This place is great. I had the lunch special and had leftovers. The food is flavorful and delicious. The rice is perfect nice flavor and texture. The meat was seasoned wonderfully and the steak was tender. They have a cool little condiment bar and I have to recommend their red sauce. Nice burn, but no pain. I was in the mood for a Falafel one day and theirs was delicious and fresh. For a budget I recommend the lunch special and you can add to it for just a small amount to really sample the variety of food there.
(4)
Benjamin S.
The best falafel sandwich I have had in my life. Everything else is great too! Their portions are hearty, their prices almost make me feel guilty they are so affordable, and everything is made fresh! The home-made hot sauces and fresh fried pita chips put even fancy Mediterranean restaurants to shame. Highly recommended!
(5)
Kathleen B.
Ordered in-restaurant and then decided to get it to go. Pros: Flavor and seasoning on lamb was delicious. Jerusalem salad was light, fresh, and crisp. Cons: Meat was a little overcooked as it always tends to be at Mediterranean places; also, for $9 entree price, was disappointed that there wasn't more meat. Got a strawberry smoothie for the kids, and was disappointed to see they just dumped white sugar into the blender along with the fruit. Not exactly a smoothie. I was a little surprised at how small the portions were. I'm accustomed to very large portions for the money, so they fell short on that for me. The pita was really lacking in flavor for me, too. On their menu inside they had a killer lunch special listed. Basically a combination plate and sides from 11a-2pm and I think it was like $7. I want to go back for that and see if I have better luck on another day! I really want to like and support this place.
(3)
Victoria D.
Been here 3 times & the food is very good with lots of flavor! Highly recommend trying it! Service is always very friendly! Prices are great for the quantity & quality you receive! If you like Middle Eastern food definitely try them! If you've never had Middle Eastern food it is very flavorful and worth trying. You won't be disappointed! I don't have to drive to the city anymore to get my fix of Middle Eastern food...yay!
(5)
Andy L.
Lunch combo special is a great value, and the taste and quality of the food is great as well. Glad this place is around because there isn't a better Mediterranean place in the immediate area. Also the few vegetarian dishes are very good and filling.
(5)
Vicki L.
I am a big fan of Middle-eastern food, so soon after I saw this place had opened up I made sure to stop in with my dad for some lunch. How good was it? I was back within less than a week for dinner with the rest of my family. I have already had the felafel sandwich and the beef shwarma plate, and both were delicious. The beef shwarma plate came on a bed of basmati rice (you can substitute jasmine rice of you wish) and vegetables. The felafels in the sandwich were melt-in-your-mouth soft and the pita was perfect. When I was there for dinner, we got a small side of hummus, which was actually fairly sizable and very good. The menu has a wide selection of food items (as well as juices and smoothies), and the prices are very reasonable. They even do catering for larger groups. This restaurant is definitely going to be on my repeat list.
(4)
N E.
Best place ever!!! Tonight was our first time there and the owner was so kind...we will definitely be going back and more often...I wish we could gove this place 10stars...way to go Jerusalem cafe..you guys were great...and the server was super sweet!
(5)
Suburban F.
I found this place on groupon so i looked them up. I saw the clip where they are featured on CBS 2 they went to their Oak Park location. It caught my attention since they had good reviews and it was a really good deal i couldn't pass up since the owner says in the video their most expensive plate is $7.99. Well i went to their new location in lombard and it's a very small restaurant next to El Famous Burrito on Roosevelt Rd. It was clean and i was greeted with hello and smile (big plus) they have tons of options and when i looked at their prices i noticed their plate entrees are more than $7.99. I did not like that but whatever, i ordered my food and sat down. As i was reading their paper menus i saw that you can ask for basmati rice instead of rice pilaf for free which i did. Overall the food tasted good the only reason i gave this place 4 stars is because the prices were not what they had stated in their video. Other then that check them out.
(4)
Deanna B.
Ordered delivery on Grub Hub. The falafel was delicious and didn't seem greasy, even after sitting in the delivery driver's car on the drive to our house. We ordered sides of hummus and baba ganoush and both were very good. The hummus was flavorful and fresh without being overly garlicky. My husband ordered gyros and says they were the best he's had in the area. I highly recommend this place.
(4)
Chris F.
Nice people. Expected better food tho but it was edible.
(2)
Sara P.
Lots of food. Very good selection on the menu. Uses lamb which is a big must for me in this sort of restaurant, several around the area use beef only. The staff are willing to answer questions and discuss the food. I overheard people trying the type of food for the first time and asking how to eat it and where the food is based off.
(4)
Jen S.
Delicious! Better than the Pita Inn which is hard to beat. They even have a lunch combo special similar to the Pita Inn. I was nervous initially given the turnover of businesses in this location, but decided to give it a try. It was busy and there was a lot of different clientele on my first trip. I talked it up and on my second trip, I brought my husband and three kids. I was talking about the kifta and ordered the chicken. The owner brought out a kifta just for me to try. Friendly and helpful staff. Very clean. I could eat it everyday. I hope this place stays around!
(5)
Gayann P.
Delicious! The food was delicious and the service was great! Very clean also! Excited to try more on the menu in order the feast and felt that it was the perfect amount of food!
(5)
Elaine H.
Love their food -- fresh and tasty with friendly staff. The portions are generous and they make up your order fresh -- no food that's been sitting for hours under hot lights. Also offer many selections so I'll be back to try them all. The restaurant is also very clean with comfy booths to sit on and prices are reasonable with fast service. I'm so glad to have a good Mideastern restaurant in my neighborhood. I usually don't do reviews, but wanted to get the word out about this well run restaurant. Falafel plate here I come!
(4)
Mary Anne D.
We LOVED the Jerusalem Cafe.!!!!!! The food was magnificent, portions plenty big enough and the staff was very friendly. We can't wait to go back!!!
(5)
Gary B.
It was pretty good. Nothing I can write home about.
(3)
W M.
Tried the restaurant another time with colleagues and it has the same great taste and quality for all items in the combo plate. The beef kabob is tender and the grilled chicken is falvorful. The home made appetizers like hummus, baba ghannouj, and the tzakziki-like garlic yogurt is very tasty and appetizing. Like other reviewers, looking forward to try other menu items soon.
(5)
Jim F.
Food was great. Kudos to the chefs. Idiots at the front counter forgot the pita bread. Why would one order hummous, baba ghanouj, tabbouleh, falafel etc to eat without pita bread. Bush league mistake. Also, when i went to check the bag, the girl at the checkout counter said "don't worry, everything is in there." I even paid for extra pita bread. Great to get home ten miles away to find there is no bread......had to go to the store and buy it again. NEVER GOING BACK.
(2)
Serg M.
No! just NO! not tasty! not flavor taste like piece of paper! weill never come back again!
(1)
Dan JoNell S.
Will not be going back, the service was poor, the lines were long, and the overall confusion of orders taken lead to a poor experience for me and a friend.
(1)
Carm C.
They actually SELL condiments to you, if yoU order food to go. Are you kidding me? I like the spicy stuff but you're going to charge me because I'm not going to sit in your restaurant and eat?
We ordered falafel sandwich and hummus with pites ... Overall the hummus was better than other places I have been . The sandwich clearly was made with fresh ingredients. We really enjoyed The service . They brought us hot tea on the house and were of course very hospitable and polite. Definitely would recommend and come back to eat again
(4)
Jake S.
I want to preface my review with a serious, 'must be noted' caveat - I ordered for delivery on a weeknight when the temperature was approximately 'Why the H*** do I live in this environment?'. Just saying. So, like many other Lombardians, I noted the death of Wolfy's (like Brandy's before it, and Nicky's before that...) and inside the last two weeks something else opened up in it's spot. Simultaneously, they had a Group-on deal going on, and those two circumstances together mean It's required by law that I had to try it. Before we get to the food - they said they would honor a Group-on on delivery. Most Pizza joints won't even honor Group-ons for delivery, and wait a minute...you're a mediterrean place that delivers?! Kick ass. Bonus karma to this place right off the bat. Sooo, I and a sibling order the Combo entree with the extra chicken breast, the lamb entree, and some extra Falafels (because, hey, why not, Falafels are great) for delivery. Now, my house is two turns away from them. Not kidding. I couldv'e just drove there myself in about 5 minutes. Half an hour later, I'm wondering, "say, shouldn't I have been eating something by now?" occurs to me. Just then the delivery guy calls me and after a brief conversation about not finding us, he lets me know he'll be here in just a couple of minutes (which he was). The large amount of rice pilaf with either entree was still warm, as well as the entrees themselves, but the delay had left the Falafels cold. The Combo entree was good, and the schwarma here is definately going to be revisited. The lamb kebob entree, however, was disappointing. Again, a huge amount of rice pilaf...and only a couple of tiny pieces of lamb. On the whole, the delay rendering the meals less than ideal results in a meh~ish rating, but I'm booting it up to four stars based on honoring a Group-on for a delviery order on a crappy cold night to begin with. I will try them again an update the review, as next time I will do carry-out and see if that helps matters some.
(4)
Karen N.
I love this place!!! The food is delicious and they make it fresh when you order. You know when you see a lot Middle Eastern people eating at a Middle Eastern restaurant it has to be good. They are very friendly and courteous and one of the owners brought me some hot tea and a falafel to try with my meal when I was there. It's really easy to find and has convenient parking. If you are looking for something quick but a little different then you should try this restaurant.
(5)
Shay M.
Best shawarma and Lebanese salad in the area. Only place I'll go now after being disappointed by numerous others.
(5)
Cat M.
Update, the smoothie wasn't my fave but I liked my smoothies to be super sugary and this one tasted a little bland to me. Everything else was still awesome! I order from here all the time. :)
(5)
Richard M.
Great food. Nice smoky baba ganoush. Friendly. Clean. Try their veggie platter, it's tasty and very filling.
(5)
Abha S.
I have been a fan on this place ever since it has opened initially cos of the close proximity of this place to my home and then also because of the fact that the food here is great ( and I love falafel & shwarma). The pricing is also reasonable. This place is a must try - I'd suggest to-go order as this place isn't very big (seating area wise)..
(4)
Megan M.
Amazing food! And they really value their customers. The best falafel I've had, and amazing service.
(5)
G S.
I have ordered delivery from Jerusalem Cafe twice and have been very happy both times with the chicken shwarma and falafel. Very tasty and great price!
(5)
Sarah B.
This was AMAZING! I ordered it on a whim from Grub Hub. They delivered it on time to my work place, and the lady was extremely nice! I ordered the lunch special with extra chicken, and was amazed at how much food came in the container. The spices were exactly right and tasted phenomenal. I will DEFINITELY be ordering from here again!
(5)
Nader A.
Great food. Amazing ambiance! Great service! Did I mention amazing food! And I'm from Palestine, its like your eating at home great falafel! Must try the chicken tender! My favorite. The owner is alway welcoming and checking on his customers to see if their experience went well.
(5)
Chris F.
Nice people. Expected better food tho but it was edible.
(2)
Karen N.
I love this place!!! The food is delicious and they make it fresh when you order. You know when you see a lot Middle Eastern people eating at a Middle Eastern restaurant it has to be good. They are very friendly and courteous and one of the owners brought me some hot tea and a falafel to try with my meal when I was there. It's really easy to find and has convenient parking. If you are looking for something quick but a little different then you should try this restaurant.
(5)
Shay M.
Best shawarma and Lebanese salad in the area. Only place I'll go now after being disappointed by numerous others.
(5)
Cat M.
Update, the smoothie wasn't my fave but I liked my smoothies to be super sugary and this one tasted a little bland to me. Everything else was still awesome! I order from here all the time. :)
(5)
Richard M.
Great food. Nice smoky baba ganoush. Friendly. Clean. Try their veggie platter, it's tasty and very filling.
(5)
Andrew G.
Moderately decent Mediterranean food at a fair price for a solid lunch.
(3)
Serg M.
No! just NO! not tasty! not flavor taste like piece of paper! weill never come back again!
(1)
Abha S.
I have been a fan on this place ever since it has opened initially cos of the close proximity of this place to my home and then also because of the fact that the food here is great ( and I love falafel & shwarma). The pricing is also reasonable. This place is a must try - I'd suggest to-go order as this place isn't very big (seating area wise)..
(4)
Megan M.
Amazing food! And they really value their customers. The best falafel I've had, and amazing service.
(5)
Vernon J.
This place is great. I had the lunch special and had leftovers. The food is flavorful and delicious. The rice is perfect nice flavor and texture. The meat was seasoned wonderfully and the steak was tender. They have a cool little condiment bar and I have to recommend their red sauce. Nice burn, but no pain. I was in the mood for a Falafel one day and theirs was delicious and fresh. For a budget I recommend the lunch special and you can add to it for just a small amount to really sample the variety of food there.
(4)
Kathleen B.
Ordered in-restaurant and then decided to get it to go. Pros: Flavor and seasoning on lamb was delicious. Jerusalem salad was light, fresh, and crisp. Cons: Meat was a little overcooked as it always tends to be at Mediterranean places; also, for $9 entree price, was disappointed that there wasn't more meat. Got a strawberry smoothie for the kids, and was disappointed to see they just dumped white sugar into the blender along with the fruit. Not exactly a smoothie. I was a little surprised at how small the portions were. I'm accustomed to very large portions for the money, so they fell short on that for me. The pita was really lacking in flavor for me, too. On their menu inside they had a killer lunch special listed. Basically a combination plate and sides from 11a-2pm and I think it was like $7. I want to go back for that and see if I have better luck on another day! I really want to like and support this place.
(3)
Victoria D.
Been here 3 times & the food is very good with lots of flavor! Highly recommend trying it! Service is always very friendly! Prices are great for the quantity & quality you receive! If you like Middle Eastern food definitely try them! If you've never had Middle Eastern food it is very flavorful and worth trying. You won't be disappointed! I don't have to drive to the city anymore to get my fix of Middle Eastern food...yay!
(5)
Andy L.
Lunch combo special is a great value, and the taste and quality of the food is great as well. Glad this place is around because there isn't a better Mediterranean place in the immediate area. Also the few vegetarian dishes are very good and filling.
(5)
G S.
I have ordered delivery from Jerusalem Cafe twice and have been very happy both times with the chicken shwarma and falafel. Very tasty and great price!
(5)
Sarah B.
This was AMAZING! I ordered it on a whim from Grub Hub. They delivered it on time to my work place, and the lady was extremely nice! I ordered the lunch special with extra chicken, and was amazed at how much food came in the container. The spices were exactly right and tasted phenomenal. I will DEFINITELY be ordering from here again!
(5)
Nader A.
Great food. Amazing ambiance! Great service! Did I mention amazing food! And I'm from Palestine, its like your eating at home great falafel! Must try the chicken tender! My favorite. The owner is alway welcoming and checking on his customers to see if their experience went well.
(5)
Benjamin S.
The best falafel sandwich I have had in my life. Everything else is great too! Their portions are hearty, their prices almost make me feel guilty they are so affordable, and everything is made fresh! The home-made hot sauces and fresh fried pita chips put even fancy Mediterranean restaurants to shame. Highly recommended!
(5)
Dan JoNell S.
Will not be going back, the service was poor, the lines were long, and the overall confusion of orders taken lead to a poor experience for me and a friend.
(1)
Carm C.
They actually SELL condiments to you, if yoU order food to go. Are you kidding me? I like the spicy stuff but you're going to charge me because I'm not going to sit in your restaurant and eat?
We ordered falafel sandwich and hummus with pites ... Overall the hummus was better than other places I have been . The sandwich clearly was made with fresh ingredients. We really enjoyed The service . They brought us hot tea on the house and were of course very hospitable and polite. Definitely would recommend and come back to eat again
(4)
Suburban F.
I found this place on groupon so i looked them up. I saw the clip where they are featured on CBS 2 they went to their Oak Park location. It caught my attention since they had good reviews and it was a really good deal i couldn't pass up since the owner says in the video their most expensive plate is $7.99. Well i went to their new location in lombard and it's a very small restaurant next to El Famous Burrito on Roosevelt Rd. It was clean and i was greeted with hello and smile (big plus) they have tons of options and when i looked at their prices i noticed their plate entrees are more than $7.99. I did not like that but whatever, i ordered my food and sat down. As i was reading their paper menus i saw that you can ask for basmati rice instead of rice pilaf for free which i did. Overall the food tasted good the only reason i gave this place 4 stars is because the prices were not what they had stated in their video. Other then that check them out.
(4)
Deanna B.
Ordered delivery on Grub Hub. The falafel was delicious and didn't seem greasy, even after sitting in the delivery driver's car on the drive to our house. We ordered sides of hummus and baba ganoush and both were very good. The hummus was flavorful and fresh without being overly garlicky. My husband ordered gyros and says they were the best he's had in the area. I highly recommend this place.
(4)
Jake S.
I want to preface my review with a serious, 'must be noted' caveat - I ordered for delivery on a weeknight when the temperature was approximately 'Why the H*** do I live in this environment?'. Just saying. So, like many other Lombardians, I noted the death of Wolfy's (like Brandy's before it, and Nicky's before that...) and inside the last two weeks something else opened up in it's spot. Simultaneously, they had a Group-on deal going on, and those two circumstances together mean It's required by law that I had to try it. Before we get to the food - they said they would honor a Group-on on delivery. Most Pizza joints won't even honor Group-ons for delivery, and wait a minute...you're a mediterrean place that delivers?! Kick ass. Bonus karma to this place right off the bat. Sooo, I and a sibling order the Combo entree with the extra chicken breast, the lamb entree, and some extra Falafels (because, hey, why not, Falafels are great) for delivery. Now, my house is two turns away from them. Not kidding. I couldv'e just drove there myself in about 5 minutes. Half an hour later, I'm wondering, "say, shouldn't I have been eating something by now?" occurs to me. Just then the delivery guy calls me and after a brief conversation about not finding us, he lets me know he'll be here in just a couple of minutes (which he was). The large amount of rice pilaf with either entree was still warm, as well as the entrees themselves, but the delay had left the Falafels cold. The Combo entree was good, and the schwarma here is definately going to be revisited. The lamb kebob entree, however, was disappointing. Again, a huge amount of rice pilaf...and only a couple of tiny pieces of lamb. On the whole, the delay rendering the meals less than ideal results in a meh~ish rating, but I'm booting it up to four stars based on honoring a Group-on for a delviery order on a crappy cold night to begin with. I will try them again an update the review, as next time I will do carry-out and see if that helps matters some.
(4)
Mary Anne D.
We LOVED the Jerusalem Cafe.!!!!!! The food was magnificent, portions plenty big enough and the staff was very friendly. We can't wait to go back!!!
(5)
Gary B.
It was pretty good. Nothing I can write home about.
(3)
W M.
Tried the restaurant another time with colleagues and it has the same great taste and quality for all items in the combo plate. The beef kabob is tender and the grilled chicken is falvorful. The home made appetizers like hummus, baba ghannouj, and the tzakziki-like garlic yogurt is very tasty and appetizing. Like other reviewers, looking forward to try other menu items soon.
(5)
Jim F.
Food was great. Kudos to the chefs. Idiots at the front counter forgot the pita bread. Why would one order hummous, baba ghanouj, tabbouleh, falafel etc to eat without pita bread. Bush league mistake. Also, when i went to check the bag, the girl at the checkout counter said "don't worry, everything is in there." I even paid for extra pita bread. Great to get home ten miles away to find there is no bread......had to go to the store and buy it again. NEVER GOING BACK.
So amazingly awesome. Veggies are fresh. Food is outstanding with a great balance of textures and flavors. And I still love the little bar of accoutrements!
(5)
Christina B.
Let's get the negative stuff out of the way right away: lady at the counter not so helpful, awkward conversation overheard with what sounded like her boss, not enough plates passed out with food, no place to put dirty plates and dishes. Now on to the good! Cheap prices, good falafel pita, baba was pretty good, and they had unlimited amounts of toppings you could grab for no extra charge. Hummas wasn't very good... But the baba made up for it. All the meat was really tasty as well. Combo plate is a large amount of good and gives you a test of each meat. This place was pretty solid. I'll be coming back!
(4)
Carlos T.
After eating here a couple times, this is one of my go to places. I really liked the Combination feast, which full you up. The gyros sandwich is also excellent. For 6 bucks you get a fully loaded gyros sandwich with fries. One my favorite yum. The people taking the order are nice, and overall a great place to get food.
(5)
Rehan A.
Lunch special was decent. Huge portion of chicken and rice. Decent food nice people. Overall food tastes yummy and fulfilling.
(5)
Gary L.
New discovery for me here in the burbs. Great hummus and schwarma . Grape leaves tasty too
(4)
Hashim Q.
Jerusalem cafe is the best place to get Mediterranean food in the Oakbrook/Lombard area. The mixed grill platter is fantastic, expertly seasoned and cooked very well. The falafel (my favorite aspect of Arab/Mediterranean cuisine) is less that great however. A bit dry and kind of flavorless. Go to Jerusalem cafe for the meats and you will not be disappointed.
(4)
Don R.
Let's say mediocre is the best word I'll use to describe my experience. Came here a few days ago for a quick, last minute dinner. Got the lamb kabob sandwich. It wasn't necessarily nasty. But it wasn't amazing either. It was just ok. The flavors were so-so, nothing capitalizing. The lamb was in huge chunks and obviously placed throughout the sandwich. Therefore, you had some bites that were full of lamb others that were just straight lettuce. Would've been better if they were cut smaller so it could be spread through the sandwich better. The falafel was good though, well seasoned. I'm kind of so-so about coming back. For what it cost, I don't see it as worth it. I'd rather travel 10 minutes to I Dream of Falafel if I want some good Mediterranean food.
(3)
Padma A.
i had really high expectations looking at the reviews....the food was okay but not impressive. I got the lamb sandwich, meat was chewy and Chicken tenders entree to go which was big portion size for the kiddos and leftover wiped out by hubby. Michelle at the front desk was really nice and friendly, great customer service!The place was clean and bathroom too.
(3)
Harris I.
I have been coming here at least once a week since they opened up...and I can honestly say the quality and the taste has only improved. One of the best tasting middle eastern places for lunch or dinner. The pricing is very very reasonable. The staff is nice. Place is cleaner than expected. Id recommend this for anyone. Get their combination platter!
(5)
Ashley V.
Great deal for great food. I had the lamb kabob sandwich and the meat was so tasty! I'll definitely be back for more.
