I've only been there once. I thought the food was "okay" and the service was just "okay" also. Not sure if I'll go back again or not...
(3)
Ameena R.
Sample platters are really good, good enough for two to three. Food is average.I love the ambiance there.. Good service, good food. Will definitely go there again.
(4)
Aaron K.
Absolutely the best greek restaurant I have been to...period. The hummus is a family secret and it takes them 3 weeks to make a proper batch. The plain is smooth and flavorful, best I ever had. The spicy is not spicy but just another nuance on the original. There is no better hummus in the twin cities. I have never had a bad dish here, we go quite often. If you like gyros, go for the twin gyro plate. The beef/lamb is charred jucy and flavorful. The chicken is smoky and moist. You will not be dissapointed. The vegetarian plate it terrific.
(5)
Jerry M.
Good food.. Nice crowd.
(3)
Francois B.
If you like slow service and so-so gyro meat then try it, otherwise head to Dino's for a better tasting fare. This place is an old Bakers Square and you can't shine a turd, so the decor is not very sophisticated. I think Caribbean Cruise Cafe is better, although the same family runs both.
(2)
Trish M.
My husband and I love Ansari's! We have eaten here many dozen times over the past few years, and the service is consistently wonderful! It's the best Mediterranean restaurant I've been to (food-wise) in the Twin Cities. Their hummus is one of the best I've had -- clearly, homemade. When we've brought leftover hummus home, they've always packed an additional fresh, hot package of pita bread for us to enjoy with it. Everything we've had here is very tasty -- the lamb, moussaka, spanakopita, sampler plates, the baklava (also clearly homemade)...I could go on and on. I feel so fortunate to have Ansari's in our neighborhood.
(5)
Karen C.
In town for a soccer tournament and saw this restaurant across from our hotel. Our food was excellent. Definitely try the Saganaki, flamed Greek cheese! One of us ordered the Taste of Jerusalem and the other, Taste of Greece. Could have split one order between two people. The salads that came with the meals and the flamed cheese would have been enough for a meal! Fantastic, personal service as well. This was an unexpected find adjacent to several hotels.
(5)
Jennifer S.
Really_ good_ food. The appetizer sampler platter for 4 for $25 - fed 5 of us. The spanakopita was soft and heavy, instead of light and crisp and flaky. Shared a lamb shank entree with 2 others and we each enjoyed it. Quite a large variety of beers and full bar available. What REALLY made the experience *great* was "Tim", the bartender, who was our waiter for a group of 8 people. His uncle owns the place.
(4)
Victor T.
Apparently, they do let children into the restaurant, but I'll let that slide for now. Our experience at Ansari's was quite nice, and we do intend to make the drive to try it out again in the near future. The servers were all excellent and the food was very good. We started with the spanakopita: the fillo dough was nice and crisp and the garlic sauce was very good. I got the Taste of Greece plate and my wife got the flaming New York Strip. Both meals were delicious, fresh, and more than enough to fill us up. Will eat here again.
(4)
Paul P.
This restaurant was located near my hotel during my stay in Eagan. The hostess ignored us as we walked in the door. There was two in our party and we waited 5 minuets while the hostess chatted. We were shown to a table that was occupied. The hostess was angry that no one had bothered to mark it occupied. I had the shrimp stir fry. It started out with a greek salad with Pita bread. The salad was good. The shrimp stir fry was great. The staff was friendly but our table and others seemed to not be a priority to the staff. I was given my bill and paid by credit card. I tipped the waitress. A few weeks later I received my credit card bill and the staff had added to the tip that I gave them. That is stealing. I will not be back.
(2)
Chantel D.
My lord the hummus is like crack. I am sitting here now on my second serving of pita bread and Im tempted to lick the bowl. Phenomenal ! service is wonderful, crowd is great. Cannot wait to come here everytime I come to Minneapolis /Eagan. Can I buy this sh*t somewhere? By the gallon?? Nom Nom Nom
(5)
Rae B.
This was our second visit, the first was okay as was the second. The gyros are good as is the hummus. My husband enjoyed his steak. I do, however have a strong suspicion that the chicken is Golden Plump and had probably been frozen; it just had that chemical taste from the solution they inject to make it tender; I found it to be dry and rubbery. I don't want to comment on service because there was only one other occupied table (early supper). It was okay - nothing spectacular.
(2)
Danielle G.
We love this place. Wait staff is always super friendly and helpful to suggest menu items if you aren't sure of the choices. Lots of healthy options. Seating in the bar area could be better thought out by the owner. Booths are desirable, but could use more of them.
(4)
Karl H.
Ok so this is not normal for me. I usually always give a place a good shot, usually two but this was too much. My wife and I had heard about this place and since I have Lebanese ties and love the food we thought we'd try it out. We walked in and were greeted by a sweet fish tank and then seated rather promptly. Immediately after sitting down we noticed the booth was absolutely filthy. Crumbs all over, in the cracks of the seats, on top of the seats and the walls were painted with food. On top of that my wife's cloth napkin had dried leftover food on it and the menu's were speckled with food as well. The place is just not kept very clean. All of that aside we opened up the menus with the tips of our fingers and looked it over. We weren't very impressed. They had a whole lot of american fare mixed in with a couple Lebanese/Mediterranean dishes that to be honest didn't sound all to authentic. We would have tried it out had the prices been reasonable but in comparison to some great Lebanese places like Emily's or Beirut it was actually more expensive. That was the last straw so we bolted to the door and headed to Doolittles down the street, which didn't disappoint. Like I said, I've never left a restaurant, ok maybe one other time, but this was just too much. I'd give it a 1 star but I figured since we didn't try the food that'd be a bit harsh.
(2)
Michael B.
My wife and I thought we would have a special night out for out anniversary. We thought the place looked decent from what it used to be (Baker Square) We were excited and wanted to see the Professional Belly Dance. But she decided she wan't going to dance because there wasn't enough people. So she decided to visit with one of her friends and have dinner and drinks. We were disappointed. Their Signs and ads say 7-9 We got there at 8:10. So we ate our dinner I got the Moroccan plate with kebabs and my wife got the Mecca Platter all kinds of good stuff. The best part of the meal was the Spicy Hummus Appetizer. So we waited for the D.J. With live request to play at 10:00. They cleared the the tables from Dance floor . The D.J. Set up by 9:30 and by 10:30 he still was not on. Matter of fact he was outside talking to other people. We picked this place because of the Entertainment of the belly dancer. When we didn't get that we stayed for the D.J. music. We were disappointed three times. The server Dave was kind but seemed bored. The food Was decent, But i think Jerusalem's is better.
(2)
Meghann F.
Good sized portions can be found here. And good food, haven't had a bad experience yet. The gyros are delcious. And huge! Have also tried the mezza platter - a sampler with tabouli, humus, gyros, chicken kabobs - wow everything was really good! The sinks in the bathrooms are pretty sweet!!! They also have belly dancing on the weekends which is fun to watch for a little free entertainment! They have drink specials regularly and all you can eat crab legs - i forget which night - maybe mondays - definitely would recommend going!
(4)
Michael N.
I'd say it's about a 2.5. It'd be a 2 if it were in Minneapolis and for the suburbs I guess maybe a 3. The fish tank in the entry way is pretty cool and the bar seemed alright. The restaurant area has too much of the baker's square feel from the former tenants. We thought it might be interesting for the belly dancing but were a little disappointed. I guess it's different and somewhat entertaining compared to other restaurants, but it won't get me to come back. We had the mezza platter and the spanakopita. The gyro meat was the best part, everything else was just ok.
(2)
Mark D.
Service is a tad slow, so enjoy your company. But the food is great! I'm not normally a big hummus guy, but this was really tasty, and I loved the creamy consistency. Excellent gyro meat. Chicken wild rice soup. YEAH! Altogether quite good.
(4)
JC R.
