Mezza Mediterranean Grill
181 W Madison St, Chicago, IL, 60602
Mezza Mediterranean Grill Menu
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Address :
181 W Madison St
Chicago, IL, 60602 - Phone (312) 269-0095
- Website https://mezzagrill.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 3:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Loud
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
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Kori Y.
Good fast Mediterranean food in a food court no less. Staff was helpful, in heloping me decide from their offerings. Food was great.
(4)Robert G.
Definitely the low man on the pole with regards to Mediterranean in the Loop. I picked up a chicken kabob plate for lunch here. I opted for brown rice, tomatoes and falafel as sides, with tahini as the sauce. In general everything was pretty bland. The chicken leaned a bit dry, though the bell peppers on the kabob were cooked well. The rice was unseasoned and could've been mistaken for instant brown rice, assuming such a product exists. The worst offender was the tahini sauce, which honest to God tasted like sour cream. Creamy, I suppose, but sour cream is not tahini and shouldn't go around masquerading as tahini sauce. The falafel was OK as well; right taste, wrong texture. Even though it came from somewhere in the back, it still wasn't that crunchy or distinctive. Overall Mezza is the kind of Mediterranean food that is least offensive to the most amount of people. Which doesn't make it particularly memorable or somewhere I'm like to return to in the future, and reminds me uncomfortably of the local food court in the mall.
(2)Suzy D.
This isn't the best for Mediterranean in the loop. When It comes to a chicken plate with rice/hummus/etc, I'd rather go to Roti or Benjeyhuda. However, this place has some really tasty salad options. I usually get the shepherd salad or the chickpea salad.
(3)Joe E.
I stopped by Mezza after an appointment in the downtown area. I was going to just head to the Ogilvie food court, but I walked in on the East side door and spotted the place. There was a decent line but they were knockin' them out quick. This is similar to Roti and Naf Naf; to go Mediterranean food. They offer wraps and pitas, salads, and plates. I decided to go with the Chicken Kebob Plate sans rice (should have gone with the rice). The plates come with choice of brown or white rice. After that, you can decide if you want a cucumber salad and your choice of 3 sauces. I went with the Tahina. I added Romaine lettuce, hummus, and corn. Looking back, I basically ordered a salad. The price was 8 bucks; but I wasn't too satisfied. You pick if you want a salad, plate, or wrap. You pick your protein. You pick your sides/toppings. I thought it was okay; although I waited 10 minutes for the Kebob, which was 4 pieces of chicken, 2 pieces of onion, and 2 pieces of mushroom. Nothing spectacular, but definitely an upgrade over McD, Arby's, or Sbarro. Easy on the wallet and waistline if you are careful
(3)Susan M.
Eh, just ok now. Their chicken is dryer and not as flavorful. Their staff is not super friendly. Their "homemade pitas" are dry and what I would call a FAIL. Boo.
(3)Kareem D.
Came to Chicago for 2 days and ate here twice. Its that good. They have reasonable prices, friendly staff, and simple menus. I would recommend the steak pita.
(5)Irina H.
As far as the felafel plate goes, which I don't think a Mediterranean restaurant should get wrong (just like the refritos at a Mexican place should be muy delicioso), the felafel were tasteless and almost burned, and the side cucumber and tomato salad was so salty it was inedible. So I had the side rice for lunch. $10 for rice.
(1)Ryan B.
Meza is assembly line Mediterranean wraps, salads, and rice bowls. It's kind of like Roti, if you've been there, but the portions aren't as huge. I almost always go for a chicken shwarma wrap and get a lot of toppings. They even have pickles! There are only like two tables and this place gets busy at lunch. The line moves very quickly and that's not a problem, but you'll probably need to go elsewhere to sit and eat.
(4)Lily G.
My coworkers and I are obsessed with the Shepard's Salad! It is so delicious - goat cheese, chicken, avocado, almonds, etc. Highly recommend. The other rice plates, pitas, hummus, etc are also delicious. This a great, healthy, and affordable lunch spot in the Loop.
(5)Mariam A.
I just ate here for the first time expecting it to be similar to the other Mediterranean chains such as Naf Naf and Nesh. I'm a huge fan of both, but Mezza definitely falls to third spot. Substituting rice for other options, they charge extra. I had the chicken kabob, which was a bit dry but a mix of their mayo/tahini sauce made the salad and chicken taste better. Their hummus was okay, I think a little too watered down for my liking. I was really excited for avocado only to find a teaspoon full of it in my plate for an extra $0.50... Overall it tasted pretty good, but would this become one of my go-tos? Probably not.
(3)Alicja K.
Small little restaurant so it gets busy and packed during lunch. They have outdoor seating on the side which is so nice. I had a falafel wrap. It was messy but good. Not my favorite falafel in the loop but very conveniently located and decently priced.
(4)Danny W.
