Sahara Cafe
401 Realty Dr,#1, Gretna, LA, 70056
Sahara Cafe Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Gretna for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
401 Realty Dr,#1
Gretna, LA, 70056 - Phone (504) 394-0460
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:00 am - 11
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Taylor T.
I absolutely love this place. The man that works here and so nice and welcoming, I am pretty sure he is the owner. I love that about a place, seeing the man who runs is all out and about. Every time we go there we are never disappointed. Delicious food and amazing dessert! May be a bit pricy, but worth every penny!
(5)Chad G.
I can't begin to tell you how happy I am to have found this place. The restaurant appearance is no frills. I ordered the Gyro plate. I was a bit confused because the plate comes out with lamb, hummus, and a salad. No gyro. After the initial confusion faded, I realized that since I ordered the "plate" and not the sandwich, it was up to me to make my own sandwich. They provide warm pita bread in baskets so all you need to do is assemble and eat. Delicious. Much better then the Lebanon Cafe on the East Bank. Pros: Great food and friendly service Cons: No military discount
(4)Brian D.
So I found this place, and as a huge middle eastern fan, I thought I'd give it a go (even though the Sahara is in Africa, not the mid-east....). Bottom line: Excellent food, everything else - so-so. Great menu, huge portions, plated very nicely, pita bread made on site, really well done. The decor was poorly done, service was so-so considering we were the only ones in the place, etc. But the food was great, very similar to what I found in the mid-east (been there half dozen times or so).
(4)Adam B.
The service was great and the food was awesome. First time I've ever had this type of food so it was different but nothing was a let down. I started with the Sahara sampler and everything on it was really good. The whole time here I didn't have a bland bite. I will be back soon and will make this place a regular stop. Also the tea is worth it by itself.
(5)Lucy R.
My family and I absolutely love Sahara. Everything is great, always hot, fresh and full of flavor. It is 5 star dining at affordable prices!! A hidden jewel on the Westbank, I highly suggest you try it!!
(5)Edward L.
Fresh veggies for whatever dish requires them. Love the chicken kufta and shawarma meats. Hummus is on point as is the fried kibby. They also have pine nuts in their Lebanese tea. A must!
(5)Brad J.
Awesome good!! Great atmosphere!! Def coming back!! It was my first time eating the kind of good and it was great!
(5)Lisie M.
This place is amazing. So amazing I might even venture to say that it is in my top 3, maybe even top 2, favorite places to eat in all of southeast Louisiana. Hands down best Mediterranean food I've ever had in my life. My boyfriend and I have been here twice for lunch. The prices are good, the atmosphere is nice, the service is great. I don't understand why it is never crowded. Their pita sandwiches are around 6 bucks - cheaper than subway. ..easy choice right there. If I haven't convinced you yet, I've tried dolmas a handful of times and just can't get into them. I ate almost the whole Sahara dolma plate today...divine.
(5)Daryl P.
Kind of hard to get to and thus under-crowded, Sahara Cafe has proven to me to be the hands-down best Mediterranean cuisine on the west bank and a strong contender for top ten in New Orleans. The service is excellent and the felafel is the best i've had since mahmoun's in NYC. I find the hummus and babaganoush to be a cut above average as well. Definitely a spot worth finding if you live on the west bank.
(5)Erin Y.
My friend and I have lunch together at this spot every few months, and it's always deliciously satisfying. I'm kind of a food snob, but the flavor and quality of the food is comparable to some of the bigger name Mediterranean restaurants in the city. Love this little hole in the wall so much! & it's cheap too! I meant to take a picture of my chicken kebab platter, but had already devoured everything when the thought crossed my mind. The basket of pita with the meal is a nice touch as well. Also, the same guy is always managing the restaurant when we go in and he is always pleasant and prompt to deliver our food. 5 stars for you, Sahara Cafe!
(5)Mitchellie V.
Chicken Shawarma was the best! Comparing it to Mona's, hands down- Sahara's was great!!!
