This place never peaked my interest until I noticed that every day at lunch, there was a huge line. I finally decided I needed to see what all the fuss was about. Their food is so good! The portions are huge for the price that you pay. They do get long lines, but move it along as fast as they can. They have an efficient system working for them. They're like the Mediterranean Chipotle. The spicy chicken pita, which isn't that spicy, the Mezza salad, chicken Caesar salad and lentil soup are my favorite. The pita chips they put in the salads are delish!
(4)
Stephen W.
First off, I work in the building, so I've been going here ever since they opened and go at least 6 times a month (and as much as 3 times a week). The line can get long but it is worth the wait. Part of the reason for the long line is because they let you build your own pita, wrap or salad. I'm a big fan of all the options they offer and you can make it healthy. The people behind the counter will move fast, so try to figure out what you want as soon as you can. Seating is limited but in the summer time, you can get it to go and sit out on the plaza.
(4)
Kelly K.
Went for lunch and was served quickly. My lunch companion and I both had the chicken kabobs with rice. The chicken was fantastic, but what we paid for the meal would have gotten twice the food at Haifa Cafe. Good sized portions for lunch, but I was left wanting just a little bit more.
(3)
Alex D.
I have been coming back there for my 4th lunch in a row since I discovered this gem. That's very unusual for me. And each time I would order that same Mediterranean salad with grilled chicken that I can't get enough of. The grilled chicken is perfectly charred and tastes like it is just from the grill. The salad has just the right amount of crunchy lettuce with minced tomatoes, onions, olives and feta cheese with excessive amount of olive oil on it. To top it off, you'll have a warm, very soft, flavorful, mouthwatering pita. By far the best I have tried. And the line is SUPER fast, you can get a meal of your choice in under 1 minute. No joking! Why miss a star? There's maximum four seats available which looks kind of lame. This is strictly an in-and-out type of cafe. And their menu is limited to 3 or 4 items. All in all, I think they made the right sacrifices, which makes them a popular lunch spot in the loop.
(4)
Trina J.
Serious fan on board. Mezza is my lunch spot at least 1-2 times a week. A tasty soup and side salad for $6.79. Works for me! Salad I like both the Shepherd's salad and Mediterranean salad. I am most impressed by the way it is prepared. All items are placed in a bowl and then mixed together before it is packaged in your container. This eliminates the need to mix your salad up before you eat. It is well blended with the perfect amount of dressing. Soups I have tried both the Lentil soup and Chicken Chili soup. I like the Lentil but prefer the Chicken Chili which is slightly spicy. Hours This location is open about 5 hours a day. Essentially lunch only,
(4)
Fritz E.
Walked in looking for something different to eat during lunch break from work. Couldn't find a menu anywhere. Woman behind the counter told me "Just tell me what you want." Not very helpful. Walked across the hall to Jimmy John's; they have this thing called a "menu" posted in plain view. How novel. I don't have time to dick around guessing what a restaurant may or may not have available during my lunch break.
(1)
Justine M.
I always enjoy a good Mezza salad, but for some reason the mediterranean salad at this location isn't up to par. It's very small inside so make sure you take it to go, which a lot of folk in the building do
(3)
P H.
Food is good but every time I order a salad, there's something missing. Last time it was the goat cheese. Today it was the avocado. The woman in front of me today complained that the olives were missing from hers. It's always the same female staffer making the salads - she throws it together so quickly that it's no wonder she misses ingredients along the way. Of course, it's take-out only so I never discover the omission until I'm back in my office. Very annoying.
(2)
dan s.
This place is a bit of disaster when it comes to Mediterranean food. Should I have packed up and left when I said put all the toppings (which are listed btw) on my falafel and she put cheese on it without flinching??? Should I have ran when she asked if I wanted Pico De Gallo??? Should I have refused to pay when they didn't bother to wrap the sandwich leaving me with a falafel/soft shell taco hybrid that was likely to, and did, come undone 2/3 of the through a carefully consumed below mediocre sandwich??? Yes, Yes and Yes. Maybe other people have found good food there, but don't go if you want Falafel or Shwarma and have tasted those items at a proper spot before.
(1)
Stef M.
