location recently and it was not good. There was a wait but the restaurant was half full. I decided to wait at the bar and the bartender ignored me for a better part of 10 minutes and then was rude that they had to serve me at all. This is very different than the review i left below over a year ago. *smh
This olive garden is consistent. They serve you immediately. Always clean. The servers are always friendly. Fresh salad and great soups.
This olive garden is consistent. They serve you immediately. Always clean. The servers are always friendly. Fresh salad and great soups.
It's a deli and restaurant. I had kosharie (the same menu name as the shop), and it was highlighted in the menu. It's a vegetarian dish. It has noodles, pasta, beans and chick peas. I did not find the taste that great. Also, it would have been nice if seller were more cheerful, which is common in other shops.
I never had authentic Indian food before and this was hands down so darn good. I ate the whole meal with my eyes closed lol! The naan bread was so delicious, I walked to my car and turned around and ordered 3 more servings for later 😆. Customer service was delightful! 10/10 would recommend!!
Hadn't been there in years. Wanted to stop in every time I traveled through Madison. Finally got a chance recently, and was not disappointed. Got a classic gyro/fries and it was as good as I remember! This time I was there in the afternoon, whereas in the past I would have been around bartime, so the atmosphere was a lot more chill.
Definitely would still recommend this place to anyone looking for a good gyro!
Definitely would still recommend this place to anyone looking for a good gyro!
The restaurant employee's lack of politeness was disappointing 😞; he was quite rude. Our simple inquiry was whether they accept RedCard for payment. When we asked, he responded that they do not accept RedCard and went further to describe RedCard users as "the worst people." It was puzzling why he was so impolite, especially to RedCard holders. Even if they don't accept RedCard, a simple "no" would have sufficed. Instead, they answered in an unnecessarily harsh manner.
Even when they clarified that they only accept cash, we were open to paying in cash. We are guests in Madison and had been temporarily given access to use the RedCard for meals. However, the employee's disparaging comments about RedCard users made us reconsider our lunch plans.
"We appreciate a polite attitude, and it's unfortunate that we did not experience that today. We hope the restaurant staff can maintain a more courteous demeanor in the future. Thank you".
Even when they clarified that they only accept cash, we were open to paying in cash. We are guests in Madison and had been temporarily given access to use the RedCard for meals. However, the employee's disparaging comments about RedCard users made us reconsider our lunch plans.
"We appreciate a polite attitude, and it's unfortunate that we did not experience that today. We hope the restaurant staff can maintain a more courteous demeanor in the future. Thank you".
What a great evening to dine al fresco on the rooftop at Parthenon! Great food as always and very friendly smiling staff! What you mean you don't eat no meat?!? That's OK. They make lamb.
The idea is great! Food was disappointing. Unsure if it's the chain or just this location, but all of us are disappointed. Lacking in good flavor; 2 of 3 didn't finish our bowl. Stomachs felt uneasy.
Ordered the chicken shwarma, and found to my horror that the chicken was undercooked- some pieces practically looked raw inside. And these are thin pieces of chicken too. Ate most of my shwarma by the time I realized. Would have been decent if the food had been cooked properly.
Delicious and delightful. Turkish Kitchen offers a simple but incredible menu. We did the mixed kebab plate and tried a little bit of everything. The food was fantastic - no dish missed the mark. Service was excellent. Highly recommend!!
First time trying Greek food and was not disappointed. Service was fast, and the original gyro I had was very delicious and fulfilling 😋. The upstairs garden area is amazing, really feels like you're transported to another country.
A friend and I stumbled onto this little restaurant last weekend, and while on the surface it is very unassuming, the food was outstanding! The grilled vegetable wrap was absolutely delicious, full of vegetables cooked perfectly with delicious spices and sauce. The chicken kebab dish was huge, and the grilled chicken was excellent. Both came with fresh salad. Our server – and I assume he was the owner - was super friendly and attentive. I would absolutely recommend this little gem!
This place has truly excellent, fresh food at a very reasonable price! We went here on a whim in order to avoid grocery shopping while hungry, and we were floored by the quality of food we were served, it was unbelievable!
We got the family style mix for 2, and had an amazing meal from start to finish. Fresh salad with just-right ripe tomatoes, dressed beautifully and just bursting with flavor! The kebab plate had plenty of meat and perfectly cooked vegetables, along with great rice to balance it all out and some tasty sauces. We will absolutely be going back and bringing more of our family - this is a really great place for larger groups!
