The Most Flavorful Mediterranean in New Orleans

Cleo's

★★★★☆ 4.2 (877) • $$

"Cleo's is legit delicious, fabulous and a Godsend. I was snowed in in New Orleans at the Roosevelt Hotel in January 2025. I stayed in rather than venture out in the snow for dinner ... but then I got very hungry. I toddled the quarter block to Cleo's at 11 pm over slick ice and snow and got the Egyptian Breakfast. It is heartbreakingly delicious. The fried eggplant melts in your mouth, even a day later as I eat each precious bite of leftovers on my plane home. The feta ... the best very best feta. The cucumbers are perfect and sliced to perfection. Someone knows what they're doing at Cleo's and now you know too ... at the back of a bodega on Canal Street, open late until 5 am ... Mediterranean food that will break your heart and mend it. So. So. So. Good!!!"

Olive

★★★★★ 4.7 (410) • $$

"This is a great option for those looking for something healthy, allergy friendly, and fresh in the city. As a gluten free vegetarian I ordered the olive appetizers and fried cheese to get a little bit of everything! The falafel, grape leaves, and halloumi, are gluten free without the pita. I simply asked for some cucumbers on the side to dip into things! I loved the salty pickles that came with the fried cheese- they paired so nicely with the super crunchy and flavorful falafel. The cheese itself was salty and crispy, however did not stand out to me. The Turkish coffee and mango drink were both tasty; I was really impressed with the coffee and how strong but not bitter it was- this is a must try if you haven't had it before."

Attiki Bar and Grill

★★★★☆ 3.8 (421) • $$

"Nice chill spot with good vibes, music at a reasonable volume and good food and hookah. Came around 9 on a Friday night and within the next hour the crowd started to pour in but it's not one of those places where people just continuously walk in and out so you're able to enjoy yourself and company without the chaos. Had the redfish pasta and the Rita's. Bartenders were friendly and attentive."

Kabob House NOLA

★★★★★ 4.8 (223) • $$

"Quick casual spot that doesn't skimp on quality or portion size. Chicken kabob plate includes rice, hummus, salad, pita and a couple of pieces what seems like roti/paratha. I think it was $20-something, not the cheapest but it easily makes 2 meals. Chicken was tender. Shawarma is super flavorful. Hummus has to be the most fresh I've ever had. White garlic sauce is amazing. Apparently their desserts like baklava and something with pistachio in it are good, according to some local friends. My new go to spot when picking up dinner before the airport. Super fast friendly service. Diverse crowd. A few big screen TVs. Very clean"

Sahara Cafe

★★★★★ 4.6 (233) • $$

"Service- 5 starsFood- 5 starsAmbiance-2 stars, it's old school decor from the 80s, no music or tv playing. 90% of the folks walking were takeout orders. I had the steak shish kabobs, rice, and salad. All three were glorious and tasted oh so good! I'll probably do takeout next time. Enjoy!"

Cleopatra

★★★★★ 4.6 (178) • $$

"Been coming here for years. No doubt my favorite all-around middle eastern restaurant in Nola. Everything on the menu is at a minimum good, their lentil soup may be best in town, chicken & shrimp kebabs are great, the rice is distinctive, plates come with a flavor-packed whipped garlic sauce (it's unnamed but I'd call it toum) that makes everything it touches better, and service is consistently good. It's not gourmet or atmospheric and they don't serve alcohol, so not a date night type place, but definitely a great lunch, weeknight or family dinner spot."

Hummus & More

★★★★☆ 4.3 (203) • $$

"This restaurant is really cute and super clean. Absolutely love the cheese egg rolls and the sweet sauce was the perfect complement. The hummus is pretty good, but the pita is simply ok. I love the texture and taste of the falafels. Perfectly crispy on the outside and flavorful on the inside. The lentil stew is my absolute favorite. This place does the best mujadara I've had in years. In addition to a clean restaurant and restrooms, the service is always great. My family and I have never had the same server, yet service was consistently great."

