What a letdown. The portions are obscenely large and most everything is drenched in a tangy yogurt sauce. All I tasted was sauce and it didn't help the appearance one bit. Much too goopy for my tastes. I've had good luck with Yelp up until this one. It might just be a Bellevue thing. Seattle Yelpers rarely disappoint.
(3)
Chris H.
Portions are massive and the quality of the food is way up there. Love the mix of flavors and the garlic is positively breathtaking. My personal fave is probably the chicken, lamb, and kufta combo plate. A bit on the spendy side for lunch, but I always look forward to my next visit.
(4)
Launa B.
I wanted to give this place a better review. We had okay service, not great. When I was eating there, I raved about the food. It was delish. I'm a veggie, so the choices were a bit limited. However, in the moment, I thought it was pretty good. However, for DAYS afterward I smelled and tasted garlic continuously. I couldn't stand myself, so I'm sure it was equally unpleasant for people around me. I want to go back to have some more yummy food but can't stand the thought of the days of garlicness afterward. Oh well.
(3)
Krishna V.
The food is fine, though it will make you reek of garlic. The prices are a little high. The waiters are way too friendly. Not real friendly, the creepy, insincere brand of friendliness that drives a waiter to greet a group of strangers with "Hello good friends!" All things considered, I'd much rather go across the street to Garlic Crush.
(3)
Sam H.
GaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaÂaarlic! OK maybe I'm caught up in world cup excitement, but really, if you love garlic and bits of meat, you hit this place.The first time I went in, I was a little nervous b/c I'd never had Lebanese food. I've been here many times now and it has never disappointed. My favorite is the [Chicken or beef] and noodles, but the schwarma is outstanding (even better than Zizo) also. The Kabobs are quite good too, but better can be had at Kabul or Bamiyan. Also, my son and I love the rice. I think they flavor it with saffron or something... not quite sure. It's bright yellow, large grained (orzo-sized). I could go there just for that. There's always more than enough food, so I never get to finish it all the first day. As you may have guessed, I love garlic. I eat whole roasted heads all the time, which my wife thanks me for. I've made soup out of garlic (over 60 cloves!) and eaten it raw. That being said, I wanted to mention that Mediterranean Kitchen is the only place I've ever been that has been able to produce something that is too garlicky for me. It's the salad dressing. It's rip-your-head-off strong. I tend to pick around the concentrated sections. Also, the lentil soup is good. It has a nice sweet aroma similar to apple butter if you've ever made that at home. Not the most spectacular ever, but good. The service is always friendly and perfectly unrushed. My only complaint is they place the house music too loud, which makes it hard to have a conversation.
(5)
Bon Vivan T.
Once again, Yelp hits it out of the park! Yeah baby, *THAT'S* what I'm talking about! So, it's Saturday afternoon and we're thinking about dinner. Not dinner at any of our usual places, but something different. And good. So, we spark up the Apple, Firefox our way over to Yelp, and start looking. A few searches, sorts and screens later, we settled on trying Mediterranean Kitchen. After a brief phone call to secure a table and a delousing shower, we were off in eager anticipation of delicious Mediterranean fare. First thing we noticed was that parking was at a premium. Fortunately for us, some recently sated diners were exiting, food cartons in-hand, leaving us a primo spot right in the front - a Good Sign. We entered MK and saw that it was less than half full. Our reservation was checked, and were were shown to a table for four in the corner, handed menus, and immediately presented with this lentil (and cinammon?) soup, with pitas and some garlic dipping sauce. Mmmmm.... Double Mmmmm... Good Stuff. After this good start, we sat back to soak up the aura of the place. Travel posters of Lebanon. Fake wooden paneling. Some funky middle-eastern music. I liked it immediately. We looked around and noticed that each and every order coming out of the kitchen was huge - more food than a middle eastern family eats in a week...so we passed on the appetizers. Blushing Bride ordered the chicken shawarma, I ordered the lamb shwarma, and our guests split an order of lover's sydon prawns. At this point, we noticed that the place was now full and there were several people milling about outside, waiting to enter - another Good Sign. We did notice that the clientele represented a greater variety of locations than your typical Bellevue eatery - ethnically diverse if you will, and nice to see on the Eastside. Perhaps if we had more/better places and fewer Red Cheesecake Robin Factories... The food arrived and, as expected, was more than we could eat in several sittings. Some of the earlier reviewers commented about the fact that this food isn't authentic in their eyes - too much lemon, garlic and olive oil. Well, I don't care if they boil up Nutria and serve it up on a plate of cardboard - if it tasted this good, I'd be there at least once a month! My food was delicious, I liked it, and that's that. BB thought her chicken was a bit rich, but she normally exists on a near vegetarian light diet, so I can see how this would be a bit rich for her. Needless to say, we had plenty for lunch the next day. Our dining companions devoured their Sydon prawns, and commented on how delicious they were (they generously shared one, and it was that good). Again, thanks to earlier Yelp reviewers, we ordered Turkish coffee and baklava. Excellent - and a wonderful end to a great dining experience. Total bill for four people, a bottle of some Australian Syrah, dinner, dessert and tip came to about a buck forty. Not too bad at all. Plus, lunch the next day! Will we be back? Hell yes. And, I hope lots of you Yelpers read those negative reviews below and free up parking and tables for us.
(5)
Pavan R.
Loved the food, huge portions please plan on sharing. Make reservations on weekends, can get a bit crowded.
(4)
Capt k.
Yes, this place is a garlic heaven. I like - a) Rice pilaf b) Hummus c) Meat dishes (beef and lamb) d) big portion. I don't like - a. all chicken dishes (they put too much vinegar as marinate taste too sour for me). b. dipping sauce for the pita (again too much spices and vinegary) I will go back again if I want my taste bud feeling like eating garlic for few days or have craving for garlic.
(3)
Yan Z.
If garlic didn't exist, neither would Mediterranean Kitchen. Seriously, their review cards have garlic bulbs instead of stars. I've been here many times, and both the food and the service are consistently great. It's very reasonably priced, especially considering that you'll almost certainly go home with leftovers. (Note: I did ask the waiter once if anyone actually ever finished their entrees, and he replied that typically they were either really big guys or really tiny elderly women.) Everyone starts out with delicious legume-based soup, which is where you get your first whiff of garlic, and fresh hot pita bread with an acidic garlic-based dipping sauce. For entrees, I usually stick to the chicken schwarma or the spanakopita, though in recent visits I've leaned more toward the spanakopita. The spanakopita comes in two incredibly flaky and tasty triangular pieces, along with sides of rice and hummus. The chicken in the schwarma is moist and tender, though I find that they do tend to overdo the sauce. Either way, both would satisfy garlic lovers. The atmosphere is quaint-- it's a smallish, dimly lit space with very attentive and helpful waiters. Be prepared for a short wait during peak times.
(4)
Bilal A.
Mediterranean Kitchen is always one of my first choices when dining in Bellevue. The portions are gigantic and more than filling. The running joke is that you always get two meals for the price of one. Everything comes with an amazing side, either a lentil soup or a salad with olive oil. The pita bread and dipping oil is also amazing. I always get the Lamb Shawarma (Halal!) that comes with rice and hummus. Amazing stuff! The only problem with the place is that you can't ever finish your food and you will occasionally have to wait for a while before you get a table.
(5)
Jamie H.
Delicious! The portions are huge and the food is fantastic. I highly recommend the dajaj mishwi. The chicken is juicy and covered in tasty spices. The rice is perfectly cooked and full of flavor. I wish we had a Mediterranean Kitchen in Portland!
(5)
Chris H.
After all the rave reviews, I was very disappointed. The portions are generous, but I've had much better Mediterranean food -- although that was in Los Angeles and I've yet to find a great place here. However, the reason I won't be back is the garlic. I love garlic as much as the next person, but they use way too much. And I couldn't get the garlic aftertaste out of my mouth for days! Way too much to deal with for so-so food.
(2)
Shawn M.
i went here for lunch the other day with co-workers, I had the Lamb Shawarma, and it was delicious. The wait wasn't too long even though it was lunchtime in this busy area and we also had a table of nine. This dish was around $13, not cheap for a lunch, but the portions were more than I could eat and the quality was good.
(4)
David X.
I really love Mediterranean food and this is my favorite place to go on the East side. It's very popular and the wait can be very long sometimes during the evening if you don't make reservations. The price is very reasonable as well, around $14 to $18 a dish, considering they give you a mountain of food. In fact it's so much food that it's more than the baby-sized burrito at Gordito's Healthy Mexican Food in Seattle. They also give you soup and unlimited pita bread, in case you naively think you can fill up on appetizers before your main dish comes. Prepare to pack away leftovers unless you have a huge appetite. I've gotten all of the shawarmas and some of the kabobs before. The shawarmas have meat along with onions and other vegetables in a garlic sauce. They are all good although my favorite is the lamb shawarma because I'm partial to lamb. I would suggest not getting any of the Beef or Chicken Noodle dishes because my friend got it once and it's basically a pasta dish that is sort of tasteless and lacks any Mediterranean flavor. And since the servings are huge, you'll basically be eating a ton of tasteless linguine noodles. Aside from my dislike of their noodle dishes, my only other complaint is that sometimes they overdo it on the garlic. I myself like garlic but their sauce in the shawarma is sometimes still too garlicky for my taste. Sometimes they do it just right but other times I think they go overboard a bit. Some of my friends don't like garlic as much and they definitely complain about the excessive garlicky flavor more than I do. If you don't like the garlicky taste of Mediterranean food, I would suggest not ordering the shawarma. The people are extremely nice and the service is always fantastic. I highly suggest coming here if you like Mediterranean/Middle Eastern food.
(4)
Cat C.
Can I just say WOW!!!! I have never had food that gave me the same reaction as a really, really awesome piece of chocolate truffle! Mediterranean Kitchen is bomb! Their food is absolutely amazing! I have NEVER EVER had a bad meal here. They really know how to tie a meal together. The place is so small though, so the wait can be unreal! The parking is not so great and if you do not like garlic, you might as well not even try here! The parking and wait are so worth the minor inconvenience for the best food of your life!! The best meal here is their chicken shawarma! WOW! and their humus is the best I've had in a really, really long time! Five stars for FAB-U-LOUS!!!!
(5)
Nicole W.
Seriously this was the best lamb shawarma I've ever tasted! I literally could not stop eating it, it was that good. The lamb was tender and flavorful, the grilled veggies were sweet and tasty. I loved every bite. Definitely recommend. Oh and the portions are HUGE enough to share or have leftover lunch/dinner.
(5)
Liz R.
If you love garlic, come here. The food here is great, the staff is nice, and it's the best middle-eastern food I've had in the area. It's a little pricey, but it's worth it. You'll eat for days. It's a bit of a special treat to come here, particularly for lunch, which can get crowded, so try to go early or late. It's nice because lunch and dinner also come with a soup and pita bread served with this lovely garlicy dipping sauce. It's good. Things to order: Chicken or lamb shawarma. So good!
(4)
Chris O.
Great, tasty food. Small tables and tables near door can be breezy. It's really dark in the restaurant. I particularly like the spanikopita, I have found none better. But beware, it is the most garlicy food you will ever eat. You know how at Dixie's they make a big deal out of meeting the man? They should do the same for garlic here. I mean, you are going to have garlic breath, garlic farts, and if you take home leftovers your car and your fridge will reek of garlic for awhile. But then again it may be worth it. ;)
(4)
King C.
Got the lamb sharwama. Portions were ginormous. Lamb was a bit tough and not so tasty. Lentil soup was just ok. Decor was a bit drab.
(2)
Jarrod L.
We love this place. The portions are huge (order a max of 3 items for a party of 4; 2 is probably better for most people) and everything is excellent every time. There's lots of good grilled meat options with varying veggies on top of rice. The pita dipping sauce is garlic-lover heaven, and the hummus is nicely bitter from a generous amount of tahini.
(5)
S C.
The portions here are huge, and the prices in proportion - but I guess that's ok if you assume it's two or even three meals you're buying - half to eat in and the other half to take out for later. The flavors though were just barely average. The lamb shank I had had very little meat on the bone and the chickpeas weren't cooked. The service is friendly and prompt.
(3)
Vitaliy P.
I like the rise that they have. Its the bomb. Their restaurant a bit small. I was there first time and I was thinking what to order. Since I like chicken, I ordered "Algerian chicken" It was good. Most of all, the plate was really big. So I had to bring the left overs with me. So a little recommendation. Bring a buddy with you and share the plate. Only if you want, of course. I had a fellow that I know near me and he said to try his appetizer . So I say why not. Appetizer called "Stuffed grape leaves" I tasted and I loved it. Its also a medium-big plate. Actually if you just order that and you eat it. You would be full. I would be happy to there again and try more food.
(4)
Paul E.
I'm converted from a previous non-fan... Unlike my previous visit 15 years ago, my dish was no longer overpowered with garlic sauce. Instead of having a memory tainted by the use of garlic, this time I came away being impressed by the generosity of the establishment. Servings were generous (an understatement), and when we asked for some bread and sauce to take with us, we weren't given a pittance, we were given a STACK of bread and sauce and our carry-out bags were laden with the weight of a huge amount of food. To top it off, my 11yo son even liked the shrimp dish! My gf wants to go back, and that we will certainly do. NOTE: it was really busy on a Friday night, so you might want to make reservations if it's a weekend evening.