We got the family style mix for 2, and had an amazing meal from start to finish. Fresh salad with just-right ripe tomatoes, dressed beautifully and just bursting with flavor! The kebab plate had plenty of meat and perfectly cooked vegetables, along with great rice to balance it all out and some tasty sauces. We will absolutely be going back and bringing more of our family - this is a really great place for larger groups!
I had a wonderful dining experience at this restaurant! The Mediterranean cuisine, especially the falafel, was absolutely delightful. The flavors were authentic and left me extremely satisfied.
The ambiance of the restaurant was also fantastic, especially the outdoor seating area. It created a perfect setting for a memorable meal. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a great Mediterranean dining experience.
The ambiance of the restaurant was also fantastic, especially the outdoor seating area. It created a perfect setting for a memorable meal. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a great Mediterranean dining experience.
Don't go! Total rip off. I feel like I was robbed. We ordered lamb kabob and steak ribeye kabob. They have two prices per item. I supposed depending on what you order, they charge you one or the other. For my lamb kabob, I made sure to note that I wanted to lower price point, which was about $9.95 and my husband did the same for his order. We picked just the kabob and rice, nothing else on the side. When food came, they had added a bread type thing themselves. We had also ordered a pot of tea. I figured including the tea, it should be about $25 - 28. We ended up being charged >$40. The sever was trying to get us to order more stuff but we were clear that we just wanted the kabob and rice at the lower price point ($9.95 per meal). I feel so cheated and robbed off my hard-earned money. Never going back.
Great place for some affordable Italian cuisine. Their soups and salads are always phenomenal. You truly can't go wrong on the menu, the seafood alfredo is a favorite of mine. Service is great and I love the gadget at the end of the table that allows you to pay without waiting for the check.
I came here on the recommendation of a friend. When I first arrived, I noted that the place was not particularly clean. There were bread crumbs and bread fragments on the floor near the wall. The scent of the restaurant was like a wet rug left to rot for several days, which is why I couldn't complete my appetisers and asked for the rest of the order to be packed to go. The waiter assigned to me didn't get my orders right, which I didn't find out about until I got home to eat, and when I tried calling another waitress for something, she entirely ignored me. The food has no taste. The alfredo was basically boiled fettuccine and cheese with no seasoning. I asked for a regular veggies pizza and got a plain kid-size cheese one. overall, I wouldn't recommend it, nor would I come here again.
Banzo catered our wedding buffet and we cannot say enough good things! They set up promptly, assisted with clearing tables, and boxed up the leftovers for us. The food was excellent and guests loved it! Easy, delicious, and reasonably priced. Prior to our wedding, we've eaten at their restaurant and from their food truck - it's always been a good experience!
Excellent tasting food, very busy and they were trying hard to keep everyone moving, they didn’t have any of their specialty chicken left but the crispy chicken pita and other falafels were delish!
Im giving it 2 stars because it is edible. If you know authentic Indian food, this is not where you want to eat. I ordered the Butter Chicken and it tasted more like spicy Tomato soup with chicken chucks. The Naan bread was more like a pancake. Not a bad option if you don't know any better but definitely disappointing if you do. The size is also not worth the price.
I Almost felt under dressed for this place but the owner made me feel welcomed like an old friend and the bartenders were phenomenal with their speed. The drinks here were cheap and the bartenders heavy handed on the liquor. The babaganoush was the perfect combo to go with the quality drinks they serve, a solid flatbread that perfectly pair with the slight and delicate spinach flavor
A small Mediterranean restaurant. You enter not expecting much, but you exit satisfied. The food is really good, tasty and in a decent quantity. Everything says "simplicity". Come and eat with a full piece of mind.
Recommending!
Recommending!
Amazing gyro that will make you surrender to your Greek goddess. House roasted before your eyes fresh cuts of ground lamb and beef spiced with imported oregano and freshly ground pepper topped with freshly sliced onions and tomatoes drenched with house made Tangy Tzatziki Sause of house made Greek yogurt with fresh cucumber garlic and lemon. Simply delicious!
My girlfriend and I visited the Kosharie for the first time and really enjoyed the food. We took it to go, ordered the pastrami and egg sandwich, as well as the beef shawarma -- both are very good. Staff was kind and helpful. The food came out quickly. And for 2 people, it was very affordable relative to other restaurants in the area. We'll definitely be going back.