Saj

★★★★☆ 4.4 (172)

"Saj is a Middle Eastern restaurant that seems to be offering a similar dining theme to the nearby Israeli restaurant Shaya. This location was the former longtime home of Mona's Café which was also a Middle Eastern cuisine restaurant that I enjoyed eating at for decades. They have some really nice bread here and the lamb kabab I had was nicely cooked. This seems to be more of a group dining themed joint so eating here solo isn't as pleasant they way they have the menu structured. It would be nice if they offered more plates that came with sides. Overall the food here is good but it is generally going to be a better experience eating here if you are not a solo diner.My video review of Saj is here:https://youtu.be/IT1T372mBPI"

Shawarma On The Run

★★★★★ 4.5 (162) • $$

"Oooooh yeah, now see, this place is the sho nuff what's happening! As soon as I opened the box, the spices smacked my nasal passages real good and I loved it lol. Reminds me of big mama's house smelling up the neighborhood with those bold and boastful soul food spices. I ordered the Philly cheesesteak meal w/seasoned fries and the aroma had my salivary glands buckjumping. At that moment, I knew the flavor and taste would accompany and to my expectations, it did. I can't believe that I've been on the Westbank so long, purposely passing up this place. Now, now, in my defense, I vowed to myself, if I cannot pronounce the name of a place, I'm not eating there lol. So glad I broke that vow today with help from other Yelpers!! Well folks, all I can tell you is this place should never be passed up. They're enforcing social distancing and CDC COVID-19 guidelines, plus it's spacious inside. They're situated in a small strip plaza on Terry Pkwy across from the Oakwood Mall. Find parking and treat yourself to the food, especially the Philly cheesesteak. You won't be disappointed!"

Lebanon Grill

★★★★★ 4.8 (112) • $$

"Great family-owned and operated restaurant in NOLA!Some friends and I visited NOLA in August for a friend's birthday...I know what you're thinking...why would you go there in August?! Anyway, a few people in the group went here one day and came back to our Air BnB raving about this place. So much so that we all decided to go there to eat the following day. Our Uber dropped us off in the back of the restaurant and we were instructed to seat ourselves. The staff remembered my friends from the day before and we were quickly greeted and our drink orders were taken. There were only a couple of other patrons in the restaurant. It's fairly small, but that's what makes it special. It's not unlike many of the other restaurants throughout the streets of New Orleans. I was unfortunately recovering from food poisoning so I did order a cocktail and decided to stick with a salad. I ordered the chicken salad and my friends ordered a variety of other dishes, included the Beef Shwarma pizza. Everything was so good! Since I was still recovering I wasn't able to eat much, but what I did eat was flavorful and delicious!We didn't order cocktails or hookah, but their menu looks great. I highly recommend trying this place for authentic Lebanese food from a friendly family with great customer service!"

Albasha Greek & Lebanese Café

★★★★☆ 3.9 (157) • $$

"Delicious! Gyro plate is super delicious, their meat is soft and melts in your mouth. Pita bread is perfect and their grecian sauce that comes on the side is sooooooo good. I love the kibbeh appetizer which also comes with Grecian sauce! Yummmmy! Everything we've gotten here is great. It hits the spot."

Pyramids Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.8 (162) • $$

"Pandemic update:Momma wanted a gyro plate for her birthday and when I was hunting around to order online, Pyramid popped up. And I'm so glad. She LOVED her gyro plate and said the lamb and beef were delicious. Dad had the chicken shwarma and gobbled it up. I got the veggie plate and my falafel and tabouleh were good and the hummus yummy. Mom was not a fan of the babaganous. The spinach pies were a star and 1 pie is 2 good sized triangles. Ordering was through the grubhub app and I opted to pick up on my way to their house. Everything was ready when I got there and they gave us beaucoup pita. Ridiculous historical note: when Mom asked where the restaraunt was I told her where Bud's Seafood used to be, next to Bud's Broiler on Calhoun. Bud's Seafood closed in the 1970s. But she knew exactly what I was talking about."

Shawarma on the Run

★★★★★ 4.6 (110)

"I finally tried this gem of a place when I couldn't make it to Greek fest. I actually never sat inside to eat, but they do offer to go. I ended up going with a gyro and then of course I had to get a piece of baklava. It was very good. To be honest with you the gyro was so big in my opinion that with a side of fries this could perfectly be split between two people. I can't wait to go back and try some more options on the menu."

Cafe Phoenicia

★★★★☆ 4.4 (114) • $$

"This is our favorite Greek restaurant! The service is always top notch! And then there is the food! Always soooo good! I love the chicken shawarma! The hummus is soGood! And of course, you can't go wrong with the shrimp tortellini! The friend cheese appetizer is always a hit! Go and enjoy!!"

