Grape Leaves
129 S Oak Park Ave, Oak Park, IL, 60302
Grape Leaves Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Oak Park for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Oak Park for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Oak Park for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
129 S Oak Park Ave
Oak Park, IL, 60302 - Phone (779) 800-5662
- Website https://www.grapeleaves.us/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 10
- Mon : 11:30 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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kat m.
OK WHERE TO START?! Its easiest to start from what I hate about this dive. -Awful Hours(Mainly open for lunch most days only) - Service with an attitude(the server has been there as long as I have been going. Always long waits to get water or recognition. -Small (if you arrive and there is no other tables left you'd better order to go, people can linger here.) SO WHY DO I GO BACK? GREAT FOOD GREAT PORTIONS! On a budget? Do not worry 15 dollars is good enough to feed 2 generously. If you have the endurance and patience of a monk its worth the try. I am the youngest child so endurance is my game, Nothing can keep me away from the food here. Unconventional Comfort food
(4)Cynthia K.
My fiance and I really like this place. We discovered it when we were in the area for a Frank Lloyd Wright tour. There are plenty of vegetarian options (my fiance likes the sumac chicken pita, too), and the prices are really reasonable for the quality and quantity. The vegetarian combo plate, the lentil soup and the fresh-squeezed juices are personal favorites.
(4)Gabe S.
Grape Leaves! First, lets be clear what this place is - it's your local, hole-in-the-wall Middle Eastern place. It's definitely great for delivery with fast delivery times. For going there? mm...it's really quiet, they've got like 6 tables squished in a small space, and the traditional whatever-type-of-music-that-is-that-you-know-i'm-Âtalking-about music. When i've been there, the staff was very nice. However, in its category, grape leaves definitely has some game. They have not only some good falafel, good hummus, but also one of the best prepared Tabouleh Salads that i can think of. I also like the chicken pita. Portions are sizeable and the prices leave you feeling good not only about the food, but the relatively small impact on your wallet. When i want falafel and hummus in Oak Park, this is the place I would go. It's definitely better (and either cheaper or the same prices!) as Jerusalem Cafe on Lake st.
(4)Miagi M.
My fiance and I ordered takeout for the first time from GL, and I have to say it was fantastic. I was slightly concerned about the reviews on Yelp but it seemed the only negatives had to do with the server and with people's personal tastes not being met (which is entirely subjective anyways). That concern dropped when we were told the food would be ready in fifteen minutes - and also at the first bite. I ordered a kibbeh (which JC never seems to have) which was one, large item with a side of salad and tried the hummus, baba gannouj, and vegetarian kabob. The entrees EASILY last three meals. They are very generous with the size and I was happy to save the food for the weekend. On to the actual food reviews. The kibbeh was spiced perfectly. A little oily, but, hey, it's deep fried. The hummus was also surprisingly good - and I am a hummus snob. The baba gannouj wasn't my cup of tea as I prefer a more smoky taste to the eggplant. The vegetarian kabob with rice was probably the best thing I've eaten in a long, long time. All in all, definitely a hole in the wall. I always glanced at it when we drive around and we always opted for Maya del Sol across the street. I don't think we'll pass it up again. So all in all: it's ME food, very GOOD food, very cheap and generous portions. Based on all the other reviews, maybe you should get take out instead of dining in. And please don't expect every restaurant to prepare your food to your tastes without advising them first about your expectations.
(5)Julie S.
I loved this restaurant, and learned about it only because of Yelp! Thank you! We went here with some friends and had a fabulous evening. I had a kebob which was okay, but I loved the falafel and hummus. We brought our own wine, and enjoyed the food!
(4)Anna S.
After reading a few reviews and being so close to home, we just had to try it! Not to mention, the price was right. We decided to do take out on a saturday night, and waited for a solid 6 to 7 minutes at the front counter before having to hollar a "hello?" Yes, the portions are large and the hummus was great. We split the combination meat platter which was over-cooked, dry and had little to no flavor. Rice was good, but a bit boring. The lebanese salad was extremely bland. Giving them the benefit of the doubt (maybe the cook was out sick), we will try it again. But, for our first impression, it was mildly disappointing.
(2)Christina R.
It's true, this place is a dive and the service is sometimes not as exuberant as we Americans are used to. I don't care, the food is awesome and cheap! I adore the hummus and pita bread served warm, the salad with little slivers of almond and the chicken couscous big chunks of veggies that feeds two for a week! It's true, their namesake dish isn't the best. I haven't been as happy with other menu items. But I always take a little baklava to go and I will definitely keep coming back!
(4)Eric S.
Frankly, I am shocked to see such high grades for this place. Grape Leaves is nothing special -- in terms of food or service. Allow me to rephrase; the food is unremarkable and the service is remarkably poor. As I said to my wife when we dined here, it is "service with a frown." We have been here a few times and the food has been worse and worse with each consecutive visit. The food is too salty, or lemony, or too whatever. They do not have it quite right; it is simply off. The hummus is OK, but I make better. The falafel is OK, but we are talking about deep fried garbanzo fritters. Deep fried anything is yummy. Any street vendor in Cairo could do better in his sleep. The service, on the other hand, has been consistently poor. Its a small place so they really do not need more than one server. It would, however, be nice if they had one that did not have a recessive smiling gene. She seems unable to smile and appears to be miserable. Looking at her could sap your appetite or joy in life. I have witnessed what someone else noted in their review -- she sometimes sits at a table and chats with her friends while patrons are dying for a glass of water due to the salty food. My wife likes the decor, and wanted me to add that positive note in closing.
(2)John E.
Very disappointing. Food was OK, just OK. I had read other reviews and thought it would be amazing. It was far from that. The high light, were the grape leaves. Very tasty and satisfying. While the service was adequate it was obvious to me that our server/ cashier wanted to be some place else, any place else but there.
(2)Julie M.
5 STARS FOR THE FOOD 4 STARS FOR THE DECOR 2 STARS FOR THE SERVICE I've been going to GL for years, ever since it opened. The food is great, just your typical cozy Mideastern food. I love their Chicken Curry, and ALWAYS have more than enough to take home for next day's lunch. The hummus is very good, but they get a bit stingy on the pita. My friend raves about their apple juice, which is freshly juiced. I also, really love their stuffed grape leaves, because unlike other places, they serve them warm. The decor is quite campy, but hey, who cares. Now the service can really use a boost. It's SLOW! I'm usually a patient girl, but a 45 minute dinner can turn into 2 hours. Sometimes the waitress acts like she's doing us a favor by coming to our table when we ask for more water, etc. I'm sure she's a very sweet girl, but I don't think she should be working in a place where your main job is to wait on people. I've tried lots of other Mideastern places, and this has to be one of the best. Nothing is too Americanized.
(5)Hillary P.
Best.Hummus.Ever. Yeah, I said it, wanna fight about it? I love this place. It is small, family owned, and always busy. The hummus is awesome; tangy, creamy, mixed with green onion and toasted almonds. So good! I've had several vegetarian options here and they rock. The falafel sandwich, the veg kabob, the veggie platter, try them all cuz they don't dissappoint. I don't dig the meat so I can't comment on that, but if your looking for traditional middle eastern cuisine with quality food check out Grape Leaves.
(4)Melanie W.
Great food, not so great service. I came in at lunch time on a Saturday. There were about 4 other people seated and eating. It was my first time here, and there was no sign saying whether you should seat yourself, so I kind of stood in the doorway looking around, waiting. A young lady at a table further back by the kitchen was sitting with a friend. After I had been standing there for about a minute, she looked up at me and said hi, and then she and her friend looked at each other and laughed. I seated myself, and a few minutes later, after her friend left, she finally came over to take my order. The food itself was very good, nice size portions for the price. I had the veggie kabob sandwich, though the sauce soaked through the pita bread and made it impossible to eat as a sandwich. There were a lot of vegan options, which I appreciated. I'd probably eat here again, though I'd most likely get carry out instead of eating in.