The meals were delicious and large portions. Second time and we will be back again. The belly dancer did a great job too!!
(5)
Vic W.
Very good appetizers at low price during HappyHour.
(4)
michelle t.
Great experience. Met a colleague for happy hour. Enjoyed cosmo's by Theresa (FABULOUS bartender) and the appetizer sampler platter. Very impressed with the falfael - crisp on the outside moist in the middle, fresh hot pita bread served with tray, gyros meat, fresh greek (feta, tomatos, onions, lettuce) salad and the style of spanakopita was good as well - more a baked pastry versus flaky filo - mixture of spinach, feta and seasonings. Kibbi baked very tasty - wish there was more! Hummus good for my taste. Waiter very knowledgeable and friendly with excellent customer service. This is more family friendly and relaxed. Good people watching. Adjacent to the Hilton Garden Hotel. They also have belly dancing as entertainment. Highly recommend.
(4)
Amy B.
It's hard for to give this place anything higher, as my loyalties lie with the Cruise (Mediterranean Cafe), and from what I heard, it's a spinoff of the Cruise gone angry. I did like our waitress alot, and she brought me my gyro exactly the way I asked (I got the gyro wrap, spicy, with lemon garlic, tahini sauce and extra spicy sauce all on the side). It was really good and I ate the other half for lunch the next day. Not a huge fan of the greek potatoes (maybe if they double fried them?). They were a little "limp" for my taste. The atmosphere is a oddly corporate, but maybe that's because its in the old Baker's Square. However, their bathroom sinks are amazing. I'm curious on their happy hour/evening crowd, and hope that the warmth of the Cruise somehow flows to this place, as the new Cruise location is going to be a little far from my home.
(3)
Bev L.
A big step-up in atmosphere from the old Mediterranean Cruise nearby. Big eaters will like this place! Decent Mediterranean food with ample portions and fun dancers on the weekend . No surprises on the menu, but everything is done well and there are many combos so you can get several of your favorites. Service is rushed and ragged -- salads came out a minute after our appetizer and the entrees before we were half done with the salads. Got the impression it's more about the drinks here.
(3)
kiki d.
Ansari's is tucked away off the road in Eagan, we drove past it twice (turn in at the Dairy Queen). We sat in the restaurant area, although there's also tables in the bar. At 8 on a Saturday, the restaurant was nearly full, and the bar area was packed. The food was really good, and the portions large. Entrees seemed expensive when I was looking at the menu, but considering that I got a second full meal from my takeout box, I'd say it was a good value. The only thing I was disappointed in was the hummus. I guess hummus is a pretty basic dish, but it pretty much tasted like the hummus I make at home. There's bellydancing! And I saw some hookahs, but i'm not sure if they are for display or if they have a hookah bar somewhere.
(5)
Keith H.
Me and my wife were there this Friday for happy hour and some mouthwatering food. What a treat it is to have a place that is affordable and of such high quality in my own back yard. Great staff, almost addictive food, good prices AND belly dancing. What more could you want?
(5)
Jennifer K.
I joined some old friends here specifically to watch belly-dancing and have a night out - my friend was able to reserve a table right by the stage, so that was wonderful. The live entertainment was great! The table had six seats though, and three of them had their backs to the stage - viewing would've been awkward from those chairs, luckily we had a couple of people who couldn't make it so we didn't have to feel weird about the seating too much. I ordered Turkish Coffee, which was great - but we sat there for a long time before we were asked if we wanted anything else (like water...). When the last of our party arrived, we ordered (ordering was done close to 20 minutes after the last person sat down) - there were four of us - my girlfriend and I ordered the Vegetarian Sampler, Greek Potatoes and Saganaki (one of the other diners ordered lamb kabobs, but mentioned that they were acting more like mutton than lamb, but that she's had the lamb on other occasions and it was wonderful) - we received our Saganaki quickly (appetizer) and it was delicious, but nothing out of this world. When our sampler platter arrived, we started on that - the food was just average, although the falafel was pleasantly spicy. The Greek Potatoes never came, so we reminded them that they had been ordered. About a 1/2 hour later we reminded them again... I think the fries came out just before dessert! The dessert was good, I had the Tiramusu and my girlfriend had the Baklava - another diner had the Dulce de Leche Cheesecake. The Baklava was served on a mound of ice cream, my Tiramisu was "ok" - again, standard fare. I heard rave reviews of the cheesecake, however! When the bill came it was split three ways - although there were four diners. Diner 1 was on bill 1 Diner 2 was on bill 1 & 2 Diner 3 was on bill 1 & 2 Diner 4 was on bill 3 I appreciate separate bills when dining with a group, but that was a little bizarre. Thankfully no one had too much to drink so we were able to figure out the math... would've been easier with one bill, probably! Also - we were still charged for the item that we had to remind the staff to bring us twice. I'm of the mind that if you mess something up more than once, it should be free. All in all I had a good time, but it had more to do with the company and the entertainment than the food, service and atmosphere. I would come back, but only for the entertainment! If you go for the belly-dancing, make sure out have a $5.00 (or several $1.00's) to tuck in the performer's waistband - they really put forth an effort up there and you don't want to be caught empty-handed when they come and shake it by your table!!
(3)
Brian O.
Had a great experience on my first visit here. We were seated promptly and our drinks arrived fast. The waitress answered all of our questions and made ordering easy. We started with the spicy hummus appetizer. Nice and thick and the pita bread tasted fresh out of the oven. My wife ordered the chicken kabobs and they were great. Tender meat and veggies and I really liked the Greek potatoes. I went with the gyros dinner. Oh my gosh.....there was a ton of food on the plate. Enough to fill my doggie bag for lunch the next day. The meat was very tender and not too spicy. The belly dancer was a nice touch. She even picked a few kids out of the crowd and got them up to dance. Overall it was a great experience and I would recommend it to anyone looking to try something new south of the river.
(5)
Michael O.
The Mediterranean and Mezza Platter are by far the most delicious and economical items on the menu. The kibbee is spectacular (recommend substituting the flafel on the mezza) with some lemon. The mint tea, Ouzo, and Fischer beer are all three the perfect complimentary beverages. The belly dancing is a nice touch Thurs, Fri & Sat during dinner, but late night the DJ turns the place more into a nightclub.
(5)
Rick W.
Great place. The food is fantastic. We ordered a gyro pizza, gyro angel hair pasta, and the shish kabobs. All 3 were incredible. The meat was super tender and the frozen cake was even good. What really set the place apart was our waiter. He was quick, friendly, and honest about the cake being frozen.
(5)
Khawla N.
I am from Lebanon, I went for the buffet with my host family. The food was authentic, and the service was beautiful! I liked the hot dish that they had ( Tabikh). Give it a shot, it's a good place to try Middle Eastern food.
(5)
Damon R.
A holiday weekend in Minnesota, looking for good food and hookah. Im from Wi so i didnt know much about Minnesota. I pulled up the yelp app and it lead me here. The establishment is in Eagan MN. Luckily it wasnt far from where i was staying for the weekend. Stopped in and i believed that i would be able to eat and smoke .... i was wrong. The smoking pan took care of this. Here in Milwaukee we can still have hookah joints and hookah and food. Two separate entities. We were told that we could smoke on the patio. It was raining tho. So no hookah on this adventure. Once this was understood then I looked toward the menu. The wing zings are what i ordered and they were seasoned to perfection and really crispy. The gyro burger was also huge and juicy cooked as asked to order. They make a in house garlic potato chip. Also good. The space is huge and they also sell some hookah products. The is a stage i assume is for the belly dancers? Lots of space, the bar has lots of seats. I cant imagine middle eastern food without being able to enjoy hookah. It wasnt that bad but if i had an option i would have a hookah with me. The food was on point i was just disappointed about the hookah.
(3)
Luis F.
Excellent Mediterranean food spot in Egan. I would recommend the Jerusalem sampler and it was to die for. Definitely a great spot!