Very good lunch spot. They accept Level Up payment, so kudos to that! Excellent chicken kabob.
(4)
Lee R.
Outstanding. Oasis Cafe, Naf Naf, etc. aren't quite in the same class as this place. Both the shawarma sandwich and falafel were excellent and came in at about $8! As someone else mentioned, these falafel are clearly made from fresh ingredients; they have an aroma, color, and taste that is unlike many other. Pop a little hot sauce into your pita if you're feeling bold!
(5)
Kat A.
For what it is . . . I'm addicted . . . hi my name is Kat and I'm powerless over the chicken shawirma pita, it's making my lunch hour unmanageable. (I think it's the sauce) - it's like $7 - but it's amazingly good and enough food - and and - I love it. Yummy loop lunchtime food. I really need to start bringing my own lunch (but hey I said that the entire year and a half I worked down here last time too, and then what would I yelp about?) so . . . a little pricey, but delicious . . . and fast moving line, friendly service, well worth a bit of time and money and way superior to the food court down the way.
(4)
John S.
I come here for lunch about 3-4 times a month and i never get let down. I like lamb and downtown it's hard to get lamb on the quick unless you get a gyros (which they have and is excellent) so i often opt for the lamb and beef sharwima. The fact that there is always a line here should be the indicator of quality for a non-chain train station restaurant. They have seasoned curley fries which i really like, but the athenian rice is raved about by my more health conscious friends. Salads are also very good, i had the mezzaterranean salad which was good, but i have a hearty appetite and wish it was larger. key words here are FRESH, TASTY, FAST. average bill with drink and side is about $8. mezzagrill.com
(4)
Sharlene K.
If you're not near Andersonville (ie you're working in the Loop), this is a good spot to hit up. They have some super juicy Chicken Shawrma. The Spicy Chicken (which is flavorful spicy but not hot spicy) is delicious. The Skirt Steak is delicious too. The Falafel is GREEN. This is crucial because that means they're using fresh parsley in their mix. Hell, I've seen them take freshly cooked garbanzo beans, and blend them with bundles of fresh parsley and roll out their falafel balls themselves (but I have lunch super early). It is an excellent falafel that they sandwich with Jeruselam salad rather than just hummus or baba ganoush. The Chopped Salad is the only salad I've ever been addicted to. It's romaine, gorganzola, pita croutons, red onions, cucumber, and a mystery house dressing that is awesome. Get Chicken on top and you won't be left hungry. Another plus about this place is that their hot sauce is rooster hot sauce. If you know about the rooster, you know that is some quality hot sauce that nearly every Asian household I know of, swears by. If you like spicy-hot, ask for this sauce on the side. PS. I wouldn't call it like the "The Chipotle of Mediterranean Food" just because in my experience, the vast majority of falafel houses have done assembly line service. Chipotle being the recently born chain it is, probably like the vast majority of fast food places, borrowed the assembly line idea from its predecessors. Outside of being nice and polished, this place isn't anything like Chipotle.
(4)
Sarah R.
Don't waste you time at Mezza. It is just kinda gross. Seriously, just go to Roti or I Dream of Falafel.
(1)
It's The F.
I have a problem giving places 5 stars - sue me:P At least I am honest Okay so I really had a craving for a chicken wrap today and found this place in walking distance of my office, decided hey why not its Friday! Well there was no line and the staff were all friendly, they gave lots of selections but as I said I wanted a chicken wrap......got a ceasar chicken wrap.......IT WAS HUGE! Well in comparison to my normal portions and guess what? I ate the whole freaking thing, especially since it had extra cheese on it...highly recommend prices are reasonable.....6.13 you can't beat it next time I go I am getting a pita or something though.......
(4)
Lindsey K.
I originally discovered this place in the Nordstrom Mall food court on Michigan Ave., and found it again in the Ogilvie station plaza. I have only tried the wraps, the Roasted Red Pepper Hummus and the Roasted Veggie Wrap. The vegetables are grilled: squash, zucchini, eggplant! Soooo good! Great menu, good portions, and a healthy lunch option.
(4)
Jef B.
