Cedar Grill
2223 Ogden Ave, Downers Grove, IL, 60515
Cedar Grill Menu
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Address :
2223 Ogden Ave
Downers Grove, IL, 60515 - Phone (630) 241-2525
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Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Avanti H.
There food is great the best middle eastern food in the area , LOVE IT !!
(5)Melissa R.
LOVE!!! This is all I can say when I think of ceadar grill!!! The food is outstanding, the restaurant is clean, the staff is friendly and accommodating!!! I can't say enough positive things about it!!! We have explored the menu and not been disappointed once, however we frequent the chicken sandwich with extra honey mustard. By far the BEST honey mustard I've ever had! They should seriously jar and sell that stuff!! Recently we tried pitaville save your time and drive to DG, hit up Ceadar Grill!!!
(5)Tara H.
My visit today was while on a business trip. I was pleased with the menu choices and friendly cashier. I decided to try the chicken kebab dinner plate, a small side of hummus and a piece of baklava for desert. The portion was huge! I was surprised when I brought the food back to my hotel that it included lentil soup. The soup was very flavorful and the chicken was tender and moist. Their rice is exceptionally good and huge in portion size as well. Everything paired well with their garlic sauce. I thought their hummus was good but lacked in flavor a little but I did enjoy it with their pita. Later I tried the baklava with a cup of hot tea. It had a delightful creamy taste and not overly sweet. I have plenty for leftovers! The next time I am in town I will look forward to trying a new menu item.
(4)Betty S.
Not bad for the suburbs! It was busy with the office crowd eating a casual lunch. My family shared these three things, for ~$30. Appetizer sampler (hummus, baba ganoush, falafel, toubouli) - the falafel was a big winner!! Nicely fried and very crispy. Delicious dipped in the hummus, which is slightly spicy from the seasoning & oil they put on top. The baba ganoush was very smokey flavored and smooth. The toubouli needed some extra lemon juice though. Chicken schwarma pita wrap - looks small, but it's very filling. Slather it with the garlic mayo! Rice plate with beef schwarma - tasty rice pilaf topped with beef served with a grilled piece of green pepper and tomato half. The beef was a bit dry and tough, but adding some of the garlic mayo made it taste better.
(4)Minh-An C.
I got the chicken kabob pita wrap and it was yummy. Pricing is reasonable for a wrap. It comes in 2 so it gets pretty filling. I also got to try the falafel and I thought it was okay, nothing amazing..I definitely have had better falafel. They charge extra for the white sauce and my friends and I didn't know until the waiter told us after we asked for two cups of white sauce. The water from the soda dispenser there also tasted like it has a high amount of iron in it too and I was really disgusted with the taste of it.
(3)Mike O.
Cedar Grill puts out a respectable fast-casual version of Middle Eastern food. You order at the counter and pick it up when it's ready. The prices seem to be in line with what other restaurants of this type charge. It's not a super bargain, nor is it overpriced. Interestingly, Cedar Grill does not follow the Chipotle-esque practice of picking a protein, add-ins, and a sauce. This may make it more approachable for those new to the cuisine. Instead, you pick a type of wrap, sandwich or bowl. In most cases you'll be presented with all three options for the proteins (e.g. beef kabob, chicken shawarma, kifta kabob). The hummus appetizer was really tasty. I ate it with the supplied pita bread and used it later to help flavor my meal. Their falafel came out to the pickup counter hot and tasty - a very nice example. The beef kabob pita wrap got good reviews from my dad. My mom's chicken shawarma pita wrap was also good, though she wasn't that happy with the sauce, which was liberally applied. My beef shawarma pita wrap was decent, but I didn't enjoy it as much as versions I've had elsewhere. Finally, the baklava was pretty good, though the portion size was small. If I'm in the area (near Belmont and Ogden - just west of Fannie Mae), I'd stop in again.
(3)Sara T.
Wow I was skeptical this place would live up to the hype, but, damn! I got the chicken schwarma wrap. The pita was not too thick or thin and slightly crispy around the edges. The garlic sauce is amazing. Gonna be back again soon to try out the over rice entrees and falafels. Yum!
(5)Christina B.
Solid 4.5 stars. Man, it's so hard to find good food in the suburbs. I've been hunting for a good Middle Eastern eats place for about 8 months now (still missing my Falaelji in Lyons though), and I think I finally found what I was looking for. Small, quaint place, with a good vibe when you walk in. It's been packed the two times I've been here, so that's always a good sign. I always judge a place on their falafel: this place has some pretty solid falafel. Crunchy outside, soft and moist inside, and flavorful taste. It was melt in your mouth good. Not as much of a fan of the pita grill they do. They have a crunchier falafel pita, and I prefer it softer. Just a personal preference. Their combo plate was out of this world good. I can't even tell you how melt in your mouth the meat was or how flavorful the rice was. Put a little of their garlic mayo on the pita, stuff some rice in there with some delicious shawarma, and you've got one hell of a sandwich. Multiply this by 2, you're stuffed with left overs. So super good. Yes, I have to agree, the prices are a little high, but worth it since there is no other options in the area besides Naf Naf. Delicious. Trust me.
(4)R.J. V.
This place makes Mediterranean dishes. So it may not be for every taste. Mine included, which is why I preface my review stating this. So even though it may not be the go to place for my taste buds that is no fault of the staff or ingredients. I ordered the beef schwarma and lamb sausage plate. The schwarma was basically a gyros but seemed much leaner. The meat seemed to be primarily beef and seasoned. It came with 4 small pitas to fold the meat into. I just don't think schwarma is for me since I've had it at two different places with the same reaction. It's just a bit too dry and bland for my likes. The lamb sausage was very tasty. Almost sweet. It seemed kind of like a dessert sausage if that makes sense. Both entrees came with a large pile of rice. The rice was also tasty. No complaints about the rice. I just wish the food matched the pictures they had advertised since I was hoping for grilled vegetables as well. None of that was included. The staff was also very friendly. Thought be prepared to wait about ten minutes for your food depending on what you get. Overall a very good location for this type of food. I plan to visit again.