Dig it! Quick, quality pitas and wraps in the Merch Mart food court. Of all the spots inside this is the one you can pretty much always guarantee will be fast and fresh. I love the kabob meal with 2 skewers of generous meat and veggie portions. At just over $10 it's great for a relatively healthy meal without breaking the bank. The staff is always extremely friendly and will even give you a free pita bread now and then if you ask nicely.
(4)Mironda R.
A little bit of yelp and google maps and voila - Mezza! I was trying to find a convenient place to have lunch with a friend and I see this place. I look up the reviews and I'm like let's give it a whirl. Now the address says 181 W Madison, but if you enter from Madison, you may get a little lost. I take a chance walk in and ask for Mezza, they point me straight to the back. This place is cozy and well lit and inviting. I hop in a line that seems pretty long, but it moves pretty fast. The lady at the front was SUPER friendly considering I had no idea of what I wanted. I get her recommendation and opt for the Shepherd Salad with all the fixings (avocados, corn, cheese, mixed salad, dates, goat cheese, and tomatoes) with chicken. It did not disappoint. It was a great size and oh so fresh. I would recommend you have the salad dressing on the side. It would make for good later because it's pretty sizeable. Heads up.. the pita is thick and not that tasty as other reviewers have mentioned, so iono how quickly I'll be trying the pita!
(4)Ronnie H.
Been to couple of the Mezza locations several times, granted each location is different yet equally tasty. Customer service was top notch. Mediterranean food on the go is not easy to do, but they're as close to perfection as it comes. Would definitely continue going regularly
(5)Rebecca C.
The best warm pita anywhere. It's almost worth a stop just to get the bread. The chicken entrees and salads, especially the Shepherd's salad (which is awesome) are fresh and the portions are more than adequate. Since like most places, Mezza gives a big scoop of dressing that envelops the salad, I order it on the side. Delicious!
(4)Christine D.
I got a chicken shwarma wrap. It was tasty; I inhaled it.
(4)Corey N.
I used to come here semi-frequently and today's visit reminded me why I stopped going. The food is only so-so. The chicken is of good quality, but the wrap was too thick and tasted "raw". Yes they grill in for a couple seconds (think Chipotle) but not long enough to take away the breadiness. More importantly, when you serve a wrap, you shouldn't fold it like it was a gyros. The toppings don't stay in the wrap and end up spilling everywhere, leaving a goopy mess behind. Most likely the under-griddled bread and lousy wrap job were a result of being busy, but when I'm paying $8 for a wrap with no sides, at very least it should be made properly.
(1)Stina N.
Still only a 4-star review, but I've tried a few other items from the menu here, and I've yet to be disappointed by Mezza. The spicy shrimp wrap is delicious as it the falafel flatbread. And now that I've been around the falafel block a bit, I do have a greater appreciation of the falafel here at Mezza. It is better than some of the other area falafel options.
(4)Ashley T.
Chicken shawarma pita... Yum! If you're looking for a healthy meal that's also satisfying, this is the place to go. I probably could have used a side of something to really fill me up (or maybe I'm just a pig!), but it was delicious!
(5)Samantha R.
I work right down the street from here and come to mezza all the time. The ceaser salad is great. I love the chunks of peta bread in the salad. Plus you get a lot of food for your money. Also it comes with a side of a peta. I've had a few other things from here but I alw a year go back to the ceaser. I highly recommend it!
(5)David H.
Went here for lunch - spicy chicken pita was very tasty but i probably should have gotten something else to fill me up. A great place to go during nice weather to sit outside and seem to have many somewhat healthy options.
(4)Dan C.
Love this place. Great and friendly service. I've tried numerous items on the menu and am always pleased.
(5)Chelsea M.
Mehhhza. I came in for a chicken shawarma plate when it was wicked cold and I was too lazy to walk over to Taza. Texturally speaking, the chicken was decently juicy and tender. Flavor wise, nothing doing. I had a side or two, but I don't even remember what they were. Their pita bread is pretty good though, I'll give them that. Maybe I would return next winter when temperature overrules tummy, but until then I'll be at Taza.
(2)Dana R.
I popped in for lunch last week. I'm coming off of a round of whole 30 of paleo and wanted to still eat good, so I came here. My spicy chicken was pretty good and the ingredients tasted fresh. My only disappoint was that I had to wait for the gluten free wrap. It was located in one of the back fridges, so I felt bad holding up the line waiting for them to retrieve it and cook it. Luckily the dude behind me got one too.
(3)Joe B.
Mezza is something different every Loop denizen should at least try. Personally, I like it. Mediterranean may not be for everyone, but even you vote against the food after giving it a shot, you can enjoy the people-watching from the patio.
(3)Ana M.
My company used them to cater a luncheon once. I love Middle Eastern food and it was nice to have something besides pizza or sandwiches, but it was too salty for me. I prefer Roti when I'm craving Middle Eastern food.
