4. Restaurants

Rudy’s Mediterranean Grill & Diner

7185 Columbia Gateway Dr, Columbia, MD, 21046
  • (410) 290-2004
  • Store is closed

Rudy’s Mediterranean Grill & Diner Menu

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Visit below restaurant in Columbia for healthy meals suggestion.

Auntie Anne’s Pretzels ( 10300 Little Patuxent Pkwy,Ste 1375 )

  • barry b.

    My lunch consisted of some undistinguished slices of meat, some rice, a small salad and a tiny bowl of excellent lentil soup. At $13, it was grossly overpriced. It was virtually unspiced. Had I been served the same meal at a roadside diner it would not occur to me that I was eating Turkish food. I was with a group of almost 20. We received excellent service with separate checks. They serve breakfast all day; those who ordered breakfast were very pleased with their meal. Ditto for most of the group. My wife liked her lamb sandwich.

    (2)

  • Jill J.

    Has Rudy K. PM'd anyone else? This is the message he sent me: "o yah food is bad ha i thing you don't know what you talking about if food not good why i have zoo much customers thank you honey go burger place" So....now I REALLY won't be going back....

    (1)

  • Tina L.

    I have been to many Mediterranean restaurants in this area, Rudy's is the most outstanding. I loved their falafel, it was perfectly crispy but not greasy. I had baklava for dessert, it was the best one ever. The size, the portion and sweetness was excellent. The honey inside came out at the right time.

    (4)

  • Michael C.

    The food was very good here. I was craving kabob and this place hit the spot. The meat was tender and not overworked, very flavorful (unlike hellspawn kabob at the mall). Unfortunately the prices are too high for me to justify coming here regularly. Use the yelp or groupon deal, give it a try.

    (4)

  • Mitch M.

    Nice Mediterranean/Turkish restaurant that gets lost in an office park type of setting. Right smack in the middle of the office park, there is a small shopping center with a few restaurants. This restaurant itself is very nice - decorations are very tasteful, staff was incredibly knowledgeable and personable. We got the Yelp $10 for $20 deal, and ended up with the Turkish appetizer sampler. Everything on the plate was absolutely delicious. We would absolutely recommend a restaurant, and will be coming back in the future!

    (5)

  • Renee T.

    One of my favorite places in Columbia. A nice family owns this restaurant. The food is super good. If you want a real treat, have their lentil soup before your dinner. We have enjoyed breakfast lunch and dinner here.

    (5)

  • Sabina B.

    Not memorable. Unremarkable.

    (2)

  • Andy Y.

    Excellent appetizers and great kabobs Very friendly and courteous staff Very clean Really love it here

    (5)

  • Ace C.

    Found this place through Open Table, and decided to give it a try. They have a kid's menu and we thought it would be a kid/friendly environment. We were wrong. From the moment we walked in, we were confused where to go, no greeter pedestal, no "lobby" no waiting area, just straight dining room with a few servers floating around. The person that seated us did not look like he worked there as his uniform was inconsistent with the others. Once we were seated, no one approached us for at least 15-20 minutes. We had kids with us and when the server finally arrived, he did not offer a kid's menu. We had to ask for kid's menus. Looking around the restaurant it appeared that the other patrons were being ignored as well, there were plenty of empty glasses, empty bread baskets on their tables, too. We finally got a chance to order appetizers (Babaganoush and Hummus). When the hummus came, we were expecting veggies, and other dipping things to go with it. Nope, just a small plate of hummus that costs $8. Outrageous! I can buy a tub of Hummus (that tastes better) at Costco for $6.00! The babaganoush was pretty good, again for $12 (as an appetizer) we were short changed as we were only given the flat bread to dip in. We then ordered our dinner (3 dishes, a Chicken Kabob, Lamb pizza, Doner Kabob). Took over an hour to get our food, once the food finally arrived, we had to reject it as half of our party had left 20 minutes ago. We received no apologies from management, no apologies from the server and no compensation or coupons for the appetizers. When the check came, the server dropped it off of the table and walked away. I was going to pay with a Visa, but decided to pull $25 in cash to be done with this whole experience instead of waiting for their slow servers to run my card. Never again, worst restaurant experience I've ever had. Do not make the same mistake we did, there are PLENTY of other places in Columbia to spend your hard-earned money on!

    (1)

  • Dan R.

    The doner sub is amazing and huge. Red lentil soup was great. I would definitely eat here again. The web site needs work.

    (5)

  • Sadaf H.

    love the food the lentil soup is delicious and we usually get the doner sub on their homemade bread, yelp also has a spend $10 for $20 food deal which was great. They expanded the place so its much nice now and the owner Rudy and staff are always friendly. Love coming in for lunch

    (4)

  • Jay P.

    a nice find in the middle of a Howard County strip mall. nice to see a now chain restaurant with a nice enviroment. service could improve a bit and prices are a tad on the high side but worth a visit and maybe a few more.

    (4)

  • Cybil A.

    The food was perfectly seasoned and fresh, the wait staff were attentive, and the atmosphere was intimate and quiet, making it very comfortable. I started with the Mucver, which was perfectly crisp, and then had their spinach pie, which was surprisingly light, but still quite tasty. I would absolutely recommend this restaurant.

    (5)

  • Patrick T.

    A beacon of light in Soviet Columbia. Prompt, friendly service and delicious food. Never too crowded but you don't feel alone either. Been here several times and very consistent

    (4)

  • Robert K.

    I was looking for a unique restaurant in a sea of corporate themed restaurants in the Columbia, MD area. After reading some of the reviews I had some reservations about giving Ruby's chance. I will say that I am glad that I did. I went there for lunch on a Tuesday and I was pleasantly surprised at the level of service. We were greeted at the door by one server who took our drink order. Our actual server was very attentive and came back to offer us more water and check in with us from time to time. As far as the food is concerned, I had the Ruby's Doner Kababs, which was delicious. It came with a cup of nicely spiced lentil soup as well as rice and a small green salad on the side of the meal. My friend had the spinach pie, which he enjoyed. I also had the kunafe for dessert, which is a cheese pastry with wiry shreds on top, soaked in sweet sugar-based syrup; very tasty. I'll go back and try Ruby's again in the near future.

    (4)

  • Dameko A.

    I want to thank Eray for his excellent service tonight. The food was great. I will definitely be coming back here again & will tell others as well.

    (5)

  • Joel L.

    2 couples on a weekday night. A light crowd for dinner was already seated. We enjoy med. food and are returning back to Rudy's for dinner. With the exception of the sauted lamb entre, our soups, salads and entre selections were very good. At times the service can be uneven here and you really need to know where the restaurant is located deep into an office park area in Columbia. Worth it for the brunch and the kabob entres.

    (3)

  • John G.

    Had a company lunch catered from here. I just ordered one of the sandwiches off the list provided - I got the Buffalo Bleu Chicken sandwich. It came on a kaiser roll with french fries in a styrofoam container. I can't completely blame them for the cold soggy fries because it was delivery and I know that causes issues. However, because it was in styrofoam, the sogginess happens faster because of condensation. Never mind that, though. The chicken sandwich was inedible. It was like roof tiles dipped in hot sauce. Hard, dry, and cold. Would not recommend. Maybe they have good middle eastern food - they should stick to that.

    (1)

  • Jody M.

    Nice place for breakfast. We came here again after maybe a years absence. It was nicely remodeled and the space has doubled in size. The food is good and staff is friendly. The omlettes are on the smaller side but good. Pancakes and waffles are very good. Turkish coffee is strong and delicious!

    (4)

  • Reviewer R.

    Decently authentic food. Had the hummus, tabuleh, sausage pizza (sucuklu pide), Turkish coffee, and baklava. The wait staff should not be allowed to wear cologne!! (It spoils the culinary experience...)

    (3)

  • Jennifer B.