(3)MELEK L.
FOUR STARS FOR THE FOOD: My companion and I decided to share 3 apps and 1 entree. The first item to arrive piping hot only minutes after ordering it was the Stuffed Grape Leaves. I found the flavor to be lacking and the rice inside to be mushy. After squirting a lemon over top, they were better. I expected more considering this dish is the name sake of the restaurant. Next came the steaming falafel. Nice crunchy texture on the outside and flavorful on the inside, we enjoyed these immensely. The last appetizer to arrive was the winning dish of the evening though. It was a nice minced meat pocket. The meat was seasoned generously with cloves and cinnamon. It paired very nicely with the tangy tomato salad that accompanied it, so mix 'em up! Finally we received a HUGE bowl of Chicken Sumac. Wow! I am pretty sure that this dish could feed me for one whole week. Tender pieces of chicken, mushroom, potato, and red onion in a sumac sauce covered a bottom layer of rice. Unfortunately by this time we were so full already that it was difficult to enjoy. But I have a shit load of leftovers!! ONE STAR FOR THE SERVICE: This was the most shocking and unsatisfactory service experience I have ever had before. When we walked in we found that the server was the young lady sitting at the back table with a young man. Not immediately startling. She took our order quickly enough and we received our first dish in no time, but I attribute that more to the efficiency of the kitchen staff. Once I realized that I was needing some lemon wedges to spunk up the dish, I leaned out from my table to try to catch the attention of the server. She literally asked me from her seat "Do you want something or something?" She huffed and brought me 2 wedges of lemon. Sadly she did not bring enough. And have you ever heard of "May I help you?" That's what you are there for, bitch! Disappointingly, her lazy attitude continued throughout our visit. During our entire visit she sat at her back table and talked to the guy, only getting up every once in a while. Meanwhile the tables were soiled with food and the floors were scattered from wall to wall with scraps from previous diners. DISGUSTING! The price was right, but I wouldn't come back even for that fact. Where is the manager in this restaurant????????????????????? Why in holy hell does Yelp have their sticker on the front door of this place? Disgraceful!
(2)Karen Anne B.
Good food, good prices. Service if you eat in is sometimes a little slow. The restaurant is very small and you might have to wait outside for your table - which is fine if the weather is nice. On the upside, they deliver. Far better than the other middle eastern restaurant in OP.
(4)Carol M.
Unassuming decor with very yummy food. Do you like cucumber, garlic, lemon, olive oil? Rice? Yum. I love middle eastern food and this is the real thing. Large portions for a modest price. We both had the Sumac Chicken. I also tried the stuffed grape leaves and Jerusalem salad. So much ymmy salad, lots of vegetables, I took home most of my entree. All delicious.
(4)Jenny Z.
This is the third time I've been to Grape Leaves and the first couple of times were good but last night's meal was great. I ordered a combination plate with grape leaves, hummos, babaganoush and a salad to start and then had Vegetable couscous. It felt like a very homecooked/prepared meal and the small retaurant had a nice feel to it. I can't wait to go back-the best part it is VERY reasonably priced and it's just steps away from my house!
(4)Lynne M.
Very disappointed. I got a combo plate and baba g for lunch. Both we're terribly boring, not a good texture and an overall an icky experience. $18 for takeout I won't get back. I could have had a steak!
(2)Andrew S.
So tasty! Guess what? You and your luvah can bring a bottle of wine here with no corkage fee and have a lovely little dinner of chicken sumac (one order) falafel (six piece) and hummus (specify whole wheat pita for added health) and it costs like $20 something dollars, not including your cheap ass red wine. Oh, and you might even have leftovers if you mind your manners and don't overeat.
(4)James K.
It's so cheap! And it's a BYOB, which many people aren't aware of.
(4)Ellen M.
Grape Leaves is a teeny tiny restaurant that I think might fit in the trunk of my car. I believe there are only eight tables, so be prepared for carry-out, especially at peak lunch hours --- no big deal since Oak Park has plenty of benches around. The space is casual but pleasant, with murals and middle eastern artwork. Service is friendly. I highly recommend the grape leaves stuffed with rice and currants. The hummus is very rich and creamy, and theirs is my favorite falafel --- not at all oily. The overall dining experience is not the panultimate - this place gets five stars for the awesome, cheap food. One person can have a delicious, relatively healthy, waitstaffed lunch that will satisfy you until dinner (or you might even skip dinner) for $7-10 including a drink and tip. I paid with cash --- not sure if they accept plastic.
(4)Yvonne B.
I love coming to Grape Leaves for inexpensive, healthful food. I love meeting friends here because it's BYOB. That's ballin' on a budget yo. I love meeting vegetarian/vegan friends because we both eat well. That's why I chose Grape Leaves to cater part of a huge wedding celebration I had. I expected some vegetarian/vegan friends and family to come and (let's be honest) I wanted some healthy options to contrast the indulgence of fried chicken, barbecued ribs, potato salad, and coleslaw. The owner and I sat down about a week before the party to discuss menu items and number of guests. He put it together for me in a concise text message with a quote that very evening. I told him I wanted to cut that number in half: $300. "No problem!" He replied. The day of the party he brought over pans of baba ganoush, hummus, falafel, and grape leaves. Yusssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All of my favorites from the restaurant. They were big winners at the party - especially the baba ganough. M's grandmother, poppa, and step mom had never had that taste-y delight before and they all loved it. My sister and Nick M raved about the grape leaves. Anyway, it was perfect and just what I wanted.
(5)lefvia m.
One of my favorite places for Mediterranean food... Plus it's a BYOB ... Under new partnership owners!!!
(3)Eric S.
Shout out to Yvonne B for recommending this terrific, very much under-the-radar restaurant. Don't let appearance deceive you--this place could be considered a hidden Oak Park gem. Like Taste of Brasil (another excellent but not-widely publicized restaurant), Grape Leaves is BYOB, but your dollar goes considerably further here. For the unbelievably low price of $9, I got a huge serving of lamb kabob over a bed of rice pilaf that I'll likely be eating for days. The meat was superb, and the babaganoush ($4) had great flavor. I guess if I had any criticisms at all, it would be that they don't have any cool Mediterranean cocktails. I think Grape Leaves excels in its minimalist, 'no frills' approach--lightly decorated interior, a modestly-sized menu, and let's not forget incredible taste + value. Eric S is a fan.
(5)Robert S.
My daughter and I had enjoyed the food. I had the lamb with the couscous which was great. My daughter had the stuffed grape leaves. My daughter did request the traditional yogurt to dip the grape leaves into but our waiteress did not understand and provided her something else. It would be nice to include the traditional white yogurt on the menu. Overall, it was good.
(4)Mariah R.
Great food!! The new management has definitely made positive changes to the food and restaurant atmosphere. I love the chicken sumac and their Jerusalem salad!
(5)Lukas S.
This is the first place I visited when looking for an apartment in Oak Park. My mom and I came here for lunch and had a great experience. I came here a couple of other times and had great experiences each time. The food is great and was new to me as I had never had Middle Eastern cuisine before. It's a great place to check out. I would recommend it for lunch rather than dinner.
(4)Lindsey D.
We tried Grape Leaves on a whim. It was a nice day out, so we decided to sit outside. Our waitress was decent; not overly friendly, but not rude either. I did request a salad with my dinner plate instead of the lentil soup, and I was brought lentil soup. I didn't mention it because I figured I would give it a shot. It was not the best. The soup was bland and left a weird taste and feeling in my mouth. We also ordered a side of hummus. The hummus seemed like they were trying to be unique and cool with the almonds, but it was a fail in my opinion. It was bland (I added salt) and too nutty tasting. Then our dinner came out. I ordered the beef shawarma and my boyfriend ordered the lamb kabob. The shawarma was cut into extremely tiny, taco like, pieces. Both the beef I ordered and the lamb was covered in some sort of gravy that did not taste middle Eastern at all. My dish honestly tasted the beef stroganoff. The lamb itself tasted good in my boyfriends dinner, but the gravy ruined it. The vegetable that came with his plate were seasoned better than any other thing we ate. If my dish had tasted even remotely Mediterranean, I would be back. Unfortunately, it did not.