(2)Amy H.
My standard order at Mezza is a Kebab Plate with one chicken kebab, white rice, and a side of fatoush salad. This is all that I've ever eaten here. And why not? It's good and I like it. It's a bit expensive, at around $7.50, but it's light and filling and a great summer lunch.
(4)Mary T.
I'm loyal, if not monotonous at times; my work day eating routines are just that - routine. It's not that I loathe variety; it really comes down efficiency and simplicity. The majority of the time I bring my lunch to work, but when I don't, odds are you'll find me at Hannah's Bretzel or here. And since Hannah's is rather spendy, here most often. Despite being the loyal sort, I don't consider myself the salad sort. It's not that I dislike salad or even vegetables - quite the contrary. It's just highly unusual for me to order salad as my main course. Except when I'm at Mezza. At Mezza, the salads are my main focus, the rest of the menu is pretty much dead to me. I blame it on the salad dressing; I'm convinced they put crack in it because simply typing about it has me jonesing for it. My salad of choice is the chopped salad - romaine lettuce, tomato, red onion, cucumber, blue cheese, pita chip croutons (which I forgo) and their addictive homemade white balsamic vinaigrette. All of the salads are made to order and can be topped off with chicken, shrimp or steak (I prefer mine without). The salad portions are quite generous and also come with pita bread on the side. No matter how many times I get this salad, I enthusiastically devour every bite. While the salads keep me coming back to Mezza, I have strayed a few times and tried some other menu items. I quite enjoy the "spicy" grilled shrimp wrap, red pepper hummus wrap, falafel and the soup/salad combo. In the winter months, they have a creamy tomato basil soup that is quite tasty and the perfect sidekick to my salad when I opt for the combo. Mezza also caters, the catering menu offers large tray options, sandwich baskets and boxed lunches. I've used them once when hosting a large lunch meeting; the boxed lunch option, which comes with chips, a dessert, and their feta pasta salad was very well received. My only complaints are: (1) the layout of the store is awkward at peak times and (2) the website. Elements of the website have been "under construction" for as long as I can remember, particularly the online ordering function and nutritional info. Soon is not *that* relative of a term, they should just hide those features at this point. Mezza has a little something for everyone and never disappoints me. I like that they note which items are vegetarian and vegan on the menu. I can't speak to it's authenticity, but to me the food tastes fresh and not terribly Americanized like places like Roti. TIP: They offer a rewards program through Five Star Rewards.
(4)Steven C.
I patronize Mezza for two reasons: 1) it's stupid close to where I work 2) the Shepherd's Salad I ordered chicken schwarma here once and was underwhelmed, but I've never encountered anything like the Sheperd's Salad on a menu before: avocado, chopped dates, goat cheese and more, with an addicting vinaigrette. They could use more mixed greens in it, but it's one of a kind. Mediterranean/falafel/schwarma lunch spots are a dime a dozen in the Loop these days, and Mezza isn't my favorite, but for that salad and easy access, it's worth venturing in from time to time.
(3)FoodLover Z.
Pretty average Mediterranean place. There are much better places in the area, such as Naf Naf Grill and Benyehuda.
(2)Jimmy D.
Decently priced and considered healthy fast food for a quick lunch. I always get the spicy chicken wrap especially after I got a salad that was not filling or tasty. I feel like I have never gone here on my own - someone always convinces me to go so I cave in. I think the line is way to long of a wait for a "fast food" place and the service is poor because I can never understand what the people say. In addition, if you don't know EXACTLY what you want, you can expect to feel extremely rushed and that you missed a topping you would have liked to include.
(3)Jennifer B.
I've never been disappointed and the shepherd's salad is wonderful. I like the lentil soup and their falafel was pretty good. I never have a problem with the line. It's lunch time downtown. Lines happen and as long as they lead to a good place, that's fine. The only issue I have there is it is very loud and the servers usually have soft voices so it's hard for me (I have mild hearing loss) to order unless I look at their menu online first. (they lost a star here) A nice place for lunch downtown :)
(4)Dawn D.
I go here for two things, the Mezzaterranean Salad and the white bean chicken chili. Its my favorite combination for lunch during the Fall and Winter. The chili is flavorful and hearty. The warm wrapped pita bread is soothing. Lines can be long so I suggest the 11am hour if your are pressed for time.
(4)Nichole F.
I went here today at around noon (I know - the peak of rush hour) and was in line for a good 20 minutes. I don't care if it is rush hour for lunch or not - that is crazy to have to wait that long. There are plenty of places in the loop you can go to at noon and not wait nearly as long. Also the way the line moves along is ackward because the line blocks the soda machines and silverware. They need to rethink that. Anyway, that said, the food was very good. I had a steak sharwarma pita and falafel. Yum! I would eat there again because my sandwich was awesome but I would wait and go later or maybe earlier.
(4)Anjali K.
