Typical lunch food. Nothing too extraordinary. 4 star!
(4)
Ericka L.
Headed here for lunch a couple of times during the past few work weeks and I'm hooked. I get the BPE (best plate ever) and a side of falafel and I'm good. The BPE consists of their grilled chicken, hummus, cucumber/tomato salad, a pita (yes, only one), red pepper sauce and rice. All dumped together in sweet harmony on a plate. And sweet harmony it is. Their red pepper sauce is sooooo good - I dunk everything in there! The chicken pieces are moist and flavorful and the falafel is crusty delicious. Pretty much the best Medi food I've ever had...so what if it's a "fast food chain?"
(5)
Samantha G.
Good fast-food Mediterranean. I like the chicken roti plate with couscous, hummus, extra dill sauce, feta and olives. YUM. The falafel are a different texture than I am used to, but I have to say they are my favorite of all the places around! Join the rewards program and earn free food pretty easily with the app.
(4)
Fannie L.
I like the fast food aspect to med. food. Everything taste really good and they have about six different sauces that should fit anyone different palate. I am a fan of the specialty sauces, the display of veggies and hummus.
(4)
Grant P.
I walked into Roti determined, bound and convinced that I was going to like it. I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Based on the website, I got the vibe that it was like Chipotle, but with a mediterranean flair. Okay, that sounds like fun. Problem is, in the ordering area there are way more choices than Chipotle, and neither the menu, nor the folks working there seemed to have the process down. There's a nice girl who tries to help people understand the menu and ordering process but she only ended up confusing me. You start by deciding if you want a sandwich, salad or rice plate. I went with the rice. Then you choose your meat. That's when things get confusing. I think one factor as to this is the differentiation between a topping and a side, and what you are charged for vs. what you are not. Problem is, everything is next to everything else with no indication as to what is what. Nothing is labeled. Choices start flying at you and the people who are trying to put things on your plate aren't explaining what your options are. Someone asked me if I wanted grilled vegetables. I guess that was a side, but it seemed more like a topping. I later found out this was a side. It just happened to live next to the meat. You then walk by the falafel, which is not a side or a topping. You can get it as your main ingredient instead you want to, or order it as a side side, but then you have to pay for it. None of this was explained. You also pass by hummus, which is a side, not a topping. But judging by the tiny amount you get, I don't think it counts as anything. Then you get to the sauce station. They had six of them, unlabeled in unassuming squirt bottles. I had no idea what I'd want. I decided to get Roasted Red Pepper because that's usually pretty consistent. They offered no tastes or descriptions. The guy rattled off the names super-fast because he wanted to get me through. Then he squirted a pile of it randomly on my plate. Is that a side now too? Then you get to the sides and toppings area. No labels. No explanations. Just a bunch of pans of things I had to ask about. The woman told me I had one more side to choose. I didn't realize I'd chosen any at that point, but the rice it, right? I tried the Spanish eggplant, because the world stopped making sense. Up is down. Left is right. Toppings and sauces are sides. Sides are sauces. I needed to sit down.There were also pans of cheese, olives and onions. All of which are considered toppings. I wasn't offered any of them. She asked if I wanted anything else. Terrified, I asked for a side of falafel. This caused chaos and disruption as the falafel was located way back by the meat and she had to go through other people to get it. After I paid, they handed me a cup, my side of falafel, and the plate that had been passed through the hands of about 11 people by that point. I asked for a tray because despite my ordering 3 things, I only have 2 hands. They don't have trays. The plate ripped on the way to the closest table, but there were no disasters. The meat, all 5 little strips of it, was chewy, but well-seasoned. The hummus was about as good as you get in the grocery. The vegetables didn't really seem grilled. Their level of cooked-ness seemed to vary depending on each piece. And all of them were cold to luke warm. I can't tell you what they were because they were machine sliced. Definitely carrots and beets. There might have been cabbage or brussels sprout leaves. Not sure. No explanation except to say that the vegetables change seasonally. The red pepper sauce was as expected. Imagine the last red pepper anything you had. The Spanish Eggplant was cold. I expected hot. One surprise was the falafel. It tasted nothing like falafel, but something from a carnival; a cross between tempura vegetables and a corn dog with none of the crumbly consistency falafel normally (and is supposed to) has. The flavor was just from the oil, but it still came off tasty. For all that, I paid about $14 after tax. Was it worth the money? Not so much. The servings were skimpy at best, and the quality just wasn't that great. About 3/4 of the way through my meal the manager (a white guy, running a Mediterranean restaurant...actually, come to think of it, nobody in the entire place, customers and staff alike, looked to be anything close to Mediterranean. Guess that should've been a red flag, huh?) came over and asked me how everything was. I told him it was ok. He didn't like that answer and tried to convince me that it was better than it was, but I wasn't interested. He didn't make an effort to make it better, just talk it up. I went to refill my drink after I finished eating, grabbed a lid, which didn't fit the cup correctly. I struggled trying to get it on, and eventually the cup caved resulting in a free shower for both me and everyone within a three-foot radius. Awesome. Sorry Roti, but I don't think I'll be back. And if I do, I hope you buy some trays, man!
(2)
Amy B.