    I don't think I've ever had such poor service. Before I continue, let me say that I did not get a chance to try any of the food, so this 1-star is based solely on the service, or lack thereof. Arrived around 10 am for breakfast. I googled "diner" because that's what we were in the mood for, and decided to give it a try. When we arrived, there was only one other table, already eating. We sat down and it took about 6-7 minutes for the waitress to come over. When she finally did, we ordered coffee and she walked away before we could put our food order in. She came back with our coffee and took our order--simple breakfast of eggs, bacon, and home fries. During that time, another couple came in and sat behind us. They were immediately greeted by another waiter. Two female customers came in and sat towards the back--a few minutes later a man, who works there or owns it, came and sat with the girls. After our coffee cups had been empty for a good 15 minutes or so, the couple behind got their food. It wasn't a big deal, but I was starting to get irritated that our server had been nowhere in sight to check on us. Finally, she appeared from the kitchen to take the order of the 2 women and the man. She went back to the kitchen without looking over at us. Another 10 minutes went by and she appeared again with plates in had--FINALLY, I thought. However, she walks over to the 2 women and serves them! And again, went back into the kitchen without saying anything to us. I told my fiance that she has two minutes to come out with our food, or we're leaving $5 for the coffee, and leaving. Low and behold she comes out a minute later--with a plate of lemons for the other table! My finace immediately got up and walked to the register and told the young man to cancel our order and give us the bill for the coffee and briefly explained what had happened. The man, who appeared to be the manger, stood right there, listened, then slowly walked away. The server came over, looking confused, and he also told her that we had been sitting there for almost 30 minutes and she never checked on us, refilled our coffee, etc. She said, "Oh I'm sorry." I honestly don't know if it was completely her fault or the fact that the manager/owner/whoever was making her give preferential treatment to the two females that they knew. Either way, that place seems to be a joke, as evidenced by these other reviews as well.

    (1)

  • Elisabeth J.

    The food was so fresh and tasty and their Turkish coffee is perfect! We split a huge sample appetizer that they have- not only was it delicious (dolma, hummus, fried zucchini cakes, etc.) But it was the perfect size. The service was good and the interior design was gorgeous. The only reason I can't give it five stars is because of the location. It's in a business park that is difficult to find even with GPS. If you like Mediterranean food though, it's absolutely worth a visit!

    (4)

  • Eujin C.

    The lamb shank is to die for. Will definitely be going back for more. Great service and good selection of dishes.

    (5)

  • John D.

    Love their food! Right next to my work..go there all the time! I recommend you get their grilled chicken sandwich

    (4)

  • Jarrod F.

    I came here on Sunday for brunch. I'll get this off my chest first... the food was good! No complaints. I ordered the Adana kabob, which was exactly how it should be....thin slices of lamb with salad and rice. My fiance got the Chicken Kabob, which she enjoyed very much... and her sister ordered an omelet. The menu items were very reasonably priced and I also love the fact that this place is a Turkish diner... its something unique that you can't find elsewhere in the area. I believe the closest Turkish restaurant is in Baltimore (Cazbar) The big problem during my experience at Rudy's MD was the service... When we arrived, it was during a European soccer game. The owner and his friends were watching the game with much enthusiasm. This is fine. Its his establishment and he can do whatever he likes. However, because of this fact the restaurant's patrons were left without a manager to ensure things were running smoothly. This is where the problem lied and the manager admitted this to us after we complained (which was a good thing). But even though the soccer game was a bit distracting and loud, I could deal with it. Our server, however, was either drugged or missing a part of his brain. First, he didn't write down our order. So when he goes over to the computer to put it in, he forgets what we ordered and I see him looking through the menu trying to figure it out. Instead of asking us for verification he puts in the wrong order and low and behold, the wrong food comes out to our table. Does the brain dead waiter apologize to us after this? No, he does not. The right food eventually makes it out and we all begin to eat. Like I said the food was good. But our waiter made the experience terrible. He never asks us if we needed anything, he failed to refill our drinks, he failed to bring us our soups (which comes with our meal) and he fails to bring us our check. He pretty much did NOTHING a server should do. Just fiddled his dumb thumbs like the brain dead idiot he is. So we did what anyone would do and complained to the manager after we ate. The manager correctly comped the incorrect meal and gave us a slice of cake. We also saw him "speak" with our brain dead waiter and admit that he was at fault for what had happened and made the waiter apologize to us. If the owner or manager is reading this (and I hope he is) take my advice: FIRE your incompetent employees, including that brain dead waiter you have. I don't care if they're related to you, whether their your sister's kids or your own... they have no right ruining your business!!! You only have one shot to impress a new patron to your business. There are too many other establishments around and you cannot afford to miss out on the opportunity to obtain new customers. Would I come back here? Unfortunately, probably not. Which is a shame because I love Turkish cuisine and the food was good here. I just can't run the risk of getting that brain dead waiter again. Next time, I may shove his head down the toilet where it belongs. Perhaps that will flush out all the crap in between his ears and make him a competent human.

    (2)

  • Kalpesh S.

    The restaurant only has one fryer, so if you're a vegetarian, many of the vegetarian items (mozzarella sticks, felafel, etc.) are fried in the same oil as the chicken/fish/etc. I had to stick with hummus and pancakes for lunch (which was good). It would be nice if they actually served REAL maple syrup instead of the corn-syrup crap called Smuckers Breakfast Syrup. Overall, not happy that I went to a Turkish/Mediterranean restaurant to eat pancakes since they can't have vegetarian options that are FULL VEGETARIAN!!

    (2)

  • C S.

    If you want to eat great food, with great service, and great people (customers and staff) then try Rudy's. If you want factory produced national chain quality food, go somewhere else. While travelling for business, my wife and I tried Rudy's after reading the reviews on Yelp*. Well, once again Yelp has gotten us to try something new, and once again, Yelp did us right! From the moment you enter Rudy's you know you are in for a treat. The atmosphere is wonderful... tastefully decorated, and friendly staff and customers immediately set the mood. Just so you know, we liked it so much we had to go back for breakfast! Ok, we have never had Turkish food, and had no idea what to order. Never fear, Rudy is near! Rudy explained the options to my wife and recommended she try "Chicken Pide" since it didn't have onions. Then, it was my turn... "You like Lamb" asked Rudy. I said yes, at which point my menu was taken and Rudy said "OK, I know what you want". That was it... I had no idea what I was getting except that it had Lamb. We started our meal with "Sigara Boregi" (think Turkish Egg Roll), and Red Lentil Soup. - WOW! is all I can say. Great flavors, light fresh tastes, and nice presentations. Entrees: My wife loved the "Chicken Pide". The dough was very good, the spices in the filling were very nicely balanced, and the portion size was just right (if not a little too large). My surprise entree was "Grilled Lamb Adana". Rudy was right... this was a perfect entree. The lamb was very tender and well seasoned. No single spice outweighed the others. The rice was moist and perfectly cooked. So, after eating way too much, we gave in to the dessert menu. I had the Kunefe, my wife had the cannoli cake. WOW! (I know I keep using that word a lot, but there is no other way to describe it). During dinner, Rudy turned off the TVs and instead ran a slide show of Turkey (the nation, not the bird!). It is obvious he is proud of his heritage and likes to share his culture. As we waited for dessert, Rudy brought Turkish tea to our table to ensure we had an appreciation for his heritage. So on Saturday we went for breakfast. Do not pass up this opportunity. Everything was very nice and the quality and quantity is a real value. Rudy's is a dining experience, not a meal. You can eat fast, but you will not want to. Rudy's is a turkish version of your grandma's dining room. You won't eat and run, rather you will eat, enjoy, and feel comfortable with your new best-friends.

    (5)

  • Jill G.

    This may be our new favorite spot for all meals!! I'm so sad I just found this place, how have I lived in HoCo for so long and not know about Rudy's? I had been telling my husband how great Doner Kebab was in Germany and we should find a place to get some here... I Googled and found out their was a place right in our backyard!! So we packed up the kids and hopped in the car and went straight to Rudy's. While the service was not spectacular, but the food made up for it. We will definitely be returning to try some other dishes.

    (3)

  • Jo W.

    So great to have a good Turkish restaurant in the area! This is the real deal for those who, like me, have searched far and wide with little success. Yum!

    (4)

  • Edward L.

    Get the whole fish. Get the lamb shank. Thank me later. Finish with a Turkish coffee or tea. It's served plain (strong). You can add sugar if you want but I drank it straight with a glass of cool water (like the Arabs do).

    (4)

  • Sara K.

    I ordered the Donner Kabob and a dessert that had fried vermicelli shaped into a circle with cheese in the middle. Both were EXCELLENT. The portions were HUGE but the food was so delicious and I ate every last speck. The service was excellent and Rudy was very charming and friendly.

    (5)

  • Dana R.

    Although this place had not gotten the best reviews, we had a Groupon so we decided to try it out. The location is convenient for the offices nearby, but this place is definitely not somewhere to go out of your way for. I found the service to be a bit pushy. The place was pretty empty for a lunch hour and it was clear that the servers were bored. We chose our own seating and were asked if we needed anything a little too often and by several staff members. The food was disappointing as well. For a Turkish, Mediterranean restaurant, their menu was filled with entirely too many mediocre American Fare options. The food was definitely a reflection of the jumble of a menu. I got an order of mucver, a traditional Turkish zucchini and feta pancake, a tuna salad sandwich, and baklava. The mucver was both under-seasoned and under-cooked. The sandwich, which comes with a cup of soup and french fries, was an average diner meal. The baklava was good, but underwhelming. I would recommend Rudy's only as a place to pick up an inexpensive sandwich lunch meal for people who work in the area.

