Tabouleh Mediterranean Cafe

★★★★★ 4.6 (375) • $$

"Apparently this is a not so hidden gem! There were awards and signs on the wall from Trip Advisor and Yelp, which had me wondering why I have never been here or even heard about it. Best kept secret for sure. Went on a weekday and there was a nice steady stream of customers and delivery drivers, and I totally understand why. Everything was so fresh and flavorful. I'm eating less meat these days so it was so nice to have all the vegetarian options available. The falafel was so delish, it reminded me of the first falafel I ever tried -- crunchy on the outside, moist and flavorful on the inside. And the contrast of the fluffy but thin pita and vegetables. Every bite was perfect. The vegetarian kibbeh fooled me! I thought there was meat inside but it was chock full of veg and super filling. Loved the tahini sauce too. The salad was refreshing. I will definitely come back soon."

Bodrum Mediterranean Kitchen

★★★★★ 4.7 (305) • $$

"I recently visited Bodrum again and was once again blown away by the quality of food and service during my visit. I crave Mediterranean food and have no problem driving from the beaches to visit Bodrum, as it's the best I've found around Jax that resembles the food I had when I was in Turkey.The blend of flavors and freshness of food is something to boast about. I've told so many people about this place and referred them here if they're looking for the best Mediterranean food. Even my mom requests to come here when she visits from PA! Also this is the best lamb I've found that's not too "gamey" or chewy but rather tender and juicy... mouth watering as we speak!If you want the freshest, most flavorful Mediterranean food that takes you overseas with each bite- take a visit to Bodrum!"

Ned's Southside Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.4 (324) • $$

"Excellent as always. Pasta/ Eggplant Parm / Collard Greens. Service was top-notch and marinara super flavorful."

Beirut Restaurant & Spirits

★★★★☆ 4.4 (275) • $$

"Hubby and I were in the mood for middle eastern food. Beirut had been on our radar for a while so we decided to give them a try. We arrived for an early dinner and were seated in the outdoor patio area. We started with a couple beers and shared an order of cheese rolls. This was a great appetizer. Crunchy spring roll style rolls filled with yummy cheesiness and fresh parsley.For dinner, hubby ordered the beef shawarma platter. I ordered falafel and hummus with chicken shawarma. The hummus with chicken shawarma came out first along with a basket of pita. This was super yummy. The hummus was flavorful and very smooth. The chicken was tender and seasoned well. The falafel was fried perfectly and moist on the inside, so good with the tahini sauce. Hubby's beef shawarma platter was very good. Perfectly cooked rice, plenty of flavorful beef strips, tasty pickled veggies.Service was friendly and kind. Great meal and ambience at Beirut. We will be back!"

Mandaloun

★★★★☆ 4.2 (290) • $$

"Oooooh this restaurant was fantastic. The server was great, friendly and exceptional! We forgot his name, but he appears to be a young gentleman with great people skills and attentiveness. The restaurant was quiet since me and my sister came around 4:30pm-ish. The interior was decorated nicely. We ordered the following:- grape leaves- beef shawarma w/potatoes and seasoned vegetables - combo platter: Baba Ghannouj, Tabbouleh, Fatayer and Kebbe He also served us pita bread with oil mixed with za'atar (?). It was very good! Grape leaves were delicious as we loved the taste of how it was preserved so well. The beef shawarma was amazing because the beef was seasoned well along with the veggies and potatoes. I would say it was the best seasoned veggies and potatoes I've ever had! The combo platter, all were superb! The baba ghannouj was smooth with grilled eggplant purée, lemon juice and sesame juice and pieces of pomegranate. Tabbouleh was very fresh and earthy. The Fatayer tasted great. Cute triangular pastries stuffed with spinach, pine nuts, feta cheese and onion. Kebbe was very good with the meat shell filled with ground beef, onions and pine nuts with a side of taziki. Overall, it was all fantastic and definitely will revisit to try out other menu items!"

Hovan Gourmet Mediterranean Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.4 (252) • $

"Great for a quick and healthy lunch! A large variety of options and the food is delicious. Would definitely come back!"