This is my second time here, and my only complaint is that there isn't a Roti closer to where I live! The staff are super friendly, and the food is delicious; there's something for everyone. I'm a vegetarian, my son doesn't eat dairy, and my husband eats it all. I highly recommend Roti for a delicious meal!
(5)
Carol K.
Interesting concept with pretty good food. This location is right next to my office so it's easy to pop in and grab a salad or sandwich. Having not been here before- I loved the friendliness of Matt, the guy behind the counter who went out of his way to explain to his teammates that I was new and to help me get what I wanted. He was also quick to share with us his favorites and he definitely didn't steer me wrong. I had the Mediterranean salad, which came with greens, the Roti branded chicken, cous cous, feta cheese, tomatoes and cucumbers. Quite tasty and the pita that was served with it was fresh and soft! My friend had the sampler plate which was also quite good. If there is a downside it's that this place gets packed quickly. By the time I left- people were waiting for tables as all the inside and outside tables were taken. Lunch for two with drinks came to a little more than $20 which seemed reasonable given the quantity of food that we had. This place is super friendly with the manager passing out samples as you wait in the serpentine line to place your order and everyone just trying to invite you back. The supervisor also told me that if you download the app and take photos of your receipt each time you earn points towards free food. Good food, friendly staff and not too expensive? Sounds like a winner to me!
(4)
Courtney C.
My first time at Roti was a week after they first opened. If I rated my first visit, I would have given them 2 stars. However I gave them the benefit of the doubt and let them settle in & perfect their craft. I went back today and found that my experience was between 3 and 4 stars. I ordered the chicken kabob platter last time and was meh on it, so this time I went for something completely different and ordered the falafel pita. I added red pepper sauce, onions, couscous, olives, and hummus. I like that the falafel was made fresh because I am of the belief that falafel isn't as good if it's not piping hot -- but that means you have to have patience, young grasshopper, because it's going to take between 5-10 minutes to prepare the fresh falafel. After settling down with my pita (which can I add was one of the best pitas I've ever had in my life!?!) I instantly noticed that the thing was drenched in hummus. I guess this is partially my fault. I should have said "easy on the hummus" I didn't really care for their hummus to be honest but that could be my own personal shortcoming. I don't love plain hummus but I do love red pepper hummus from other places, so I thought by combining the red pepper sauce and the hummus that it may change my mind. Nope, still don't like their hummus. Next time, I will get my pita sans hummus. While I didn't love their hummus, I loved their falafel. It was far from traditional falafel but that doesn't mean it's bad at ALL. In fact, it's sooo addicting. I could see myself coming here daily just for some of their falafel. I would give their falafel 5 stars. The other toppings made the pita delicious as well. I love raw onions and I could eat a jar of olives in one sitting, so these were both welcomed ingredients. I wish there was pickles too since that's one of my fave toppings at another local Mediterranean place, but I digress. Their couscous is just as good as the falafel and another 5 star ingredient for me. So why am I giving it 3 stars? My first two meals were decent, but not perfect and I can't say that I'm a Roti fan as of yet. However, I think my first two tries are helping me learn what options they offer that I like and dislike, so I hope to eventually get to the 4-5 star mark. If you go, make sure to order the falafel and give it a shot!
(3)
Allison M.
We love Roti!! Better than Chipotle, though a similar concept. Choose your protein (variety of meats or falafel), choose your base (salad, rice, or wrap), and choose your toppings (lots of inventive options and sauces to boot) Love the falafel here, and if you get a salad you can get all sorts of interesting toppings. I recommend everything! Perfect lunch option, and we opted to come here instead of anywhere in the Oakbrook mall. No regrets on that decision... If there's a Roti around and it's lunchtime, we're there! It's a vegetarian's paradise. Just wish downtown Highland Park would get one...
(5)
Jen K.
Yo. The Mediterranean Chopped Chicken Salad is listed as 8 points on Weight Watchers. Is this real life? It's out of this world and the best 8 point salad I've ever had. It's the best 8 point ANYTHING I've ever had at a fast food place. This place has been scooped up by a previous bigwig at Potbelly, so just sit back and watch it grow. It'll be everywhere eventually. At least I hope so. Think Chipotle but Mediterranean...but different than Naf Naf Grill. Everything is a bit more fresh, in my opinion. Their "free bird" chicken is humanely raised by a nice farm family (you can see a video of them on the Roti website), so you can feel good about what you are eating.
(5)
Donna M.
I have been to this location several times. Food is always good. Totally a Mediterranean Chipotle. I stopped in on Sunday at 11am. I know they just opened but whatever. The server told me to have a seat, they weren't ready. They needed to heat up the grills. Ok. I sit down and wait. And wait. And wait. I ask them if they are ready for me after fifteen minutes. No. They need a few more minutes. So after a half hour, they finally took my order. It was just awkward and made me crabby. If you open at 11, you have to be ready to serve food at 11, right? When I finally got my food, it was fine. I will not be going back. I will stick with the regular Chipotle that was open next store and I'm sure ready to serve food at 11am when they opened.
(1)
Martin P.
The service is not bad but didn't get the red sauce I asked for on the side I recommend the rice plate with the chicken plate. Try the grilled vegetables and tomato-cucumber salad for your diet needs.