(4)
Paul R.
Second visit to Mediterranean Kitchen - first time my wife and I were invited as part of a birthday dinner for a fellow foodie. This time I suggested it as a dinner option to some out-of-towners visiting on business. We're friends as well as industry colleagues and I wanted some place less expensive but a little different. After comparison to the fondue place in Bellevue this was easily the winner on price and I actually prefer the atmosphere to the smaller and less flashy restaurant than a national chain Keg-like interior. The food here honestly isn't wild or special in a way that makes your mouth water days later while reminiscing. It's good, but I think that a testament to the not-great is that the plate and portion size is Texas all the way and had I loved it I wouldn't have gone home with three meals of leftover (just from my dish!) Had I loved it I would have rolled out with only two meals carried homeward. It's a fun place, with nice wait staff and a relatively inexpensive menu that isn't run-of-the-mill in Seattle, so definitely worth a try. Keep your expectations in check and bring a large appetite or be the sort of person that savors the value in massive leftovers that warm well.
(3)
Beth W.
Why do I love this restaurant? The waitstaff/busser/owner/etc are like family...family that wants to make sure everything is perfect for you, but without pestering you. Family that occasionally flirts or jokes with you, but who always, always treat you with the utmost respect. Being a small restaurant (about 10 tables total), the staff is minimal, but amazing. The food quality is superb. Whether you love lamb, or fish, or chicken, or are vegetarian, or vegan, or prefer Moroccon, or Greek...you will find something to love here. The menu is not overly complex, but it's all fresh and savory. I ALWAYS pick a different dish during repeat visits to the same restaurant, as a matter of course....except here. I love the Lamb Shawarma so much that I cannot bring myself to order anything else. They also start you off with a nice homemade soup (usually lentil) and pita bread. Don't rush through or pass on the soup! It's a delightful way to tingle your tastebuds. As is the hummus. Yum! Food quantity. Each plate is $10+, but I get 2 or 3 meals out of a single plate....and believe me, I have tried to finish an entire plate in one sitting. It is just so much food! And not filler stuff, either, but fresh veggies and meat and sauce. I also typically end dinner with baklava and Turkish coffee. I'm not a fan of the syrupy, overly-sweet desserts, as baklava tends to be. But here, it's a nice blend of pistachios and phyllo, with honey acting as the happy binding that unites the flavors, as opposed to the only thing you can taste. Also, the Turkish coffee is as strong as it's supposed to be, without being bitter or filled with dregs. And lastly, they listen. If you ask for a dish to come plus or minus something, they accomodate you. If you tell them that a dish was superb, they thank you and take it into account when making that dish again. If you tell them the soup had too much salt, they will alter the recipe to accomodate future patrons (and likely go to the ends of the earth to make it up to you...and this is a hypothetical situation, because I've yet to experience any dish being less than amazing here). The drawback? It's a tiny location, and very popular, so expect a wait time on any given night. Other than that...it's perfection!
(5)
Katie M.
Great food and great service! I came here with co-workers for dinner and had a great meal! The lentil soup was delicious. I had the combination kabob plate which was huge. It provided an additional two lunches with the leftovers. Highly recommend this place!!
(5)
Nikhil R.
I'm a vegetarian and ordered a vegetarian shawarma from this - you won't find this on the menu. The dish was tasty and the portions are really huge. I got it to go, and later at home, I realize there was a piece of chicken tucked in, and I ate it inadvertantly. I used to eat meat, before converting to vegetarianism, and I know chicken. It's inexcusable that they messed up like this. I'm definitely not going back, and would advise to stay away if you're vegetarian
(1)
Tricia M.
Great vegetarian options. Huge portions- 2 per plate (at least), meals come with complimentary gorgeous lentil soup. Great garlicky dressing and crispy mouth watering falafel. Prices very reasonable for what you receive. The seating here is very limited, and there is no room to wait, so reservations are recommended though not required. If you order to go food, bring a container for soup! I got take out there a few times, and they didn't have a to go bowl so I missed out on the soup.
(5)
Angie W.
Went there early a few Saturday's ago and never made it to a table. Was with a friend in a wheelchair and while the restaurant is "technically" accessible, the staff acted like they weren't. A few stares, mumbled comments, and no true feeling of being welcomed, so we were on our way. With all the choices in the area, I was really suprised!
(1)
Josh B.
I asked a friend what he thought of Mediterranean Kitchen. He told me, "It's terrific, but the portions are huge and contain huge amounts of garlic." My reply was simple: "What do you mean, 'BUT'?!" 2 hours (and untold calories) later I was sitting motionless, praying not to explode. The shish kebobs were enormous, tender, and flavorful. The hummus was delicious. The rice was delicious. The salad was delicious. My $30 was gone and I wasn't sure I would ever eat again. When I got home 3 hours later, my girlfriend said "Did you just eat a whole head of garlic?" And thus all of the original predictions proved true.
(4)
Justin H.
Gaaaaaarlic. You get a lot of food here. It's a little pricier than Gyros2Go, for instance, but you get a lot of food and a bit better seating. So, a much better date/sometimes food location. You do need to be careful, as it's really garlic-filled. Your whole fridge will stink of it afterwards. As good as it was, I'd rather do Gyros2Go for an every day/carryout meal.
(4)
Genevieve S.
Well, I don't know how original I need to be here, since all the previous reviews are so amazingly true. Garlic - check. Huge portions - check. Friendly staff - check Entire experience - wonderful. Each time I go here, I ask myself why I don't live in the bathroom and bathe in the garlic-yogurt sauce. Probably because I'd smell like garlic so badly I wouldn't have any friends... which would be okay with me as long as I could eat there every single day. Fabulous food. Portions are large enough I ate them for 3 meals. I just plan ahead an bring a plastic tub with me to haul away all my delicious leftovers. PS - the food ages well, and gets more delicios after soaking in the sauce overnight. Mmmm. So freaking good!
(5)
Stephanie H.
I know I will be going back to this restaurant, but until I do, I'm saving the 5th little star to see if it has the same charm, great food, and ease of service as my first visit. I think it will. Surprisingly the only 2 slight "snags" in our visit were at the very beginning. It took a few minutes until someone greeted us at the door to be seated for our 7:30 reservation. And when they brought out the soup, the first waft hit your nostrils like a ton of "is that body odor or my soup?" bricks. Once that initial wave of aroma hit, we were golden. The soup was a very mild, curry infused lentil soup. It was tasty, but the dipping sauce which accompanied the pita bread was absolutely delicious. I said immediately, "I'm going to dip my entree in that!" I didn't. When I took my first bite of my chicken from the Shish Tawook, I think I had to pause because there was so much flavor playing on my tongue. There is no way the dipping sauce was touching this dish. So, so good. In our group of 4, 2 of them are fairly picky eaters, and I was worried they may not enjoy the semi exotic (to us), fare. But everyone was happy, and everyone's food was plentiful and delicious (Shish Tawook, Beef Noodle, Chicken Noodle, Lamb Schwarma). From the time we got seated, the service was outstanding. Our pita bread, dipping sauce, and drinks were refreshed constantly; we were never without anything. The only snag I could possibly see is the bill. My boyfriend was kind enough to pay for everyone's meal, but I wouldn't have been surprised if it might've been slightly difficult to get separate checks. The place is small and cozy, the bathrooms make me laugh (they're basically storage rooms, keep an eye out!), and the portions are gigantic. Eat here and you'll have enough for at least 2-4 meals, hopefully with the memories of a meal shared with loved ones.
(4)
Farshid S.
Great Mediterranean place. very flavorful. They serve warm pita bread and dipping (garlic) sauce. dish sizes are very generous.
(5)
Mars Y.
I went with another foodie friend of mine for lunch this week. The messa tray is just that...a LARGE tray of a great assortment of appetizers. The lamb shawarma has the right amount of spices that make the lamb so tender, juicy and flavorful. Fresh ingredients done right! Large portions so that you can enough for leftovers.
(5)
Mike V.
Went here for lunch with a friend. It was the first time I had been to a Mediterranean place. The service was fast, the food was great, the portions are large, and the price was decent. Looking forward to going back again.
(4)
Kathryn Z.
If you want the Best homemade authentic Mediterranean dishes you have to try this food! The portion sizes are big even at lunch time, heavy on the garlic in a good way! Try the platter if you don't know what to get and bring a friend! The service in wonderful especially if you are lucky enough to get the owner in the restaurant. Don't miss the red lentil soup or dessert. Small place hard to find at first worth the work to find the parking. Kathryn
(5)
Dena R.
Yum! My husband and I split the combo platter. We used to eat here and returned recently during our Christmas vacation. Friendly staff and the combo platter had flavorful meats and yummy hummus. I'd have given 5 stars if the rice was different and if they served more soup as the appetizer.
(4)
John P.
Pros: Large portions. Food was tasty. Staff was friendly. Cons: Hard to find parking.
(4)
Tanya Z.
Oh Mediterranen Kitchen, why do you have to be on the east side?!??! Seriously though, this is my favorite place to eat in Bellevue. Hands down!!! i can't say enough about this place - the food is FANTASTIC, the portions are huge and the service is great. I can never finish the whole plate, so it's nice to have leftovers for the next day. Win-win!
(5)
zubin l.
I am writing this review knowing that I might have to change it after a while. I went on a weekday around 9 pm (they close at 9:30) and was served lentil (pretty good) soup and Pitta bread and some sauce (or chutney whatever you want it to call). I guess it wasnt the best time to for for dinner there. We ordered combination kabobs and I found it to be average. On top of that, we ordered one dish between two people and they charge us for a split of $4.50 (They also serve you soup with that if you split). What I cant comprehend is the following: - We got the main serving in Just one plate though we were charged for a split - The soup that comes with the split was never served. They counted the lentil soup they serve everbody (like chips you get in mexican restaurnat) as the soup. What was the extra $4.50 charge was for. On top of that, the server made us feel that we were unwanted. I will be apprehensive when I go the next time.
(2)
Angela G.
While I wish I could find a truly Greek restaurant in the Seattle area, Mediterranean Kitchen takes the cake when it comes to the Mediterranean regional food. The location in Bellevue is a tiny and cute sit down place for a candle lit dinner. A little shy of the ambiance, the food is flavor that can only be enjoyed in company of others that will have the same garlic breath! No kisses for you! The portions are HUGE. Split something and thank me later. If you're in Seattle try the Mediterranean Kitchen Express. The portions, and the prices, are half what the Bellevue location are. It's more a take out kind of place with a few tables for casual and quick dining. I was happy when I moved from Cap Hill to the East side that my favorite take out place was still within reach! Try it out, just make sure you have Listerine on hand. It's just that good.
(5)
Scott A.
Wow. Two visits so far, and all I have are cravings to go back. Mad cravings. The kind that make you look at your car keys and think, "I wonder if I can get over the bridge in time to get there before they close?" The kind that make you swear you'll go there for lunch every day. That's how good the Shish Tawook is. And I hope you love garlic... I do. You'll want to before you show up.
(5)
Michael V.
The shish tawook is really good.
(4)
Jimmy C.
The food here is amazing! Such great, strong flavors, but not overpowering. Simply delicious. The fried cauliflower with tahini sauce is amazing. And then there's the best chicken, the Farmer's Chicken. Tried some of my friends and it was delicious. I'll have to get that next time. The portions are huge and a great deal for the price. The wait staff was wonderful as well. A 5-star experience.
(5)
Tim L.
Two days worth of food, and the best waitstaff I've ever received at a "normal" restaurant. Lots of spices, garlic especially, but in a great way. The food is full of flavor and just keeps going. You can't, CAN'T, eat a whole plate in a sitting. I've been there 3 times and have been impressed each time. The meat is tender, the bread is tasty, the soup is delicious, the drinks are constantly full, and the price is completely acceptable. Amazing restaurant!
(5)
Adam D.
I hope you are hungry. I think it has been said a number of times but the portions are out of control. I miss the days when salad was included. The food is great and the price is reasonable. I have celebrated a number of big occassions at the Mediterranean Kitchen. The Lamb Shwarma is what I order every time I go... So good. Good for small groups not large groups as there is limited space.
(5)
Katy H.
If you really love garlic this is the place for you. The food is very tasty and the people running the place are cool. I really enjoy the soup they serve. If you want something here that doesn't taste like garlic you won't find it. The food all has the same flavor. Actually, the salads they serve are garlicier than the rest of the food. I'm not sure how they accomplish that. O_O
(4)
Moshe D.
Mediterranean Kitchen serves authentic and tasty Lebanese/ Mediterranean food. I like to go there for lunch. My favorite dish is the Shawarma, either chicken or lamb. The portions are huge. The service is quick. The setting is simple, not a place for a romantic date, but the food is very enjoyable.
(4)
Elmo G.
Excellent food, attentive service. Standard pita bread AND soup as a starter while you look at the menu. The vegetarian section is small, but delicious. Portions are huge, which can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on your viewpoint. One portion can easily feed two adults. This is a casual, small resturant and not a "romantic" place. It's a place to come and eat some good food. Not a "big date" place. But an excellent casual date place.
(4)
Heather J.