(3)Connie L.
I pass by this place all the time so I decided to try it on a whim. I ordered the cedar mixed grill (chicken, beef and kifta). The portions are huge (it's enough to feed two people). Everything was well seasoned and was tasty.
(4)Raj D.
Great local spot for your Mediterranean fix. I always try either the Kifta Kabaob (lamb) or the traditional Gyro. Tips: ask for your wrap or sandwhich to be DELUXE (This will add fries and a pickle which creates a unique flavor)... they do carry a nice hot sauce but you have to ask. Restaurant ambiance is nothing special just reminds you of a mom and pop restaurant but always packed. You can fit aroudn 20 people in there comfortable though. They do have free wifi if your interested in a nice lunch meal and still being able to work. I am a regular here and will continue to be. ALL employees are genuine and willing to give opinions. They are definately not stingy as my wife and I tend to share our meals. Very reasonably priced. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
(5)Portia S.
I was back visiting my hometown in the Midwest now that I'm located on the west coast and surely I am having "Cedar Grill withdrawals". This is the spot to be if you want fresh , delicious and fast middle eastern Arabian food. I've been a handful of times and each time the food has gotten even better than the last time around. The hummus is a must. Also the chicken kabobs and mixed platter . The entrees come with a complimentary house lentil soup (simply delicious). I would visit just to grab the lentil soup alone. Staff are friendly and the place is clean. Small little joint on Ogden Ave, make sure not to miss it (next to the jeep dealership).
(5)Daniel N.
The baba with chicken shawarma and pita was all good but not as good as naf naf in Naperville. I ordered take out. Cozy casual dining, friendly service.
(4)Laura C.
We love this place. Absolutely fantastic falafel. The best middle-eastern food in Downers Grove. Hands down.
(5)Trista T.
Lots of great options; I wasn't incredibly impressed with my selections though. I got a chicken schawarma wrap thing with pita and hummus. It was fine, just nothing special to me. Also tried a bite of the lentil soup, def not the best I have had. Good enough for a budget friendly middle/eastern meal. I will still probably stop by again to try the tabouleh! Also, this is more of a takeout place than a sit down, though they do have some seating.
(3)Kyle C.
Absolutely delicious beef shawarma! So tender juicy and fresh beef. Looking forward to trying everything on the menu after trying the beef shawarma. Rice was very good and the hummus was ok.
(5)G B.
These guys cook. The soup is great. The meats are nice. They are friendly. It's $ well spent.
(5)Dan K.
So the first time I came here I was not too impressed, but the last time I came was a bit more eye opening. It definitely moved up to the top of my middle eastern food places to go for lunch that are by work. Chicken shawarma and the mixed grill are good. The soup is tasty. The flow in here does suck. People like to just stand in the way which they believe is a right since they already ordered. All it does is make it harder for people to pass by en route to the drinks station or to even pick up their food. Ridonks. I wish some of these smaller joints would work on that. But food wise yum!
(4)Kathy M.
This was my first time and I'll definitely return. The falafel plate was phenomenal. Great pitas and hummus too.
(4)Ace R.
Great middle eastern food! The chicken shawarma and kefta are my favorites. Babaganoush and hummos have that great fresh taste. The babaganoush has a distinctive smokey grilled flavor (most likely from the eggplants being grilled?) that I haven't ever tasted at other places. Falafels were tastey as well. Overall, one of the best places in the area to get a quick middle eastern fix. Food quality beats Pita House and Naf Naf hands down!
(5)Tony D.
4 stars for this little place on Ogden near Belmont in Downers Grove. Probably not more than a dozen tables which were all full at lunch. I ordered the chicken kabob wrap with fries. Pretty tasty. I give the fries a 7.5 on my fryometer. It's fun to hear what everyone orders and it seemed as though many ordered a falafel deluxe which I don't think is on the menu. I'll be back.
(4)Lizzy P.
This is my favorite lunch spot in Downers Grove. Food is consistently delicious and I've tried most everything. I love the chicken shawarma wrap, hummus is amazing and the tabouli has a slight nutmeg taste, it's awesome. BUT you must try the Kebbie; it's a party in your mouth!
(5)Joe P.
Place has good food. The management is a bit eh... They'll sit in the store around 2-4 when it's not busy and just stare at you. They've got some nice Porsche and benzs... I kno why too, the food lacks in quantity. Extremely expensive for some vegetable falafels that comes with hmm cheap lettuce some beats or something and rice. Make me yourself or forgo them. Overpriced and under spiced.
(3)Naomi S.
The only reason why they're getting four stars is because they're kind of pricy. Then again, you're getting quality food so, I guess you get what you pay for. The chicken schwarma anything is absolutely delicious, (get the garlic dip with it!!) lentil soup is awesome, and so far... That's all I have tried because I love the schwarma so much =) staff is polite, place is kept clean.
(4)Mike N.
Food excellent. 9/10 for cleanliness. Typical atmosphere. One less than five stars only because I think two people should be able to eat "fast food" meaning not being served, for under $25. Chicken shawarma, beef kabob, and two falafel. This guys making a killing. Good food though. Will be back.
(4)Ramon O.
Good food. Some good tastes that beat some of the competition in the area. A bit of a let down that you're charged extra for any tahini or hot sauce. The garlic sauce they give you for free is very good.
(4)Jin V.
Average restaurant and food. I went on a weekday arond 11 am, but i really didnt feel that the food or atmosphere stood out but 2.5 stars would be about the right rating.
(3)Alexis L.
You get more food for the price vs. other establishments. It is a constant go to for nights when we don't want to cook!
(4)Hasina D.
My first time there yesterday. I loved the beef shawarma wrap with lettuce and pickles. I will definitely go back and try the vegetable deluxe falafel wrap next time.