Mezza is now one of my favorite lunch spots. Today I had a chicken shawarma pita, with hot sauce on the side, and a bowl of lentil soup. Delicious. This location is in Ogilvie Transportation Center / Citigroup Center, and has almost no seating. You are best off bagging it and going downstairs to the food mall in the ground floor of Ogilvie. I was pleasantly surprised to see they stock Fiji water, the only lunch spot in the Loop I have seen do that.
(4)
Darnell T.
I have only had the chicken schawarma pita, and it's really good takeout food...if they get your order right. I have punitively deducted one star due to the heinous ordering process. It's an assembly line (a la Chipotle or Subway). But nearly every time I've been here, they've botched my order by confusing it with the order of the person ahead of me. As it moves down the assembly line and each worker adds toppings, it drifts out of sight behind a huge support beam into the realm of pita purgatory. Chaos ensues. At this point, my pita inexplicably gets ahead of me and they end up asking the person in front of me what to put on MY pita! I've had to have my pita made over on 2 occasions due to this architectural obstruction. The last time I was there, I was able to rescue my beloved pocket of meat and lettuce to prevent the mix-up, but it was quite difficult and aggravating. I refuse to return. I don't need this level of anxiety on my lunch break.
(3)
Michael S.
In my opinion, better than Roti and less expensive.
(3)
Shanti N.
Will make this a quick one as I went for lunch here. I had catered food from this place about a year ago, but going in person and being able to choose what I wanted vastly improved the experience. I had the spicy chicken wrap (bonus for being able to request extra-hot sauce on the side)! The quality of ingredients, as well as the speed and high quality of service make this a good lunchtime option, one that I will definitely be frequenting. Much fresher and tastier than Roti.
(4)
Mary T.
This place is so good, which explains why the line is always ridiculously long. The chopped salads is excellent and I also love the red pepper hummus pita. My friend also raves about the lentil soup and chicken shwirma. The food is consistently fresh and tasty. I will say though that the curly fries seem completely out of place on the menu.
(4)
Jayne D.
I don't understand the good reviews at all. I had the chicken kabob plate and was extremely disappointed. The chicken was not trimmed. It had skin and gristle in it. It was also dry and flavorless. The vegetables were also dry, and the rice was flavorless. The hummus tasted synthetic, like the cheap stuff you buy in the grocery store. Roti and Haifa Cafe are SO much better. They did not offer any sauces, which were supposed to come with the meal. There are only a few toppings, unlike Roti. I saw pickles, a cilantro-ridden veggie salad (yuck), onions and I think there was lettuce. There was no feta, olives, couscous, grilled veggies, etc. I took a few bites, then threw it out and grabbed a granola bar from the office cafeteria.
(1)
Jeremy O.
Can you say E.Coli? How about Salmonella? Well after a visit here, you may need to... Literally everytime I've eaten here the meat has been completely undercooked. Not just pink but almost "was this ever heated over a grill?" red! I'm an adventurous eater, but not enough to put my health in jeopardy....
(1)
Kim J.
Mezza is one of the better options for lunch in the area, and probably the best option in the train station. Their focus is on Mediterranean food, and they offer lots of pitas and wraps with fresh chicken, steak, and veggies. They also have awesome salads - the chopped salad with spicy chicken is my newest obsession. They use pita chips instead of croutons. They must be putting crack in those pita chips, because I can't get enough of them. The line can be kind of confusing (there are separate salad and sandwich lines, but you have to go through the sandwich line to get to the salad line, and you inevitably end up cutting in front of someone who is waiting for a salad but doesn't know that salad-wanters can go straight through to the salad line), but they do the best they can with a small space. And the food is so yummy that I don't mind. :)
(4)
Mary W.
I have the Mezzateranian salad once a week for lunch! The dressing is so delsh! The only downside is the service can be rushed and they frequently run out of chicken kabobs. You have to try the chocolate chip cookies by the register, amazing!
(4)
Happiness L.
Very impressed. I first came here a couple of weeks ago and two people in front of me ordered the same thing...one of their salads with spicy chicken so I did too. Huge! Fresh! Yummy! and served with a pita. I forgot the name of this salad, but it was excellent. I went back this week and had the grilled veggie salad...this time I liked it, but wish the dressing was more flavorful. They are super fast here too. In and out.