With Nesh kiddie corner, Mezza really needs to step it up if they want to stay in business. Mezza only allows one side option with a plate, whereas Nesh gives you unlimited side options. You need to pay if you want hummus as an extra side, which is unheard of in most middle-eastern restaurants. The chicken kabob is underooked. The staff is fairly unfriendly. I won't be going back here.
(2)Andre W.
Was introduced to this place recently by a co-worker. I had my reservations as I walked in because the place was full and it is just not a whole lot of standing space. My buddy recommended the Chicken Shawirma Pita. I ordered it on wheat instead of a white pita (its better for you). It includes Roasted seven spice chicken topped with tahina sauce, pickle, lettuce & tomato. Very delicious and fresh! The seating area is usually filled with people trying to squeeze past each other because as I stated in the beginning, it is just not a lot of space. Now that it is warm, they have an area on the side of the building for al fresco lunching The tastiness of the food definitely makes up for the line. Solid lunch spot in the loop
(4)Jeff D.
As a former resident of Tunisia, this place has very authentic flavors and spices
(4)Larry P.
Used to be 5 stars, but not a big fan of the new simplified menu. Much better options on old menu and great value meals.
(3)David B.
So I have Levelup to thank for luring me to Mezzas with a nice first tier discount. Already closing in on the second The wraps here are outstanding - everything you want flavor wise. The skirt steak is perfectly tender and flavorful, and the spicy shrimp wrap is all you want and more. The salads are enormous, and the meat addons are well worth the couple bucks charge. Still working my way through the menu here, and I'm not even close to done. Also a clean, efficient to go operation with ample table space to boot. Expect a 5 minute line by 1145
(4)Tania H.
Stumbled in here after a long day flying and hungry for something hearty... i walked right past many places that advertised large menus but for some reason, i went in that place... call it a little of nostalgia... this is our local fastfood back home... verdict: not bad for a shawarma! At least it's the authentic thing...cooked on a skewer etc. Flavors were fine, all the sides were available, the only negative for me is the Pita bread... it's really too thick for that much content and i really prefer the paper thin bread we use back home, it just makes eating it less fussy. Small place, very busy for lunch great for carry out!
(3)Leang E.
I figured after Roti and I Dream of Falafel, that I had to give this spot a try and see how it compares for Mediterranean fast food goes. This place is equally as busy as the other two restaurants. So, expect to wait in line a bit, but goes fast enough. I got the spicy chicken pita and a side order of the falafel. I think this place tastes slightly more Americanized to me, but still very tasty. It was also filling and very affordable.
(4)Joel M.
Mezza can hold its own against any of the other Loop med restaurants in my opinion. It leans more towards the modern Americanized style (think Roti) then dive authentic places (think Taza). Here are some of the highlights: - They're very generous with the meat portions (they hook you up) - They don't nickel and dime you for extras (e.g. hot sauce, sour cream) - They have a pretty large menu (salads, wraps, kebabs, fries) - The steak is delicious (real, tender steak not that chewy stuff) I've never had a problem with the line or service, you just have to go a couple times to get a feel for how it works. This places pops off for weekday lunch, so go before 11:40 if you want to get a seat.
(4)Kourtney L.
I've been on an "I want vegetables in a pita for lunch" kick lately and Mezza's a fine establishment to have such a lunch. The pita kebabs are a hearty little meal with your choice of veggies or various meats with lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, etc. Usually I feel compelled to pick and choose sandwich toppings as I don't always like what comes on the sandwich but here I can just say "everything" and it's always been delicious. It's the little things, really. Don't be worried that the employees all seem like "dude man guys," they're all actually really friendly and seem happy to make your pita. Bonus points for outdoor seating. Sure it's right next to the el but if you've got headphones, it's a great place to drown out the noise and people watch for a few.
(4)carolyn h.
This is a great lunch spot! I think the food is good, fresh, nice flavors. I really love the grilled shrimp wrap. It's got lots of flavor and won't leave you hungry. My only beef with this place is that they don't do a good job organizing the line. It took me a couple of visits to realize that there are people waiting for salads standing there just waiting and after I get my sandwich I can just move on by the line and go straight to the check out line. It's somewhat frustrating because they could just tell me that when handing me my sandwich.
(4)AllAround C.
I walk pass this restaurant after work everyday. Well, yesterday I got off work at 2 pm and decided to try the food. I ordered the skirt steak wrap and the village salad. First, the two lines are confusing. I think it causes more harm than good. First, I know at lunch time the place is a mad house and if its your first time and you get in the wrong line. HMMMM. The way the prepare the orders are similar to Subway, so one line should be sufficient. I agree a little about the staff, The cashier was having "blond moments (sorry, blondies)". I asked her if it was her first day, not to be smart but offer encouragement, but it was not. Ooopps, sorry sweetie. The village salad was tasty, but seemed to be missing something. I am not Mediterranean, so maybe I am wrong. I think it needs basil or lemon or something. Anyhow, I was speaking to the young man preparing my food and asked why aren't there any suburban locations? He mentioned it to the owner or manager or whoever and he replied with a smart comment. He was lucky I was at the beverage station and I had to catch the train. I have some suggestions, but I want to get paid for my market research, nothing is free anymore. Anyhow, I will return, but I will try Roti since my fellow yelpers seem to favor Roti over Mezza. I will let you know. Ciao!