I consider this to be the best food in the area, but unfotunately it may only be for people who like a lot of flavor. Some of the people I have taken to dine at this restuarant did not seem to enjoy it as much as me, but perhaps its because I love garlic a little too much. I am not one for bland food. Everything is super delicous and flavorful. I love the pita and dip they bring you when you sit down, I love the soup. I usually get the dolmas which are so good. I am always tempted by the huge 15$ appetizer combo and often end up getting this and taking my food home. The place is small though and there is no parking lot, so reservations might be best. Its crowded inside and you do have to sit very close to your neighbors. This location is much preferred over the location in Kirkland which is less of a sit down restaurant.
(5)
dill w.
Delicious food! I'm flaberghasted at Susan H's comment that it's not authentic and to try Omar Al Khayyam. O.A.K is it pits! If that's what she thinks is authentic fine, she can have it but I will stick with scrumptious chicken shish tawook and my favorite salmon SAMAKI HARRAH from the most charming restauranteur Bassam, who coincidentally is from LEBANON so wouldn't that by default make his food authentic Lebanese? Sheesh. Anyhow, as the more clear thinking reviewer have noted, the lentil soup is amazing as well as the hummus. I am sorry to trash O.A.K, but just wanted to offer perspective.
(5)
Raza M.
One of the best Mediterranean restaurant in Seattle area. The food is great. The portions are huge, nearly impossible to finish, two can easily share, but they charge extra if you share. I will recommend a takeout.
(4)
Sonia G.
Hands down the best Mediterranean food I've had the pleasure of eating and that includes their oh so addicting Baklava. I can't wait to go back.
(4)
Debra L.
This is one of our favorite restaurants! Great food and reasonable prices and large portion sizes which usually makes for 3 meals out of one dinner entree for me. Love the Shish tawook and the salad dressing is a must buy!
(4)
Aisha M.
One of my absolutely fav restaurants. Amazing (and awfully large) food. Nice atmosphere. And friendly staff. Highly recommend the spinokova (I usually hate items without meat) and the lamb Kebobs.
(5)
Sophia S.
The service is always great and the portions are enough to feed 3. They usually serve a lentil soup and pita with garlic dip shortly after you're seated. I'm not usually a big fan of either one, but I have to say, my bf loves the garlic dip. Just be warned, the dip makes anyone instantly unkissable. The shawarma is the real reason to come here, or the lamb shanks...I'm getting hungry thinking about it.
(5)
Dianne C.
After seeing all the reviews, I finally got to go! With the bf and 5 friends, we headed out to Bellevue, since they let me do the planning. (Heh) My bf and I were probably blind, we turned around quite a few times to find the place. We should have just kept going with our original instinct. For those of you who are as blind as we are, it's right on Bellevue Way NE, right next to the Hair Masters (that one, you definitely can't miss). The place was actually smaller than I expected. From the entrance, lengthwise, it was probably about a little over 7 tables long and about 9 tables wide, wall-to-wall. With 7 of us, I'm rather glad we called in for a reservation. (They talk rather quickly and will let you off the phone really quickly as well when you call in, but that's probably because they're very busy). Being our first time, I figured that we should try what they had to offer and started by ordering the Mezza Tray. The Mezza tray is described as "An assortment of delicious Middle Eastern appetizers. Hummous, Baba Kanouj, Labnie, Tabouley, Zahra, olives, tomatoes and cucumbers." It came at about the size of a lunch tray and was enough to make all 7 of us a little full (and wondering if we could eat the main course). Can I just say that the labnie was absolutely delicious? The baba kanouj was wonderful, (and I'm not usually a big baba kanouj fan) and the hummous was good as well. Before we even got the Mezza Tray, though, and before we ordered our actual courses, they already brought out our sides: pita bread, olive oil dip, and a lentil soup. It took us about 20 minutes to start ordering, as we had a hard time deciding on what to eat... and there really was only one server for the whole room. I had the lamb couscous... which turned out to be a way bigger dish than I expected (bigger than my head). I thought the $16 tag was rather pricy, but with that much served, we really were getting a deal! We would probably have gotten a bigger deal if we'd known to just share one dish between each couple - as NONE of us got past a third of our food. (My lamb couscous dish was bigger than my head! Two big shanks of lamb, a whole onion, a whole carrot, a whole cucumber, two halves of a potato, and a spattering of olives. My couscous came in a separate plate.) No complaints, though. Everyone told me they loved their dishes (Orders among the group included: lamb shawarma, dajaj mishwi, combination kabob, beef shawarma, seafood couscous, escadrilles de chef. The hummous was noted to be spicier on the dish than what was served on the appetizer.) I probably had six bites from my dish (I looked like I didn't touch it at all!), before I had to give up and had it packed to go. I'll be having lamb for about 3 days, I swear. A friend entertained the thought of baklava but we all joked that it may be as big as a tray - and we were definitely much too filled by good food to eat any more. By the way, reviewers weren't kidding about the garlic. There was garlic sprinkled everywhere - if they weren't cooked right in.... and it was great. The servers were all very kind and patient with us. There really only was one person serving the tables, but if you try to wave him down, he'll come right by. He also seems to remember everything! The other server kept our glasses full all night. Oddly, they said they couldn't split checks - but they could split our payments. As we were trying to partition our payments, he came by and offered to re-organize the amounts. He came back with a basic map with the appropriate dollar amount for each seat (lol). I'd say, it was mutually beneficial. (Thank you!) I definitely have to say that I wouldn't mind going back again... after I'm done with my leftovers.
(5)
Alexis C.
Okay first off, I'm Lebanese. This is better than my family makes it. First off we were brought hot soup, which comes with an entree. Next we all shared the Fatoush, I highly recommend it. I also ordered the Shish Tawook that was outstanding. The chicken has prepared to perfection. My friends all ordered the Lamb Shawarma that was also good but my dish was better. The hummus is just like my family makes it and the Baba Kwas really fresh. Loved this place. Our server was nice and the portions are worth the money. Only thing that could have made it better was a nice glass of wine! Next time I am going to try the kafta and see if its as good as my uncles. It will probably be better.
(5)
Jaime P.
Not much of an expert of this kind of food, but they were definitely delicious. Portions are huge! My wife loves their baklava, been back a handful of times and ordered their baklava on my way from work.
(4)
Dan D.
This is my favorite restaurant in the greater Seattle area. Or maybe all of the evergreen state? The food is simply divine. Only go if you are a garlic lover though! I absolutely love everything on the menu- I go at least five times a year. It is the perfect combination of mediterranean cuisine, taking influences from Lebanon, Greece, Egypt, etc. Their baba ghanouj is the best i've ever had. I recommend the Chicken Schawarma or Shish Tawook- both fantastic. Truly a fantastic restaurant!
(5)
Laural B.
I've been going to this place even before I moved to town. I love garlic and this place does not disappoint in that department. Generous portions, tasty fresh pitas, delicious soups and salads - dinner is almost never finished by a single individual. And the baklava is likewise excellent. One drawback - you will reek of garlic, especially if you keep eating the leftovers. Which seem to go on for days.
(5)
Rachel J.
I grew up in Bellevue and now, every time I come back to visit family, the single non-negotiable for my trip is a visit to this restaurant. I just try to time it so that I have a few days before flying again for the garlic to wear off (I have to think about my poor seat-mates, after all). No need for appetizers here; the meals all come with soup, salad, and unlimited delicious pita. The entrees are enormous, easily enough for a full leftover meal the next day. I used to order different things, but now I'm dedicated to the Shish Tawook. Good god, how can garlic-y chicken on rice taste so amazing? I have no idea, but I dream about this place and that dish! The only drawback is that the place is small, so I try to go on weeknights or time my visit outside of the obvious rush hours. Even if I had to wait, though, I would. For hours. This food is worth it!
(5)
Stacey H.
Very large portions - I'd suggest sharing a plate with someone, or plan on taking home 1-2 additional meals worth of food! The food is very garlic-y, so if you aren't a big fan of garlic, stay away. I enjoy strong flavors, so the vinegar-garlic dip for the pita bread and the garlic everything was good :-). Our service was quite slow - our waiter told us he would be "right back" to take our order, but it must have been a good 20 minutes before he reappeared. It also took awhile to bring out the pita bread and soup to start. Otherwise, he was very courteous.
(4)
Honestly... E.
Being Mediterranean myself, and having recently moved to the area, I really wanted to like this restaurant. I read the reviews, and couldn't wait to have dinner there with my husband and two kids. We walked in shortly after they opened for dinner around 6pm. The restaurant is small, dirty and looks like it was decorated with cheap garage sale finds (OLD wicker hanging baskets with dusty fake plants, weird home made curtains that looked like they were made in the 70s, etc.) We were warmly welcomed and seated, and the waiter brought us warm pita bread and lentil soup almost right away. I tought the free soup was a nice touch, and as I woud soon find out, the most edible thing in the restaurant. My husband, an avid lover of red meat ordered the beef shwarma platter, my son got the all meat platter with a variety of meats like the shwarma, the kefte, etc. And I decided to try the chicken shish kebab and share it with my daughter. When the food came, we were beyond excited...until we tasted it. The beef shwarma was extremely dry, dry rubbed with a weird mix of spices that didn't look, taste or smell mediterrenean. My son's platter had a little bit of everything, and although he is NEVER picky, and will eat most about anything, he picked at his food, and didn't eat most of it. My chicken shish--I specifically ordered, because it was rated delicious by all of the reviewers--was un edible! First of all, it was a BAD cut of chicken, full of all the parts you would cut off if you were preparing it at home, and secondly, it was obviously marinated in lemon juice for sooooo long, that it was extremely sour. All of our meat dishes we ordered came on a large bed of rice to make it look like we were getting more food than we actually were getting, and considering the main meat dishes were low quality and plain not edible, we tried really hard to eat the rice, and were still hungy. The dinner for 3 adult entres came to about $70, and we would have no problems paying that for dinner had the food been good. The waiter saw that most of the food on our plates wasn't touched, asked if we wanted to go boxes (ofcourse we said no, since we wouldn't even give these leftovers to our dogs!) and didn't act too surprised that we didn't want to take the leftovers. I took the time to write this review in hopes that either the owner, or someone who knows the owner reads this review and takes it to heart: Mediterrean cuisine is rich, and wonderful and utilizes great, fresh ingredients. Don't open a restaurant and basterdize the cuisine, and the culture it represents. Just because you are thousands of miles away from the mediterrenean region, and most of your customers are non suspecting Americans who have never been there, doesn't mean you should serve them garbage. Have some integrity, and either learn how to prepare the food, or hire someone that does.
(1)
Ricky K.
Great exotic food! you can't find this type of food in very many places especially in Bellevue. It's a bit pricey but completely worth it! Bought one meal and ate the left overs on three separate occasions. Every time i think of Med Kitchen I begin to salivate! (ie- RIGHT NOW!) if you haven't tried this place, DO IT!
(4)
Pierre G.
Go & order the : - Dajaj Mishwi [$14.95 plus tax & tip] Charbroiled boneless, skinless chicken thighs marinated in spices, served with house garlic sauce - The sauce is addicting; the char broil is perfectly executed It's served with a delicious, thick hummus and a superb yellow rice; The portion is considerable - Bring mouthwash! This place is justifiably popular, so plan ahead on weekends.... for Tina
(4)
Jonathan K.
Its been like 6 months since I've eaten here (moved away) but this place was so good that it deserves to be reviewed. I came here once with some co-workers and didn't know what to expect since its a small and unassuming restaurant, but it was quite busy. When seated we got the pea soup (see pictures) which was very good, along with pita bread and hummus which was also very good. I ordered the shawarama which was incredible and HUGE. It seemed reasonably priced at about $18, but its closer to a meal for two then a meal for one. I came here with 6 people, all 6 of us took home left overs. The food is quite heavily spiced which made my fridge smell like greek food for a few days, but it tastes incredible and was never too much. I came back a few weeks later with a friend, both of us have pretty good appetites, and ordered an appetizer and the shawarma. There was a good amount of left overs. Dinner for 2 for under $35, incredible.
(5)
Dina A.
Just make sure you aren't going to be physically close to anybody for the rest of the evening :) The garlic is overwhelming. But the food is great, the portions are gigantic (like seriously, only ever seen 1 person i know finish his plate), and it's always packed Be prepared for a bit of a wait if you go at a busy time. If you don't want to wait, you might want to check out the kirkland one.
(4)
Christine C.
Came in on a Thursday afternoon, around 12:30, they were extremely busy so I had to take my selection to go. I've been to the Med Kitchen in Kirkland many many times and absolutely love their portions and pricing. It was a sore disappointment at the Bellevue location. The Kirkland location has the same lunch pricing, ALL DAY. For all to go orders, you also get soup, hummus, salad, and arabic pita bread. I ordered a Veggie Shawarma at the Bellevue location after seeing the picture on yelp for the Veggie Shawarma at the Kirkland location. What I actually got had no semblance to the picture. Let me tell you what the "Veggie" Shawarma consists of: Dry rice and more dry rice, a few pieces of tomato...I'd say perhaps it may have once been half of a small tomato....a sprinkling of cabbage, a couple sprigs of green onions and loads of semi raw, semi-burnt onions...and lest I forget, I few dribbles of sauce here and there. I LOVE onions. I eat at least one a day. I couldn't eat these. My boyfriend and I were extremely disappointed. I love the sauce at the Med Kitchen in Kirkland. I was SO looking forward to it. No hummus either!!! And I love the hummus. The salad? WAAAYYY overloaded with an extremely overpowering garlic sauce. Um, not to be redundant but I love the salad at the Kirkland location. I definitely will never order take out here again. I may try to dine in here...maybe not. I'd probably try Garlic Crush first. I was pretty annoyed when my boyfriend who'd called in to complain pretty much got a too bad pal...had you checked your order right then and there, even though you were in a rush, and saw that there wasn't enough sauce, we would've given you some....oh, and sorry you thought "veggies" entails an assortment of vegetables. The business card reads two locations, one owner, but we're separate and different so don't expect the same amazing food. Sucks to be you. We're busy so I'm going to hang up now. Sigh. Oh, and did I mention they don't give you any utensils to eat your order with, unless you ask for it specifically. This was the first time I ever threw any leftovers away...I gave it a go. But truly, it was so dry and the onions, oh the onions. BIG sigh.
