La Camelia
92 Waterman Ave, East Providence, RI, 02915
La Camelia Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in East Providence for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in East Providence for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in East Providence for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
92 Waterman Ave
East Providence, RI, 02915 - Phone (401) 434-1225
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
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 : Quiet
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Bruce D.
My wife and I -- and friends whom we've brought along -- love this small and unassuming family-run Middle Eastern eatery. Its exterior is plain and hides the warm and inviting interior, where the owners cordially and personally make you feel right at home. The varied menu presents an extensive offering of Middle Eastern favorites. Everything has always been delicious, especially meals suggested by the hosts -- like an extraordinary platter of broiled ribs of lamb. A wine list is available. Yummily gooey baklava for dessert round out a great meal in a charming setting.
(5)Ben E.
I stopped in for a late lunch to go. Honestly it didnt even look like it was open, but boy am i glad i stopped to check! The husband and wife who own it are so incredibly friendly i felt like i was family. I ordered falafel and taboule to go, figured it would be a nice light lunch/early dinner. The food was all made imto order including the taboule salad. They gave me several fresh hot pita bread to complete my order. The food was incredible and looking at the menu, im already anxiously waiting to go back to dinner there some night. The owner even was talking to me about what kind of dishes i like, and when i mentioned lamb...he brought out a whole rack of baby lamb to show me the quality of the meat they use. Its refreshing to eat somewhere where the owner/cook seems so passionate about the food he prepares. The prices are reasonable too, especially considering the quality and freshness of the food. Cant wait to go back!
(5)Bobby v.
fantastic- the lahmahjoon is great as is the lavash. nice list of appetizers to choose from in general. we had kabobs, lamb and beef, both were well seasoned, and definitely go for "spicy" when they ask. only dessert is baklava, made with nicely aromatic honey. the real gems are the owners- they have been there for 30 years and clearly just love bringing people in to their restaurant.
(5)Ellen B.
Lovely little place hidden in East Providence run by a husband-wife team who are extraordinarily warming and inviting. The Armenian food, hard to find in RI, is wonderful. My entree was the vegetarian sampler, for which I got to select 1/2 servings of 4 appetizers. Appetizers always being my favorite part of the menu, I wish I could do this at other restaurants. The grape leaves, hummus and fool were delicious, the falafel even better. The portions were large. My carnivorous dining companions were very happy with their quail and lamb; one even found room for a not-too-sweet wedge of baklava.
(5)Kameron S.
We had been to this restaurant a couple of years ago and went back to find they had changed ownership, but we gave it a go anyway. The food was pretty good, if not a little pricey for what you get. They have a market near our house that we go to for gyros and they have really great stuffed grape leaves. The price point is a bit better there so we'll probably stick to lunches.
(4)Zack M.
This was such a wonderful experience. The service made me feel whole and wanted again, for the first time I can remember in many weeks. And free pistachios!
(5)Jess B.
The name has changed but the food and wine list are on par. I love that everything is freshly made. We always get the Haydari, I probably spelled that wrong, and my husband loves the quail. The wine is very reasonably priced. The owners are so sweet! They also run a Middle Eastern food market, so the hours at the restaurant are usually 5-10pm Tues-Sun.
(5)Daniel D.
Ehhh just ok. The stuffed grape leaves were surprisingly tasty. The vegetarian plate (hummus, beans etc...) Was very disappointing. The quail dinner was just ok. For a tiny little place like this, the food should taste authentic but you're left with an unsatisfied feeling.
(3)Mckenzie G.
I hate to give this place an okay review because the other reviewers are right about the owners. They are so sweet, friendly, and welcoming. However, the food was not all that great. I enjoyed the hummus and the warm bread. I also enjoyed the lahamjone, but the fool and the string cheese/olive plate was disappointing. My friend was also disappointed with his chicken kabobs. The decor is tired, and it's definitely in a really random place. I wanted to love it. I wanted to have a hidden gem to take my friends to. But it just didn't live up to my hopes.
(3)Leila M.