(5)Neal C.
Love this place, food is consistently great, and the staff is prompt and friendly. I've caught them on some super busy days but aside from the expected wait the food came out hot and perfect. Definitely worth the drive to this amazing spot!
(5)Jay S.
The food here is fantastic, and it's very, very authentic. It's amongst the closest in flavor and quality to similar restaurants one will find in Beirut. I'm eat there at least once a week.
(5)Lauren O.
I visited the first time today with my two teenage kids. We had a small hummus appetizer to start. It was creamy and delicious. My son had a gyro which was very tender. My daughter and I had the falafel wraps which were also very good. The owners were there-one taking orders and the other cooking and they were both very hospitable and welcoming. We look forward to returning!
(5)Tim L.
Wow, driven by it 1000s of times but never went there due to the difficult location to get in and out of during lunch time traffic. Finally decided to give it a try. Best chicken sandwich I've ever had. Great menu and staff. Clean. And great prices. Highly recommend trying it.
(5)S T.
Cedar Grill has solid Middle Eastern food. We've had most of their menu, and our favorites include the gyros and hummus. The staff is friendly, prices are good, and the interior is clean.
(5)Tobin h.
Cedar Grill met all expectations. Service did its job. Food filled the belly. Clean. Descent value. As you can see by the star rating and earlier adjectives, it was good enough but nothing that reaches out and says "I'm the best". If I was back on Ogden, I would give it another visit. If I was craving some shawarma or falafel, this wouldn't be the first place I run do to quench the med diet! Probably would have to find me some Naf Naf grill if I was really Jones'ng, but I do recommend giving it a try.
(3)Zoey K.
Food was good, you should try the chicken sharwama sandwich.
(3)Ben B.
New management, same cook and same amazing food. They're on grubhub now, which is a bonus. Our office is a block away, and I end up here half of the time that I actually go out to eat. I regularly jump around from the super deluxe, the chicken shawerma, the hummus, and the stuffed grape leaves. I've never had a bad meal here, and will continue to frequent the place for years to come!
(5)Frank W.
FREAKING GOOD FOOD! 1st time here, staff is friendly and helpful, food is prepared fresh and delicious.
(5)B C.
This place was dead for a Thursday night at dinner time (5:45 pm) but I'd been meaning to stop in so I did. Food was hot, fresh and delicious; made to order without hesitation as I had asked for some substitutions. Soup was tasty and chicken shawarma plate was delicious. Only thing which made this not completely 5-stars in my opinion (still gave it 5 stars because the restaurant had no say over traffic) was that it was difficult to get to location-wise from Ogden. I couldn't turn left from westbound Ogden so I had to make a u-turn in rush hour traffic.
(5)Prashant C.
It was great food, I ordered Chichen Kebab plate, it came with Soup, Kebabs , Rice and Pita bread.. food was great! Kebabs were awesome and will definetly do it again.. Highly recommend! Tip: If you order Schawarma or falafal, it will be served faster vs if you order kababs because they grill fresh.. it can involve a bit of waiting on busy time like Friday lunch time but thats reasonable.. & no complaints
(4)Sandra D.
We love this restaurant! I've never had any problems with the food. We think their food is delicious. It's in a bad location. If you're not familiar with the area, you'll probably not find it.
(5)Lynn S.
We found this place by chance, it's in a small stripmall, and it's easy to miss if you aren't looking. They have a really good kabob platter, the beef and chicken are very tender with a rice pilaf that's really good too. I love the tabouleh, and it's even better as a leftover the next day. The hummus and pita are always fresh. The dinners all come with a split pea soup too. The prices are all reasonable, and everything is fresh.
(5)Keri W.
Yum! Tasty Mediterranean food. Loved my chicken shawarma, hummus, and tabouli salad. Will be back for sure! Discounts if you sign up for texts too ;)
(4)David W.
Good-to-very good Middle Eastern / Mediterranean food in an area where there are not many similar options. They have remodeled in the last few years, and the restaurant is more comfortable for dining in than it once was. The tabouleh is much better than average, as is the kibbeh. Really I have never had a bad meal here. Bear in mind that this is a cafe / takeout place, so there is a ceiling on how good it can be (IE this is not Hedary's in Dallas), but for what it is, one really could not ask for more. I'd say the quality is very comparable to the Naf Naf grill chain (which I also like), but that the menu is somewhat more comprehensive. Generally if I am in the area and am looking for takeout, this place is always in the discussion, which is telling in a positive way.
(4)Justin K.
My wife and I got the appetizer sampler plate. it includes the following (with my notes): Baba ghannouj - smoky, but not too exciting. Hummus- little flavor Falafel- nothing unique, taste like it was frozen and thrown into the deep fryer. Pita- hard like, they were warmed in the microwave We also got the Super deluxe veggie sandwich, which was the best deal and had the best flavor out of what we purchased. It was creatively rolled up with a split pita bread. Overall, it was nothing extraordinary. There is nothing that would make me come here again.
(2)Kqthy K.
Everything is prepared fresh! The tabouli and hummus are the best around! We had the chicken and artichoke dinner. It was superb! The chicken kabobs were tender and flavorful! The prices are very fair. Owners are friendly and accommodating! Don't miss this restaurant!
(5)George K.
Terrific shawarma. I like to customize mine with the pickled turnips. Reminds me of the shawarmas in Dubai..love it!!
(5)Katherine B.
Freaking uhhhhmazing. I have never had any food like this before (I don't really know what to call it) and I drive past this place twice a day for work. So I finally took the time to swing by and tried the chicken shawerma that everyone on here keeps I commenting about and I got it with the extras which is hummus, pickles and a few fries squished in there. Sounds weird but I thought I would give it a try. Delicious. I also got the rice pilaf which was very good too. I didn't have any problems with the staff and I only waited about 8 minutes for my food but that is not long at all for the quality and freshness of the food. I can't wait to go back and try everything else!
(4)Patch L.