    (2)

  • Saif A.

    I'm giving them 3 stars because they have halal turkish options which are hard to find. The food is ok but my main gripe is the cost. Its just way too much. If they had prices like the old Cazbar that was in Columbia I'd go back more.

    (3)

  • Tracy T.

    Interesting menu options...so hungry...so excited to eat. I said the above line the day I checked in. Read my previous review of Frank's to know where we came from. I yelped for the next diner and found Rudy's so we headed over. What a change of scenery...Rudy's is set up like a restaurant, not your typical diner deal. It looked clean and we were greeted right away (perhaps by Rudy?). The menu is sort of like a diner, they had lots of options to choose from and served breakfast all day, but the Turkish specialities def perked our interest. The boys got breakfast items and my friend Shawn and I got... I want to say donner wraps. Essentially it was like a gyro but on a wrap instead of pita. Delicious nomnomnom. It was a little drier than what I was used to but still so so tasty---even my husband tried and he's normally scared of all new food and he liked it. Well done Rudy's! Our server was super nice and attentive to us, and the guy I'm assuming may have been Rudy was also on top of our needs making sure everyone was happy. Locals seemed to be coming in and our while we were there so they must know about it. I doubt I'll be back down here anytime soon but I'll def come back to Rudy's! only weird thing was the menu said Sunday's there's a buffet but we didn't see one so not sure if they weren't doing it or if we missed it...we were still happy with our food.

    (4)

  • Elizabeth B.

    I've picked up food from here twice. Both times the chicken greek salad. It was actually good, the grilled chicken was great and the salad dressing was delicious. Could use a little more lettuce. The first time I got lentil soup and it was lukewarm with a kind of skin on the top, I guess it hadn't been warmed up enough. The dolmas were good, but pricey at $7.50 for about 6 of them. The story about the racist comment is awful. I hope the staff is more careful about what they say!

    (2)

  • Stephanie I.

    I really like coming here. The turkish food is delicious. This time around I got the Spinach Pie Lunch entree which came with lentil soup, salad, and dolma. We also go the fried zucchini to start which is my favorite. The service is very friendly and quick. Our food was brought out to us in a timely manner and it was all great. I will continue to come here for lunch.

    (5)

  • Sue K.

    Finally! Good Turkish food; so hard to find, so great to have found it! My guy and I both love Mediterranean and middle eastern food; so when we found this place, we evaluated the Yelp reviews and decided to give a try. The first pleasant surprise was the beverage selections: Ayran and Turkish Coffee - woot-woot! If you are unfamiliar with Ayran, it is a slightly salty yogurt beverage that goes outstanding well with the spice palate in Mediterranean and middle eastern meat dishes. On to the food: My guy had the lamb Adana and I had the Iskendr. Both came with soup, choices for the day were lentil and tomato, we ordered one of each and popped them in the middle of the table to share; both were good, but the tomato was the winner for both of us (note, my guy is not generally a consumer of tomato soup, therefore, this is HUGE). The lamb Adana came as a colorful plate with rice and nice cucumber/tomato salad. The Iskendr was served over cubed bread and plain, thick-style yogurt with lots of chunks of tomato cooked in. So very good, but huge and I couldn't finish it; no matter, my guy helped me along and he was stuffed too. The baklava was buttery and sweet, made with pistachios. A perfect finish, with Turkish coffee, to a very tasty and authentic meal. Not sure why the haters are hating this place, but I will definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Emily L.

    We found out about this place because Rudy, the owner, used to work at the Double TT Diner as a waiter. He's a really nice guy who knows how to run a restaurant! The food is great and the atmosphere is nice! The Turkish food is delicious! The Doner is very good as well as the kebabs and the seafood. Highly recommend this place!

    (5)

  • Taheerah B.

    Review for Saturday morning April 7. I was beyond hungry, and I did notice the menu had a variety of dishes. I opted for the soup of the day, grilled cheese sandwich, and orange juice. The server was nice and attentive, and the sandwich and fries were OK. I gave it two stars because I have experienced better in closer establishments. I don't think anyone can mess up a grilled cheese sandwich. Will I return? Probably not simply because it is out of the way. Plus, the manager was pretty flat when I inquired about the soccer game on the TV. Actually, he was a bit rude. Needless to say, he changed the damn channel. I did notice that there were many families there, so it seems like a decent family establishment.

    (2)

  • Cheryl S.

    Our lamb chops and lamb shank dinners were fantastic. The delicious meal, wonderful service and beautiful atmosphere left us with the desire to plan our next evening out to Rudy's Mediterranean Grill!

    (5)

  • Tee B.

    As was told to me ... My fiancee walks in to order; there is a guy shouting across the store trying to take her order. Then he throws the menu at her. Needless to say, she walks out without ordering anything. RUDE.

    (2)

  • Spiro A.

    "Yelp" used to have insightful comments and relatively accurate ratings. It's now filled with verbal diarrhea. Soapbox put away... Rudy's was great. Great selection of authentic Greek and Turkish dishes. The red lentil soup was amazing, the Mousaka was very good, and the Baklava was one of the best I'd ever had (and I'm a Greek American). The owner came over and spoke to us for a while, and he mingled with others as well. All in all, Rudy's was a great experience. Ignore the sofakingreadtodddid negative reviews and go for yourself.

    (5)

  • Tolga Y.

    I have been to Rudy's 6 times since it was opened last month. It became my favorite Mediterranean restaurant in this part of the world. I tried doner (a.k.a gyro), lamb chops, adana, iskender and kofte. All of them are very good. I have hard time deciding what to order. My lunch favorite is doner sandwich (or wrap), which is reasonably priced, served quickly and most of all very delicious. My dinner favorite is adana. Lentil soup, dolma (grape leaves wrap) and humus are very good appetizers. Their baklava is one of the best! Being from Mediterrenean region, I was a little hesitant when I took my boss and his friend, who came here from Michigan, to Rudy's. They both loved it and said they wanted to eat at Rudy's again when they come to Maryland next time. I took two more coworkers and they both liked the food and service. Other than food, service is pretty good as well (although it was just opened). Owner and the staff are very friendly and very flexible. I am very happy to have such a good restaurant close to my office and home. Many people must think the same way. Every time I go there for lunch, Rudy's is packed.

    (5)

  • Sei K.

    My friends & I stumbled on this restaurant after going through DineHowardCounty.com to check out local restaurants (with coupon in hand of course). We loved it so much, we've been back at least 1/month and friends we've introduce now come weekly. The serving sizes are huge and the food is delicious everytime. I recommend the lamb shank (falls off the bone) and stuffed eggplant (with lamb). My friends love the moussaka (beef). Everything is so flavorful. The bread is served hot with oil/vinaigrette. Plenty of parking. Always a table available (they expanded) & they cater. Service sometimes is a little slow, but I like that as I'm tired of being rushed off or constantly interrupted when I'm eating or just want to chat over dessert with friends. Price is definitely a deal for soup and the meals usually comes with rice and small salad. It's my favorite Turkish/Mediterranean go-to place!

    (5)

  • Randee W.

    We had a great dining experience last night at Rudy's. We have "date night" once a month and used Yelp to narrow down our choices for November. We were greeted and seated promptly. The menu, which included pictures of many the Mediterranean and American dishes, was broad. We had the Sigara boregi and Dolma for appetizers. For entrees, we had the Grilled Lamb Adana with yogurt served with carrot soup and the Chicken kebab served with lentil soup. The food was fresh and flavorful. The service was friendly, knowledgeable and paced the meal so we could relax and enjoy. We did not feel rushed at all. I hope this review is helpful to you, as you are making your dining decisions.

    (4)

  • James P.

    Let me preface this by saying I've only tried the Turkish side of the menu, but from what I've had thus far it is excellent! The kufte and doner kabob (skip the platter and get the sandwich) are delicious! The mecver and sigara boregi appetizers are also on point! Also try the Turkish pizza (lahmacun)...it's very good! You'd have to go to Virginia (or Istanbul!) to find better Turkish food in Maryland! The owner is cool too!

    (5)

  • Amber F.