(1)
Catherina H.
My boyfriend kept saying good things about this place and I never understood until I ate there my first time. The food was amazing and the staff seemed polite and quick. Yes it was a bit hard to find but when you do find it you do realize its pretty close to the mall. And yes the place is small but there is take out and catering. I am here to judge the food and the service not necessarily the size of a place anyhow.
(5)
Jon K.
No one has mentioned their rice pilaf! It is one of the best I have ever had. ...although if you added some mushrooms. It would be the best in the world! Yeah, the garlic theme is WOW. The chicken (Farmer's Dish) is a bit sour. Comes from being soaked in either lemon or vinegar or both even. The chicken is cooked to perfection...with a tad of crispy charring. The Shish Tawook was excellent. The Baklava were 3 tiny but heavenly bites. I'll be returning. Many other items look good and I must try them.
(5)
R C.
I like anywhere with great healthy food and appropriate lighting. M.k. gets both right. Excellent food, big portions, so you actually get what you pay for here! Take out is just as good. They give you salad with a tasty dressing instead of their soup that you get when you eat there. Both are good. I'm trying their mezza appy plate tonight for the first time *a great selection! and my usual lamb kebab. Nom nom.
(5)
Alli D.
Fantastic! I've never had a bad meal here and the service is always warm and attentive. They bring you a bowl of soup right after you sit down and the dipping sauce for the pita bread is to die for. I am vegetarian and have tried most of the veggie dishes- my favorite being the falafil and the couscous.
(5)
Smihit S.
The review is specially for rude staff. We were expecting a friend to join us after 15 mins and we were ready to order from him. But they don't allow as per their policy and don't allow the rest of the people to sit until everyone is there. I agree with their policy but I still feel they should be polite enough to explain this and tell us before even we book the table. Better service is as important as better food
(2)
todd s.
Wow. Deliciously unique. Unlike any other Mediterranean Restaraunt I've frequented. Good helping of food. Good wait staff. Simple decor. I recommend it.
(5)
Melroy M.
the food is good. I ordered off the lunch menu. it is really a lot of food.
(4)
Mandy L.
This place is delicious!! Went there for lunch and was so pleasantly surprised. The dip they bring out with the warmed pitas is out of this world. I ordered a chicken dish, was delicious and the portions are huge. Definitely share so you can try different things. The service was so good and I cannot wait to go back!
(5)
Randy P.
The portions are huge, they treat you like a king. Menu hasn't changed in years then again neither has what I usually order. Been going here for over a decade and still Dajaj Mishwhi with EXTRA GARLIC SAUCE. You can forget kissing anyone for a day or so after that. The garlic sauce is so potent 24 HRS later you can still smell it on ya. It's a nice place so no don't leave your cell phone on or expect to see a ball game playing on a TV. Go to a bar for that.
(5)
Matthew Y.
Great food, great service! The portions are huge, I usually share one meal with my wife, and we have plenty of leftovers for the next day. Oh, a word of advice. You DON'T want to eat here if you have an important business meeting the next day-the garlic is a killer!
(5)
Vijay A.
Large amounts of food, certain dishes are good, long wait times. I try to avoid going there during busy times as the place is small. I felt the food tasted good, but the portions are too big and is a bit pricy for my budget.
(3)
Kathy C.
I came here with my girlfriends the other night -- all of us really liked their food, so i decided to yelp it. The restaurant itself was quite small and didn't really have a waiting area, but we were able to get a table within 15 min. I heard about their poritions being ginormous, so we decided to order 2 dishes (beef shish kabob and lamb shawarma) and 1 appetizer (mezza tray). I thought the 3 of us could handle it....untile we saw the appetizer - it covered 1/3 of our table. It included various sauces and veggies which were all very flavorful - my fave was their yogurt sauce and deep fried cauliflowers. The other two dishes were also huge - it was literally mountain of rice topped with veggies/lamb and onion/beef. We ate and ate and ate and ate...but couldn't even finish half the plate. The beef itself was a bit tough, but the whole dish was good because of the flavors (lots of spices). There wasn't much meat on the lamb dish, but it may have been covered up with all the veggies. We had a lot of leftovers, so each of us took'em to go - my bf devoured it when i brought it home.
(4)
Denis N.
Went here for lunch for the first time and was treated like VIP! The waiter was very attentive and the servings were very generous! Food tasted great and love the experience and atmosphere!
(5)
Travis E.
Three important things I need to point out first. 1. They only accept reservations for groups of four or more. There were two of us on a Saturday night at 7 and they said the wait would be 45 minutes. Fortunately, it was only about 15. There isn't much of a waiting area so give them your cell number and walk around the area for a bit. 2. It's a small place, it maybe holds fifty people, so it probably wouldn't be good for a big group of people. 3. The portions are huge. Two people could easily share an order. Other than that, the food was very good and the price was reasonable. I had the lamb shish kabob, my date had the chicken shwarma. We had the hummus as an appetizer, it was good, but it tasted a bit 'vinegary'. The atmosphere was relaxed, but the place was packed so it was a bit noisy. There were quite a few takeout orders while we were there so it's probably popular for takeout as well. I would go there again.
(4)
Linda V.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this place. Being that I spent 4 years attending UW and thus hadn't really eaten much Greek/Mediterranean food other than gyros and falafels, I have to say this place is absolutely amazing. I've probably come here about four times total, and gotten three different things (for dinner). It is a little pricey, but you sure get your money's worth in terms of amount of food and taste. One friendly tip I have is if you and your friend are thinking about getting the same dish, you're better off just sharing it unless you want TONS of leftovers (which I totally wouldn't blame you if you did). I love the rice the most--I don't know how they make it so good, but it's seriously perfection. Overall, the service is great, but I was a little claustrophobic. They sure did make the best of the space though. It's really cozy and intimate, so perfect for a date, but just kind of small with few tables. A minor issue, really.
(4)
Chelsea J.
Amazingly flavorful, delicious food at a reasonable price. So happy I found this place! The menu has a variety of meat, veggie, and appetizer options ranging from skewers to stuffed grape leaves to hummus and other small bites. The hummus was creamy and tasty. Also very garlicky! I will get the hummus again for sure. I had the fava and garbanzo bean dish with pita and it was absolutely delicious. I didn't even miss having meat when I was eating this dish. Everything was a HUGE portion! The bean dish was just the right amount of spice and garlic. Very very good. The prices are reasonable, $9-12 for lunch and it comes with pita bread and small cups of soup to start. The service was gracious and fast. The inside of the restaurant is pretty and well decorated. You would miss it if you didn't know it was here. Can't wait to go back! I'm glad I have a go-to place in Bellevue now.
(5)
Lydia N.
Gigantic portions. Came here with 4 other girls, ordered 2 entrees (spanakopita & schwarma) and left with 2 doggie bags. Dazed & defeated. Will definitely return.
(4)
E. P.
Tried it for the first time for lunch today: falafel plate. Yum! Very good, small spot with great service. Get ready for garlic for sure (need mouthwash!). I'd never been before because I sometimes like a falafel gyro, but they only have platters. I'd go again!
(4)
Doug E.
COW FULL OF HOLES! I'm sure you've noticed by now that all reviewers have made comments about the portions... THEY REALLY ARE HUGE! I ordered the Seafood Couscous and this entree was probably about 5 pounds. If you're ordering takeout for more than just yourself, please bring help or at least be in a shape. Otherwise, it's a helluva farmer's walk back to your car. The entrees may seem pricey, but they are more than reasonable. One plate will feed two grown people or provide a full day's meal for one lonely person. Oh, and the food is quite good, but then again I'm a sucker for anything with a lot of garlic in it.
(4)
Yeelin T.
My fiance and I returned here after about a 3 year hiatus. We had mostly stopped coming because the portion sizes were so ridiculous that we would eat for most of the week on two entrees. Well, the portion sizes are still crazy, however they have clearly been cutting costs. My fiance ordered a lamb schwarma, but instead seems to have gotten an onion schwarma. Seriously, there were nearly 2 onions on his plate, and just a tiny bit of lamb buried under all of the onions and cabbage. My spanikopita was deep fried. It was tasty, though very heavy, having picked up a lot of oil during its frying Given that there are far better Mediterranean options around, we probably won't be back any time soon.
(2)
Nicole N.
The food is uh-mazing. Best spanikopita ever, and friendly service too. Beware that when you get takout dinner they don't give you the soup or Turkish coffee listed as coming with dinner on their menu...however the price is the same, which is pretty lame in my mind.
(4)
Zack W.
Love this place! Cozy atmosphere, attentive waitstaff, superb food with generous portions.
(5)
Tanya J.
Once upon a time I used to eat meat. When I used to eat meat, Med Kitchen was a place required for FPOS (frequent pigging out sessions) as often as I could. I rarely tried anything new, the Dajaj Mishwi was heaven on a plate for me and did the job every time... AND I DIDN'T EVEN LIKE CHICKEN THIGHS then either! The whole combination of the chicken and the rice topped with a heaping amount of garlic sent me straight into a euphoric and garlicicious state. It was that good. ...But then I went back to my vegetarian ways and my long standing love affair with Med Kitchen has since been broken. It makes me shed a tear or two just thinking about our break up, but now I prefer to talk about the little sister, Garlic Crush who rocks a perfect falafel patty like nobody's business, right across the street.. Back to Med Kitchen though... For all you meat eaters who enjoy garlic and a hearty 3-days worth of leftovers -- get the dajaj mishwi. You will be happy that you did and keep in mind, my recent visit to Med Kitchen and ordering the falafel plate was still very good. Not Dajaj Mishwi good. But fantastic in it's own right. The Dajaj Mishwi. Yum. Order it. For my sake if not for yours. It's so good that even the 3 days of indigestion from the unintentional garlic cleanse didn't keep me away from this place...
(4)
Erika H.
It's bad when every waiter knows you, because you find a way to go every week. 1/2 Shish Tawook 1/2 Falafel 1/2 rice 1/2 salad is the way to go. Okay, my mouth is drooling, I have to stop thinking about this.
(5)
Carolyn J.
Tried and true formula, this place has been awesome since the 80s. Tons of garlic and huge portions. Feed yourself for days on it or share.
(5)
Karen D.
Love, love, love this place, and I'm not even too fond of garlic. I just skip the dip that comes with the pita at the beginning of the meal, and stick with ordering entrees that don't include garlic in the description...such as the falafel and the spanakopita, which are both excellent versions of those dishes. I did try the house special chicken wings one time, and while loaded with garlic, they were dee-lish, but I felt they were too messy to eat gracefully in such a quietly elegant setting, so....will only get those in the future if we're ordering take-out. Also, service is spot-on, they are very kind and helpful. And I love the fact that both lentil soup at the beginning of the meal and Turkish coffee at the end are included in the already reasonable price of the entree...it doesn't get much better!
(5)
Vince S.
Bleh. portion sizes were gigantic, but nothing tasted too good. I was burping up garlic for the next 2 days. Sometimes there is such a thing as too much garlic. I may give it another shot, but not anytime soon. My receipt also has Miditerranean Kitchen printed at the top.... :)
(1)
Melissa F.
Hate Twilight? Hate the idea of vampires? Come here!! WE HEART GARLIC! This place is delicious if you love garlic.. and I mean you have to LOVE garlic. You have to want to breathe, eat, smell like, and soak in garlic. My parents almost always come here when they're in town. Mom gets the chicken schwarma and Pops gets the Algerian chicken. They are fanatics, and I agree both of those dishes are really tasty. Do not, do not, do NOT get the lamb couscous. It sounds harmless, right? I like lamb, I like couscous.. Nooooo!!! The two "tender" shanks of lamb are not tender at all.. also it comes literally as two giant SHANKS. It's served with vegetables, as in whole vegetables. ...As in, you get a giant boiled potato and a giant boiled onion and a giant boiled carrot PLONKED down on this platter next to the giant shanks of lamb. Holy mother... I mean, it still tasted good, but geez it was hard to eat and just ridiculous-looking. ... Oh, and the couscous was good, but was served on the side and rather ignored. I've resigned myself to the schwarmas, like the lamb schwarma. Delicious and more than enough to serve for a few more meals.
(4)
Poulina K.