(5)Mark L.
My wife and i enjoy Sahara on a regular basis. Have never seen it busy. Food is always fresh. Very good restaurant. One of our favorite restaurants on the west bank.
(5)Robert M.
Sahara Cafe executes the classic dishes of Middle Eastern cuisine to perfection. We found this restaurant while out for a drive on the West Bank in Gretna and were completely pleased. We ordered the sampler appetizer and the sampler kabob - each element was was so tasty! The bread that accompanied the dishes was fresh and warm. Service was quick and courteous. And the mint iced-tea was a perfect accompaniment. I have found a new favorite restaurant! Did I mention that the menu prices were very reasonable?
(5)Analisa M.
The food is very good and the staff is friendly. They are open till 2am and will deliver to Ochsner nearby. We usually order gyros, shwarmas, hummus, musabaha, baba Ganouj and meat grape leaves. Shakour's meat grape leaves are delicious.
(4)Leila B.
I visit this place 3-4 times a month and it's the best Mediterranean food on the Westbank and arguably Uptown. I have had my share of Med food from various locations but Sahara tops my list along with Mona's. I recommend their Lebna, I absolutely love it. It is comparable to that of Mona's only that Mona's is a bit more minty and thicker. It is flavorful and so refreshing! I love their falafels and kibbeh. The chicks shwarma sandwich or platter are both equally delicious and they are very generous with the portions. For my taste, I personally rather Monas's hummus although Sahara is consistently good. The staff are quick, efficient and will remember your name and your order! Places like this just win me over. I have nothing negative to say about this place and have yet to have a bad experience.
(5)Emad H.
Very good food and very cheap but the waiter was on drugs he hated his job I had to ask for extra pita and refills while he is hiding behind the desk so i had to scream excuse me while in there lol
(3)Ted Z.
When it comes to Middle Eastern food, Sahara will make a believer out of you. Even your most skeptical relative - the one who hates everything - would have trouble hating this place. The plates are huge, especially for the price. Flavors gush from every bite. YOur stomach will be delighted that you chose this place. I have had the kafta, gyro, and sampler. All are amazing and well worth repeat trips. I now find myself seeking out Palestinian food because it is the closest approximation of what's on offer at Sahara (the owner is arabic and from Jerusalem). Location is much too far from downtown to attract a touristy crowd, but no middle eastern restaurant could survive on the West Bank without a strong following amongst the local Palestinian/Jordanian/Lebanese immigrant population. This place has been around for a few years, so it is clearly doing something right. I found the best way to get started here was to asked the owner for his suggestion. I am a white man in my 30s, and I have seen people of all colors and age groups served with the same quiet dignity and courtesy at Sahara. You should definitely venture here if you have limited experience with food from the middle east. I found the atmosphere to be reserved, but cordial. And the staff genuinely wants everyone to have a great meal.
(5)Robyn M.
A friend recommended Sahara Cafe to me a couple of years ago. I estimate I have eaten 25 meals at Sahara. I can honestly say I have never had a bad meal there. The schwarma, gyro, kebabs, hummus, falafel, baklava, red lentil soup, lamb chops have all been simply outstanding. I have eaten many meals at both Mona's and Byblos on the East Bank, and stand behind my opinion that Sahara's food is tastier and fresher than either of these.
(5)Ria H.
My husband and I have always heard that Sahara was really good. My best friend and husband came down and we went on a date. When we walked in, no one was in there and the lights were extremely bright. The waiter/owner came from behind the counter dimmed the lights and started the music. We were very skeptical about eating because no one was there. We ordered appetizers which came out fairly quick. Then we ordered our entrees and when we received them, you could tell that all of our food was freshly cooked. Our veggies were crisp, neatly chopped and had not been sitting out. Everything was really great and we will most definitely go back!!
(4)Ken H.
Very authentic, The closest to what iv had in Bahrain minus the french fries ! a must !
(5)Bobby B.