(4)
Justin M.
Son of a B, your chicken schwarma is GOOOD!! Located in my building, I never have to go far for some good meals. Mezza's has excellent food, and at a very good price. They have some tasty salads, which including my favorite, the grilled veggie salad. MMMM MMM MMMM!
(4)
Josh H.
So my coworker and I frequent this loop joint often and for one reason.... chicken and hummus!!! Their spicy chicken will knock you off your feet and the hummus is so good, but could stand some spice, so we dump Frank's Red Hot in there and go to town! Line can be lengthy, but wait for it, you wont be disappointed.
(4)
EricandEvan ..
Mezza is a twice-weekly lunch stop for my co-workers and I. The wraps and pitas are very good. I highly recommend the chicken shawarma on wheat with hummus, mmmm. The salads are also very popular. Mezza is expensive, you will spend about $6-7, you're paying for the quality. The falafels aren't that great. If you want a falafel, take the skywalk over to the Citigroup building and get a falafel at Jaffa Bagel, it's much better.
(4)
Yujin A.
The food here is OK. There are not that many healthy meal options in the train station food court, and this place is quick, so it will survive. If you feel like Mediterranean, you should go to Taza. Not that you can really expect good service during lunch rushes, but the staff could use some friendliness. They didn't pack my food tight enough, and the brown bag that contained lentil soup and a wrap totally fell apart as soon as the girl handed it to me. The soup got all over my black skirt, but they didn't even bother to apologize. I'd give the food at least three stars. I love the wheat bread/totilla they use for wraps. The lentil soup is good, but way too watery.
(2)
Rachel L.
Have been back a few times and I must say everything else I have tried has been much tastier than the lamb and beef schawerma, with the highlights being the chopped salad (as so many others have stated) and the falafel pita. They are always really quick and efficient which is great for a 60 minute lunch break, and they even gave me a frequent diner card. I will be back to use that frequent diner card for sure.
(4)
Tone K.
One of the freshest and best tastings salads I have had around the area. Not too expensive, for a large chopped salad with chicken I paid $7.90. Food was pretty fast and service was good. Will definitley be back here soon !
(5)
Jared S.
Their Chicken Cesear Salad is a chow! Also their steak rap is very good. I feel like I'm eating healthy whenever I eat Mezza.
(5)
Kevin D.
I can only speak for the lentil soup which I love love love. Consistently excellent and filling and cheap and healthy. Plus, when you get the soup you can skip the line and go right to the cash register.
(5)
Liz H.
Just had lunch at Mezza for the first time. I have dubbed it The Chipotle of Mediterranean Food! You get in line and if you are ordering a wrap or pita, they put it on one of those warmer press things that chipotle has and then they add on top your main ingredient and your fixin's and wrap it in foil so when they had it to you it looks just like a burrito! I had the falafel pita that was great and my friend had the grilled chicken kabab pita that looked awesome. My one problem was that I couldn't quite understand what the guy behind the counter was saying --- so I just said I wanted everything. I look forward to going back and trying some of the other dishes at Mezza.
(3)
Taylor O.
It is kinda like a Chipotle- nice description below. Falafel was tasty and fresh, though the sauce a bit more bitter than I'm used to. The rice was fantastic! If only they could have whole grain pitas and rice and I'd be there a ton. Not much room inside so went outside by the river to sit on the benches which was slightly odd considering I had no jacket and it's still a bit wintery but most enjoyable. There was only one person in line at about 11:15 (I went early b/c of the potential line).
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes
Greek food is a fine melody of the finest pressed olive oil, fresh fermented bread, colorful vegetables, juicy meat, sea food all cooked in spices and fresh rosemary. The people from Greek were great scholars who aimed to excel in everything they do. The results are quite visible in their food as they are the inventors of olive oil which is beneficial to health. Greeks also made different type of wines from the best quality of grapes fermented in controlled environment.