(3)Bridget G.
No change in stars, but should add my soup thoughts as to keep y'all informed as part of my soup the loop list. Knowledge is power. Lentil soup is above average, but missing the key ingredient (lemon) that IDOF has. Tomato basil soup is rather nasty. It looks and smells like somebody put a pizza in a blender; tastes like spagehetti-o's. Pass on this one. My husband swears by the white bean chicken chili.
(3)Morgan B.
Was in the mood for a filling salad and Mezza definitely fulfilled! I had the Mezza salad, minus onions and peppers but added their spicy chicken! It was all delicious!!!! Got it to go and the portion was great! The dressing was very light and tangy! This will definitely become a new regular in my lunch rotation! Highly recommend!
(5)Beth S.
Okay. only been here once, but very impressed. It's clean and nice inside if you want to dine in. Service is friendly and efficient. I got the Tunisian Chicken Wrap ... delicious. My friend got the Chicken Kabob Pita, also very yummy! I didn't understand the 2-line system, but it wasn't crowded when we went so it worked. This place is a nice, healthy alternative to the usual lunchtime junk food. Reasonably priced. I am trying a falafel next time.
(4)BJ K.
Good good food no doubt. Prices are fair for the loop. However, I hate ordering here. That weird glass partition creates too large of a space between you and the people preparing your order. Often you have to repeat yourself or practically yell (at which point I can just imagine all the errant particles of spit that are flying over that stupid partition) Also I know its the loop and is often dead by early evening but they close waaaaay too early.
(4)Celeste H.
Decent, very fast lunch. I got the red pepper hummus wrap. The wrap wasn't very wrapped, and leaked lettuce and fillings all over me as I tried to eat it. The hummus was A-OK. Really didn't taste like much until I got to the feta and olives. WAY too much lettuce, and they were pretty big chunks that were hard to eat. I prefer Roti, it tastes better.
(2)Ingrid R.
I wander3ed around downtown at lunchtime today pondering what to eat. I haven't had Mediterranean for a while so I stopped at Mezza. It looks lovely inside and out. Clean, bright etc. I approached the line - wait there are two. And it's not a simple salad this way, soup this way line. If you know exactly what category your food fits into and what you want great, but I didn't. The menu is very large (a good thing mostly) but trying to figure out what you want, what it is when you are not 100% familiar with the food is . I hate going into food places and having to have been there 5 times before to understand how their lunch hour works. Anyway. I order a falafel pita (partly because I knew that would be asked for in the pita line). The staff were friendly enough, the service was reasonably fast and off I was on my way. Am I know sitting at my desk munching on my unappetizing food. The falafel is nice and dry on the inside but damp on the outside. I understand it has been wrapped to go, but this seems like more than that. Other that that it's fine. Not as in find and dandy, fine as in - it will do. This is why yelp have a "meh. I've experienced better" rating. I may go back and try something completely different on the menu and have it in the restaurant. As I mentioned it is nice inside.
(2)Amelia Z.
For being a downtown lunch place, this place is a hot mess of rude cashiers and disorganization. When you walk-in, there is supposedly two lines one for salads, one for sandwiches-- with no clear distinction or sign. There was a man that had inadvertently gotten into the salad line when he wanted a sandiwch after waiting for 10 minutes and was belittled by the cashier for not getting in the right line and was almost asked to wait again. The food is not that fresh, everything seems to be reheated. I had the chicken kebab and couscous-- which weren't good at all. This place lacks some serious flavor and customer saavy You are better off walking to Rotti ....maybe the Mezza in the train station would be worth a try but this locations is definitely not worth it.
(1)Ning Z.
This place is absolutely terrible for lunch. The seating area comprise of smallest region of the restaurant. In addition, the portions and food for lunch are all pre-perpared and soggy by the time you get it. In addition, I had to use my corporate card to expense for lunch. The cashier did not even ask me or offer my receipt. Now I have to run back to the place after work just to pick up a receipt. For better food and pitas, go a couple of blocks down to Howl at the Moon, the food and service are like night and day. Before anyone thinks this is by someone related to Howl at the Moon. I have no relations to them or even know them. I'm from New York.
(2)Christina M.
Mezza is a clean/modern version of the typical Mediterranean fast food place. I like clean and modern so I decided to give it a try. I got the falafel pita, which came with two falafels smashed in the middle, hummus, lettuce, etc. I thought my meal was just OK and thought it wasn't too flavorful. I think the thing that was missing was a spicy sauce and the flavoring of the falafel was a little bland. The extra walk to I Dream of Falafel is well worth it, you won't be disappointed, I promise.