A close friend introduced me to this place & the food was great & so was the service! The lentil soup was outstanding! I had the combination plate which was great however a little towards the salty side for me today (usually perfect the last times I have been there) but still delicious. Overall, it is a great place to try if you are in the area. The price is fair, the food is fresh, the place is clean, & the service is friendly! I would go back again if i were in the area!
(4)Christa F.
Don't Drive Passed That Sara Lee Outlet! A coworker is in town from FL and found this place... Yea, I don't get out for lunch much as I bring mine to work. We ventured out to the Grill today after my coworker had checked it out a couple days ago and loved it. I had the House Lentil Soup, Beef Schwarma with the added Hummus inside, and a piece of Baklava... Now that's not exacly what I ordered... My coworker that discovered this placed ordered the Lentil Soup & Greek Salad. Another coworker ordered the Lentil Soup, Hummus, and a Lunch Special. The owner was funny and helpful with taking our orders. When our order arrived an extra soup came out for me (w00t!) and 3 pieces of Baklava for us all (wu wu wu!)! This was totally awesome! The House Lentil Soup was bound to be good cuz it was free, right?! HAHA! Just kidding... It was actually Amazing! And I'm not saying that just because it was free! The Beef Schwarma was deceivingly small, but rediculously filling! And the flavors were spot on! I tried my coworkers Hummus and Pitas as well... Very good! The Pitas were not stale as mentioned in previous reviews. My other coworkers Salad was HUGE! Everything in it was fresh and crisp! He mentioned that it really didn't need much of the dressing as it had a great flavor already. We're sitting back at work as I'm typing this completely stuffed staring down this Baklava just waiting until we're able to taste it's sugary delitefulness!
(4)gale l.
Not sure how the house special lentil soup is vegetarian ... it is delicious and in the middle of summer I still get an entire bowl all to myself! I could gulp down a giant bowl of this stuff and would still ask for second helpings. the baba gannouj is divine and you can really smell the roasting over charcoal in the dip? spread? who knows but I love it. I wish they were also open Sundays bc I can only seemed come on the weekends.
(5)Nina N.
LOVE THIS PLACE. I'm vegan and it's hard for me to find restaurants that I can eat at near my work. The owner was more that helpful and went out of his way to supply with tasty food for lunch AND dinner. Portion size is great and so was the price. Cost is good for quality. I will be back man more times. -Nina
(5)Ray W.
I haven't been coming here as often as I used to anymore, as the often "special" offerings seem to go to "regular" customers, and the variety they once had doesn't seem to be there anymore. Still, we enjoy their food enough to stop here whenever we happen to be in the neighborhood. So the other day, I really wasn't in the mood for the regular items of this cuisine that I usually go for. But my wife was, and we were driving right by it. She ordered the shish-kebab plate, and after staring at their menu for 5 minutes trying to get in the mood for baba ganoush or something (as if staring at the words would whet my appetite), I finally ordered a gyro as a "consolation." Holy Moly! Let me tell you... I have never had a gyro that tasted so good!!! I maybe order 2-3 per year, generally from hot dog joints whose gyros get high praises. While I do enjoy them, compared to Cedar Grill, their meat is DRY. This meat was cut thicker than I ever had before, and then grilled crispy on the outside (but juicy on the inside). And the sauce complemented the meat rather than being the crux to the entire sandwich. Sorry Nicky's and Mickey's... you may know your hot dogs, but you don't know gyros! But thanks to Cedar Grill (and my wife), i now do (and you can bet your sweet bippy that I'll be having LOTS more than 2-3 per year).
(5)Kristen J.
I work close to Cedar Grill but never noticed it because it seems rather hidden even though it's on Ogden. A coworker of mine suggested it so I thought I'd give it a go. The staff is very friendly and the food is fabulous! I didn't expect the presentation of the chicken shawerma when I ordered it on my first visit as it looks more like a sub sandwich or a wrap than what I'm used to, but it was divine. Very fresh ingredients. I went back today and tried a Greek salad. The portion was HUGE so I immediately got a to go box so I could have lunch tomorrow also. They have ACTUAL SILVERWARE if you dine in which is a nice touch for more of a classy fast food restaurant. I was kinda creeping on the other customers by checking out their food and it all looked amazing. I think I will try the tabouli next time I stop by. The prices are VERY reasonable especially for the large portions. I love this place!
(5)Paddy W.
Good and tasty food. I had chicken shawarma sandwich which was excellent and just enough. Try this place out the owner was very nice and have me a sm piece of baklava.
(4)Kathleen A.
Just OK. My family kept on raving about this place, and I don't know why! I thought I could trust their taste buds better than this. Chose the chicken kabob plate with rice pilaf, and a side of lentil soup and some hummus to share. The chicken was actually decent, but the rice was so flavorless. Disappointing. There are so many other places to get better Middle Eastern food..but wait. We're in Downers Grove. Nevermind.
(3)Sarah T.
The outdoor sign is deceptively modern-looking. The indoor decor is from a decade or two ago, at least. I thought the food was fantastic! But that's because I knew what I wanted. My friend ordered a beef entree that he absolutely hated, and feels was overpriced. I wish they have been more helpful so that he would have enjoyed it as much as I had. I would definitely come back for the hummus wrap, and possibly the gyro.
(4)Andres D.
Now its going on almost 3 years since I started eating here. Chicken Shawarma is still the best since day 1. Finally I gave in and tried the hummus and it was delicious. Now that the winter is settling in the homemade lentil soup is a great starter to any meal. To the kitchen staff whom gets my order perfect every single time I thank you.
(4)Jeannine C.
Everything I had was delicious!! I had the artichoke chicken, which is a creamy sauce with artichokes and onions with shawarma chicken. I also had the appetizer sampler that included hummus, babaghanoush, grape leaves, and falafel. The apps for the most part were pretty standard, with the exception of the babaghanoush. That was REALLY good! Theirs is really smokey flavored, which made it better than most! The owner, George, was very friendly and explained the different dishes well. He gave me some baklava, and it was incredible. I will definitely be going back!