(5)
Allison S.
One of best restaurants I have ever been to. The Mediterranean food is so on point. They definitely know what they are doing. The hummus is delicious, especially the spicy one, But the gyro is to die for. So delicious. You would be crazy to pass this place up. A plus is the fact that later in the night they get a DJ and it gets really fun! The bartenders and servers are such amazing people it's really a good time! They really care about what you want and really make it a fun night. Jason was one of the best servers ever! So happy that we happened on this place. 100% recommend!!
(5)
Cara M.
My family was in town visiting and I was looking for somewhere that everyone would enjoy. The food and service were outstanding- well priced and super tasty! We will be back for sure!
(5)
Sam J.
Disappointed compared to previous reviews: bartender not friendly at all, half the customers were obviously her friends (news flash they're your friends worry more about everyone else) 2'nd ordered rack of lamb, which was salty and over cooked if you're going to offer me med-rare you should be able to deliver which is hard when you don't serve the rack but a rack already cut into chops, 3'rd don't get the Greek potatoes they're really just home made chips which are also salty by the way - only plus is that they had a nice beer selection with the proper glasses
(2)
Jessi T.
Fun place, good atmosphere, and great times to be had! The food is awesome, staff is great, and you'll have a blast playing bags!
(5)
Sarah U.
3.5 stars food is a hit or miss here tried most things on the menu, mostly come here for hooka in the summer apps are ok and good price during HH favorite on the menu: *spicy stirfry with beef* lots of safron YUM
(3)
Melissa P.
My favorite place to visit when in town visiting family! The stir fry is soooo good, I had it for dinner last night and now lunch again today. Also a great selection of draft beers and excellent looking homemade Bloody Mary mix!
(5)
Chris R.
What a gem. All the pieces fit: a colorful aquarium, attentive but not annoying waitstaff, huge sampler platter with tons of golden kibbeh flavor rubbing up agains lemony hummus and salty olives and feta from the greek salad, the addictive middle eastern drum music, some belly shaking hip sucking money gyrations, and really gooey chocolate lava cake with a good serving of vanilla ice cream. And then all the customers are different: the biker in the sports bar, the intimate date, the group of men after a dancer, the family, the blonde, the arab. In Eagan? A small miracle.
(5)
Joe E.
Was in Minneapolis for work and Ansari's was across from the hotel. It had more of a bar feel when we were there, and a smaller dining area. We were there for dinner, not the bar, but there is a good seperation between the two. The staff was extremely friendly and the food was very good. I had the Chicken and Lamb Gyro meat entree. I was overwhelmed at the size of the meal. I had a hard time finishing it! Great meal for the price. Can't go wrong. I would definately stop in again when staying in Eagan.
(3)
Pete H.
Service was amazing and the food was too. You have to try the hummus. It might be the best I've ever had - so smooth! I opted for the hummus and steak. The beef tips were really tender and could be served on their own they were so good. And the authentic flavor really comes through. We opted for a lot of the starters, leaving little room for the main course. The portions are big so you really get your money's worth. (We'll have this for lunch tomorrow). I had the lamb burger and the spices they use in there really bring out a great flavor. We had 8 different dishes and they were all really good. I will defiantly be back!!!
(5)
Tam N.
I went there for the all you can eat crab buffet and the crab was good. They were hot and freshly cooked. I didn't get a chance to sample their other items on the menu so can't comment on this.
(4)
MeLissa K.
Food here is excellent Mid East cuisine and they have terrific specials on happy hour drinks and food. Service was friendly and funny, highly recommend. Live DJ on Friday and Saturday nights.
(4)
Harry G.
Best hummus ever. Nice outdoor patio with hookah ay each table and a fire pit. Sweet selection of Craft IPA's as well and the gyros kick major ass.
I have order their delivery and just now experienced their dining in. The hummus is one of the best I have had. Service is very good, friendly and they swing by to check on you. Thursday night dinning is very good as they offer an all you can eat crab legs for $34.95. They also have a belly dancer for entertainment while to eat away at the crab legs. Don't forget the tirimesu for desert as it was also very good. Overall very good, I would have given them 5 stars if it was the fact that the delivery came without a fork and napkins whuch is very important if you are visiting and living out of a hotel.
(4)
Karl W.
As we pulled into the parking lot, Mason says "Oh I thought you said 'Aunt Seri's' ". Seri is my sister, but she lives in Brooklyn so I would have hoped he didn't imagine us driving cross crossing to eat her place. A large fish tank with a pair of small sharks greet you as you enter Ansari's. Interior is very nicely done but the patio is spacious and the weather was great so we dined outside. My girlfriend and daughter wanted crab legs since they were recommended on Yelp and not widely found in the cities. There was a small invasion of flies that would not stop hounding the crab legs (restaurant is not at fault, we were outside) Highlights include: hummus (best I've ever had), tahini salad, kufta and chicken kabob (all found on the Taste of Jerusalem specialty). Chicken was so juicy and perfect. I typically frown at most hummus but the hummus had me spooning it off my families plate. Overall the experience was very good and food was terrific. We sat at the fire table in the patio and business started to pick up at 8pm.
(5)
Anissa G.
I'm updating a previous review where I did not have a good experience. A friend and I ordered lunch from Ansari's and we didn't have a great customer service experience. After I posted a review, the owner contacted me and went out of his way to make it right. I've ordered lunch a few more times and each time the customer service was above-and-beyond, which says to me that they took their customer's concerns to heart and made an effort to correct it. I think this says a lot about their commitment to delivering a good experience! I do not hesitate to eat here again and again.
(4)
Kaitlynn I.
Fun night out with friends. Loved sitting on the patio and enjoying hookah after dinner.
(5)
Nicole F.
Love this place. Salads, apps, hummus and pita bread, gyros... it's all great. The meat can sometimes be greasy, but I still find it tasty. They have a lot of cocktail and beer options and good prices during happy hour. Servers and bartenders are friendly. The belly dancing can get annoying, but that's our own fault for going during the set dancing times.
(4)
Darren E.
The food was great and the service was really good. We had the twin gyros and the Greek stir fry. Both were amazing.
(4)
Nicole H.
This place has great food. Like the atmosphere. The waitress was slow on checking in on us. I would also recommend all you can eat crab! Delicious!
(4)
Laura C.
The hummus was delicious and the gyro's dinner as well. We were really impressed. $2,beers are always a plus!
(5)
Ford P.
Positives: Our waitress was great, and did the best job I've ever seen serving a large group. Negatives: The bench seating is way too low. The tables are almost at shoulder-level. There is a townie sports bar in the same space as the restaurant, which is distracting and ruins the restaurant atmosphere. The portions are too large and poorly seasoned. Ansari's would benefit from simplifying their menu and focusing on doing a few Mediterranean things well, instead of many things mediocre. I did not expect to see all you can eat crab legs, an Italian beef wrap, BBQ chicken pizza, and halibut at a greek restaurant. With so many items, I can't fault the cooks for the food.
(2)
Amy H.
First, why was it so difficult for the girl on the phone to concentrate on my order? Five minutes after hanging up, the phone rang. She had my credit card number wrong...imagine that. The apps were just gross, I dont know what else to say. What could have been a creative food adventure was revolting. Cheap food in outrageously large portions. Added baklava to the order just to meet the $20 delivery minimum, and it wasnt even a treat. Had a weird sweet flavor that was neither nutty nor natural...reminded me of some fruit snack i had as a little kid. Heavy, dense, soggy, just ew! I give this place one star for quick delivery. Bravo. I think the delivery was actually quicker than placing the order... After this, I won't be ordering from any establishment in Minnesota claiming to be ethnic or attempting to put an ethnic spin on American food again. Too risky!
(1)
Esther C.
Really friendly staff. The saganaki and Mediterranean platter were a great start. My son had the chicken Caesar wrap and said he loved it. My husband had the rack of lamb and he thought it was ok.