(2)SELINA L.
I thought the food was great. Everything tasted fresh and crisp. Decor was outdated and a bit cheesy but I was there for the food. New favorite place.
(4)Ericka C.
Neat little lunch spot! Food was tasty! The space is quaint. The lamb was a hit...tender and nicely seasoned.
(4)Robert G.
The great: Turkish coffee and the Lebanese dessert. Both were out of this world. I will be seeking out Turkish coffee in the future. The coffee is $2 for about 1.5 shot glasses full of coffee. Read about it before you order it as there are coffee grounds on the bottom and it won't be 'good to the last drop.' The ambient music was also a nice touch. The blah: I heard the microwave go off no less than 5 times while I was seated in the restaurant. The microwave 'ding' is not the sign of a great restaurant, even if the microwave was for the warming of pitas. The kabob was edible, pretty sure that it was not cooked fresh, the grape leaves were also edible, not great. The hummus left much to be desired. While waiting for our food someone came in to pickup a takeout order and offered a Groupon, there was discussion about whether or not to accept it as it was for dining in only(?), not sure how it worked out but nobody seemed upset at the end of the conversation.
(2)Brian C.
I've adored Grape Leaves for quite some time...until recently. I do not know if this is true, but, it's been said there is new management. For the past year or so they were inconsistent in being open when they said they would be but the food has been relatively good. My most recent visit was a whole different experience. I ordered the Chicken Shawarma (something I've had before) and was surprised to see it made and delivered to the table in roughly five minutes. That was my first red flag. The second red flag was the amount of steam coming from the food, especially from the center of it. As I began eating it, I noticed other restaurant patrons were getting their food in rather quick amounts of time and there was a very familiar "ding" sound coming from the kitchen area. I realized what was wrong: They were microwaving the food. Ding after ding along with the discernible hum of a microwave made it all too clear to me. The chicken was dry, tasteless, and immensely salty. The rice was watery due to being microwaved and the cucumber salad lobbed on top did not help. When I confronted the man running the restaurant he insisted that it was not microwaved and didn't know what "dry" meant. I can't hold him at fault for not speaking fluent English but I can for denying what was clearly being done in the kitchen. If you like microwaved middle eastern food, go to Grape Leaves. If not, I suggest going to the Jersualem Cafe on Harlem near the movie theater or even running across the street to Falafill. Both of those options have yet to harness the power of a microwave. (And if all else fails, go to one of the two Greek restaurants near OP avenue.) Farewell, Grape Leaves....I loved you....
(1)Lavon K.
I walk by this place every day and was excited for an opportunity to try it. To go, I ordered a vegetable pocket and it was beyond salty, watery and just inedible and lentil soup that taste like water. I had to throw it out and ended up STILL having to cook myself dinner. Waste of money and time. Such a shame because they were really nice in there.
(1)Shannon L.
This is a small little hole in the wall place and I love it! The chicken shawarma is really tasty and the lentil soup is delish too. I especially loved the tea served with real mint leaves. Really reasonably priced too
(4)Ashley W.
I ordered hummus & a falafel sandwich to go and both were delicious. One of the best falafel sandwiches I've had in a while! The flavors were great and everything tasted fresh.
(4)Anne T.
Having lived in the area all my life, I was excited to try Grape Leaves for the first time this summer. While I had heard great things from friends, I like many of the recent reviewers was disappointed with the food. I had the baba ghanoush and falafel sandwich. The baba ghanoush was decent. The serving was quite hefty. They finished off the plate with olive oil and scattered cashew pieces. I was really disappointed in my falafel sandwich. It lacked the any special qualities. The tomatoes were not seasoned and the hummus was bland. My waiter was very nice and friendly, but otherwise, I have no reason to ever come back to this place.
(2)Valerie H.
This place is so good. This was our go-to place when we wanted to go out to eat locally. I alway get the veggie sandwhich which is so tasty. I have tried other foods on the menu but I always go back to the veggie sandwhich as my ultimate fav. And the prices are very reasonable. The hummus is also delicious(very lemony).
(5)Kate B.
So good! We had to hummus which was amazing and the combination platter which was also amazing.
(4)Dan M.
This place sucks. Used to be consistently good. Last two times I ordered the food was either dry or delivery took 90 minutes.
(1)Ross E.
For a couple years, I lived on the North side of Chicago near "Taste of Lebanon" so I may be a little spoiled. My Fiance and I stopped by for some take-out after a yoga class during a weekend night. Immediately I walked in and it was very *blah*. The restaurant looked clean, the decor was a little cliche; having vines painted on the walls with plastic grape bunches. In terms of the food, I have never had such bad Middle Eastern food. I was optimistic going into this, but it was just so disappointing. We ordered Tabbouleah, Cucumber Salad, Sauteed Shrimp, and 8 pc. Grape Leaves. Similarly to a previous review, I heard the microwave three times while my food was being prepared. This probably has something to do with how dry my food was... Cucumber Salad - It was clear the cucumbers were old and cut poorly. Overall, it didn't taste like much. Tabbouleah - Didn't look like Tabbouleah. Nothing was finely chopped. Tasteless. Just huge leaves of parsley and poorly sliced tomatoes. Satueed Shrimp - The shrimp was way over cooked. It was so dry when I bit into the first one, I threw away the rest. The vegetables in the rice accompanying the shrimp were clearly from a can and mushy. The rice wasn't horrible but anything would have been better. Grape Leaves - I have never had dry grape leaves in my life. The grape leaves were dry throughout which I found baffling. Inside, all I tasted was raisins. It was the weirdest thing. Overall, I threw away all the food and will never return to this restaurant again. I also will tell all my friends in Oak Park to avoid this place at all cost. Do yourself a favor, avoid this place if you like good food OH, and one more thing, adding slivered almonds to everything does not make food more middle eastern...
(1)Sammy L.
Food wise, imma say this is hit or miss, but to give it a try! I had a shrimp dish and a chicken dish, wish I could remember the names! Basically everything about the shrimp dish was meh- the shrimp wasn't really seasoned or special and the vegetables were like a lima/carrot/pea frozen mix kind of situation. The chicken (some kind of lemon chicken) was really tender and really tasty and we loved it. The hummus here is also amaze. They top it with oil; roasted nuts and a few herbs and it's truly fantastic.
(3)Pieter W.
Good food and huge portions at a very reasonable price! I ordered the babaganoush, dolmades and lamb chops. Everything was delicious, especially the chops which were succulently (is that a word?) cooked to perfection, and came with a huge plate of rice and vegetables. The only flaw with the food was that I thought the pita bread could have been served a little warmer, but really the food was delicious and you can eat like a king here for a bargain!
(4)Stan H.
Wasnt expecting much, tried on a whim. Pleasantly surprised. The portions where generous and the food was really good.
(4)Brie S.
The atmosphere at this restaurant was quite dim, and their food was fine. I had a falafel sandwich, grape leaves, hummus, and baba ghanoush. The hummus and baba ghanoush were delicious, but the pita that accompanied it was likely microwaved. The grape leaves were not good. No taste and a squishy texture...nothing like the authentic grape leaves I have had in the Middle East---and nothing like Jerusalem Cafe's grape leaves! Overall the restaurant was fine. Affordable. Fine service. Just not exceptional.
(2)Lisa A.
my first time trying this place. We ordered carry-out so that may not be fair when I rate the falafel as average and on the dry side. It might have tasted better fresh, but again this was my first try. The hummus was delicious as was the baba gannoush both were topped with olive oil some roasted peppers and slivers of almonds which adds a nice touch to the spreads. The Jerusalem salad was fine, but I expected a little more cucumber. It was tasty as it was. We bought the tray of baklava and all 4 varieties was very good and I love that they had a lot of pistachios in the desserts.