(4)
Dan K.
I really like this place. They have a special which consists of some meats and falafel, veggies, and rice for about $8 including a drink. Great value, good food. They have a sauce bar which you can order for an extra .25 cents per sauce, or $1 for a dish filled with different sauces. There is the garlic toum, tahini, some cilantro chimmichurri style sauce, jalapenos, pickled turnips, and red hot sauce. They used to give some chips on the side if you paid the $1 but I didn't get that option the last time I was there. There isn't too much seating, but I have never had a problem sitting down either. This has quickly become a favorite of ours at work, and my wife and I agree that it's one of our top places as well. I want to try some of the sandwiches soon.
(5)
Ace R.
The food here is great. Their beef shawarma is authentic and one of the best shawarma sandwiches I have tried in a while. I tried their gyros, chicken fattoush salad, beef kebab, and kefta kebab and they all tasted delicious. Very reasonably priced food as well. This will be my new go to spot for middle eastern food in the area.
(4)
Eric B.
Decided to try this place because I had a Groupon, so was worth passing other Mediterranean restaurants on the way. The place initially had the look of a mid-size diner and I wasn't particularly optimistic. We made our selections. Wife had Vegetable plate with falafel, tabbouli, baba gannouc, and hummus. I had gyros plate with baba gannouc appetizer. I can eat almost any portion of food I am served but I had too much and couldn't finish it. I know gyros are more Greek than Palestinian, but this was some of the best gyros meat I'd ever had. By the way, my wife loved the falafel. While the Groupon deal made the price very reasonable, even without the Groupon the 2 meals were less than $20. We were inspired to try this place because of the Groupon but we have decided this will become one of our regular stops. I guess that's what the Groupons were designed to do.
(4)
Graciela S.
Fellow yelpers. When ordering from this establishment consider this. The employees do not consider this a middle eastern restaurant they consider it an "Americanized" middle eastern restaurant. Even if the menu says something will be brought to you in a certain way do not expect that, expect an Americanized version even though you are at a middle eastern restaurant. If you try to complain or call to let them know they will tell you nothing can be done for you because you are wrong and no one else complains about it not being done the correct way. It is the last time I will deal with this restaurant. Naf naf is way better and does things the correct way.
(1)
AB L.
I really liked the shawarma here. I tried both chicken and both. The manager and the employees are super nice.
(5)
Jennifer P.
I was super excited to see a Mediterranean (read: veggie friendly!) business pop up so close to work! Even better that I scored a Groupon deal. I ordered the Vegetarian Falafel Plate and the Vegetarian Combo Plate. Needless to say I had a TON of falafel! They were not the typical balls, though, which threw me off a bit. They were good, and the Tahini sauce was really the best I've had so far - nice, thick, and rich - and rivals the Tahini at my favorite Mediterranean joint. The Falafel Plate had much lighter fare - the falafel, a bit of lettuce, and some pita. It's more of a light snacky-type lunch. I much preferred the Combo Plate, which was more substantial and lasted me two meals. I didn't like the Tabouleh, but it was also the first time I'd had it, so perhaps it's an acquired taste? I LOVE me some grape leaves! These were really yummy, albeit sloppy and falling apart. There were also random grape leaf pieces floating around. The Baba Ganoush was also really good and obviously homemade (plus!), but it did have some huge eggplant chunks floating around, which was a bit off-putting texture-wise since it's slimy like that. It always makes me a little sad when Mediterranean joints use the supermarket-type pita bread. Y'know, the dense flavorless bread? I get that it's probably a P.I.T.A. to make your own bread, but maybe just throwing it on the grill would at least be a step up on the flavor profile. The Baklava was a bit disappointing as it was extremely hard and dry. They had a TON of it out on the counter individually wrapped... maybe they made too much at once? In the future I'll probably just stick with the Veggie Combo Plate. To sum, Jerusalem Cafe seems like a pretty decent Mediterranean joint. Lombard needs one, so I hope it sticks around! I'll be back soon. :)
(3)
Erika L.
So good! And the service was great! They let me try a few things before I made my final decision.
(5)
Jahanzeb H.
Food here is fantastic, chicken, beef, shwarma all are very well done. Rice is a bit oily though. They recently started charging for condiments, which I hate. I understand they have to make a profit. They should give you one cup free and charge for second one or just raise prices by a quarter. Sauce bar is free again, they really listen to their customers and take their suggestions seriously.
(5)
Ron S.
I stopped in for lunch and ordered the vegetarian combination plate. It comes with 3 falafel, 3 stuffed grape leaves, hummus, baba ghannough and tabouleh salad. I'm no expert on middle eastern food but I do like tasty food and everything I had was delicious. The amount of food that they give you will satisfy all but the most hungry of appetites. I was surprised at the amount of food on this $8.99 combination plate. The only disappointment was the factory-baked pita pocket that came with the meal. It would be great if they baked them on premise. This is not a big enough deal that would prevent me from returning. I really enjoyed the food and like that they have lots of vegetarian options.
(4)
Dan B.
Not too long ago Wolfy's hot dogs in Lombard closed down. It was a hard place to make a left turn into from Roosevelt Road, they had somewhat strange hours closing around 8:00 and it was the third time the eatery occupying that lot had closed in around five years. A month or so ago a sign saying "Coming Soon, Middle Eastern Grill" popped up in the window of the former Wolfy's and I made a mental note to visit once they had opened. One day in driving by they appeared to be open so I made that difficult left turn into the parking lot and decided to stop in and give it a try. The new place is called Jerusalem Cafe and it is just as the coming soon sign described a Middle Eastern grill place. I went up to the counter and was greeted by an extremely friendly gentleman. Within about 30 seconds I had zero'ed in on the Shwarma sandwich I wanted to order, placed my order and was told to take a seat and they'd bring it out. It's worth noting that also in Lombard not terribly long ago a place called Shwarma express opened up and having ordered the exact same item there I waited around 20 minutes, so I sat down expecting a long wait and was pleasantly surprised when it came out in about 3 minutes. The shwarma sandwich here came on pita bread with tahini sauce, tomato and some other vegetables. It was a good flavor overall, the shwarma was nice and juicy, the tahini was a nice compliment and everything tasted great. The pita was soft yet held together well. The sandwich gets a recommendation from me for sure. Overall based on my experience at Jerusalem Cafe I'd give this place a very solid recommendation. Based on the other recently opened Middle Eastern eatery I'd say that Jerusalem Cafe is faster and has friendlier service. But I got less food, it wasn't quite as good (but still excellent) and cost more. Overall I am going to give four stars to Jerusalem Cafe and note that it appears with Jerusalem Cafe, Pita Inn, Mr. Halal Broaster and Shwarma Express that Roosevelt Road in Lombard is quickly becoming a hot spot (a Mecca if you will) for Middle Eastern eats.
(4)
Fawad F.
Go to JC, order the Beef shish kabob, savor the taste. Portions are large, price is reasonable, seating is readily available and clean. My understanding is that all meats and chicken are organic. Have some garlic sauce. Enjoy!
(5)
Rachel C.
I had the falafel sandwich which came with 6 falafel logs, pitas, a small amount of iceberg lettuce strips, tzatziki sauce, and some sort of cucumber coleslaw mix. The falafel was not that great. It was pretty greasy and had a strong flavor that I couldn't place and didn't care for. There wasn't nearly enough lettuce or cucumber coleslaw mix to put in the pitas with the falafel, and the pitas tasted stale. Overall, it wasn't awful, but the next day I put leftovers on my plate to warm up in the microwave and just found them so unappetizing I tossed them in the trash. The restaurant was clean and bright and staff was friendly. Wait time was acceptable for my to go order. Prices seemed fair.
(2)
Jeisson N.
Jerusalem Cafe has become my girlfriend and I's favorite place. Close to National University so very convenient given she goes there. The food is outstanding... I would even say phenomenal. The Beef Shish Kabob is to die for. Literally melts in your mouth. On a couple of occasions we have gotten the chicken and it is also delicious. The service is very good and the place clean. Prices are very reasonable for the amount of food served. We highly recommend it.
(5)
Jessica C.
Just happened to drive past this little gem and did a quick yelp to see if it was any good. It looked good so we stopped in. It's a very tiny cafe with only 10 tables or so. The customer service was astounding. Everything was very clean, the server gave us recommendations when I asked between beef shawarma or kebab. I ended up getting the combination platter to try a little of everything. My bf got the beef kebab platter. He is extremely hard to please and he took ONE bite and said "oh wow. Taste this!" It was amazing flavor and melted in my mouth. The chicken shawarma was a little dry but the flavor was really good. The kafta kabob was great too although for anyone new coming in I would HIGHLY recommend the beef kabob platter. It was truly amazing. I also got the falafel on my platter which was seasoned beautifully. Free pita bread and hummus are a plus! A+++++
(5)
Lily T.
We went to Jerusalem Cafe for lunch and had the lunch special plates. My favorite thing was the falafel. My least favorite was some meat patty, that looked like a mini hamburger, which was very tasteless and dry. Although you get quite a bit of food for the money it was all rather bland. Nothing was necessarily bad, we just thought it lacked flavor. My friend used a ton of the stuff from the condiment bar and that seemed to make it better for them. I will say after eating there I was full for the rest of the day. Maybe they make the lunch specials bland to cater to more tastes. If we go back I will try something different.
(2)
Mic C.
Honestly, I think Jerusalem Cafe is fine, but nothing exceptional. The shwarma (both the chicken and beef) is extremely salty, to the point where I can't even taste the other flavors. The kebab was decent, tender and tasty, but still very salty. The rice is fine, and I really enjoy the grilled vegetables that come with the meal. The falafel is fine, but a little scorched the three times I've ordered. Pita is blah. It is convenient, delivered quickly, and reasonably priced. But when I want Mediterranean food, I'd rather skip the convenience and drive out to Pita Inn.
(2)
Jenni E.
I wanted to like this place way more than I did, but I probably would come here and try something else. I came in later in the day and ordered a shawarma sandwich. The girl behind the counter seemed aggravated that I was interrupting her texting to order my food, but otherwise obliged. It took a few minutes to get my food, which I consider a good thing. The sandwich was tasty and warm, but I felt like there should have been more to it. Next time I come, I think I will try one of the plates so that I can get more of a variety. I did like that they had some combos on the menu as well. After I ate, I decided to try a piece of baklava for dessert. It was fantastic, but again I pulled the cashier away from texting and felt that I was inconveniencing her to place my order.
(3)
Kelly M.
Pretty solid food! Andrew L. and I met here for lunch to enjoy a Groupon deal. This place used to be a hot dog joint and is a small interior space. The staff is friendly, but there isn't really any ambiance. I ordered the vegetarian combo, which included baba ganoush (favorite word ever), hummus, stuffed grape leaves, falafel, a pita and tabouleh. I think I ordered wrong. I feel like I ended up with a plate of dips, but oh well. The falafel is quite crispy and delightful, but I was a little confused that the grape leaves were served cold. Oh well, they had a very nice salty finish, so I suppose I was surprised. Overall, I couldn't help but compare it to Naf Naf Grill, which still holds a special corner of my heart with their super puffy pitas and smoky baba ganoush. However, I'll have to revisit this review once I try a entree - this could be more my poor choices than a reflection on this place.
(3)
Katie O.
Great food- lousy service. Come prepared to wait longer than expected. Love the beef kabobs and beef gyros.
(4)
Dana S.
I love this restaurant. The owner is so nice and they have great food. Really great vegetarian options I recommend are the falafel and avocado sandwich and the vegetarian platter. Yum!
(5)
Mike L.
Still the best and always eat here when I am out West. Exact amazing food and service as Oak Park. I could eat here EVERY DAY!! I almost do in Oak Park! The Chicken Schwarma (sp?) is by far the best I have had anywhere and if you like hot and spicy I suggest putting their home made ground red pepper sauce along with hummus and/or tahini on the pita with the chicken, lettuce, tomato and onion....sooooooooo gooooood!!
(5)
K. R.
Best. Baba. Ghannouj. Ever. I've been a fan of this place ever since it opened. Fast service, tasty food, and crazy low prices. The falafel is crispy and flavorful, Jerusalem salad and tabouleh are fresh, hummus and baba are smooth, creamy, and addictive! Orders always come with plenty of pita bread. Great food if you're on-the-go. I've never eaten-in here, but the atmosphere seems comfortable enough - pretty much your typical fast food restaurant inside. The staff is helpful and patient if you're not sure what you want. All-in-all: YUM! Seriously. Baba. Ghannouj. Try it.
(5)
becky s.
The office ordered from here for lunch on Friday through the online ordering on yelp which was very nice. The food was delivered in the time promised which was nice. However, I ordered my pita sandwich and in the comments I asked instead of the Jerusalem salad in the pita to add rice. When the food came, there was the Jerusalem salad in the pita. I called the store and the man on the phone was very rude about it. Told me that's how they are made and i explained I put in the notes how I wanted it made...and if they couldn't have done it, they should have called me. He didn't even offer to remake it or anything. I was extremely disappointed in their customer service. Overall...everyone else in the office was happy with their meals.
(3)
Astrid N.
The guy who appeared to be maybe the owner or manager seemed very friendly and smiley. He gave me free falafel, which was nice (and it was good -- tasted like it had a lot of nutmeg in it and was very flavorful). However, the rest of the food was nothing very special. The rice was that same yellow rice you get everywhere, and it was fairly oily. The pita tasted like it came out of a package. Also nothing special. The chicken shawarma was okay. I've had better. Not very memorable, not especially delicious -- I would rate it as average. Definitely not terrible, but I can't imagine there will ever be a point in my future at which I will say, "Man, I gotta go to Jerusalem Cafe, I really have a taste for it!" Pinched is only a couple miles further from home for me, and definitely worth the extra drive time.
(3)
M f.
The food is so good and authentically Mediterranean. Salads and smoothies and as soon as I saw the variety I was happy. Not your run of the mill pita places. The food plays a bigger role here..my 8 year old loved the saffron rice and the big chunks of lamb meat. The fattoush was a big hit and she never has salad. I even got to have free refills of the tea and there is that Turkish coffee that called my name but it was too late in the afternoon to have a heavy cup of coffee. The dishes that allowed you to sample are the best. Go with a Groupon and try it. I have found a gem I will be revisiting and a nice and healthy and frugal alternative to fast food for my child.
(5)
Robin M.
Worth a visit. Then a return and subsequent returns. Excellent food, smiling faces.
(5)
Aaron K.
Just found this place looking to grab a quick bite for lunch. I'm so glad I did. This will become a regular place for me. I got the lunch special which is: beef shish kabob, kifta kabob (lamb and ground beef), chicken shawarma, falafel, rice pilaf, salad, pita bread, and a medium drink. All that for about 8 bucks! I also added grilled chicken breast for a dollar more. Everything was delicious, but I couldn't finish it all. So, now I have delicious dinner for tonight too. I highly recommend this place.
(5)
Jessica W.
I really wanted to love this place. Being very close to home, and replacing a horrid hot dog joint,anything with multiple vegan/vegetarian options gets my vote. As for service it just felt too "fast foody"...young cashier with not much service charm. I can get over that, if the food is worth it...and for the price, I was dissapointed. While the falafel are massive, they are dry and lacking. Huge portion of hummus, but had an odd flavour. I'm picky about hummus though because I make my own and always find it best that way. I wouldn't highly recommend but wouldn't advise to stay away either.
(3)
Malena J.
The food is good. I'm a vegan and was able to get some nice dishes to share with my husband who is also vegan. The only reason I didn't give this restaurant a higher score is because of the slow disorganized service. The cashier seemed to be new and not well trained but she was also not knowledgeable About the food. She had a large tattoo over her chest and a low cut shirt. My husband has tattoos but hers really made me uncomfortable for a food/family establishment being on her chest.
(3)
Gayann P.
Delicious! The food was delicious and the service was great! Very clean also! Excited to try more on the menu in order the feast and felt that it was the perfect amount of food!
(5)
Elaine H.
Love their food -- fresh and tasty with friendly staff. The portions are generous and they make up your order fresh -- no food that's been sitting for hours under hot lights. Also offer many selections so I'll be back to try them all. The restaurant is also very clean with comfy booths to sit on and prices are reasonable with fast service. I'm so glad to have a good Mideastern restaurant in my neighborhood. I usually don't do reviews, but wanted to get the word out about this well run restaurant. Falafel plate here I come!
(4)
Vicki L.
I am a big fan of Middle-eastern food, so soon after I saw this place had opened up I made sure to stop in with my dad for some lunch. How good was it? I was back within less than a week for dinner with the rest of my family. I have already had the felafel sandwich and the beef shwarma plate, and both were delicious. The beef shwarma plate came on a bed of basmati rice (you can substitute jasmine rice of you wish) and vegetables. The felafels in the sandwich were melt-in-your-mouth soft and the pita was perfect. When I was there for dinner, we got a small side of hummus, which was actually fairly sizable and very good. The menu has a wide selection of food items (as well as juices and smoothies), and the prices are very reasonable. They even do catering for larger groups. This restaurant is definitely going to be on my repeat list.
(4)
N E.
Best place ever!!! Tonight was our first time there and the owner was so kind...we will definitely be going back and more often...I wish we could gove this place 10stars...way to go Jerusalem cafe..you guys were great...and the server was super sweet!
(5)
Sara P.
Lots of food. Very good selection on the menu. Uses lamb which is a big must for me in this sort of restaurant, several around the area use beef only. The staff are willing to answer questions and discuss the food. I overheard people trying the type of food for the first time and asking how to eat it and where the food is based off.
(4)
Jen S.
Delicious! Better than the Pita Inn which is hard to beat. They even have a lunch combo special similar to the Pita Inn. I was nervous initially given the turnover of businesses in this location, but decided to give it a try. It was busy and there was a lot of different clientele on my first trip. I talked it up and on my second trip, I brought my husband and three kids. I was talking about the kifta and ordered the chicken. The owner brought out a kifta just for me to try. Friendly and helpful staff. Very clean. I could eat it everyday. I hope this place stays around!
(5)
Harris I.
I have been coming here at least once a week since they opened up...and I can honestly say the quality and the taste has only improved. One of the best tasting middle eastern places for lunch or dinner. The pricing is very very reasonable. The staff is nice. Place is cleaner than expected. Id recommend this for anyone. Get their combination platter!
(5)
Ashley V.
Great deal for great food. I had the lamb kabob sandwich and the meat was so tasty! I'll definitely be back for more.
(4)
Dan K.
I really like this place. They have a special which consists of some meats and falafel, veggies, and rice for about $8 including a drink. Great value, good food. They have a sauce bar which you can order for an extra .25 cents per sauce, or $1 for a dish filled with different sauces. There is the garlic toum, tahini, some cilantro chimmichurri style sauce, jalapenos, pickled turnips, and red hot sauce. They used to give some chips on the side if you paid the $1 but I didn't get that option the last time I was there. There isn't too much seating, but I have never had a problem sitting down either. This has quickly become a favorite of ours at work, and my wife and I agree that it's one of our top places as well. I want to try some of the sandwiches soon.
(5)
Ace R.
The food here is great. Their beef shawarma is authentic and one of the best shawarma sandwiches I have tried in a while. I tried their gyros, chicken fattoush salad, beef kebab, and kefta kebab and they all tasted delicious. Very reasonably priced food as well. This will be my new go to spot for middle eastern food in the area.
(4)
Eric B.
Decided to try this place because I had a Groupon, so was worth passing other Mediterranean restaurants on the way. The place initially had the look of a mid-size diner and I wasn't particularly optimistic. We made our selections. Wife had Vegetable plate with falafel, tabbouli, baba gannouc, and hummus. I had gyros plate with baba gannouc appetizer. I can eat almost any portion of food I am served but I had too much and couldn't finish it. I know gyros are more Greek than Palestinian, but this was some of the best gyros meat I'd ever had. By the way, my wife loved the falafel. While the Groupon deal made the price very reasonable, even without the Groupon the 2 meals were less than $20. We were inspired to try this place because of the Groupon but we have decided this will become one of our regular stops. I guess that's what the Groupons were designed to do.
(4)
Malena J.
The food is good. I'm a vegan and was able to get some nice dishes to share with my husband who is also vegan. The only reason I didn't give this restaurant a higher score is because of the slow disorganized service. The cashier seemed to be new and not well trained but she was also not knowledgeable About the food. She had a large tattoo over her chest and a low cut shirt. My husband has tattoos but hers really made me uncomfortable for a food/family establishment being on her chest.
(3)
AB L.
I really liked the shawarma here. I tried both chicken and both. The manager and the employees are super nice.
(5)
Mic C.
Honestly, I think Jerusalem Cafe is fine, but nothing exceptional. The shwarma (both the chicken and beef) is extremely salty, to the point where I can't even taste the other flavors. The kebab was decent, tender and tasty, but still very salty. The rice is fine, and I really enjoy the grilled vegetables that come with the meal. The falafel is fine, but a little scorched the three times I've ordered. Pita is blah. It is convenient, delivered quickly, and reasonably priced. But when I want Mediterranean food, I'd rather skip the convenience and drive out to Pita Inn.
(2)
Ron S.
I stopped in for lunch and ordered the vegetarian combination plate. It comes with 3 falafel, 3 stuffed grape leaves, hummus, baba ghannough and tabouleh salad. I'm no expert on middle eastern food but I do like tasty food and everything I had was delicious. The amount of food that they give you will satisfy all but the most hungry of appetites. I was surprised at the amount of food on this $8.99 combination plate. The only disappointment was the factory-baked pita pocket that came with the meal. It would be great if they baked them on premise. This is not a big enough deal that would prevent me from returning. I really enjoyed the food and like that they have lots of vegetarian options.
(4)
Jenni E.
I wanted to like this place way more than I did, but I probably would come here and try something else. I came in later in the day and ordered a shawarma sandwich. The girl behind the counter seemed aggravated that I was interrupting her texting to order my food, but otherwise obliged. It took a few minutes to get my food, which I consider a good thing. The sandwich was tasty and warm, but I felt like there should have been more to it. Next time I come, I think I will try one of the plates so that I can get more of a variety. I did like that they had some combos on the menu as well. After I ate, I decided to try a piece of baklava for dessert. It was fantastic, but again I pulled the cashier away from texting and felt that I was inconveniencing her to place my order.
(3)
Kelly M.