Today, you can find hundreds of restaurants offering authentic Greek food or popularly termed as Mediterranean cuisine in New York city alone. People wait in line to taste the exotic Greek dishes like saganaki, taramasalata, souvlaki, loukoumades, spanakopita, moussaka, and many more. One thing which most people like about these authentic Greek dishes is abundant use of lemon juice, olive oil, fresh rosemary and sea salt. A smart mix of few ingredients can virtually take you on the pebble streets of beautiful city of Greece.
For those who don't have time to enjoy fine dining should try tasting the famous souvlaki with pita which is type of meat dish, also a trademark Greek fast food. For those who are vegetarian, or vegan can try different versions of Greek Salad. So, if you wish to enjoy a hearty yet healthy meal that tastes divine then try dining at the best Greek restaurant in your city. Greek cuisine not only tastes good but also help maintain your body in a natural way through healthy diet.
Leanna S.
This place never peaked my interest until I noticed that every day at lunch, there was a huge line. I finally decided I needed to see what all the fuss was about. Their food is so good! The portions are huge for the price that you pay. They do get long lines, but move it along as fast as they can. They have an efficient system working for them. They're like the Mediterranean Chipotle. The spicy chicken pita, which isn't that spicy, the Mezza salad, chicken Caesar salad and lentil soup are my favorite. The pita chips they put in the salads are delish!
(4)Stephen W.
First off, I work in the building, so I've been going here ever since they opened and go at least 6 times a month (and as much as 3 times a week). The line can get long but it is worth the wait. Part of the reason for the long line is because they let you build your own pita, wrap or salad. I'm a big fan of all the options they offer and you can make it healthy. The people behind the counter will move fast, so try to figure out what you want as soon as you can. Seating is limited but in the summer time, you can get it to go and sit out on the plaza.
(4)Kelly K.
Went for lunch and was served quickly. My lunch companion and I both had the chicken kabobs with rice. The chicken was fantastic, but what we paid for the meal would have gotten twice the food at Haifa Cafe. Good sized portions for lunch, but I was left wanting just a little bit more.
(3)Alex D.
I have been coming back there for my 4th lunch in a row since I discovered this gem. That's very unusual for me. And each time I would order that same Mediterranean salad with grilled chicken that I can't get enough of. The grilled chicken is perfectly charred and tastes like it is just from the grill. The salad has just the right amount of crunchy lettuce with minced tomatoes, onions, olives and feta cheese with excessive amount of olive oil on it. To top it off, you'll have a warm, very soft, flavorful, mouthwatering pita. By far the best I have tried. And the line is SUPER fast, you can get a meal of your choice in under 1 minute. No joking! Why miss a star? There's maximum four seats available which looks kind of lame. This is strictly an in-and-out type of cafe. And their menu is limited to 3 or 4 items. All in all, I think they made the right sacrifices, which makes them a popular lunch spot in the loop.
(4)Trina J.
Serious fan on board. Mezza is my lunch spot at least 1-2 times a week. A tasty soup and side salad for $6.79. Works for me! Salad I like both the Shepherd's salad and Mediterranean salad. I am most impressed by the way it is prepared. All items are placed in a bowl and then mixed together before it is packaged in your container. This eliminates the need to mix your salad up before you eat. It is well blended with the perfect amount of dressing. Soups I have tried both the Lentil soup and Chicken Chili soup. I like the Lentil but prefer the Chicken Chili which is slightly spicy. Hours This location is open about 5 hours a day. Essentially lunch only,
(4)Fritz E.
Walked in looking for something different to eat during lunch break from work. Couldn't find a menu anywhere. Woman behind the counter told me "Just tell me what you want." Not very helpful. Walked across the hall to Jimmy John's; they have this thing called a "menu" posted in plain view. How novel. I don't have time to dick around guessing what a restaurant may or may not have available during my lunch break.
(1)Justine M.
I always enjoy a good Mezza salad, but for some reason the mediterranean salad at this location isn't up to par. It's very small inside so make sure you take it to go, which a lot of folk in the building do
(3)P H.
Food is good but every time I order a salad, there's something missing. Last time it was the goat cheese. Today it was the avocado. The woman in front of me today complained that the olives were missing from hers. It's always the same female staffer making the salads - she throws it together so quickly that it's no wonder she misses ingredients along the way. Of course, it's take-out only so I never discover the omission until I'm back in my office. Very annoying.