Delicious Greek food in the heart of Madison. Recommend the gyros and a shared basket of fries. Very filling and fresh. Has a covered rooftop sitting area with plants.
This restaurant has an interesting blend of foods from Pakistan, India, the Middle East, and Africa. I've eaten there twice and try to variety of things, and so far everything has been quite good. Not your usual fare...
If you are looking for a great time and would like some amazing, tasty food, this is the place to try. The owners made us feel welcome and we enjoyed their company. The food was not only delicious but the presentation was unique and aesthetically pleasing. The piano music was a great addition to our dinning experience. We already have plans to go back next month!
Banzo is one of Madison's gems. Specifically the Falafel is a must get because it is fried to perfection with a super crispy exterior and a tender fluffy interior. We ordered the falafel as part of the 3 sides for $12 deal along with fries and a Hummus+pita. The hummus was fantastic and came in such a big portion we had plenty left to take home. The other items we ordered which was a Kofta platter and a Shawarma Sandwich were both also delicious.
The outdoor seating area is perfect on a nice day.
Definitely go to Banzo if you're looking for Mediterranean food in Madison.
The outdoor seating area is perfect on a nice day.
Definitely go to Banzo if you're looking for Mediterranean food in Madison.
Super delicious food. They were very attentive. Fast, and welcoming. I got a shawarma plate. Portions were very filling and great value. Adorable on the inside, great overall vibe.
The shawarma chicken was so tasty! Service was super fast and friendly.
We decided to try this place when we were walking by. I ordered Falafel plate and lentil soup. The service was good and the food arrived quickly. Everything was so good - The soup was hot and hearty, hummus so creamy and falafel so tasty! I would highly recommend this place for your Mediterranean food cravings.
Awesome food. Loved my Gyros. The upstairs rooftop is beautiful. Great place to sit and enjoy your food. the downstairs was really nice too.
We had the regular gyro, the Greek Chick, fries, and Greek yogurt with honey and it was all delicious! The gyros are about $11 each, which I thought was a little pricey for just the sandwich, but it was huge and super filling. They also have a cozy rooftop garden patio that was nice place to enjoy the meal.
Wanted something different for lunch and Caspian Grill hit the mark. Lamb kabob was delicious. Rice and salad were both tasty and large portioned. There were some salad bites with dill (which I love) but then I couldn't find it subsequent bites? There is a pickle ( not the source of the salad dill) that was good too. Big piece of baklava for dessert. Good service. Locale is a strip mall and the music was too loud. Other detractor... the bread was tortilla-like not pita. Would like to see an appetizer combo: dolmades, hummus, pita. Couldn't order then separately = it was already an expensive lunch.
Hummus and salad had plenty of fat and lemon. So good. Meat was tender. Food came out in less than a minute.
Hi,
We ordered the Chicken Shawarma platter, a side of Falafel, and fried cauliflower. The Falafel was great, but the Shawarma chicken was not so much.
The outside seating is fabulous. Good experience overall.
We ordered the Chicken Shawarma platter, a side of Falafel, and fried cauliflower. The Falafel was great, but the Shawarma chicken was not so much.
The outside seating is fabulous. Good experience overall.
This was the first time I tried Mediterranean food, and it did not disappoint! The food was phenomenal and came out fairly quick. The owner took a minute to come take my order, but that's understandable since he was cooking as well. Flavors were amazing, portions were large, 10/10
This is a cheap resuturents. I understand that it is student/college town. I ordered chicken briyani, which that they say best selling. I found the chicken taste like not a fresh chicken meat. I also found the quantity is not probably good enough compared to other places. No parking place for dine in. In fact dine is not encouraged. I found this restaurants as food truck kind of exprience. If you want fency food this is not the place.
Great food for when you are in the mood for a taste of Middle Eastern. Their salad bowls hit the spot, and their pitas are great for making pita pocket sandwiches!
I love love love Parthenon Gyros! A great meal for a fair price!
The Gyros are great either served traditionally or as a deconstructed plate. Fresh veggies and onions give crunch and zestiness. The yogurt sauce is perfect!
Service is fast. Parking is... Well it's state street so ramps or street, but not right in front. Indoor seating is good... For sitting and/or talking.
The Gyros are great either served traditionally or as a deconstructed plate. Fresh veggies and onions give crunch and zestiness. The yogurt sauce is perfect!