I am never amazed when people rate the exact opposite as I do or have completely different experiences as I. Usually though, I am the one being a hard-ass about a place. This time is different. I had to check the address to make sure this was the same restaurant other people had reviewed. We had gone to the Middle-Eastern market in this building before and we saw that this restaurant had opened. But living on the Mainland (East Bank) we would just go to Pyramids or Mona's. So it never was an issue. Today, however, while making one of the many, many, many trips for supplies that all new home owners make, we got the hungers something fierce. As usual, I wanted Asian (Thai, Vietnamese, even Chinese). The girly, as always, wanted Mexican. As we drove, I just mentioned Middle Eastern and just to keep either of us from getting what we wanted, she said to go there. As we walked in, the guy behind the counter opened the door for us and let is sit where we wanted. We were the only native English speakers in the restaurant. Good sign. That changed as it got closer to normal dinner hour, but still, a good sign for us. We looked over the menu and I have to admit, the prices were really quite good. I'm surprised this place as a $$ rating. At first I wanted a gyro and she wanted the catfish done in their special style but after looking at all the appetizers, we settled for getting a chicken Shawarma (Girly likes them, I usually think they are dry like sponge) and the appetizer sampler. A Lebanese tea for the Girly (She describes it as "Drinking Sunshine in a Rose Garden....I know..she's a cheesy-girly). I had the Guava drink (Sweet but darn did it go well with the foods). The drinks came first, followed by the bread and two little plates, then 2 more little plates, then a big platter. The little plates were: hummus (really creamy and nicely balanced) labna (creamy but not my style. Girly adored it), baba ganouj (Creamy, smoky, lemony...I don't usually like it. I did this time), and Turkish "salad" (A tomato based sauce that I actually really liked...and I don't like tomato sauces). On the big platter was: the veg-head stuffed grape leaves( The girly liked them a lot) Fatouche (Super fresh, a little lemony) Falafel (Ok...big time hard to admit...they were the best I've ever had...EVER. This city or any other I've lived in, home made or otherwise. Sorry Pyramids, can we still be friends?) Now for the sammach. The chicken Shawarma, as I mentioned, is usually not something I like. Most seem to be nuked and dried. This had that moist and rich flavor like really well marinated Mexican chicken. Not anything you can get out of a box, this was slow marinated and amazing. I actually wanted to order another Shawarma for desert. I will even forgive the guy for cutting it so the Girly got more than half...One day... Now, this entire feast cost about 24 bucks. Side notes. As you may know if you read my reviews, I'm an ass about CLEAN places. This place was clean, simply decorated, but clean. Good Service, extremely friendly and helpful staff and good value for cheap-asses like us. We WILL go back and expect anyone who like Middle Eastern to get your booties over there. I will reserve that 5th star for our 3rd trip there since almost no restaurant seems to be able to keep up the quality for 3 visits.
(4)Cheryl L.
Ate here for the first time today. I usually eat at Cleopatra, but wanted to try some place new. Walked in, the place was empty. I was a little afraid for a second. It was decorated decent. It was clean, and there was Lebanese music playing. As for the food. Everything me and my daughter ate was on point. My daughter really liked her beef schwarma. I would definitely eat there again.
(4)Ann T.
I came here based on Alexandra J's review below. I have no idea where Alex ate, but I don't think it was here. I got the chicken shawarma as my entree, and I couldn't eat it. It was a huge greasy pile of fatty grey chunks - I'm not even sure it was actually chicken. I guess to hide its nature, they chopped the "meat" into tiny little bits, almost like it was ground. The restaurant was deserted at noon, and I can see why. It would have been nice to have some music playing to fill the silence, but it was just strange and awkward. Mystery cigarette smoke kept drifting through the restaurant. No one was inside smoking, so I could only guess that it was coming from the kitchen. I can't believe I paid over $10 at lunch for something I wouldn't even eat. On the plus side, the lebna and microwaved (store-bought) pita bread was fine, and the house salad dressing was good. Just don't try anything with meat.