(4)Jenni E.
After much nagging from my husband, I went to try this place. I am a HUGE fan of Naf Naf Grill in Naperville, and he swears that this place is even better. I did not agree; Naf Naf tastes much better to me. I tried the Chicken Shwarma, because that is my favorite thing at Naf Naf, and it was a completely different sandwich than what you get there - which I was fine with, but still nowhere near as good. Their Chicken Shwarma comes more like a wrap, with everything wrapped up in this warm pita. I like that it was easy to eat, but the flavor of the meat was missing and all I tasted was the hummus that was on my sandwich - which I did like. I was surprised when I ordered and asked for a side of fries that they told me that the fries are actually in the sandwich, along with pickles, hummus and tomatoes. The fact that there was so much in the sandwich made up for the fact that the chicken had little to no flavor, but I still wasn't a big fan of this sandwich. Both the pictures of the kabobs and other Yelp reviews have enticed me to give this place another try and try something different next time, so I will update my review when I do that. However, my advice is that if you are a fan of chicken shwarma - keep going and head to Naf Naf Grill - nothing is as good as theirs. One plus is that this place also has American food items (hot dogs & hamburgers) for the non-adventurous eater/children, which is great.
(3)Mike M.
I got the chicken shawarma deluxe and it was mediocre at best. First off the fries they put in it threw the whole taste off and they use their own "house" sauce that also wasn't that good in combination with it. I normally like a shawarma with some kind of cucumber yogurt and some greens and cucumber in the wrap but nothing really came in this other than fries humus and pickles. The portions were extremely small for the $6 price for what I would consider a heavy snack not a meal. The chicken itself also was bland as well. Overall might check it out again to see what else they have to offer but I will not be getting the chicken shawarama.
(3)Nadia B.
I love this place! Kind of hidden next to the fannie may, parking lot is hard to get into, but the food is amazingggggg and so is their green hot sauce :)
(5)Laura K.
If this place was on fire, I wouldn't cross the street to spit on it. My experience with the owner here was the single worst I have ever had at a restaurant. I would give it zero stars if Yelp would let me. I ordered the sampler platter, listed at $7.95. He rang it up at $8.95. When I pointed that out, he gestured to a sign that said "Prices subject to market price." I was annoyed, but pulled money out of my wallet and casually mentioned "You should really change the prices on the menu." He replied "I think my sign should be good enough for you." I said "Not if you don't mention it to me. I wouldn't even have known if I didn't watch you ring it up." Again, he said "Prices change." At this point, I was so angry that I said "Forget it!" and left. I can't believe this guy's arrogance in thinking he doesn't have to tell his customers UP FRONT that they will be paying more for their meals. In scanning through other Yelp reviews, I noticed I'm not the first person who has experienced this. Back in May, someone reported the same thing happening. Clearly this guy has NO plans to change his menu and will just continue this deceitful, disgusting practice. I feel bad for everyone who has just paid their bill without noticing they were being tricked out of additional money. I know prices go up. That's why restaurants redo menus or even put masking tape over the prices on their signs. You never, ever charge someone more than what is posted without explaining the circumstances. And I ordered a vegetarian dish! It wasn't something like lobster with a wildly fluctuating market price. The owner was extremely disrespectful and his business practices are shady at best. I don't care how good your food is (and I never found out). When you show a complete disregard for your customers, the very people who keep your doors open, you deserve to fail.
(1)Ashley P.
Although the staff takes their sweet time getting your food out, it's absolutely worth the wait. Love, and I mean L-O-V-E their falafel! Their hummus and chicken shawarma are delish as well. With the exception of the slow service, the food's always hot and delicious!
(4)Sydney D.
Fantastic food, good prices and very friendly staff! Good takes little while to make but totally worth the wait
(5)Joulie S.
Very tasteful place to come to once in a while. I always have the cravings for Kabobs and a plate of hummus. The food is a bit pricey but it is well worth it. I see people complaining about the prices, but you know what I;ve been to places where they barely fill up your plate and charge you double. So in my experiences, I think it's reasonable.
(4)Tim C.
Wife and I enjoyed even though out of baklava. Owner showed us the next batch in the oven baking, "but process cannot be rushed". Tasty marinated meats in entrees. More like a sit down restaurant food quality in a lunch stand format. Seasoning of everything just a little bit different and interesting. Had the rice pudding for desert, and even that was a little different than the usual. I could see the pistachio and cinnamon on top, but not enough of a foodie to tell you what is in the mix, but I like it. My wife is a foodie, and she enjoyed her curried chicken something or other, and the rice pudding too. So a non foodie, but know what I like big thumbs up from me
(4)Jaime S.
I decided to run by on the way back from a hair cut when I was absolutely famished. I got the chicken shawerma hummus meal for $8.57. It was plenty of food, but the pita was not warm when I got it so that was a little bit of a let down. I got my food fast though, and the chicken and the hummus were both tasty as hell. I love love loved it, but now I can't kick the taste of garlic from the hummus.
(4)Tom T.
This place is AWESOME!!! I am hooked on the food here. The quality is consistently good. Excellent falafel. Dynamite kebabs and the lentil soup is the BEST! The staff is friendly and fast! Don't forget to ask for their homemade hot sauce. You will DEFINITELY return over and over.
(5)Arsalan K.
Walked in and nobody was behind the counter, waited 5 mins a sleepy employee walked in from the back room. Food was ok. Nothing spectacular.
(2)Kathleen J.