(2)dan s.
This place is a bit of disaster when it comes to Mediterranean food. Should I have packed up and left when I said put all the toppings (which are listed btw) on my falafel and she put cheese on it without flinching??? Should I have ran when she asked if I wanted Pico De Gallo??? Should I have refused to pay when they didn't bother to wrap the sandwich leaving me with a falafel/soft shell taco hybrid that was likely to, and did, come undone 2/3 of the through a carefully consumed below mediocre sandwich??? Yes, Yes and Yes. Maybe other people have found good food there, but don't go if you want Falafel or Shwarma and have tasted those items at a proper spot before.
(1)Stef M.
Very good lunch spot. They accept Level Up payment, so kudos to that! Excellent chicken kabob.
(4)Lee R.
Outstanding. Oasis Cafe, Naf Naf, etc. aren't quite in the same class as this place. Both the shawarma sandwich and falafel were excellent and came in at about $8! As someone else mentioned, these falafel are clearly made from fresh ingredients; they have an aroma, color, and taste that is unlike many other. Pop a little hot sauce into your pita if you're feeling bold!
(5)Kat A.
For what it is . . . I'm addicted . . . hi my name is Kat and I'm powerless over the chicken shawirma pita, it's making my lunch hour unmanageable. (I think it's the sauce) - it's like $7 - but it's amazingly good and enough food - and and - I love it. Yummy loop lunchtime food. I really need to start bringing my own lunch (but hey I said that the entire year and a half I worked down here last time too, and then what would I yelp about?) so . . . a little pricey, but delicious . . . and fast moving line, friendly service, well worth a bit of time and money and way superior to the food court down the way.
(4)John S.
I come here for lunch about 3-4 times a month and i never get let down. I like lamb and downtown it's hard to get lamb on the quick unless you get a gyros (which they have and is excellent) so i often opt for the lamb and beef sharwima. The fact that there is always a line here should be the indicator of quality for a non-chain train station restaurant. They have seasoned curley fries which i really like, but the athenian rice is raved about by my more health conscious friends. Salads are also very good, i had the mezzaterranean salad which was good, but i have a hearty appetite and wish it was larger. key words here are FRESH, TASTY, FAST. average bill with drink and side is about $8. mezzagrill.com
(4)Sharlene K.
If you're not near Andersonville (ie you're working in the Loop), this is a good spot to hit up. They have some super juicy Chicken Shawrma. The Spicy Chicken (which is flavorful spicy but not hot spicy) is delicious. The Skirt Steak is delicious too. The Falafel is GREEN. This is crucial because that means they're using fresh parsley in their mix. Hell, I've seen them take freshly cooked garbanzo beans, and blend them with bundles of fresh parsley and roll out their falafel balls themselves (but I have lunch super early). It is an excellent falafel that they sandwich with Jeruselam salad rather than just hummus or baba ganoush. The Chopped Salad is the only salad I've ever been addicted to. It's romaine, gorganzola, pita croutons, red onions, cucumber, and a mystery house dressing that is awesome. Get Chicken on top and you won't be left hungry. Another plus about this place is that their hot sauce is rooster hot sauce. If you know about the rooster, you know that is some quality hot sauce that nearly every Asian household I know of, swears by. If you like spicy-hot, ask for this sauce on the side. PS. I wouldn't call it like the "The Chipotle of Mediterranean Food" just because in my experience, the vast majority of falafel houses have done assembly line service. Chipotle being the recently born chain it is, probably like the vast majority of fast food places, borrowed the assembly line idea from its predecessors. Outside of being nice and polished, this place isn't anything like Chipotle.
(4)Sarah R.
Don't waste you time at Mezza. It is just kinda gross. Seriously, just go to Roti or I Dream of Falafel.
(1)It's The F.
I have a problem giving places 5 stars - sue me:P At least I am honest Okay so I really had a craving for a chicken wrap today and found this place in walking distance of my office, decided hey why not its Friday! Well there was no line and the staff were all friendly, they gave lots of selections but as I said I wanted a chicken wrap......got a ceasar chicken wrap.......IT WAS HUGE! Well in comparison to my normal portions and guess what? I ate the whole freaking thing, especially since it had extra cheese on it...highly recommend prices are reasonable.....6.13 you can't beat it next time I go I am getting a pita or something though.......