(3)Rich G.
This is a great place to eat with great prices. My wife likes to get their sandwiches because of the soup, the free yummy soup. The lemon rice soup is quite scrumptious. My wife usually gets the turkey Milanese, and the chicken lemon rice soup. I get the soup, some butter from the store, and some gluten-free bread to dip. Sometimes we just pick up a quart of the soup. The bread is baked fresh. At times they are stingy on the bread (often the same amount of bread for 2 or 6 people, it confuses me, but is good none the less). We have eaten here often.
(5)Erika C.
A wonderful lunch companion with titillating conversation did not make the stale pitas at Grape Leaves any fresher or my shrimp kabob any less overcooked. Yuck. My shrimp seemed to have a metallic tinge to its flavor. Yuck. My companions Falafal was great and our Babaganoush was tasty although we were eating it on stale pitas! Yuck. Service was mmm......barely there. Looks like this leaf is heading into late autumn.
(2)Jacob M.
I've been here twice. Was very disappointed the first time (over a year ago), but decided to give it another shot. I was shocked to see that this restaurant had an average of 3 stars on Yelp. That is being generous. I don't like giving bad reviews and I understand that running a restaurant is very difficult, but the quality of this food was inexcusable. I ordered the chicken shwerma (one of my go-to Mediterranean dishes) what I got was dry flavorless chicken on top of soggy microwaved (I'm assuming) rice. I tried to get the waitress to bring some hot sauce and water, but she never returned to our table after dropping off our food. The service was horrid, and several tables were commenting on it. There was only one waitress there who felt overwhelmed and stressed out.
(1)Inga Z.
Mushy tasteless tomatoes in the salads and sandwiches. Dry chicken chunks in the shwarma sandwich. Sour tasting Jerusalem salad. Bad.
(1)Brian F.
I just can't get excited about my experience here. I tried a combination of items: sauteed shrimp, falafel, and grape leaves. I do agree with previous reviewers that the falafel was the best I've ever had. It was really well seasoned and wonderfully crispy on the outside. I kind of wished I stuck with that. The sauteed overcooked shrimp had some kind of spice on it that just didn't work. They sat on top of a really disgusting looking bed of overcooked rice along with an overcooked veggie medley. The taste wasn't bad, but if you weren't careful and mistakenly ate one of the preserved lemon flavor bombs scattered throughout then you wouldn't be able to taste anything else. This was the worst dish. The grape leaves were just ok. The stuffing inside had a good taste but the rice was way overcooked and it just had the texture of a mushy mess. Even though my overall experience wasn't good, I probably would go back for just the falafel.
(2)Matt M.
I grouponed this place (before I quit groupon!) and had a huge and delicious meal for a very reasonable price. They cooked it up fresh, and it was just the right flavor and texture. What a great find if you in the mood for some couscous in Oak Park!
(4)Sandy R.
fair
(3)robert a.
WOW when I first moved to the village years ago I went here on a regular basis. I always thought is was acceptable (nothing more) but acceptable none the less. I had not been there for many years, and about a year ago the misses and I went because we had a craving for middle eastern food. We were let down, very let down. The other night we went, everyone can have a bad night, right. WRONG, very wrong, this was more than a bad night. Pathetic. Has no business being open. We walked in, the wait person noticed us, because they said hello. Ten minutes later I had to get up, go to where she set reading a book, and ask if we could get drinks, (did i mention that the cook sat in the open kitchen window and watched us, it was 7pm, and we were the only table). We got drinks, and ordered. We also ordered soup with our meals. Moments later I heard the distinct sound of a microwave beep, and magically our soup arrived (not cool). Finally our meal arrived, grease, I do not remember ordering grease. All I got was grease, with some oil, and a little overcooked rice. My wife's dish was no better (did I mention that the rice was also microwaved) We did not finish it, we gave it to the dog (and felt guilty about that). I also had to go fetch the wait person again, to get a refill on our tea, which they charged us for. I would not go back, I would not suggest anyone going there unless there is a major change.
(1)John T.
It is not the best place I have ever been to, but because I despise Jerusalem Cafe and their make-shift ME food, I prefer to go here. It is a hole in the wall, and you sometimes wonder who the waitress is as people randomly appear before you ready to take your order (I swear that most times they are at random tables, then pop, they are right in front of you). The chicken shwarama is not that bad, but the falafel is the real highlight of this place. It tastes like falafel should taste, so I like it. The prices are cheap and the food is your average ME-type fair. Try it out.
(4)A. J.
Very large portions of really tasty food, supremely affordable. pleasant atmosphere, nice staff
(4)Jie S.
I bought the $10 for $20 certificate from livingsocial. Me and my coworkers were not too sure about what were we getting into after read some 1-2 star reviews. Well, Grape Leaves surprised us with their great entrees. I would give food and service all 4 stars but the interior 1 star. I didn't like the appearance nor the smell of this place when I walked in. They seriously should get a better ventilation system and replace the chipped tiles on the floor. I almost said to myself that this would be my last time in there. We shared the stuffed grape leaves appetizer. I ordered the Veggie combo platter with Lentil soup. my coworkers ordered Veggie kabob and Chicken kabob. A cup of Lentil soup was served first. What an disappointment. Very watery and salty. Then stuffed grape leaves were really good. Things were finally turning to a good direction. I loved the Hummus and Fallafal in my platter. It made a perfect combination when I get fresh salad, crispy Fallafal, and creamy Hummus into the warm pita. Yummy! Veggie kabob was really tasty with tons of grilled vegetables in a huge plate. My another co-worker also loved her Chicken kabob. She said Chicken in there was flavorful and extremely tender. The rice in there was very good too. The only one waitress there was very nice to us. We will go again for sure. Maybe to-go orders?
(3)Sienna B.
Pros: The portions are large, which is good when you are trying to get take out for a family with kids. Cons: Space is very small; Food is very average. The rice is swimming in grease and the chicken is routinely overcooked. I used to go there all the time before Jerusalem Cafe came to town because they were they only middle eastern in town. After tasting their competitor I have not been back,
(2)Dina E.
loved this cozy little Oak Park spot. I eat 90% vegetarian, so I loved the vegetarian friendly selection. The falafels were the best I've had! Moist, tasty and crispy. I had the grape leaves, babaganoush, salad and rice and everything was awesome! I also tried the sage tea, which was tasty. The service was decent and it was nice to get a table at 7:30 pm on a Saturday night without having to wait. Excellent prices and portion sizes. I live about 45 minutes away but will definitely go back!!!
(4)Laura V.
Grape Leaves is cute, casual, inexpensive, and delicious. As is typical with Middle Eastern food, Grape Leaves is also very vegetarian/vegan friendly. I've tried a lot of the vegetarian offerings on the menu and for me, that standouts are the babghannough, the lentil soup, the falafels and the cous cous. All are very flavorful and taste very fresh and homemade. In addition to lovely food, the restaurant is BYOB and the service is quick and friendly. Steps away from the Oak Park Green Line, it is also very convenient. This is going to be a regular stop for me.
(4)Nick D.
Another great option for vegans. Falafels and hummus! The Grape Leave Combo is perfect and fills you up. Try some baklava for dessert. Delicious! I've never dined in, but the takeout is awesome!
(4)Melissa T.
Cheap eats in a small space. The food was fine, nothing too special in my opinion. The place, although tiny, rotated tables pretty quickly - mainly due to swift kitchen handiwork, I'd presume. Main complaint: when a place is so tiny, and there is only one server. She should be attentive. First, let me explain - I drink water b/c I genuinely like it, not b/c I don't want to pay for a drink. I bring 2 32 oz bottles with me to school and bring one with me whenever I run errands. I was incredibly thankful that during my Grape Leaves visit, I had brought that bottle of delicious water b/c I don't know if I would have gotten my fill had I not. I filled my water with my water bottle that I bring with me everywhere because she didn't come to fill my drink for so long. She only brought us 2 menus for 3 people. Little things like that when the food isn't that memorable just aren't acceptable. I'll go back sometime; I'll just be sure to bring my water bottle with me again.