    We've been here twice, and the food was fine, some dishes more tasty than others. No big complaints, but I will note that when we went for breakfast, I ordered a lox omelet, which came with regular salmon in it, not the smoked salmon I was expecting. That was kind of weird, but we decided to try again for dinner. The food was fine, and we both enjoyed the Iskender Kebab and the Kazan Dibi. What sealed the deal on my opinion, though, was the owner's conversation. Prior to our visit, he received a negative review on Yelp, and he was not too happy about it. He read the review to his staff (loud enough for customers to hear) and complained about it ("...I could sue her! This is a lie! I told her 'Come in for a refund, I don't need you or your money!'"). I understand--if you are a small business owner, every review counts. But seriously, keep this talk in the back, not in front of customers! The owner was so disrespectful that my husband will have a hard time getting me to agree to go back here. FWIW, my husband will try--he really enjoys the food, the ambiance, and the comfy booths.

    (2)

  • Shiopei C.

    This great little place is run by a super enthusiastic, friendly Turk guy named Rudy (just in case you were wondering) who struck up conversation with my dad about what common ancestry Turks and Chinese people have, much to my embarrassment (on the part of my dad, not Rudy). Rudy recommended some dishes to us, including the meal very straightly named "Fresh Fish from the Mediterranean". Answering my parent's curiousity, he explained the fish was fresh caught on the Mediterranean sea, packed on ice immediately, and flown 10 hours to MD, and delivered once a week. So it's as fresh as you can get a fish from Turkey. It was delicious. It comes out piping hot, a whole fish, tail and head and bones and all, with the skin black and crispy and perfectly salted. The meat itself is white and tender. Eat it with the delicious long grain butter rice, and a raw piece of red onion that comes on the platter with it, and it's the best thing ever. It's so simple of a meal, but it's perfectly done, you feel like you're eating like a king. Or maybe like you're eating like Jesus. You know, after a long day of preaching with his fisherman buddies on the shores of Galilee back in the day. Highly recommended. Also recommended: the lamb shank. Which my dad devoured like a caveman, and even licked his fingers afterwards! The Iskender Kabob is also unique and different. Thinly sliced seasoned meat stewed with some fresh tomatoes and herbs on a bed of bread chunks and a wonderful yogurt sauce. I would have loved this, if I hadn't been stealing chunks of fish off my mom's plate. Where this place shines is in it's Turkish food. Don't even look at anything else. We'll definitely be back!

    (4)

  • Judy G.

    Food was fantastic, service friendly and knowledgable, decor in restaurant very nice. A very nice woman and gentleman (ownes or managers I guess) came by the table to make sure everything was ok. Pleasantly surprise not what I expected from a strip mall restaurant.

    (5)

  • Justin W.

    I was pretty hungry and decided to try something different while I was in town. I've never had Mediterranean food before and even though I saw the price code was $$, I went for it. Nice decor. I must have read the menu too quickly because I ordered Izgara Kofte. "Minced lamb with onion, parsley and Mediterranean spices, cooked over charcoal." I read it as "mixed" but either way, when it came out, I realized I had no concept of what Mediterranean food would be like. Let's backtrack a bit. Bread came out first with dipping oil then my salad and choice of soup (tomato) for me. Anyways, it came out with rice, 4 patties of meat and a pinch of salad. I guess I was expecting it to look something like Indian food or come out in chunks or tiny pieces. Either way, it tasted good and the patties were rich with flavor. Glad to have the rice there to balance out the lamb taste. If I come bqck into town, I'd have to ask the server to describe what the entree looks like.

    (4)

  • Jeremy S.

    I just went to Rudy's for the second, and last, time. The first time I had a mediocre lamb dish, and didn't have much of a reason to return, but I happened into the shopping center right after two filled tour buses put the Indian restaurant on a wait. I sat down at the counter after being directed there by the greeter. I had to flag down the waitress after waiting a few minutes. Finally I was able to order a Buffalo Bleu sandwich, but the waitress walked away before I could order a drink. They brought out a chicken parmesan sandwich instead. After one bite, I waited another five minutes before flagging down the owner and returning it. He whisked my plate off with a halfhearted apology and went back into the kitchen. I did manage to get a glass of water during the following waiting period. A guy who sat down to my left about seven minutes after me at this point got up and left, having completed his meal. Eventually, I finally got my sandwich - the kitchen did not rush - with no bleu cheese. Finished all my fries before finally getting the waitress's attention and asking for the blue cheese. She disappeared off into the kitchen and came back to inform me that the kitchen was out of bleu cheese. Before I could tell her that I didn't want the sandwich, she was gone. The thing I ate was a dry, overcooked piece of fried chicken with a rameken's worth of buffalo sauce thrown on top on the way out of the kitchen. It was barely edible. There was no opportunity to complain as I could not get anyone's attention and I was running out of time for my lunch hour. I then spent another six minutes attempting to get my check. Once I got it I walked it to the cash register rather than wait for someone to actually come back and pick it up. Suffice it to say next time a pair of tour buses hit the area, I'll just go to the deli next door.

    (2)

  • Phillip G.

    Terrific breakfast. Not very busy like the other places. Can't wait to try lunch & dinner.

    (5)

  • Miss Z.

    I went to Rudy's yesterday to have lunch with my friend. We bought a groupon for the place and thought it was a super deal: $25 for $60 worth of food, with no restrictions on party size (usually deals this good on groupon require a party of 4 or more). What luck! When we arrived we showed them the groupon and the manager came over and told us that they made a mistake on the groupon and had intended it to be used with parties of 4 or more. I pointed out that the groupon did not have such a limitation, and they agreed, saying it was an oversight on their part, and that since we were only a party of two, they would honor the groupon but with the stipulation that we were only allowed to order dinner entrees (no sandwiches or appetizers) and we also could not take any food home with us that we did not finish in the restaurant. The manager was a gruff middle-eastern man, and was very rude and disrespectful in the way he spoke to us. I have heard from other people that they are not very good dealing with women at this place. Apparently in Rudy's, we're still second-class citizens. I wonder if we had not been two women if we would have been treated better or at least not talked down to. The manager acted like we were imposing on them, and said that he would give us some food but it would be better if we left and came back when we had 4 people. Ridiculous behavior. I would not recommend anyone going to Rudy's, especially not women without a male companion.

    (1)

  • Jim L.

    Great food and great service. We have known Rudy for years and he does an excellent job. Rudy's is a very friendly and welcome place. We have a daughter with Autism and we always feel welcome.

    (5)

  • Bennett T.

    We were looking for some authentic Turkish food and found it here at Rudy's. The meal started with fresh bread and oil which was very well seasoned. Next we had lentil soup which my wife enjoyed (I thought it was a bit under salted. Quick fix, though). For the entrée my wife had lahmacun and I had a döner sandwich. Both delicious and well portioned. For dessert we had baklava with turkish coffee which was to die for. Our waiter was super friendly and we were well taken care of the entire time. I am not sure how the American fare is here - if I wanted a cheeseburger I'd go to five guys. As for Turkish fare, we will definitely be returning. One suggestion: bigger wine list! The options were, and I quote, red wine or white wine. I had red and it wasn't bad. I still don't know what it was, though! :0)

    (4)

  • Sandra G.

    We visited with 5 adults and two young children, and everyone was very pleased with their meals. The food was delicious. the waiter attentive and knowledgeable, and another person came out to speak to the children and make them feel especially welcome. The restaurant was spotlessly clean. The prices were a little bit high, but the portions were huge and the quality seemed excellent. Given the chance, I'd definitely return.

    (4)

  • Bing C.

    I work across the street and Rudy's is a welcomed addition to the lunch options around here. I eat here 2-3 times a week since they opened and enjoy the food very much. Since the restaurant is new, the decor is very nice and the staff is nice. They do get busy at times especially around lunch but it's worth it. The owners are there all the time and it shows in their operations. They have a pretty comprehensive menu but I usually get the Chicken Salad Club sandwich. For $8 you get a sandwich, soup and fries. I think it's a great value since a value meal from a fast food joint will run you at least $6. The difference is Rudy's has high quality food for a buck more. Going to try their salad and entree next time. They do breakfast as well. Give them try.

    (5)

  • Seth S.

    Rudy's wife has a smile for her customers and son and a funny kind of sternness around her servers. But she introduced herself pleasantly and sat me at the bar, where I ordered the falafel in hummus and tahini - She was happy to include tzatziki on the side, free of charge. The place has a modern atmosphere, for the most part, even if the new steel pitchers I saw Rudy himself open up were a bit gaudy (and notably not rinsed prior to use). Rudy himself patrols the dining area and kitchen in shorts and a t-shirt, where he dines on his establishment's own food. As well he should. You would think six pieces of falafel would not a meal make, but served crunchy, piping, and well-seasoned around a bowl of hummus and alongside hot pita bread courtesy of Rudy's wife, I was happy through to dinner time. Recommended for lunch.