(1)Alexandra J.
My husband and I ate at Sahara Cafe for the first time recently and the experience was great! As others have suggested, the service was excellent. Our waitress was Laura and she was so kind and friendly, not to mention a great server. We ordered the fried Kibby to start and each of us had the Chicken Shawarma as our entree. I asked to have it with rice and lebna (instead of hummus and salad) as I do in all the restaurants and it was no problem at all. The food was absolutely delicious. The meat is prepared similarly to Mona's and while that type of fried Shawarma isn't for everyone, it's my favorite and it was delicious! The kibby was also great. Much better than Mona's Kibby, though not as great as those from the now-closed Oasis Kabob on Manhattan Blvd :( I live on the Westbank and as shocking as it may be, I have been "blessed" with the Uptown Middle Eastern food as well [side note: yes, it was snobby to say that, Casey B., but you're certainly entitiled to your opinion. I guess I'm just curious to how you would know that us hick Westbankers had never made our way Uptown for Middle Eastern food. Oh well :)] Anyways, these things are always subjective, of course, but for me, Sahara Cafe lived up to the hype. The fact that they stay open until a decent hour (11pm on the weekends, at least) is also a big plus. I will definitely be going again!
(5)Casey B.
This place came with a lot of hype and i can't honestly say it lived up, but it was definitely good. I know this sounds snobby and i apologize in advance: the people that reviewed the cafe prior all live on the west bank and just haven't been blessed with great middle eastern food that i have in uptown. But the only thing that stood out at me more than Mona's, Byblos, Lebanon, and Babylon was the service. I had read that there were two lovely waitresses and let me just tell you that this young lady i had today was the best waitress i have had in 2009. Granted it wasn't very busy, she was so helpful, attentive, and nice. It was a little more expensive than i was hoping for lunch, but next time i will get some sandwich in order to save those benji's! I need more visits to judge this place fairly.
(3)becky h.
Good stuff for vegetarians! Nice staff
(5)MONIQUE P.
first i would like to say the people who said this was a five star restaurant i had food brought to me from this restaurant once and it was extremely greasy. but i was appalled when i actually went to eat there the whole place was fitly. there was gunk on the wall between the table and the wall with hair in it. the table was sticky and when the sun shined in the door you were able to see at the adjacent table one of the chairs at the bottom between the legs was entirely encompassed with a spider web. i did not eat anything my self that day but the other people who accompanied me felt obligated to stay since we had ordered drinks already. we were the only people in the filthy place and the service was horrible i was so disgusted i couldn't even eat after we left the place. are crazy. please head that warning and don't waste your time.
(1)FE504 ..
After searching and reading reviews onYelp for a Middle Eastern restaurant on the westbank , we decided on Sahara Cafe . As usual Yelp delivered . Sahara Cafe has great food , we had chicken shawarma and gyro plates , they were excellent and fresh. The hummus was delicious as well as the salad and pita bread. We even had room for baklava which sweet and delicious and tasted like it had been made that day. We'll definitely be back for excellent Middle Eastern food soon.
(5)Derick Y.
The Combination plate, Lebanese tea, Eggplant sandwich, Meat Grape Leaves plate are all awesome as well as the rest of the menu! Most days they have a "special". Ask for it and get in quick because it doesn't last long! Usually it's a traditional dish you've never heard of but always so delicious :P
(5)Jess C.
Always a delicious meal. The Lebna is my favorite and love a great gyro! I will be back again over and over now that remember where this gem is located. Last time I was here was over 6 years ago and I still remember how good it was even after all that time!
(5)Jonathan S.
Adding my thumb to the many already up for Sahara Cafe. A no-frills place with great food at a terrific price. We recommend the felafel and the hummus with lamb. The gyro meat is very good here, too! Visit and enjoy.
(5)Trang N.