Pretty solid food! Andrew L. and I met here for lunch to enjoy a Groupon deal. This place used to be a hot dog joint and is a small interior space. The staff is friendly, but there isn't really any ambiance. I ordered the vegetarian combo, which included baba ganoush (favorite word ever), hummus, stuffed grape leaves, falafel, a pita and tabouleh. I think I ordered wrong. I feel like I ended up with a plate of dips, but oh well. The falafel is quite crispy and delightful, but I was a little confused that the grape leaves were served cold. Oh well, they had a very nice salty finish, so I suppose I was surprised. Overall, I couldn't help but compare it to Naf Naf Grill, which still holds a special corner of my heart with their super puffy pitas and smoky baba ganoush. However, I'll have to revisit this review once I try a entree - this could be more my poor choices than a reflection on this place.
(3)
Katie O.
Great food- lousy service. Come prepared to wait longer than expected. Love the beef kabobs and beef gyros.
(4)
Dana S.
I love this restaurant. The owner is so nice and they have great food. Really great vegetarian options I recommend are the falafel and avocado sandwich and the vegetarian platter. Yum!
(5)
Mike L.
Still the best and always eat here when I am out West. Exact amazing food and service as Oak Park. I could eat here EVERY DAY!! I almost do in Oak Park! The Chicken Schwarma (sp?) is by far the best I have had anywhere and if you like hot and spicy I suggest putting their home made ground red pepper sauce along with hummus and/or tahini on the pita with the chicken, lettuce, tomato and onion....sooooooooo gooooood!!
(5)
Jessica C.
Just happened to drive past this little gem and did a quick yelp to see if it was any good. It looked good so we stopped in. It's a very tiny cafe with only 10 tables or so. The customer service was astounding. Everything was very clean, the server gave us recommendations when I asked between beef shawarma or kebab. I ended up getting the combination platter to try a little of everything. My bf got the beef kebab platter. He is extremely hard to please and he took ONE bite and said "oh wow. Taste this!" It was amazing flavor and melted in my mouth. The chicken shawarma was a little dry but the flavor was really good. The kafta kabob was great too although for anyone new coming in I would HIGHLY recommend the beef kabob platter. It was truly amazing. I also got the falafel on my platter which was seasoned beautifully. Free pita bread and hummus are a plus! A+++++
(5)
M f.
The food is so good and authentically Mediterranean. Salads and smoothies and as soon as I saw the variety I was happy. Not your run of the mill pita places. The food plays a bigger role here..my 8 year old loved the saffron rice and the big chunks of lamb meat. The fattoush was a big hit and she never has salad. I even got to have free refills of the tea and there is that Turkish coffee that called my name but it was too late in the afternoon to have a heavy cup of coffee. The dishes that allowed you to sample are the best. Go with a Groupon and try it. I have found a gem I will be revisiting and a nice and healthy and frugal alternative to fast food for my child.
(5)
Robin M.
Worth a visit. Then a return and subsequent returns. Excellent food, smiling faces.
(5)
Don R.
Let's say mediocre is the best word I'll use to describe my experience. Came here a few days ago for a quick, last minute dinner. Got the lamb kabob sandwich. It wasn't necessarily nasty. But it wasn't amazing either. It was just ok. The flavors were so-so, nothing capitalizing. The lamb was in huge chunks and obviously placed throughout the sandwich. Therefore, you had some bites that were full of lamb others that were just straight lettuce. Would've been better if they were cut smaller so it could be spread through the sandwich better. The falafel was good though, well seasoned. I'm kind of so-so about coming back. For what it cost, I don't see it as worth it. I'd rather travel 10 minutes to I Dream of Falafel if I want some good Mediterranean food.
(3)
Padma A.
i had really high expectations looking at the reviews....the food was okay but not impressive. I got the lamb sandwich, meat was chewy and Chicken tenders entree to go which was big portion size for the kiddos and leftover wiped out by hubby. Michelle at the front desk was really nice and friendly, great customer service!The place was clean and bathroom too.
(3)
Jennifer P.
I was super excited to see a Mediterranean (read: veggie friendly!) business pop up so close to work! Even better that I scored a Groupon deal. I ordered the Vegetarian Falafel Plate and the Vegetarian Combo Plate. Needless to say I had a TON of falafel! They were not the typical balls, though, which threw me off a bit. They were good, and the Tahini sauce was really the best I've had so far - nice, thick, and rich - and rivals the Tahini at my favorite Mediterranean joint. The Falafel Plate had much lighter fare - the falafel, a bit of lettuce, and some pita. It's more of a light snacky-type lunch. I much preferred the Combo Plate, which was more substantial and lasted me two meals. I didn't like the Tabouleh, but it was also the first time I'd had it, so perhaps it's an acquired taste? I LOVE me some grape leaves! These were really yummy, albeit sloppy and falling apart. There were also random grape leaf pieces floating around. The Baba Ganoush was also really good and obviously homemade (plus!), but it did have some huge eggplant chunks floating around, which was a bit off-putting texture-wise since it's slimy like that. It always makes me a little sad when Mediterranean joints use the supermarket-type pita bread. Y'know, the dense flavorless bread? I get that it's probably a P.I.T.A. to make your own bread, but maybe just throwing it on the grill would at least be a step up on the flavor profile. The Baklava was a bit disappointing as it was extremely hard and dry. They had a TON of it out on the counter individually wrapped... maybe they made too much at once? In the future I'll probably just stick with the Veggie Combo Plate. To sum, Jerusalem Cafe seems like a pretty decent Mediterranean joint. Lombard needs one, so I hope it sticks around! I'll be back soon. :)
(3)
Erika L.
So good! And the service was great! They let me try a few things before I made my final decision.
(5)
Jahanzeb H.
Food here is fantastic, chicken, beef, shwarma all are very well done. Rice is a bit oily though. They recently started charging for condiments, which I hate. I understand they have to make a profit. They should give you one cup free and charge for second one or just raise prices by a quarter. Sauce bar is free again, they really listen to their customers and take their suggestions seriously.
So amazingly awesome. Veggies are fresh. Food is outstanding with a great balance of textures and flavors. And I still love the little bar of accoutrements!
(5)
Christina B.
Let's get the negative stuff out of the way right away: lady at the counter not so helpful, awkward conversation overheard with what sounded like her boss, not enough plates passed out with food, no place to put dirty plates and dishes. Now on to the good! Cheap prices, good falafel pita, baba was pretty good, and they had unlimited amounts of toppings you could grab for no extra charge. Hummas wasn't very good... But the baba made up for it. All the meat was really tasty as well. Combo plate is a large amount of good and gives you a test of each meat. This place was pretty solid. I'll be coming back!
(4)
Carlos T.
After eating here a couple times, this is one of my go to places. I really liked the Combination feast, which full you up. The gyros sandwich is also excellent. For 6 bucks you get a fully loaded gyros sandwich with fries. One my favorite yum. The people taking the order are nice, and overall a great place to get food.
(5)
Rehan A.
Lunch special was decent. Huge portion of chicken and rice. Decent food nice people. Overall food tastes yummy and fulfilling.
(5)
Gary L.
New discovery for me here in the burbs. Great hummus and schwarma . Grape leaves tasty too
(4)
Hashim Q.
Jerusalem cafe is the best place to get Mediterranean food in the Oakbrook/Lombard area. The mixed grill platter is fantastic, expertly seasoned and cooked very well. The falafel (my favorite aspect of Arab/Mediterranean cuisine) is less that great however. A bit dry and kind of flavorless. Go to Jerusalem cafe for the meats and you will not be disappointed.
(4)
Aaron K.
Just found this place looking to grab a quick bite for lunch. I'm so glad I did. This will become a regular place for me. I got the lunch special which is: beef shish kabob, kifta kabob (lamb and ground beef), chicken shawarma, falafel, rice pilaf, salad, pita bread, and a medium drink. All that for about 8 bucks! I also added grilled chicken breast for a dollar more. Everything was delicious, but I couldn't finish it all. So, now I have delicious dinner for tonight too. I highly recommend this place.
(5)
Jessica W.
I really wanted to love this place. Being very close to home, and replacing a horrid hot dog joint,anything with multiple vegan/vegetarian options gets my vote. As for service it just felt too "fast foody"...young cashier with not much service charm. I can get over that, if the food is worth it...and for the price, I was dissapointed. While the falafel are massive, they are dry and lacking. Huge portion of hummus, but had an odd flavour. I'm picky about hummus though because I make my own and always find it best that way. I wouldn't highly recommend but wouldn't advise to stay away either.
(3)
Dan B.
Not too long ago Wolfy's hot dogs in Lombard closed down. It was a hard place to make a left turn into from Roosevelt Road, they had somewhat strange hours closing around 8:00 and it was the third time the eatery occupying that lot had closed in around five years. A month or so ago a sign saying "Coming Soon, Middle Eastern Grill" popped up in the window of the former Wolfy's and I made a mental note to visit once they had opened. One day in driving by they appeared to be open so I made that difficult left turn into the parking lot and decided to stop in and give it a try. The new place is called Jerusalem Cafe and it is just as the coming soon sign described a Middle Eastern grill place. I went up to the counter and was greeted by an extremely friendly gentleman. Within about 30 seconds I had zero'ed in on the Shwarma sandwich I wanted to order, placed my order and was told to take a seat and they'd bring it out. It's worth noting that also in Lombard not terribly long ago a place called Shwarma express opened up and having ordered the exact same item there I waited around 20 minutes, so I sat down expecting a long wait and was pleasantly surprised when it came out in about 3 minutes. The shwarma sandwich here came on pita bread with tahini sauce, tomato and some other vegetables. It was a good flavor overall, the shwarma was nice and juicy, the tahini was a nice compliment and everything tasted great. The pita was soft yet held together well. The sandwich gets a recommendation from me for sure. Overall based on my experience at Jerusalem Cafe I'd give this place a very solid recommendation. Based on the other recently opened Middle Eastern eatery I'd say that Jerusalem Cafe is faster and has friendlier service. But I got less food, it wasn't quite as good (but still excellent) and cost more. Overall I am going to give four stars to Jerusalem Cafe and note that it appears with Jerusalem Cafe, Pita Inn, Mr. Halal Broaster and Shwarma Express that Roosevelt Road in Lombard is quickly becoming a hot spot (a Mecca if you will) for Middle Eastern eats.
(4)
Fawad F.
Go to JC, order the Beef shish kabob, savor the taste. Portions are large, price is reasonable, seating is readily available and clean. My understanding is that all meats and chicken are organic. Have some garlic sauce. Enjoy!
(5)
Rachel C.
I had the falafel sandwich which came with 6 falafel logs, pitas, a small amount of iceberg lettuce strips, tzatziki sauce, and some sort of cucumber coleslaw mix. The falafel was not that great. It was pretty greasy and had a strong flavor that I couldn't place and didn't care for. There wasn't nearly enough lettuce or cucumber coleslaw mix to put in the pitas with the falafel, and the pitas tasted stale. Overall, it wasn't awful, but the next day I put leftovers on my plate to warm up in the microwave and just found them so unappetizing I tossed them in the trash. The restaurant was clean and bright and staff was friendly. Wait time was acceptable for my to go order. Prices seemed fair.
(2)
Jeisson N.
Jerusalem Cafe has become my girlfriend and I's favorite place. Close to National University so very convenient given she goes there. The food is outstanding... I would even say phenomenal. The Beef Shish Kabob is to die for. Literally melts in your mouth. On a couple of occasions we have gotten the chicken and it is also delicious. The service is very good and the place clean. Prices are very reasonable for the amount of food served. We highly recommend it.
(5)
Lily T.
We went to Jerusalem Cafe for lunch and had the lunch special plates. My favorite thing was the falafel. My least favorite was some meat patty, that looked like a mini hamburger, which was very tasteless and dry. Although you get quite a bit of food for the money it was all rather bland. Nothing was necessarily bad, we just thought it lacked flavor. My friend used a ton of the stuff from the condiment bar and that seemed to make it better for them. I will say after eating there I was full for the rest of the day. Maybe they make the lunch specials bland to cater to more tastes. If we go back I will try something different.
(2)
K. R.
Best. Baba. Ghannouj. Ever. I've been a fan of this place ever since it opened. Fast service, tasty food, and crazy low prices. The falafel is crispy and flavorful, Jerusalem salad and tabouleh are fresh, hummus and baba are smooth, creamy, and addictive! Orders always come with plenty of pita bread. Great food if you're on-the-go. I've never eaten-in here, but the atmosphere seems comfortable enough - pretty much your typical fast food restaurant inside. The staff is helpful and patient if you're not sure what you want. All-in-all: YUM! Seriously. Baba. Ghannouj. Try it.
(5)
becky s.
The office ordered from here for lunch on Friday through the online ordering on yelp which was very nice. The food was delivered in the time promised which was nice. However, I ordered my pita sandwich and in the comments I asked instead of the Jerusalem salad in the pita to add rice. When the food came, there was the Jerusalem salad in the pita. I called the store and the man on the phone was very rude about it. Told me that's how they are made and i explained I put in the notes how I wanted it made...and if they couldn't have done it, they should have called me. He didn't even offer to remake it or anything. I was extremely disappointed in their customer service. Overall...everyone else in the office was happy with their meals.
(3)
Graciela S.
Fellow yelpers. When ordering from this establishment consider this. The employees do not consider this a middle eastern restaurant they consider it an "Americanized" middle eastern restaurant. Even if the menu says something will be brought to you in a certain way do not expect that, expect an Americanized version even though you are at a middle eastern restaurant. If you try to complain or call to let them know they will tell you nothing can be done for you because you are wrong and no one else complains about it not being done the correct way. It is the last time I will deal with this restaurant. Naf naf is way better and does things the correct way.
(1)
Astrid N.
The guy who appeared to be maybe the owner or manager seemed very friendly and smiley. He gave me free falafel, which was nice (and it was good -- tasted like it had a lot of nutmeg in it and was very flavorful). However, the rest of the food was nothing very special. The rice was that same yellow rice you get everywhere, and it was fairly oily. The pita tasted like it came out of a package. Also nothing special. The chicken shawarma was okay. I've had better. Not very memorable, not especially delicious -- I would rate it as average. Definitely not terrible, but I can't imagine there will ever be a point in my future at which I will say, "Man, I gotta go to Jerusalem Cafe, I really have a taste for it!" Pinched is only a couple miles further from home for me, and definitely worth the extra drive time.
(3)
Cat M.
Update, the smoothie wasn't my fave but I liked my smoothies to be super sugary and this one tasted a little bland to me. Everything else was still awesome! I order from here all the time. :)
(5)
Richard M.
Great food. Nice smoky baba ganoush. Friendly. Clean. Try their veggie platter, it's tasty and very filling.
(5)
Andrew G.
Moderately decent Mediterranean food at a fair price for a solid lunch.
(3)
Serg M.
No! just NO! not tasty! not flavor taste like piece of paper! weill never come back again!
(1)
Karen N.
I love this place!!! The food is delicious and they make it fresh when you order. You know when you see a lot Middle Eastern people eating at a Middle Eastern restaurant it has to be good. They are very friendly and courteous and one of the owners brought me some hot tea and a falafel to try with my meal when I was there. It's really easy to find and has convenient parking. If you are looking for something quick but a little different then you should try this restaurant.
(5)
Shay M.
Best shawarma and Lebanese salad in the area. Only place I'll go now after being disappointed by numerous others.
(5)
Abha S.
I have been a fan on this place ever since it has opened initially cos of the close proximity of this place to my home and then also because of the fact that the food here is great ( and I love falafel & shwarma). The pricing is also reasonable. This place is a must try - I'd suggest to-go order as this place isn't very big (seating area wise)..
(4)
Megan M.
Amazing food! And they really value their customers. The best falafel I've had, and amazing service.
(5)
Vernon J.
This place is great. I had the lunch special and had leftovers. The food is flavorful and delicious. The rice is perfect nice flavor and texture. The meat was seasoned wonderfully and the steak was tender. They have a cool little condiment bar and I have to recommend their red sauce. Nice burn, but no pain. I was in the mood for a Falafel one day and theirs was delicious and fresh. For a budget I recommend the lunch special and you can add to it for just a small amount to really sample the variety of food there.
(4)
Kathleen B.
Ordered in-restaurant and then decided to get it to go. Pros: Flavor and seasoning on lamb was delicious. Jerusalem salad was light, fresh, and crisp. Cons: Meat was a little overcooked as it always tends to be at Mediterranean places; also, for $9 entree price, was disappointed that there wasn't more meat. Got a strawberry smoothie for the kids, and was disappointed to see they just dumped white sugar into the blender along with the fruit. Not exactly a smoothie. I was a little surprised at how small the portions were. I'm accustomed to very large portions for the money, so they fell short on that for me. The pita was really lacking in flavor for me, too. On their menu inside they had a killer lunch special listed. Basically a combination plate and sides from 11a-2pm and I think it was like $7. I want to go back for that and see if I have better luck on another day! I really want to like and support this place.
(3)
Victoria D.
Been here 3 times & the food is very good with lots of flavor! Highly recommend trying it! Service is always very friendly! Prices are great for the quantity & quality you receive! If you like Middle Eastern food definitely try them! If you've never had Middle Eastern food it is very flavorful and worth trying. You won't be disappointed! I don't have to drive to the city anymore to get my fix of Middle Eastern food...yay!
(5)
Andy L.
Lunch combo special is a great value, and the taste and quality of the food is great as well. Glad this place is around because there isn't a better Mediterranean place in the immediate area. Also the few vegetarian dishes are very good and filling.
(5)
G S.
I have ordered delivery from Jerusalem Cafe twice and have been very happy both times with the chicken shwarma and falafel. Very tasty and great price!
(5)
Sarah B.
This was AMAZING! I ordered it on a whim from Grub Hub. They delivered it on time to my work place, and the lady was extremely nice! I ordered the lunch special with extra chicken, and was amazed at how much food came in the container. The spices were exactly right and tasted phenomenal. I will DEFINITELY be ordering from here again!
(5)
Nader A.
Great food. Amazing ambiance! Great service! Did I mention amazing food! And I'm from Palestine, its like your eating at home great falafel! Must try the chicken tender! My favorite. The owner is alway welcoming and checking on his customers to see if their experience went well.
(5)
Benjamin S.
The best falafel sandwich I have had in my life. Everything else is great too! Their portions are hearty, their prices almost make me feel guilty they are so affordable, and everything is made fresh! The home-made hot sauces and fresh fried pita chips put even fancy Mediterranean restaurants to shame. Highly recommended!
(5)
Dan JoNell S.
Will not be going back, the service was poor, the lines were long, and the overall confusion of orders taken lead to a poor experience for me and a friend.
(1)
Carm C.
They actually SELL condiments to you, if yoU order food to go. Are you kidding me? I like the spicy stuff but you're going to charge me because I'm not going to sit in your restaurant and eat?
We ordered falafel sandwich and hummus with pites ... Overall the hummus was better than other places I have been . The sandwich clearly was made with fresh ingredients. We really enjoyed The service . They brought us hot tea on the house and were of course very hospitable and polite. Definitely would recommend and come back to eat again
(4)
Mary Anne D.
We LOVED the Jerusalem Cafe.!!!!!! The food was magnificent, portions plenty big enough and the staff was very friendly. We can't wait to go back!!!
(5)
Gary B.
It was pretty good. Nothing I can write home about.
(3)
W M.
Tried the restaurant another time with colleagues and it has the same great taste and quality for all items in the combo plate. The beef kabob is tender and the grilled chicken is falvorful. The home made appetizers like hummus, baba ghannouj, and the tzakziki-like garlic yogurt is very tasty and appetizing. Like other reviewers, looking forward to try other menu items soon.
(5)
Jim F.
Food was great. Kudos to the chefs. Idiots at the front counter forgot the pita bread. Why would one order hummous, baba ghanouj, tabbouleh, falafel etc to eat without pita bread. Bush league mistake. Also, when i went to check the bag, the girl at the checkout counter said "don't worry, everything is in there." I even paid for extra pita bread. Great to get home ten miles away to find there is no bread......had to go to the store and buy it again. NEVER GOING BACK.
(2)
Jake S.
I want to preface my review with a serious, 'must be noted' caveat - I ordered for delivery on a weeknight when the temperature was approximately 'Why the H*** do I live in this environment?'. Just saying. So, like many other Lombardians, I noted the death of Wolfy's (like Brandy's before it, and Nicky's before that...) and inside the last two weeks something else opened up in it's spot. Simultaneously, they had a Group-on deal going on, and those two circumstances together mean It's required by law that I had to try it. Before we get to the food - they said they would honor a Group-on on delivery. Most Pizza joints won't even honor Group-ons for delivery, and wait a minute...you're a mediterrean place that delivers?! Kick ass. Bonus karma to this place right off the bat. Sooo, I and a sibling order the Combo entree with the extra chicken breast, the lamb entree, and some extra Falafels (because, hey, why not, Falafels are great) for delivery. Now, my house is two turns away from them. Not kidding. I couldv'e just drove there myself in about 5 minutes. Half an hour later, I'm wondering, "say, shouldn't I have been eating something by now?" occurs to me. Just then the delivery guy calls me and after a brief conversation about not finding us, he lets me know he'll be here in just a couple of minutes (which he was). The large amount of rice pilaf with either entree was still warm, as well as the entrees themselves, but the delay had left the Falafels cold. The Combo entree was good, and the schwarma here is definately going to be revisited. The lamb kebob entree, however, was disappointing. Again, a huge amount of rice pilaf...and only a couple of tiny pieces of lamb. On the whole, the delay rendering the meals less than ideal results in a meh~ish rating, but I'm booting it up to four stars based on honoring a Group-on for a delviery order on a crappy cold night to begin with. I will try them again an update the review, as next time I will do carry-out and see if that helps matters some.
(4)
Vicki L.
I am a big fan of Middle-eastern food, so soon after I saw this place had opened up I made sure to stop in with my dad for some lunch. How good was it? I was back within less than a week for dinner with the rest of my family. I have already had the felafel sandwich and the beef shwarma plate, and both were delicious. The beef shwarma plate came on a bed of basmati rice (you can substitute jasmine rice of you wish) and vegetables. The felafels in the sandwich were melt-in-your-mouth soft and the pita was perfect. When I was there for dinner, we got a small side of hummus, which was actually fairly sizable and very good. The menu has a wide selection of food items (as well as juices and smoothies), and the prices are very reasonable. They even do catering for larger groups. This restaurant is definitely going to be on my repeat list.