    (4)

  • John P.

    Good food, friendly service. They just need to work on concept.

    (5)

  • Carol E.

    Escape the chain restaurant maze of Columbia, MD with this gem of a restaurant. Off the beaten path with amazing Turkish/Greek food and all day breakfast! The service is wonderful and their food is fresh and awesome! Friendly, family owned and shockingly never crowded. Worth the trip!

    (5)

  • Asa B.

    I went there tonight with a friend of mine for Dinner after I closed my shop, we were greeted and welcomed as soon as we walked in the restaurant! The place was very clean and decoration made the interior look fantastic! Our waiter's name was Chengiz (çengiz) who is a turkish guy with great customer service, friendly and very informative! As drink we asked for diet coke and our drinks were getting filled properly each time we were about to finish! My friend had ordered Imam Bayildi (stuffed eggplant) as i really dislike eggplants I didn't wanna take a piece to taste it but my friend did really like it, omg my Lamb kebob took too longggg time to be ready but it was worth all the wait! My kabob was tasted great and so delicious as desert i got chocolate cake with two scopes of chocolate and strawberry icecreams and my friend had turkish rice pudding which was so delicious! We both really enjoyed our visit and hope to visit again sometime soon at lunch so we able to try more selection rather than their closing time which most things on menu can be available! This place is very nice and I 100% recommend to everyone who wants to try this restaurant you won't regret it ! : )

    (5)

  • Lynna K.

    This was our first time eating there. We met a Turkish family there. The atmosphere was nice, friendly, and clean. Our 2 children (10 & 7), were a little nervous about trying new flavors but were able to find something they liked. I did some research on the place before we got there, so I had an idea of what to expect. Food: We had for appetizers the sigara boregi, imam bayildi, patlican salad, and since me kind of fried thing with meat and cheese. The sigara boregi resemble taquitos only in size and shape. The outside "crust" is phyllo dough and the inside is a mixture of cheese and fresh herbs. My kids loved them and so did we. The imam bayildi is baby eggplant cut in half and stuffed with vegetables. It was ok but I didn't like the veggies. The patlican salad is smoked eggplant with grilled veggies all chopped up with a citrus type dressing. It is AWESOME!!!! By far, it was my favorite. We also had soup. The red lentil soup was delicious as was the bean soup with veggies. Main course: The kids had easy stuff...one had chocolate chip pancakes and the other had pasta. I had the moussaka. It was good. It is kinda like an eggplant lasagna without all the tomato sauce. My husband had the iskender kebab. It is sliced doner over pita bread with homemade yogurt sauce. It was wonderful. There was also doner kebab...which is a smaller version of the iskender. Dessert: I had the baklava which was so good I want time get it everyday. Hubby had the künefe which was unusual. It is cheese with a crispy coating and fried then sweet syrup poured on it. Definitely something to try when you are there. The kids had a chocolate cake with sweet cream mousse covered in chocolate. It was shaped Luke a mouse. They loved it. I will definitely be a repeat customer. The atmosphere was great. Rudy was very pleasant and friendly.

    (4)

  • Sibel C.

    Today was my first time coming to the restaurant since it was recommended by my brother and their food was delish! They have a new cook and he is awesome! The doner & Adana was sooo delish!!! I def recommend it!!!

    (5)

  • R Y.

    I went there for lunch. I just wanted to pick something up and take it back to the office so I called ahead. This was my first time and I love to try new foods so I asked for the ground beef pide and some fries. The gentleman said that fries would not be good with that and that I should just try it by itself. I was impressed that the actually talked me OUT of a sale by being honest. When I got there I was pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere. Although obviously a lunch crowd from the local office buildings was there; the noise level was at a minimum and the place had a cozy feel to it, even with outside seating. I was greeted and walked back to the area near a bar so that I could pick up my food and had a pleasant conversation with the Maître d or owner or cook (I don't know which). When I had the chance to try the food, I was pleased by both the pide, which seems to be another form of pizza (apologies to Rudy's for the comparison) but had a very interesting and pleasant flavor. Their lentil soup as a side made for an excellent accompaniment. I will definitely be going back there to experiment with more of their dishes. After this experience, I'm sure that I won't be disappointed.

    (4)

  • Rob P.

    I am taking a different look at Rudy's. Since Rudy is Turkish and I went there looking for the Turkish and greek menu items, I ignored all of the western dishes he added to capture the rest of the lunch crowd. I tried the doner kebab sandwich with tzatziki sauce, the izgara kofte, and the spinach pie. The doner kebab was good. Until proven wrong, I'm saying it was the best you are going to find in Maryland. The izgara kofte contained red sweet and hot peppers. Highly recommended. Only the spinach pie disappointed me: the fillo was soggy, probably due to too much moisture in the spinach and I could not tell whether there was any feta in it. With that exception, the Turkish dishes are worth the trip to Rudy's. I will be back, especially after Rudy adds falafel to the menu in June. Rudy also has a Turkish-only brunch on Sundays.

    (3)

  • Dan C.

    Came here really late at night, and they still served us. Very friendly and accommodating staff. Food was really expensive for anything more than a sandwich, so I ordered a gyro. This place is Turkish, not Greek, so it was a bit different, but definitely still good. Awesome dessert.

    (4)

  • Jim S.

    This is an excellent family-owned restaurant in the midst of chain-oriented Columbia eateries and business parks. What a find. If you have been a patron of the Enchanted Forest Double T, you'll recognize the owner who was a long-time fixture at that diner. Fortunately, the menu at Ruby's is more compact. We've eaten at Ruby's three times -- twice for lunch and once for breakfast -- and each time we have been pleasantly greeted by the owner. For lunch, we've sampled the Greek/Turkish selections. They've been excellent. For breakfast, we have had more traditional fare -- omelets, home fries, etc. It is always dangerous to order omelets out as so often they are dry. But not here, the eggs are fresh and the cook knows how to keep them from getting dry. But to give me a reason to go out to breakfast, the restaurant needs to serve scrapple. Unlike many restaurants, Rudy's knows how to cook it right! We have admittedly not tried hamburgers and chicken fingers but I certainly wouldn't go to Rudy's for those kinds of dishes. Although it is a bit off the beaten track, Rudy's is an excellent little family-owned restaurant. Whenever I can, I support non-chain, local owners and we've been recommending the place to all our friends.

    (5)

  • GuessWho C.

    The food is decent but way too expensive for a strip mall joint & the ambiance plus PORTION sizes are way too little for the prices. A bowl of soup, a starter of a very small sized tabouleh and 3 measly pieces of baklava cost me $17!!!!!!!!!!! I will not be coming here again only because I feel like the owners are trying to rip you off. You are better of going to a place like Garbanzo

    (1)

  • Rajat S.

    Great, succulent kababs. The owner is enthusiastic and is always out to strike a conversation. Some of the wait staff appears to be from Turkey itself, and do not shy away from making (enforcing?) recommendations. At least we welcome that... All in all, a great place tucked away in a corporate park in Columbia.

    (5)

  • Milan R.

    You know, when a business owner is not sure when he'll be operational its always a bad sign. Rudy's replaced the now dear departed Quiznos on the Gateway Dr which caters to the office goers on Col Gateway . The location is perfect , offices all around with just Koko's salad bar, an asian takeaway and an Indian restaurant and nothing else. After Rudy's hung their sign nearly 3 months ago, they finally opened doors last week. The decor is typical diner like, not plush or upscale by any stretch of imagination. Food and Service : I am always skeptical when a restaurant tries to be everything ! Its a sign that they are unsure what they really want to sell. Rudy's calls itself a Mediterranean grill, but have waffles,pancakes,omlettes, burgers,pizzas,pasta and almost every cuisine under the sun on their menu. I was there for lunch and the first thing that struck me were the prices! I know this is Columbia business district, but $7 for onion rings? Really? $6.50 for Hummus? For those of us from DC metro area where we are used to paying $3 for hummus/rings/fries these prices will appear way too steep! Surely there cannot be many who'll prefer to spend 20$ on lunch everyday! And lunch clientele will make up 75% of Rudy's customers.Nobody would want to pay $7 for mozzarella sticks! The high prices continues on to entrees too with most entrees around $12/$13. Now for the food : The blandest, most undercooked food that I've tasted in a long long time! I shouldn't be too harsh on the food as they've just opened, but this arguably was the worst food that I've tasted anywhere on this side of the beltway! About the service, when me and my colleague were at the table for lunch, a black gentleman walked in. He was well dressed, and his office id card would suggest he was just another office goer on the Gateway. He asked for the menu, and after a glance, he enquired about the restaurant's hours of operation. He thanked the waiter, and left. Before he was barely out of the door, one of the waiter turns towards the cashier and says " Tell him we've got fried chicken and watermelon!". This wasn't even a whisper but the entire restaurant could hear him. Our jaws almost hit the table with shock! Clearly, someone forgot to tell Rudys that this is 2012 and not 1950s! Now Rudy's if you guys are reading this please remember your repeat customers will always be the office folks on Gateway. And you wont get many of them back with such atrocious prices,racist comments and horrendous food. Fix it before you go down the same way as other "multi-cuisine" restaurants.