(3)
Kelly M.
When this place first opened, I got a month of free lunches in a contest. I've tried everything on the menu and love it all. After 20 some lunches, I settled in on my favorite dish, a Salad with chicken kabob, tomato/cucumber relish, hummus, cabbage, vegetables, yogurt dill sauce and a pita on the side. If I'm feeling like a high-roller, I go with salmon. It's so good. So good that I ate it nearly every day for a month.
(5)
Stephanie A.
This is the worse Roti location I have been to. I love the food that they make but everytime I come to this location my food is very cold. I don't understand why they don't have fresh food at this location. It seems as if its been sitting there for hours. I will not come back to this location and will stick to the ones in the city that I love so much.
(2)
Raul I.
HUGE fan of this place. 1. Fresh ingredients 2. Fast service- even during lunch 3. Extra points for adding variety to the list of lunch options in Oak Brook So this place will remind you of Chipotle. The service and the layout is very similar (wouldn't be surprised if they were somehow associated). So when you come in, it should feel familiar and comfortable to you. I would never consider myself a foodie, but I do love food and try it all everywhere all the time. So Mediterranean, middle eastern, or Indian cuisine is nothing new to me. If it is to you, I recommend you start here to get an "introduction" into a little bit of everything. The chicken is cooked to perfection, deliciously spiced as is the steak and salmon. Have not yet tried the falafel, but they are a favorite option as I always see people to the left and right of me order it. My go to order is the Sultan Sandwich. chicken, hummus, tomato, cucumber, red cabbage, mixed greens all in a freshly in-house made pita. All so delicious, and easy to eat. The backup order is the mediterranean chopped chicken salad. Mixed greens with chicken, tomato, cucumber, feta cheese, olives, cous-cous, and their own blend of vinaigrette. Super refreshing and an excellent option. I love this place, and I think you will too.
(5)
Joulie S.
Interesting new place to try. It is pretty much the replica of Chipotle for the Mediterranean food. I am middle eastern, so it's hard for me to review mediterranean food since I come from a family that know how to cook it well. I can be very picky. This place uses fresh ingredients and they give you plenty of options to eat. I was happy with their wuality of food. Not greasy, very healthy actually. I definitly give it a 4 star for that. Only reason i didn't give it 5, because it does not beat my parents home made cooking :-)
(4)
Michael B.
Middle Eastern / Mediterranean Chipotle concept style QSR. Tasty, but overly salty food. Interesting choice of sides including pearl couscous, feta, olives hummus etc. This should get some traction in urban markets adrd the "glocalised" flavor trend du jour. Got the earthy design, communal table thing going on.
(2)
Dan K.
The line moves fast. I think they have some of the best falafel. The chicken and beef were both tender and not too dry. I miss Roti in the city and it's nice to have one somewhat close to work. It's a bit of a drive but still doable. They have one of those Coke freestyle machines. I think I had a grape mellow yellow lol. I really like their falafel, I love the chunks of chick peas that are still in there. Make sure you don't have any close face to face encounters later in the day cause you do tend to get burpy and all that. But that's expected right? Good stuff.
(5)
James X.
4/5 stars for taste. 4/5 for friendliness. 1/5 stars for making the same mistake over and over. THE PITAS CRACK AND FALL APART EVERY TIME. YOU ARE COOKING THEM TOO LONG. It's good food, but c'mon. Also, per Grant P.'s review below, you're a fool. Basically you're saying the staff has to be Mediterranean in order to serve good Mediterranean food. Think about that.
(3)
Daniela I.
Just OK mediterranean food, wasn't even that fresh. Naf naf mediterranean grill is much better.
(3)
Tim H.
I will have to give a them second chance. Very interesting flavors and it's a little like Naf Naf but the options are greater here. I think my pita bread was a bit too toasty as it was brittle and I had to cut it with a knife and fork after the ingredients spilled out the bottom at my first attempt. Loved the spicy sauce. I took a friend who's a vegetarian and he was happy with his salad and the falafel. He ranks all other Mediterranean places to Pinched in Lombard and he was content but he feels no one beats Pinched. Ordering process is a bit hard to figure out, as others have pointed out, your not certain what's an extra and what's included. I guess more training would be helpful for their employees to assess the customers desire to understand the menu. I was appreciative for the recommendations which the dude suggested. I could get the same thing at Naf Naf with a soup for the same price that I spent here. Brewed Honest Tea was a plus. The short line did certainly move fast and they promptly remade my buddies salad after he spotted olives on it. He likes olives, just not the fat content? He'll pound a six pack of Bush like it's no ones business. He makes me laugh so I keep him around. Keep in mind this is the same guy that turned me onto some great meat dishes. His recent quest to eat healthy has me scratching my head, when I see him smoke cigarettes and pound beers. I guess one balances out the other, since I don't smoke cigarettes or drink? lol
(4)
Jamie L.
I could not of been happier to find a quick Mediterranean place! Quick, great choices and not to pricey at all!
(4)
Candy M.