(4)
N E.
Best place ever!!! Tonight was our first time there and the owner was so kind...we will definitely be going back and more often...I wish we could gove this place 10stars...way to go Jerusalem cafe..you guys were great...and the server was super sweet!
(5)
Suburban F.
I found this place on groupon so i looked them up. I saw the clip where they are featured on CBS 2 they went to their Oak Park location. It caught my attention since they had good reviews and it was a really good deal i couldn't pass up since the owner says in the video their most expensive plate is $7.99. Well i went to their new location in lombard and it's a very small restaurant next to El Famous Burrito on Roosevelt Rd. It was clean and i was greeted with hello and smile (big plus) they have tons of options and when i looked at their prices i noticed their plate entrees are more than $7.99. I did not like that but whatever, i ordered my food and sat down. As i was reading their paper menus i saw that you can ask for basmati rice instead of rice pilaf for free which i did. Overall the food tasted good the only reason i gave this place 4 stars is because the prices were not what they had stated in their video. Other then that check them out.
(4)
Deanna B.
Ordered delivery on Grub Hub. The falafel was delicious and didn't seem greasy, even after sitting in the delivery driver's car on the drive to our house. We ordered sides of hummus and baba ganoush and both were very good. The hummus was flavorful and fresh without being overly garlicky. My husband ordered gyros and says they were the best he's had in the area. I highly recommend this place.
(4)
Chris F.
Nice people. Expected better food tho but it was edible.
(2)
Sara P.
Lots of food. Very good selection on the menu. Uses lamb which is a big must for me in this sort of restaurant, several around the area use beef only. The staff are willing to answer questions and discuss the food. I overheard people trying the type of food for the first time and asking how to eat it and where the food is based off.
(4)
Jen S.
Delicious! Better than the Pita Inn which is hard to beat. They even have a lunch combo special similar to the Pita Inn. I was nervous initially given the turnover of businesses in this location, but decided to give it a try. It was busy and there was a lot of different clientele on my first trip. I talked it up and on my second trip, I brought my husband and three kids. I was talking about the kifta and ordered the chicken. The owner brought out a kifta just for me to try. Friendly and helpful staff. Very clean. I could eat it everyday. I hope this place stays around!
(5)
Gayann P.
Delicious! The food was delicious and the service was great! Very clean also! Excited to try more on the menu in order the feast and felt that it was the perfect amount of food!
(5)
Elaine H.
Love their food -- fresh and tasty with friendly staff. The portions are generous and they make up your order fresh -- no food that's been sitting for hours under hot lights. Also offer many selections so I'll be back to try them all. The restaurant is also very clean with comfy booths to sit on and prices are reasonable with fast service. I'm so glad to have a good Mideastern restaurant in my neighborhood. I usually don't do reviews, but wanted to get the word out about this well run restaurant. Falafel plate here I come!
So amazingly awesome. Veggies are fresh. Food is outstanding with a great balance of textures and flavors. And I still love the little bar of accoutrements!
(5)
Christina B.
Let's get the negative stuff out of the way right away: lady at the counter not so helpful, awkward conversation overheard with what sounded like her boss, not enough plates passed out with food, no place to put dirty plates and dishes. Now on to the good! Cheap prices, good falafel pita, baba was pretty good, and they had unlimited amounts of toppings you could grab for no extra charge. Hummas wasn't very good... But the baba made up for it. All the meat was really tasty as well. Combo plate is a large amount of good and gives you a test of each meat. This place was pretty solid. I'll be coming back!
(4)
Jennifer P.
I was super excited to see a Mediterranean (read: veggie friendly!) business pop up so close to work! Even better that I scored a Groupon deal. I ordered the Vegetarian Falafel Plate and the Vegetarian Combo Plate. Needless to say I had a TON of falafel! They were not the typical balls, though, which threw me off a bit. They were good, and the Tahini sauce was really the best I've had so far - nice, thick, and rich - and rivals the Tahini at my favorite Mediterranean joint. The Falafel Plate had much lighter fare - the falafel, a bit of lettuce, and some pita. It's more of a light snacky-type lunch. I much preferred the Combo Plate, which was more substantial and lasted me two meals. I didn't like the Tabouleh, but it was also the first time I'd had it, so perhaps it's an acquired taste? I LOVE me some grape leaves! These were really yummy, albeit sloppy and falling apart. There were also random grape leaf pieces floating around. The Baba Ganoush was also really good and obviously homemade (plus!), but it did have some huge eggplant chunks floating around, which was a bit off-putting texture-wise since it's slimy like that. It always makes me a little sad when Mediterranean joints use the supermarket-type pita bread. Y'know, the dense flavorless bread? I get that it's probably a P.I.T.A. to make your own bread, but maybe just throwing it on the grill would at least be a step up on the flavor profile. The Baklava was a bit disappointing as it was extremely hard and dry. They had a TON of it out on the counter individually wrapped... maybe they made too much at once? In the future I'll probably just stick with the Veggie Combo Plate. To sum, Jerusalem Cafe seems like a pretty decent Mediterranean joint. Lombard needs one, so I hope it sticks around! I'll be back soon. :)
(3)
Erika L.
So good! And the service was great! They let me try a few things before I made my final decision.
(5)
Jahanzeb H.
Food here is fantastic, chicken, beef, shwarma all are very well done. Rice is a bit oily though. They recently started charging for condiments, which I hate. I understand they have to make a profit. They should give you one cup free and charge for second one or just raise prices by a quarter. Sauce bar is free again, they really listen to their customers and take their suggestions seriously.
(5)
Jenni E.
I wanted to like this place way more than I did, but I probably would come here and try something else. I came in later in the day and ordered a shawarma sandwich. The girl behind the counter seemed aggravated that I was interrupting her texting to order my food, but otherwise obliged. It took a few minutes to get my food, which I consider a good thing. The sandwich was tasty and warm, but I felt like there should have been more to it. Next time I come, I think I will try one of the plates so that I can get more of a variety. I did like that they had some combos on the menu as well. After I ate, I decided to try a piece of baklava for dessert. It was fantastic, but again I pulled the cashier away from texting and felt that I was inconveniencing her to place my order.
(3)
Kelly M.
Pretty solid food! Andrew L. and I met here for lunch to enjoy a Groupon deal. This place used to be a hot dog joint and is a small interior space. The staff is friendly, but there isn't really any ambiance. I ordered the vegetarian combo, which included baba ganoush (favorite word ever), hummus, stuffed grape leaves, falafel, a pita and tabouleh. I think I ordered wrong. I feel like I ended up with a plate of dips, but oh well. The falafel is quite crispy and delightful, but I was a little confused that the grape leaves were served cold. Oh well, they had a very nice salty finish, so I suppose I was surprised. Overall, I couldn't help but compare it to Naf Naf Grill, which still holds a special corner of my heart with their super puffy pitas and smoky baba ganoush. However, I'll have to revisit this review once I try a entree - this could be more my poor choices than a reflection on this place.
(3)
Katie O.
Great food- lousy service. Come prepared to wait longer than expected. Love the beef kabobs and beef gyros.
(4)
Dana S.
I love this restaurant. The owner is so nice and they have great food. Really great vegetarian options I recommend are the falafel and avocado sandwich and the vegetarian platter. Yum!
(5)
Mike L.
Still the best and always eat here when I am out West. Exact amazing food and service as Oak Park. I could eat here EVERY DAY!! I almost do in Oak Park! The Chicken Schwarma (sp?) is by far the best I have had anywhere and if you like hot and spicy I suggest putting their home made ground red pepper sauce along with hummus and/or tahini on the pita with the chicken, lettuce, tomato and onion....sooooooooo gooooood!!
(5)
K. R.
Best. Baba. Ghannouj. Ever. I've been a fan of this place ever since it opened. Fast service, tasty food, and crazy low prices. The falafel is crispy and flavorful, Jerusalem salad and tabouleh are fresh, hummus and baba are smooth, creamy, and addictive! Orders always come with plenty of pita bread. Great food if you're on-the-go. I've never eaten-in here, but the atmosphere seems comfortable enough - pretty much your typical fast food restaurant inside. The staff is helpful and patient if you're not sure what you want. All-in-all: YUM! Seriously. Baba. Ghannouj. Try it.
(5)
Dan B.
Not too long ago Wolfy's hot dogs in Lombard closed down. It was a hard place to make a left turn into from Roosevelt Road, they had somewhat strange hours closing around 8:00 and it was the third time the eatery occupying that lot had closed in around five years. A month or so ago a sign saying "Coming Soon, Middle Eastern Grill" popped up in the window of the former Wolfy's and I made a mental note to visit once they had opened. One day in driving by they appeared to be open so I made that difficult left turn into the parking lot and decided to stop in and give it a try. The new place is called Jerusalem Cafe and it is just as the coming soon sign described a Middle Eastern grill place. I went up to the counter and was greeted by an extremely friendly gentleman. Within about 30 seconds I had zero'ed in on the Shwarma sandwich I wanted to order, placed my order and was told to take a seat and they'd bring it out. It's worth noting that also in Lombard not terribly long ago a place called Shwarma express opened up and having ordered the exact same item there I waited around 20 minutes, so I sat down expecting a long wait and was pleasantly surprised when it came out in about 3 minutes. The shwarma sandwich here came on pita bread with tahini sauce, tomato and some other vegetables. It was a good flavor overall, the shwarma was nice and juicy, the tahini was a nice compliment and everything tasted great. The pita was soft yet held together well. The sandwich gets a recommendation from me for sure. Overall based on my experience at Jerusalem Cafe I'd give this place a very solid recommendation. Based on the other recently opened Middle Eastern eatery I'd say that Jerusalem Cafe is faster and has friendlier service. But I got less food, it wasn't quite as good (but still excellent) and cost more. Overall I am going to give four stars to Jerusalem Cafe and note that it appears with Jerusalem Cafe, Pita Inn, Mr. Halal Broaster and Shwarma Express that Roosevelt Road in Lombard is quickly becoming a hot spot (a Mecca if you will) for Middle Eastern eats.
(4)
Fawad F.
Go to JC, order the Beef shish kabob, savor the taste. Portions are large, price is reasonable, seating is readily available and clean. My understanding is that all meats and chicken are organic. Have some garlic sauce. Enjoy!
(5)
Rachel C.
I had the falafel sandwich which came with 6 falafel logs, pitas, a small amount of iceberg lettuce strips, tzatziki sauce, and some sort of cucumber coleslaw mix. The falafel was not that great. It was pretty greasy and had a strong flavor that I couldn't place and didn't care for. There wasn't nearly enough lettuce or cucumber coleslaw mix to put in the pitas with the falafel, and the pitas tasted stale. Overall, it wasn't awful, but the next day I put leftovers on my plate to warm up in the microwave and just found them so unappetizing I tossed them in the trash. The restaurant was clean and bright and staff was friendly. Wait time was acceptable for my to go order. Prices seemed fair.
(2)
Jeisson N.
Jerusalem Cafe has become my girlfriend and I's favorite place. Close to National University so very convenient given she goes there. The food is outstanding... I would even say phenomenal. The Beef Shish Kabob is to die for. Literally melts in your mouth. On a couple of occasions we have gotten the chicken and it is also delicious. The service is very good and the place clean. Prices are very reasonable for the amount of food served. We highly recommend it.
(5)
Ron S.
I stopped in for lunch and ordered the vegetarian combination plate. It comes with 3 falafel, 3 stuffed grape leaves, hummus, baba ghannough and tabouleh salad. I'm no expert on middle eastern food but I do like tasty food and everything I had was delicious. The amount of food that they give you will satisfy all but the most hungry of appetites. I was surprised at the amount of food on this $8.99 combination plate. The only disappointment was the factory-baked pita pocket that came with the meal. It would be great if they baked them on premise. This is not a big enough deal that would prevent me from returning. I really enjoyed the food and like that they have lots of vegetarian options.
(4)
Jessica C.
Just happened to drive past this little gem and did a quick yelp to see if it was any good. It looked good so we stopped in. It's a very tiny cafe with only 10 tables or so. The customer service was astounding. Everything was very clean, the server gave us recommendations when I asked between beef shawarma or kebab. I ended up getting the combination platter to try a little of everything. My bf got the beef kebab platter. He is extremely hard to please and he took ONE bite and said "oh wow. Taste this!" It was amazing flavor and melted in my mouth. The chicken shawarma was a little dry but the flavor was really good. The kafta kabob was great too although for anyone new coming in I would HIGHLY recommend the beef kabob platter. It was truly amazing. I also got the falafel on my platter which was seasoned beautifully. Free pita bread and hummus are a plus! A+++++
(5)
Lily T.
We went to Jerusalem Cafe for lunch and had the lunch special plates. My favorite thing was the falafel. My least favorite was some meat patty, that looked like a mini hamburger, which was very tasteless and dry. Although you get quite a bit of food for the money it was all rather bland. Nothing was necessarily bad, we just thought it lacked flavor. My friend used a ton of the stuff from the condiment bar and that seemed to make it better for them. I will say after eating there I was full for the rest of the day. Maybe they make the lunch specials bland to cater to more tastes. If we go back I will try something different.
(2)
Mic C.
Honestly, I think Jerusalem Cafe is fine, but nothing exceptional. The shwarma (both the chicken and beef) is extremely salty, to the point where I can't even taste the other flavors. The kebab was decent, tender and tasty, but still very salty. The rice is fine, and I really enjoy the grilled vegetables that come with the meal. The falafel is fine, but a little scorched the three times I've ordered. Pita is blah. It is convenient, delivered quickly, and reasonably priced. But when I want Mediterranean food, I'd rather skip the convenience and drive out to Pita Inn.
(2)
becky s.
The office ordered from here for lunch on Friday through the online ordering on yelp which was very nice. The food was delivered in the time promised which was nice. However, I ordered my pita sandwich and in the comments I asked instead of the Jerusalem salad in the pita to add rice. When the food came, there was the Jerusalem salad in the pita. I called the store and the man on the phone was very rude about it. Told me that's how they are made and i explained I put in the notes how I wanted it made...and if they couldn't have done it, they should have called me. He didn't even offer to remake it or anything. I was extremely disappointed in their customer service. Overall...everyone else in the office was happy with their meals.
(3)
Graciela S.
Fellow yelpers. When ordering from this establishment consider this. The employees do not consider this a middle eastern restaurant they consider it an "Americanized" middle eastern restaurant. Even if the menu says something will be brought to you in a certain way do not expect that, expect an Americanized version even though you are at a middle eastern restaurant. If you try to complain or call to let them know they will tell you nothing can be done for you because you are wrong and no one else complains about it not being done the correct way. It is the last time I will deal with this restaurant. Naf naf is way better and does things the correct way.
(1)
Astrid N.
The guy who appeared to be maybe the owner or manager seemed very friendly and smiley. He gave me free falafel, which was nice (and it was good -- tasted like it had a lot of nutmeg in it and was very flavorful). However, the rest of the food was nothing very special. The rice was that same yellow rice you get everywhere, and it was fairly oily. The pita tasted like it came out of a package. Also nothing special. The chicken shawarma was okay. I've had better. Not very memorable, not especially delicious -- I would rate it as average. Definitely not terrible, but I can't imagine there will ever be a point in my future at which I will say, "Man, I gotta go to Jerusalem Cafe, I really have a taste for it!" Pinched is only a couple miles further from home for me, and definitely worth the extra drive time.
(3)
M f.
The food is so good and authentically Mediterranean. Salads and smoothies and as soon as I saw the variety I was happy. Not your run of the mill pita places. The food plays a bigger role here..my 8 year old loved the saffron rice and the big chunks of lamb meat. The fattoush was a big hit and she never has salad. I even got to have free refills of the tea and there is that Turkish coffee that called my name but it was too late in the afternoon to have a heavy cup of coffee. The dishes that allowed you to sample are the best. Go with a Groupon and try it. I have found a gem I will be revisiting and a nice and healthy and frugal alternative to fast food for my child.
(5)
Robin M.
Worth a visit. Then a return and subsequent returns. Excellent food, smiling faces.
(5)
Carlos T.
After eating here a couple times, this is one of my go to places. I really liked the Combination feast, which full you up. The gyros sandwich is also excellent. For 6 bucks you get a fully loaded gyros sandwich with fries. One my favorite yum. The people taking the order are nice, and overall a great place to get food.
(5)
Rehan A.
Lunch special was decent. Huge portion of chicken and rice. Decent food nice people. Overall food tastes yummy and fulfilling.
(5)
Gary L.
New discovery for me here in the burbs. Great hummus and schwarma . Grape leaves tasty too
(4)
Hashim Q.
Jerusalem cafe is the best place to get Mediterranean food in the Oakbrook/Lombard area. The mixed grill platter is fantastic, expertly seasoned and cooked very well. The falafel (my favorite aspect of Arab/Mediterranean cuisine) is less that great however. A bit dry and kind of flavorless. Go to Jerusalem cafe for the meats and you will not be disappointed.
(4)
Don R.
Let's say mediocre is the best word I'll use to describe my experience. Came here a few days ago for a quick, last minute dinner. Got the lamb kabob sandwich. It wasn't necessarily nasty. But it wasn't amazing either. It was just ok. The flavors were so-so, nothing capitalizing. The lamb was in huge chunks and obviously placed throughout the sandwich. Therefore, you had some bites that were full of lamb others that were just straight lettuce. Would've been better if they were cut smaller so it could be spread through the sandwich better. The falafel was good though, well seasoned. I'm kind of so-so about coming back. For what it cost, I don't see it as worth it. I'd rather travel 10 minutes to I Dream of Falafel if I want some good Mediterranean food.
(3)
Padma A.
i had really high expectations looking at the reviews....the food was okay but not impressive. I got the lamb sandwich, meat was chewy and Chicken tenders entree to go which was big portion size for the kiddos and leftover wiped out by hubby. Michelle at the front desk was really nice and friendly, great customer service!The place was clean and bathroom too.
(3)
Harris I.
I have been coming here at least once a week since they opened up...and I can honestly say the quality and the taste has only improved. One of the best tasting middle eastern places for lunch or dinner. The pricing is very very reasonable. The staff is nice. Place is cleaner than expected. Id recommend this for anyone. Get their combination platter!
(5)
Malena J.
The food is good. I'm a vegan and was able to get some nice dishes to share with my husband who is also vegan. The only reason I didn't give this restaurant a higher score is because of the slow disorganized service. The cashier seemed to be new and not well trained but she was also not knowledgeable About the food. She had a large tattoo over her chest and a low cut shirt. My husband has tattoos but hers really made me uncomfortable for a food/family establishment being on her chest.
(3)
AB L.
I really liked the shawarma here. I tried both chicken and both. The manager and the employees are super nice.
(5)
Ashley V.
Great deal for great food. I had the lamb kabob sandwich and the meat was so tasty! I'll definitely be back for more.
(4)
Dan K.
I really like this place. They have a special which consists of some meats and falafel, veggies, and rice for about $8 including a drink. Great value, good food. They have a sauce bar which you can order for an extra .25 cents per sauce, or $1 for a dish filled with different sauces. There is the garlic toum, tahini, some cilantro chimmichurri style sauce, jalapenos, pickled turnips, and red hot sauce. They used to give some chips on the side if you paid the $1 but I didn't get that option the last time I was there. There isn't too much seating, but I have never had a problem sitting down either. This has quickly become a favorite of ours at work, and my wife and I agree that it's one of our top places as well. I want to try some of the sandwiches soon.
(5)
Ace R.
The food here is great. Their beef shawarma is authentic and one of the best shawarma sandwiches I have tried in a while. I tried their gyros, chicken fattoush salad, beef kebab, and kefta kebab and they all tasted delicious. Very reasonably priced food as well. This will be my new go to spot for middle eastern food in the area.
(4)
Eric B.
Decided to try this place because I had a Groupon, so was worth passing other Mediterranean restaurants on the way. The place initially had the look of a mid-size diner and I wasn't particularly optimistic. We made our selections. Wife had Vegetable plate with falafel, tabbouli, baba gannouc, and hummus. I had gyros plate with baba gannouc appetizer. I can eat almost any portion of food I am served but I had too much and couldn't finish it. I know gyros are more Greek than Palestinian, but this was some of the best gyros meat I'd ever had. By the way, my wife loved the falafel. While the Groupon deal made the price very reasonable, even without the Groupon the 2 meals were less than $20. We were inspired to try this place because of the Groupon but we have decided this will become one of our regular stops. I guess that's what the Groupons were designed to do.
(4)
Aaron K.
Just found this place looking to grab a quick bite for lunch. I'm so glad I did. This will become a regular place for me. I got the lunch special which is: beef shish kabob, kifta kabob (lamb and ground beef), chicken shawarma, falafel, rice pilaf, salad, pita bread, and a medium drink. All that for about 8 bucks! I also added grilled chicken breast for a dollar more. Everything was delicious, but I couldn't finish it all. So, now I have delicious dinner for tonight too. I highly recommend this place.
(5)
Jessica W.
I really wanted to love this place. Being very close to home, and replacing a horrid hot dog joint,anything with multiple vegan/vegetarian options gets my vote. As for service it just felt too "fast foody"...young cashier with not much service charm. I can get over that, if the food is worth it...and for the price, I was dissapointed. While the falafel are massive, they are dry and lacking. Huge portion of hummus, but had an odd flavour. I'm picky about hummus though because I make my own and always find it best that way. I wouldn't highly recommend but wouldn't advise to stay away either.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Vernon J.
This place is great. I had the lunch special and had leftovers. The food is flavorful and delicious. The rice is perfect nice flavor and texture. The meat was seasoned wonderfully and the steak was tender. They have a cool little condiment bar and I have to recommend their red sauce. Nice burn, but no pain. I was in the mood for a Falafel one day and theirs was delicious and fresh. For a budget I recommend the lunch special and you can add to it for just a small amount to really sample the variety of food there.
(4)Benjamin S.
The best falafel sandwich I have had in my life. Everything else is great too! Their portions are hearty, their prices almost make me feel guilty they are so affordable, and everything is made fresh! The home-made hot sauces and fresh fried pita chips put even fancy Mediterranean restaurants to shame. Highly recommended!
(5)Kathleen B.