    (1)

  • David F.

    I have eaten at Rudy's many times and have never been disappointed by the food. The staff is attentive and the food is fantastic. It appears that all of the Turkish dishes are freshly prepared and are a great change from many restaurants I have had breakfast, lunch and dinners there. For the breakfast I would recommend the pancakes and home fries. The only issue I have is that it is a substantial portion. The donor sandwiches are great and the fries are fantastic. My dinner choices tend to rotate among the different Turkish meals and I have never been disappointed. For dessert I love the Baklava. Home made and very enjoyable.

    (5)

  • Jeanette J.

    Great service and the lamb chops are terrific!

    (5)

  • Brian R.

    Love Rudy's. They just added new Turkish items and desserts to the menu.

    (5)

  • Lisa D.

    I stopped by for dinner on a weekday night around 9:00 pm. I had intended on getting something for takeout but decided to eat in. I was the only customer in the restaurant so I had the full attention of the server. He was wonderful and attentive and I struck up a conversation with both he and the woman whom I believe was the owner. I have been to Turkey and I have to say that the pita (Turkish Style Pizza) I had the hamburger and cheese which was as good as any that I have had in Turkey. I was told that the chef was Turkish. I had a great meal-the lentil soup and baklava was delicious and I was told that they periodically have a "Turkish" night where they have a live band and belly dancing. I only wish I had found this restaurant sooner-I was looking to try something different from the usual chain restaurants in Columbia. I enjoyed it so much that my friend and I are planning on going again this weekend for dinner. I'm hooked and I'm sure to become a regular customer.

    (4)

  • R E.

    This place epitomizes mediocrity. It wasn't bad but nothing we ate - neither the soups, vegetable sides nor entrees - had any detectable flavor.

    (2)

  • Milton F.

    Rudy's is indeed a Diner, in a pleasant strip-mall, with plenty of parking. We have eaten here twice, but have not tried any of their breakfast options. The owners are Turkish, and there are many Turkish dishes to choose from. We have specially enjoyed all of their vegetarian dishes (mucver, dolmas, tabouleh, sigara boregi,etc). My wife felt that their Mousasake is one of the better renditions she has tried in the Balto.-Wash. area. I was disappointed with the doner kebab. As with many of the local Greek gyros, they are made of non-descript ground meat. The service has always been attentive, and friendly.

    (3)

  • J A.

    My fiance and I love Mediterranean food so when we saw a Groupon for this place, we snatched it right up. The restaurant is similar to a Ledo's in atmosphere and is not fancy. We weren't sure whether to seat ourselves or wait to be seated upon entering, but our server was very nice and smiled a lot. The food was good. It is important to note that the menu online is NOT their actual menu. The online menu will lead you to believe you will have a choice between breakfast (served all day), or Greek/Italian food. In actuality, you will have a choice between breakfast (served all day), or Turkish/Arabic food. Lucky for us, we both like all these types of foods so we were happy. The salad was just okay. The rice was just okay. The tziki sauce was good, and the doner meat I had was a bit more greasy/oily than I'm used to, but I ate it all - delicious. My fiance had a Kofte and I thought it was good but he gave it a "just okay" rating. The prices are decent and I would go back again.

    (2)

  • Mark M.

    Had dinner there Saturday night. The food was excellent. The restaurant was tastefully decorated and clean. Service was as good as could be considering how busy they were. The place was packed the entire time we were there. They also participate with coupon programs!

    (4)

  • Colleen D.

    Went there today because I was craving hummus, and so happy I did. I got a beef kabob, and an order of hummus. The beef was good quality, seasoned well, and cooked perfectly (they even asked me how I wanted it cooked). The rice was fluffy and also had good seasoning. The salad and dressing was the same old stuff you would get at any kabob place. It also came with lentil soup, but I haven't eaten that yet. The hummus is the best I have had around here. It was creamy, lemony, and garlicky. Just what I love about hummus. The pita that came with it was more like bread, which scared me, but it turned out to be very tasty. I can't wait to go back. It is a great find!

    (4)

  • R S.

    The best gyro sandwich (doner kabob) in Howard County! They make the gyro meat from scratch, and grill it on a vertical spit, not the pre-formed stuff you get in several local restaurants that serve Greek food. Rudy's makes their own pita too! We also liked the cold eggplant salad, refreshing, cool, garlicky, must be a Turkish recipe.

    (5)

  • B T.

    I just did a carry out today, had lahmacun, falafel, ezme, baklava, rice pudding. The owner was too kind to offer me tea while I was waiting. Moreover, he put soup and bread complimentary. I had these in my dinner and all were good and tasty. I will certainly go there again. Good job ;)

    (4)

  • Melissa B.

    Good service , friendly staff, and nice atmosphere. The food was good and would have been very good if it had been less salty and served over pita instead of thick cubes of bread.

    (3)

  • A R.

    We were looking for a place to get breakfast after church and came across Rudy's. At first glance, it looks small and we actually hesitated a few minutes about going in, but am so glad that we did. We were greeted by Rudy, who was so friendly and helpful. He brought me over a complimentary cup of tea that he brewed, nice and strong and delicious. The breakfast was very good as well. We returned for another visit, this time for dinner and were equally impressed. The fish dinner and lamb shank meal were delicious. The owner and his wife were so friendly and welcoming. Once the word gets out, I think they will become very popular. Well worth a visit!

    (4)

  • Megan Y.

    We came here with three small children and my husband who is gluten free and they could not have been more accommodating. The food was delicious and the staff was very friendly. I would recommend the kabobs and the hummus

    (4)

  • Lynie H.

    We ordered the combo of lamb, chicken n beef kabobs..thought it would be a lot of food but it's only 3 skewers with veggies. The rice n salad was paltry...came in a small teardrop shaped dish. Food was tasty though even if portions were small. Also came with a soup which was tasty. Our friend had the lamb chops which was really good..get it done medium :-) Baba ganoush was delicious!! Their bread n oil was good too. They also serve beer n wine. Parking is ample. Ambience is nice inside....has a little bar area.

    (4)

  • Sylvia B.

    This was a very nice restaurant and the staff stayed on top of things. Constantly refilling the water glasses promptly. I made reservations through OpenTable but it's not a requirement. They do carry out as well. The staff was very friendly and they were very prompt with removing the dishes. Oh and by the way you can get 10% off lunch or dinner when you check in thru Yelp :) They have a small bar area with lots of tables and booths. The food was excellent. Loved every bite from the wine to the appetizer. Oh and as far as wine is concerned they use very large wine glasses which I love. kinda make you feel like you are drinking Two glasses instead of one which is a plus in my book. The main course was plentiful and delicious. I tried the Salmon with Rice and a Mediterranean salad. Oh and the Lentil Soup was good and i don't particularly care for beans but enjoyed the soup. It had a tad bit of mint and slightly spiced. Different right. I know but I actually liked it. I like to try different food and this was an excellent choice. If you like Turkish Mediterranean food This would be an excellent choice. I definitely would return when the mood hits me.

    (4)

  • Kem W.

    This is one of the best restaurants I've encountered in HoCo. Its cuisine is Turkish but if you're a fan of any Mediterranean food, you will like Rudy's. We started with two appetizers: the falafel and hummus was the first, and the dolma (stuffed grape leaves) was the second. Both of them were excellent. The hummus that came with the falafel was delicious: the best I've ever had. Two appetizers is enough for a table of 4 to share. My dinner was the beyti yogurt. This was a Turkish flatbreak stuffed with ground beef and lamb. It is topped with a yogurt sauce. It's served piping hot and it's quite excellent. This comes with grilled jalapenos (or some similar hot pepper). Ask for some tzatziki sauce to cool off after eating one. Each dinner is served with rice and soup. My red lentil soup that was excellent. We also had chicken shish kebab at the table that was grilled to perfection... not too spicy. I sampled the dark Turkish beer called Efes. (It's a lot like a porter) and the Turkish coffee. The Turkish beer was good; the Turkish coffee will take a little getting used to. The wait staff was superb. The entire establishment is watched over by Mr. Rudy himself. Rudy's Mediterranean Grill could easily be a Yelp 5-star. One more visit to become convinced. So if you're tired of nothing but mediocre Howard County restaurants (and who isn't?) head on over to Rudy's. (And don't let the "& Diner" part of the name bother you. Some might consider it a diner but it's nothing like the Double-T. It's attractively decorated inside.) Highly recommended.