You definitely get some bang for your buck and your taste buds at the Mediterranean Kitchen! The space is small, but warm and cozy. Service was very prompt, unobtrusive and pleasant. That alone makes me want to come back. The menu was not huge, but included a nice variety of dishes. Mediterranean favorites like Baba Kanouj, tabouly and stuffed grape leaves to start. Shawarmas, kabobs and couscous of various preparations for main course. Dinner starts with pita bread, daily home made soup and a garlic dip. Oohwee, it is garlic flavor all the way on the dip, I loved it (but you may want to skip it on a date). Side salad had fresh mixed greens and wedges of tomato, however the dressing was a bit too vinegary. As others have mentioned, portions are very large. My Lamb Kabob plate was served on a huge bed of very well seasoned and flavored rice. It's delicious, but you can feed 5 people with the amount on my plate. Fear not, it makes for great leftovers. Home made hummus on the side, grilled veggies with some lemony tzatziki sauce were a welcome accompaniment to tender and mouthwatering lamb chunks. My friend had the Shish Tawook. I sampled some of the chicken and it was perfectly grilled and moist. Add a glass of Shiraz and it's a savory, comforting meal. Don't forget those leftovers for next day lunch!
(4)
Jack S.
Good restaurant overall. Nice setting. The portion is so big that no one in our group could finish, but the price is not expensive. Good taste. Pretty authentic.
(4)
Gilad B.
Garlic Galore! I went with a small group on Saturday night and it was great. The food was tasty, the service was good, and the garlic was plenty. This is a good options for mediterranean food (and i grew up there so I know). Enjoy it. The combo plate was pretty damn great and has a nice variety of stuff and the house wine was surprisingly good.
(4)
Mitch G.
Really good food. Cant wait to go back to have the lamb shanks again. I recommend you call and make a reservation if you are more than 2 people dining. Place can get pretty full quickly, quite a popular place. ....... Cant stop thinking about the lamb shanks....... yum!!!!
(4)
Ibrahim A.
I got great recommendations about the restaurant from friends and colleagues at work, so I decided to celebrate my wife's birthday with my family with a dinner at the Bellevue restaurant. I booked a table for my family the day before and mentioned that we are celebrating my wife's birthday, so the person on the phone confirmed that a birthday cake will be served after the dinner. We went and were nicely welcomed and seated and we were served tasty food, exactly as we expected from all the recommendations, but unfortunately, we went back very disappointed from 2 things; the first was that there was no birthday cake as we requested, second, which was really disappointing is that after we paid the bill, and went out of the restaurant, the waiter stopped us on the street and said with a loud voice: hey, you know, the tips are not included in the bill and I think I gave you a good service and pushing the receipt on me! I was astonished and embarrassed in front of my family, but did not want to argue with the waiter or complain as I did not want to spoil a celebration of my wife's birthday, so I put a small amount on the bill and went to the car ... I do not think I will try to go again to this restaurant.
(1)
Maylee L.
SOUPS IN THE KITCHEN soo apparently, my friend Keya never went to Bellevue.. like OMG. we were planning on stopping by &have a chit chat w one of the hot managers that transferred to jcp bellevue sq mall, but we needed to fuel food! we were starving! got here in the late afternoonish &thought this greek pl was a cafe but once you go inside it is absolutely unexpected. tables are in corners, somewhat fancy condiments on the table. -1* cuz I still have a salty tongue after three hours eating. and i drank a lot of water too. o.o I got the veggie delight --the food was A MOUNTAIN. my JUMBO cucumba was rolling down hill slathering my olives, onions, and cabbage. their lentil soup is very tasty, it has a nice texture and you can taste potatoes, and beans at the same time even though it only has mini chippy carrots and mushy lentil beans.
(4)
Hassan S.
Eh. The food portions for the entrees will easily feed two normal sized persons. The food doesn't taste bad, it's decent though quite garlicky, the restaurant itself is clean and service is decent/good, however it's absolutely not authentic mediterranean food which seriously bothers me as I was born over there and grew up on that food. To start with, nobody eats rice with all these dishes in the Middle East, nobody puts that much garlic in the food, the beef shawarma is unrecognizable, so is the chichtaouk, etc... Feel free to eat there, it doesn't taste bad, but it's a totally americanized version of meditteranean food.
(3)
Darrell S.
4.5 stars One of the few Bellevue restaurants that's worthy of the "you have to check this place out". I use to work in Bellevue and my group basically selected every 2nd Thursday to go here (it would have been every week - but the portions are seriously a weight concern.) 3 things that great: 1.) Seasoning and menu are authentic and prefect. The Lamb Shawarma - try it folks. 2.) Portions - still can't polish off a plate to date. The Lamb Shawarma guys, seriously. 3.) Great menu - I've had 7 of the dishes they serve (6/7 are awesome - the last one being "okay". That's a pretty good ration in my book.) The Lamb Shawarma - just order it already! - .5 stars for the seating area being cramped (doesn't seat enough people for the demand.)
(4)
Michelle L.
My husband and I LOVE this place. I'm pretty sure I could eat it everyday and I think I did while I was pregnant. We love to order to-go during the week and split the lamb kebab. We dine in for the extra treat of their pita and garlic dip. That stuff is amazinggggggg! Be prepared to smell of garlic when you leave! We no longer live in Bellevue but still come to this location for the service and ambiance! Love the food too!
(4)
Julie R.
I was treated to dinner last night at Mediterranean Kitchen. I hope to visit again soon. The food is amazing. The service was even better, if at all possible. We were shown to our table. Water glasses were filled and a bowl of soup is brought to each diner. Last night's soup was green lentil - hearty and delicious. I ate about half of it. (Let's just say I read the reviews before I stepped foot in the place, and I knew I needed to pace myself.) A basket of warmed pita bread, a plateful of hummus and a bowl of the most delicious garlic dipping sauce EVER made a rapid appearance on the table as well. It was all delicious, but the garlic dipping sauce is unreal. I resisted the impulse to eat it by the spoonful. My friend ordered the fried cauliflower appetizer. Unbelievably good. I can't wait to have more. I had chicken shwarma for dinner. I made it through about 1/4 of the plateful before caving and asking for a to-go box. The chicken was tender and flavorful, the rice was perfectly cooked, the vegetables were delicious as well. My husband ate a good portion of last night's leftovers, and there is STILL enough for lunch today. My water glass was never empty. I can't remember the last time I had that happen at a restaurant. The servers were friendly and brought whatever we asked for promptly. The restaurant is also clean and comfortable. I've heard of long lines on the weekends, but Tuesday night at 6 was perfect for us. What a wonderful and fun dinner. Thanks, Mediterranean Kitchen!
(5)
Isabelle G.
The truth is that I ate there twice, 4 years ago and I still have that perfect taste of their Lamb Kabobs in my mouth. It's THAT amazing. I plan to go next year back to Seattle and you know which is the first place I'm going to stop in on.
(5)
Vikrant J.
Great food, ample of quantity and good service. We love to go here.
(4)
Katie H.
Best Hummusand Best Salad Dressing ever!! We always buy the dressing for salads and marinades at home. I compare all hummus to this zesty, creamy gem. They have great Shwarma, shishkawook and farmers Chicken wings. Great date night or friendly lunch. Take out just as good. Call ahead the dinning area is small. We drive from Kent for this tasty goodness. We used to go to the Seattle Key Arena area location 10 yrs ago before it closed and hired them to cater our wedding, they showed up late so avoid catering if they still do that but we had to forgive them because the food is that good. Moderate priced
(4)
Kim F.
Amazing service and food! Large quantities of food, especially when considering the price! Wait staff was attentive and funny. We had the Spinakopita appetizer (delicious), Falafel dinner, and mixed Kabob dinner (mmmmmm). While looking at the menu they bring you lentil soup and pita with this garlic sauce that is something I have never tasted before.
(5)
Sean C.
My main difficulty with reviewing the Lebanese wonder that is Mediterranean Kitchen, which I've started to do many times over the past two years to culminate in the dreaded reviewer's block, is that it's already pretty much been done to death, to the point of being the Eastside analog of Paseo. In particular, my more quotable thoughts have already been recorded with a dash of poetic license as the not-so-tall, dark, or mysterious "dining companion" warning of impending garlic in one of the venue's ROTDs. So, in lieu of a normal narrative review and in an attempt to freshly contribute, instead a concise hint book for Mediterranean Kitchen: (B = Basic, M = Moderate, E = Expert, A = Advanced) B: If someone in your party doesn't like garlic, redirect mission to Bamboo Garden. B: Dinner has a much better price vs. portion ratio (excellent) than lunch. B: Arrive early, the restaurant is busy and quite small, but beats almost all of the Bellevue Collection mall dinner options. B: Order the shish tawook, the salmon variant, or the Algerian chicken (eschewing some chicken for vegetables), all roughly $15. Skip the shwarma. B: Don't order an appetizer unless you can divide it among 4+, if not 6+, people. M: Consciously divide your entree into thirds, if not quarters, up front to avoid gut burst. M: The baklava is delicious (and uncharacteristically tiny) but is meant more of a tease, a reminder of your failure to resist the garlic mountain than a sensible option. M: Don't head anywhere directly afterward. If you are going out and not planning on stopping home first, you will encounter a problem as a potent bag of garlic is one of the few items against Seattle's relaxed idea of a dress code, and your vehicle will regret it. E: Bringing a hot date is always a mixed proposition. The venue is small, dimly lit, quite romantic (albeit slightly loud) and is mood-enhancing for the garlic lover. However, you will smell like garlic for the next day, including your breath directly after brushing your teeth. If you drove, your vehicle will smell like garlic the next morning from the leftovers. Unless you adequately planned (see above), you will be on the verge of a food coma. Avoid for a first date, but highly recommended for a coming-of-age date. If you can successfully integrate the garlic into your intimacy and neither of you mind, you can be assured of the strength of your mutual feelings or at least the superglue of lust. A: If you or your monogamous partner are going away for a weekend trip and fidelity is in doubt, take him/her here before leaving - you will ruin his/her game for at least 24 hours. This also works on a dishonest, over-libidinous frienemy. (Not that I've ever intentionally done this.) By all means, go. Enjoy the garlic. Just please be properly prepared.
(5)
Laura B.
The portions are so big I think I want to take off a star. Why do they need to be so big? Why? Service? EXCELLENT Atmosphere? Fancy Strip Mall Popular? Yes... a line out the door by 7 pm on a Wednesday evening. Garlic? SO MUCH.... (too much... um... maybe a little too much.) I'd like to give this 3.5 stars. But I'm rounding down because the portions do NOT need to be so big. It's silly. We had the kabob combo dish. The garlic doesn't need to be so overpowering.
(3)
Nikki R.
I had the kafta kabob here, which was tasty, though far from the best I've had. The things most likely to bring me back are actually the orange-spice tea (I had mine iced) and the deliciously syrupy baklava, which was so good I had to buy extra to take home. The restaurant is small, and was fine for our small group of four, but would have been hard to fit a large group in, I think. Edit: 10-30-09 I'm ashamed that it has taken me so long to come back and change my review from 3 to 5 stars. Ever since I discovered the lamb shish kabob over a year ago, this has been one of my favorite restaurants! The lentil soup is always delicious, though they change up the variety and I like some better than others. (I think the green lentil soup is my favorite.) My friends and family rave about the dip served at the beginning of the meal with pita bread, but beware the garlic! I love garlic, myself, but this is too garlicky for me. Let me just say once again, that if you haven't tried the lamb shish kabob here, please do. You won't be disappointed. For the hungry muslims out there, the lamb (and only the lamb) here is halal.
(5)
L P.
This place is great - definitely worth the drive over from Seattle. The building it's in looks a bit like a small strip mall, but the restaurant is nice inside and the service was fantastic, as was the food. The serving sizes are enormous - enough for three - and everything was delicious, including the side salad, which was also three times the size one would normally expect. My husband and I both had the prawn dinner and our friends had the salmon dinner and one of the mixed plates and all of us said the dinner was delicious. If you're looking for a great meal at a reasonable price and either live in Bellevue or don't mind a bit of a drive from Seattle, I'd definitely recommend going by Mediterranean Kitchen. Yum!
(5)
Karl H.
After reading all the other reviews about this place I have come to one conclusion... I will not be able to say anything differently than what has already been said. This place is just fantastic. The one thing I can add is that this is a great little place to take a date. I know because my date and I had a great time and if she plays her cards right... she just might get lucky tonight. After all this was her idea! Could be fun.
(5)
Paul F.
I must have come on the wrong day, at the wrong time. But my seafood cous cous looked, smelt, felt and tasted reheated. Either way it didn't taste good, or fresh. The vegetables were all wilted and the seafood was terrible. The shrimp were hard, tough, the squid was like bubble gum. For 17 dollars I felt extremely taken advantage of. Terrible experience. I probably should have sent it back.
(1)
Sarah K.
Wait, I thought the owner was Lebanese? Oh well, who cares? the food is that good. Fantastic hummus and the soup is the opener that tells you the food will be really good. I'm so fascinated with their kababs that I have yet to try the vegetarian dishes, but they look good. Try the Labnie platter ... mmmmm You know it takes REALLY good food for a West Seattleite to leave *just* for their restaurant and this is that place. I've never had a problem with the service but the place is very hard to get in and out of for parking and at certain times youhave to be patient for your seat because it is kind of small.
(5)
Bill L.
Omg. Garlic heaven. Huge portions. I was sweating garlic for 12 hours! Shish ta mook is wonderful!! If you are in the area two humbs up!