(3)Rene F.
I really like this place - tasty food, good prices. I read the other reviews - I have never had the experience of bad service or bad food, and I have been coming here on and off for 7 years. Usually I eat in, for lunch or dinner, and tend to order one of the two vegetarian combo plates - a good deal at 6.95 and more well-made food than you can eat. I like the hummus, baba ganoush, the falafals, and the grape leaves. The Jerusalem salad is great. This place is much better than the Jerusalem Cafe', a few blocks away.
(4)Victoria T.
Was über excited about getting a Lamb Kabob sandwich for $5 but got disappointed when it was beef. I thought it was a fluke so I went back a different day and ordered another Lamb Kabob Sandwich and this time added a Lamb Curry entree. You should read the menu closer. It states "lamb or filet mignon" which makes you think you have a choice, right? It should read "beef skirt steak no-matter-what-you-say". The beef was tasty but no filet...and as for the lamb, well...I wouldn't know :-/.
(2)Mindy B.
Yum, chicken couscous. The hummus knocked my freakin socks off!
(4)BOBTED L.
The chicken dish had no flavor.would not go again.
(2)Anna L.
Grape Leaves is a cute little restaurant that has good vegan/vegetarian options. They also have take out. I love the soup they have there which is vegetarian. I usually get one of the vegetarian options like the Grape Leaves Combo Plate or veggie couscous. This restaurant is a great place for vegetarian/vegan options. The place is pretty small so it's not good for a large crowd, but if you're looking for a small middle eastern or vegetarian place for lunch, I'd recommend checking it out.
(4)P S.
Holy moly, so much food! Ok granted, we sort of over-ordered and miiiiiight have eaten most of it but whatever. No judgement. The cucumber salad and tabbouleh were perfect starters (the small size is fine), the hummus was just delightful with its big pools of olive oil and my falafel sammich pretty much topped it. My dining partner's chicken kebab was really tasty but the rice under was pretty boring and a bit dry. Still though, for all we ate and with leftovers, we got out of there for under $25. Not too shabby!
(3)Nilda R.
I work at a Childrens Hospital. We recently ordered from Grape Leaves and we were extremely insulted by the staff. We placed the order then we got a call a few minutes later, the lady said their driver refused to deliver to us because we are bad tippers. My coworkers had just ordered from there a few days ago and they said they gave the driver a 17% tip!! We were then told that she could try to get the driver to deliver to us but it would be "risky" and we would have to promise to tip well. "Risky" like they were going to spit in our food?!? We were blown away by this. We canceled that order I would never eat there again and neither would my coworkers. P.S. their service is dry, just like there falafels!!
(1)Dan S.
I've gone in here a few times. I would suggest to order for pick-up since the service, the few times I've sat here, was less than stellar. I love the falafel on pita. I order it just about every time.
(3)Mr P.
Hmmmmm where to begin....... First off, the waitress in there is a total crab. She comes off like she hates life and she had this frown on her face the whole time we were there. Second, the food is terrible. The so called Kabobs had no flavor and they were incredibly greasy. The rice was just ok and the veggies tasted like they were frozen for quite some time. The pitas were clearly store bought from the bag they left them in when we got them to go. IMO, this place cuts corners. The food is very low quality. I can understand if someone is having a bad day, but if the food sucks it's not a good combination. I'll never go back.
(1)Maria M.
Great food, good sized portions, and always an awesome experience. Been coming here for 15 years still my favorite place!
(5)Ania K.
Best falafel I've ever had! Everything else is amazing as well. Huge portions, great prices, and very friendly staff. All around fantastic place! Highly recommend it for vegans, lots of delicious choices.
(5)Mary T.
My mom suggested this place for lunch, rather than one of our regular spots. Her girlfriends really like this place so we decided to give it a shot. This place was a hit with me and my parents for the following reasons: * Lunch specials. Generous portions at really low prices, I don't think anything was more than $6. This made my dad very happy, since he was picking up the tab. 3 meals and 2 teas for $21 and we walked away stuffed - score! * Tea. My parents both ordered the mint tea. I tried a bit and it was really tasty - they put fresh, whole mint leaves in it. My parents only complaint was that it wasn't hot enough - they like it hot enough to scald your throat, for reals. Our server quickly heated it up so that it was so hot it was practially bubbling. * Food. My mom ordered lamb and potatoes over rice, my dad the chicken shwarma and I had a falafel combo (falafel, tabbouleh, hummus and babaghanoush). My dad's only critique is that he would've preferred less chicken and more veggies on his. My mom and I had no complaints, our meals were tasty and the portions generous. * Service. Service was decent, the place is tiny - 6 tables tops, so it wasn't hard for our server to check on us periodically. Bottom line: I think this place has officially been added to my hometown parental dining rotation. Good food, hearty portions, cheap prices, need I say more?
(4)Kymberly J.
The amount of food you get for the money is unbelievable. I got the chicken couscous and will have 2 more meals out of it. The chicken was juicy and tender. The meal tasted like I was eating a homemade meal at someones house. It came with veggies, some of which were a little over cook and some were fresh and crispy like the carrots. I have a feeling they might not have been cooked together or the chef didnt put them in the pan in the right order. Either way, I still liked it. To go with the meal we had a small Jerusalem salad and a small tebouli salad. The Jerusalem salad was fresh and delish but the tabouli salad was covered in green onions. THis place loves green onions. So if you dont, ask them to leave it out. The green onion took awat fromt he other flavors of the salad. The service was fast and friendly, the prices incredibly reasonable and I would definitely go back.
(4)Michelle B.
Yuck Grape leaves, what did you do the other night? This was in my regular rotation since we moved to the western subs 12 years ago. Intimate, BYOB, and satisfying my sharma cravings for over a decade I feel like your just going through the motions. Over microwaved pita, reheated falafel, why? I feel like your best days may have been behind you. During these times where going out is a treat I can't afford a hit or miss experience. Unfortunately may need to add you to my list of Oak Park establishments that take us for granted. Please change back.
(2)Ben W.
Great vegetarian food. Grape leaves, dolmas, hummus, and babagannough. The Fallafal is grilled in the same oil as some meat dishes so if you don't eat meat, avoid it, but everything else is great.
(5)Eric F.
I wish there was a way to break down the ratings, because Grape Leaves is a secret treasure in Oak Park, but you have to know a few things going in. First, quality, simple, Middle Eastern food at a great price. So five stars for value. It's a little hole in the wall, so there isn't much seating and there's just the single door. Just one person taking care of customers (they get a lot of carry out). So I'd give it three stars for comfort and service. The chicken curry lunch special is a great deal. The lentil soup is excellent. My vegetarian wife loves the falafel and kebab vegetables. It's a good menu for the health-conscious. Try the sage tea or the fresh-squeezed juices. If you're visiting Oak Park and you need some cheap eats, seek out Grape Leaves.
(4)Cassie S.
A friend and I tried this place after having heard other locals rave about the hummus. I have to say, I was seriously unimpressed. They put a lot of stuff in the hummus, but it tasted like they forgot the tahini--and I hold that good hummus is a fairly basic thing, with tahini and chick peas as the foremost necessities, with some salt and lemon juice being a good addition, and maybe some cayenne and olive oil on the top. Well. There was a lot on the top, but prettiness does not a good hummus make. The entrees were also a let down--very bland, soggy pita, yuck. The space was cramped but there was a pretty mural on the wall. The service was unspeakably, unforgivably slow. We should have been there for around 45 minutes but were dragged into waiting around more like two hours. The one pleasant surprise was a dessert, with custard and rose water and some other things in it, that was delicious. It wasn't sufficiently delicious to ever make me want to go back, though.
(2)Bryan G.
This place will shock you, the appearance isn't great but the food will amaze you. They have great vegetarian food as well as good meat entrees. Definitely a lot of food that won't be a lot on your wallet. Take out options are good as well, food was still fresh tasting and good when I got home. I recommend the stuffed grape leaves.