We LOOOOVE this place! It is so difficult to find a restaurant where we can get healthy food that our kids (ages 4 & 1.5) will actually eat. If you go there with kids, definitely have them try the lentil soup (bring your own smaller spoons for kid-sized mouths). My boys are HOOKED! My older son usually only wants burgers and fries when we eat out, but he was swiping food off our plates the entire time. I am not sure why some reviewers have commented on small portion size, as I think that is ridiculous! I have a big appetite and even when I am pregnant there is too much on my plate for me to finish. Definitely try the falafel, fattoush salad, tabouleh, and chicken shawarma. I have honestly never had a bad meal here. We had them cater our oldest son's baptism and everyone loved the food. Yes, the service is a bit slow, as you are ordering FRESH food, not Mickey D's. So, if you only have 30 minutes to eat, you might need to call ahead and get it to-go. If you are not in a huge hurry, this is a great place to check out. (My hubby is Middle Eastern, and of all the restaurants in the Chicago area, this is his favorite (especially for the price.) Sometimes they have special dishes that are not on the menu. We had the pleasure of having the squash soup about a year ago and my mouth STILL waters when I think about it. Ask them if they have any items that day that aren't on the menu.
(4)Ally B.
Best around A+++ I have been a loyal customer for years The absolute best tabouleh around, if they do not run out Consistent quality Always get your sandwich "deluxe" If you have not been there, GO!,
(4)Ilie N.
Traveled by the Cedar Grill many times and finally stopped in for lunch on a chilly Saturday. I was cordially welcomed by the manager who helped explain his home made dishes. I ordered the chicken Fafta sandwich with fries. I really enjoyed the fresh taste, hot serving temperature, and great marinated seasoning. I tried one of the desserts too and it was good. Prices were reasonable and atmosphere simple and relaxed. It is near a busy intersection but I had no problem exiting onto Ogden Ave. I knew I came to a very good restaurant when the great majority of customers were Mediterranean descent. I'm coming back.
(5)Monica B.
The food is definetly fresh and made to order, but the beef I have with this place is that they are frequently out of items on the menu and run out of food, so you have to pick your second favorite and don't go looking for lamb kebob which is a middle eastern staple because he doesn't make it- what? Wouldn't make the trip to come down here, but if I was in the area, I might or might not stop. Overall, I've had better middle eastern food elsewhere.
(3)Samantha K.
Yum!!! This place is pretty good. I've been to a few places in Chicago that offer Middle Eastern food and I have to say that this place just makes the cut! They lost stars because of the location and how long it took for me and my boyfriend to get our order of falafel (6 pcs), chicken shawerma, and the baklava. The baklava is by far the best I've ever had. The falafel was pretty good.. I definitely wasn't crazy about it. It was a lot dryer than I liked. The chicken shawerma was a lot smaller than we expected. (My boyfriend and I had the great idea of sharing it... we rarely share anything since we both LOVE to eat! Great timing huh?) The next time I go back I'll definitely have to try the hummus! Healthy food, reasonable prices, awesome baklava? You bet I'll be back.
(3)Ramya K.
I have been to Cedar grill twice for lunches. I had never had falafal wrap sandwish before, so it was really good. The place is always busy and the order takes about 10-15 mins everytime I went, when you are in a hurry or dont have so much patience,this is not a good option. The place is not so inviting in terms of dine-in but the food is fresh and tastes really good. The lentil soup like all others said is great. For quick office lunches this is a good palce to stop by in that area and I recommend it. This is not like PF changs or Panera bread in terms of environment if you are expecting one. Enjoy the food! You wont be disappointed.
(4)Liz L.
Visit with your expectations intact. Cedar Grill is a nice local restaurant that serves up simple yet tasty Mediterranean food. There are no frills when it comes to decor. No lively crowd. It's just about the food. Which, to be honest, it actually pretty darn tasty. I ordered the Chicken Swarma. Basically, it's grilled chicken with hummus, pickles, tomatoes, tzaziki sauce rolled in a pita and lightly toasted on the grill. There's something to be said about simplicity. All the flavors blended well. I also ordered a side of tabouleh and combined it with the swarma. Doing so added a nice texture and herb kick to the dish. Try this place if you're looking for a good gyro or pita.
(2)Danielle W.
A pretty good place, I have never had this type of food before so it was a new experience for me. I can't say how good the food compares to other Mediterranean food but it was good enough for me! I got the Shish Kabob combo, the chicken and beef were delish. The lamb was a bit overcooked but I'm not fond of sausage anyways. The rice was terrific, so was the lentil soup and stuffed grape leaves. A bit pricey I felt
(4)Seth D.
Great food at a great price... What a great find this place is!
(5)Christofer B.
Maybe it was due to visiting on the weekend around dinner time but the lentil soup we purchased was inedible. It had a weird smell to it and tasted like it was being overpowered by all spice. Our falafel sandwichs came rolled like a burrito and very little ingredients for the price. It made us long for the days of Sultan's Market in Wicker Park. This place is a poor excuse for Mediterrean food. We were looking for a good spot in Downers Grove for this kind of food...guess we will keep looking.
(1)Kyle B.
I'll be honest this specific style of food isn't one I'm familiar with but I will say its awesome! I've had the appetizer samplers, the shawarma , the falafel, and a couple other things. I've really enjoyed it all and the pricing is definitely reasonable. I've only ever done take out but I've been happy both times, definitely do recommend.
(4)Ryan B.
My wife and I have tried this place 3 times and it just keeps getting better. If you like good Middle Eastern food, this is your place. The meat (try the shish combo---chicken, beef, lamb sausage) is excellent and the tabouli is amazing as well. The owner knows what he is doing. Love it! :)
(5)Alex C.
Food is very good. The chicken kabob here is soooo good. The hummus is amazing. The baklava is awesome. The soup here is delicious as well. The rice pilaf is on point. The only thing is the meat is dry at times and sometimes the amount of food you get varies. It is also a little bit on the pricey side.
(4)Adrian W.
The hummus was delicious! And the chicken shawerma was great. The pita was amazingly served and large. So why 'only' four stars? Well, the location sucks because it's so difficult to go west on Ogden when exiting. The chicken, amazing, was in a tiny serving. I will continue to come here. I love the food. Love the service. Everything but the servings and location.