(3)
Monica A.
Food and service is amazing. I didn't want to leave. When I can take both my boys out to dinner and the entire time they are eating they are quiet. I hit the jackpot. My 9yr old now has a new favorite restaurant and so do I!!
(5)
Elizabeth J.
After 4-5 visits, i had to finally come and write a review. seriously what happened to this place came here ayear a go everything was good the food is ok service decent... i guess just an "average night out" each dish was tasty but somehow the sauce or garnish was always the best thing on the plate. something was just a little off about the food. not bad but not great. service was poor though
(3)
Carnivore X.
There is a show on television about a small town in Indiana. I believe what may have happened here, is that one of it's stars has opened a restaurant, as he has done on the show. Mr. Ansari, an American of Indian descent, is hilarious, but apparently a better actor and comedian than restauranteur. This Mediterranean fusion/confusion menu tells the tale. Aziz, you truly shouldn't have. Though I know this not to be true, I still hope that it is, because that would go some distance in explaining the food. Wobbly tables set too close together, a somewhat confused menu, and a server more interested in flirting with another table than seeing to our food and beverages contributed to a rather bad first impression. Also, this place was loud. There was a belly dancer performing the night we dined here, and the sound system, to put it very politely, could use some upgrading. I had the lamb feast, and though there was a lot of food, especially the gyro meat, it wasn't good. The lamb rack had a weird flavor to it, which is not present when Mrs. Carnivore makes lamb racks. The lamb kabob was actually good, which was a delight and a standout compared to the rest of the meal. Gyro meat had a lot of crunch to it, as well as a flavor and smell I do not associate with gyro meat. The Coke was good, but the server could have bothered to refill it just once. The lamb kabob was the only thing I had that was good. The best thing I can say about the food is that it came out of the kitchen rather quickly. For one portion of a meal, I will definitely not return, nor can I, in good faith, recommend this establishment.
(2)
Tess B.
Loved this place so much I ate here twice during my visit. Great service both nights. The food is amazing with great variety. I had the house wine red and white and recommend it. Tried the Lebanese Tour the first night and chicken kabobs the second. Both wonderful! Tender meat on the lamb and chicken kabobs. Fantastic hummus!! The pita bread comes out warm and soft. There is this amazing garlic sauce on the side that I would eat plain. So awesome! My only sadness was I didn't see the belly dancer.
(5)
Annie P.
Kick butt happy hour! 2:00pm - 6:00 pm everyday. 27 oz Stella's on tap for $5.00. Great prices on apps and we enjoyed our lamb shank. Our server Brice was really on the ball. Tip: You get $5.00 off if your bill is more than $40.00 with a Yelp check-in.
(4)
Sean S.
Wow, divine gyros meal and Greek Salad. Everything just perfect. Also appreciate the laid back atmosphere, quiet and comfortable.
(5)
Ryan C.
Fun, decent food and delicious lamb shank!
(4)
Katie C.
Love their hummus!!!! Could sit and make that my meal alone! Food is really good, no complaints. Belly dancer was kind of a joke, made us laugh. It gets so loud in there during that, that you can't talk to each other and it is kind of annoying.
(4)
Kevin B.
Unbelievably good food. The Ansari's Stir Fry with gyro meat is absolutely phenomenal. Also, the hummus is delicious!!
(5)
Timothy K.
Looking for a place that has pulltabs, pizza, burgers, and a sports-bar feel? Come to Ansari's Mediterranean... wait, what? Lets look at this menu one more time. Looking for a sit down restaurant to have some chicken fettuccine and a build-your-own omelet? Come to Ansari's Mediterranean... waitaminute. Where the heck am I? How about a place where you can see a belly dancer and have a sampling of Moroccan, Greek, and Lebanese food? Come to Ansari's Mediterranean Grill & Lounge! This place has no idea what it is. Built on the grave of a Baker's Square it seems the ghost of the old menu is still around. The main dining area is pretty and has a distinctly Mediterranean vibe to it. From the color scheme (purple) to the stage for belly dancing, it is telling you that you should have the gyros. Take a look a little further though and it seems someone stuck a sports bar on the end of this place. There are clearly regulars there and they seem to love the bar and what looked to be a place to throw bean bags (sure, why not?) out on the patio. I was there at around 1 on a Monday and everyone knew everyone else. The staff seemed friendly and accommodating. The food was way below average for me. I stuck with the tabbouleh, some hummus, and an order of felafel because I was in a place that claims to be Mediterranean. I really wish I had ordered the Mushroom and Swiss burger, though. It looked delicious. If I wanted to go to a sports bar, I would have. I was looking for some vegetarian options, but nearly everything had either meat or cheese on it. The only thing that is saving it from a one-star is the hummus. It was spicy and delicious. The staff even offered up more bread for dipping when we were running low.
(2)
Amy D.
2.5 stars. I ordered delivery this evening to my hotel, which arrived quickly. Turns out, they just microwaved my moussaka and put it in styrofoam. I do not expect them to bake it to order, but they could have at least heated it in the oven. They quoted me 30-45 minutes for delivery and I would have preferred delivery taking that long and getting food that didn't taste like leftovers heated in the microwave. It was surrounded by homemade potato chips, which I enjoyed more than pieces of potato baked inside. Also, the portion is very generous. I also asked for a half order of spanakopita, and got two tiny triangles for $4. This was the highlight of my meal. It was kind of them to make me an off-menu half order of baba ghanoush. I wish I had tried the hummus, as the baba ghanoush was nothing special. Considering that there are many of us from my company staying in the same hotel ordering from this restaurant each night this week, it would have been nice if they waived the $20 delivery minimum or the delivery fee, but no such luck.
(3)
Jewels B.
This place is solid I love the buffett deal they got($9.95 from 11-2pm Wed-Fri) wish they had it longer and all week long. The Happy hour is solid as well. My only complaint is that the prices could be a bit cheaper however with the happy hour and buffett can't complain. The owner is a cool guy and he even gave me a free meal once just becaue. The service also tends to be a bit slow if you're at the bar. The music is decent late nights. The belly dancers are pretty cute, even the one that looks like she is prego Pros: Great place to bring a date during happy hour if you wanna be cheap but impress her with great food and ambience Cons: Slow service at times and a tad pricy
(4)
Deepak B.
Surprisingly really good food at reasonable prices. It's not a classy place but more for the local hangout. Being open till 2am is certain plus for late night travelers. Pizza is great too.
(4)
Cheryl L.
Spent a very enjoyable evening here with a 6 friends. We shared the Mediterranean Sampler Platter 4 for $25 and a couple of Saganaki (flamed cheese/brandy), and finished up with Baklava. Everything was delicious and fresh. Wait staff was incredibly friendly and our belly dancer was very entertaining.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Greek food is a fine melody of the finest pressed olive oil, fresh fermented bread, colorful vegetables, juicy meat, sea food all cooked in spices and fresh rosemary. The people from Greek were great scholars who aimed to excel in everything they do. The results are quite visible in their food as they are the inventors of olive oil which is beneficial to health. Greeks also made different type of wines from the best quality of grapes fermented in controlled environment.
Today, you can find hundreds of restaurants offering authentic Greek food or popularly termed as Mediterranean cuisine in New York city alone. People wait in line to taste the exotic Greek dishes like saganaki, taramasalata, souvlaki, loukoumades, spanakopita, moussaka, and many more. One thing which most people like about these authentic Greek dishes is abundant use of lemon juice, olive oil, fresh rosemary and sea salt. A smart mix of few ingredients can virtually take you on the pebble streets of beautiful city of Greece.
For those who don't have time to enjoy fine dining should try tasting the famous souvlaki with pita which is type of meat dish, also a trademark Greek fast food. For those who are vegetarian, or vegan can try different versions of Greek Salad. So, if you wish to enjoy a hearty yet healthy meal that tastes divine then try dining at the best Greek restaurant in your city. Greek cuisine not only tastes good but also help maintain your body in a natural way through healthy diet.