I love Roti. We started going to the one downtown close to the train station. We stummbled across it walking back to the train and were immediately hooked. The concept is similar to QDoba or Chipotle, where you pick your protein, how you want it presented (rice plate, pita, etc), your sides/veg, and toppings. We were happy to find out there's one in Oakbrook and it didn't disappoint! Their falafel was flavorful and moist, the cucumber & tomato and the red cabbage salads were fresh and delicious. I highly recommend Roti. My only complaint, there isn't one near me in St. Louis.
(5)
Andy M.
The food is good. The service is not. Depending on who you get you get a different meal despite the same order. Some people offer the proper choices while others do not. I am quickly losing confidence in the location.
(2)
Mario C.
Update of 8/15/2014: Food still fresh and still not a lot of it. Almost shocking. At the prices, they could easily double the portions (at least on the sides).
(2)
Phil H.
Awesome place. The food is outstandingly delicious. The staff is friendly and the manager was accommodating when the register malfunctioned. This place is a must try.
(5)
Mandy M.
My review may be a little biased as I middle eastern, but I love trying new Mediterranean restaurants. What I liked about Roti is their use of organic ingredients and staff was very friendly, but other than that this place is just okay... Being a vegetarian I like to try new veg friendly places often, but in all honestly the falafel was just not good. The way it looks and tastes I know falafel is just not supposed to taste like that. The vegetables were not as fresh and cooked as I had hoped. I did like the pita chips and couscous was okay. My aunt had asked the cashier if the owner were middle eastern, the girl told her she didn't think they are but wasn't sure, and Roti place is owned by 3 different people. From the taste of the food I really, really, really do not think any of them are and know what authentic fast Mediterranean food tastes like.
(2)
Lily P.
If this is considered good Mediterranean food, then I have mistaken what it should be. This food is bland, terrible and far from authentic. I can get better Mediterranean food in South Texas. Humanely raised meat or not, that is not an excuse for flavorless food.
(1)
Scott A.
Delicious and fresh!! The chopped chicken salad is very tasty. The falafel is very good. Unlike a lot of Mediterranean places that use that fake gyro meat, Roti uses spicy, real chicken. Highly recommended.
(4)
M. B.
Yummy!!! First visit, ordered the salmon rice plate, with veggies and the chicken kabob salad. Everything was tasty, the staff was very courteous and excited for the grand opening. Will be back, glad to have a new choice for lunch/dinner!!!
(5)
Kevin T.
Food was great; service was better. The ingredients are fresh and the service came with a smile. I was with a group if 17 and while we were eating, the manager brought freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies for the kids. Great gesture; smart business decision. We met up from Joliet, West Chicago, and LaGrange and I'm sure we'll do it again!
(5)
Kate P.
Our catering experience with Roti yesterday was terrific! Everything was fresh and nicely presented. We had the anyway buffet with steak and chicken, rice, red cabbage salad, mediterranean salad, various sauces and pita bread. Everyone raved about the food. It is not easy to find fresh, healthy food for a group of 25. The delivery was on time, which counts for a lot. I cannot think of anything we didn't like about it. My only regret is that I didn't order the falafel, too.
(5)
Dawn S.
Food was tasty, and there was plenty of it! It's a little crowded and noisy at lunch, but overall I would recommend. I will go back.
(4)
Richard L.
Good organic food! Everything is made fresh everyday. Fast service. Price is about 8-9 dollars a meal with drinks.
(4)
Ream M.
I ordered dinner to go for my husband and I. They sent us a buy one get one coupon so we thought we would try it. Ordered one chicken rice plate and one steak. The chicken was dry and the steak tasted bad and chewy. The hummus was bland, the veggies were cold and stale, and the rice was not good either. The only thing that was decent was the pita bread. The eggplant side was good but tasted too sweet like they put too much sugar. I would not go back. None of these "chipotle" style Mediteranean places have been able to get it right.
(2)
Rob G.
Tried the BPE (Best Plate Ever), not bad. You get a little bit of everything.
(5)
Melanie H.
Guys, I am obsessed with Roti. It is my Chipotle. The line can get CrAzY at lunchtime but it moves fast so don't be scared off! I always get the salad with chicken kabob so I can get as many "toppings" as I want and not be limited like you are when you order the plate. The roasted veggies and eggplant are my favorite and the pitas are always warm! I have actually had better falafel at a lot of other places so I would not recommended ordering that, but every thing else is amazing!!
(5)
Tpath H.
A colleague chose Roti for lunch yesterday. I got the B.P.E (Best Plate Ever). It was my first time at Roti (or any Mediterranean restaurant). I wasn't sure what types of food and flavors to expect and the staff isn't great at explaining. My meal came with rice-eh. Chicken-I chose whichever one is the breast meat as I don't like dark meat (not sure the name but I think most customers get the dark meat dish)-the chicken was tasty. Hummus was hummus. Pita bread was good. The sides didn't impress me. Tomato/cucumber salad-eh. Couscous-eh. The portion of meat was small for my liking. I wouldn't recommend it or go back.
(2)
Becky F.
Food is great...I personally like the laffa wrap with the steak roti. So much flavor in all their meats, not over powering...just right! The atmosphere inside is that of your standard grill . It's very loud inside, especially during lunch, if you plan on eating inside be prepared to talk loudly!!!