Service is fast. Parking is... Well it's state street so ramps or street, but not right in front. Indoor seating is good... For sitting and/or talking.
I wandered in here looking for some pre-hangout food and ended up with one of the best dinners I've had all week.
Absolutely recommend stopping in and grabbing a plate of their namesake dish!
Absolutely recommend stopping in and grabbing a plate of their namesake dish!
White washed Mediterranean food. I ordered the harvest platter that came with falafel and eggplant, everything was just bland and tasteless. The food looked seasoned and just fell short for the price you pay. Staff was very nice and friendly but definitely will not be going back.
I like coming here for the salad and breadsticks, but who doesn't, right? A nice evening to take my wife and daughters out to dinner. It was 80 degrees yesterday, and it was snowing today as we were eating our dinner. It's one of the fruits of Wisconsin, the extreme weather changes. But that's what Olive garden breadsticks are for, with endless marinara sauce for a low additional price. And toasted ravioli. And Italian sausage. And make your own pasta meals, like rigatoni, linguini, spaghetti, and/or angel hair. Let's not forget a whole carafe of ☕ coffee with endless refills. Finally, I don't know if we just got lucky, or what...but our server was the best. Not only was she a pro at her job in terms of etiquette...she gave us a salad and soup to bring home. Great waitress, seemed like a genuinely kind person.
Best calamari I have ever had! Great prices for delicious food cooked perfectly! We got the fried calamari and baba ganush appetizers with cannelloni and lamb shish kebab and homemade baklava for dessert. Can't wait to return here!
An absolutely quaint place tucked right off the Beltline. Decided to try something different and ran right into this place. It’s like walking into your grandmother’s dining room. Cozy, quiet, and welcoming. Only ordered take out, but definitely coming back to enjoy the dining room experience. Food was amazing, and prices were very reasonable.
Delicious! Love the atmosphere inside. Very unique and casual spot in Madison. Outdoor seating during the warmer months as well. Delicious Mediterranean food. The platter with chicken was delicious. As was the baklava and sweet potato falafel (Batata) pita. The kombucha was great too! Very vegan/vegetarian friendly.
Absolutely love the food here, great for some falafel and hummus for lunch. Service can be a bit slow so it can take a while if there is any kind of line. A bit more attention could be paid to the overall cleanliness. A little better management would make it 5 stars.
The gyros and chicken skewers were very filling. The chicken skewers had some kind of seasoning in it that I couldn’t tell if it was more like, a little burnt taste or that’s what the seasoning taste like. It has a unique flavor. But you get a lot of food though.
Great food but horrible soup to-go containers.
My last order of lentil soup & rice didn't make it home because the lids disintegrated due to the heat of the food. The lids broke and the containers collapsed while riding in my car.
(I tried to notify them of this via their website Contact Us section but never heard back from them.)
My last order of lentil soup & rice didn't make it home because the lids disintegrated due to the heat of the food. The lids broke and the containers collapsed while riding in my car.
(I tried to notify them of this via their website Contact Us section but never heard back from them.)
Parthenon has pretty average gyros. I happened to be in the mood for a gyro while downtown, so I stopped by. The restaurant itself is nice: it is clean and the employees are friendly. The gyros are tasty but nothing special. I would go back again, as I like gyros.
If you like Mediterranean food...and you haven't been here, you're missing out. There are three orders I can't seem to stay away from.
The Egyptian Kosharie is amazing. Chick peas, pasta, tomato sauce, and fried onions on top of rice and brown lentils. I like mixing it all together. If you like savory spices, this is for you.
The beef shawarma is mouth watering. The pita falls apart, as the sauce soaks up the flavors of the thin luxurious strips of beef layered thick with spinach, tomatoes, and tzatziki sauce. Think gyro, with a tomato sauce twist and thinner, more tender meat.
As out-of-this-world-fantastic as the previous two dishes are...my personal favorite is the chicken biryani plate. It is a very healthy portion of chicken, rice, vegetables, and sauce.
My wife is not as much of a fan of this style of food as I am....as she's more of a hamburger, tacos, and pizza kind of gal. But if you like the spices, the Mediterranean, and the deliciously exotic. This is your spot. It is most definitely in my top five.
The Egyptian Kosharie is amazing. Chick peas, pasta, tomato sauce, and fried onions on top of rice and brown lentils. I like mixing it all together. If you like savory spices, this is for you.