Andrea P.
I've only been there once. I thought the food was "okay" and the service was just "okay" also. Not sure if I'll go back again or not...
(3)Ameena R.
Sample platters are really good, good enough for two to three. Food is average.I love the ambiance there.. Good service, good food. Will definitely go there again.
(4)Aaron K.
Absolutely the best greek restaurant I have been to...period. The hummus is a family secret and it takes them 3 weeks to make a proper batch. The plain is smooth and flavorful, best I ever had. The spicy is not spicy but just another nuance on the original. There is no better hummus in the twin cities. I have never had a bad dish here, we go quite often. If you like gyros, go for the twin gyro plate. The beef/lamb is charred jucy and flavorful. The chicken is smoky and moist. You will not be dissapointed. The vegetarian plate it terrific.
(5)Jerry M.
Good food.. Nice crowd.
(3)Francois B.
If you like slow service and so-so gyro meat then try it, otherwise head to Dino's for a better tasting fare. This place is an old Bakers Square and you can't shine a turd, so the decor is not very sophisticated. I think Caribbean Cruise Cafe is better, although the same family runs both.
(2)Trish M.
My husband and I love Ansari's! We have eaten here many dozen times over the past few years, and the service is consistently wonderful! It's the best Mediterranean restaurant I've been to (food-wise) in the Twin Cities. Their hummus is one of the best I've had -- clearly, homemade. When we've brought leftover hummus home, they've always packed an additional fresh, hot package of pita bread for us to enjoy with it. Everything we've had here is very tasty -- the lamb, moussaka, spanakopita, sampler plates, the baklava (also clearly homemade)...I could go on and on. I feel so fortunate to have Ansari's in our neighborhood.
(5)Karen C.
In town for a soccer tournament and saw this restaurant across from our hotel. Our food was excellent. Definitely try the Saganaki, flamed Greek cheese! One of us ordered the Taste of Jerusalem and the other, Taste of Greece. Could have split one order between two people. The salads that came with the meals and the flamed cheese would have been enough for a meal! Fantastic, personal service as well. This was an unexpected find adjacent to several hotels.
(5)Jennifer S.
Really_ good_ food. The appetizer sampler platter for 4 for $25 - fed 5 of us. The spanakopita was soft and heavy, instead of light and crisp and flaky. Shared a lamb shank entree with 2 others and we each enjoyed it. Quite a large variety of beers and full bar available. What REALLY made the experience *great* was "Tim", the bartender, who was our waiter for a group of 8 people. His uncle owns the place.
(4)Victor T.
Apparently, they do let children into the restaurant, but I'll let that slide for now. Our experience at Ansari's was quite nice, and we do intend to make the drive to try it out again in the near future. The servers were all excellent and the food was very good. We started with the spanakopita: the fillo dough was nice and crisp and the garlic sauce was very good. I got the Taste of Greece plate and my wife got the flaming New York Strip. Both meals were delicious, fresh, and more than enough to fill us up. Will eat here again.
(4)Paul P.
This restaurant was located near my hotel during my stay in Eagan. The hostess ignored us as we walked in the door. There was two in our party and we waited 5 minuets while the hostess chatted. We were shown to a table that was occupied. The hostess was angry that no one had bothered to mark it occupied. I had the shrimp stir fry. It started out with a greek salad with Pita bread. The salad was good. The shrimp stir fry was great. The staff was friendly but our table and others seemed to not be a priority to the staff. I was given my bill and paid by credit card. I tipped the waitress. A few weeks later I received my credit card bill and the staff had added to the tip that I gave them. That is stealing. I will not be back.
(2)Chantel D.
My lord the hummus is like crack. I am sitting here now on my second serving of pita bread and Im tempted to lick the bowl. Phenomenal ! service is wonderful, crowd is great. Cannot wait to come here everytime I come to Minneapolis /Eagan. Can I buy this sh*t somewhere? By the gallon?? Nom Nom Nom
(5)Rae B.
This was our second visit, the first was okay as was the second. The gyros are good as is the hummus. My husband enjoyed his steak. I do, however have a strong suspicion that the chicken is Golden Plump and had probably been frozen; it just had that chemical taste from the solution they inject to make it tender; I found it to be dry and rubbery. I don't want to comment on service because there was only one other occupied table (early supper). It was okay - nothing spectacular.
(2)Danielle G.
We love this place. Wait staff is always super friendly and helpful to suggest menu items if you aren't sure of the choices. Lots of healthy options. Seating in the bar area could be better thought out by the owner. Booths are desirable, but could use more of them.
(4)Karl H.
Ok so this is not normal for me. I usually always give a place a good shot, usually two but this was too much. My wife and I had heard about this place and since I have Lebanese ties and love the food we thought we'd try it out. We walked in and were greeted by a sweet fish tank and then seated rather promptly. Immediately after sitting down we noticed the booth was absolutely filthy. Crumbs all over, in the cracks of the seats, on top of the seats and the walls were painted with food. On top of that my wife's cloth napkin had dried leftover food on it and the menu's were speckled with food as well. The place is just not kept very clean. All of that aside we opened up the menus with the tips of our fingers and looked it over. We weren't very impressed. They had a whole lot of american fare mixed in with a couple Lebanese/Mediterranean dishes that to be honest didn't sound all to authentic. We would have tried it out had the prices been reasonable but in comparison to some great Lebanese places like Emily's or Beirut it was actually more expensive. That was the last straw so we bolted to the door and headed to Doolittles down the street, which didn't disappoint. Like I said, I've never left a restaurant, ok maybe one other time, but this was just too much. I'd give it a 1 star but I figured since we didn't try the food that'd be a bit harsh.
(2)Michael B.
My wife and I thought we would have a special night out for out anniversary. We thought the place looked decent from what it used to be (Baker Square) We were excited and wanted to see the Professional Belly Dance. But she decided she wan't going to dance because there wasn't enough people. So she decided to visit with one of her friends and have dinner and drinks. We were disappointed. Their Signs and ads say 7-9 We got there at 8:10. So we ate our dinner I got the Moroccan plate with kebabs and my wife got the Mecca Platter all kinds of good stuff. The best part of the meal was the Spicy Hummus Appetizer. So we waited for the D.J. With live request to play at 10:00. They cleared the the tables from Dance floor . The D.J. Set up by 9:30 and by 10:30 he still was not on. Matter of fact he was outside talking to other people. We picked this place because of the Entertainment of the belly dancer. When we didn't get that we stayed for the D.J. music. We were disappointed three times. The server Dave was kind but seemed bored. The food Was decent, But i think Jerusalem's is better.
(2)Meghann F.
Good sized portions can be found here. And good food, haven't had a bad experience yet. The gyros are delcious. And huge! Have also tried the mezza platter - a sampler with tabouli, humus, gyros, chicken kabobs - wow everything was really good! The sinks in the bathrooms are pretty sweet!!! They also have belly dancing on the weekends which is fun to watch for a little free entertainment! They have drink specials regularly and all you can eat crab legs - i forget which night - maybe mondays - definitely would recommend going!
(4)Michael N.
I'd say it's about a 2.5. It'd be a 2 if it were in Minneapolis and for the suburbs I guess maybe a 3. The fish tank in the entry way is pretty cool and the bar seemed alright. The restaurant area has too much of the baker's square feel from the former tenants. We thought it might be interesting for the belly dancing but were a little disappointed. I guess it's different and somewhat entertaining compared to other restaurants, but it won't get me to come back. We had the mezza platter and the spanakopita. The gyro meat was the best part, everything else was just ok.
(2)Mark D.
Service is a tad slow, so enjoy your company. But the food is great! I'm not normally a big hummus guy, but this was really tasty, and I loved the creamy consistency. Excellent gyro meat. Chicken wild rice soup. YEAH! Altogether quite good.