Ordered in-restaurant and then decided to get it to go. Pros: Flavor and seasoning on lamb was delicious. Jerusalem salad was light, fresh, and crisp. Cons: Meat was a little overcooked as it always tends to be at Mediterranean places; also, for $9 entree price, was disappointed that there wasn't more meat. Got a strawberry smoothie for the kids, and was disappointed to see they just dumped white sugar into the blender along with the fruit. Not exactly a smoothie. I was a little surprised at how small the portions were. I'm accustomed to very large portions for the money, so they fell short on that for me. The pita was really lacking in flavor for me, too. On their menu inside they had a killer lunch special listed. Basically a combination plate and sides from 11a-2pm and I think it was like $7. I want to go back for that and see if I have better luck on another day! I really want to like and support this place.
(3)Victoria D.
Been here 3 times & the food is very good with lots of flavor! Highly recommend trying it! Service is always very friendly! Prices are great for the quantity & quality you receive! If you like Middle Eastern food definitely try them! If you've never had Middle Eastern food it is very flavorful and worth trying. You won't be disappointed! I don't have to drive to the city anymore to get my fix of Middle Eastern food...yay!
(5)Andy L.
Lunch combo special is a great value, and the taste and quality of the food is great as well. Glad this place is around because there isn't a better Mediterranean place in the immediate area. Also the few vegetarian dishes are very good and filling.
(5)Vicki L.
I am a big fan of Middle-eastern food, so soon after I saw this place had opened up I made sure to stop in with my dad for some lunch. How good was it? I was back within less than a week for dinner with the rest of my family. I have already had the felafel sandwich and the beef shwarma plate, and both were delicious. The beef shwarma plate came on a bed of basmati rice (you can substitute jasmine rice of you wish) and vegetables. The felafels in the sandwich were melt-in-your-mouth soft and the pita was perfect. When I was there for dinner, we got a small side of hummus, which was actually fairly sizable and very good. The menu has a wide selection of food items (as well as juices and smoothies), and the prices are very reasonable. They even do catering for larger groups. This restaurant is definitely going to be on my repeat list.
(4)N E.
Best place ever!!! Tonight was our first time there and the owner was so kind...we will definitely be going back and more often...I wish we could gove this place 10stars...way to go Jerusalem cafe..you guys were great...and the server was super sweet!
(5)Suburban F.
I found this place on groupon so i looked them up. I saw the clip where they are featured on CBS 2 they went to their Oak Park location. It caught my attention since they had good reviews and it was a really good deal i couldn't pass up since the owner says in the video their most expensive plate is $7.99. Well i went to their new location in lombard and it's a very small restaurant next to El Famous Burrito on Roosevelt Rd. It was clean and i was greeted with hello and smile (big plus) they have tons of options and when i looked at their prices i noticed their plate entrees are more than $7.99. I did not like that but whatever, i ordered my food and sat down. As i was reading their paper menus i saw that you can ask for basmati rice instead of rice pilaf for free which i did. Overall the food tasted good the only reason i gave this place 4 stars is because the prices were not what they had stated in their video. Other then that check them out.
(4)Deanna B.
Ordered delivery on Grub Hub. The falafel was delicious and didn't seem greasy, even after sitting in the delivery driver's car on the drive to our house. We ordered sides of hummus and baba ganoush and both were very good. The hummus was flavorful and fresh without being overly garlicky. My husband ordered gyros and says they were the best he's had in the area. I highly recommend this place.
(4)Chris F.
Nice people. Expected better food tho but it was edible.
(2)Sara P.
Lots of food. Very good selection on the menu. Uses lamb which is a big must for me in this sort of restaurant, several around the area use beef only. The staff are willing to answer questions and discuss the food. I overheard people trying the type of food for the first time and asking how to eat it and where the food is based off.
(4)Jen S.
Delicious! Better than the Pita Inn which is hard to beat. They even have a lunch combo special similar to the Pita Inn. I was nervous initially given the turnover of businesses in this location, but decided to give it a try. It was busy and there was a lot of different clientele on my first trip. I talked it up and on my second trip, I brought my husband and three kids. I was talking about the kifta and ordered the chicken. The owner brought out a kifta just for me to try. Friendly and helpful staff. Very clean. I could eat it everyday. I hope this place stays around!
(5)Gayann P.
Delicious! The food was delicious and the service was great! Very clean also! Excited to try more on the menu in order the feast and felt that it was the perfect amount of food!
(5)Elaine H.
Love their food -- fresh and tasty with friendly staff. The portions are generous and they make up your order fresh -- no food that's been sitting for hours under hot lights. Also offer many selections so I'll be back to try them all. The restaurant is also very clean with comfy booths to sit on and prices are reasonable with fast service. I'm so glad to have a good Mideastern restaurant in my neighborhood. I usually don't do reviews, but wanted to get the word out about this well run restaurant. Falafel plate here I come!
(4)Mary Anne D.
We LOVED the Jerusalem Cafe.!!!!!! The food was magnificent, portions plenty big enough and the staff was very friendly. We can't wait to go back!!!
(5)Gary B.
It was pretty good. Nothing I can write home about.
(3)W M.
Tried the restaurant another time with colleagues and it has the same great taste and quality for all items in the combo plate. The beef kabob is tender and the grilled chicken is falvorful. The home made appetizers like hummus, baba ghannouj, and the tzakziki-like garlic yogurt is very tasty and appetizing. Like other reviewers, looking forward to try other menu items soon.
(5)Jim F.
Food was great. Kudos to the chefs. Idiots at the front counter forgot the pita bread. Why would one order hummous, baba ghanouj, tabbouleh, falafel etc to eat without pita bread. Bush league mistake. Also, when i went to check the bag, the girl at the checkout counter said "don't worry, everything is in there." I even paid for extra pita bread. Great to get home ten miles away to find there is no bread......had to go to the store and buy it again. NEVER GOING BACK.
(2)Serg M.
No! just NO! not tasty! not flavor taste like piece of paper! weill never come back again!
(1)Dan JoNell S.
Will not be going back, the service was poor, the lines were long, and the overall confusion of orders taken lead to a poor experience for me and a friend.
(1)Carm C.
They actually SELL condiments to you, if yoU order food to go. Are you kidding me? I like the spicy stuff but you're going to charge me because I'm not going to sit in your restaurant and eat?
(3)Tess A.
The place has friendly and fast staff. The food is delicious. I love their sautéed vegetables that come with the plates. Their garlic sauce is really good with all the dishes and sandwiches. The three times I've bn there, the place was overall clean and nice. I thought it was a self serve place but they brought the food to our table. I would recommend this place .
(4)Sophia M.
We ordered falafel sandwich and hummus with pites ... Overall the hummus was better than other places I have been . The sandwich clearly was made with fresh ingredients. We really enjoyed The service . They brought us hot tea on the house and were of course very hospitable and polite. Definitely would recommend and come back to eat again
(4)Jake S.
I want to preface my review with a serious, 'must be noted' caveat - I ordered for delivery on a weeknight when the temperature was approximately 'Why the H*** do I live in this environment?'. Just saying. So, like many other Lombardians, I noted the death of Wolfy's (like Brandy's before it, and Nicky's before that...) and inside the last two weeks something else opened up in it's spot. Simultaneously, they had a Group-on deal going on, and those two circumstances together mean It's required by law that I had to try it. Before we get to the food - they said they would honor a Group-on on delivery. Most Pizza joints won't even honor Group-ons for delivery, and wait a minute...you're a mediterrean place that delivers?! Kick ass. Bonus karma to this place right off the bat. Sooo, I and a sibling order the Combo entree with the extra chicken breast, the lamb entree, and some extra Falafels (because, hey, why not, Falafels are great) for delivery. Now, my house is two turns away from them. Not kidding. I couldv'e just drove there myself in about 5 minutes. Half an hour later, I'm wondering, "say, shouldn't I have been eating something by now?" occurs to me. Just then the delivery guy calls me and after a brief conversation about not finding us, he lets me know he'll be here in just a couple of minutes (which he was). The large amount of rice pilaf with either entree was still warm, as well as the entrees themselves, but the delay had left the Falafels cold. The Combo entree was good, and the schwarma here is definately going to be revisited. The lamb kebob entree, however, was disappointing. Again, a huge amount of rice pilaf...and only a couple of tiny pieces of lamb. On the whole, the delay rendering the meals less than ideal results in a meh~ish rating, but I'm booting it up to four stars based on honoring a Group-on for a delviery order on a crappy cold night to begin with. I will try them again an update the review, as next time I will do carry-out and see if that helps matters some.
(4)Karen N.
I love this place!!! The food is delicious and they make it fresh when you order. You know when you see a lot Middle Eastern people eating at a Middle Eastern restaurant it has to be good. They are very friendly and courteous and one of the owners brought me some hot tea and a falafel to try with my meal when I was there. It's really easy to find and has convenient parking. If you are looking for something quick but a little different then you should try this restaurant.
(5)Shay M.
Best shawarma and Lebanese salad in the area. Only place I'll go now after being disappointed by numerous others.
(5)Cat M.
Update, the smoothie wasn't my fave but I liked my smoothies to be super sugary and this one tasted a little bland to me. Everything else was still awesome! I order from here all the time. :)
(5)Richard M.
Great food. Nice smoky baba ganoush. Friendly. Clean. Try their veggie platter, it's tasty and very filling.
(5)Abha S.
I have been a fan on this place ever since it has opened initially cos of the close proximity of this place to my home and then also because of the fact that the food here is great ( and I love falafel & shwarma). The pricing is also reasonable. This place is a must try - I'd suggest to-go order as this place isn't very big (seating area wise)..
(4)Megan M.
Amazing food! And they really value their customers. The best falafel I've had, and amazing service.
(5)G S.
I have ordered delivery from Jerusalem Cafe twice and have been very happy both times with the chicken shwarma and falafel. Very tasty and great price!
(5)Sarah B.
This was AMAZING! I ordered it on a whim from Grub Hub. They delivered it on time to my work place, and the lady was extremely nice! I ordered the lunch special with extra chicken, and was amazed at how much food came in the container. The spices were exactly right and tasted phenomenal. I will DEFINITELY be ordering from here again!
(5)Nader A.
Great food. Amazing ambiance! Great service! Did I mention amazing food! And I'm from Palestine, its like your eating at home great falafel! Must try the chicken tender! My favorite. The owner is alway welcoming and checking on his customers to see if their experience went well.
(5)Chris F.
Nice people. Expected better food tho but it was edible.
(2)Karen N.
I love this place!!! The food is delicious and they make it fresh when you order. You know when you see a lot Middle Eastern people eating at a Middle Eastern restaurant it has to be good. They are very friendly and courteous and one of the owners brought me some hot tea and a falafel to try with my meal when I was there. It's really easy to find and has convenient parking. If you are looking for something quick but a little different then you should try this restaurant.
(5)Shay M.
Best shawarma and Lebanese salad in the area. Only place I'll go now after being disappointed by numerous others.
(5)Cat M.
Update, the smoothie wasn't my fave but I liked my smoothies to be super sugary and this one tasted a little bland to me. Everything else was still awesome! I order from here all the time. :)
(5)Richard M.
Great food. Nice smoky baba ganoush. Friendly. Clean. Try their veggie platter, it's tasty and very filling.
(5)Andrew G.
Moderately decent Mediterranean food at a fair price for a solid lunch.
(3)Serg M.
No! just NO! not tasty! not flavor taste like piece of paper! weill never come back again!
(1)Abha S.
I have been a fan on this place ever since it has opened initially cos of the close proximity of this place to my home and then also because of the fact that the food here is great ( and I love falafel & shwarma). The pricing is also reasonable. This place is a must try - I'd suggest to-go order as this place isn't very big (seating area wise)..
(4)Megan M.
Amazing food! And they really value their customers. The best falafel I've had, and amazing service.
(5)Vernon J.
This place is great. I had the lunch special and had leftovers. The food is flavorful and delicious. The rice is perfect nice flavor and texture. The meat was seasoned wonderfully and the steak was tender. They have a cool little condiment bar and I have to recommend their red sauce. Nice burn, but no pain. I was in the mood for a Falafel one day and theirs was delicious and fresh. For a budget I recommend the lunch special and you can add to it for just a small amount to really sample the variety of food there.
(4)Kathleen B.
Ordered in-restaurant and then decided to get it to go. Pros: Flavor and seasoning on lamb was delicious. Jerusalem salad was light, fresh, and crisp. Cons: Meat was a little overcooked as it always tends to be at Mediterranean places; also, for $9 entree price, was disappointed that there wasn't more meat. Got a strawberry smoothie for the kids, and was disappointed to see they just dumped white sugar into the blender along with the fruit. Not exactly a smoothie. I was a little surprised at how small the portions were. I'm accustomed to very large portions for the money, so they fell short on that for me. The pita was really lacking in flavor for me, too. On their menu inside they had a killer lunch special listed. Basically a combination plate and sides from 11a-2pm and I think it was like $7. I want to go back for that and see if I have better luck on another day! I really want to like and support this place.
(3)Victoria D.
Been here 3 times & the food is very good with lots of flavor! Highly recommend trying it! Service is always very friendly! Prices are great for the quantity & quality you receive! If you like Middle Eastern food definitely try them! If you've never had Middle Eastern food it is very flavorful and worth trying. You won't be disappointed! I don't have to drive to the city anymore to get my fix of Middle Eastern food...yay!
(5)Andy L.
Lunch combo special is a great value, and the taste and quality of the food is great as well. Glad this place is around because there isn't a better Mediterranean place in the immediate area. Also the few vegetarian dishes are very good and filling.
(5)G S.
I have ordered delivery from Jerusalem Cafe twice and have been very happy both times with the chicken shwarma and falafel. Very tasty and great price!
(5)Sarah B.
This was AMAZING! I ordered it on a whim from Grub Hub. They delivered it on time to my work place, and the lady was extremely nice! I ordered the lunch special with extra chicken, and was amazed at how much food came in the container. The spices were exactly right and tasted phenomenal. I will DEFINITELY be ordering from here again!
(5)Nader A.
Great food. Amazing ambiance! Great service! Did I mention amazing food! And I'm from Palestine, its like your eating at home great falafel! Must try the chicken tender! My favorite. The owner is alway welcoming and checking on his customers to see if their experience went well.
(5)Benjamin S.
The best falafel sandwich I have had in my life. Everything else is great too! Their portions are hearty, their prices almost make me feel guilty they are so affordable, and everything is made fresh! The home-made hot sauces and fresh fried pita chips put even fancy Mediterranean restaurants to shame. Highly recommended!
(5)Dan JoNell S.
Will not be going back, the service was poor, the lines were long, and the overall confusion of orders taken lead to a poor experience for me and a friend.
(1)Carm C.
They actually SELL condiments to you, if yoU order food to go. Are you kidding me? I like the spicy stuff but you're going to charge me because I'm not going to sit in your restaurant and eat?
(3)Tess A.
The place has friendly and fast staff. The food is delicious. I love their sautéed vegetables that come with the plates. Their garlic sauce is really good with all the dishes and sandwiches. The three times I've bn there, the place was overall clean and nice. I thought it was a self serve place but they brought the food to our table. I would recommend this place .
(4)Sophia M.
We ordered falafel sandwich and hummus with pites ... Overall the hummus was better than other places I have been . The sandwich clearly was made with fresh ingredients. We really enjoyed The service . They brought us hot tea on the house and were of course very hospitable and polite. Definitely would recommend and come back to eat again
(4)Suburban F.
I found this place on groupon so i looked them up. I saw the clip where they are featured on CBS 2 they went to their Oak Park location. It caught my attention since they had good reviews and it was a really good deal i couldn't pass up since the owner says in the video their most expensive plate is $7.99. Well i went to their new location in lombard and it's a very small restaurant next to El Famous Burrito on Roosevelt Rd. It was clean and i was greeted with hello and smile (big plus) they have tons of options and when i looked at their prices i noticed their plate entrees are more than $7.99. I did not like that but whatever, i ordered my food and sat down. As i was reading their paper menus i saw that you can ask for basmati rice instead of rice pilaf for free which i did. Overall the food tasted good the only reason i gave this place 4 stars is because the prices were not what they had stated in their video. Other then that check them out.
(4)Deanna B.
Ordered delivery on Grub Hub. The falafel was delicious and didn't seem greasy, even after sitting in the delivery driver's car on the drive to our house. We ordered sides of hummus and baba ganoush and both were very good. The hummus was flavorful and fresh without being overly garlicky. My husband ordered gyros and says they were the best he's had in the area. I highly recommend this place.
(4)Jake S.
I want to preface my review with a serious, 'must be noted' caveat - I ordered for delivery on a weeknight when the temperature was approximately 'Why the H*** do I live in this environment?'. Just saying. So, like many other Lombardians, I noted the death of Wolfy's (like Brandy's before it, and Nicky's before that...) and inside the last two weeks something else opened up in it's spot. Simultaneously, they had a Group-on deal going on, and those two circumstances together mean It's required by law that I had to try it. Before we get to the food - they said they would honor a Group-on on delivery. Most Pizza joints won't even honor Group-ons for delivery, and wait a minute...you're a mediterrean place that delivers?! Kick ass. Bonus karma to this place right off the bat. Sooo, I and a sibling order the Combo entree with the extra chicken breast, the lamb entree, and some extra Falafels (because, hey, why not, Falafels are great) for delivery. Now, my house is two turns away from them. Not kidding. I couldv'e just drove there myself in about 5 minutes. Half an hour later, I'm wondering, "say, shouldn't I have been eating something by now?" occurs to me. Just then the delivery guy calls me and after a brief conversation about not finding us, he lets me know he'll be here in just a couple of minutes (which he was). The large amount of rice pilaf with either entree was still warm, as well as the entrees themselves, but the delay had left the Falafels cold. The Combo entree was good, and the schwarma here is definately going to be revisited. The lamb kebob entree, however, was disappointing. Again, a huge amount of rice pilaf...and only a couple of tiny pieces of lamb. On the whole, the delay rendering the meals less than ideal results in a meh~ish rating, but I'm booting it up to four stars based on honoring a Group-on for a delviery order on a crappy cold night to begin with. I will try them again an update the review, as next time I will do carry-out and see if that helps matters some.
(4)Mary Anne D.
We LOVED the Jerusalem Cafe.!!!!!! The food was magnificent, portions plenty big enough and the staff was very friendly. We can't wait to go back!!!
(5)Gary B.
It was pretty good. Nothing I can write home about.
(3)W M.
Tried the restaurant another time with colleagues and it has the same great taste and quality for all items in the combo plate. The beef kabob is tender and the grilled chicken is falvorful. The home made appetizers like hummus, baba ghannouj, and the tzakziki-like garlic yogurt is very tasty and appetizing. Like other reviewers, looking forward to try other menu items soon.
(5)Jim F.
Food was great. Kudos to the chefs. Idiots at the front counter forgot the pita bread. Why would one order hummous, baba ghanouj, tabbouleh, falafel etc to eat without pita bread. Bush league mistake. Also, when i went to check the bag, the girl at the checkout counter said "don't worry, everything is in there." I even paid for extra pita bread. Great to get home ten miles away to find there is no bread......had to go to the store and buy it again. NEVER GOING BACK.
(2)Barbra F.
The hubs, son, and I have been to Jerusalem Café several times now. We have dined in and carried out. Love it. This place replaces Pita House on my go to list for shawarma! There green spicy sauce and garlic mayo are excellent. My son, who is a picky eater, loves the yellow rice. So delicious! This is the cure for not feeling like cooking for dinner!
(5)Jim C.
So amazingly awesome. Veggies are fresh. Food is outstanding with a great balance of textures and flavors. And I still love the little bar of accoutrements!
(5)Christina B.
Let's get the negative stuff out of the way right away: lady at the counter not so helpful, awkward conversation overheard with what sounded like her boss, not enough plates passed out with food, no place to put dirty plates and dishes. Now on to the good! Cheap prices, good falafel pita, baba was pretty good, and they had unlimited amounts of toppings you could grab for no extra charge. Hummas wasn't very good... But the baba made up for it. All the meat was really tasty as well. Combo plate is a large amount of good and gives you a test of each meat. This place was pretty solid. I'll be coming back!
(4)Carlos T.
After eating here a couple times, this is one of my go to places. I really liked the Combination feast, which full you up. The gyros sandwich is also excellent. For 6 bucks you get a fully loaded gyros sandwich with fries. One my favorite yum. The people taking the order are nice, and overall a great place to get food.
(5)Rehan A.
Lunch special was decent. Huge portion of chicken and rice. Decent food nice people. Overall food tastes yummy and fulfilling.
(5)Gary L.
New discovery for me here in the burbs. Great hummus and schwarma . Grape leaves tasty too
(4)Hashim Q.
Jerusalem cafe is the best place to get Mediterranean food in the Oakbrook/Lombard area. The mixed grill platter is fantastic, expertly seasoned and cooked very well. The falafel (my favorite aspect of Arab/Mediterranean cuisine) is less that great however. A bit dry and kind of flavorless. Go to Jerusalem cafe for the meats and you will not be disappointed.
(4)Don R.
Let's say mediocre is the best word I'll use to describe my experience. Came here a few days ago for a quick, last minute dinner. Got the lamb kabob sandwich. It wasn't necessarily nasty. But it wasn't amazing either. It was just ok. The flavors were so-so, nothing capitalizing. The lamb was in huge chunks and obviously placed throughout the sandwich. Therefore, you had some bites that were full of lamb others that were just straight lettuce. Would've been better if they were cut smaller so it could be spread through the sandwich better. The falafel was good though, well seasoned. I'm kind of so-so about coming back. For what it cost, I don't see it as worth it. I'd rather travel 10 minutes to I Dream of Falafel if I want some good Mediterranean food.
(3)Padma A.
i had really high expectations looking at the reviews....the food was okay but not impressive. I got the lamb sandwich, meat was chewy and Chicken tenders entree to go which was big portion size for the kiddos and leftover wiped out by hubby. Michelle at the front desk was really nice and friendly, great customer service!The place was clean and bathroom too.
(3)Harris I.
I have been coming here at least once a week since they opened up...and I can honestly say the quality and the taste has only improved. One of the best tasting middle eastern places for lunch or dinner. The pricing is very very reasonable. The staff is nice. Place is cleaner than expected. Id recommend this for anyone. Get their combination platter!