The beef shawarma is mouth watering. The pita falls apart, as the sauce soaks up the flavors of the thin luxurious strips of beef layered thick with spinach, tomatoes, and tzatziki sauce. Think gyro, with a tomato sauce twist and thinner, more tender meat.
As out-of-this-world-fantastic as the previous two dishes are...my personal favorite is the chicken biryani plate. It is a very healthy portion of chicken, rice, vegetables, and sauce.
My wife is not as much of a fan of this style of food as I am....as she's more of a hamburger, tacos, and pizza kind of gal. But if you like the spices, the Mediterranean, and the deliciously exotic. This is your spot. It is most definitely in my top five.
Horrrrribleeeee!!!!! Do not order from this restaurant! I’ll tell anyone who wants to not to order from here. How does this place have 4 stars??? I ordered the build your own plate from doordash and got what tasted like left over couscous that was microwaved as you can see from the pictures. It was extremely dry, bland and hard. The meat was burnt and tasted days old and microwaved. They put a bunch of veggies and a little meat. I ordered garlic sauce and harissa and received none of them. I never write reviews but this was very disappointing. I really wanted to like it. We wanted to order a lot but thank god we didn’t! Never ever again. Don’t take peoples money and serve them microwaved food what a scam of a place 👎
I want to give 1 star after my horrible experiences. But the food is SO GOOD, so I have to give it 2.
*Did not give me my fries or my rice with either meal.
*I paid $1.50 extra for 3 sauces and they only sent one (which was nasty)
*The cheesecake was expired MORE THAN A YEAR AGO.
-!—!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!—!
So what I received for $30 was … 1 plate of food.
4 pieces of chicken and 4 pieces of beef (each 1.5 inch cube)
Side salad
OLD (not edible) cheesecake bar
1 yogurt sauce
I’m irritated and wish I could dispute the charge.
To top it off the owner is so rude, he screams and yells even when customers are in there. They’ve definitely lost my business.
*Did not give me my fries or my rice with either meal.
*I paid $1.50 extra for 3 sauces and they only sent one (which was nasty)
*The cheesecake was expired MORE THAN A YEAR AGO.
-!—!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!—!
So what I received for $30 was … 1 plate of food.
4 pieces of chicken and 4 pieces of beef (each 1.5 inch cube)
Side salad
OLD (not edible) cheesecake bar
1 yogurt sauce
I’m irritated and wish I could dispute the charge.
To top it off the owner is so rude, he screams and yells even when customers are in there. They’ve definitely lost my business.
Definitely get the Turkish tea. Imagine fresh baked cloud-like bread that crackles as you rip pieces off, a lentil soup that shines like velvet and tastes light and refreshing, and hummus that is so good I can’t even describe it in words. Throw in a charming waiter and you’ve imagined HALF the joy I felt while eating here. I truly had one of the BEST meals of my life here.
New review: They recently moved to Monroe St. If you have not had the chance to try their food, you need to do that ASAP. We went to their opening and had an amazing experience.
-The vegetables used were very fresh.
-My favorite appetizer was the Baba Ganoush- best in town.
-I have no words to describe the Lamb Chops….. you just need to try it.
-dessert was delicious, especially with the tea.
The place is beautiful and the dishes are delicious!! The food is authentic and incredible. I would say this is my favorite restaurant in Monroe St! We will be back with friends and family. I’m super excited because now they are close to our neighborhood!
Old review: The food is fantastic. The atmosphere is very cozy and relaxed. Friendly staff. We will definitely be back!
-The vegetables used were very fresh.
-My favorite appetizer was the Baba Ganoush- best in town.
-I have no words to describe the Lamb Chops….. you just need to try it.
-dessert was delicious, especially with the tea.
The place is beautiful and the dishes are delicious!! The food is authentic and incredible. I would say this is my favorite restaurant in Monroe St! We will be back with friends and family. I’m super excited because now they are close to our neighborhood!
Old review: The food is fantastic. The atmosphere is very cozy and relaxed. Friendly staff. We will definitely be back!
Chicken in my Shawarma bowl, tasted as if it was cooked days ago, so crunchy and I couldn’t even eat most of it. Even worse than that, about halfway through I realize that there is a 5 x 5 piece of saran wrap in the middle of my Shawarma bowl. It appeared to have been melted and cooked along with the food. Absolutely disgusting. If this wasn’t enough, my order was also missing items.