(4)
Nuri G.
This place was one of the first places I was brought when I moved to the area, and I've been back so many times. The food is so delicious and full of interesting and unusual flavors. The portions are incredible, so you'll definitely take home leftovers. My personal recommendation would be to try the cous-cous... it's the best I've ever had... anywhere. The appetizer sampler is so large that two people could easily eat it as an entire meal! I've had several types of kabobs, the shistawook, the schwarma... and have never been disappointed. One time, I left my Blackberry (I know, shame shame!) but went back after they had closed and one of the servers had saved it in the kitchen and it was returned to me. The relief! Thank God for honest servers! Due to the "intimate" size of the restaurant (coupled with the incredible food) the wait is sometimes a little long, and sometimes parking is not so great, but once again... it's completely worth it. Oh... and don't leave your leftovers in your trunk -- your car will smell like garlic for weeks.
(5)
Rob B.
I try to reserve my 5-stars for places I genuinely love. I went here with a friend for his birthday. A party of 12. We were seated easily (although comfort was a bit of an issue) and timely. The hummus was phenomenal. The cous-cous was also stellar. My friend got some sort of lamb-shank that was to die for. The lentil soup was excellent. The wine was well paired and not grossly inflated, value wise. My only grievance with them is the abundance of cucumbers in everything, but even they are at least the higher quality English Cucs.
(5)
Paula K.
This was our second visit and it wont be our last! The lentil soup and garlic dipping sauce that comes out before you have have a chance to take your jacket off is fantastic! Very attentive service - I love the small somewhat noisy atmosphere of this place. The Falafel is amazing, the sauces they use are so good and the hummus, well.....I did everything on my plate in it! Be prepared to leave with take home, the portions are huge. Also, be prepared to brush your teeth several times before bed, the garlic is thick and stays with you all night (but so worth it). Great Baklava too!
(5)
Kazuo O.
I had to go to catch up on some work on a Saturday so I decided to order take out to the office. I ordered the Beef Shawarma and thought it was not bad. I'm not used to eating any kind of Middle Eastern type food so the taste was new to me. I don't think I liked it well enough to make me come back again but who knows. I liked the big portions though. I always feel like I'm getting my moneys worth when I walk out with a heavy bag of food.
(3)
Tialen K.
What can I say, we keep going back. I really like the daja mishwi, and the lamb coucous (spelling??) If you are into garlic, chicken, lamb and beef.. this is your place. (their humus is really good to.. and this is from someone who didn't think he liked humus!
(5)
You W.
I've been coming here for YEARS and it's my go to spot in Bellevue. Whenever I'm in the area you will find me here for lunch or dinner. The place is small so if you have a group of 4 or larger definitely call for a reservation. Parking can be a problem, but there is a parking lot behind and to the north if full. Service and food is great and very consistent. As others have mentioned this place has huge portions and is for garlic lovers. Favorite Dishes: Zahar: My fav appetiser Humus: Very well done. Lot's of tahini flavor! Farmer's Dish: Chicken wings in a lemon, garlic, herb marinade covered in tahini sauce served over amazing saffron rice. My favorite if I'm willing to deal with the mess. Not good if you're on a date. Shish Tawook: Same marinade and style as the Farmer's dish, but sliced chicken breast instead of winds. Chicken Shawarma: Very flavorful and lots of herbs. Lamb Shawarma: I'm not a big fan of Lamb, but my friend ordered this and made me try it... It was amazing! The lamb was not gamey at all and actually tasted like beef. Spinakopita: Very well done. Super flaky and crispy. Sometimes can be a little greasy. They also just opened a lunch only spot in Kirkland as well. This place is nice for a grab and go, quick fix. Prices are a couple bucks less. Same food, smaller portions, but still plenty. Would recommend the Bvue location. Kirkland just isn't the same...
(5)
Shaarwari S.
Used to be my favorite haunt but the food has slipped up in a way that is just unacceptable. When garlic crush across the street which is more fast food starts tasting better you have to start fixing something.
(2)
L Eldub W.
Prerequisites: (1) Take everyone you plan to kiss, hug or otherwise fondle within 24 hours with you. The only way to gain an immunity to garlic-reek is to consume it yourself. (2) Ask yourself "do I really like garlic?" If not, don't go. (3) Ask yourself "am I going to get bitchy because everything is covered in garlic sauce?" If so, don't go. The soup they put in front of you as soon as you sit down should set the tone. Notice the little bite? Garlic. See the bread and the sauce they put on the table for you? Garlic. This is also a trap. Once you eat this, you can't get up and go elsewhere because you now reek. Just deal with it and persevere. You should have an appetizer. It won't ruin your ability to finish your entree because you never had a chance of finishing it in the first place. I like the Zahrah (fried cauliflower). Give it a try. You pretty much can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Oh, and the service. Fantastic. Very attentive, but not too in-your-face. Enjoy!
(4)
Calvin M.
It's a weak four stars. The place is very nicely decorated, but a little too small and stuffy. We sat by the door and people waiting for a table would be standing right by our table. The meal comes with a lentil soup and naan. The soup was great. Although the naan was store bought, it was still good. It came out piping hot. I ordered the mint iced tea ($3.5). I was great and came with free refills. Here's what we ordered: Lamb Kabob ($19). The plate was huge. It could have fed both of us. It came with rice pilaf, grilled purple cabbage/onion, and grilled lamb. The lamb portion was o.k. But they really piled on the rice. Kibby ($9). It came with six kibby. A small oval shape of fried lamb about the size of a grape. It came with a serving of hummus and lots of rice. This dish was a little disappointing. The kibbies were so small, I essential paid $9 for a huge plate of rice and hummus. Overall, the food was good and the portions were plentiful. The total bill was $35, before tips. I would come back here occasionally, but not too often. It was a little too expensive for me.
(4)
matt m.
Everything in this place is on point! It's a bit small, but that shouldn't take away from their grade. The portions are astoundingly large. The menu has a great variety for almost any palette i had the lamb shwarama, and it was FANTASTIC. I'll be going back man times.
(5)
Marina H.
I grew up having Mediterranean cuisine, and admittedly have high standards to begin with. And to be short and candid, large quantities of vinegar and lemon in almost every meal don't equal Mediterranean cuisine. Plates are huge, food mediocre, place small, parking scarce. I won't be back
(1)
R J.
The food was out of this world! Excellent! I had the lamb shawarma and every bite was filled with flavor and richness. Just ridiculously good!! Besides it being good, the portions were humungo! I tested myself and see if I could finish it all but failed! The meal was very filling, I took the rest home and chomped on it later!!! My friend had raved about this place a while back but just never got the chance to go in. Boy was she right! The place was packed for lunch and it seemed like with many regulars! If you are into this type of food, med. kitchen is THE PLACE!!!
(5)
Dave W.
First of all, no one goes to Bellevue from Seattle for good dining. Seattle is not lacking and Bellevue is awash with restaurant/bar chains and other gems like PF Changs (3000 mg of sodium please). But since being clued into Mediterranean Kitchen (MK), I have not hesitated to make the trip over the bridge. What everyone says about it is true: the portions are ridiculous, the space is cramped and "social" and there is equal garlic to rice. I actually woke up the next morning and my breath still tasted like garlic and I have excellent oral hygiene. Ordered (for 4 HUNGRY people) 1 Mezza Tray 1 "Farmers Dish" (wings, but not like bar wings) Thats it. We still had leftovers. I am 6'6" and 220 lbs and I ran for seven miles an hour and a half before with this meal in mind. Unfortunately, there is a split plate charge, but the meal still came out to $14 a person and we were at our limit. We always try something new when we go there, with the exception of the Mezza tray. You must get the Mezza tray. Our recent pick of the "Farmers Dish" was a great decision too. I doubt many people order this because, lets face it, it is wings. How good can they be. It is like ordering a Philadelphia roll at Shiro's. You just don't do it. But the claim that these wings date back generations was enough to sway us, and we have been through almost all the menu anyway. The wings were amazing, and so flavorful. They were perfectly marinated and sauced and lacked nothing. The rice they were served on was also delicious, soft yet firm, like a toothsome risotto. If you are in a long term relationship or are single and don't care about garlic seeping from every pore in your body, then go here with your significant other and marvel at the serving size. And bring friends too. UPDATE: I have been here about ten more times since writing this, including getting Mezza Trays for takeout. And it is still awesome.
(5)
Jennifer S.
Heavy, but AMAZING food. We had our wedding day gathering here and everyone was thoroughly impressed and satisfied. It's a small place but they were able to accommodate our 20 or so guests, and did a great job of it, I might add. Worth the wait on a Saturday night, as well. Note: Must love garlic (They use even more than Garlic Crush across the street). Only wish they could get a bigger, more visible place. Also, "Mediterranean Kitchen" sounds like a casual lunchy place, while in fact they have a more elegant feel and could benefit from a name change to reflect this fact.
(4)
Sim M.
I moved from Midwest and once you've eaten at Lashish, the bar is raised quite high. The portions are big but bland. I'm still searching for good Mediterranean food, have tried Byblos Deli and IFC and found them better than this place.
(1)
Greg V.
It was just OK. The BEEF SHAWARMA ($11.50), or beef strips marinated in red wine vinegar, spices and garlic had WAY TOO MUCH ground coriander as the spice. It overwhelmed the flavor of the meat. Also, the dish has too many grilled onions, they also overwhelmed the taste. Finally, the HUMMOUS ($6.50), or mashed garbanzo beans with spices and tahini sauce, has WAY TOO MUCH lemon juice and tahini. I have made better hummous at home. In fact, my dining companion said that the hummous was off-color (it was too pale or white) due to using to much tahini.
(2)
S K.
Went to dinner last night with a couple of friends and we really enjoyed it! The complimentary garlic oil dip and lentil soup was a nice start and wonderfully quick. We started with the Mezza Tray which was really enormous. The baba ganoush was a standout and a great foil to the taboulleh and marinated veg. My friends liked the fried cauliflower and hummus as well. It was unfortunate that it all tasted so good, because I went through 2 entire pitas before our entrees arrived. Caloric overload anyone? We were going to order 3 entrees but the server warned us that we'd be good with just 2. We got the seafood couscous and the lovers sydon prawns. The seafood couscous was calamari, shrimp and bay scallops in a tomato sauce over couscous. Pretty good, but not as good as the charbroiled prawns over rice. Like the other posters have stated, their portions are huge and you'll likely be taking half of it to go. I couldn't stop eating the leftover couscous all night. I would get up in the middle of the night thinking about it. One thing though, the vegetables are cut in huge chunks. But it's probably a good thing as the need for cutting somewhat slows down the hoovering from the plate to my mouth.
(4)
Tatiana R.
I'm not going to talk about their food here, as by now it's obvious that it's one of the tastiest in the greater Seattle area. I want to talk about payment methods. Specifically, I want to advise you to always pay with plastic there, instead of cash, because they don't have any cash change-giving culture. Imagine, you have 2 $20 bills, and you want to pay for a $24 meal. First of all, it takes them forever to get you change, and when they finally do, it's $1, $5, and $10. This leaves you with a choice of either tipping them $1 (not really a choice) or $5 (over 20%). Now, maybe they're awesome and think they deserve an over-20%-tip, but I think it's pretty ballsy and rude to not give you a choice. Instead of getting all offended, I will just attribute it to the fact that it's Bellevue, and they just don't get cash-paying people often. Don't pay them with cash - QED.
(4)
Sarah M.
i havne't been here in a year, but i love it. short of my trips to stephos up in bc when i just have to eat moist lamb for 6 dollars, med kitch is my greek fix here in bellevue. the owner is suave, friendly and charismatic. the servers are very cute and very ogle-able. the portions are huge and i love their soups. it's a very small place, so expect an intimate eating time-but dont worry, it's so good and the vibe so chill that it makes for a fun night.
(5)
Amanda J.
Just got back from lunch there with my husband. We got their largest appetizer (Mezza Tray), and 2 (huge) veggie entrees. All for a whopping $40. My husband was very hungry and thought he needed all that food :) So we now have 3 to-go boxes, that will probably provide us with 2 more meals, for both of us. Service was excellent, totally willing to accommodate our dairy and meat free diets. He was also very knowledgeable about the menu and what goes into the food, and gave us extra pita to take home! Food was spectacular. The fried cauliflower included in the appetizer was TO DIE FOR. I hope to be able to return when I am not in such a hurry to get back to work from my lunch hour. Even if you have a fairly large appetite, an order of their Mezza Tray appetizer would probably be enough for a meal for 2 people.
(5)
Inder S.
I do not know if this is authentic Mediterranean or Lebanese food, but I like the food. People complain about the portions, but ever since I started coming here, I've asked them to replace the rice with a salad (at no extra charge). They bring the same dish on a bed of greens instead of rice. This makes the meal much lighter, although I still end up taking leftovers home. Replacing the rice is definitely one thing that makes the meal palatable for me (I couldn't bear to eat that much rice) - the other things I like are the hummus and the tahini sauce. The meat portions are huge, and the aforementioned tahini and hummus make it tasty. In the end, replacing the rice, the flavorful condiments, plus the huge portion makes it a good value meal for me. P.S: For people wondering if the meat is halal or not, some dishes have halal meat, others do not - just ask.
(4)
Kimon T.