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Riasat K.
Typical lunch food. Nothing too extraordinary. 4 star!
(4)Ericka L.
Headed here for lunch a couple of times during the past few work weeks and I'm hooked. I get the BPE (best plate ever) and a side of falafel and I'm good. The BPE consists of their grilled chicken, hummus, cucumber/tomato salad, a pita (yes, only one), red pepper sauce and rice. All dumped together in sweet harmony on a plate. And sweet harmony it is. Their red pepper sauce is sooooo good - I dunk everything in there! The chicken pieces are moist and flavorful and the falafel is crusty delicious. Pretty much the best Medi food I've ever had...so what if it's a "fast food chain?"
(5)Samantha G.
Good fast-food Mediterranean. I like the chicken roti plate with couscous, hummus, extra dill sauce, feta and olives. YUM. The falafel are a different texture than I am used to, but I have to say they are my favorite of all the places around! Join the rewards program and earn free food pretty easily with the app.
(4)Fannie L.
I like the fast food aspect to med. food. Everything taste really good and they have about six different sauces that should fit anyone different palate. I am a fan of the specialty sauces, the display of veggies and hummus.
(4)Grant P.
I walked into Roti determined, bound and convinced that I was going to like it. I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Based on the website, I got the vibe that it was like Chipotle, but with a mediterranean flair. Okay, that sounds like fun. Problem is, in the ordering area there are way more choices than Chipotle, and neither the menu, nor the folks working there seemed to have the process down. There's a nice girl who tries to help people understand the menu and ordering process but she only ended up confusing me. You start by deciding if you want a sandwich, salad or rice plate. I went with the rice. Then you choose your meat. That's when things get confusing. I think one factor as to this is the differentiation between a topping and a side, and what you are charged for vs. what you are not. Problem is, everything is next to everything else with no indication as to what is what. Nothing is labeled. Choices start flying at you and the people who are trying to put things on your plate aren't explaining what your options are. Someone asked me if I wanted grilled vegetables. I guess that was a side, but it seemed more like a topping. I later found out this was a side. It just happened to live next to the meat. You then walk by the falafel, which is not a side or a topping. You can get it as your main ingredient instead you want to, or order it as a side side, but then you have to pay for it. None of this was explained. You also pass by hummus, which is a side, not a topping. But judging by the tiny amount you get, I don't think it counts as anything. Then you get to the sauce station. They had six of them, unlabeled in unassuming squirt bottles. I had no idea what I'd want. I decided to get Roasted Red Pepper because that's usually pretty consistent. They offered no tastes or descriptions. The guy rattled off the names super-fast because he wanted to get me through. Then he squirted a pile of it randomly on my plate. Is that a side now too? Then you get to the sides and toppings area. No labels. No explanations. Just a bunch of pans of things I had to ask about. The woman told me I had one more side to choose. I didn't realize I'd chosen any at that point, but the rice it, right? I tried the Spanish eggplant, because the world stopped making sense. Up is down. Left is right. Toppings and sauces are sides. Sides are sauces. I needed to sit down.There were also pans of cheese, olives and onions. All of which are considered toppings. I wasn't offered any of them. She asked if I wanted anything else. Terrified, I asked for a side of falafel. This caused chaos and disruption as the falafel was located way back by the meat and she had to go through other people to get it. After I paid, they handed me a cup, my side of falafel, and the plate that had been passed through the hands of about 11 people by that point. I asked for a tray because despite my ordering 3 things, I only have 2 hands. They don't have trays. The plate ripped on the way to the closest table, but there were no disasters. The meat, all 5 little strips of it, was chewy, but well-seasoned. The hummus was about as good as you get in the grocery. The vegetables didn't really seem grilled. Their level of cooked-ness seemed to vary depending on each piece. And all of them were cold to luke warm. I can't tell you what they were because they were machine sliced. Definitely carrots and beets. There might have been cabbage or brussels sprout leaves. Not sure. No explanation except to say that the vegetables change seasonally. The red pepper sauce was as expected. Imagine the last red pepper anything you had. The Spanish Eggplant was cold. I expected hot. One surprise was the falafel. It tasted nothing like falafel, but something from a carnival; a cross between tempura vegetables and a corn dog with none of the crumbly consistency falafel normally (and is supposed to) has. The flavor was just from the oil, but it still came off tasty. For all that, I paid about $14 after tax. Was it worth the money? Not so much. The servings were skimpy at best, and the quality just wasn't that great. About 3/4 of the way through my meal the manager (a white guy, running a Mediterranean restaurant...actually, come to think of it, nobody in the entire place, customers and staff alike, looked to be anything close to Mediterranean. Guess that should've been a red flag, huh?) came over and asked me how everything was. I told him it was ok. He didn't like that answer and tried to convince me that it was better than it was, but I wasn't interested. He didn't make an effort to make it better, just talk it up. I went to refill my drink after I finished eating, grabbed a lid, which didn't fit the cup correctly. I struggled trying to get it on, and eventually the cup caved resulting in a free shower for both me and everyone within a three-foot radius. Awesome. Sorry Roti, but I don't think I'll be back. And if I do, I hope you buy some trays, man!