(4)Sarah F.
I'm a loyal Oak Park resident, meaning I have my favorite restaurants, but as loyal as we are to the Jerusalem Cafe, this place is worth trying as well! The kifta kabob and beef Schwarma are so juicy and flavorful. I enjoy the veggies in the sandwiches here more vs J.C. The portions are big, but make for great leftovers. Food tastes fresh, and our office enjoys ordering take out from here often. I'd opt for this any day over fast food. You should try this place if you are a fan of middle eastern cuisine.
(3)Natassia M.
My mom lives about about a block away from this place and we've ordered take-out a few times. They have an AMAZING Lebanese salad that comes in a giant portion for less than 5 bucks. The food is delicious and inexpensive. Definitely try the chicken shawarma! It is DELIGHTFUL. I have never sat down and eaten there. It's a tiny little place, but has so much charm.
(5)Claudia S.
The food is great and healthy, if you keep to your correct portions. But, I am not a fan of the cleanliness of the seating area for the customers. I give it three starts because of the food but won't dare to add more due to it's need to be a little cleaner for my taste.
(3)Iliana P.
Whenever my friends visit me in Oak Park, this is where I take them. The food is great, the portions large, and the prices low. I like the small, intimate setting, and the music and decorations that set the Mediterranean ambiance. It's often difficult for me to decide between the tea or the guava juice, so many times I order both. The falafel platter is usually the appetizer of choice. The Shrimp Kabob, served on a bed of rice with large chunks of grilled veggies, is what I order if I'm very hungry, otherwise, the Chicken Sumac sandwich. We love this place because it's good and cheap. With downtown Oak Park a few blocks away, this place is definitely worth the trip to Oak Park.
(5)H G.
I was underwelmed by everything on my plate. I felt the same several years ago, when I tried Grape Leaves for the first time. The HUMMUS didn't have any discernible brightness in flavor. The BABA GHANOUSH was just okay. The overcooked FALAFEL didn't taste or look appealing. The DOLMA was gross (i.e. rough leaves and strange, mushy stuffing). The TABBOULEH SALAD was lacking in bulgar and the PITAS were stale. The only aspect of the meal that tasted fresh were the well-diced tomatoes and cucumbers. Surprisingly, the restaurant was filled with customers by 6 p.m. on a weekday. The service was fine and the prices were reasonable, but the food was lacking. There won't be a third strike.
(2)Gabrielle S.
This place is a little hidden jem! I have been going here for over ten years and it has always been a great little spot. It is super tiny and casual, one small room with maybe 6 tables and a little take out window and kitchen and usually one cook and one server. Everything is definately authentic and made from scratch and it just feels so fresh and wholesome. The prices are a TOTAL bargain. Entrees are huge and shareable and I am usually stuffed after splitting a vegetarian combo plate with another person!! I adore the hummus and baba ganoush...it is drizzled with olive oil and paprika and slivered toasted almonds....yummm!!!! Tabuleh salad is fresh and tangy and another fav of mine. I love supporting a small family owned business like this that goes out of their way to make sure you love everything!
(4)Sofia S.
The place is cold because it's small and everytime someone enters there is a huge draft. It was our second time coming here, and we decided the food sucks. Poor quality ingredients. The Mediterranean Seafood Combo was a big plate of blah and 3/4 of the meal is Uncle Ben's rice! The Falafel Kabab was boring. Felt like we were eating leftovers.
(1)Shawn D.
Great little place, stressing the word little. The food was tasty and the portions were nicely sized. Would go back again if in the mood for Middle Eastern.
(4)Johanna H.
I love this place. I love the mint tea. I love the hummus. The pita is always fresh. My favorite thing to get is the tabbouleh and the chicken curry. This place doesn't skimp on the portions either. For a reasonable price I always come home with left overs. I marked it down one star because the staff, occasionally, can be no-nonsense. You seat yourself, you place your order, your food arrives, and you pay at the counter. This really doesn't bother me much though. Gives me time for me and whoever I'm with to talk and enjoy the food, without being interrupted.
(4)Pete D.
Again would give three and half stars if I could. Nothing fancy, but damn fine middle eastern food. Good for lunch. Too small for a big group.
(3)Erika G.
I used to go here a lot more when I had a friend who lived in Oak Park. I was never that impressed with the food here - standard issue grape leaves, like a generic Greek restaurant. I wouldn't travel all the way to Oak Park to go here. Pretty bland and unadventurous food.
(2)Kate P.
I heart places where you can eat for practically nothing and still have enough to consume the next day, and on occasion the day after that. For the most part, the portions are HUGE. My personal favorite dish is the chicken curry. It's yummy. Usually I can get three meals out of it, which is grand, when you consider you pay a little over $6. I've only eaten there a couple of times, because it's usually packed at lunch time. For the most part, I order take out, it's virtually next door to my office (man I love the convenience factor here). Sometimes, it's hard to understand the employees, but they have yet to make a mistake. The place is tiny, but what they lack in seating, they make up for in cute decor (there are grape vines painted all over the walls) and great food. If you're in the area, it's worth a taste. The Grape Leaves aren't bad either.
(4)Lady L.
This is my mom's favorite hole in the wall restaurant. I went for the first time in a long time sans parents today and realized why she loves it. Fresh, healthy, delicious and unpretentious. Don't come here if you want any atmosphere whatsoever, or if you are grossed out by not so nice bathrooms. But, if you like delicious Arabic style middle eastern food, definitely try this place out. I'd like to give props to the hummous, baba ganoush, veggie cous cous, and the salad. I would like to poo poo the pita-- not so yummy.
(4)Laura H.
Ugh. I wanted to like this place but was less than impressed. Really, all you need to impress me is a decent hummus and pita and they couldn't even get that right. But the bigger problem - horrible service. The place is smaller than my bedroom and yet the waitress kept forgetting us. Painful.
(2)Lizzie O.
the food and pricing get a major 5 stars. the decor gets maybe 2 stars - so know that ahead of time if you're planning on eating here. everything is delicious and served very promptly. a falafel sammich with the works is only 5 bucks. grape leaves is located only a few blocks away from downtown oak park so it's a nice place to grab a quick bite.
(5)Christine C.
Casual little place with the best hummus I've ever had.
(5)Antonia R.
By far the best hummus I've had in this area. I was expecting the chicken kebab to be a little more flavorful (a little lemon helped with that), but there was so much of it (and so much rice with toasted almonds--YUM) at least I could make two meals out of it. Can't wait to come again and try the falafel.
(4)Christina N.
My husband and I have been going to Grape Leaves for 6 years now and they seem to go through ups and downs. On their fresh, high-quality up-swings they get 4 stars...in their valleys they get 2.5 stars. It is a great value for the money, but feel like more consistency is needed. Since March 2012 though they've been on an up-swing and we go there 1-2x a week for carry out. I hope this lasts because we really enjoy the food at a great value. Keep your standards high Grape Leaves - no more down turns!
(4)Liza P.
So......we were planning on going to the Jerusalem Cafe, but upon reading the reviews, we figured we'd try this place instead. Well, it is the definition of hole-in-the-wall, for sure. Teeny tiny, with about 7 tables, which is fine by me. I swear the waitress was working a hangover, cuz she really didn't seem to care whether or not we had enough silverware, etc. Whatev. Our kids got the spumoni, which they loved--kinda hard to screw up ice cream out of a carton, eh? I ordered the chicken shawarma, with a salad. The salad was okay, good, but nothing to write home about. Some of the lettuce was brown, which smacks of laziness to me. I hate that--how hard is it to pick out the brown pieces? The chicken was good, but half of it was waaaaay too dried out, which I think means that it was reheated leftovers. Meh. I did like that there were slivered almonds all over it--yum! And the jerusalem salad on top was nice. My hubby got the lamb shishkabob, with the lentil soup. The soup was good--it was a tad grainy, but it had a nice taste. The pitas that came with our food were really sad---the kind of crappy pocket pitas you can get at the grocery store--dry and tasteless. His lamb was half hot, half cold, and half dry, half moist--which says leftovers again. All in all it was decent, but I would probably find another place to try middle eastern food next time. The best thing about it were the prices and portions--small prices, huge portions!