Haifa Cuisine & Hookah Bar

★★★☆☆ 3 (209) • $$

"Stopped in late night after a ride for a gyro and I must admit it was pretty good. The price is a little expensive, oh how I long for an $8 gyro again. Most people come here to smoke the hookah but the food isnt bad if you need a late night snack."

Byblos

★★★★☆ 4.1 (103) • $$

"Byblos is FANTASTIC. It's cheap, it's absolutely delicious, and the portions are large! This is perfect if you want Mediterranean food, but don't have an arm and a leg to sell that day.When you walk in, you'll notice it's both a spacious store and casual eatery. There's plenty of tables and seating to dine in, but it's a "no frills" kind of place, with no waitresses or waiters. They'll call you up, and you bring your food to the table yourself. Honestly, I prefer it this way. Another thing you might notice is that this place is CLEAN. The floors are clean, the shelves are organized, the hot foods area is immaculate, I saw zero bugs, the tables are neat, etc. A lot of casual eateries look a little messy, but this place seems to have great hygiene. I'm telling you, you have to try the food. It's PHENOMENAL the quality you get with this price. You cannot get such cheap delicious Mediterranean food anywhere else in this city. So many places are delicious, but expensive. Not here! It's so yummy and affordable with great portions. We've tried a good amount of items and I would recommend the:*Chicken shawarma or kabob plate - The chicken is perfectly seasoned, tender, juicy, and smoky. The rice is flavorful and fluffy. Both the hummus and tzatziki sauce are delicious. The salad is fresh and comes with a yummy light dressing that contains purple-ish spices I can't seem to identify, but love anyway.*Stuffed grape leaves - They offer both beef and vegetarian ones here, so options for everyone! I've tried both, but I personally like the vegetarian ones better, and although I don't know what's in them, I can attest that they're amazing. They're addicting, and you'd be temped to over eat way too much if you dine in.Aside from these items, they have a lot of dishes to offer as well as daily specials, I recommend just going in and checking them out. I promise you won't be disappointed."

Phoenicia's Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.6 (115) • $$

"Wow!! Wow!!You ever know you walk into a restaurant and you just know the food is going to be amazing? Well this place is it!Every item we had on the menu was top notch. The hummus was amazing and the falafels were perfect! My gyro was on point and the salad my wife had was great too. I told my wife that this is our spot to get take out or dine in for Greek and Lebanese. Can't tell you enough of how great the place isPlus!!! The tea! You ask for tea expecting bland ice too, but oh no bud, you are getting Lebanese tea that will knock your socks off.You have to try this place!"

Green Olives Cafe & Pizzeria

★★★★★ 4.7 (67)

"Is Green Olives Cafe the perfect lunch spot Uptown? Maybe.I love the friendly vibe of this place. I was welcomed enthusiastically as soon as I walked in and I had already heard great things about the food, so I couldn't wait to dig in.I was here for lunch and I got the shawarma wrap with a side of hummus. Now, this place is KNOWN for its hummus. Whatever you do- get the hummus. The sandwich was excellent with tender meat and lots of flavor.I wrote about this spot in length for Uptown Messenger. Check it out here: https://uptownmessenger.com/2022/07/hummus-reigns-supreme-at-the-green-olives-cafe-on-maple-street/"

Byblos Restaurant

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (127) • $$

"I wanted to try this Byblos location because the menu is more extensive than the location closest to me. Upon entering, we were told to sit wherever we'd like (which was nice). Service pretty good but the overall environment was dull. Also, the dishes looked dingy and my veggies were in a cracked bowl. We started with the stuff grapes leaves and they were pretty good! I had the redfish entree (bland). The veggies were good, but I didn't feel comfortable eating anything that was placed on the cracked portion of the dish. The other guest had a beef gyro and the meat could have used more seasoning. The entire experience was average at best."