Greektown Taverna

★★★★★ 4.5 (216) • $$

"This was our 2nd visit and the food was phenomenal! We opted not to do an appetizer (as you can see the portions are large!) and I'm glad we didn't. Hubs had the mixed grill combo (skewer of beef, pork & chicken) with Greek lemon potatoes and a Greek orzo pasta salad. I had the Greek sampler plate - moussaka, pastitsio and spanakopita with Greek lemon potatoes and peas for sides. Isaac our server was excellent! We didn't have room for it but split a pistachio cheesecake with baklava crust for dessert - yum!"

Noura Cafe

★★★★★ 4.6 (198) • $$

"I walked in and looked over the grocery items. I chose to buy some large pita bread for home. Then, to order: I wanted a beef shawarma and a salad for dinner tonight. I also ordered a spinach pie to take home. I also had half and half tea, a piece of baklava for after dinner. The food, tea and baklava were very fresh and good. I had half of my dinner boxed up because I was so full. I was able to relax and unwind after work. I look forward to my next visit. Pros:very good food! Plenty of parking. Cons:it was a wee bit pricier than I like, but I work hard and deserved a good hot meal. Recommend? yes! If you want to live a long life, this is the food for you! Mediterranean food."

Natural Greens: Gyros & Salads

★★★★☆ 4.4 (178) • $$

"Delicious! Fresh and delicious! We stumbled in here, choosing Mediterranean for lunch today, it was a hard choice cause there are so many options in this area, but we were both happy with this place! Walking in the menu is smaller with gyro, falafel or rice bowl being your main choices, so we got all of them, lol! We loved all of it, i really liked the crunchy falafel dipped in their taziki sauce, full of cucumbers and dill so good! The rice bowl with chicken gyro was so good! Tons off fresh flavors! Gyro plate was also good with the gyro meat carved off a spit, and it looked to be of higher quality meat. All around we really liked it, big portions, fresh food!"

Dunya Fresh Halal Food

★★★★★ 4.6 (151) • $$

"PHENOMENAL food! I was in town for work and found this place close to me. This would be my first experience with this cuisine and there as 0 regrets. I even purchased Chocolate and malt for the road and I was re indulged ."

Istanbul Turkish Mediterranean Cuisine

★★★★★ 4.7 (144) • $$

"I have often found that the more modest a place looks on both the outside and inside, the better the food they serve. So pulling up to what appears to be a small house converted into a restaurant then walking into a sparse, unassuming interior were good signs that we were in for a treat. Probably the best indication though, was that this place came highly recommended by a Turkish friend. The menu here is provided on tablets and is easy to navigate with photos (for us Turkish cuisine neophytes). The lunch entrees come with a choice of beef, chicken or lamb plus rice and salad. Dinner portions are larger, of course, and include a side of pita bread. Sandwiches are also available using the same meats wrapped in pita bread along with fries. The dishes are composed of such fresh and simple ingredients that they taste practically guilt free, which we took full advantage of by ordering the baklava sampler for dessert. Just when we thought this excellent meal couldn't get any better, my husband got a Turkish coffee before leaving that he described as one of the best cups of coffee he had ever had. I wish he had told me that before he finished his cup as I would have liked to have tried a sip! The owner was warm, welcoming and impressively very hands-on. She took our orders, brought us our food and checked on us throughout our meal while doing the same for the other diners."

King Kabab

★★★★★ 4.5 (114)

"We love everything they make here. We eat breakfast or lunch there often. Food is fresh and piping hot. The people are incredibly nice."