    (4)

  • victoria j.

    we went for brunch. the St Louis chicken sandwich is amazing! i wanted to try the lamb gyro but they were out of it when we went, so i went with a traditional 2 eggs, home fries, and french toast. the decor is beautiful and is quiet enough for a romantic date.

    (4)

  • Pam L.

    Not impressed yet. I guess I didn't see the full menu else I would have ordered something else. The Beef Kabob Lunch is meh. The salad that came with the meal literally had one slice of tomato and cucumber on it. Salad dressing is gross. I ordered online and I guess the options on the online menu is limited...I'll be hungry again in about an hour...

    (2)

  • Nancy A.

    Don't let the "Grill & Diner" words fool you... this isn't Denny's! This is an authentic Turkish restaurant and it was a really welcome surprise! I tried the falafel with the Turkish salad, and it was A+. Everything was fresh and tasted homemade. The tomatoes and cucumbers in my salad - hooooboy, this is what a vegetarian dreams of... crisp, delicious and well seasoned. And I could really tell the falafel was made onsite and not from some food wearhouse. We also tried the rice pudding... I am not a huge fan of rice pudding in general, but this hit the spot. Also, the service was amazing and helpful with menu suggestions.

    (5)

  • Yana C.

    As authentic as it gets - I could taste my memories of going to Istanbul several years ago! Such a hidden gem outside Baltimore, I feel lucky to have found it.

    (5)

  • Christina S.

    Excellent food and big portions! Ordered the falafel appetizer, Doner beef, and beyti yogurt. All were delicious but we wish we only ordered one entree. It was too much food!

    (5)

  • Nathan A.

    The dolmas and hummus were delicious! I had the St Louis Chicken Sandwich and fries - large portion and perfectly seasoned and cooked. Crystal is a wonderful server and didn't rush the experience at all. Thanks Crystal! I can't wait to come back!

    (5)

  • Ravon H.

    This place is a good spot for breakfast. I have been in few times to get their breakfast platters. They have not disappointed thus far. Eggs are on point I get mine scrambled with no cheese. I love their scrapple. They are one of the few places in the area you can even get it. I know most people don't like it but I love it. They make it just the way I like as well. Nice a thin cut with a crisp crust. I have tried their breakfast sandwiches a few times. They are petty good too. Staff is friendly in the mornings and its never been too crowded when I have been there. The prices are reasonable and you get a good amount of food. I have a big appetite and they always fill me up. I haven't been there to try anything for lunch or dinner. It's an establishment that I frequent and recommend.

    (4)

  • Kelly L.

    Just sat in a booth for 10 min., and no one even approached us to take an order. Restaurant not busy at all. Can't review food since we left, but can say service is terrible.

    (1)

  • Rudy N.

    Great service and wonderful food. I learned some simple Turkish phrases from my linguistically helpful waiter and again, the atmosphere was friendly, inviting and the food was just terrific.

    (5)

  • Alicia P.

    Excellent lunch! I had the chicken kabobs and friend had lamb Adan. Delicious! The chicken was very moist and tender. I also had the lentil soup. It had a hint of mint. We finished our meal with Turkish coffee. I plan to come back for breakfast.

    (5)

  • Joe B.

    We weren't sure about a Mediterranean restaurant for breakfast. We tend to be biscuits and something people for breakfast. Rudy's had quite a few omelets on the menu, but we settled on a bacon, egg & cheese sandwich, a wrap with egg whites, spinach and tomatoes (there might have been another ingredient--can't remember now) and chocolate chip pancakes for the grandkids. My husband ate one of the pancakes and said it was delicious. No syrup for anyone--they were moist enough without it, and it would probably detract from the delicious chocolate flavor. The owner was very friendly and the service was excellent. Everything we had was delicious.

    (5)

  • Laura G.

    One of my favorites in Columbia, MD. It's a Turkish restaurant with a traditional selection. I always order the red lentils, which are cooked to perfection. The last visit, I had the stuffed baby egg plant. It was a 4/5, kinda bland ground beef. I will try a more traditional plate with lamb on my next visit.

    (4)

  • Ron S.

    Excellent food and service. Rarely do I give 5 stars for anything, much less a restaurant, but here you go Rudy's. Top notch service from when we entered the place. We got the sampler app platter which was a lot of food. I was a bit surprised that it was cold but I guess that is how it is eaten? Anyway, room temp would have been preferred for that, but who am I to comment on Turkish tradition? Anyway, got onto their signature dish, and they were great, thinly sliced lamb and beef - amazing. Also got dessert, baklava and a custard type dish. Very good too. A bit expensive so I can only go now and then but yummy in my tummy!!

    (5)

  • Sharon C.

    Yelp pointed me in the direction of Rudy's Mediterranean Grill & Diner for lunch. I saw that they have corned beef and pastrami sandwiches and asked if they could combine them for me on one sandwich. My server happily obliged but I didn't know it was going to take him 30 minutes to do so. Limited on time for lunch I was worried if I'd have enough time to dine in. I recieved my food soon after asking about its status. Alas, on Heinz 57 or bbq sauce to adorn my fries that comes with the sandwich. I'm not a fan of ketchup and the server just stated that they have a delivery coming in soon. Had I not been pressed for time I should have asked for ranch dressing to use as a dipping sauce for my fries. Overall the food was tasty. I was offered the soup of the day (Lentil) but I declined. Very clean eating areas and the ladies restroom was very well maintained. Next time I'm in the area I'll have to explore more of their menu.

    (3)

  • Oz O.

    My wife and kids love this place and we are regulars. Our favorite meals are Izgara Kofte, Pide, Mucver, Sigara Boregi, and the Veggie platter. Turkish tea or coffee after a meal is a typical Turkish way of ending a meal and it's highly recommended. Also Edwin and Eray are the friendliest waiters.

    (5)

  • Al M.

    Rudy brings The best of Turkish food to Columbia, Md. The owners, husband and wife, are always there to greet and welcome to this wonderful Mediterranean oasis. Lamb chops, Döner and chicken kabab are great complimented with superb starter menu. Highly recommended if you like Mediterranean food or try something new.

    (5)

  • Danny C.

    This place is located right next to Flavors of India off Gateway Drive in Columbia. I went inside and was seated on a booth which was great because the seats were very comfortable. Just did an intense back work out at the gym earlier so those seats were ideal for me. The decor of this place is pretty neat. Various pictures up, clean environment, relaxed interior, a huge painting on the wall of a bridge and everything just looks organized. Looking at the menu, it was clear that some of the prices were higher than the typical. For instance, an order of 6 mozzarella sticks costs 7-8 bucks while at other places would cost 4-5 bucks. Come to find out, this place has mostly Turkish foods so I wanted to make sure my main entree was Turkish. I got 1 appetizer and 1 dish until I found out that Yelp had a deal for this place, 10 for 20 bucks so I got another appetizer. The Calamari and Falafel appetizers and I got their Lamb Adana. This was lunch time. I got the Falafel first; 6 pieces with hummus. The Falafel was crispy but the inside was a bit dry. However, dipping the falafel into the hummus made it better. The hummus itself didn't have a lot of flavor but the Falafel had enough so it was a good balance. I then got the Calamari and it didn't look so good. Seemed like they used old oil to cook it because it was dark. I squeezed the piece of lemon all over the dish then tried a piece without the marinara sauce. The texture was perfect. It didn't have too much crisp, just enough and the calamari wasn't too chewy, it was just right. But the flavor wasn't so good. My suspicions on the old oil were correct. They used old or overused oil to cook my calamari making it taste old. When I dipped it into the sauce, it tasted a little better. This is the star of the experience here, getting my Lamb Adana dish. The plate had rice, salad, naan and a lamb kebob. That lamb kebob was probably the most juiciest, tender and flavorful lamb kebob I've ever had. I didn't even have to use my knife to cut it because it was just so tender. It's a bit oily but so flavorful and all of it's juices and oils were getting soaked up by the naan underneath and when you have the naan, it's fantastic texture and the mixed flavors from the lamb just makes the taste even better. The rice and the salad was good too. Everything in this dish was fresh and tasted marvelous. The service was good and the appetizers came out pretty fast. The entree came out at a reasonable time but was worth it because it came out hot. When I asked the woman there about the Yelp deal, she didn't have an attitude or wasn't shocked or anything of the sort. She was great. I'm guessing she's the owner's wife? The whole time I was there, she was always doing something. What a lovely woman. Overall I had a good experience here.