(3)Cindy D.
Excellent place!! I went with one of my friends and had a three course meal for $17 TOTAL (for two people)! We shared a delicious small hummus ($2.50), we both got the sandwiches ($4.50) and we shared the dessert. I was completely full after the meal. The only bad thing I would say that the meat of both the chicken shwarma and kebobs were a bit dry. However, there was plenty of food to devour. Don't be fooled by the small prices, there's alot of food that comes with it. BTW, I try not to eat too many carbs, so I opted for the sandwich minus the pita. I would have gotten the entree, but I hear they fill it up with ALOT of rice and meat. I'm a pretty petite girl, so I just got the sandwich and it came in a pita with salad on top.
(5)Rasmus N.
GREAT place for an everyday meal at a bargain price. Have been going here for over 5 years, and eat here at least 2-3 per month - it is a small family owned place - and i almost dont want to write this review to try and keep this hidden gem from overcrowding!!!
(4)Michelle H.
I really used to love Grape Leaves, and then I experienced MUCH better middle eastern food. This place is cute but the service is defiantly lacking. The hummus is good but the pita could use some work. They have good Chicken Shwarm sammies. I mean I'm sort of indifferent about Grape Leaves but if you're in the area and need some middle eastern then go for it, otherwise there are much better places around.
(3)Bonnie B.
This place has delicious food! We ordered a bunch of different things to try. The falafel was really good-- light and crispy, not too greasy. Kebabs were ok. The star was the lamb couscous-- which was tender and melted in my mouth. There were also tons of vegetables with it, which I love. I'll definitely go back.
(4)Ali K.
Humm, where to start. They are not friendly. They are closed from 2pm to 4pm so if you have a late lunch you cannot buy from them. I went there and they just closed as all of the employees sat around and shook there head that they were closed. I had a few of the sandwiches which have taste less vegetables and leak all over. I have given them a few chances to get it right, but I must say I would rather walk to go to Jerusalem cafe.
(1)Cindy R.
This place is great for an extremely inexpensive Middle Eastern meal. I think I've never spent more than $6 there. Their falafel and their kabob sandwiches are very good, especially the kefta kabob.
(5)Tee S.
My hubby and I usually get our order to go, but tonight we decided to dine in. We split an appetizer of baba ganoush and the presentation was gorgeous. I found this dish to be as good as it was colorful. If you're not familiar with baba ganoush I suggest you google it...and just know that the pictures that come up are nowhere near as pretty as what you'll be served when you dine in-house (or perhaps in-dive is a better word) at Grape Leaves. Eating this dish with warm pita is about as good as it gets. The sandwich portions are tasty and cheap, and the meals sport generous servings that will last you a couple of meals, esp. if you started with an appetizer. Don't miss the tea. My husband had mint tea; I had sage tea. Both teas came in good-sized mugs, steaming hot, with fresh herbs in them. The tea complemented our meals well, and was perfect on a cold winter evening. Be sure to leave room for the baklava, it's very well done here. Our total bill was $25. Not bad So, why didn't I give it 5 stars? Two reasons: *The ambiance is not great here. This place is a tiny dive. Not that there's anything wrong with that. But please, turn down that awful, schticky music. *There are pine nuts in everything. Don't get me wrong, I love pine nuts. But they were everywhere: in the baba ganoush, and in the salad, and in my meal. Enough's enough. I'm sure it makes garnishing easy, but it lacks imagination. Bottom line: great, cheap take out. Dine in at your own risk.
(4)Julie H.
This used to be our go to place for a good, healthy, quick meal but it seems to be going downhill. Something changed a few years ago. I don't know if it is new owners or new management, but it has really impacted the quality. They give you a lot of food for the money but the meats and rice on the combo dinner are bland. There are less vegetables and more rice lately. The minced lamb tasted more like ground beef with pepper. The beef had been pounded with a meat tenderizer, leading me to believe it was a tough cut of meat. The falafel and the babghannough are still good. It's true the decor is not great, so I recommend take out if possible.
(2)Tiffany T.
I've only gotten take-out and delivery, so can't comment on dining service. Great food. Their hummus is the best I've tasted. Good falafel sandwich and combination meals.
(4)Margaretsen H.
We came in starving. It is a small place with about 8 tables. There was only one girl taking care of the whole place. I do not know if this is a usual custom or if they happen to be short help that evening. I was annoyed to wait to get served but once we got the food I was very pleased. The delicious food made up for the long wait. I would go back.
(4)megan s.
I was honestly quite surprised that their were any negative reviews on here. I adore the sweet staff here, they have delicious food and the restaurant is small but it's calm and comfortable. I love this place. The ONLY draw back is that they do tend to get a little too busy for their britches sometimes and it takes the service quite awhile to be taken care of.
(4)David M.
I'll start with the positive. Good portion size. Well, on to the negatives, and by that, I mean the food itself and service. I ordered the chicken shawarma plate. The chicken and rice both were completely unseasoned. The chicken was dry and not grilled unlike any other place that serves shawarma. The dryness could have been offset somewhat by a sauce, if the server could have been troubled to bring one over or answer a question or turn her frown upside down. The best tasting thing on the plate were the cucumbers, and I don't really like cucumbers. At least, they tasted like something. So, while I still had a lot of food left to bring home, I never ate it. I would rather have had smaller portion with some actual flavor. It's called a spice, look into it.
(2)Mark J.
Excellent fresh food. My favorite part about their food is their use of lemon is the exact right amount. Not too overpowering and not undetectable. Their Jerusalem Salad shines and lamb and beef kefka kabob have great flavor
(5)Heather A.
The garnish they put on their hummus and babaganoush is what keeps me coming back for more. The chicken can be a little dry at times, but overall, a great neighborhood place to grab a delicious meal.
(4)Sarah R.
What happened to this place? It had been about two years since we'd gone here so we thought we'd grab some sandwiches. It's my own fault for not being brave enough to walk out after being seated. The floor was absolutely filthy and it was only 11am! The windows were dirty and the table was dirty. I just kept remembering how much I liked the food plus I'm a total pansy when it comes to walking out of a restaurant because you're unhappy, so we stayed. The pita bread was obviously store bought but not even good. Trader Joe's has better pita bread. I got the lamb and it tasted ok, but was cut into these tiny little pieces. It was nothing like we remembered and we were really disappointed with the quality of the food. Again, I should have just walked out once we took a closer look around and that's my fault...just avoid this place...
(1)Tse T.
not very good. the hummus was too thin with waaaay too much oil on top. drenched even with the paprika kinda swimming around on top. super lemony. too pureed. like ick. my sandwich was pretty good. veggie kebab. the service was terrible. waiting on us must have bored her.
(2)Johanna V.
It is hard to know where to start with this place. I came here with a friend of mine, who said the place was "really, really good." But, she hadn't been there in about two years. Our food arrives, she takes a bite, and announces, "I think this place has had a change in management." Why you say? Her chicken shwarma was made out of CANNED CHICKEN. Canned chicken. Warmed in the microwave. She said to me "do you think this is tuna?" It did indeed have that canned smell, but I felt it was the wrong color to be tuna. Then I realized, all canned meat basically smells the same; it was canned chicken. They denied it, of course, but barely batted an eye when we sent it back. Also, all the good ratings on yelp are from 2006 or so. The people who gave it good ratings after that are clearly fakers, or have never eaten middle eastern food before. Canned chicken. I swear to god.
(1)Whitney L.