I stumbled upon la camelia via searching middle eastern on yelp. My friend and I decided to head over, and immediately upon entering the place, we were in love. We were greeted by a quiet but incredibly kind man. The place was initially empty but filled up just a bit by the time we left. We ordered the grille eggplant and one of the salads as appetizers, which were absolutely fantastic. I highly recommend both. Cold eggplant dishes are not my thing, but they really hit the spot. For our main dishes, we got the Iskender kebab and the filet mignon Kebab. Both were served on a fluffy pilaf with veggies to the side. Words can't describe how delicious and tender the meats were. We followed by ordering some house made baklava which was pretty stellar with Turkish tea. Overall, the meal was fantastic. Very unique flavor and la camelia puts their heart into the food. Beautiful old fashioned family restaurant. I highly recommend la camelia- I will definitely be back
(5)Caroline M.
If you haven't been yet, go. It's a gem. The experience is worth more than the food itself. I agree with many other reviews - the food itself was not the best I've ever had, but the overall experience is worth going back for more. What I loved: super friendly owners, free pistachios, uniqueness factor - do we have any other Turkish restaurants around?, all the special extras - Turkish coffee, baklava, raki, etc, attentive service, range of menu options. What would improve the experience: decor upgrade, better promo/PR to bring in a bigger crowd (it was dead on a Friday night), free refills on the soda (you buy by the can), knocking a buck or 2 off the entree prices. They're not open for lunch because the family owns Hallak Middle East Market in N. Providence. We really loved it - food was authentic, we had a lovely conversation with the owners about Turkey, and we even found out that we can buy Turkish coffee from their store! We'll be back. Would work great with a group to sample lots of small plates.
(4)Mic F.
First time here and it was an awesome experience! Food was so fresh and tasteful. I love Mediterranean style food and this place was the real deal. The husband and wife owners made me feel right at home and were passionate about the quality of food and service. I will be coming here regularly. So disappointed, been out of town for a while, back in town and craving Mediterranean. Says on line the place is open on Sunday but when I showed up it was closed, found out that Sunday is reservation only, if no one calls, they don't open.
(5)Lindsay S.
I really wanted to love La Camelia after reading the 5 star reviews on Yelp. Unfortunately, I was underwhelmed. The pros: The service was great and the owners friendly. The place filled up nicely for a Tuesday night. The olive paste dip was extremely flavorful and good with the pita that came with our meal. The pistachios on the table were a nice touch, too. The cons: I just didn't think the food was out of this world. My boyfriend and I split the stuffed grape leaves and the filet mignon kabobs. It was ok. Solid, but just ok. The wine and beer menu was lacking as well. I probably won't go back.
(3)Pat A.
I had dinner here last night. My family is from the Near East. The flavor was spot on!! Excellent food. The owners are lovely people and made us feel right at home. I will definitely go back!
(4)S K.
This review is not based on food, rather somewhat deceptive ordering of "family platter" that resulted in excessive food and tab for what you would expect. We were a party of 2 adults, 3 kids. We agreed, this being our first (and last) visit to this restaurant. The food was ok, however this way of taking our order has left a sour taste. I will consider Oasis Grill a better value and on-par quality.
(2)Gary S.
Firstly, La Camelia is open, though under new ownership/management, and a slightly new name "La Camelia of Istanbul". It is similar to its former incarnation, and just as good. The new owners are very nice and eager to please and the food is great. Though "Istanbul" is now part of its name, the excellent food is eclectic Mediterranean. Yes, there is some Turkish, but there are other related cuisines on the menu. They serve beer and wine, and prices are reasonable.
(5)Xiao Z.