This place is amazing. Maybe just the best restaurant on the east side? best mediterranean restaurant on the west coast? Go hungry and you will not be disappointed. In fact, you will have left overs. If you like lamb, you have no choice but to order the leg of lamb. Carnivores, next up, try the shawarmas. If for some reason you still resist... go for the foul mudammas & hummus.
(5)
Rosa C.
I love mediterranean food and this place does it right! i found med kit through yelp and decided to check it out with some of my friends. the restaurant is a bit small but as soon as you get seated, you get pita bread and lentil soup as a complimentary appetizer. i recommend the falafel and the combo shwarma. the dishes are HUGE so they're good to share as family style. i would have given it 5 stars if it weren't for difficult parking and the frequent long waits. the food though is definitely 5 stars!
(4)
B W.
Had a Greek colleague in town, who spent decades working around the Mediterranean, and decided that this might be a good choice. And it was. This is a fairly small place with a fairly casual atmosphere. We ate early, and were a little surprised when the place filled up with a number of larger parties. The fellows running the room were very knowledgeable and efficient. Before we ordered our lamb shawarma and Moroccan lamb couscous, a delicious lentil soup was set down for us. When two heaping platters of food arrived, we assumed the order had come to the wrong table. We were mistaken. Each order could have fed a family (and I ended up eating the left overs for several days.) Would definitely consider sharing next time. A very good kitchen, great service, and a nice atmosphere.
(4)
Ernie F.
Makes other food taste like packing material. Lots of flavor in everything, but not annoyingly like some kind of toxic crop dusted Doritos. Wait to get in... they'll fill you up and you'll love them for it.
(4)
Coki B.
LOVE the food and the portions are GIGANTIC. prepare yourself for blissful food-coma.
(4)
Mason M.
If I had never had good mediterranean food before, I would have been satisfied. But I had and so I was not. Totally not authentic. If you think this place is amazing, check out Omar al L\Khayyam in Renton or Aladdin's place in Silverdale. Then you'll have something to compare it to. I will say, HUGE portions and decent prices.
(2)
Lulu T.
This place is small, but their food portions are very large. Ordered the chicken shawarma, beef shawarma and falafel appetizer. The meals also came with pita bread and salad. The flavors are garlicky and good. Could have probably ordered one for two people. Will be eating leftovers for several days. I really wanted to comment on the service at this place. It was outstanding. The servers were very friendly and nice. They did not seem pushy at all and they were very helpful even during the dinner rush. Can't wait to go back and try other dishes!
(4)
Ivan B.
The restaurant is on the side of a strip mall walking distance from Bellevue square. Parking may be challenging at times but there should be tons of parking a block away. The ambiance is average and somewhat cramped. The place gets busy! Service is average - not great but not bad by any means. The food is awesome, and you get a lot of it. The main course can satisfy any appetite - a mountain of rice and meat, generously flavored with tahini sauce and humus. You get a soup with your dinner, which is in included in the price of main course; the soup was not to my taste but my wife really liked it. Overall - tasty and plentiful food, decent service, good selection. Definitely one of my favorite places in Bellevue.
(4)
Janet T.
WOW. The portions are huge and the food is fabulous! I'd go at least once a week if I wasn't watching my figure! lol. The food is truly authentic and the price is reasonable. I've been frequenting this place for over 5 years now and everytime I go back the food tastes exactly the same.. The atmosphere here is very cozy and intimate and the wait staff are very attentive and super friendly. If you love garlic and i mean lots of garlic then this place is for you. Just remember to bring gum or breath mints with you because you'll need one or maybe 5 to take the taste out of your mouth but its so worth it! Makes me sooooo hungry just thinking about the shishtoowook (sp) at Mediterranean Kitchen!
(5)
Karma W.
Had a wonderful dinner...first time there. Little crowded and music was too loud but the food...the best ever. Come hungery and hope you like garlic...cant wait to check the one out in Kirkland now.
(5)
Srivathsan V.
Easily the best Spinakopita and Falafils I've ever heard. The place is small, warm and well set.
(5)
Sharon K.
I'm gonna sound like I'm imitating the previous review listed below mine but WOW. This place is so awesome! I tried it for the first time last year during lunch with a friend. You wouldn't expect much just looking at the place but walking in, you knowwww that you are going to get good food. All the tables are packed in this semi-tight location. I wasn't sure what to get so I got the same thing as my friend. I had fun looking at what other people ordered and built up an appetite by the time my food arrived. The portion was very generous. I knew that the smell would probably be absorbed into my clothes, hair and skin but it was well worth the food!
(5)
Rachel H.
Robert T in Kirkland - who said Greek? Lebanese! And it *ROCKS*!
(5)
Janell U.
YUMMY YUMMY YUMMY. This food rocks. I have been going there for many years and many more years to come.
(5)
Peter B.
The food here is to die for and the leftovers will keep you fed for days.
(5)
S P.
This restaurant makes driving to Bellevue totally worth it! Some good friends of mine practically dragged me across the bridge to eat a this place and I have never looked back! Start with the Mezza tray--Amazing! Last time we were there we ordered the Farmer's Dish (or something like that) it was these incredible chicken wings served over some delicious rice. My favorite part about this restaurant is the size of its entrees, we go with four people--all of us with good appetites--and order the Mezza Tray and one entree and we are full--WITH LEFTOVERS!
(4)
Linda L.
Not as good as it used to be...
(3)
Carmel P.
Their motto should be: Because, sometimes you want some food to go with your garlic. Don't get me wrong though, because I loooove garlic. Seating is prompt--if there is an open table (restaurant is rather small)--but they are always very apologetic if you are made to wait. Sometimes I feel compelled to order something other than shish kabobs, but they are so delicious and not bone dry like other places, that I usually end up ordering them
(4)
Pete B.
We went here for a dinner before a movie and the place was packed by 6pm - make a reservation! I had the Farmer's Dish - basically chicken wings with a spicy, yogurty sauce on saffron rice - wow. The lentil soup was also great.
(4)
Wander L.
My husband and I went here on a Friday night for dinner on a friend's recommentdation. Within minutes of our being seated, hot lentil soup, pita bread and a garlic-vinegar-oil dip were presented to us. We raised our eyebrows a little at the entree prices before ordering some chicken shawarma and fool moudamas. But when we saw the portions on the other tables, we realized we were paying for two meals (the half we'd have at the restaurant and the half we'd take home). So it was ok. We expected the food to be nice, but it was amazing! As soon as we took our first bite, we simultaenously looked at each other in amazement. On top of the food, our server was really warm and attentive without being obtrusice. It was a fantastic experience!
(5)
Monica R.
Came here for dinner on New Year's Eve this year...good thing I was hungry! Once you are seated, they serve complimentary lentil soup and pita with garlic dipping sauce. When your meal comes out, your eyes will be in shock. As people have mentioned, the portions are HUGE. After eating the soup and pita, everyone at my table only managed to eat 1/4 of their plate. The lamb schwarma was delicious! Be prepared to have leftovers for days :)
(4)
vidhu t.
I have been to Med Kitchen a number of times ...but somehow missed to write a review. A good place to treat yourself for some good food...Firstly the parking is always easy to find here. Second if you are a group of 4 or more you can make a reservation over the phone...saves you some wait time.The wait time can be longer over the weekends. Its a very dim lit place with tables really close to each other. Once you are seated u get some warm pita bread with a dip....which is great...but....but..Go SLOW on those pita coz a huge meal is still to come!! Each entree comes with a soup..which is usually ok. I always want to try something new here...but l love the chicken Shawarma so much that i end up ordering it always. One thing to remember before you order is that the portions are really huge I would recommend sharing it with some1 or split 1 entree between 2. They do charge you for sharing a plate though !!:( I have tried the kafta kabob,combination kabob which were good too . I would definitely recommend this place to my friends.The service is very good and polite. But go with a voracious appetite and enjoy the meats !!
(4)
Sameer A.
So really, what is the big deal about garlic? I mean, I understand that its a fine fragarant thing to add to your food. But I really do not get all all the cheering that happens everytime emeril adds some garlic to whatever it is that he is cooking. Similarly, how can the selling point of a restaurant be the vast amounts of garlic that they manage to place on your table? So yeah, the lentil soup was good, slightly tart, garlicky but good. The same cannot be said about the kafta kebab that I had. The ground beef was grilled okay though not great. It was served on a huge bed of what was .. surprise.. garlicky rice. So far so good. The problem however was the overabundance of this tart tahini sauce that the entire platter was doused with. It completely overwhelmed everything else on the platter except for.. you guessed it.. the garlic. The portions as everyone else says are huge. The service was good, but the food was quite frankly mediocre.
(3)
Swagato C.
Decent food and quick service .. A bit too crampy space Good value for price
(3)
Len M.
Fabulous food in a busy atmosphere. There is so much delicious food on the table you just wonder what to eat first. Leftovers will feed us for another day!
(5)
Tomas K.
The food is okay. Certainly a ton of it (or rather a ton of rice), but doesn't deserve, in my opinion a 4 or 5 star. In Mediterranean restaurants I always expect the olive oil to be excellent. And believe me don't try the oil that is on the table... It is totally burned-out and taste terrible... If you want to get some good oil, I guess you need to ask for it. The Lamb kebab is pretty good. The service is very good and the relative small place makes it "homey".
(3)
gary g.
damn, that's some goooood hummus! and frigging HUGE plates of food! you can definitely share. the mixed platter was amazing! the chicken kabobs were to die for. of course, you are going to STINK of garlic for a day after you eat here, so make sure to get some beforehand. because afterwards, wooooooooh! btw, the gyros are nasty.
(4)
Bruce E.
I wouldn't say avoid this place like the plague, as that would be insulting to the plague. Having a Mediterranean wife and having lived and visited a few Mediterranean countries, I looked forward to an evening with the family at the Mediterranean Kitchen, after all, it has a lot of good reviews. Too bad those who rated this place apparently didn't understand that Mediterranean (in this case Lebanese) food IS supposed to be edible. I ordered the Beef Shawarama. Realizing there are many ways to prepare a shawarama, I'm not as concerned about presentation or what specific ingredients are or are not used. My issues are that the meat was overcooked to the point of being flavorless and tougher than leather. (Leather would have been preferred, as it would have tasted better.) In an apparent attempt to cover up the fact the meat had no flavor, it was doused in spices to the point it was very gritty to chew. I like grilled vegetables, which came in the pile (no presentation of the food - only a pile). Unfortunately, I couldn't eat them, as they, too, had the thick coating of spices. I give my one star to our waiter. Not outstanding, but not bad either. As I ate virtually nothing on my plate, I think he knew better than to ask if everything was okay. But, he did ask me if I wanted a box. I said yes, conveniently left the box on the table, and fled as quickly as possible to avoid being chased by the waiter with the box and having to have it smell my car for months to come.
(1)
Alice C.
I agree with some of the reviewers..the garlic is a bit too much. Don't get me wrong, I love garlic, but the amount of garlic they use just kill the flavor of the food. I wasn't a big fan of the hummus too. All I could taste was garlic and not the true flavor of how hummus should be. I will go back to the restaurant with friends though since people I know seem to love it. Be prepared to almost always take left overs home. The portions are humongous!
(3)
M K.
We were brought lentil Soup and pita to start which were good. The portions were all generous - we split an appetizer mezze plate and couldny't finish it all! It was all very fresh and tasty. I will for sure go back for more! The place is very tiny and I was there for lunch so I can see how dinner might get crowded quickly.
(4)
Jonathan M.
Just went for the first time last night. Loved it!! You get served soup, fresh, hot pita bread and dipping sauce within seconds of arriving, and the wait staff is fast, knowledgeable, and very friendly. When the food arrived, it was, as many others here have noted, incredibly tasty, perfectly seasoned, and generously portioned. This is obviously a business run by folks who care about food, not another chain serving bland copies of popular fare. I'll definitely be back. Only downsides: the house music is a little loud, and the view is nothing to write home about. A lot of folks seem to think there's too much garlic, but my meal didn't have that much. If you don't like garlic--well, don't order a dish that's seasoned with a lot of it, or just ask your waiter about it. Problem solved!
(4)
Singto K.
Generous portions and very flavorful, this is a good Mediterranean spot!
(4)
Jen R.
If you order a dinner... please please no matter how much you normally eat, split it with someone. The portions are HUGE. Not to mention the moment you sit down you are served yummy pita type bread with a giant bowl of garlic dipping sauce.. . AND lentil soup! The soup has great flavor that reminds me of the feast at the Hare Krishna Temple down in Laguna Beach. That may not sound appetizing, but to me its a wonderful compliment. Very good fast, and friendly service. I made the mistake (but couldn't resist) to get a "side" of hummus, which to my dismay was served in a large bowl with more pita. Probably the same amount of hummus you would get in a container at Costco! So when dinner arrived i was not hungry.. needless to say all the food came home with me and was slowly devoured over the next 3 days. GO! You will not regret it!!
(5)
Sara M.
Food is amazing! Authentic! The portions are huge, but you get to eat for another day! Great service, great food! The only thing that could be better would be the size of the restaurant. If they expanded, they could be making a ton of money. Well worth the wait in line though!
(5)
Dan W.
More quantity does not mean better food. A very cramped restaurant, I was blown away that this place is not that good based on the reviews. We both had chicken dishes that probably weighed 10lbs each. I may still come back, but direct them to do something with the dishes.