(2)Amy B.
This is my second time here, and my only complaint is that there isn't a Roti closer to where I live! The staff are super friendly, and the food is delicious; there's something for everyone. I'm a vegetarian, my son doesn't eat dairy, and my husband eats it all. I highly recommend Roti for a delicious meal!
(5)Carol K.
Interesting concept with pretty good food. This location is right next to my office so it's easy to pop in and grab a salad or sandwich. Having not been here before- I loved the friendliness of Matt, the guy behind the counter who went out of his way to explain to his teammates that I was new and to help me get what I wanted. He was also quick to share with us his favorites and he definitely didn't steer me wrong. I had the Mediterranean salad, which came with greens, the Roti branded chicken, cous cous, feta cheese, tomatoes and cucumbers. Quite tasty and the pita that was served with it was fresh and soft! My friend had the sampler plate which was also quite good. If there is a downside it's that this place gets packed quickly. By the time I left- people were waiting for tables as all the inside and outside tables were taken. Lunch for two with drinks came to a little more than $20 which seemed reasonable given the quantity of food that we had. This place is super friendly with the manager passing out samples as you wait in the serpentine line to place your order and everyone just trying to invite you back. The supervisor also told me that if you download the app and take photos of your receipt each time you earn points towards free food. Good food, friendly staff and not too expensive? Sounds like a winner to me!
(4)Courtney C.
My first time at Roti was a week after they first opened. If I rated my first visit, I would have given them 2 stars. However I gave them the benefit of the doubt and let them settle in & perfect their craft. I went back today and found that my experience was between 3 and 4 stars. I ordered the chicken kabob platter last time and was meh on it, so this time I went for something completely different and ordered the falafel pita. I added red pepper sauce, onions, couscous, olives, and hummus. I like that the falafel was made fresh because I am of the belief that falafel isn't as good if it's not piping hot -- but that means you have to have patience, young grasshopper, because it's going to take between 5-10 minutes to prepare the fresh falafel. After settling down with my pita (which can I add was one of the best pitas I've ever had in my life!?!) I instantly noticed that the thing was drenched in hummus. I guess this is partially my fault. I should have said "easy on the hummus" I didn't really care for their hummus to be honest but that could be my own personal shortcoming. I don't love plain hummus but I do love red pepper hummus from other places, so I thought by combining the red pepper sauce and the hummus that it may change my mind. Nope, still don't like their hummus. Next time, I will get my pita sans hummus. While I didn't love their hummus, I loved their falafel. It was far from traditional falafel but that doesn't mean it's bad at ALL. In fact, it's sooo addicting. I could see myself coming here daily just for some of their falafel. I would give their falafel 5 stars. The other toppings made the pita delicious as well. I love raw onions and I could eat a jar of olives in one sitting, so these were both welcomed ingredients. I wish there was pickles too since that's one of my fave toppings at another local Mediterranean place, but I digress. Their couscous is just as good as the falafel and another 5 star ingredient for me. So why am I giving it 3 stars? My first two meals were decent, but not perfect and I can't say that I'm a Roti fan as of yet. However, I think my first two tries are helping me learn what options they offer that I like and dislike, so I hope to eventually get to the 4-5 star mark. If you go, make sure to order the falafel and give it a shot!
(3)Allison M.
We love Roti!! Better than Chipotle, though a similar concept. Choose your protein (variety of meats or falafel), choose your base (salad, rice, or wrap), and choose your toppings (lots of inventive options and sauces to boot) Love the falafel here, and if you get a salad you can get all sorts of interesting toppings. I recommend everything! Perfect lunch option, and we opted to come here instead of anywhere in the Oakbrook mall. No regrets on that decision... If there's a Roti around and it's lunchtime, we're there! It's a vegetarian's paradise. Just wish downtown Highland Park would get one...
(5)Jen K.
Yo. The Mediterranean Chopped Chicken Salad is listed as 8 points on Weight Watchers. Is this real life? It's out of this world and the best 8 point salad I've ever had. It's the best 8 point ANYTHING I've ever had at a fast food place. This place has been scooped up by a previous bigwig at Potbelly, so just sit back and watch it grow. It'll be everywhere eventually. At least I hope so. Think Chipotle but Mediterranean...but different than Naf Naf Grill. Everything is a bit more fresh, in my opinion. Their "free bird" chicken is humanely raised by a nice farm family (you can see a video of them on the Roti website), so you can feel good about what you are eating.
(5)Donna M.
I have been to this location several times. Food is always good. Totally a Mediterranean Chipotle. I stopped in on Sunday at 11am. I know they just opened but whatever. The server told me to have a seat, they weren't ready. They needed to heat up the grills. Ok. I sit down and wait. And wait. And wait. I ask them if they are ready for me after fifteen minutes. No. They need a few more minutes. So after a half hour, they finally took my order. It was just awkward and made me crabby. If you open at 11, you have to be ready to serve food at 11, right? When I finally got my food, it was fine. I will not be going back. I will stick with the regular Chipotle that was open next store and I'm sure ready to serve food at 11am when they opened.
(1)Martin P.