(2)Mickey H.
I am a big fan of the Shepherds salad. This has to be one of my favorite salads of all time. Its great with steak or chicken though it becomes a bit overpriced with the steak. Still I've had just as expensive salads around the loop that were not half as good as this one. Their falafal is pretty good also. I haven't encountered much else there that really excites me though.
(4)Carly S.
Easily my new favorite lunch place! (I have been there twice in the past two days!) It is a 5 minute walk from work which is obviously a huge plus but I would walk farther if need be but it just that good. The people are so friendly and truly seem to enjoy their job or at least put on a great act, which makes the customers feel better haha. Yesterday there was a long line and yet they know how to handle a crowd because we were in and out in no time. Today there was no line (if you go right after 11:30 then the crowd comes). I ordered the chicken kabob pita and it was delicious! They literally take their chicken kabob off of the stick in front of you and then put in a delicious warm pita. I had mine with lettuce, onion, tomato and hummus, so good! Today I was going to try something different but all I could think about was how amazing that chicken kabob pita was. Of course I got it again, no surprise, I find an amazing thing at a restaurant and I tend to stick with it because if I change I am worried I won't like it as much and be disappointed (ridiculous, I know!) Anyways, I am going to try to branch out next time I go there. I did try one of my coworkers shwarma and that was really good too so I will make myself try something new (maybe haha!) If you work in the area go there for sure!!
(5)Susan F.
YESYESYES. So glad this place, Mezza, has made it into the loop. I love me some medi food, and now I have a resource for it right by work! Chicken Kebobs, kefta kebobs, pita, hummus, many traditional sides--my dream! This place is really hoppin during the lunch hours, I think people are refreshed to find this place within all the cafes and bakeries downtown. The line goes pretty quickly, but the people serving don't know the menu too well. Since they have a la carte, and plates, I think they get confused...but no matter, the food is still great you just have to double check what you order. Their hummus and pita is great, how can you go wrong? The prices are standard, restaurant super clean, and location perfect(for me atleast). This will def. become a regular lunch spot for me to get thru my work days.
(4)Christina P.
A new Mediterranean lunch option in the loop! Loved the menu options - tons of salads, pitas, kabobs, and plenty of side options like couscous and hummus. Very clean, healthy and fast!
(4)Al A.
As fast food Mediterranean food goes, this delivers enough for the quick lunch in the middle of a workday. But I must add that their shawarma chicken is much too salty. Considering most restaurants over-salt their foods already and get away with it unnoticed (until you stay away from restaurant food for a few weeks), the fact that it's pretty detectable in their shawarma makes one wonder just how much more salt is being thrown in.
(3)Angela J.
I love Mezza. The food is absolutely delicious and the salad portions are monstrous. Everything feels fresh and really made to order. They've mastered the lunch time rush and even w/ a crowd I'm in and out w/ my to-go order in less than 10 minutes. Shwarma. Just say it. Mmmm. Shwarma. Great for a Friday lunch when you're still slightly hungover from the night before... not speaking from experience or anything.
(5)Kerry S.
OK- I am rating 2 stars because they call themselves a healthy restaurant. No wonder it took years to put the nutrition information online! Since then, all the girls in my office have quit on Mezza - unless it is for the lentil soup. The food tastes great- but one salad (chopped salad with chicken) has more calories than a meal at McDonalds! If you eat the pita with the salad you clock in at 920 calories. No salad with protein is under 500 calories - many way over. The wraps - forget it. The various breads alone clock in at 240+ calories. Sorry- I knew it was too good to be true! If you want taste- it is great - just avoid if you are trying to not eat all your calories in one meal.
(2)Matt B.
Mezza, you may have just replaced Chipotle in the "go-to restaurant in my building" category. I've had the spicy chicken wrap and the Tunisian chicken wrap. Both fantastic, full of tender, flavorful meat and fresh veggies. Not all that pricey to boot. Can't wait to go back. Perhaps tomorrow. EDIT: Salads are awesome. Try the garden salad with spicy chicken. It's a gutbuster of a salad.
(4)Andrew B.
Worse than I was expecting, but still pretty good. Got the lamb and beef pita. They are pretty generous with the meat, a few tomatoes, lettuce, pickles, other veggies, and the secret sauce. Was about 2/3 the size of a chipoltle burrito. Taste was pretty good, but I wasn't blown away. Probably would have been better if the meat was hotter. This could be improved if they warmed up the pitas a bit more. My dining mate got a salad, which was enormous. Cannot comment on taste. Next time I will venture out a little more and try a side, but Roti still wins in the pita department.
(3)RikkiTikkiTav I.