It pains me to say this, and it really does...but this really didn't live up to the hype. I will say that as mom-n-pop shop goes, this place certainly has all of the right vibe: small little join, friendly service, free pistachios, weird and yet-unable-to-look-away music videos playing in the background. However, the overall food experience was just not for everyone. I'll say that my dish was really great, the gyro served with yogurt served over bread crumbs was the most innovative, juicy and delicious take on the modern gyro and I really enjoyed it (slightly $$). However, everything else that my friends got were overpriced, underwhelming, and felt empty. The hummus was over $7, but the hummus-to-pita ratio was just unreasonable. The meat platter that my friend ordered was also quite expensive, but given the amount of dry meat that they were served, it was appalling. As I mentioned, the free pistachios were a good touch at the beginning, but no matter how much I liked the company of the patrons, the cost of the food and the quality of the majority of the dishes were just too much for me to give it a better review. Food: 2-3 stars Service: 4 stars Price: 2 stars Ambiance: 3 stars
(3)Jo Z.
Excellent! I've wanted to try this place for a long time and so glad we did! The food was so fresh. Started with bringing pistachios to the table! Apps - cold eggplant dip, hummus and Shepard salad with feta. Came with fresh hot pitas. My husband ordered Turkish beer which he said was very good and light. For dinner I ordered the izgara kebob, I've been craving a Persian dish and this was so similar it hit the spot! Ground meat seasoned and grilled perfectly! They skewer it like shish kabobs and grill it, delicious. Comes with rice a charred tomato, onion and green pepper and decorated with fresh basil. My husband ordered the filet mignon kebob which was also seasoned and cooked perfectly. Served the same. If your looking for a sauce...maybe order something else. This didn't need anything! It wasn't dry or bland. For dessert we ordered Turkish coffee and baklava. Heads up Turkish coffee is more like espresso, VERY strong, lots of sediment on the bottom of the small cup, needed sugar and no they don't serve it with cream. ( I asked and was basically told no in a nice way, lol) baklava was home made! We came on a Tuesday night, it was dead but I liked that because we got to meet the husband ( our server ) and wife ( the cook). Such nice people! If you've never tried middle eastern food try this place! Food was excellent and the people made it even better, I like it when you get to meet the family who runs, cooks and serves. Will definitely be back!
(5)Ben B.
My dad and I were looking for a new place to grab dinner. Our experience here was phenomenal, and we will definitely be coming back! Service was friendly and personal. We had several conversations with the staff, and were offered free Turkish delights on our way out. The food was excellent. The flavors were rich yet well balanced, and the food tasted like it was cooked from scratch to order. We both tried the kofte, which had both a fantastic flavor and texture. One thing to note is that the portions are large! You'll definitely get what you pay for here. La Camelia is a hidden gem. The atmosphere is authentic, the staff very friendly, and the food delicious!
(5)Ma B.
I had the 2 quails they had great flaver. Had baklava for dissert very yummy. hightly reccomended for some authentic Turkish
(5)Marie M.
This is an updated review. I would rather order food from their other business, called Istanbul Gourmet in North Providence, where the food is excellent at reasonable prices. I wrote a separate review for that store.
(4)Michael I.
Excellent traditional Armenian Food prepared by a husband and Wife tag team super welcoming and friendly
(5)Julius T.
This restaurant is under new ownership and it is better than ever! It is like they have brought new life to the food which was already good to begin with. The new owners go out of their way to make sure you are satified and it shows with the attention they give to the food. We ordered the mix grill which was a mix of beef and lamb which was excellent with rice which was great. Can't wait to go back!
(4)Raquel P.
First the food is really good, but more than that is we had excellent service. The owners genuinely cared that we were comfortable. They don't have a kids menu but were able to recommend a good dish for my 3 year old and he enjoyed it. The falafel and hummus are excellent. Great place to go for vegetarians like myself as there were about 5 menu options. Food is prepared from scratch and was well worth the small wait. This place works hard for every penny you pay. I hope more people will give this place a try!
(5)Jack R.
Restaurant has been sold to Turkish couple. Food was very good and service was kind and prompt. Enjoy!
(4)Christine R.
This place is a tiny gem, and worth finding it and braving the grim exterior. Inside, the owners make you feel at home. The place tends to be quiet, so spread the word! I have been, and no one has been disappointed so far. The food is fresh, unique (there aren't many Armenian restaurants in this area) and very good value. They also have decent and reasonably priced French wine. They also cater and are extremely family friendly.
(5)Mark P.