Gyro 365

★★★★★ 4.6 (107)

"Seriously no frills gyro joint that delivers flavorful food in a slit second. Okay, maybe not a second but pretty darn quick. First off, it is counter service, so memorize you choices in the big board near the front and We first came here for lunch, noticing the good reviews. Once we got our food, we agreed with those reviews, plus the service was so good, really making sure you got what you ordered. The dining room was clean and the chairs were comfortable, maybe you won't notice, but I did. But the food:Hummus - if you eat middle eastern food you realize ever country does hummus a little different. The hummus here is good, not knock you socks of good, but order it. Chicken Gyro - here is where they shine. Choose you meet, load it up with two sides and three sauces. Yes, load that thing up. Beef Gyro - same, load it up. Lamb - I happen to think the lamb was the best thing on the menu, I mean, it was so good. There is a natural flow to things here, so it may take a minute to get your bearings. It is a little annoying to have this huge menu board and then take orders in a place you cannot see it. It might help to have a cope of the big board handy by the cash register. But that is nit picking, if you love Gyros, you will love the food here."

Scuola Pizza

★★★★☆ 4.4 (98) • $$

"1- Parking and surroundings, I always look for the parking areas of the place, you do want to know in advance if parking is available and if it feels safe. Located close to the Northwood area, this is North West Gainesville, and parking is available. 2- The ambiance and decoration is very nice, offering a vintage, quiet and relaxed place for dinning. 3- Location- I was attracted to this place by the pizza sign on the outside and living in Gainesville for more than 19 years, and less than 4 miles away, I thought I would give it a try. 4- As soon as I saw the menu, I changed my mind and tried one of the the Mediterranean dishes. The Santorini Chicken, with garlic broccolini. The Santorini Chicken is seasoned and charbroiled, served with a tomatoes and fresh Mozzarella, accompanied by a bed of rice pilaf. Cooked perfectly as the name implies (charbroiled), the broccolini maybe a little bit too soaked in the oil and garlic, but nonetheless I liked it. The rice pilaf was so tasteful, which I enjoyed it very much. I am very satisfied with the taste and quality of the food. I will return. The experience is more than what I was hoping. I'm hoping for more restaurants in Gainesville like this. 5- Service was awesome, the server would check up on us, every now and then. 6- Overall this will be one of my places to visit more often, affordable, quiet, delicious mediterranean dishes, in my make believe ratings from 1 to 10, it an 8.5 for me."

Cortesse’s Bistro and Flamingo Room Piano Bar

★★★★☆ 3.5 (147) • $$$

"You can differently see and taste the Mediterranean/Italian seasonings and flavor in these dishes. The beets were tender, nice portion. Hummus was creamy, smooth and tasty accompanied by warm toasted pita bread. The mushrooms were tender with the flav of the crab and topped with a light seasoned cream sauce was delicious. The servers were knowledgeable and kind. We sat inside in a small room the looked like a dedicated dining room very quaint and private. Loved all the water statues of trickling water , vignette's, gardens and lighting in the outside patio area ending with a room with a piano player that starts at 7pm week days 8pm weekends and bar. Very lovely. This is diffidently a magical place to experience."

Just Kitchen Jax

★★★★★ 4.8 (66) • $$

"Staff was really helpful finding gluten free options (there were many). Wife had bowl and I had gyro. Hit the spot"

Damaskino

★★★★★ 4.7 (63) • $$

"I've been looking for a Mediterranean restaurant for a while, and I noticed this one had a lot of positive reviews. To take our minds off work, my friend and I got together for lunch. Although the façade and interior don't seem very up-kept, don't let it fool you. The meal, family, and service were excellent. The lentil soup that was served to us was complimentary and was warm and flavorful. I chose the Kifta Platter as my entrée, which included two skewers with rice and two options for side appetizers. I ordered the grape leaves and hummus as sides. Amazing and tasty Kifta that had been cooked to perfection. The spice on the rice was fantastic, and it was extremely good. The grape leaves were tangy and delicious. We both enjoyed the food and service and looking forward to visit again!"

Samira's Cafe

★★★★★ 4.5 (54)

"If you haven't been here.... What are you waiting for!! Fantastic!! If you aren't familiar with Lebanese food, start with the Gyro (chicken or Lamb). I would recommend the Lamb. My husband loves the Black Bean Salad, I have to agree, it's very tasty!! And don't forget to get some dessert, it's all incredible! No alcoholic beverages but they do have to go and looks like Uber Eats, Door Dash, Grubhub and something w/Google. Can't get any easier than that. Service is great, people are super friendly and the place is very clean! Dining in is nice too. Keep our small businesses going... this place is awesome!"