Byblos

★★★★☆ 4 (87)

"We absolutely loved dining here! The atmosphere is upscale casual, and there is a lot of natural light, which I find refreshing. Saturday lunch with husband. Our server was fantastic, from patience with our questions, to suggestions from the menu and keeping our drinks full and our table bussed and to go items boxed.The spanakopita app was very nice; large portion and appealing to the eye. Husband had the combo kebab with beef and chicken, french fries and fattoush salad. Not a bad item on the plate. Loved that he finally had a fattoush salad. :)My Kafta plate with lamb, hummus and rice pilaf was SO good. Huge portions on both entrees, so there were leftovers. Plus, we had to leave room for dessert.Dessert was an Ashta. If you've never had one, you HAVE to try it. It is shareable dessert; I'm guessing 4 people should eat it, but the 2 of us did the hurtin' on this one.Great service, nice food choices, soothing atmosphere, amazing dessert=Gotta Go."

Cafe Petra Express

★★★★☆ 4.4 (68)

"I will say if you are not happy with your food order , they will work with you. Manager contacted me after seeing my review on"

Albasha's Greek & Lebanese

★★★★☆ 4.3 (69) • $$

"Whoa, I haven't been here in a long time like before Covid hit the USA and man have I missed it. I've never eaten inside because I'm the only one in the family that has a taste of the mediterranean. So I always get it to go and smell it all the way home. I get the gyros plate which comes with a feta cheese salad, rice, pita bread, fabulous hummus and my yummy yummy meat!! It's a lot of food or at least to me it is. I'll eat on it between 2-3 meals, which isn't bad when you break down the lunch price of $14.30 (that's tax included there) before Covid it was under $10.00 but still for someone who can eat in on it more than one meal that's no to shabby! I've never met the owners but they keep a very clean and relaxing restaurant. The employees are always very kind and helpful."

Gyro Grill

★★★★☆ 4.1 (74)

"I LOVEEEE this place. i get the gyro bowl everytime and it's enough to feed 2! So generous in their meat and rice portion, and I always get an extra tzatziki even tho it come with it on top! Something about the rice just hits everytime! Also pictured is the steak and cheese pita which was sooo yummy and also generously loaded w meat! We also got the hummus which was so refreshing and creamy, definitely homemade! This place is like a secret hole in the wall that I wish more ppl knew about! They also offer fish plates and shrimp plates, not just mediterranean food! It's definitely worth a try at least once! I got enough food to feed 3 people for only $33! In this day and age, I'd say that's a bargain!"

Roman's Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.9 (56) • $$

"We stopped in for some Greek food when we realized our refrigerator was empty after returning from vacation. We had never been here and it was pretty close to our house so we thought we would try it out. It is hidden in a strip mall next to Smoothie King. First impression was a little under whelming. The place is small with only 10 tables and a small bar. But the smells coming from the kitchen were devine!!!We asked about some wine. The server recomend a Greek red, which I got and loved. BF got one one of the two white wines they had and he didn't care much for it. We started with an order of fried cheese. I ordered the meat moussaka with baba and hummus. BF got the gyro plate. The cheese came out pretty quickly. It was crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside and sitting in a creamy garlic sauce. Each dinner came with a greek salad, which was fresh and not too heavy on the greek dressing. The dinner plates arrived with some hot herb covered fresh pitas. Not sure they were house made, but they were so soft and light. The hummus and baba were very tasty and went well with the herbed pitas. The moussaka as soooooo good. Seasoned beef with eggplant and bechamel. Yum! They are uber eats, so we can get our greek fix if we are too lazy to get in the car and drive next time."

Serops Express - Baton Rouge

★★★★☆ 3.9 (51) • $$

"I was staying at a friend's place on Perkins Rowe and this restaurant was within walking distance from the apartment so I decided to give it a try.Menus are simple, either you pick one of the combos on the menu or you can build your own. I decided to get #3 - combination platter: gyro, chicken shawarma, rice pilaf, feta salad, and hummus. Cost was about $11. One thing I liked about paying with a credit card is the fact they don't have a tip line on the receipt. This is cafeteria style after all.They give you plenty of food for your money. My plate was filled up although I was a bit disappointed that they gave me a lot more chicken than they did shawarma. I would have preferred it 50-50.The chicken was good and pretty tender, the shawarma was a little bit dry but had a good flavor. The rice and the salad were both good. The hummus was also delicious but the pita bread that came with the hummus was soggy and not too appetizing.At the end of the day, I enjoyed my meal. And for the price that I paid, I thought it was a real good value. Need a fresher bread for sure though, and not be too stingy with the shawarma."