Great service. The owners are very genuine and welcoming. Nothing is better than owner asking you how you would like your food prepared and then going into the kitchen to prepare it. Very excited to go back!
(5)Mark P.
Great service. The owners are very genuine and welcoming. Nothing is better than owner asking you how you would like your food prepared and then going into the kitchen to prepare it. Very excited to go back!
(5)Bruce D.
My wife and I -- and friends whom we've brought along -- love this small and unassuming family-run Middle Eastern eatery. Its exterior is plain and hides the warm and inviting interior, where the owners cordially and personally make you feel right at home. The varied menu presents an extensive offering of Middle Eastern favorites. Everything has always been delicious, especially meals suggested by the hosts -- like an extraordinary platter of broiled ribs of lamb. A wine list is available. Yummily gooey baklava for dessert round out a great meal in a charming setting.
(5)Ben E.
I stopped in for a late lunch to go. Honestly it didnt even look like it was open, but boy am i glad i stopped to check! The husband and wife who own it are so incredibly friendly i felt like i was family. I ordered falafel and taboule to go, figured it would be a nice light lunch/early dinner. The food was all made imto order including the taboule salad. They gave me several fresh hot pita bread to complete my order. The food was incredible and looking at the menu, im already anxiously waiting to go back to dinner there some night. The owner even was talking to me about what kind of dishes i like, and when i mentioned lamb...he brought out a whole rack of baby lamb to show me the quality of the meat they use. Its refreshing to eat somewhere where the owner/cook seems so passionate about the food he prepares. The prices are reasonable too, especially considering the quality and freshness of the food. Cant wait to go back!
(5)Bobby v.
fantastic- the lahmahjoon is great as is the lavash. nice list of appetizers to choose from in general. we had kabobs, lamb and beef, both were well seasoned, and definitely go for "spicy" when they ask. only dessert is baklava, made with nicely aromatic honey. the real gems are the owners- they have been there for 30 years and clearly just love bringing people in to their restaurant.
(5)Ellen B.
Lovely little place hidden in East Providence run by a husband-wife team who are extraordinarily warming and inviting. The Armenian food, hard to find in RI, is wonderful. My entree was the vegetarian sampler, for which I got to select 1/2 servings of 4 appetizers. Appetizers always being my favorite part of the menu, I wish I could do this at other restaurants. The grape leaves, hummus and fool were delicious, the falafel even better. The portions were large. My carnivorous dining companions were very happy with their quail and lamb; one even found room for a not-too-sweet wedge of baklava.
(5)Kameron S.
We had been to this restaurant a couple of years ago and went back to find they had changed ownership, but we gave it a go anyway. The food was pretty good, if not a little pricey for what you get. They have a market near our house that we go to for gyros and they have really great stuffed grape leaves. The price point is a bit better there so we'll probably stick to lunches.
(4)Zack M.
This was such a wonderful experience. The service made me feel whole and wanted again, for the first time I can remember in many weeks. And free pistachios!
(5)Jess B.
The name has changed but the food and wine list are on par. I love that everything is freshly made. We always get the Haydari, I probably spelled that wrong, and my husband loves the quail. The wine is very reasonably priced. The owners are so sweet! They also run a Middle Eastern food market, so the hours at the restaurant are usually 5-10pm Tues-Sun.
(5)Daniel D.
Ehhh just ok. The stuffed grape leaves were surprisingly tasty. The vegetarian plate (hummus, beans etc...) Was very disappointing. The quail dinner was just ok. For a tiny little place like this, the food should taste authentic but you're left with an unsatisfied feeling.
(3)Mckenzie G.
I hate to give this place an okay review because the other reviewers are right about the owners. They are so sweet, friendly, and welcoming. However, the food was not all that great. I enjoyed the hummus and the warm bread. I also enjoyed the lahamjone, but the fool and the string cheese/olive plate was disappointing. My friend was also disappointed with his chicken kabobs. The decor is tired, and it's definitely in a really random place. I wanted to love it. I wanted to have a hidden gem to take my friends to. But it just didn't live up to my hopes.
(3)Leila M.