Seeking a middle eastern restaurant, we came across this place and loved it. The inside feels much like a bar / lounge with booths and tables and there is plenty of seating outside as well. The food and service were excellent and the selection was great. Very centrally located. We were there when college was not open yet but we could imagine this place being packed on a regular basis.
Heard so much about Mediterranean Cafe and finally decided to try it and LOVED IT!! State street has a hidden gem. You all need to stop what you are doing and head to Med Cafe today.
Mediterranean Cafe has been serving the Madison community for more than 20 years. It’s a casual and cozy
restaurant serving Algerian food. The food here is delicious, has an authentic taste, and served quickly. You will go back here again after you have tried it once. We tried the chicken shawarma plate and chicken sandwich. The shawarma plate is served with rice, salad, hummus, and pita. The portion size is huge and I really thought I wouldn’t finish it. Once I started eating, I couldn’t stop and my plate was empty before you know it. The chicken and salad was so flavorful . The rice that accompanied it was also so well prepared. The chicken sandwich was also huge and so delicious.
I cannot wait to go back there and try other things off their menu. Thank you to the person at the ordering station who recommended the shawarma plate to me, so so good!
Mediterranean Cafe has been serving the Madison community for more than 20 years. It’s a casual and cozy
restaurant serving Algerian food. The food here is delicious, has an authentic taste, and served quickly. You will go back here again after you have tried it once. We tried the chicken shawarma plate and chicken sandwich. The shawarma plate is served with rice, salad, hummus, and pita. The portion size is huge and I really thought I wouldn’t finish it. Once I started eating, I couldn’t stop and my plate was empty before you know it. The chicken and salad was so flavorful . The rice that accompanied it was also so well prepared. The chicken sandwich was also huge and so delicious.
I cannot wait to go back there and try other things off their menu. Thank you to the person at the ordering station who recommended the shawarma plate to me, so so good!
Excellent!!! It’s a best place ever! You can find delicious kebabs, rice, soups! Serves is great!i really enjoyed from everything! We drove 2 hrs (from Chicago)to this place for get happy w delicious food ! Thank you for wonderful service and amazing food!
Got the chicken shawarma plate for $13. Everything was good except that they had really big chicken pieces they could have done it with bite sized pieces. The chicken had almost no marination so it tasted bland. Salad was good. But Feta cheese on the salad didn't quite fit for the essence the dish had overall. It was a nice experience though as the dine in Ambience was great.
We visited Kasharie's in June. The food was so good. I was impressed that the owner personally served us. The customer service was great. The prices were very reasonable. The desserts looked heavenly even though we didn't try them.
Best Chicken Shawarma I've ever had! Usually the Shawarma's in the US are dry and the chicken has no real marination but wow this Chicken Shawarma Pita had the perfect marination so the chicken had it's own taste and the sauces with the toppings make it juicy to make every bite perfect! Loved it.
service was very nice and friendly! relatively quick and efficient. sadly, the food was very disappointing! we both got the falafel with 3 dips (hummus, muhammara, and baba ganoush). none were impressive, all were bland. the pita bread was cold and a little stale, the falafel were okay but didn’t seem homemade. sadly the baklava was also not good - it was super sweet and soggy. overall, disappointing for the price :/
Prime location, great food, and our server, Zach was so friendly and nice — he was hustling with all the diners. Food was also reasonably priced - terrific value. Will definitely come back next time I’m in town.
Absolutely delicious! It was our first time there and it definitely exceeded any expectations we walked in. Delicious food, enjoyable ambiance and great customer service!
Liked the food, especially the Lamb Shish Kebab. The lamb was very tender and perfectly grilled. The atmosphere felt very homey, especially with the other guests that dined in. Service was 'ok' given the limited number of staff and we went during peak hours. One of the complaints/comments from me would be the table cover that is just in very bad shape, for lack of a better word (and not just our table). The cracking plastic cover isn't the most charming thing to look at when you're eating or picking up your napkin. If you're a clean/hygiene freak, your OCD would kick in, which takes away from the good food and cute setting.
Dinner with Mom for lasagna, salad, tiramisu and more. I enjoyed the meal, but was a little disappointed with a few menu changes that removed a few of my favorites. I tried steak with fettuccine, but I like some of the old tour platters. Pumpkin cheesecake was very good. Service always seems good and attentive.
I use to come here many years ago and always enjoyed the food. I recently returned and it was just as good as I remembered. The lamb shish kabob medium rare was buttery smooth, best kabob around. The sampler was amazing, I would highly recommend. The Turkish wines are all great, can’t go wrong. Great service and environment, perfect date spot!