Love Mezza Great central Loop option. Great white bean chili, hummus, salads, wraps, rice bowls and kabobs. Falafel is ok, not great, but everything else wonderful. Very clean, Line moves fast, efficient service, gets crowded at lunch, especially if you want to eat in It really faces wells not madison, small patio area facing the alley behind 181 mad
(4)Mahsa T.
I didn't really see the appeal of this place -- a bit cold and sterile looking and I didn't appreciate having a long line of people staring at me while I tried to eat my lunch. The lentil soup tasted a little greasy to me. The kefta kabob pita was ok, but not fabulous. Some of the other pitas looked like they may taste better. Try it for yourself, but I don't think I have any desire to go back here anytime soon.
(3)Demetrio P.
Tried Mezza this week. Had the Kefta Kabob plate with a side of cucumber salad...and it was just okay. One kabob, a okay amount of rice, with the side for about $8. A decent price, but doesn't feel justified for me for the amount of food and taste. Looking at the other diners orders, the pita sandwich looked small, but am willing to give that and their salads a shot. In summary, okay food, okay prices, okay service.
(3)Rachael S.
I love Mezza, I go there at least twice a week. When you walk in, don't let the line deter you. There are that many people there because it is THAT good. They move people through very fast. Honestly, what I love most about Mezza are their fresh ingredients and awesome flavors. All the meats are marintated and grilled there so you can really taste all the spices. I usually get the chicken cesar salad with spicy chicken (which just has a different spice rub, it is NOT spicy and I think it is better than the mezza chicken). This is boring but the flavors just come together so well. Comfort food. It is very easy to eat vegetarian here. Try a side of falafel for like 2 dollars. I can't recommend Mezza enough. Try it for your next loop lunch!
(5)Sa A.
Tried their spicy shrimp rap and just loved it.. Great place kinda like I dream of falafel ..
(5)Cassie S.
My wrap was totally ok but it was nothing special. I read the other reviews that said that the falafel wasn't worth it, so I went with the grilled veggie wrap instead. The veggies were plenty tasty. And I did like the ww pita (which tasted much better than it looked and I certainly appreciated the whole wheat option). What annoyed me, though, was that I wanted to get a combo with a small side and a soda and even though I asked for it twice (once when ordering my sandwich and again when trying to pay), I never got it. Now they also didn't charge me for it, so that's good, but I really wanted some hummus to dip my sandwich in and I was kind of disappointed not to get any. Oh well. It's close to work so I'll probably be back. And next time maybe I'll be pushier. But the line was long and they were flustered so it just didn't seem worth the effort. Especially since they didn't charge me for it.
(3)Sarah R.
Don't wast your time. I've been here twice. The first time was O.K. I got a wrap of sort and told myself I wouldn't go back b/c there are much better options in the area. The second time was just bad. I wanted a beef or lamb wrap but they were out (at 12:30!!!). I can't recall what I got but I remember disliking every bite.
(1)Lulu L.
Roti and I Dream of Falafel kick butt compared to this place. I ordered a Vege Kabob plate and a side of falafel. Whatever the veges were marinated in was not good. I pushed them to the side and just ate the rice and falafel. The vege or vegan plates at the aforementioned places are waaaaaaaay better and come with delicious -but- too high in calorie pita bread. I came for the LevelOne deal but won't be back.
(2)Ora R.
First time at Mezza. I work in the building and I couldn't wait to go there for lunch. I finally had to opportunity to go today, so not what I expected. I had the spicy chicken pita. The chicken was bland, not spicy at all it came with lettuce and tomato. I had high hopes for this place, don't plan on going again.
(1)Erica W.
I sort of stumbled upon this place at lunch - I was actually trying to go to a food truck, but they ran out of what I wanted, so I turned around and voila! Mezza was there. They happened to be giving away free samples. After tasting the spicy chiken pita, I decided to go on in. I ordered a chicken pita w/avocodo - the chicken was well-seasoned, and the wrap was a pretty generous portion. They had some other healthier looking options, like kabobs w/brown rice and veggies. Now that I know that they do a good job at seasoning their food, I'd definately go back!
(4)Marina K.
great smell inside, but really nothing special. Could not eat the wrap without a fork.
(2)D. T.
Good Food. Lines are pretty long during lunch but goes by fast. Also, good soups here in the winter time.
(4)Chris K.
What does "dressing on the side" mean? And why does my shepherd's salad "with everything" not have dates? Decent, but over-hyped lunch option in the loop. Just check your bag if you get it to go to make sure they got it right. Nothing more annoying than getting back to the office to find out that you are now forced to eat a wilty $10 salad that's missing 1/2 the reason you ordered it in the first place. How about some quality control? This isn't the first time something like this has happened to me or a coworker here. And... what's with the deathtrap puddle zone over by the drink dispensers and napkins that you have to fight through the slow, long line to get to? Get it together, Mezza.
(2)Ray P.