The service is not bad but didn't get the red sauce I asked for on the side I recommend the rice plate with the chicken plate. Try the grilled vegetables and tomato-cucumber salad for your diet needs.
(3)Kelly M.
When this place first opened, I got a month of free lunches in a contest. I've tried everything on the menu and love it all. After 20 some lunches, I settled in on my favorite dish, a Salad with chicken kabob, tomato/cucumber relish, hummus, cabbage, vegetables, yogurt dill sauce and a pita on the side. If I'm feeling like a high-roller, I go with salmon. It's so good. So good that I ate it nearly every day for a month.
(5)Stephanie A.
This is the worse Roti location I have been to. I love the food that they make but everytime I come to this location my food is very cold. I don't understand why they don't have fresh food at this location. It seems as if its been sitting there for hours. I will not come back to this location and will stick to the ones in the city that I love so much.
(2)Raul I.
HUGE fan of this place. 1. Fresh ingredients 2. Fast service- even during lunch 3. Extra points for adding variety to the list of lunch options in Oak Brook So this place will remind you of Chipotle. The service and the layout is very similar (wouldn't be surprised if they were somehow associated). So when you come in, it should feel familiar and comfortable to you. I would never consider myself a foodie, but I do love food and try it all everywhere all the time. So Mediterranean, middle eastern, or Indian cuisine is nothing new to me. If it is to you, I recommend you start here to get an "introduction" into a little bit of everything. The chicken is cooked to perfection, deliciously spiced as is the steak and salmon. Have not yet tried the falafel, but they are a favorite option as I always see people to the left and right of me order it. My go to order is the Sultan Sandwich. chicken, hummus, tomato, cucumber, red cabbage, mixed greens all in a freshly in-house made pita. All so delicious, and easy to eat. The backup order is the mediterranean chopped chicken salad. Mixed greens with chicken, tomato, cucumber, feta cheese, olives, cous-cous, and their own blend of vinaigrette. Super refreshing and an excellent option. I love this place, and I think you will too.
(5)Joulie S.
Interesting new place to try. It is pretty much the replica of Chipotle for the Mediterranean food. I am middle eastern, so it's hard for me to review mediterranean food since I come from a family that know how to cook it well. I can be very picky. This place uses fresh ingredients and they give you plenty of options to eat. I was happy with their wuality of food. Not greasy, very healthy actually. I definitly give it a 4 star for that. Only reason i didn't give it 5, because it does not beat my parents home made cooking :-)
(4)Michael B.
Middle Eastern / Mediterranean Chipotle concept style QSR. Tasty, but overly salty food. Interesting choice of sides including pearl couscous, feta, olives hummus etc. This should get some traction in urban markets adrd the "glocalised" flavor trend du jour. Got the earthy design, communal table thing going on.
(2)Dan K.
The line moves fast. I think they have some of the best falafel. The chicken and beef were both tender and not too dry. I miss Roti in the city and it's nice to have one somewhat close to work. It's a bit of a drive but still doable. They have one of those Coke freestyle machines. I think I had a grape mellow yellow lol. I really like their falafel, I love the chunks of chick peas that are still in there. Make sure you don't have any close face to face encounters later in the day cause you do tend to get burpy and all that. But that's expected right? Good stuff.
(5)James X.
4/5 stars for taste. 4/5 for friendliness. 1/5 stars for making the same mistake over and over. THE PITAS CRACK AND FALL APART EVERY TIME. YOU ARE COOKING THEM TOO LONG. It's good food, but c'mon. Also, per Grant P.'s review below, you're a fool. Basically you're saying the staff has to be Mediterranean in order to serve good Mediterranean food. Think about that.
(3)Daniela I.
Just OK mediterranean food, wasn't even that fresh. Naf naf mediterranean grill is much better.
(3)Tim H.
I will have to give a them second chance. Very interesting flavors and it's a little like Naf Naf but the options are greater here. I think my pita bread was a bit too toasty as it was brittle and I had to cut it with a knife and fork after the ingredients spilled out the bottom at my first attempt. Loved the spicy sauce. I took a friend who's a vegetarian and he was happy with his salad and the falafel. He ranks all other Mediterranean places to Pinched in Lombard and he was content but he feels no one beats Pinched. Ordering process is a bit hard to figure out, as others have pointed out, your not certain what's an extra and what's included. I guess more training would be helpful for their employees to assess the customers desire to understand the menu. I was appreciative for the recommendations which the dude suggested. I could get the same thing at Naf Naf with a soup for the same price that I spent here. Brewed Honest Tea was a plus. The short line did certainly move fast and they promptly remade my buddies salad after he spotted olives on it. He likes olives, just not the fat content? He'll pound a six pack of Bush like it's no ones business. He makes me laugh so I keep him around. Keep in mind this is the same guy that turned me onto some great meat dishes. His recent quest to eat healthy has me scratching my head, when I see him smoke cigarettes and pound beers. I guess one balances out the other, since I don't smoke cigarettes or drink? lol
(4)Jamie L.
I could not of been happier to find a quick Mediterranean place! Quick, great choices and not to pricey at all!
(4)Candy M.