(5)Ashley V.
Great deal for great food. I had the lamb kabob sandwich and the meat was so tasty! I'll definitely be back for more.
(4)Dan K.
I really like this place. They have a special which consists of some meats and falafel, veggies, and rice for about $8 including a drink. Great value, good food. They have a sauce bar which you can order for an extra .25 cents per sauce, or $1 for a dish filled with different sauces. There is the garlic toum, tahini, some cilantro chimmichurri style sauce, jalapenos, pickled turnips, and red hot sauce. They used to give some chips on the side if you paid the $1 but I didn't get that option the last time I was there. There isn't too much seating, but I have never had a problem sitting down either. This has quickly become a favorite of ours at work, and my wife and I agree that it's one of our top places as well. I want to try some of the sandwiches soon.
(5)Ace R.
The food here is great. Their beef shawarma is authentic and one of the best shawarma sandwiches I have tried in a while. I tried their gyros, chicken fattoush salad, beef kebab, and kefta kebab and they all tasted delicious. Very reasonably priced food as well. This will be my new go to spot for middle eastern food in the area.
(4)Eric B.
Decided to try this place because I had a Groupon, so was worth passing other Mediterranean restaurants on the way. The place initially had the look of a mid-size diner and I wasn't particularly optimistic. We made our selections. Wife had Vegetable plate with falafel, tabbouli, baba gannouc, and hummus. I had gyros plate with baba gannouc appetizer. I can eat almost any portion of food I am served but I had too much and couldn't finish it. I know gyros are more Greek than Palestinian, but this was some of the best gyros meat I'd ever had. By the way, my wife loved the falafel. While the Groupon deal made the price very reasonable, even without the Groupon the 2 meals were less than $20. We were inspired to try this place because of the Groupon but we have decided this will become one of our regular stops. I guess that's what the Groupons were designed to do.
(4)Graciela S.
Fellow yelpers. When ordering from this establishment consider this. The employees do not consider this a middle eastern restaurant they consider it an "Americanized" middle eastern restaurant. Even if the menu says something will be brought to you in a certain way do not expect that, expect an Americanized version even though you are at a middle eastern restaurant. If you try to complain or call to let them know they will tell you nothing can be done for you because you are wrong and no one else complains about it not being done the correct way. It is the last time I will deal with this restaurant. Naf naf is way better and does things the correct way.
(1)AB L.
I really liked the shawarma here. I tried both chicken and both. The manager and the employees are super nice.
(5)Jennifer P.
I was super excited to see a Mediterranean (read: veggie friendly!) business pop up so close to work! Even better that I scored a Groupon deal. I ordered the Vegetarian Falafel Plate and the Vegetarian Combo Plate. Needless to say I had a TON of falafel! They were not the typical balls, though, which threw me off a bit. They were good, and the Tahini sauce was really the best I've had so far - nice, thick, and rich - and rivals the Tahini at my favorite Mediterranean joint. The Falafel Plate had much lighter fare - the falafel, a bit of lettuce, and some pita. It's more of a light snacky-type lunch. I much preferred the Combo Plate, which was more substantial and lasted me two meals. I didn't like the Tabouleh, but it was also the first time I'd had it, so perhaps it's an acquired taste? I LOVE me some grape leaves! These were really yummy, albeit sloppy and falling apart. There were also random grape leaf pieces floating around. The Baba Ganoush was also really good and obviously homemade (plus!), but it did have some huge eggplant chunks floating around, which was a bit off-putting texture-wise since it's slimy like that. It always makes me a little sad when Mediterranean joints use the supermarket-type pita bread. Y'know, the dense flavorless bread? I get that it's probably a P.I.T.A. to make your own bread, but maybe just throwing it on the grill would at least be a step up on the flavor profile. The Baklava was a bit disappointing as it was extremely hard and dry. They had a TON of it out on the counter individually wrapped... maybe they made too much at once? In the future I'll probably just stick with the Veggie Combo Plate. To sum, Jerusalem Cafe seems like a pretty decent Mediterranean joint. Lombard needs one, so I hope it sticks around! I'll be back soon. :)
(3)Erika L.
So good! And the service was great! They let me try a few things before I made my final decision.
(5)Jahanzeb H.
Food here is fantastic, chicken, beef, shwarma all are very well done. Rice is a bit oily though. They recently started charging for condiments, which I hate. I understand they have to make a profit. They should give you one cup free and charge for second one or just raise prices by a quarter. Sauce bar is free again, they really listen to their customers and take their suggestions seriously.
(5)Ron S.
I stopped in for lunch and ordered the vegetarian combination plate. It comes with 3 falafel, 3 stuffed grape leaves, hummus, baba ghannough and tabouleh salad. I'm no expert on middle eastern food but I do like tasty food and everything I had was delicious. The amount of food that they give you will satisfy all but the most hungry of appetites. I was surprised at the amount of food on this $8.99 combination plate. The only disappointment was the factory-baked pita pocket that came with the meal. It would be great if they baked them on premise. This is not a big enough deal that would prevent me from returning. I really enjoyed the food and like that they have lots of vegetarian options.
(4)Dan B.
Not too long ago Wolfy's hot dogs in Lombard closed down. It was a hard place to make a left turn into from Roosevelt Road, they had somewhat strange hours closing around 8:00 and it was the third time the eatery occupying that lot had closed in around five years. A month or so ago a sign saying "Coming Soon, Middle Eastern Grill" popped up in the window of the former Wolfy's and I made a mental note to visit once they had opened. One day in driving by they appeared to be open so I made that difficult left turn into the parking lot and decided to stop in and give it a try. The new place is called Jerusalem Cafe and it is just as the coming soon sign described a Middle Eastern grill place. I went up to the counter and was greeted by an extremely friendly gentleman. Within about 30 seconds I had zero'ed in on the Shwarma sandwich I wanted to order, placed my order and was told to take a seat and they'd bring it out. It's worth noting that also in Lombard not terribly long ago a place called Shwarma express opened up and having ordered the exact same item there I waited around 20 minutes, so I sat down expecting a long wait and was pleasantly surprised when it came out in about 3 minutes. The shwarma sandwich here came on pita bread with tahini sauce, tomato and some other vegetables. It was a good flavor overall, the shwarma was nice and juicy, the tahini was a nice compliment and everything tasted great. The pita was soft yet held together well. The sandwich gets a recommendation from me for sure. Overall based on my experience at Jerusalem Cafe I'd give this place a very solid recommendation. Based on the other recently opened Middle Eastern eatery I'd say that Jerusalem Cafe is faster and has friendlier service. But I got less food, it wasn't quite as good (but still excellent) and cost more. Overall I am going to give four stars to Jerusalem Cafe and note that it appears with Jerusalem Cafe, Pita Inn, Mr. Halal Broaster and Shwarma Express that Roosevelt Road in Lombard is quickly becoming a hot spot (a Mecca if you will) for Middle Eastern eats.
(4)Fawad F.
Go to JC, order the Beef shish kabob, savor the taste. Portions are large, price is reasonable, seating is readily available and clean. My understanding is that all meats and chicken are organic. Have some garlic sauce. Enjoy!
(5)Rachel C.
I had the falafel sandwich which came with 6 falafel logs, pitas, a small amount of iceberg lettuce strips, tzatziki sauce, and some sort of cucumber coleslaw mix. The falafel was not that great. It was pretty greasy and had a strong flavor that I couldn't place and didn't care for. There wasn't nearly enough lettuce or cucumber coleslaw mix to put in the pitas with the falafel, and the pitas tasted stale. Overall, it wasn't awful, but the next day I put leftovers on my plate to warm up in the microwave and just found them so unappetizing I tossed them in the trash. The restaurant was clean and bright and staff was friendly. Wait time was acceptable for my to go order. Prices seemed fair.
(2)Jeisson N.
Jerusalem Cafe has become my girlfriend and I's favorite place. Close to National University so very convenient given she goes there. The food is outstanding... I would even say phenomenal. The Beef Shish Kabob is to die for. Literally melts in your mouth. On a couple of occasions we have gotten the chicken and it is also delicious. The service is very good and the place clean. Prices are very reasonable for the amount of food served. We highly recommend it.
(5)Jessica C.
Just happened to drive past this little gem and did a quick yelp to see if it was any good. It looked good so we stopped in. It's a very tiny cafe with only 10 tables or so. The customer service was astounding. Everything was very clean, the server gave us recommendations when I asked between beef shawarma or kebab. I ended up getting the combination platter to try a little of everything. My bf got the beef kebab platter. He is extremely hard to please and he took ONE bite and said "oh wow. Taste this!" It was amazing flavor and melted in my mouth. The chicken shawarma was a little dry but the flavor was really good. The kafta kabob was great too although for anyone new coming in I would HIGHLY recommend the beef kabob platter. It was truly amazing. I also got the falafel on my platter which was seasoned beautifully. Free pita bread and hummus are a plus! A+++++
(5)Lily T.
We went to Jerusalem Cafe for lunch and had the lunch special plates. My favorite thing was the falafel. My least favorite was some meat patty, that looked like a mini hamburger, which was very tasteless and dry. Although you get quite a bit of food for the money it was all rather bland. Nothing was necessarily bad, we just thought it lacked flavor. My friend used a ton of the stuff from the condiment bar and that seemed to make it better for them. I will say after eating there I was full for the rest of the day. Maybe they make the lunch specials bland to cater to more tastes. If we go back I will try something different.
(2)Mic C.
Honestly, I think Jerusalem Cafe is fine, but nothing exceptional. The shwarma (both the chicken and beef) is extremely salty, to the point where I can't even taste the other flavors. The kebab was decent, tender and tasty, but still very salty. The rice is fine, and I really enjoy the grilled vegetables that come with the meal. The falafel is fine, but a little scorched the three times I've ordered. Pita is blah. It is convenient, delivered quickly, and reasonably priced. But when I want Mediterranean food, I'd rather skip the convenience and drive out to Pita Inn.
(2)Jenni E.
I wanted to like this place way more than I did, but I probably would come here and try something else. I came in later in the day and ordered a shawarma sandwich. The girl behind the counter seemed aggravated that I was interrupting her texting to order my food, but otherwise obliged. It took a few minutes to get my food, which I consider a good thing. The sandwich was tasty and warm, but I felt like there should have been more to it. Next time I come, I think I will try one of the plates so that I can get more of a variety. I did like that they had some combos on the menu as well. After I ate, I decided to try a piece of baklava for dessert. It was fantastic, but again I pulled the cashier away from texting and felt that I was inconveniencing her to place my order.
(3)Kelly M.
Pretty solid food! Andrew L. and I met here for lunch to enjoy a Groupon deal. This place used to be a hot dog joint and is a small interior space. The staff is friendly, but there isn't really any ambiance. I ordered the vegetarian combo, which included baba ganoush (favorite word ever), hummus, stuffed grape leaves, falafel, a pita and tabouleh. I think I ordered wrong. I feel like I ended up with a plate of dips, but oh well. The falafel is quite crispy and delightful, but I was a little confused that the grape leaves were served cold. Oh well, they had a very nice salty finish, so I suppose I was surprised. Overall, I couldn't help but compare it to Naf Naf Grill, which still holds a special corner of my heart with their super puffy pitas and smoky baba ganoush. However, I'll have to revisit this review once I try a entree - this could be more my poor choices than a reflection on this place.
(3)Katie O.
Great food- lousy service. Come prepared to wait longer than expected. Love the beef kabobs and beef gyros.
(4)Dana S.
I love this restaurant. The owner is so nice and they have great food. Really great vegetarian options I recommend are the falafel and avocado sandwich and the vegetarian platter. Yum!
(5)Mike L.
Still the best and always eat here when I am out West. Exact amazing food and service as Oak Park. I could eat here EVERY DAY!! I almost do in Oak Park! The Chicken Schwarma (sp?) is by far the best I have had anywhere and if you like hot and spicy I suggest putting their home made ground red pepper sauce along with hummus and/or tahini on the pita with the chicken, lettuce, tomato and onion....sooooooooo gooooood!!
(5)K. R.
Best. Baba. Ghannouj. Ever. I've been a fan of this place ever since it opened. Fast service, tasty food, and crazy low prices. The falafel is crispy and flavorful, Jerusalem salad and tabouleh are fresh, hummus and baba are smooth, creamy, and addictive! Orders always come with plenty of pita bread. Great food if you're on-the-go. I've never eaten-in here, but the atmosphere seems comfortable enough - pretty much your typical fast food restaurant inside. The staff is helpful and patient if you're not sure what you want. All-in-all: YUM! Seriously. Baba. Ghannouj. Try it.
(5)becky s.
The office ordered from here for lunch on Friday through the online ordering on yelp which was very nice. The food was delivered in the time promised which was nice. However, I ordered my pita sandwich and in the comments I asked instead of the Jerusalem salad in the pita to add rice. When the food came, there was the Jerusalem salad in the pita. I called the store and the man on the phone was very rude about it. Told me that's how they are made and i explained I put in the notes how I wanted it made...and if they couldn't have done it, they should have called me. He didn't even offer to remake it or anything. I was extremely disappointed in their customer service. Overall...everyone else in the office was happy with their meals.
(3)Astrid N.
The guy who appeared to be maybe the owner or manager seemed very friendly and smiley. He gave me free falafel, which was nice (and it was good -- tasted like it had a lot of nutmeg in it and was very flavorful). However, the rest of the food was nothing very special. The rice was that same yellow rice you get everywhere, and it was fairly oily. The pita tasted like it came out of a package. Also nothing special. The chicken shawarma was okay. I've had better. Not very memorable, not especially delicious -- I would rate it as average. Definitely not terrible, but I can't imagine there will ever be a point in my future at which I will say, "Man, I gotta go to Jerusalem Cafe, I really have a taste for it!" Pinched is only a couple miles further from home for me, and definitely worth the extra drive time.
(3)M f.
The food is so good and authentically Mediterranean. Salads and smoothies and as soon as I saw the variety I was happy. Not your run of the mill pita places. The food plays a bigger role here..my 8 year old loved the saffron rice and the big chunks of lamb meat. The fattoush was a big hit and she never has salad. I even got to have free refills of the tea and there is that Turkish coffee that called my name but it was too late in the afternoon to have a heavy cup of coffee. The dishes that allowed you to sample are the best. Go with a Groupon and try it. I have found a gem I will be revisiting and a nice and healthy and frugal alternative to fast food for my child.
(5)Robin M.
Worth a visit. Then a return and subsequent returns. Excellent food, smiling faces.
(5)Aaron K.
Just found this place looking to grab a quick bite for lunch. I'm so glad I did. This will become a regular place for me. I got the lunch special which is: beef shish kabob, kifta kabob (lamb and ground beef), chicken shawarma, falafel, rice pilaf, salad, pita bread, and a medium drink. All that for about 8 bucks! I also added grilled chicken breast for a dollar more. Everything was delicious, but I couldn't finish it all. So, now I have delicious dinner for tonight too. I highly recommend this place.
(5)Jessica W.
I really wanted to love this place. Being very close to home, and replacing a horrid hot dog joint,anything with multiple vegan/vegetarian options gets my vote. As for service it just felt too "fast foody"...young cashier with not much service charm. I can get over that, if the food is worth it...and for the price, I was dissapointed. While the falafel are massive, they are dry and lacking. Huge portion of hummus, but had an odd flavour. I'm picky about hummus though because I make my own and always find it best that way. I wouldn't highly recommend but wouldn't advise to stay away either.
(3)Malena J.
The food is good. I'm a vegan and was able to get some nice dishes to share with my husband who is also vegan. The only reason I didn't give this restaurant a higher score is because of the slow disorganized service. The cashier seemed to be new and not well trained but she was also not knowledgeable About the food. She had a large tattoo over her chest and a low cut shirt. My husband has tattoos but hers really made me uncomfortable for a food/family establishment being on her chest.
(3)Gayann P.
Delicious! The food was delicious and the service was great! Very clean also! Excited to try more on the menu in order the feast and felt that it was the perfect amount of food!
(5)Elaine H.
Love their food -- fresh and tasty with friendly staff. The portions are generous and they make up your order fresh -- no food that's been sitting for hours under hot lights. Also offer many selections so I'll be back to try them all. The restaurant is also very clean with comfy booths to sit on and prices are reasonable with fast service. I'm so glad to have a good Mideastern restaurant in my neighborhood. I usually don't do reviews, but wanted to get the word out about this well run restaurant. Falafel plate here I come!
(4)Vicki L.
I am a big fan of Middle-eastern food, so soon after I saw this place had opened up I made sure to stop in with my dad for some lunch. How good was it? I was back within less than a week for dinner with the rest of my family. I have already had the felafel sandwich and the beef shwarma plate, and both were delicious. The beef shwarma plate came on a bed of basmati rice (you can substitute jasmine rice of you wish) and vegetables. The felafels in the sandwich were melt-in-your-mouth soft and the pita was perfect. When I was there for dinner, we got a small side of hummus, which was actually fairly sizable and very good. The menu has a wide selection of food items (as well as juices and smoothies), and the prices are very reasonable. They even do catering for larger groups. This restaurant is definitely going to be on my repeat list.
(4)N E.
Best place ever!!! Tonight was our first time there and the owner was so kind...we will definitely be going back and more often...I wish we could gove this place 10stars...way to go Jerusalem cafe..you guys were great...and the server was super sweet!
(5)Sara P.
Lots of food. Very good selection on the menu. Uses lamb which is a big must for me in this sort of restaurant, several around the area use beef only. The staff are willing to answer questions and discuss the food. I overheard people trying the type of food for the first time and asking how to eat it and where the food is based off.
(4)Jen S.
Delicious! Better than the Pita Inn which is hard to beat. They even have a lunch combo special similar to the Pita Inn. I was nervous initially given the turnover of businesses in this location, but decided to give it a try. It was busy and there was a lot of different clientele on my first trip. I talked it up and on my second trip, I brought my husband and three kids. I was talking about the kifta and ordered the chicken. The owner brought out a kifta just for me to try. Friendly and helpful staff. Very clean. I could eat it everyday. I hope this place stays around!
(5)Harris I.
I have been coming here at least once a week since they opened up...and I can honestly say the quality and the taste has only improved. One of the best tasting middle eastern places for lunch or dinner. The pricing is very very reasonable. The staff is nice. Place is cleaner than expected. Id recommend this for anyone. Get their combination platter!
(5)Ashley V.
Great deal for great food. I had the lamb kabob sandwich and the meat was so tasty! I'll definitely be back for more.
(4)Dan K.
I really like this place. They have a special which consists of some meats and falafel, veggies, and rice for about $8 including a drink. Great value, good food. They have a sauce bar which you can order for an extra .25 cents per sauce, or $1 for a dish filled with different sauces. There is the garlic toum, tahini, some cilantro chimmichurri style sauce, jalapenos, pickled turnips, and red hot sauce. They used to give some chips on the side if you paid the $1 but I didn't get that option the last time I was there. There isn't too much seating, but I have never had a problem sitting down either. This has quickly become a favorite of ours at work, and my wife and I agree that it's one of our top places as well. I want to try some of the sandwiches soon.
(5)Ace R.
The food here is great. Their beef shawarma is authentic and one of the best shawarma sandwiches I have tried in a while. I tried their gyros, chicken fattoush salad, beef kebab, and kefta kebab and they all tasted delicious. Very reasonably priced food as well. This will be my new go to spot for middle eastern food in the area.
(4)Eric B.
Decided to try this place because I had a Groupon, so was worth passing other Mediterranean restaurants on the way. The place initially had the look of a mid-size diner and I wasn't particularly optimistic. We made our selections. Wife had Vegetable plate with falafel, tabbouli, baba gannouc, and hummus. I had gyros plate with baba gannouc appetizer. I can eat almost any portion of food I am served but I had too much and couldn't finish it. I know gyros are more Greek than Palestinian, but this was some of the best gyros meat I'd ever had. By the way, my wife loved the falafel. While the Groupon deal made the price very reasonable, even without the Groupon the 2 meals were less than $20. We were inspired to try this place because of the Groupon but we have decided this will become one of our regular stops. I guess that's what the Groupons were designed to do.
(4)Malena J.
The food is good. I'm a vegan and was able to get some nice dishes to share with my husband who is also vegan. The only reason I didn't give this restaurant a higher score is because of the slow disorganized service. The cashier seemed to be new and not well trained but she was also not knowledgeable About the food. She had a large tattoo over her chest and a low cut shirt. My husband has tattoos but hers really made me uncomfortable for a food/family establishment being on her chest.
(3)AB L.
I really liked the shawarma here. I tried both chicken and both. The manager and the employees are super nice.
(5)Mic C.
Honestly, I think Jerusalem Cafe is fine, but nothing exceptional. The shwarma (both the chicken and beef) is extremely salty, to the point where I can't even taste the other flavors. The kebab was decent, tender and tasty, but still very salty. The rice is fine, and I really enjoy the grilled vegetables that come with the meal. The falafel is fine, but a little scorched the three times I've ordered. Pita is blah. It is convenient, delivered quickly, and reasonably priced. But when I want Mediterranean food, I'd rather skip the convenience and drive out to Pita Inn.
(2)Ron S.
I stopped in for lunch and ordered the vegetarian combination plate. It comes with 3 falafel, 3 stuffed grape leaves, hummus, baba ghannough and tabouleh salad. I'm no expert on middle eastern food but I do like tasty food and everything I had was delicious. The amount of food that they give you will satisfy all but the most hungry of appetites. I was surprised at the amount of food on this $8.99 combination plate. The only disappointment was the factory-baked pita pocket that came with the meal. It would be great if they baked them on premise. This is not a big enough deal that would prevent me from returning. I really enjoyed the food and like that they have lots of vegetarian options.
(4)Jenni E.
I wanted to like this place way more than I did, but I probably would come here and try something else. I came in later in the day and ordered a shawarma sandwich. The girl behind the counter seemed aggravated that I was interrupting her texting to order my food, but otherwise obliged. It took a few minutes to get my food, which I consider a good thing. The sandwich was tasty and warm, but I felt like there should have been more to it. Next time I come, I think I will try one of the plates so that I can get more of a variety. I did like that they had some combos on the menu as well. After I ate, I decided to try a piece of baklava for dessert. It was fantastic, but again I pulled the cashier away from texting and felt that I was inconveniencing her to place my order.
(3)Kelly M.