(4)Lindsey K.
I originally discovered this place in the Nordstrom Mall food court on Michigan Ave., and found it again in the Ogilvie station plaza. I have only tried the wraps, the Roasted Red Pepper Hummus and the Roasted Veggie Wrap. The vegetables are grilled: squash, zucchini, eggplant! Soooo good! Great menu, good portions, and a healthy lunch option.
(4)Jef B.
Mezza is now one of my favorite lunch spots. Today I had a chicken shawarma pita, with hot sauce on the side, and a bowl of lentil soup. Delicious. This location is in Ogilvie Transportation Center / Citigroup Center, and has almost no seating. You are best off bagging it and going downstairs to the food mall in the ground floor of Ogilvie. I was pleasantly surprised to see they stock Fiji water, the only lunch spot in the Loop I have seen do that.
(4)Darnell T.
I have only had the chicken schawarma pita, and it's really good takeout food...if they get your order right. I have punitively deducted one star due to the heinous ordering process. It's an assembly line (a la Chipotle or Subway). But nearly every time I've been here, they've botched my order by confusing it with the order of the person ahead of me. As it moves down the assembly line and each worker adds toppings, it drifts out of sight behind a huge support beam into the realm of pita purgatory. Chaos ensues. At this point, my pita inexplicably gets ahead of me and they end up asking the person in front of me what to put on MY pita! I've had to have my pita made over on 2 occasions due to this architectural obstruction. The last time I was there, I was able to rescue my beloved pocket of meat and lettuce to prevent the mix-up, but it was quite difficult and aggravating. I refuse to return. I don't need this level of anxiety on my lunch break.
(3)Michael S.
In my opinion, better than Roti and less expensive.
(3)Shanti N.
Will make this a quick one as I went for lunch here. I had catered food from this place about a year ago, but going in person and being able to choose what I wanted vastly improved the experience. I had the spicy chicken wrap (bonus for being able to request extra-hot sauce on the side)! The quality of ingredients, as well as the speed and high quality of service make this a good lunchtime option, one that I will definitely be frequenting. Much fresher and tastier than Roti.
(4)Mary T.
This place is so good, which explains why the line is always ridiculously long. The chopped salads is excellent and I also love the red pepper hummus pita. My friend also raves about the lentil soup and chicken shwirma. The food is consistently fresh and tasty. I will say though that the curly fries seem completely out of place on the menu.
(4)Jayne D.
I don't understand the good reviews at all. I had the chicken kabob plate and was extremely disappointed. The chicken was not trimmed. It had skin and gristle in it. It was also dry and flavorless. The vegetables were also dry, and the rice was flavorless. The hummus tasted synthetic, like the cheap stuff you buy in the grocery store. Roti and Haifa Cafe are SO much better. They did not offer any sauces, which were supposed to come with the meal. There are only a few toppings, unlike Roti. I saw pickles, a cilantro-ridden veggie salad (yuck), onions and I think there was lettuce. There was no feta, olives, couscous, grilled veggies, etc. I took a few bites, then threw it out and grabbed a granola bar from the office cafeteria.
(1)Jeremy O.
Can you say E.Coli? How about Salmonella? Well after a visit here, you may need to... Literally everytime I've eaten here the meat has been completely undercooked. Not just pink but almost "was this ever heated over a grill?" red! I'm an adventurous eater, but not enough to put my health in jeopardy....
(1)Kim J.
Mezza is one of the better options for lunch in the area, and probably the best option in the train station. Their focus is on Mediterranean food, and they offer lots of pitas and wraps with fresh chicken, steak, and veggies. They also have awesome salads - the chopped salad with spicy chicken is my newest obsession. They use pita chips instead of croutons. They must be putting crack in those pita chips, because I can't get enough of them. The line can be kind of confusing (there are separate salad and sandwich lines, but you have to go through the sandwich line to get to the salad line, and you inevitably end up cutting in front of someone who is waiting for a salad but doesn't know that salad-wanters can go straight through to the salad line), but they do the best they can with a small space. And the food is so yummy that I don't mind. :)
(4)Mary W.