I stumbled upon la camelia via searching middle eastern on yelp. My friend and I decided to head over, and immediately upon entering the place, we were in love. We were greeted by a quiet but incredibly kind man. The place was initially empty but filled up just a bit by the time we left. We ordered the grille eggplant and one of the salads as appetizers, which were absolutely fantastic. I highly recommend both. Cold eggplant dishes are not my thing, but they really hit the spot. For our main dishes, we got the Iskender kebab and the filet mignon Kebab. Both were served on a fluffy pilaf with veggies to the side. Words can't describe how delicious and tender the meats were. We followed by ordering some house made baklava which was pretty stellar with Turkish tea. Overall, the meal was fantastic. Very unique flavor and la camelia puts their heart into the food. Beautiful old fashioned family restaurant. I highly recommend la camelia- I will definitely be back
(5)Caroline M.
If you haven't been yet, go. It's a gem. The experience is worth more than the food itself. I agree with many other reviews - the food itself was not the best I've ever had, but the overall experience is worth going back for more. What I loved: super friendly owners, free pistachios, uniqueness factor - do we have any other Turkish restaurants around?, all the special extras - Turkish coffee, baklava, raki, etc, attentive service, range of menu options. What would improve the experience: decor upgrade, better promo/PR to bring in a bigger crowd (it was dead on a Friday night), free refills on the soda (you buy by the can), knocking a buck or 2 off the entree prices. They're not open for lunch because the family owns Hallak Middle East Market in N. Providence. We really loved it - food was authentic, we had a lovely conversation with the owners about Turkey, and we even found out that we can buy Turkish coffee from their store! We'll be back. Would work great with a group to sample lots of small plates.
(4)Mic F.
First time here and it was an awesome experience! Food was so fresh and tasteful. I love Mediterranean style food and this place was the real deal. The husband and wife owners made me feel right at home and were passionate about the quality of food and service. I will be coming here regularly. So disappointed, been out of town for a while, back in town and craving Mediterranean. Says on line the place is open on Sunday but when I showed up it was closed, found out that Sunday is reservation only, if no one calls, they don't open.
(5)Lindsay S.
I really wanted to love La Camelia after reading the 5 star reviews on Yelp. Unfortunately, I was underwhelmed. The pros: The service was great and the owners friendly. The place filled up nicely for a Tuesday night. The olive paste dip was extremely flavorful and good with the pita that came with our meal. The pistachios on the table were a nice touch, too. The cons: I just didn't think the food was out of this world. My boyfriend and I split the stuffed grape leaves and the filet mignon kabobs. It was ok. Solid, but just ok. The wine and beer menu was lacking as well. I probably won't go back.
(3)Pat A.
I had dinner here last night. My family is from the Near East. The flavor was spot on!! Excellent food. The owners are lovely people and made us feel right at home. I will definitely go back!
(4)Marie M.
This is an updated review. I would rather order food from their other business, called Istanbul Gourmet in North Providence, where the food is excellent at reasonable prices. I wrote a separate review for that store.
(4)Michael I.
Excellent traditional Armenian Food prepared by a husband and Wife tag team super welcoming and friendly
(5)Jo Z.
Excellent! I've wanted to try this place for a long time and so glad we did! The food was so fresh. Started with bringing pistachios to the table! Apps - cold eggplant dip, hummus and Shepard salad with feta. Came with fresh hot pitas. My husband ordered Turkish beer which he said was very good and light. For dinner I ordered the izgara kebob, I've been craving a Persian dish and this was so similar it hit the spot! Ground meat seasoned and grilled perfectly! They skewer it like shish kabobs and grill it, delicious. Comes with rice a charred tomato, onion and green pepper and decorated with fresh basil. My husband ordered the filet mignon kebob which was also seasoned and cooked perfectly. Served the same. If your looking for a sauce...maybe order something else. This didn't need anything! It wasn't dry or bland. For dessert we ordered Turkish coffee and baklava. Heads up Turkish coffee is more like espresso, VERY strong, lots of sediment on the bottom of the small cup, needed sugar and no they don't serve it with cream. ( I asked and was basically told no in a nice way, lol) baklava was home made! We came on a Tuesday night, it was dead but I liked that because we got to meet the husband ( our server ) and wife ( the cook). Such nice people! If you've never tried middle eastern food try this place! Food was excellent and the people made it even better, I like it when you get to meet the family who runs, cooks and serves. Will definitely be back!