I always passed by Sahara and I never knew what it really was until a friend wanted to eat here for dinner. I like Mediterranean food and never knew of this wonderful place!! I really think this will be my go to place for gyros or anything Mediterranean! This restaurant is kind of like a whole in the wall and I'm totally okay with that! My experience was very wonderful! For starters my friend and I shared the meat pies. It was very good! If you like bread with meat, this is the stuff! It waS seasoned well too. I don't know exactly what seasoning they used, but it was delicious! It came with a yogurt sauce, which I love! For our entree my friend orders the half half combo plate with gyros and chicken and I got the hummus lamb! Our entree came with a salad and pita. I really loved everything! The pita was thin and not thick like other places, which is good for me carb wise! The gyros was perfectly seasoned and cooked. My lamb dish was basically ground lamb on top of hummus. It was delicious as well!! It wasn't too gamey. For dessert we shared a hot baklava and our server even cut it in half and put it on a seperate plates for us. I never asked him to do that!! Super plus!! I would really recommend this place!!! Prices are very decent!!! And service was awesome!!
(5)Regina L.
First, the owner is very friendly. I do a rotation of my favorite Westbank restaurants and this one stays on the frequently visited list. It's nice to go someplace where the owner remembers you and chats a bit. As for the food, I have never had anything here that wasn't fantastic. Best falafel in the city, hands down. The lebna is lemony yogurty heaven on a plate. The hummus is fantastic. Chicken shwarma is moist and flavorful. The fresh pita comes to the table warm. I'm really happy that I not only don't have to drive to the Eastbank for Middle Eastern food, but if I did live on the Eastbank, I would drive to Sahara. The food is not fancy and neither is the restaurant. The food is, however, flavorful to the point that I get specific cravings for it. LOVE this place!!
(5)Kristen R.
They catered my daughters Birthday. He helped me figure out how much to order so I didn't over or under order. The food was amazing and fresh. The presentation was even lovely. I will definitely use them for future parties. I'm craving some now.
(5)Sabrina H.
Great chicken shawarma! Loved the hummus! Can't wait to come back soon to try some of the wraps and appetizers. This place has a great variety of food! Went in for lunch time, not crowded. The service was pretty good, though my friend and I were a little confused on whether to go up to the counter to pay or wait for the check. Other than that, everything was excellent!
(5)John D.
Went here for dinner with my family. Food is really good. Service is excellent and fast. The Lebanese tea is a must try. We will definitely be coming back.
(5)Anthony L.
The food is always fresh here and maybe because of the Crescent Market next door. One of the most under rated place to eat on the West Bank. They always deliver 5 star food and service at 1, 2 star prices. They always count on my support at least twice a week.
(5)Christy H.
Ever wonder what it's like to have a Middle Eastern meal prepared with love and expertise? Look no further than Sahara Cafe. This little gem, tucked away on a side street along Lapalco Blvd. in Gretna, is so unassuming, I've driven by it numerous times without giving any thought to stopping in and giving it a try. Good thing I did! For an appetizer, I had the qudsia, which is a variation of hummus mixed with whole chick peas, jalapenos and lemon juice. It was delicious and a nice break from the usual. My go to for Mediterranean/Middle Eastern is usually lamb kebabs, however, the place was out of them that day. Instead, I opted for the chicken shawarma. It was delicious and had a slightly sweet taste to it. It was wonderful. It was accompanied by a generous portion of salad and hummus. For anyone who is looking for legit Middle Eastern fare on the Westbank, or just in general, I say that it is worth the drive to Sahara Cafe. I myself intend on returning to try those lamb kebabs. If they actually ran out of them then I take that as a sign that they must be awesome!
(5)Justin B.
Wow! Stopped in after a buddy recommend the place. Had the half and half plate with chicken and lamb. Overall the meal was great and the service very friendly. I will be back to try the lamb chops.
(5)Hally C.
OMG, this is one of the best Mediterranean cuisine. On Sunday I ordered some Kibby, rice, and half of grill chicken. Honestly, everyone in my family take a piece and I had to go back on Monday order the same thing without the Kibby plate. The server is amazing and guys this place is a must --believe me. I am from the Caribbean island and I am telling you it is a MUST!!!!! Hally
(5)Phil W.