Eh. Truth is, I like to consider myself a conneisseur of ethnic dining. Because I have a PhD in Baba Ganoush? No. Because I like it. a lot. On a whim, I decided to meet a friend at Grape Leaves. It's a very modestly decorated, small place. Sort of dingy to be honest. Plastic table clothes that look as though they may have seen the Reagan era. They have a nicely priced lunch menu, which I appreciated, and your typical middle eastern fare. Grape Leaves, kabobs, falafel. My friend and I both ordered the kabob combo. It was a large portion (mainly rice, but still...) that included steak, kifta and chicken. The meat tasted odd. Sort of sour. Is it supposed to taste that way? Not sure, but it struck both of us as sort of off. The waitress seemed sort of put out to have to come back to the table, and lack of manners in wait staff always gets me grumpy. So, for a last minute, I have had Cosi too many times this month change? Sure. But if you're looking for a WOW experience and good atmosphere, I'd make the drive to Andersonville.
(2)Melissa P.
My boyfriend introduced me to falafel about 6 months ago and I loved it. So far I've eaten at two different Mediterranean restaurants in the city and both were stellar. Today I had a craving for a falafel sandwich so I decided to see what restaurants were in my area. My search brought me to Jerusalem Cafe and Grape Leaves, both in Oak Park. I decided to try GL, even though neither restaurant really received great reviews. I am vegan so before I ordered my sandwich, I asked what they put on it. I was told that inside the pita pocket would be falafel balls, hummus and Jerusalem salad. Awesome I thought and I ordered two. I also ordered a fresh squeezed orange juice. The juice was so good..but really, how can you screw that up?! Anyways, once I got home and opened my sandwiches, I found that they were DRENCHED in Tahini dressing :( Well, tahini certainly isn't vegan and I was so bummed. I don't like to waste food so I picked at the falafel however I could without consuming the tahini. (Honestly, vegan or not, I don't even like the taste of tahini.) The pita pocket was that stiff store bought stuff, not the yummy, fluffy, homemade pita that I love. As for the taste of the falafel...it was just okay. I wouldn't ever go back there. If you are looking for OUTSTANDING Mediterranean food, try Sultan's Market or Aladdin's in the city. They are both so worth the drive. You won't be disappointed, best falafel around. Oh and as far as price goes, this was definitely on the more expensive side for a falafel sandwich. The sandwich cost me about $4.75 which is one dollar more than you would get a great sandwich for in the city.
(1)jason w.
I consider my self a low maintenance dinner so chipper and attentive servers are of no use to me. For this reason I love Grape Leaves. Let me clear.... the servers DO NOT HAVE ANY FLARE. You will not be hounded with each passing "are you still doing ok". No, you will sit there and eat your food and enjoy your company or solitude.... unless you need something and an easy glance will bring the server to your table in just a few short step considering the size of the dinning room. Home cooked flavors and a small space create just the experience where this food deserves. In my opinion they have the best flavored Falafel plate/sandwich in Chicagoland. Don't go here if you like bland American strip mall Middle astern fare. Prepare yourself for an explosion of nirvana in your mouth. Yes, its that good.
(5)Ron D.
I've been going to Grape Leaves for years but hadn't been there for a long time. The combo plate was fantastic. Amazing salad, hummus, baba. Had the grape leaves appetizer too. Fantastic. Fast service, reasonable prices
(5)Andria C.
I LOVE this restaurant. It's small and cozy as well as incredibly affordable. It doesn't pretend to be fancy or anything... which is perfect for a low key dinner. Definitely don't go in a crowd for a sit down meal. I prefer one friend, max two and enjoy the conversation and savory meal!!!
(5)Ren H.
This is a great authentic middle eastern restaurant! Its very reasonably priced and I like that its out of the main street and out of downtown so there's usually never a wait and the staff is very attentive and friendly. I've only tried the falafel but can't wait to go back and try more! If you can make the hike out to Oak Park its worth it!
(4)Danielle C.
Hate to give bad reviews, but this place was dirty and the food was not that great. Maybe the food was OK, but I couldn't get past how disgusting the place was.
(1)Jake D.
Consistent quality with generous portions. Every plate is packed with flavor and is made fresh. Order the combination plate with grapes leaves as a starter, hummus, and chicken shawarma for under $20. The service is adequate but the food makes up for it plus its BYOB.
(5)KingPush R.
after eight years, this remains the litmus test for middle eastern cuisine. hummus to die for. smallish menu, but ive ran through it twice over and i can testify to the quality of each dish. best food to cash ratio this side of the third world. perfect place to take a vegetarian. however, cozy confines and spartan service makes it best suited for a date or small group.
(5)Edward B.
Grape Leaves is kind of a hole-in-the-wall (if you blink, you'll miss it), but the food is wonderful. Dine-in is okay, but a bit cramped, though the service is great. Take-out is my favorite here. I haven't had anything I didn't love. Favorites are falafel (crunchy outside, moist inside - they best way), hummus (it might be the best I've had) and the seafood rice dish....yummy.
(4)Ro S.
My favorite place for cheap good meal in my area.
(5)Vanessa P.
Some of the best falafel that I've ever had. Their hummus is excellent as well. The best thing about this place though? How cheap everything is! I don't think that I have ever spent more than $10 here.
(4)Angela L.
This tiny place is AWESOME! It is BYOB (near a Trader Joe's) and serves fresh homemade food. I always take friends here that are new to Medditerainean food and they end up loving it. This is my favorite spot for falafal! Everything on the menu is also super cheap!
(5)Becky S.
Awesome place for a cheap, tasty meal. The food was great and totally reasonable. My biggest complaint was that it was close to 100 degrees inside and the service was a little slow. Try one of the combo plates for lunch, or really, any of the lunch specials.. my co-worker and I feasted there for under 10 bucks.
(4)Wade M.
Maybe my favorite overall restaurant in Oak Park - freaking delicious and reasonably priced, good for takeout or eating in (it's small, but nice inside). I think this place is just as tasty if not moreso than most of the (more expensive) Middle Eastern places in the city proper. Try the chicken curry - delicious, they give you a huge portion, and I think it costs all of six bucks.
(5)Patty V.
Pretty good. My hubby wasn't that crazy about it,too much lemon in the Hummos for his liking. I thought it was okay.Very tiny and cramped,a little offputting to overhear the other diners conversations.
(2)Roger B.
Fantastic food. My wife and I love Grape Leaves, and the price can't be beat. The kefta kabob is AWESOME, and I defy anyone to eat a full order (I have a huge appetite and take enough home for lunch the next day). The only problem is that sometimes the service is a little indifferent. It's well worth a trip.
(4)Andrew J.
You sure do get a lot of food for the price. The Hummus appetizer was a whole plate just covered in hummus. Probably the best part for me was the salad that came with the meal, it was terrific! The rice was just okay, almost like it was regular white rice with some spices in it. The meat was a bit dry (though I haven't had very moist meat at any medditeranean place). The pitas were the store bought kind as well, but they were still pleasantly warm and soft. I'd like to try this place for lunch and use my girlfriend's NPR card discount.
(3)joel l.
You don't get much better than Grape Leaves for middle eastern food. The hummus is a work of art if you are dining in. this place is very much a dive with a very small dining room and moderate to poor service from the wait staff. however if you are like me you are going for the food, the service does not matter so much.(you can always carry out or have it delivered as well) prices are cheap.
(5)Diane C.
A few years ago there used to be 5 or 6 Mediterranean restaurants in Oak Park and this is they only one that survived. I think it's because it has great falafel sandwiches and really creamy hummus. It's a small casual place so you just seat yourself and the service is pretty good. Because of its size I don't recommend a huge family dinner but it's good for solitary eating or hanging out with a friend.
(4)Justin G.
Would have had an extra star if it weren't for the fact that a friend of mine used to work here and told me the "dirt" such as food being returned due to being infested with maggots and other things. But that was years ago.
(3)Gary K.
This restaurant has some of the best Falafels and Hummus I've ever tasted. This place is just outside the busy part of town so its easy to miss, but its definately worth visiting! Then its a nice walk into town.
(4)