(5)Ben B.
My dad and I were looking for a new place to grab dinner. Our experience here was phenomenal, and we will definitely be coming back! Service was friendly and personal. We had several conversations with the staff, and were offered free Turkish delights on our way out. The food was excellent. The flavors were rich yet well balanced, and the food tasted like it was cooked from scratch to order. We both tried the kofte, which had both a fantastic flavor and texture. One thing to note is that the portions are large! You'll definitely get what you pay for here. La Camelia is a hidden gem. The atmosphere is authentic, the staff very friendly, and the food delicious!
(5)Ma B.
I had the 2 quails they had great flaver. Had baklava for dissert very yummy. hightly reccomended for some authentic Turkish
(5)S K.
This review is not based on food, rather somewhat deceptive ordering of "family platter" that resulted in excessive food and tab for what you would expect. We were a party of 2 adults, 3 kids. We agreed, this being our first (and last) visit to this restaurant. The food was ok, however this way of taking our order has left a sour taste. I will consider Oasis Grill a better value and on-par quality.
(2)Gary S.
Firstly, La Camelia is open, though under new ownership/management, and a slightly new name "La Camelia of Istanbul". It is similar to its former incarnation, and just as good. The new owners are very nice and eager to please and the food is great. Though "Istanbul" is now part of its name, the excellent food is eclectic Mediterranean. Yes, there is some Turkish, but there are other related cuisines on the menu. They serve beer and wine, and prices are reasonable.
(5)Julius T.
This restaurant is under new ownership and it is better than ever! It is like they have brought new life to the food which was already good to begin with. The new owners go out of their way to make sure you are satified and it shows with the attention they give to the food. We ordered the mix grill which was a mix of beef and lamb which was excellent with rice which was great. Can't wait to go back!
(4)Raquel P.
First the food is really good, but more than that is we had excellent service. The owners genuinely cared that we were comfortable. They don't have a kids menu but were able to recommend a good dish for my 3 year old and he enjoyed it. The falafel and hummus are excellent. Great place to go for vegetarians like myself as there were about 5 menu options. Food is prepared from scratch and was well worth the small wait. This place works hard for every penny you pay. I hope more people will give this place a try!
(5)Jack R.
Restaurant has been sold to Turkish couple. Food was very good and service was kind and prompt. Enjoy!
(4)Christine R.
This place is a tiny gem, and worth finding it and braving the grim exterior. Inside, the owners make you feel at home. The place tends to be quiet, so spread the word! I have been, and no one has been disappointed so far. The food is fresh, unique (there aren't many Armenian restaurants in this area) and very good value. They also have decent and reasonably priced French wine. They also cater and are extremely family friendly.
(5)Xiao Z.
It pains me to say this, and it really does...but this really didn't live up to the hype. I will say that as mom-n-pop shop goes, this place certainly has all of the right vibe: small little join, friendly service, free pistachios, weird and yet-unable-to-look-away music videos playing in the background. However, the overall food experience was just not for everyone. I'll say that my dish was really great, the gyro served with yogurt served over bread crumbs was the most innovative, juicy and delicious take on the modern gyro and I really enjoyed it (slightly $$). However, everything else that my friends got were overpriced, underwhelming, and felt empty. The hummus was over $7, but the hummus-to-pita ratio was just unreasonable. The meat platter that my friend ordered was also quite expensive, but given the amount of dry meat that they were served, it was appalling. As I mentioned, the free pistachios were a good touch at the beginning, but no matter how much I liked the company of the patrons, the cost of the food and the quality of the majority of the dishes were just too much for me to give it a better review. Food: 2-3 stars Service: 4 stars Price: 2 stars Ambiance: 3 stars
(3)