Aviles Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.7 (72) • $$

"After having a few lets downs in St Augustine concerning food and service, Aviles Restaurant here in the Hilton Historic Bayfront made everything miles better. The food was absolutely delicious and unique. To start off, My partner ordered a "Blue Energy" Cocktail which consisted of Vodka, Crushed Blueberries and Housemade Lemonade. And let me just say that after tasting this cocktail, the homemade lemonade makes miles of a difference. We were also served bread and butter, but this isnt just ANY bread and butter, the butter is housemade and garnished with pink peppercorn for a unique taste and experience. I was awe struck with the simple yet delicious taste of the butter! For appetizers, we had the Knife & Fork Latin Bruschetta, which consisted of Grilled Arepa, Mojo Beef Rips, Grilled Tostone, Chimichurri, Avocado and Cotilja Cheese. The Beef Tips were extremely tender and juicy, they were obviously professionally made. The avocado was fresh and ripe and by the time we finished, we wished we could order more. Moving onward to the entrées, I decided to be boujee for the night and ordered the 40oz Prime Tomahawk Chop for $128. While the price may be a little steep, if you're able to order this dish, I would highly recommend it. The pictures attached speak for themselves, the tomahawk was cooked to perfection with my preference of medium-rare. Its was so incredibly tender and juicy that I could see the juices flow out when I cut it. The tomahawk featured a honey-chiptole glaze that complimented the meat further. On the sides, I ordered potato fingers and asparagus which both were also cooked perfectly. The potatos were very warm and tender, and seasoned excellently. My partner ordered the 16oz Prime NY Strip Steak which she described as being one of the best she has had. This means alot coming from her because she doesnt typically order steaks or meats from restaurants. From what I could tell, the meat was cooked to her preference and the sides were seasoned well to compliment each other. Now were are up to deserts. I ordered a Creme Brûlée and my partner ordered a Key Lime Pie with White Chocolate. Both were extremely delicious and complimented what we ate very well. Now onto the best part of this experience: The service. From the moment we walked in, we were treated with such a high level of decency and respect. The host seated us at a high top table and our server, I have the pleasure to say, was one of the best I have ever had. Sheraz came here all the way from France and her skills and attention to detail are unparalleled. She waited on us and made sure we had everything we could ever need. We talked about ourselves, and all of our ambitions and dreams. It was a very refreshing experience to have a server we could talk to and feel so connected with. Thank you Sheraz for making not only our visit to Aviles memorable, but our visit to St. Augustine excellent. We hope to return again soon!"

M Brothers at Mayo

★★★★☆ 4.3 (53)

"Are you visiting Jax to see a Mayo Clinic specialist? Or a local resident here for an expert in care? If you find yourself at Mayo Clinic but you don't want hospital cafeteria food, you are in luck! M Brothers has a fine dining restaurant open for lunch and dinner with lots of delightful choices (see menu pic). They are right here in the main hospital building! The setting has white table cloths and a quiet atmosphere, which may be just what you need depending on what brings you here today. It's a 'must try'. I had the pork belly bites - yum. And then I tried the vegetable pancit with shrimp. My shrimp was a little undercooked at first but they took care of it right away. Good flavor on the noodles. I ordered the buttermilk panna cotta for dessert. The panna cotta stole the show with its interesting presentation and flavor profile. Olive oil chantilly cream? Get out! I also heard the table next crave about the bread and the beet salad!Excellent service by Destiny, my server! Very polite and helpful!"