(4)Angelique S.
Shwarma, hummus and lentil soup are still spot-on as is the homemade hot sauce however on a recent carry-out trip my husband brought home the babaganoush. Absolutely vile. It tasted like it was cigarette flavored. Why?? was it made in an ashtray? It was one of the worst flavors I've ever had. I felt unsettled for a few hours afterwards. I've had "brusk" service here from the owner too one time. Might have to do with interacting differently with female/male customers but that's speculation on my part. Hey- we all have money!
(1)Daniel F.
I don't understand what all the hoopla is surrounding the owner of this fine establishment. I've been here 4 times and every time it has been nothing but amazing. Sure they take a little more time to prepare the food, but the prices are right for the portion size. I've ordered the sandwiches, the baklawa, the shwarma, the hummus, and the tabouleh. All tasting delicious fresh and wonderful. If anything this place is underrated. I like that the owner asked for my email address to keep me updated on the restaurant and made the time to talk to me about the establishment. It's definitely family run and I have no problem supporting the local.
(5)nick j.
Overpriced and overrated. 15 bucks for a tiny soup, small plate of hummus with bonus stale pita bread and dull vegi shwarma. Dull flavors in all of them. Place is dull as well
(2)Lizzie O.
you know you have some delicious food in front of you when you're extremely thirsty but don't want to get up and get a drink because that would mean you have to stop stuffing your face for 3 seconds. yeah. it's that good. my kitchen god of a husband made some amazing baba ganoush last night. the next day i thought of trying cedar grill falafels to go with the leftover baba. i ordered and paid for 4 but they gave me 5 - what a nice suprise! they were perfectly crispy on the outside and well seasoned on the inside. definitely fresh too, which is the only way to go. i don't even want to know how many grams of carby-fried goodness i've just consumed but it was SO worth it! the vegetarian lentil soup is phenomenal as well. i don't imagine anyone leaves here disappointed.
(5)Peter B.
I've been working on Ogden Ave for 13 yrs now. The name has changed at this place from Odie's to Cedar Grill. The food though has not changed, they have always had good food. It's only a grilled chicken breast sandwich but it is AWESOME! Their hummus & sharerma with pita bread is good too, but it's hard to walk in their and not get the chicken breast. I've for the most part had good service here. Highly recommend this Lebanese cuisine.
(5)Sergey B.
This place is absolutely the worst. I got the shawarme sandwich, and it tasted fatty, dry, cold and stale. No flavor. The pita is cheap, store bought and barely heated. I ordered baba ghanosh AFTER paying for my pita, and the owner screamed at me about how it cost him 50 cents every time he has a customer pay with a credit card. Nasty, nasty food, and even nastier service. Go to NafNaf grill.
(1)Johnny B.
Last thing I'd expect driving down Ogden St. in DG is a middle eastern restaurant. I discovered this hidden little gem by accident not too long ago and needless to say, I've become a regular. The food is just fabulous. Its both fast food and dine-in place with a wide variety of choices. The hummus, baba ghnoush are 100% authentic, the grilled meats are tender, well marinated and grilled perfectly. Don't be scared to ask the Chef (if he's around) to prepare something special. I know for a fact that he is a gourmet chef and often like to show off when complemented. The other day he prepared a special meal for me which was simply amazing, Grilled chicken with sour cherry sauce.
(4)Bill L.
Big fan of the food here! Generally go for the Super Deluxe or the Hummus. Both are quite good and quite filling. Service is a bit slow, but they make much of their food by hand at time of order, so I am willing to wait (you will be too). It costs a bit more than fast food, but it is so much better and nutritious compared to fast food, it is worth it.
(4)Richard N.
Tried the Chicken Shawarma sandwich. It was delicious!
(4)Lauren V.
Had a great lunch here. I'm not terribly experienced in Middle Eastern food but everyone I went with loved their orders. Very good experience and we will be back.
(4)Kimberly M.
I LOVE Cedar Grill! The menu is pretty standard, but everything tastes great... the hummus is what makes this place shine! If your with a picky eater they also offer hot dogs, hamburgers and french fries, it's a win win. The wait seems like it takes a while but its only about 5-7 minutes, if your worried just call and place your order ahead.
(4)Adnan B.
I have tried a number of Middle Eastern restaurants around Chicago and this was relatively overpriced with small portions for a casual take-out place. Unfortunately I compare everything to Pita Inn in the north suburbs - some might say an unfair but that is the high watermark. I ordered the meat combo plate and there was barely any food. A couple of small pieces of chicken, one shish kebab and a few small pieces of kefta. Was still hungry after the meal. And the taste, was just just above average. For $13, it was not a good experience. Most competitors would offer a similar meal for about $8 -$9, with more generous portions. Also, the service was not great. I got yelled at for not asking for my hot and white sauce when I called my order in. Hopefully my second visit will be better.
(2)Kevin C.
So. The food here is not bad. For a long time you couldn't really find good Mediterranean restaurants in this area of town. It worked for fulfilling a craving, but the staff is rude and unhelpful. I've waited a long time for food, and the televisions are often very loud and on dueling channels. If there weren't many other restaurants of this type now in the area, I might recommend it... but there are. Go to those places, were the employees actually seem to care you're eating there.
(2)M. C.
i had takeout lunch here today and paid $10 for a plate of hummus and meat...after eating it, i was still hungry. i feel like after paying $10 for lunch, i should be full and more... not worth the trip...
(1)Tammy D.
Tried this for the first time yesterday and was pleasantly surprised. First time having falafel but it was great. We got take out so I can't comment on the service. We will be back...soon!
(4)Rich K.
The shish kabobs are excellent. The quality of meat used has to be choice. I feel bad for the owner when people go there and order a hot dog. I asked about this and he mentioned he wouldn't survive without hot dog sales. A truly sad day for food lovers.
(3)Roman K.