Very good service many items on menus great location
No Parking and not a very tasty food but for visitors its ok just chwck it out!
No Parking and not a very tasty food but for visitors its ok just chwck it out!
Very unusual to see middle eastern and Italian food to be at the same restaurant, but I guess it works in this case with more options to choose from. We got hummus and cheese bread as appetizers, both were delicious. We got the stuffed eggplant dish ( Immam fainted) and a calzone for the entree, the eggplant dish had a lot of flavor but felt they over cooked the eggplant which took away from the textural aspect of the dish. The calzone was not done inside on the first go however when we brought it to attention they reheated it in the oven and it was better. The service was great and the restaurant had people coming in even before closing which is always a good sign. Over all we enjoyed the food here and would definitely be coming back to try out other dishes.
The food here is amazing! Me and my family ordered lamb kabobs, lamb kofta kabobs, chicken and beef kabobs -- all tasted so good and was served with either basmati rice or fries, pita, and a salad with olive oil vinaigrette on it. The chicken pelmeni (Russian dumplings) were a 10/10. We also ordered a pot of their black tea which was AMAZING and their honey cake was also so good! I highly recommend this place! I had never had Azerbaijani food until coming here, but it was a positive experience for sure.
The meat here is all Halal too (states it on the menu)!!!
The meat here is all Halal too (states it on the menu)!!!
Great restaurant regarding customer service and filling last minute orders!
Literally ordered last minute delivery before they closed and they definitely came through!
My order of beef maqloubah was delicious 😅 (yogurt sauce = not so much, resembled skim milk consistency with a dash of dill) falafel? Over fried to a crisp 🤷🏻♀️.
Although my sister and brother-in-law thought their meals were lacking plenty of flavor, we would rather be under seasoned, than over.
We had no other issues for such a last minute order. Not a single meal was incorrect and nothing was missing/omitted from our order.
Great Customer Service on last minute orders filled 👏🏻.
Literally ordered last minute delivery before they closed and they definitely came through!
My order of beef maqloubah was delicious 😅 (yogurt sauce = not so much, resembled skim milk consistency with a dash of dill) falafel? Over fried to a crisp 🤷🏻♀️.
Although my sister and brother-in-law thought their meals were lacking plenty of flavor, we would rather be under seasoned, than over.
We had no other issues for such a last minute order. Not a single meal was incorrect and nothing was missing/omitted from our order.
Great Customer Service on last minute orders filled 👏🏻.
Food hiting new low, Imitation Scallops was completely unnecessary, don't serve fake food if u can't afford real food.
Nothing against the server , she tried her 👌 best.
Food was just average, not going back again. Very disappointed.
Nothing against the server , she tried her 👌 best.
Food was just average, not going back again. Very disappointed.
Prices have gone up but the food and service was still great. Rose, our server, did a great job and was very attentive. Extra breadsticks came out hot and delicious. Refills on soup and salad were also appreciated. The fettuccine alfredo
was exceptional and we loved the zuppa toscana soup.
Our favorite was the 6 ounce sirloin that comes with a good potion size of fettuccine alfredo. It was done a perfect medium rare (see picture) and was seasoned very well.
We were celebrating a birthday and had the black tie mousse cake which was exceptional.
We will be back!
was exceptional and we loved the zuppa toscana soup.
Our favorite was the 6 ounce sirloin that comes with a good potion size of fettuccine alfredo. It was done a perfect medium rare (see picture) and was seasoned very well.
We were celebrating a birthday and had the black tie mousse cake which was exceptional.
We will be back!
The gyro plate is a good deal for two. Get an extra pita. The Greek Chick is another favorite. New owners and the food is better than ever! Generous serving of lamb in the gyro. When the weather is nice the rooftop garden is lovely.
One of state streets all time favorite and affordable place. Ordered a falafel veggie bowl and enjoyed each bite of it. The staff is super friendly and makes sure we get fresh ingredients and cooked falafels. Good for me the place had enough customized and sides options that are vegan and vegetarian. Make sure to try the Baba ghanoush, one of my favorites. Highly recommended comfort, affordable cuisine.
Randomly picked from a Google search to get some Indian-ish food on a recent visit. We ate it, though it's probably more take-out friendly. That staff was great and offered up three recommend dishes for sharing. Food was tasty and inexpensive.