(4)JC R.
The meals were delicious and large portions. Second time and we will be back again. The belly dancer did a great job too!!
(5)Vic W.
Very good appetizers at low price during HappyHour.
(4)michelle t.
Great experience. Met a colleague for happy hour. Enjoyed cosmo's by Theresa (FABULOUS bartender) and the appetizer sampler platter. Very impressed with the falfael - crisp on the outside moist in the middle, fresh hot pita bread served with tray, gyros meat, fresh greek (feta, tomatos, onions, lettuce) salad and the style of spanakopita was good as well - more a baked pastry versus flaky filo - mixture of spinach, feta and seasonings. Kibbi baked very tasty - wish there was more! Hummus good for my taste. Waiter very knowledgeable and friendly with excellent customer service. This is more family friendly and relaxed. Good people watching. Adjacent to the Hilton Garden Hotel. They also have belly dancing as entertainment. Highly recommend.
(4)Amy B.
It's hard for to give this place anything higher, as my loyalties lie with the Cruise (Mediterranean Cafe), and from what I heard, it's a spinoff of the Cruise gone angry. I did like our waitress alot, and she brought me my gyro exactly the way I asked (I got the gyro wrap, spicy, with lemon garlic, tahini sauce and extra spicy sauce all on the side). It was really good and I ate the other half for lunch the next day. Not a huge fan of the greek potatoes (maybe if they double fried them?). They were a little "limp" for my taste. The atmosphere is a oddly corporate, but maybe that's because its in the old Baker's Square. However, their bathroom sinks are amazing. I'm curious on their happy hour/evening crowd, and hope that the warmth of the Cruise somehow flows to this place, as the new Cruise location is going to be a little far from my home.
(3)Bev L.
A big step-up in atmosphere from the old Mediterranean Cruise nearby. Big eaters will like this place! Decent Mediterranean food with ample portions and fun dancers on the weekend . No surprises on the menu, but everything is done well and there are many combos so you can get several of your favorites. Service is rushed and ragged -- salads came out a minute after our appetizer and the entrees before we were half done with the salads. Got the impression it's more about the drinks here.
(3)kiki d.
Ansari's is tucked away off the road in Eagan, we drove past it twice (turn in at the Dairy Queen). We sat in the restaurant area, although there's also tables in the bar. At 8 on a Saturday, the restaurant was nearly full, and the bar area was packed. The food was really good, and the portions large. Entrees seemed expensive when I was looking at the menu, but considering that I got a second full meal from my takeout box, I'd say it was a good value. The only thing I was disappointed in was the hummus. I guess hummus is a pretty basic dish, but it pretty much tasted like the hummus I make at home. There's bellydancing! And I saw some hookahs, but i'm not sure if they are for display or if they have a hookah bar somewhere.
(5)Keith H.
Me and my wife were there this Friday for happy hour and some mouthwatering food. What a treat it is to have a place that is affordable and of such high quality in my own back yard. Great staff, almost addictive food, good prices AND belly dancing. What more could you want?
(5)Jennifer K.
I joined some old friends here specifically to watch belly-dancing and have a night out - my friend was able to reserve a table right by the stage, so that was wonderful. The live entertainment was great! The table had six seats though, and three of them had their backs to the stage - viewing would've been awkward from those chairs, luckily we had a couple of people who couldn't make it so we didn't have to feel weird about the seating too much. I ordered Turkish Coffee, which was great - but we sat there for a long time before we were asked if we wanted anything else (like water...). When the last of our party arrived, we ordered (ordering was done close to 20 minutes after the last person sat down) - there were four of us - my girlfriend and I ordered the Vegetarian Sampler, Greek Potatoes and Saganaki (one of the other diners ordered lamb kabobs, but mentioned that they were acting more like mutton than lamb, but that she's had the lamb on other occasions and it was wonderful) - we received our Saganaki quickly (appetizer) and it was delicious, but nothing out of this world. When our sampler platter arrived, we started on that - the food was just average, although the falafel was pleasantly spicy. The Greek Potatoes never came, so we reminded them that they had been ordered. About a 1/2 hour later we reminded them again... I think the fries came out just before dessert! The dessert was good, I had the Tiramusu and my girlfriend had the Baklava - another diner had the Dulce de Leche Cheesecake. The Baklava was served on a mound of ice cream, my Tiramisu was "ok" - again, standard fare. I heard rave reviews of the cheesecake, however! When the bill came it was split three ways - although there were four diners. Diner 1 was on bill 1 Diner 2 was on bill 1 & 2 Diner 3 was on bill 1 & 2 Diner 4 was on bill 3 I appreciate separate bills when dining with a group, but that was a little bizarre. Thankfully no one had too much to drink so we were able to figure out the math... would've been easier with one bill, probably! Also - we were still charged for the item that we had to remind the staff to bring us twice. I'm of the mind that if you mess something up more than once, it should be free. All in all I had a good time, but it had more to do with the company and the entertainment than the food, service and atmosphere. I would come back, but only for the entertainment! If you go for the belly-dancing, make sure out have a $5.00 (or several $1.00's) to tuck in the performer's waistband - they really put forth an effort up there and you don't want to be caught empty-handed when they come and shake it by your table!!
(3)Brian O.
Had a great experience on my first visit here. We were seated promptly and our drinks arrived fast. The waitress answered all of our questions and made ordering easy. We started with the spicy hummus appetizer. Nice and thick and the pita bread tasted fresh out of the oven. My wife ordered the chicken kabobs and they were great. Tender meat and veggies and I really liked the Greek potatoes. I went with the gyros dinner. Oh my gosh.....there was a ton of food on the plate. Enough to fill my doggie bag for lunch the next day. The meat was very tender and not too spicy. The belly dancer was a nice touch. She even picked a few kids out of the crowd and got them up to dance. Overall it was a great experience and I would recommend it to anyone looking to try something new south of the river.
(5)Michael O.
The Mediterranean and Mezza Platter are by far the most delicious and economical items on the menu. The kibbee is spectacular (recommend substituting the flafel on the mezza) with some lemon. The mint tea, Ouzo, and Fischer beer are all three the perfect complimentary beverages. The belly dancing is a nice touch Thurs, Fri & Sat during dinner, but late night the DJ turns the place more into a nightclub.
(5)Rick W.
Great place. The food is fantastic. We ordered a gyro pizza, gyro angel hair pasta, and the shish kabobs. All 3 were incredible. The meat was super tender and the frozen cake was even good. What really set the place apart was our waiter. He was quick, friendly, and honest about the cake being frozen.
(5)Khawla N.
I am from Lebanon, I went for the buffet with my host family. The food was authentic, and the service was beautiful! I liked the hot dish that they had ( Tabikh). Give it a shot, it's a good place to try Middle Eastern food.
(5)Damon R.
A holiday weekend in Minnesota, looking for good food and hookah. Im from Wi so i didnt know much about Minnesota. I pulled up the yelp app and it lead me here. The establishment is in Eagan MN. Luckily it wasnt far from where i was staying for the weekend. Stopped in and i believed that i would be able to eat and smoke .... i was wrong. The smoking pan took care of this. Here in Milwaukee we can still have hookah joints and hookah and food. Two separate entities. We were told that we could smoke on the patio. It was raining tho. So no hookah on this adventure. Once this was understood then I looked toward the menu. The wing zings are what i ordered and they were seasoned to perfection and really crispy. The gyro burger was also huge and juicy cooked as asked to order. They make a in house garlic potato chip. Also good. The space is huge and they also sell some hookah products. The is a stage i assume is for the belly dancers? Lots of space, the bar has lots of seats. I cant imagine middle eastern food without being able to enjoy hookah. It wasnt that bad but if i had an option i would have a hookah with me. The food was on point i was just disappointed about the hookah.
(3)Luis F.