Bianka Restaurants & Lounge

★★★★☆ 3.5 (53) • $$

"My new fave little spot! We stumbled upon this place from a little recommendation from our uber driver and it did not disappoint! Service was absolutely amazing, food was incredibly good and the vibes were just right.We came late on a Thursday evening and had wanted to grab some late night food and everything we ordered came out freshly made and flavorful. The wings were my favorite, they were crispy, LARGE and the Thai chili was such a good flavor. Plus the baba ganoush was prepared well too, and I'm really picky with my Persian dishes.I really have nothing but great things to say as the hookah was also really good- they had every kind of flavor and tier you can think of and the hookah people were attentive, consistently bringing out more when needed, and assisting as well. This place is on the second floor or the Buffalo Wild Wings but they had an elevator which was a bonus for me, since stairs were a little tricky for me. You've got come - this place is great all around. We literally came back twice."

Istanbul Grill

★★★★★ 4.8 (26)

"Good quality. Authentic. Ordered from Uber eats and it was still warm and fresh. The Uber eats prices are HIGH. I would really like to return and try dine in ."

Albasha Express

★★★★☆ 4.1 (27)

"Ambiance is nice. Food is good and fast. Yay. Tabouli has tomatoes in it but it is still okMid East restaurants could steam the pita bread though! Recommend."

Serops Express-Baton Rouge

★★★★☆ 4.1 (26) • $

"I've been here plenty of times for takeout. The service is super quick and the value is great for the price you pay. I always get the gyro salad, and the amount of gyro is always plentiful. I do wish there was more salad than meat, but that's just me. The food has always been consistent and the meat has never been dry. I definitely recommend Serops if you're in the neighborhood and in a hurry for a quick bite."

Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe - Old Metairie

★★★★☆ 4.1 (23)

"First thing first... I love Mediterranean food, so this review is easy to write. PLUS the ambiance & staff were great, great, great. Greeted upon entry by Owen, the cashier, I knew we were off to a great start. Then Joe, co-owner/manager, followed up with a pleasant greeting as well; we had lite convo about the store, it's history & the other locations. I must admit, not my first time in the area, but indeed my first time at this restaurant. So far so good... It can only go up from here. Food: Spicy hummus & tea for me; gyro & a glass of wine for my dining companion. No it wasn't Lebanese Tea, but it was tea nonetheless; minus the pine nuts. And there were no complaints from the peanut gallery, everything was good. I also had a Greek salad with 3 falefal patties, but that's in another review. But just know, as I said, everything was good. The pita bread for the hummus was lightly toasted, as expected, the spicy hummus had me scraping the sides of the bowl, talk about finger licking good... My dining companion remarked about the lamb being a little gamey, but she spoke to the authenticity of the meat as result of the taste. Service: The service was exemplary. As I stated, greeted upon entry, not once but twice. Owen even bought out the food once it was prepared & Joe collected the plates after we were done. This is service you expect from a dine-in restaurant. Kudos to you Owen & Joe for your service. Pricing:Was fair and in line with the industry standard. ParkingIs a bit of a chore because it is a shared parking lot. But other than that, no issues, no complaints. Ambiance & Outdoor Seating:Love, love, love the outdoor table settings. It had such a So.Cali feel, until, you can get lost in the time while and after eating. The indoor portion was great as well, table and booth seating for your dining pleasure. There's a happy hour special that caught my attention & I made a mental note of it... Hello.There's a catering menu & one for a family feast of sorts... I'll have to remember that for an office/work party. The regular menu is vast enough by itself for all tastes. I plan to visit again. That hummus & Greek salad with the falafel patties (of another review) were phenomenal."

Lava Lounge

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (3)

"GET THE A/C FIXEDSome of the best wings in the city. Drinks lacked a lot of liquor. But the place has great potential hopefully they do it because it's a really nice spot and it's huge Vibes and events could be crazy"

Shaya

★★★★★ 4.5 • $$

"Went here with some folks from work. We had lots of apps my favorite was roasted red pepper Muhammara and close second baby ganoush that was roasted egg plants and charred green onion. They kept refilling the bread and I wasnt ordering for the large table so am not sure if this is normal or extra charge but great for the apps.Main course i had the roasted lamb and it was awesome. Service was amazing very attentive, knowledgeable and nice. Location is very cool. I highly recommend!"