Yelp definitely steered me in the right direction as I was drawn here by the large number of positive reviews. Came in for a Saturday lunch. Pretty low key but pleasant service. The food was really good and portions were large. Tried the baba ganoush - which was excellent with just the right amount of smoke. I tried the combination kebab and liked everything - particularly was impressed with the chicken. Connected to a specialty middle eastern market which is worth a stop afterwards.
(5)Lawrence X.
Great place with great food. Try the Lebna and any of the plates and you will be a winner. The staff is courteous and will remember you when you come back. And you will come back.
(5)Daniel N.
Amazing food at a good price. Easily my favorite middle eastern food around the city, topping even the uptown places (i.e. Lebanon's). I've tried almost every entree on the menu and they're all delicious, particularly the chicken kabob, lamb chops, and gyro. Each entree comes with the selected protein, a very refreshing salad, and top notch hummus w/ pita. The service is great too. The workers are very courteous. Also, the hookah is high quality. The restaurant closes at like 11, but the side room stays open for hookah pretty late so it's a nice place to chill and smoke at night.
(5)Hannah M.
After reading reviews and looking hard for good Lebanese/middle eastern cuisine on the westbank, I decided to try it out. Excellent decision on my part. Not only was the service friendly, the food is delicious. I'm a hummus junkie and will swear by Lebanon's. Sahara Cafe's is better.
(5)Bradley C.
The falafel was delicious as well as the gyro plate. The meat was very tender and we'll seasoned. The in house pita was amazing. They have the best humus I have ever had the pleasure of tasting served with what I believe was jalapeño on top. Overall 5 star definitely worth trying if you are in the area.
(5)Megan M.
We are semi regulars. Why? Because the food is delicious! Also a bonus - your order will be remembered!!
(5)Lyz L.
I don't like Middle Eastern food. Or I didn't until I came to Sahara Cafe. And I've been back about 4 times since. The Sahara Sampler (appetizer sampler) is a great value - hummus, baba ganouj, lebna, and Turkish salad served with warm pita, plus falafel, kibby, and fatouche. I LOVE the lebna and Turkish salad, and this is only place where I like & eat falafel. I really like the chicken shawarma wrap/sandwich. My boyfriend loves the falafel wrap. Our friends (who introduced us to this place) usually get the chicken shawarma plate and/or something with lamb. The basmati rice is a big bowl of deliciously cooked rice. I can't say that I've had a negative experience at this place. The food is always enjoyable, and the staff are always very accomodating. And I LOVE that they stay open late (11:00 PM every night!) - awesomely convenient, given my and my boyfriend's warped schedules.
(5)LaClaudia E.
Although i've never seen a large crowd inside, the food is tasty and not overpriced. The staff is friendly and quick. My new fav greek restaurant!
(4)Clemente C.
Probably the best choice for middle eastern food in the New Orleans area, tucked away in a strip mall they serve up some great food, quickly and at a great price. It's quickly become one of my go to choices for lunch, and eventually I'll try their dinner menu out, since it seems to be filled with even better options.
(4)Kelli L.
I love this place so much. I have eaten here many times, and the food is amazing. I have eaten almost every vegetarian option they have to offer (my favorite being the Sahara Sampler...SO GOOD), so I can't comment on the meat, but it was absolutely amazing every time. If you enjoy Middle Eastern food, this is definitely the place to go. The baklava tasted like it was baked fresh and was absolutely delish, and I love their Lebanese tea! The prices are fantastic, too. The staff is also super friendly and nice. I highly recommend this place.
(5)Asia C.
I've been going here for years. Sahara has the absolute best Middle Eastern food in New Orleans and it's surrounding areas. I am never disappointed.
(5)Kent C.
Had the gyro plate on takeout. Its really good I should come in to dine next time. It's good enough to where I would eat the gyro plate out of a camel's ass.
(4)