Excellent Mediterranean food spot in Egan. I would recommend the Jerusalem sampler and it was to die for. Definitely a great spot!
(5)Allison S.
One of best restaurants I have ever been to. The Mediterranean food is so on point. They definitely know what they are doing. The hummus is delicious, especially the spicy one, But the gyro is to die for. So delicious. You would be crazy to pass this place up. A plus is the fact that later in the night they get a DJ and it gets really fun! The bartenders and servers are such amazing people it's really a good time! They really care about what you want and really make it a fun night. Jason was one of the best servers ever! So happy that we happened on this place. 100% recommend!!
(5)Cara M.
My family was in town visiting and I was looking for somewhere that everyone would enjoy. The food and service were outstanding- well priced and super tasty! We will be back for sure!
(5)Sam J.
Disappointed compared to previous reviews: bartender not friendly at all, half the customers were obviously her friends (news flash they're your friends worry more about everyone else) 2'nd ordered rack of lamb, which was salty and over cooked if you're going to offer me med-rare you should be able to deliver which is hard when you don't serve the rack but a rack already cut into chops, 3'rd don't get the Greek potatoes they're really just home made chips which are also salty by the way - only plus is that they had a nice beer selection with the proper glasses
(2)Jessi T.
Fun place, good atmosphere, and great times to be had! The food is awesome, staff is great, and you'll have a blast playing bags!
(5)Sarah U.
3.5 stars food is a hit or miss here tried most things on the menu, mostly come here for hooka in the summer apps are ok and good price during HH favorite on the menu: *spicy stirfry with beef* lots of safron YUM
(3)Melissa P.
My favorite place to visit when in town visiting family! The stir fry is soooo good, I had it for dinner last night and now lunch again today. Also a great selection of draft beers and excellent looking homemade Bloody Mary mix!
(5)Chris R.
What a gem. All the pieces fit: a colorful aquarium, attentive but not annoying waitstaff, huge sampler platter with tons of golden kibbeh flavor rubbing up agains lemony hummus and salty olives and feta from the greek salad, the addictive middle eastern drum music, some belly shaking hip sucking money gyrations, and really gooey chocolate lava cake with a good serving of vanilla ice cream. And then all the customers are different: the biker in the sports bar, the intimate date, the group of men after a dancer, the family, the blonde, the arab. In Eagan? A small miracle.
(5)Joe E.
Was in Minneapolis for work and Ansari's was across from the hotel. It had more of a bar feel when we were there, and a smaller dining area. We were there for dinner, not the bar, but there is a good seperation between the two. The staff was extremely friendly and the food was very good. I had the Chicken and Lamb Gyro meat entree. I was overwhelmed at the size of the meal. I had a hard time finishing it! Great meal for the price. Can't go wrong. I would definately stop in again when staying in Eagan.
(3)Pete H.
Service was amazing and the food was too. You have to try the hummus. It might be the best I've ever had - so smooth! I opted for the hummus and steak. The beef tips were really tender and could be served on their own they were so good. And the authentic flavor really comes through. We opted for a lot of the starters, leaving little room for the main course. The portions are big so you really get your money's worth. (We'll have this for lunch tomorrow). I had the lamb burger and the spices they use in there really bring out a great flavor. We had 8 different dishes and they were all really good. I will defiantly be back!!!
(5)Tam N.
I went there for the all you can eat crab buffet and the crab was good. They were hot and freshly cooked. I didn't get a chance to sample their other items on the menu so can't comment on this.
(4)MeLissa K.
Food here is excellent Mid East cuisine and they have terrific specials on happy hour drinks and food. Service was friendly and funny, highly recommend. Live DJ on Friday and Saturday nights.
(4)Harry G.
Best hummus ever. Nice outdoor patio with hookah ay each table and a fire pit. Sweet selection of Craft IPA's as well and the gyros kick major ass.
(5)Emilie B.
On a quest for the best Greek food in the twin cities, my fiancé and I decided to check out Ansari's for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. Overall, our experience was great, and we will definitely return! Positives: -Fantastic service!! I am a huge fan of restaurants with fast, friendly service, and Ansari's definitely exceeded my standards. Our server (An older man, I think he might have been the owner) was super friendly and funny. -The hummus is phenomenal! Definitely homemade, light and fluffy and so flavorful! The pita it it served with is fantastic too! -Everything tasted very fresh, the meat was tender, and the food was presented/plated very well. -It looks like they have a big bar crowd. Ansari's has a big bar area, and when we came at lunch time, the bar was totally full. It looked like some sort of get-together since all of the patrons seemed to know each other. A restaurant full of people is a great sign! Negative: -Prices are a bit high for the location. If Ansari's was downtown, the prices would be more understandable. If they lowered a lot of their items prices by $1-$2, they would probably get a lot more business (especially for the lunch items). Definitely check out Ansari's if you are in the St. Paul/Eagan area and are craving fresh, healthy, guilt-free food (better than a hamburger and greasy French fries!)
(4)Wai W.
I have order their delivery and just now experienced their dining in. The hummus is one of the best I have had. Service is very good, friendly and they swing by to check on you. Thursday night dinning is very good as they offer an all you can eat crab legs for $34.95. They also have a belly dancer for entertainment while to eat away at the crab legs. Don't forget the tirimesu for desert as it was also very good. Overall very good, I would have given them 5 stars if it was the fact that the delivery came without a fork and napkins whuch is very important if you are visiting and living out of a hotel.
(4)Karl W.
As we pulled into the parking lot, Mason says "Oh I thought you said 'Aunt Seri's' ". Seri is my sister, but she lives in Brooklyn so I would have hoped he didn't imagine us driving cross crossing to eat her place. A large fish tank with a pair of small sharks greet you as you enter Ansari's. Interior is very nicely done but the patio is spacious and the weather was great so we dined outside. My girlfriend and daughter wanted crab legs since they were recommended on Yelp and not widely found in the cities. There was a small invasion of flies that would not stop hounding the crab legs (restaurant is not at fault, we were outside) Highlights include: hummus (best I've ever had), tahini salad, kufta and chicken kabob (all found on the Taste of Jerusalem specialty). Chicken was so juicy and perfect. I typically frown at most hummus but the hummus had me spooning it off my families plate. Overall the experience was very good and food was terrific. We sat at the fire table in the patio and business started to pick up at 8pm.
(5)Anissa G.
I'm updating a previous review where I did not have a good experience. A friend and I ordered lunch from Ansari's and we didn't have a great customer service experience. After I posted a review, the owner contacted me and went out of his way to make it right. I've ordered lunch a few more times and each time the customer service was above-and-beyond, which says to me that they took their customer's concerns to heart and made an effort to correct it. I think this says a lot about their commitment to delivering a good experience! I do not hesitate to eat here again and again.
(4)Kaitlynn I.
Fun night out with friends. Loved sitting on the patio and enjoying hookah after dinner.
(5)Nicole F.
Love this place. Salads, apps, hummus and pita bread, gyros... it's all great. The meat can sometimes be greasy, but I still find it tasty. They have a lot of cocktail and beer options and good prices during happy hour. Servers and bartenders are friendly. The belly dancing can get annoying, but that's our own fault for going during the set dancing times.
(4)Darren E.
The food was great and the service was really good. We had the twin gyros and the Greek stir fry. Both were amazing.
(4)Nicole H.
This place has great food. Like the atmosphere. The waitress was slow on checking in on us. I would also recommend all you can eat crab! Delicious!
(4)Laura C.
The hummus was delicious and the gyro's dinner as well. We were really impressed. $2,beers are always a plus!
(5)Ford P.
Positives: Our waitress was great, and did the best job I've ever seen serving a large group. Negatives: The bench seating is way too low. The tables are almost at shoulder-level. There is a townie sports bar in the same space as the restaurant, which is distracting and ruins the restaurant atmosphere. The portions are too large and poorly seasoned. Ansari's would benefit from simplifying their menu and focusing on doing a few Mediterranean things well, instead of many things mediocre. I did not expect to see all you can eat crab legs, an Italian beef wrap, BBQ chicken pizza, and halibut at a greek restaurant. With so many items, I can't fault the cooks for the food.