    (4)

  • Kyra M.

    I came here today for lunch and it was delicious. I ordered the shrimp kebab lunch special which came with a wonderful Turkish Lentil soup. The soup was mild, creamy but fill of fresh flavor. The lunch portion was massive with seasoned well huge shrimp and lots of peppers and onions. It also came with a salad with homemade balsamic dressing. Very good meal for only $16. My waiter was very kind and funny and was knowledgeable of the menu. This place leaves me wanting to try more meditteranean restaurants.

    (5)

  • Bill F.

    Went there last night - the meal and service were very good. I very nice local choice!

    (4)

  • Irem C.

    So overjoyed to finally find a delicious Turkish restaurant in the area. Everything was amazing and authentic and tasted like home. After having terrible Turkish food in Baltimore this is so refreshing. We will be back as much as possible. The Sigara börek was homemade and delicious! Lamb chops awesome!!!! Köfte awesome!!

    (5)

  • Karen B.

    Went here yesterday evening for a graduation dinner. The service was excellent and the food was very good. The baba ghanoush appetizer was delicious (no pics - it disappeared too fast) and the chicken kabobs were well seasoned. Other people ordered the shrimp sauté and said that it was good - kind of like a jambalaya.

    (5)

  • Lizzy Y.

    We came here for dinner on a last minute whim. I saw the $10 for $20 deal and hopped on it. To be honest, if it wasn't for the deal, I would rate it 3 stars. The food was pretty good but super expensive. Service and Decor: Remarkable service. Didn't realize the restaurant was pretty fancy! The ambiance is definitely NOT casual. I felt pretty under dressed. Though, on the other hand, there were quite a bit of children present. I don't think this place is good for children. At least not for dinner. The exterior of this restaurant is very deceiving. Our waiter was very friendly. The seats are terribly comfortable. Food: We ordered the Beyti Yogurt ($18.95). I think I posted a photo but spelled the name wrong. We also ordered Lahmacun ($9.95). They served us bread and olive oil as a starter. I would recommend the Beyti Yogurt. So delicious. The lamb was cooked and seasoned sooooo deliciously. On the other hand, I would NOT recommend the Lahmacun. Very dry and hard to eat. Did not taste very good. This place should be three $$$ and not $$. Everything here is pretty pricey. The owner seems to have quite a few old friends that come to dine. Many customers tonight, greeted him with warm hugs and smiles.

    (4)

  • Megan K.

    I generally don't leave one star reviews, I usually do enough research so I don't end up at one start joints (thanks to Yelp) but I was working in Columbia and I really wanted spanakopita and Rudy's was within walking distance so I gave it a shot. The spanakopita was greasy and clearly frozen and re-heated. The worst part of the experience though honestly was waiting for my carry-out and listening to the owner who was eating at the bar yell at his staff. After I placed my order, the waitress told me she could only personally recommend the Turkish dishes on the menu, so maybe those are a better option.

    (1)

  • Myriam V.

    At first view very nice deco, lots of pictures from Turkey Service wise very attentive, but a little bit of language barrier, the waitress was very sweet and she needs to continue imprisoning her English Food wise we got what we ordered slightly off, but the food was tasty I would love to come back, they should read this and improve what needs to be done, They were showing some soccer, so that's always cool

    (4)

  • Monica S.

    Absolutely love the hummus!! Some of the food is good, other is over cooked. Would be willing to try this place again

    (3)

  • Katie B.

    My husband, daughter and I had lunch here for the first time. The food and service were both excellent! The dolma was fabulous. We both had kabobs for lunch, me chicken and him a combo of beef, lamb and chicken. All of the meat was flavorful and the rice and salad were great. The rice was my favorite- I could eat that rice with every meal! My daughter LOVED the fresh made bread and ate three pieces. This is definitely going into our regular rotation.

    (5)

  • Jesssie M.

    Got more hatemail from rudy ...a few months late. See if you can understand his rants, its fun. Rudy K. Business Owner I think you are not, and I think that you do not know what you are talking about. Never do I have that in my place, especially me. First thing is that I am an immigrant as well. All of my employees are of different backgrounds. We have all kinds of ethnicities working here. We have black people, hispanics, and I don't know what you are talking about. If you hear someone talking about race here, then you should have stepped up and said something then a there not on yelp. I think you guys are trying to say something to cause trouble for me. I have your information and I am going to report you for whatever you say on Yelp.

    (1)

  • David D.

    Food was absolutely delicious and the place was super clean. The price was very reasonable. It's a great place to go and have lunch or dinner.

    (5)

  • Jennifer B.

    I had never heard of this place until recently when we had our work holiday party here. I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the restaurant and the food was really good. We had a buffet setup and when certain items ran out the owner brought the items out himself. The owner was very friendly and all of our staff enjoyed it. I really enjoyed their beef that was served. Definitely would like to go here again.

    (4)

  • Elizabeth R.

    Absolutely amazing! The inside was clean and well decorated, the staff and owner (Rudy) were very personable and friendly. For an appetizer I had the falafel and lentil soup. The falafel was flavorful and fried perfectly without being greasy. The lentil soup was to die for, perfectly seasoned and had a "homey" sense to it. For my entrée I had the lamb in yogurt sauce on a bread chunk base and I can not praise it highly enough. The lamb was prepared perfectly. You can taste the care they put into their dishes and it really makes their food stand out.

    (5)

  • Jackie A.

    I went here to meet up with some friends. The service was spot on great. Jay took very good care of us. She was courteous and efficient. Our food items arrived to our table in a timely manner, beverages were refilled and even checks for nearly 15 people, were split - effortlessly. The hummus was perfection. You would think, who could mess up on hummus, but you'd be surprised what too much tahini or not enough lemon could do. The lentil soup, divine. I could have made a meal with those two, alone and had I known better. From there, though; it kinda went downhill. The Izgara Kofte sub, two undercooked and dense disks/smallish lamb burgers, laid in an oversized bun, a small salad on the side and a heaping mound of frozen cooked, crinkle cut fries. Thank goodness for the apps of hummus, lentil soup, which along with the side salad, filled me. The hubby's doner sub, the meat was overcooked and slightly burnt around the edges. He too, received the same crinkle cut fries and a small salad. I'm kinda confused though, for when I think of a sub - I'm expecting a roll, with meat, salad and dressing/sauce. My undercooked lamb patties, laid naked in its massive roll, unadorned, sauce no where in sight and a small salad, to the side.

    (3)

  • Chris G.

    Found this place by chance after driving back from New Jersey to Virginia. Food was amazing, and staff was very friendly. Restaurant is in a little bit of a secluded area. Was not expecting to have my socks blown off. Hummus was fantastic-- fresh and delicious. Had the doner kebab-- even more delicious. No complaints. If the restaurant wasn't an hour and a half away from my house, I would stop in more often. Thanks for staying open late on Mother's Day, guys, I'll definitely be trying to find an excuse to stop in again!

    (5)

  • Tony M.

    And in conclusion......... Pretty good. I'll write a more detailed review next time I go.

    (4)

  • Leila A.

    Stopped here on out way up 95 from down south, and wanted something other than fast food for dinner. Service was friendly. Though you could tell they use fresh ingredients, (and I know my standards are higher than most) the flavored didn't wow me. I was hoping for more. Appetizer portions seemed appropriate but entree portions were light. I would try it again to see if other selections were better.

    (3)

  • Judi S.

    My favorite Mediterranean restaurant closed, so I've been searching for one. I ordered the Felafel appetizer, which came with pita triangles, a large scoop of hummus, 6 felafel and a dolma. Much more than expected. Then I ordered the lunch portion of Spinach Pie, which came with a cup of soup (I chose the Lentil which was delicious) a side salad and two large squares of Spinach Pie. Everything was very good. Not overly spiced, leaning more toward plain, but very good. I'm bringing home more than I ate! With their 10% coupon for checking in, I got all of that for the ridiculous amount of only $7.90! Good food, presented well and not much money. I can't ask for more!

    (4)

  • Cheryl S.

    Perfection! From the service to the decor and of course the food, it was a wonderful meal and tremendous experience. I had the Sea Bass and my husband got the beef\lamb disgh. We loved Rudy. His pride for his culture is infectious. He obviously demands perfection. If you are in the area, Rudy's is a destination place.

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :7:00 am - 9:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : Yes
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Lunch
    Parking : Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Quiet
    Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : Yes
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

Rudy’s Mediterranean Grill & Diner

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