I have been back several times fro lunch since originally writing this review. I must admit, the quality of the meats, flavors, even the preparation is starting to degrade. I agree with a few of the reviewers on here that the meat is bordering on the bland side. On the up-side, I had the sheppards salad, and I'll confess that I never thought about adding dates to my salad; not overly dressed; and, was that napa cabbage or romaine? Now that the weather is nicer, I might just head over to the other middle eastern kebab joint (rhymes with "floti").
(2)Aaron N.
So I went here expecting a lot and got a little. The line was outrageously long and when I got the tiny pita sandwich I ordered, I was kinda disappointed. The one thing that saved the meal was the delicious double chocolate chip cookie. I mean this thing was slamming. I will give Mezza another shot because their salads looked pretty decent, but overall I think this place is average and doesn't deserve a boom....yet.
(2)Patrick G.
Can't say much about this place but it just has the standard Mediterranean staples like hummus, pita, wraps, falafel. The food is pretty good but nothing very special. I do enjoy that they have coke zero in the soda fountain. The seasoned curly fries are definitely not part of the "authentic" fare but are very good and is what I would say is their standout item, not sure that is a good thing. I'll have to try a kabob here because they get pretty high billing on their menu. Others I've spoken to think this place is the bees knees for Mediterranean, so take that for what you will. I do not think anyone would be very disappointed if they grabbed a quick lunch here but don't expect for your taste buds to be demanding more immediately.
(3)alex c.
Today we went and bought two Falafel Pitas. We gave them our loyalty card, which states that if you buy 10 or more pitas, you get the next one free. The cashier punched only 1 hole in it. We mentioned that we got two pitas and asked her to punch another hole. The manager who was standing next to her said to us that it's only one hole punch per visit. We looked at the card to verify that it did state "10 pitas" and not "10 visits", and pointed this out to him. The manager said that it doesn't matter; if we got 7 items it would still be punched only once. We tried to reason with him about what the card says. The manager then said that if we had paid for each pita separately, that each purchase would get a hole punch. So which one is it? 10 visits or 10 purchases? I will never be coming back here again.
(1)Joseph M.
Great lunch spot. This place is near my office and my co-workers and I frequent them often. They have a large menu and are very fast making your food.
(5)Ben B.
Mezza is a great place to pick up a weekday lunch. That's a factor of the location and the price, but the food is also high quality. I would recommend Mezza to anyone looking for something different in the Loop. Try the pita with spicy chicken. There is no seating; perfect to take back to an office cafeteria.
(4)Dan B.
Fantastic loop grub here. I absolutely adore the skirt steak wrap - don't forget the red pepper hummus! Their hot sauce really brings the heat, so watch out. Seems like they would be veg friendly, too. The only thing holding them from five stars is there falafel - not on the same level as, say, Roti.
(4)Nick G.
I LOVE this place. I have been going to the one on north Michigan avenue for some time and now thrilled there is one right by my office in the loop. I always get one of the pitas (the steak is amazing). The things that really set this place apart from the rest in my opinion is the freshness of the food and their willingness to provide large servings. I never leave this place hungry. They also have many side items which are all great (hummus, Greek pasta salad, etc.). I now have this place in my weekly rotation of top three lunch places downtown. Quick, great food, and affordable.
(4)Jo W.
This place has great turkish lentil soup. And it's healthy to boot with the nutritional info -- I also like the outdoor seating now open
(4)K C.
This is a great place to go for lunch, nice, healthy, fresh food and relatively quick service (except for salads). Like the modern decor as well. Would prefer to see a more professional staff. Could also use some additional seating. Would suggest going after 1PM as it tends to be overcrowded. I really like the chicken kabob pita, though I'd prefer to have smaller pieces of chicken..for women esp..it makes it difficult to eat and keep the pita sandwich assembled with such big pieces. Can't wait for more locations to open.
(4)K M.
Well yah for Carly B on the ROTD that I just noticed she received for Mezza, because I followed her suggestion a week or two ago on the chicken kabob pita, and it perfectly hit the spot (I may have been hungover that day. Not saying for sure :) Hey at least from reading Angela's review, I'm not the only one who thought that was a good idea!). There aren't many things I'm going to go for more than a block or two walk for on a weekday take out lunch. I have to go a little further than that for this. And you know what? Completely worth it. I came during the lunch rush and the line moved quickly- I waited no more than 5 minutes. This sure beats the crap out of other fast food options in the loop! I will definitely be heading back to try other things on the menu (maybe I don't need a pita all that often and can make do with just the kabob). It is cheaper than my Cosi salad and in the coming winter months, will be attractively warmer too! The address confused me- it's just around the corner down Wells from where I thought it was supposed to be (in case you're a little slow like me I hope that's a useful tip :)). Mezza, if you opened up within a 1-block radius from my office, we'd probably have a very serious thing going. Rowr.
(5)