Pretty solid food! Andrew L. and I met here for lunch to enjoy a Groupon deal. This place used to be a hot dog joint and is a small interior space. The staff is friendly, but there isn't really any ambiance. I ordered the vegetarian combo, which included baba ganoush (favorite word ever), hummus, stuffed grape leaves, falafel, a pita and tabouleh. I think I ordered wrong. I feel like I ended up with a plate of dips, but oh well. The falafel is quite crispy and delightful, but I was a little confused that the grape leaves were served cold. Oh well, they had a very nice salty finish, so I suppose I was surprised. Overall, I couldn't help but compare it to Naf Naf Grill, which still holds a special corner of my heart with their super puffy pitas and smoky baba ganoush. However, I'll have to revisit this review once I try a entree - this could be more my poor choices than a reflection on this place.
(3)Katie O.
Great food- lousy service. Come prepared to wait longer than expected. Love the beef kabobs and beef gyros.
(4)Dana S.
I love this restaurant. The owner is so nice and they have great food. Really great vegetarian options I recommend are the falafel and avocado sandwich and the vegetarian platter. Yum!
(5)Mike L.
Still the best and always eat here when I am out West. Exact amazing food and service as Oak Park. I could eat here EVERY DAY!! I almost do in Oak Park! The Chicken Schwarma (sp?) is by far the best I have had anywhere and if you like hot and spicy I suggest putting their home made ground red pepper sauce along with hummus and/or tahini on the pita with the chicken, lettuce, tomato and onion....sooooooooo gooooood!!
(5)Jessica C.
Just happened to drive past this little gem and did a quick yelp to see if it was any good. It looked good so we stopped in. It's a very tiny cafe with only 10 tables or so. The customer service was astounding. Everything was very clean, the server gave us recommendations when I asked between beef shawarma or kebab. I ended up getting the combination platter to try a little of everything. My bf got the beef kebab platter. He is extremely hard to please and he took ONE bite and said "oh wow. Taste this!" It was amazing flavor and melted in my mouth. The chicken shawarma was a little dry but the flavor was really good. The kafta kabob was great too although for anyone new coming in I would HIGHLY recommend the beef kabob platter. It was truly amazing. I also got the falafel on my platter which was seasoned beautifully. Free pita bread and hummus are a plus! A+++++
(5)M f.
The food is so good and authentically Mediterranean. Salads and smoothies and as soon as I saw the variety I was happy. Not your run of the mill pita places. The food plays a bigger role here..my 8 year old loved the saffron rice and the big chunks of lamb meat. The fattoush was a big hit and she never has salad. I even got to have free refills of the tea and there is that Turkish coffee that called my name but it was too late in the afternoon to have a heavy cup of coffee. The dishes that allowed you to sample are the best. Go with a Groupon and try it. I have found a gem I will be revisiting and a nice and healthy and frugal alternative to fast food for my child.
(5)Robin M.
Worth a visit. Then a return and subsequent returns. Excellent food, smiling faces.
(5)Don R.
Let's say mediocre is the best word I'll use to describe my experience. Came here a few days ago for a quick, last minute dinner. Got the lamb kabob sandwich. It wasn't necessarily nasty. But it wasn't amazing either. It was just ok. The flavors were so-so, nothing capitalizing. The lamb was in huge chunks and obviously placed throughout the sandwich. Therefore, you had some bites that were full of lamb others that were just straight lettuce. Would've been better if they were cut smaller so it could be spread through the sandwich better. The falafel was good though, well seasoned. I'm kind of so-so about coming back. For what it cost, I don't see it as worth it. I'd rather travel 10 minutes to I Dream of Falafel if I want some good Mediterranean food.
(3)Padma A.
i had really high expectations looking at the reviews....the food was okay but not impressive. I got the lamb sandwich, meat was chewy and Chicken tenders entree to go which was big portion size for the kiddos and leftover wiped out by hubby. Michelle at the front desk was really nice and friendly, great customer service!The place was clean and bathroom too.
(3)Jennifer P.
I was super excited to see a Mediterranean (read: veggie friendly!) business pop up so close to work! Even better that I scored a Groupon deal. I ordered the Vegetarian Falafel Plate and the Vegetarian Combo Plate. Needless to say I had a TON of falafel! They were not the typical balls, though, which threw me off a bit. They were good, and the Tahini sauce was really the best I've had so far - nice, thick, and rich - and rivals the Tahini at my favorite Mediterranean joint. The Falafel Plate had much lighter fare - the falafel, a bit of lettuce, and some pita. It's more of a light snacky-type lunch. I much preferred the Combo Plate, which was more substantial and lasted me two meals. I didn't like the Tabouleh, but it was also the first time I'd had it, so perhaps it's an acquired taste? I LOVE me some grape leaves! These were really yummy, albeit sloppy and falling apart. There were also random grape leaf pieces floating around. The Baba Ganoush was also really good and obviously homemade (plus!), but it did have some huge eggplant chunks floating around, which was a bit off-putting texture-wise since it's slimy like that. It always makes me a little sad when Mediterranean joints use the supermarket-type pita bread. Y'know, the dense flavorless bread? I get that it's probably a P.I.T.A. to make your own bread, but maybe just throwing it on the grill would at least be a step up on the flavor profile. The Baklava was a bit disappointing as it was extremely hard and dry. They had a TON of it out on the counter individually wrapped... maybe they made too much at once? In the future I'll probably just stick with the Veggie Combo Plate. To sum, Jerusalem Cafe seems like a pretty decent Mediterranean joint. Lombard needs one, so I hope it sticks around! I'll be back soon. :)
(3)Erika L.
So good! And the service was great! They let me try a few things before I made my final decision.
(5)Jahanzeb H.
Food here is fantastic, chicken, beef, shwarma all are very well done. Rice is a bit oily though. They recently started charging for condiments, which I hate. I understand they have to make a profit. They should give you one cup free and charge for second one or just raise prices by a quarter. Sauce bar is free again, they really listen to their customers and take their suggestions seriously.
(5)Barbra F.
The hubs, son, and I have been to Jerusalem Café several times now. We have dined in and carried out. Love it. This place replaces Pita House on my go to list for shawarma! There green spicy sauce and garlic mayo are excellent. My son, who is a picky eater, loves the yellow rice. So delicious! This is the cure for not feeling like cooking for dinner!
(5)Jim C.
So amazingly awesome. Veggies are fresh. Food is outstanding with a great balance of textures and flavors. And I still love the little bar of accoutrements!
(5)Christina B.
Let's get the negative stuff out of the way right away: lady at the counter not so helpful, awkward conversation overheard with what sounded like her boss, not enough plates passed out with food, no place to put dirty plates and dishes. Now on to the good! Cheap prices, good falafel pita, baba was pretty good, and they had unlimited amounts of toppings you could grab for no extra charge. Hummas wasn't very good... But the baba made up for it. All the meat was really tasty as well. Combo plate is a large amount of good and gives you a test of each meat. This place was pretty solid. I'll be coming back!
(4)Carlos T.
After eating here a couple times, this is one of my go to places. I really liked the Combination feast, which full you up. The gyros sandwich is also excellent. For 6 bucks you get a fully loaded gyros sandwich with fries. One my favorite yum. The people taking the order are nice, and overall a great place to get food.
(5)Rehan A.
Lunch special was decent. Huge portion of chicken and rice. Decent food nice people. Overall food tastes yummy and fulfilling.
(5)Gary L.
New discovery for me here in the burbs. Great hummus and schwarma . Grape leaves tasty too
(4)Hashim Q.
Jerusalem cafe is the best place to get Mediterranean food in the Oakbrook/Lombard area. The mixed grill platter is fantastic, expertly seasoned and cooked very well. The falafel (my favorite aspect of Arab/Mediterranean cuisine) is less that great however. A bit dry and kind of flavorless. Go to Jerusalem cafe for the meats and you will not be disappointed.
(4)Aaron K.
Just found this place looking to grab a quick bite for lunch. I'm so glad I did. This will become a regular place for me. I got the lunch special which is: beef shish kabob, kifta kabob (lamb and ground beef), chicken shawarma, falafel, rice pilaf, salad, pita bread, and a medium drink. All that for about 8 bucks! I also added grilled chicken breast for a dollar more. Everything was delicious, but I couldn't finish it all. So, now I have delicious dinner for tonight too. I highly recommend this place.
(5)Jessica W.
I really wanted to love this place. Being very close to home, and replacing a horrid hot dog joint,anything with multiple vegan/vegetarian options gets my vote. As for service it just felt too "fast foody"...young cashier with not much service charm. I can get over that, if the food is worth it...and for the price, I was dissapointed. While the falafel are massive, they are dry and lacking. Huge portion of hummus, but had an odd flavour. I'm picky about hummus though because I make my own and always find it best that way. I wouldn't highly recommend but wouldn't advise to stay away either.
(3)Dan B.
Not too long ago Wolfy's hot dogs in Lombard closed down. It was a hard place to make a left turn into from Roosevelt Road, they had somewhat strange hours closing around 8:00 and it was the third time the eatery occupying that lot had closed in around five years. A month or so ago a sign saying "Coming Soon, Middle Eastern Grill" popped up in the window of the former Wolfy's and I made a mental note to visit once they had opened. One day in driving by they appeared to be open so I made that difficult left turn into the parking lot and decided to stop in and give it a try. The new place is called Jerusalem Cafe and it is just as the coming soon sign described a Middle Eastern grill place. I went up to the counter and was greeted by an extremely friendly gentleman. Within about 30 seconds I had zero'ed in on the Shwarma sandwich I wanted to order, placed my order and was told to take a seat and they'd bring it out. It's worth noting that also in Lombard not terribly long ago a place called Shwarma express opened up and having ordered the exact same item there I waited around 20 minutes, so I sat down expecting a long wait and was pleasantly surprised when it came out in about 3 minutes. The shwarma sandwich here came on pita bread with tahini sauce, tomato and some other vegetables. It was a good flavor overall, the shwarma was nice and juicy, the tahini was a nice compliment and everything tasted great. The pita was soft yet held together well. The sandwich gets a recommendation from me for sure. Overall based on my experience at Jerusalem Cafe I'd give this place a very solid recommendation. Based on the other recently opened Middle Eastern eatery I'd say that Jerusalem Cafe is faster and has friendlier service. But I got less food, it wasn't quite as good (but still excellent) and cost more. Overall I am going to give four stars to Jerusalem Cafe and note that it appears with Jerusalem Cafe, Pita Inn, Mr. Halal Broaster and Shwarma Express that Roosevelt Road in Lombard is quickly becoming a hot spot (a Mecca if you will) for Middle Eastern eats.
(4)Fawad F.
Go to JC, order the Beef shish kabob, savor the taste. Portions are large, price is reasonable, seating is readily available and clean. My understanding is that all meats and chicken are organic. Have some garlic sauce. Enjoy!
(5)Rachel C.
I had the falafel sandwich which came with 6 falafel logs, pitas, a small amount of iceberg lettuce strips, tzatziki sauce, and some sort of cucumber coleslaw mix. The falafel was not that great. It was pretty greasy and had a strong flavor that I couldn't place and didn't care for. There wasn't nearly enough lettuce or cucumber coleslaw mix to put in the pitas with the falafel, and the pitas tasted stale. Overall, it wasn't awful, but the next day I put leftovers on my plate to warm up in the microwave and just found them so unappetizing I tossed them in the trash. The restaurant was clean and bright and staff was friendly. Wait time was acceptable for my to go order. Prices seemed fair.
(2)Jeisson N.
Jerusalem Cafe has become my girlfriend and I's favorite place. Close to National University so very convenient given she goes there. The food is outstanding... I would even say phenomenal. The Beef Shish Kabob is to die for. Literally melts in your mouth. On a couple of occasions we have gotten the chicken and it is also delicious. The service is very good and the place clean. Prices are very reasonable for the amount of food served. We highly recommend it.
(5)Lily T.
We went to Jerusalem Cafe for lunch and had the lunch special plates. My favorite thing was the falafel. My least favorite was some meat patty, that looked like a mini hamburger, which was very tasteless and dry. Although you get quite a bit of food for the money it was all rather bland. Nothing was necessarily bad, we just thought it lacked flavor. My friend used a ton of the stuff from the condiment bar and that seemed to make it better for them. I will say after eating there I was full for the rest of the day. Maybe they make the lunch specials bland to cater to more tastes. If we go back I will try something different.
(2)K. R.
Best. Baba. Ghannouj. Ever. I've been a fan of this place ever since it opened. Fast service, tasty food, and crazy low prices. The falafel is crispy and flavorful, Jerusalem salad and tabouleh are fresh, hummus and baba are smooth, creamy, and addictive! Orders always come with plenty of pita bread. Great food if you're on-the-go. I've never eaten-in here, but the atmosphere seems comfortable enough - pretty much your typical fast food restaurant inside. The staff is helpful and patient if you're not sure what you want. All-in-all: YUM! Seriously. Baba. Ghannouj. Try it.
(5)becky s.
The office ordered from here for lunch on Friday through the online ordering on yelp which was very nice. The food was delivered in the time promised which was nice. However, I ordered my pita sandwich and in the comments I asked instead of the Jerusalem salad in the pita to add rice. When the food came, there was the Jerusalem salad in the pita. I called the store and the man on the phone was very rude about it. Told me that's how they are made and i explained I put in the notes how I wanted it made...and if they couldn't have done it, they should have called me. He didn't even offer to remake it or anything. I was extremely disappointed in their customer service. Overall...everyone else in the office was happy with their meals.
(3)Graciela S.
Fellow yelpers. When ordering from this establishment consider this. The employees do not consider this a middle eastern restaurant they consider it an "Americanized" middle eastern restaurant. Even if the menu says something will be brought to you in a certain way do not expect that, expect an Americanized version even though you are at a middle eastern restaurant. If you try to complain or call to let them know they will tell you nothing can be done for you because you are wrong and no one else complains about it not being done the correct way. It is the last time I will deal with this restaurant. Naf naf is way better and does things the correct way.
(1)Astrid N.
The guy who appeared to be maybe the owner or manager seemed very friendly and smiley. He gave me free falafel, which was nice (and it was good -- tasted like it had a lot of nutmeg in it and was very flavorful). However, the rest of the food was nothing very special. The rice was that same yellow rice you get everywhere, and it was fairly oily. The pita tasted like it came out of a package. Also nothing special. The chicken shawarma was okay. I've had better. Not very memorable, not especially delicious -- I would rate it as average. Definitely not terrible, but I can't imagine there will ever be a point in my future at which I will say, "Man, I gotta go to Jerusalem Cafe, I really have a taste for it!" Pinched is only a couple miles further from home for me, and definitely worth the extra drive time.
(3)Cat M.
Update, the smoothie wasn't my fave but I liked my smoothies to be super sugary and this one tasted a little bland to me. Everything else was still awesome! I order from here all the time. :)
(5)Richard M.
Great food. Nice smoky baba ganoush. Friendly. Clean. Try their veggie platter, it's tasty and very filling.
(5)Andrew G.
Moderately decent Mediterranean food at a fair price for a solid lunch.
(3)Serg M.
No! just NO! not tasty! not flavor taste like piece of paper! weill never come back again!
(1)Karen N.
I love this place!!! The food is delicious and they make it fresh when you order. You know when you see a lot Middle Eastern people eating at a Middle Eastern restaurant it has to be good. They are very friendly and courteous and one of the owners brought me some hot tea and a falafel to try with my meal when I was there. It's really easy to find and has convenient parking. If you are looking for something quick but a little different then you should try this restaurant.
(5)Shay M.
Best shawarma and Lebanese salad in the area. Only place I'll go now after being disappointed by numerous others.
(5)Abha S.
I have been a fan on this place ever since it has opened initially cos of the close proximity of this place to my home and then also because of the fact that the food here is great ( and I love falafel & shwarma). The pricing is also reasonable. This place is a must try - I'd suggest to-go order as this place isn't very big (seating area wise)..
(4)Megan M.
Amazing food! And they really value their customers. The best falafel I've had, and amazing service.
(5)Vernon J.
This place is great. I had the lunch special and had leftovers. The food is flavorful and delicious. The rice is perfect nice flavor and texture. The meat was seasoned wonderfully and the steak was tender. They have a cool little condiment bar and I have to recommend their red sauce. Nice burn, but no pain. I was in the mood for a Falafel one day and theirs was delicious and fresh. For a budget I recommend the lunch special and you can add to it for just a small amount to really sample the variety of food there.
(4)Kathleen B.
Ordered in-restaurant and then decided to get it to go. Pros: Flavor and seasoning on lamb was delicious. Jerusalem salad was light, fresh, and crisp. Cons: Meat was a little overcooked as it always tends to be at Mediterranean places; also, for $9 entree price, was disappointed that there wasn't more meat. Got a strawberry smoothie for the kids, and was disappointed to see they just dumped white sugar into the blender along with the fruit. Not exactly a smoothie. I was a little surprised at how small the portions were. I'm accustomed to very large portions for the money, so they fell short on that for me. The pita was really lacking in flavor for me, too. On their menu inside they had a killer lunch special listed. Basically a combination plate and sides from 11a-2pm and I think it was like $7. I want to go back for that and see if I have better luck on another day! I really want to like and support this place.
(3)Victoria D.
Been here 3 times & the food is very good with lots of flavor! Highly recommend trying it! Service is always very friendly! Prices are great for the quantity & quality you receive! If you like Middle Eastern food definitely try them! If you've never had Middle Eastern food it is very flavorful and worth trying. You won't be disappointed! I don't have to drive to the city anymore to get my fix of Middle Eastern food...yay!
(5)Andy L.
Lunch combo special is a great value, and the taste and quality of the food is great as well. Glad this place is around because there isn't a better Mediterranean place in the immediate area. Also the few vegetarian dishes are very good and filling.
(5)G S.
I have ordered delivery from Jerusalem Cafe twice and have been very happy both times with the chicken shwarma and falafel. Very tasty and great price!
(5)Sarah B.
This was AMAZING! I ordered it on a whim from Grub Hub. They delivered it on time to my work place, and the lady was extremely nice! I ordered the lunch special with extra chicken, and was amazed at how much food came in the container. The spices were exactly right and tasted phenomenal. I will DEFINITELY be ordering from here again!
(5)Nader A.
Great food. Amazing ambiance! Great service! Did I mention amazing food! And I'm from Palestine, its like your eating at home great falafel! Must try the chicken tender! My favorite. The owner is alway welcoming and checking on his customers to see if their experience went well.
(5)Benjamin S.
The best falafel sandwich I have had in my life. Everything else is great too! Their portions are hearty, their prices almost make me feel guilty they are so affordable, and everything is made fresh! The home-made hot sauces and fresh fried pita chips put even fancy Mediterranean restaurants to shame. Highly recommended!
(5)Dan JoNell S.
Will not be going back, the service was poor, the lines were long, and the overall confusion of orders taken lead to a poor experience for me and a friend.
(1)Carm C.
They actually SELL condiments to you, if yoU order food to go. Are you kidding me? I like the spicy stuff but you're going to charge me because I'm not going to sit in your restaurant and eat?
(3)Tess A.
The place has friendly and fast staff. The food is delicious. I love their sautéed vegetables that come with the plates. Their garlic sauce is really good with all the dishes and sandwiches. The three times I've bn there, the place was overall clean and nice. I thought it was a self serve place but they brought the food to our table. I would recommend this place .
(4)Sophia M.
We ordered falafel sandwich and hummus with pites ... Overall the hummus was better than other places I have been . The sandwich clearly was made with fresh ingredients. We really enjoyed The service . They brought us hot tea on the house and were of course very hospitable and polite. Definitely would recommend and come back to eat again
(4)Mary Anne D.
We LOVED the Jerusalem Cafe.!!!!!! The food was magnificent, portions plenty big enough and the staff was very friendly. We can't wait to go back!!!
(5)Gary B.
It was pretty good. Nothing I can write home about.
(3)W M.
Tried the restaurant another time with colleagues and it has the same great taste and quality for all items in the combo plate. The beef kabob is tender and the grilled chicken is falvorful. The home made appetizers like hummus, baba ghannouj, and the tzakziki-like garlic yogurt is very tasty and appetizing. Like other reviewers, looking forward to try other menu items soon.
(5)Jim F.
Food was great. Kudos to the chefs. Idiots at the front counter forgot the pita bread. Why would one order hummous, baba ghanouj, tabbouleh, falafel etc to eat without pita bread. Bush league mistake. Also, when i went to check the bag, the girl at the checkout counter said "don't worry, everything is in there." I even paid for extra pita bread. Great to get home ten miles away to find there is no bread......had to go to the store and buy it again. NEVER GOING BACK.
(2)Jake S.
I want to preface my review with a serious, 'must be noted' caveat - I ordered for delivery on a weeknight when the temperature was approximately 'Why the H*** do I live in this environment?'. Just saying. So, like many other Lombardians, I noted the death of Wolfy's (like Brandy's before it, and Nicky's before that...) and inside the last two weeks something else opened up in it's spot. Simultaneously, they had a Group-on deal going on, and those two circumstances together mean It's required by law that I had to try it. Before we get to the food - they said they would honor a Group-on on delivery. Most Pizza joints won't even honor Group-ons for delivery, and wait a minute...you're a mediterrean place that delivers?! Kick ass. Bonus karma to this place right off the bat. Sooo, I and a sibling order the Combo entree with the extra chicken breast, the lamb entree, and some extra Falafels (because, hey, why not, Falafels are great) for delivery. Now, my house is two turns away from them. Not kidding. I couldv'e just drove there myself in about 5 minutes. Half an hour later, I'm wondering, "say, shouldn't I have been eating something by now?" occurs to me. Just then the delivery guy calls me and after a brief conversation about not finding us, he lets me know he'll be here in just a couple of minutes (which he was). The large amount of rice pilaf with either entree was still warm, as well as the entrees themselves, but the delay had left the Falafels cold. The Combo entree was good, and the schwarma here is definately going to be revisited. The lamb kebob entree, however, was disappointing. Again, a huge amount of rice pilaf...and only a couple of tiny pieces of lamb. On the whole, the delay rendering the meals less than ideal results in a meh~ish rating, but I'm booting it up to four stars based on honoring a Group-on for a delviery order on a crappy cold night to begin with. I will try them again an update the review, as next time I will do carry-out and see if that helps matters some.
(4)Vicki L.