I love Roti. We started going to the one downtown close to the train station. We stummbled across it walking back to the train and were immediately hooked. The concept is similar to QDoba or Chipotle, where you pick your protein, how you want it presented (rice plate, pita, etc), your sides/veg, and toppings. We were happy to find out there's one in Oakbrook and it didn't disappoint! Their falafel was flavorful and moist, the cucumber & tomato and the red cabbage salads were fresh and delicious. I highly recommend Roti. My only complaint, there isn't one near me in St. Louis.
(5)Andy M.
The food is good. The service is not. Depending on who you get you get a different meal despite the same order. Some people offer the proper choices while others do not. I am quickly losing confidence in the location.
(2)Mario C.
Update of 8/15/2014: Food still fresh and still not a lot of it. Almost shocking. At the prices, they could easily double the portions (at least on the sides).
(2)Phil H.
Awesome place. The food is outstandingly delicious. The staff is friendly and the manager was accommodating when the register malfunctioned. This place is a must try.
(5)Mandy M.
My review may be a little biased as I middle eastern, but I love trying new Mediterranean restaurants. What I liked about Roti is their use of organic ingredients and staff was very friendly, but other than that this place is just okay... Being a vegetarian I like to try new veg friendly places often, but in all honestly the falafel was just not good. The way it looks and tastes I know falafel is just not supposed to taste like that. The vegetables were not as fresh and cooked as I had hoped. I did like the pita chips and couscous was okay. My aunt had asked the cashier if the owner were middle eastern, the girl told her she didn't think they are but wasn't sure, and Roti place is owned by 3 different people. From the taste of the food I really, really, really do not think any of them are and know what authentic fast Mediterranean food tastes like.
(2)Lily P.
If this is considered good Mediterranean food, then I have mistaken what it should be. This food is bland, terrible and far from authentic. I can get better Mediterranean food in South Texas. Humanely raised meat or not, that is not an excuse for flavorless food.
(1)Scott A.
Delicious and fresh!! The chopped chicken salad is very tasty. The falafel is very good. Unlike a lot of Mediterranean places that use that fake gyro meat, Roti uses spicy, real chicken. Highly recommended.
(4)M. B.
Yummy!!! First visit, ordered the salmon rice plate, with veggies and the chicken kabob salad. Everything was tasty, the staff was very courteous and excited for the grand opening. Will be back, glad to have a new choice for lunch/dinner!!!
(5)Kevin T.
Food was great; service was better. The ingredients are fresh and the service came with a smile. I was with a group if 17 and while we were eating, the manager brought freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies for the kids. Great gesture; smart business decision. We met up from Joliet, West Chicago, and LaGrange and I'm sure we'll do it again!
(5)Kate P.
Our catering experience with Roti yesterday was terrific! Everything was fresh and nicely presented. We had the anyway buffet with steak and chicken, rice, red cabbage salad, mediterranean salad, various sauces and pita bread. Everyone raved about the food. It is not easy to find fresh, healthy food for a group of 25. The delivery was on time, which counts for a lot. I cannot think of anything we didn't like about it. My only regret is that I didn't order the falafel, too.
(5)Dawn S.
Food was tasty, and there was plenty of it! It's a little crowded and noisy at lunch, but overall I would recommend. I will go back.
(4)Richard L.
Good organic food! Everything is made fresh everyday. Fast service. Price is about 8-9 dollars a meal with drinks.
(4)Ream M.
I ordered dinner to go for my husband and I. They sent us a buy one get one coupon so we thought we would try it. Ordered one chicken rice plate and one steak. The chicken was dry and the steak tasted bad and chewy. The hummus was bland, the veggies were cold and stale, and the rice was not good either. The only thing that was decent was the pita bread. The eggplant side was good but tasted too sweet like they put too much sugar. I would not go back. None of these "chipotle" style Mediteranean places have been able to get it right.
(2)Rob G.
Tried the BPE (Best Plate Ever), not bad. You get a little bit of everything.
(5)Melanie H.
Guys, I am obsessed with Roti. It is my Chipotle. The line can get CrAzY at lunchtime but it moves fast so don't be scared off! I always get the salad with chicken kabob so I can get as many "toppings" as I want and not be limited like you are when you order the plate. The roasted veggies and eggplant are my favorite and the pitas are always warm! I have actually had better falafel at a lot of other places so I would not recommended ordering that, but every thing else is amazing!!
(5)Tpath H.
A colleague chose Roti for lunch yesterday. I got the B.P.E (Best Plate Ever). It was my first time at Roti (or any Mediterranean restaurant). I wasn't sure what types of food and flavors to expect and the staff isn't great at explaining. My meal came with rice-eh. Chicken-I chose whichever one is the breast meat as I don't like dark meat (not sure the name but I think most customers get the dark meat dish)-the chicken was tasty. Hummus was hummus. Pita bread was good. The sides didn't impress me. Tomato/cucumber salad-eh. Couscous-eh. The portion of meat was small for my liking. I wouldn't recommend it or go back.
(2)Becky F.
Food is great...I personally like the laffa wrap with the steak roti. So much flavor in all their meats, not over powering...just right! The atmosphere inside is that of your standard grill . It's very loud inside, especially during lunch, if you plan on eating inside be prepared to talk loudly!!!
(4)