I have the Mezzateranian salad once a week for lunch! The dressing is so delsh! The only downside is the service can be rushed and they frequently run out of chicken kabobs. You have to try the chocolate chip cookies by the register, amazing!
(4)Happiness L.
Very impressed. I first came here a couple of weeks ago and two people in front of me ordered the same thing...one of their salads with spicy chicken so I did too. Huge! Fresh! Yummy! and served with a pita. I forgot the name of this salad, but it was excellent. I went back this week and had the grilled veggie salad...this time I liked it, but wish the dressing was more flavorful. They are super fast here too. In and out.
(4)Justin M.
Son of a B, your chicken schwarma is GOOOD!! Located in my building, I never have to go far for some good meals. Mezza's has excellent food, and at a very good price. They have some tasty salads, which including my favorite, the grilled veggie salad. MMMM MMM MMMM!
(4)Josh H.
So my coworker and I frequent this loop joint often and for one reason.... chicken and hummus!!! Their spicy chicken will knock you off your feet and the hummus is so good, but could stand some spice, so we dump Frank's Red Hot in there and go to town! Line can be lengthy, but wait for it, you wont be disappointed.
(4)EricandEvan ..
Mezza is a twice-weekly lunch stop for my co-workers and I. The wraps and pitas are very good. I highly recommend the chicken shawarma on wheat with hummus, mmmm. The salads are also very popular. Mezza is expensive, you will spend about $6-7, you're paying for the quality. The falafels aren't that great. If you want a falafel, take the skywalk over to the Citigroup building and get a falafel at Jaffa Bagel, it's much better.
(4)Yujin A.
The food here is OK. There are not that many healthy meal options in the train station food court, and this place is quick, so it will survive. If you feel like Mediterranean, you should go to Taza. Not that you can really expect good service during lunch rushes, but the staff could use some friendliness. They didn't pack my food tight enough, and the brown bag that contained lentil soup and a wrap totally fell apart as soon as the girl handed it to me. The soup got all over my black skirt, but they didn't even bother to apologize. I'd give the food at least three stars. I love the wheat bread/totilla they use for wraps. The lentil soup is good, but way too watery.
(2)Rachel L.
Have been back a few times and I must say everything else I have tried has been much tastier than the lamb and beef schawerma, with the highlights being the chopped salad (as so many others have stated) and the falafel pita. They are always really quick and efficient which is great for a 60 minute lunch break, and they even gave me a frequent diner card. I will be back to use that frequent diner card for sure.
(4)Tone K.
One of the freshest and best tastings salads I have had around the area. Not too expensive, for a large chopped salad with chicken I paid $7.90. Food was pretty fast and service was good. Will definitley be back here soon !
(5)Jared S.
Their Chicken Cesear Salad is a chow! Also their steak rap is very good. I feel like I'm eating healthy whenever I eat Mezza.
(5)Kevin D.
I can only speak for the lentil soup which I love love love. Consistently excellent and filling and cheap and healthy. Plus, when you get the soup you can skip the line and go right to the cash register.
(5)Liz H.
Just had lunch at Mezza for the first time. I have dubbed it The Chipotle of Mediterranean Food! You get in line and if you are ordering a wrap or pita, they put it on one of those warmer press things that chipotle has and then they add on top your main ingredient and your fixin's and wrap it in foil so when they had it to you it looks just like a burrito! I had the falafel pita that was great and my friend had the grilled chicken kabab pita that looked awesome. My one problem was that I couldn't quite understand what the guy behind the counter was saying --- so I just said I wanted everything. I look forward to going back and trying some of the other dishes at Mezza.
(3)Taylor O.
It is kinda like a Chipotle- nice description below. Falafel was tasty and fresh, though the sauce a bit more bitter than I'm used to. The rice was fantastic! If only they could have whole grain pitas and rice and I'd be there a ton. Not much room inside so went outside by the river to sit on the benches which was slightly odd considering I had no jacket and it's still a bit wintery but most enjoyable. There was only one person in line at about 11:15 (I went early b/c of the potential line).
(4)