I am a big fan of Middle-eastern food, so soon after I saw this place had opened up I made sure to stop in with my dad for some lunch. How good was it? I was back within less than a week for dinner with the rest of my family. I have already had the felafel sandwich and the beef shwarma plate, and both were delicious. The beef shwarma plate came on a bed of basmati rice (you can substitute jasmine rice of you wish) and vegetables. The felafels in the sandwich were melt-in-your-mouth soft and the pita was perfect. When I was there for dinner, we got a small side of hummus, which was actually fairly sizable and very good. The menu has a wide selection of food items (as well as juices and smoothies), and the prices are very reasonable. They even do catering for larger groups. This restaurant is definitely going to be on my repeat list.
(4)N E.
Best place ever!!! Tonight was our first time there and the owner was so kind...we will definitely be going back and more often...I wish we could gove this place 10stars...way to go Jerusalem cafe..you guys were great...and the server was super sweet!
(5)Suburban F.
I found this place on groupon so i looked them up. I saw the clip where they are featured on CBS 2 they went to their Oak Park location. It caught my attention since they had good reviews and it was a really good deal i couldn't pass up since the owner says in the video their most expensive plate is $7.99. Well i went to their new location in lombard and it's a very small restaurant next to El Famous Burrito on Roosevelt Rd. It was clean and i was greeted with hello and smile (big plus) they have tons of options and when i looked at their prices i noticed their plate entrees are more than $7.99. I did not like that but whatever, i ordered my food and sat down. As i was reading their paper menus i saw that you can ask for basmati rice instead of rice pilaf for free which i did. Overall the food tasted good the only reason i gave this place 4 stars is because the prices were not what they had stated in their video. Other then that check them out.
(4)Deanna B.
Ordered delivery on Grub Hub. The falafel was delicious and didn't seem greasy, even after sitting in the delivery driver's car on the drive to our house. We ordered sides of hummus and baba ganoush and both were very good. The hummus was flavorful and fresh without being overly garlicky. My husband ordered gyros and says they were the best he's had in the area. I highly recommend this place.
(4)Chris F.
Nice people. Expected better food tho but it was edible.
(2)Sara P.
Lots of food. Very good selection on the menu. Uses lamb which is a big must for me in this sort of restaurant, several around the area use beef only. The staff are willing to answer questions and discuss the food. I overheard people trying the type of food for the first time and asking how to eat it and where the food is based off.
(4)Jen S.
Delicious! Better than the Pita Inn which is hard to beat. They even have a lunch combo special similar to the Pita Inn. I was nervous initially given the turnover of businesses in this location, but decided to give it a try. It was busy and there was a lot of different clientele on my first trip. I talked it up and on my second trip, I brought my husband and three kids. I was talking about the kifta and ordered the chicken. The owner brought out a kifta just for me to try. Friendly and helpful staff. Very clean. I could eat it everyday. I hope this place stays around!
(5)Gayann P.
Delicious! The food was delicious and the service was great! Very clean also! Excited to try more on the menu in order the feast and felt that it was the perfect amount of food!
(5)Elaine H.
Love their food -- fresh and tasty with friendly staff. The portions are generous and they make up your order fresh -- no food that's been sitting for hours under hot lights. Also offer many selections so I'll be back to try them all. The restaurant is also very clean with comfy booths to sit on and prices are reasonable with fast service. I'm so glad to have a good Mideastern restaurant in my neighborhood. I usually don't do reviews, but wanted to get the word out about this well run restaurant. Falafel plate here I come!
(4)Barbra F.
The hubs, son, and I have been to Jerusalem Café several times now. We have dined in and carried out. Love it. This place replaces Pita House on my go to list for shawarma! There green spicy sauce and garlic mayo are excellent. My son, who is a picky eater, loves the yellow rice. So delicious! This is the cure for not feeling like cooking for dinner!
(5)Jim C.
So amazingly awesome. Veggies are fresh. Food is outstanding with a great balance of textures and flavors. And I still love the little bar of accoutrements!
(5)Christina B.
Let's get the negative stuff out of the way right away: lady at the counter not so helpful, awkward conversation overheard with what sounded like her boss, not enough plates passed out with food, no place to put dirty plates and dishes. Now on to the good! Cheap prices, good falafel pita, baba was pretty good, and they had unlimited amounts of toppings you could grab for no extra charge. Hummas wasn't very good... But the baba made up for it. All the meat was really tasty as well. Combo plate is a large amount of good and gives you a test of each meat. This place was pretty solid. I'll be coming back!
(4)Jennifer P.
I was super excited to see a Mediterranean (read: veggie friendly!) business pop up so close to work! Even better that I scored a Groupon deal. I ordered the Vegetarian Falafel Plate and the Vegetarian Combo Plate. Needless to say I had a TON of falafel! They were not the typical balls, though, which threw me off a bit. They were good, and the Tahini sauce was really the best I've had so far - nice, thick, and rich - and rivals the Tahini at my favorite Mediterranean joint. The Falafel Plate had much lighter fare - the falafel, a bit of lettuce, and some pita. It's more of a light snacky-type lunch. I much preferred the Combo Plate, which was more substantial and lasted me two meals. I didn't like the Tabouleh, but it was also the first time I'd had it, so perhaps it's an acquired taste? I LOVE me some grape leaves! These were really yummy, albeit sloppy and falling apart. There were also random grape leaf pieces floating around. The Baba Ganoush was also really good and obviously homemade (plus!), but it did have some huge eggplant chunks floating around, which was a bit off-putting texture-wise since it's slimy like that. It always makes me a little sad when Mediterranean joints use the supermarket-type pita bread. Y'know, the dense flavorless bread? I get that it's probably a P.I.T.A. to make your own bread, but maybe just throwing it on the grill would at least be a step up on the flavor profile. The Baklava was a bit disappointing as it was extremely hard and dry. They had a TON of it out on the counter individually wrapped... maybe they made too much at once? In the future I'll probably just stick with the Veggie Combo Plate. To sum, Jerusalem Cafe seems like a pretty decent Mediterranean joint. Lombard needs one, so I hope it sticks around! I'll be back soon. :)
(3)Erika L.
So good! And the service was great! They let me try a few things before I made my final decision.
(5)Jahanzeb H.
Food here is fantastic, chicken, beef, shwarma all are very well done. Rice is a bit oily though. They recently started charging for condiments, which I hate. I understand they have to make a profit. They should give you one cup free and charge for second one or just raise prices by a quarter. Sauce bar is free again, they really listen to their customers and take their suggestions seriously.
(5)Jenni E.
I wanted to like this place way more than I did, but I probably would come here and try something else. I came in later in the day and ordered a shawarma sandwich. The girl behind the counter seemed aggravated that I was interrupting her texting to order my food, but otherwise obliged. It took a few minutes to get my food, which I consider a good thing. The sandwich was tasty and warm, but I felt like there should have been more to it. Next time I come, I think I will try one of the plates so that I can get more of a variety. I did like that they had some combos on the menu as well. After I ate, I decided to try a piece of baklava for dessert. It was fantastic, but again I pulled the cashier away from texting and felt that I was inconveniencing her to place my order.
(3)Kelly M.
Pretty solid food! Andrew L. and I met here for lunch to enjoy a Groupon deal. This place used to be a hot dog joint and is a small interior space. The staff is friendly, but there isn't really any ambiance. I ordered the vegetarian combo, which included baba ganoush (favorite word ever), hummus, stuffed grape leaves, falafel, a pita and tabouleh. I think I ordered wrong. I feel like I ended up with a plate of dips, but oh well. The falafel is quite crispy and delightful, but I was a little confused that the grape leaves were served cold. Oh well, they had a very nice salty finish, so I suppose I was surprised. Overall, I couldn't help but compare it to Naf Naf Grill, which still holds a special corner of my heart with their super puffy pitas and smoky baba ganoush. However, I'll have to revisit this review once I try a entree - this could be more my poor choices than a reflection on this place.
(3)Katie O.
Great food- lousy service. Come prepared to wait longer than expected. Love the beef kabobs and beef gyros.
(4)Dana S.
I love this restaurant. The owner is so nice and they have great food. Really great vegetarian options I recommend are the falafel and avocado sandwich and the vegetarian platter. Yum!
(5)Mike L.
Still the best and always eat here when I am out West. Exact amazing food and service as Oak Park. I could eat here EVERY DAY!! I almost do in Oak Park! The Chicken Schwarma (sp?) is by far the best I have had anywhere and if you like hot and spicy I suggest putting their home made ground red pepper sauce along with hummus and/or tahini on the pita with the chicken, lettuce, tomato and onion....sooooooooo gooooood!!
(5)K. R.
Best. Baba. Ghannouj. Ever. I've been a fan of this place ever since it opened. Fast service, tasty food, and crazy low prices. The falafel is crispy and flavorful, Jerusalem salad and tabouleh are fresh, hummus and baba are smooth, creamy, and addictive! Orders always come with plenty of pita bread. Great food if you're on-the-go. I've never eaten-in here, but the atmosphere seems comfortable enough - pretty much your typical fast food restaurant inside. The staff is helpful and patient if you're not sure what you want. All-in-all: YUM! Seriously. Baba. Ghannouj. Try it.
(5)Dan B.
Not too long ago Wolfy's hot dogs in Lombard closed down. It was a hard place to make a left turn into from Roosevelt Road, they had somewhat strange hours closing around 8:00 and it was the third time the eatery occupying that lot had closed in around five years. A month or so ago a sign saying "Coming Soon, Middle Eastern Grill" popped up in the window of the former Wolfy's and I made a mental note to visit once they had opened. One day in driving by they appeared to be open so I made that difficult left turn into the parking lot and decided to stop in and give it a try. The new place is called Jerusalem Cafe and it is just as the coming soon sign described a Middle Eastern grill place. I went up to the counter and was greeted by an extremely friendly gentleman. Within about 30 seconds I had zero'ed in on the Shwarma sandwich I wanted to order, placed my order and was told to take a seat and they'd bring it out. It's worth noting that also in Lombard not terribly long ago a place called Shwarma express opened up and having ordered the exact same item there I waited around 20 minutes, so I sat down expecting a long wait and was pleasantly surprised when it came out in about 3 minutes. The shwarma sandwich here came on pita bread with tahini sauce, tomato and some other vegetables. It was a good flavor overall, the shwarma was nice and juicy, the tahini was a nice compliment and everything tasted great. The pita was soft yet held together well. The sandwich gets a recommendation from me for sure. Overall based on my experience at Jerusalem Cafe I'd give this place a very solid recommendation. Based on the other recently opened Middle Eastern eatery I'd say that Jerusalem Cafe is faster and has friendlier service. But I got less food, it wasn't quite as good (but still excellent) and cost more. Overall I am going to give four stars to Jerusalem Cafe and note that it appears with Jerusalem Cafe, Pita Inn, Mr. Halal Broaster and Shwarma Express that Roosevelt Road in Lombard is quickly becoming a hot spot (a Mecca if you will) for Middle Eastern eats.
(4)Fawad F.
Go to JC, order the Beef shish kabob, savor the taste. Portions are large, price is reasonable, seating is readily available and clean. My understanding is that all meats and chicken are organic. Have some garlic sauce. Enjoy!
(5)Rachel C.
I had the falafel sandwich which came with 6 falafel logs, pitas, a small amount of iceberg lettuce strips, tzatziki sauce, and some sort of cucumber coleslaw mix. The falafel was not that great. It was pretty greasy and had a strong flavor that I couldn't place and didn't care for. There wasn't nearly enough lettuce or cucumber coleslaw mix to put in the pitas with the falafel, and the pitas tasted stale. Overall, it wasn't awful, but the next day I put leftovers on my plate to warm up in the microwave and just found them so unappetizing I tossed them in the trash. The restaurant was clean and bright and staff was friendly. Wait time was acceptable for my to go order. Prices seemed fair.
(2)Jeisson N.
Jerusalem Cafe has become my girlfriend and I's favorite place. Close to National University so very convenient given she goes there. The food is outstanding... I would even say phenomenal. The Beef Shish Kabob is to die for. Literally melts in your mouth. On a couple of occasions we have gotten the chicken and it is also delicious. The service is very good and the place clean. Prices are very reasonable for the amount of food served. We highly recommend it.
(5)Ron S.
I stopped in for lunch and ordered the vegetarian combination plate. It comes with 3 falafel, 3 stuffed grape leaves, hummus, baba ghannough and tabouleh salad. I'm no expert on middle eastern food but I do like tasty food and everything I had was delicious. The amount of food that they give you will satisfy all but the most hungry of appetites. I was surprised at the amount of food on this $8.99 combination plate. The only disappointment was the factory-baked pita pocket that came with the meal. It would be great if they baked them on premise. This is not a big enough deal that would prevent me from returning. I really enjoyed the food and like that they have lots of vegetarian options.
(4)Jessica C.
Just happened to drive past this little gem and did a quick yelp to see if it was any good. It looked good so we stopped in. It's a very tiny cafe with only 10 tables or so. The customer service was astounding. Everything was very clean, the server gave us recommendations when I asked between beef shawarma or kebab. I ended up getting the combination platter to try a little of everything. My bf got the beef kebab platter. He is extremely hard to please and he took ONE bite and said "oh wow. Taste this!" It was amazing flavor and melted in my mouth. The chicken shawarma was a little dry but the flavor was really good. The kafta kabob was great too although for anyone new coming in I would HIGHLY recommend the beef kabob platter. It was truly amazing. I also got the falafel on my platter which was seasoned beautifully. Free pita bread and hummus are a plus! A+++++
(5)Lily T.
We went to Jerusalem Cafe for lunch and had the lunch special plates. My favorite thing was the falafel. My least favorite was some meat patty, that looked like a mini hamburger, which was very tasteless and dry. Although you get quite a bit of food for the money it was all rather bland. Nothing was necessarily bad, we just thought it lacked flavor. My friend used a ton of the stuff from the condiment bar and that seemed to make it better for them. I will say after eating there I was full for the rest of the day. Maybe they make the lunch specials bland to cater to more tastes. If we go back I will try something different.
(2)Mic C.
Honestly, I think Jerusalem Cafe is fine, but nothing exceptional. The shwarma (both the chicken and beef) is extremely salty, to the point where I can't even taste the other flavors. The kebab was decent, tender and tasty, but still very salty. The rice is fine, and I really enjoy the grilled vegetables that come with the meal. The falafel is fine, but a little scorched the three times I've ordered. Pita is blah. It is convenient, delivered quickly, and reasonably priced. But when I want Mediterranean food, I'd rather skip the convenience and drive out to Pita Inn.
(2)becky s.
The office ordered from here for lunch on Friday through the online ordering on yelp which was very nice. The food was delivered in the time promised which was nice. However, I ordered my pita sandwich and in the comments I asked instead of the Jerusalem salad in the pita to add rice. When the food came, there was the Jerusalem salad in the pita. I called the store and the man on the phone was very rude about it. Told me that's how they are made and i explained I put in the notes how I wanted it made...and if they couldn't have done it, they should have called me. He didn't even offer to remake it or anything. I was extremely disappointed in their customer service. Overall...everyone else in the office was happy with their meals.
(3)Graciela S.
Fellow yelpers. When ordering from this establishment consider this. The employees do not consider this a middle eastern restaurant they consider it an "Americanized" middle eastern restaurant. Even if the menu says something will be brought to you in a certain way do not expect that, expect an Americanized version even though you are at a middle eastern restaurant. If you try to complain or call to let them know they will tell you nothing can be done for you because you are wrong and no one else complains about it not being done the correct way. It is the last time I will deal with this restaurant. Naf naf is way better and does things the correct way.
(1)Astrid N.
The guy who appeared to be maybe the owner or manager seemed very friendly and smiley. He gave me free falafel, which was nice (and it was good -- tasted like it had a lot of nutmeg in it and was very flavorful). However, the rest of the food was nothing very special. The rice was that same yellow rice you get everywhere, and it was fairly oily. The pita tasted like it came out of a package. Also nothing special. The chicken shawarma was okay. I've had better. Not very memorable, not especially delicious -- I would rate it as average. Definitely not terrible, but I can't imagine there will ever be a point in my future at which I will say, "Man, I gotta go to Jerusalem Cafe, I really have a taste for it!" Pinched is only a couple miles further from home for me, and definitely worth the extra drive time.
(3)M f.
The food is so good and authentically Mediterranean. Salads and smoothies and as soon as I saw the variety I was happy. Not your run of the mill pita places. The food plays a bigger role here..my 8 year old loved the saffron rice and the big chunks of lamb meat. The fattoush was a big hit and she never has salad. I even got to have free refills of the tea and there is that Turkish coffee that called my name but it was too late in the afternoon to have a heavy cup of coffee. The dishes that allowed you to sample are the best. Go with a Groupon and try it. I have found a gem I will be revisiting and a nice and healthy and frugal alternative to fast food for my child.
(5)Robin M.
Worth a visit. Then a return and subsequent returns. Excellent food, smiling faces.
(5)Carlos T.
After eating here a couple times, this is one of my go to places. I really liked the Combination feast, which full you up. The gyros sandwich is also excellent. For 6 bucks you get a fully loaded gyros sandwich with fries. One my favorite yum. The people taking the order are nice, and overall a great place to get food.
(5)Rehan A.
Lunch special was decent. Huge portion of chicken and rice. Decent food nice people. Overall food tastes yummy and fulfilling.
(5)Gary L.
New discovery for me here in the burbs. Great hummus and schwarma . Grape leaves tasty too
(4)Hashim Q.
Jerusalem cafe is the best place to get Mediterranean food in the Oakbrook/Lombard area. The mixed grill platter is fantastic, expertly seasoned and cooked very well. The falafel (my favorite aspect of Arab/Mediterranean cuisine) is less that great however. A bit dry and kind of flavorless. Go to Jerusalem cafe for the meats and you will not be disappointed.
(4)Don R.
Let's say mediocre is the best word I'll use to describe my experience. Came here a few days ago for a quick, last minute dinner. Got the lamb kabob sandwich. It wasn't necessarily nasty. But it wasn't amazing either. It was just ok. The flavors were so-so, nothing capitalizing. The lamb was in huge chunks and obviously placed throughout the sandwich. Therefore, you had some bites that were full of lamb others that were just straight lettuce. Would've been better if they were cut smaller so it could be spread through the sandwich better. The falafel was good though, well seasoned. I'm kind of so-so about coming back. For what it cost, I don't see it as worth it. I'd rather travel 10 minutes to I Dream of Falafel if I want some good Mediterranean food.
(3)Padma A.
i had really high expectations looking at the reviews....the food was okay but not impressive. I got the lamb sandwich, meat was chewy and Chicken tenders entree to go which was big portion size for the kiddos and leftover wiped out by hubby. Michelle at the front desk was really nice and friendly, great customer service!The place was clean and bathroom too.
(3)Harris I.
I have been coming here at least once a week since they opened up...and I can honestly say the quality and the taste has only improved. One of the best tasting middle eastern places for lunch or dinner. The pricing is very very reasonable. The staff is nice. Place is cleaner than expected. Id recommend this for anyone. Get their combination platter!
(5)Malena J.
The food is good. I'm a vegan and was able to get some nice dishes to share with my husband who is also vegan. The only reason I didn't give this restaurant a higher score is because of the slow disorganized service. The cashier seemed to be new and not well trained but she was also not knowledgeable About the food. She had a large tattoo over her chest and a low cut shirt. My husband has tattoos but hers really made me uncomfortable for a food/family establishment being on her chest.
(3)AB L.
I really liked the shawarma here. I tried both chicken and both. The manager and the employees are super nice.
(5)Ashley V.
Great deal for great food. I had the lamb kabob sandwich and the meat was so tasty! I'll definitely be back for more.
(4)Dan K.
I really like this place. They have a special which consists of some meats and falafel, veggies, and rice for about $8 including a drink. Great value, good food. They have a sauce bar which you can order for an extra .25 cents per sauce, or $1 for a dish filled with different sauces. There is the garlic toum, tahini, some cilantro chimmichurri style sauce, jalapenos, pickled turnips, and red hot sauce. They used to give some chips on the side if you paid the $1 but I didn't get that option the last time I was there. There isn't too much seating, but I have never had a problem sitting down either. This has quickly become a favorite of ours at work, and my wife and I agree that it's one of our top places as well. I want to try some of the sandwiches soon.
(5)Ace R.
The food here is great. Their beef shawarma is authentic and one of the best shawarma sandwiches I have tried in a while. I tried their gyros, chicken fattoush salad, beef kebab, and kefta kebab and they all tasted delicious. Very reasonably priced food as well. This will be my new go to spot for middle eastern food in the area.
(4)Eric B.
Decided to try this place because I had a Groupon, so was worth passing other Mediterranean restaurants on the way. The place initially had the look of a mid-size diner and I wasn't particularly optimistic. We made our selections. Wife had Vegetable plate with falafel, tabbouli, baba gannouc, and hummus. I had gyros plate with baba gannouc appetizer. I can eat almost any portion of food I am served but I had too much and couldn't finish it. I know gyros are more Greek than Palestinian, but this was some of the best gyros meat I'd ever had. By the way, my wife loved the falafel. While the Groupon deal made the price very reasonable, even without the Groupon the 2 meals were less than $20. We were inspired to try this place because of the Groupon but we have decided this will become one of our regular stops. I guess that's what the Groupons were designed to do.
(4)Aaron K.
Just found this place looking to grab a quick bite for lunch. I'm so glad I did. This will become a regular place for me. I got the lunch special which is: beef shish kabob, kifta kabob (lamb and ground beef), chicken shawarma, falafel, rice pilaf, salad, pita bread, and a medium drink. All that for about 8 bucks! I also added grilled chicken breast for a dollar more. Everything was delicious, but I couldn't finish it all. So, now I have delicious dinner for tonight too. I highly recommend this place.
(5)Jessica W.
I really wanted to love this place. Being very close to home, and replacing a horrid hot dog joint,anything with multiple vegan/vegetarian options gets my vote. As for service it just felt too "fast foody"...young cashier with not much service charm. I can get over that, if the food is worth it...and for the price, I was dissapointed. While the falafel are massive, they are dry and lacking. Huge portion of hummus, but had an odd flavour. I'm picky about hummus though because I make my own and always find it best that way. I wouldn't highly recommend but wouldn't advise to stay away either.
(3)