(2)Amy H.
First, why was it so difficult for the girl on the phone to concentrate on my order? Five minutes after hanging up, the phone rang. She had my credit card number wrong...imagine that. The apps were just gross, I dont know what else to say. What could have been a creative food adventure was revolting. Cheap food in outrageously large portions. Added baklava to the order just to meet the $20 delivery minimum, and it wasnt even a treat. Had a weird sweet flavor that was neither nutty nor natural...reminded me of some fruit snack i had as a little kid. Heavy, dense, soggy, just ew! I give this place one star for quick delivery. Bravo. I think the delivery was actually quicker than placing the order... After this, I won't be ordering from any establishment in Minnesota claiming to be ethnic or attempting to put an ethnic spin on American food again. Too risky!
(1)Esther C.
Really friendly staff. The saganaki and Mediterranean platter were a great start. My son had the chicken Caesar wrap and said he loved it. My husband had the rack of lamb and he thought it was ok.
(3)Monica A.
Food and service is amazing. I didn't want to leave. When I can take both my boys out to dinner and the entire time they are eating they are quiet. I hit the jackpot. My 9yr old now has a new favorite restaurant and so do I!!
(5)Elizabeth J.
After 4-5 visits, i had to finally come and write a review. seriously what happened to this place came here ayear a go everything was good the food is ok service decent... i guess just an "average night out" each dish was tasty but somehow the sauce or garnish was always the best thing on the plate. something was just a little off about the food. not bad but not great. service was poor though
(3)Carnivore X.
There is a show on television about a small town in Indiana. I believe what may have happened here, is that one of it's stars has opened a restaurant, as he has done on the show. Mr. Ansari, an American of Indian descent, is hilarious, but apparently a better actor and comedian than restauranteur. This Mediterranean fusion/confusion menu tells the tale. Aziz, you truly shouldn't have. Though I know this not to be true, I still hope that it is, because that would go some distance in explaining the food. Wobbly tables set too close together, a somewhat confused menu, and a server more interested in flirting with another table than seeing to our food and beverages contributed to a rather bad first impression. Also, this place was loud. There was a belly dancer performing the night we dined here, and the sound system, to put it very politely, could use some upgrading. I had the lamb feast, and though there was a lot of food, especially the gyro meat, it wasn't good. The lamb rack had a weird flavor to it, which is not present when Mrs. Carnivore makes lamb racks. The lamb kabob was actually good, which was a delight and a standout compared to the rest of the meal. Gyro meat had a lot of crunch to it, as well as a flavor and smell I do not associate with gyro meat. The Coke was good, but the server could have bothered to refill it just once. The lamb kabob was the only thing I had that was good. The best thing I can say about the food is that it came out of the kitchen rather quickly. For one portion of a meal, I will definitely not return, nor can I, in good faith, recommend this establishment.
(2)Tess B.
Loved this place so much I ate here twice during my visit. Great service both nights. The food is amazing with great variety. I had the house wine red and white and recommend it. Tried the Lebanese Tour the first night and chicken kabobs the second. Both wonderful! Tender meat on the lamb and chicken kabobs. Fantastic hummus!! The pita bread comes out warm and soft. There is this amazing garlic sauce on the side that I would eat plain. So awesome! My only sadness was I didn't see the belly dancer.
(5)Annie P.
Kick butt happy hour! 2:00pm - 6:00 pm everyday. 27 oz Stella's on tap for $5.00. Great prices on apps and we enjoyed our lamb shank. Our server Brice was really on the ball. Tip: You get $5.00 off if your bill is more than $40.00 with a Yelp check-in.
(4)Sean S.
Wow, divine gyros meal and Greek Salad. Everything just perfect. Also appreciate the laid back atmosphere, quiet and comfortable.
(5)Ryan C.
Fun, decent food and delicious lamb shank!
(4)Katie C.
Love their hummus!!!! Could sit and make that my meal alone! Food is really good, no complaints. Belly dancer was kind of a joke, made us laugh. It gets so loud in there during that, that you can't talk to each other and it is kind of annoying.
(4)Kevin B.
Unbelievably good food. The Ansari's Stir Fry with gyro meat is absolutely phenomenal. Also, the hummus is delicious!!
(5)Timothy K.
Looking for a place that has pulltabs, pizza, burgers, and a sports-bar feel? Come to Ansari's Mediterranean... wait, what? Lets look at this menu one more time. Looking for a sit down restaurant to have some chicken fettuccine and a build-your-own omelet? Come to Ansari's Mediterranean... waitaminute. Where the heck am I? How about a place where you can see a belly dancer and have a sampling of Moroccan, Greek, and Lebanese food? Come to Ansari's Mediterranean Grill & Lounge! This place has no idea what it is. Built on the grave of a Baker's Square it seems the ghost of the old menu is still around. The main dining area is pretty and has a distinctly Mediterranean vibe to it. From the color scheme (purple) to the stage for belly dancing, it is telling you that you should have the gyros. Take a look a little further though and it seems someone stuck a sports bar on the end of this place. There are clearly regulars there and they seem to love the bar and what looked to be a place to throw bean bags (sure, why not?) out on the patio. I was there at around 1 on a Monday and everyone knew everyone else. The staff seemed friendly and accommodating. The food was way below average for me. I stuck with the tabbouleh, some hummus, and an order of felafel because I was in a place that claims to be Mediterranean. I really wish I had ordered the Mushroom and Swiss burger, though. It looked delicious. If I wanted to go to a sports bar, I would have. I was looking for some vegetarian options, but nearly everything had either meat or cheese on it. The only thing that is saving it from a one-star is the hummus. It was spicy and delicious. The staff even offered up more bread for dipping when we were running low.
(2)Amy D.
2.5 stars. I ordered delivery this evening to my hotel, which arrived quickly. Turns out, they just microwaved my moussaka and put it in styrofoam. I do not expect them to bake it to order, but they could have at least heated it in the oven. They quoted me 30-45 minutes for delivery and I would have preferred delivery taking that long and getting food that didn't taste like leftovers heated in the microwave. It was surrounded by homemade potato chips, which I enjoyed more than pieces of potato baked inside. Also, the portion is very generous. I also asked for a half order of spanakopita, and got two tiny triangles for $4. This was the highlight of my meal. It was kind of them to make me an off-menu half order of baba ghanoush. I wish I had tried the hummus, as the baba ghanoush was nothing special. Considering that there are many of us from my company staying in the same hotel ordering from this restaurant each night this week, it would have been nice if they waived the $20 delivery minimum or the delivery fee, but no such luck.
(3)Jewels B.
This place is solid I love the buffett deal they got($9.95 from 11-2pm Wed-Fri) wish they had it longer and all week long. The Happy hour is solid as well. My only complaint is that the prices could be a bit cheaper however with the happy hour and buffett can't complain. The owner is a cool guy and he even gave me a free meal once just becaue. The service also tends to be a bit slow if you're at the bar. The music is decent late nights. The belly dancers are pretty cute, even the one that looks like she is prego Pros: Great place to bring a date during happy hour if you wanna be cheap but impress her with great food and ambience Cons: Slow service at times and a tad pricy
(4)Deepak B.
Surprisingly really good food at reasonable prices. It's not a classy place but more for the local hangout. Being open till 2am is certain plus for late night travelers. Pizza is great too.
(4)Cheryl L.
Spent a very enjoyable evening here with a 6 friends. We shared the Mediterranean Sampler Platter 4 for $25 and a couple of Saganaki (flamed cheese/brandy), and finished up with Baklava. Everything was delicious and fresh. Wait staff was incredibly friendly and our belly dancer was very entertaining.
(4)