Excellent. Best kept secrete. Shawarma, kabobs, falafels. You name it, it's great there.
(5)Chris M.
Sucky service, but great Mediterranean fare.
(4)Ellen H.
This place is amazing for fresh, tasty Lebanese/Medterranian food. I am addicted to their Super Deluxe(falafel, hummus, & tabbouleh all wrapped up in a pita.) I have also passed this addiction on to the girls at work. This is the best falafel I've had since leaving NYC, and who would expect it on Ogden Ave in Downers Grove. I haven't tried anything else other than the chicken schwarma, which was fair but no Super Deluxe. For $5 you can't get a better sandwich in my opinion. The cooks are really nice guys and once they even let me pay for my sandwich the next time I was in because I only had a credit card. When does that kind of thing ever happen anymore? Try Cedar Grill you won't be disappointed.
(5)F. Explora L.
So happy to have found this hidden gem! Amazing middle eastern food. Huge fan of their falafels!! Large servings but a bit pricey for a casual fast food-like service dine-in place. They have 2 vegetarian options (the sampler and a green bean & rice dish), both were delicious! I didn't get to try their rice pudding since they were sold out :/ so it must be good, haha. Would def go again.
(4)Greg J.
I tried the new chicken curry tonight and it was amazing!!! I recommend ordering it spicy. I don't think I have ever had a bad meal at Cedar Grill. You would not expect such amazing dishes from such an unassuming place, but you will not be disappointed. The owner is very friendly, ask him about the specials - there are a few things that he makes from time to time that are not on the regular menu that are great!!! Check this place out.
(5)MK G.
Great place! The beef shawerma is very tasty and fresh.
(4)Robin G.
I would have never expected a place called Cedar Grill to have the best Lebanese/middle eastern food in the area, but I believe it does. This is the best, most consistent place you will find in the area (trust me, I've tried them all). I love a good falafel sandwich, and Cedar Grill's falafels are the best, cooked perfectly with great flavor. They use a wrap instead of a traditional pita, but you can't beat the taste. The baklava is excellent!
(5)January C.
I was driving by this morning and saw this Mediterranean cafe next to the Sara Lee bakery. I decided to come back for lunch. The place was fairly busy but not crowded. I ordered the Super Deluxe sandwich, which was falafel, hummus, and tabouli wrapped in lavash bread. I also ordered a piece of baklava. Both were mediocre. The lavash bread was a little dry and there wasn't enough filling for such a large amount of bread. The baklava was also dry and the serving quite small. I saw a couple of the entree dishes and they looked really good and were quite large. All the prices seemed reasonable. I might give it another try if I were around that area more often.
(2)Alanna K.
So I went here for the first time on Friday. For one thing...you need to look for the SARA LEE and MARKET DAY store...otherwise you will pass by it! When we got there, I noticed that there were quite a bit of people there considering that it was 2pm on a weekday. That's always a good sign! Lets see...my mom and I ordered the falafel sandwich, chicken shawerma, spinach pies, eggplant pies, appetizer sampler (stuffed grape leaves, hummus, falafel, baba ganouj) and of course some homemade BAKLAVA. The guy...who I was assuming was the owner was not that nice. BUT...I think we might have just caught him on an off day, and I think he was also doing some business with another gentleman so he didn't seem too happy. Anyways, the food was AMAZING...and the price is just right! Our total came out to $30 for all that food, and we were both STUFFED!!! Very VERY authentic, and TASTY! I will definitely be back there again...and it's so nice to find a middle eastern restaurant that doesn't include me driving to the CITY!!! :-) This place is definitely somewhere to go to when you want to try this kind of food for the first time. Everything there seemed pretty user friendly, and he does explain things if you have any questions!
(5)Tina E.
Been searching for good falafel in the Fox Valley area since moving from So Cal where there's a 'hood for everyfood. I'm still looking.I did find some rockin falafel in Oak Park @ Jeruselem Cafe. Don't get me wrong the baba ganouj was great & the spinach pies better. The feta/olive/tomato salad was incredible. In the past my falafel experience was of heaven,round,fluffy balls deep fried until just golden. These we almost burnt little crispy patties made by some who looked more hispanic than middle eastern. I have to agree that owner could pass for the "Soup Nazi" guy, but he hooked me up w/ giant bag of food for under $20.00!
(3)Jim N.
This place is a hidden gem and if you want the best shawerma, shish kabab, tabouleh or falafel in the area (I mean all of Illinois) you must try Cedar Grill. George, the owner, is a great guy and is always creating things. On my last visit he had me try his homemade gelato....awesome!
(5)Karl B.
Excellent food, hands down. I love their meats, they are always cooked to perfection and never dry and tough. My personal favorite is the cucumber and yogurt salad, their falafal also is kick ass. I have been to numerous places around and sampled their cuisine and as far as fast middle-eastern food goes this is the best.
(5)Heather K.
Fantastic. I had Chicken Shawerma deluxe my husband had Kafta Kebab and a nice piece of Baklava for dessert. The flavors were fantastic and the service was outstanding! I could eat this every day. We split an order of spicy falafel and they were the best falafel I have ever had. I think it is difficult to find a falafel that stays moist inside and these were by far the best falafel in the area and I have been desperately searching for years now. We are looking forward to our next visit.
(5)john s.
really love the Humus here!!! homemade and tasty. they have good chicken kabob and schwarma
(4)Sanjiv G.
They make an awesome falafel sandwich. Try the Super Deluxe Sandwich
(5)Bill P.
I've got to concur with Karl and Mandi. We live close to the restaurant and have been getting take-home weekly for about the last 3-4 months. We've also recommended it to a few others who've been dying to find a good middle eastern place nearby. A chicken shawerma sandwich (really a wrap), baba ghanouj (a fantastic, smokey flavor!) and felafel order is enough for two to split for lunch. Recently had the kefta kabab and that was great, too. Intending to try more things over time, expecting they'll live up to established standards!
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