Baba’s Halal

★★★★★ 4.6 (28)

"Yea this is really tasty stuff! I saw James had posted about this new place in the Avenues so when I was in the mall, i just had to pop on in! Walking up I wasn't sure what / how to order, but it's very simple...chicken, lamb or mixed plate, they all come with rice, salad, and white sauce on top...I went with the mixed to try both meats and they really load this thing up! Instead of gyro shaved lamb it's thick cubes of gyro meat and the chicken was marinated in like a spiced yogurt maybe, what it was, was delicious! Me and my daughter tore this thing up! lol! fresh, salty, and satisfying! I got the mint cilantro sauce on the side to try it, it was herby and tart, I preferred the white sauce which was light a light garlic sour cream sauce and happy I went with that. Great addition to the mall food court!"

Kofta Cuisine

★★★★★ 4.6 (24)

"Since I saw a review about this place on Facebook, I thought I'd go with my wife and daughter to check it out. I didn't realize how new it was until talking to the owner. Anyways, we didn't know where to start as there were so many good options on the menu. He recommended the Mixed Grill, and I'm glad he did. For a family of 3, it was more than enough food to eat as we took two take out boxes. There was chicken three ways (kabob, cut, thighs), beef two ways, and sliced lamb (he gave extra since my daughter wanted to make a gyro with the bread that comes with it) along with rice, carrots, and cabbage. My favorite was the sliced lamp and chicken cubes, which seemed to have been marinated with something that I need the recipe for. So good. Anyways, he also provided yogurt and garlic sauce (which I was hesitant to try but was pretty good). Anyways, he was attentive, especially being a new owner, and I wish we could have tried more, but I'll save that for another day."

Sam's Cafe and Grill

★★★★★ 4.8 (18)

"The grilled chicken salad is so good. Great price too for the amount of food. Easy to order online and always ready prior to pick up time."

Ruz Bukahari

★★★★☆ 3.8 (26)

"Location correction may be required for Yelp. The receipt shows the address as the one listed in yelp but we had to do a little Marco Polo expedition to find it. Basically enter the location and soon as entering the parking lot got to the right. Otherwise you will be at Target. Looks Iike this is suite 180-181The Buffett is tasty with 5 main course dishes, rice, hummus, egg plant vegetables. Don't forget the option to order from the menu seems like all the really good food can be found there.The bathroom was clean and spacious. You will need to turn on the light.The people working here are nice and friendly.For 2 adults, 2 children the meal cost is $76.38 for the Saturday lunch buffet and 4 sodas."

Royal Palms Cafe and Catering

★★★★★ 4.8 (10)

"This place has great food hands down... went in and had a steak and sack and fries boy ol boy was it amazing.. very fast service which is a plus I highly recommend."

The Sheik Sandwiches and Subs

★★★★☆ 3.5 (16)

"Great place, awesome old school hamburgers and fries, rest of the menu looks good too. I stopped by during lunch and the place was hopping. Lots of construction guys which to me is a good sign. Very quick service, friendly staff and fair prices."

Naurahs

★★★★☆ 3.8 (13)

"Heard on Nextdoor that Naurahs had a great Philly Cheesesteak, so wanted to check out this fairly new place. I'm not a huge sandwich person, just don't like all the bread. But I have to say this was an excellent Philly Cheesesteak! The onions & peppers were grilled to perfection, nice and soft, and the meat was fresh & delicious. I chose a combo, which is basically fries. The fries are the thicker crinkle cuts, my favorite! I shared half of my sandwich & fries with my sons, because no way could I eat more than half!Ome of my sons had the 30 piece friend shrimp combo, which he also shared. The shrimp were crunchy and not overcooked-pretty darn good. We were given some sauce for the shrimp. Not sure what it was- something akin to a spicy French dressing. This sauce is so tasty, I could eat it on anything!My other son had the Chicken Shawawarma wrap. I did not get a taste of it, but I can tell you it was huge and looked liked a grilled burrito. (No, I'm not that familiar with Mediterranean cuisine lol). My son said it was very good!We did get take out, but there are a number of tables, chairs and booths available if you want to eat in. The place appeared to be very clean overall.Naurah's is located in a strip shopping center on Merril Road near Cesery, in the same area as the Save A Lot grocery store.I apologize for the lack of photos-we were all starving and dove right in!If you're looking for something different, something good, and friendly service, you should head to Naurah's!"