(2)
Steve M.
Did you know most of the garlic grown in the US comes from Gilroy, CA? And did you know most of that garlic ends up being used in the Med Kitchen? Well, I'm half-joking. But the Med Kitchen is an incredible restaurant, especially if you are avoiding vampires. The entrees (chicken shwarma, especially) are terrific, and the appetizers divine (make sure to order the cauliflower, it's amazing.) Even the lentil soup and basic green salad (with lots of garlic dressing) is superb. Plus you end up with enough food for another 2 or 3 meals afterwards. If you can make it to desert, the baklava is incredible, but make sure you get turkish coffee with it to wash it down. Both locations are good, but I'm an Eastsider so I tend to go to the Bellevue location.
(5)
M D.
Love, love, love the food. The Bellevue venue is quite, quite crowded, which I don't like. The owners have opened a little place in a Totem Lake West strip mall, with a different concept (very low prices). They do a great takeout business and the food quality is consistent with the Bellevue site. I'm very happy they're here in Kirkland area.
(3)
Malcolm L.
Great Mediterranean comfort food but be warned the portions are huge!
(4)
Carrie W.
Very good food. Huge portions. Friendly staff. Price reasonable. The only reason I wouldn't give it a 5 is because it's not 5-star worthy in regards to ambiance.
(4)
meiling s.
Full of flavors! Can't wait to go back.
(4)
Jeff J.
Honestly, couldn't have been better... My girlfriend, my kids and I went here around 5:30 on a Saturday night - not busy yet and that was the plan. We started with the Meza Plate to let the kids try a bit of everything offered therein and they loved almost all of it...I loved it all!! (I can't help that they don't like pure parsley) The two kids split the Combo Shish and the gf and I the Lamb Shwarma...OMFG! That's about all we can say - yes, yes the portions are huge and we walked out with at least a whole meal's worth of food but so what? The rice? Tasty. The veggies? Tasty. The lamb? Tasty. The Kafta? Tasty...everything was on point. Our glasses were never wanting of lemonade or soda... Our server Patrick (?) was amazing and picked up on our moods and allowed us to joke around and have fun...the kids loved it! We will be back, we will tell friends, we will Yelp, we will eat the leftovers! Go to this restaurant! (so full...can't...write...any...more...)
(5)
Yiling W.
Summary: -tasty, but large portions (correspondingly expensive) -order family-style -service could be improved -call ahead for groups Just went here last night on the recommendation of my s.o.'s work friend. Yes, it turned out to be delicious fare (different in ethnic style, but comforting in my meat-and-potatoey couscous choice). Certainly it was more expensive than it had to be, but you probably could feed a small family with one entree, not to mention the complimentary flatbread and chickpea soup beforehand. Service was well-intentioned but lax. It would've been very useful for them to mention when we ordered stewed lamb couscous that it would take a full 30 minutes to stew. Instead, I think he only thought to mention it when he overheard me saying maybe we should just leave (after seeing dozens of other tables' dishes whiz past us). They also forgot to even try soliciting a drink order out of us, which we found odd. When my couscous dish came I fretfully searched all around with my fork to find the couscous, but they had appropriately meant for it to come on a separate plate, (so as to mix it perfectly without it being soggy --the way it should be) it just could've come a few minutes earlier..but when I had my delicious fall-apart lamb, carrots, potatoes and eggplant (and inexplicably, an entire onion?!) swimming in stewy sauce atop couscous, I declared it had been worth the wait. I've also heard you want to call ahead to get a table in the small space, but we had no trouble sitting down right away without calling. We felt bad enough about not finishing leftovers (more than half of each our dishes) if we went to a movie that we cancelled plans and went home with the to-go boxes. That's ok, we had leftovers for the rest of the weekend.
(3)
Greg G.
Get there early. I got there at 5:30pm, and there was a long wait by the time I was done on a Monday night. Food was good...very flavorful. Like the other posters said, it was a ton of food. I ate way too much. Took home my leftovers and ate way too much the next night. It was enough food for two people easy, but there's a pretty hefty split plate charge.
(4)
Tia S.
I was ecstatic after my first visit here!! I was eating kibbeh and baba ghannoush, all foods I know and love! After a few visits though (say 3 or 4) I started getting turned off. The portions are not just big their absolutely ridiculous. Sure you can pack it to take home but then you're eating it for lunch and dinner the next two days -- ok i exaggerate a little, but c'mon! It got even crazier when I ordered the couscous (plate for 6?) Also, they over-do it a little with the sauce on some of their dishes. Don't get me wrong: I love this place. But I'd rather come here as little as once a year. Once so I don't completely forget it. I wish it weren't against their rules to order only appetizers -- that would suite me! Losing all the points due to portion sizes -- that only leads to more food wastage and that's last thing we need in North America
(3)
Michael W.
So this Mediterranean Kitchen sister still has it together. Been going here for over 15 years and the service and food is always impeccable. Bassam, the manager/owner is the coolest guy and remembers me and my wife from our first visit here at the age of 15. The ambience of this place is nice for being right on Bellevue Way. Only wish this place was a little bigger. Get the Farmer's Dish. You can't go wrong with all those wings in garlic sauce.
(5)
Cameron W.
Been there a few more times since my yelp about this place. The food is still awesome. Service is still the same for me! Maybe its just me.... =)
(4)
The-Hoa H.
I yelped a bunch of reviews about this place...and after seeing nothing but good reviews I decided to give it a try. Went here for dinner with my girl and a friend last night. First thing we noticed was the embeance of the restaurant, although small...it was dim lit and very comfortable. The waiters were cordial and attentive. The outside of the restaurant doesn't seem to stick out much....I've driven by it a million times without even noticing it...so most likely the amount of customers we saw are from word of mouth advertising...which is always a great sign...The appetizer was on the house....some bread with garlic dip, and bean chili....The three of us shared the beef shawarma and shish shawook or something with the chicken....the portions are HUGE! We couldn't even finish it all and had to take about half of it home. It was delicious and came out at a very reasonable wait time, and price. Will definately be back in the future to try out their lamb!
(4)
Mark F.
I have eaten here and in their Queen Anne restaurant for over 10 years. The food is amazing and the owners and staff are fantastic people. For my last meal on Earth, I would head here. The Dajaj Mishwi is amazing. In fact, I'm heading over this week. Their wine list is pretty good too.
(5)
Chris S.
I got takeout there. While I was waiting, they offered me water and *a bowl of soup*. Seriously. Found with Yelp and it didn't disappoint. Not one bit. One reason I'm glad our regional office got moved from Seattle proper to Bellevue.
(5)
Lynn C.
Why do people rave about this place like it's going out of style? I don't get it it. The highlight is probably the lentil soup served as an appetizer to everyone. And yes, the food in general is tasty and I might return again. But you've gotta wonder when it's served within 10 minutes and the portion size is big enough to feed a family of 4 (not exaggerating), is it really high quality mediterranean cuisine? Me thinks not.
(3)
Pam J.
This place is good for fast-food. Not enough vegetables although the servings are HUGE
(3)
Molly F.
I'm surprised that this is reviewed so highly. I've been here about 5 times, and never found anything that I really enjoyed. I'm usually a big fan of dolmas, but there's were pretty disappointing. Most of their dishes seem to be too salty and just generally off-tasting. My favorite part of my meals is usually the mint tea, which is actually pretty good. I'd try Meze in Kirkland instead if you're looking for great Mediterranean food.
(2)
kimberly l.
I have been wanting to try this place for awhile. We were seated right away but they filled up quickly. The food was amazing, nice options on the menu and the portions were beyond plenty! We shared an entree and still had plenty of left overs. You must love garlic as I still have garlic coming out my pores as I write this. I will for sure be heading back to sample the rest of the menu!
(4)
Trevor R.
I haven't actually been to the restaurant, but my company ordered lots of take-out from here one night. Once I accepted the fact that I would stink from all the beloved garlic, the food was delicious. The place was chosen by a coworker from Lebanon that said this is the only Lebanese restaurant he'd recommend in town. The salad, shish tawouk (chicken and rice), veggie kibbi (fried balls of cracked wheat stuffed with veggies in yogurt), hummus, and pitas were all excellent. I can't wait to try dining in.
(5)
Al H.
The food is OK but a little too much garlick on everything. If you want to eat great medeteranian I would reccomend the place accrose the street - The Garlick Crush
(2)
Christian P.
food is absolutley amazing, great staff very attentive, hidden gem especially on valentines day super accomidating, even gave my girl a rose, huge portions...best damn lamb ive ever had!
(5)
Vatsal B.
Great good, knowledgeable staff. their appetizer sampler rocks.
(5)
ben h.
this place has become a staple of my bellevue diet. a shining star amongst the many souless (sp?) chains of the bellevue corporate machine. everything here is good. order whatever suits your fancy. i love the lamb kebab. just make sure you bring your third stomach. they serve A LOT of food. oh...and maybe bring breath mints...the garlic will kick your ass for hours...
(4)
Chris C.
I recently moved to Bellevue and discovered this little gem after a month or two. This is now probably my favorite restaurant I've EVER eaten at. Great atmosphere. superb service, EXCELLENT food. This place has it all.
(5)
Kimberley D.
Yum. It isn't cheap ($10 for a lunch entree) but the portions are so huge that one entree is really two. Everything I've tried here has been awesome, particularly the spanakopita (although they spell it spinakopita? hm.)
(5)
Marco D.
I stopped by for lunch and had the Lamb Sharwarma. The flavors spices and flavors were great. I wish that my lamb came with more lamb and less rice. The food was delicious and a very good value for the money. I would definitely recommend this place.
(4)
Gena U.
Yeeeeum. Came in for a late dinner and it was full of diners. Snagged a table that wasn't very close to any others (how could people on a romantic dinner of 2 be inches away from another party. that sucks) and started in on my book. The waiter brought me soup and pita and dip before ordering. If you like lentils, you'll like the soup. I did. The pita was fresh but the dip reminded me of salad dressing and wasn't anything remarkable. Ordered the combination kebab. Loved the lamb, liked the chicken, said eh to the kafta. The rice was overly salty. Even though it's an abundant resource does not mean you need to over season my food with it. The hummus was respectable, but again, not worth my effort eating - and covered with parsley. Again, no need to over do it. The meat stood alone as delicious, and merits the full four stars. OK service, the waiter was quick and helpful, although he swapped my credit card with another man's (and mine has a picture of me on it). Whoops. But no matter. Just make sure not to go to the mediterranean place across the street. Don't miss this one.
(4)
Tu D.
I think this is the first 5 star i giving. I been going to this place for at least 5 years now and they have been always consistent. How do i know? I have always order the same thing hehe. The lamb shawarma, its so good i don't really want to order anything else and i am a guy who loves to try different dishes. I have try the Salmon dish, but i still like the lamb and beef if you are a meat eater like me. Like everyone said, its going to be a big meal and you probably not going to finish it unless your Joey Chestnut. You want to split it if you going as a couple or group. Don't try to finish it on your own its just not enjoyable. The dishes here you definitely want to eat there at the restaurant, i had it as leftovers and it wasn't that enjoyable. Also, this place is a good place to take your date. It has that romantic little italian restaurant feel to it like in the movies.
(5)
Clint W.
I picked this place after reading the Yelp reviews. It has consistently received high marks so I thought it was time to give it a whirl. It's a small place in a strip mall that I drove past once before I finally found it. I was glad to find a parking lot in the back and since I was a bit late, I hustled on in. Small....really small. Staff greeted me quickly and when my friend walked in, we had small bowls of soup on the table in the blink of an eye. There were quite a few things I was interested in trying and it took us quite a bit to settle on dinner. I was peeking at the tables around us and saw huge platters of food, so we decided we had best skip apps and go right to the entrees. She tried the seafood couscous and I ordered the Algerian chicken. Mounds of food appeared quickly and we dove in. I really enjoyed all the goodies hidden in my entree but will admit that her seafood was a little overcooked and dried out. The amount of garlic didn't tip me over, but you had better enjoy it if you come here. For the amount of food we received, I thought it was quite a good deal. We both walked out with about half our entrees left and it made for lunch and a bit more for me. Service was both friendly and prompt. I'll have to come back again when I'm monster hongry and even in that state of mind, I'm not sure I could polish a whole entree off.
(4)
Arjan Singh N.
Awesome place. I had the Chicken Shawarma and it was tasty as hell. Tip: Very large portions (good for 2 people). And wait for the andy's mints at the end! Tip2: make a reservation. We had to wait ~20 mins even on a thursday evening.
(5)
C M.
My favorite food in town. Succulent Lebanese cooking. Nothing is lacking in flavor at this restaurant! Given the HUGE servings, the prices make this a bargain since I always manage to take a doggy (Doberman sized!) bag home and savor the leftovers. I have been coming here for many years and will continue as long as they maintain such excellent standards of cooking and customer service.
(5)
Peg C.
It's true. The portion sizes are HUGE. The food is very tasty. You will reek of garlic for days. But the reason I only give the MK 2 stars (really, 2.5 stars) is because of the fine print on the menu that says you cannot just order appetizers. Also, there is a charge if you split an order. Have you seen the size of the entrees? Who in their right mind could eat a whole entree on their own? My sister-in-law and I found this to be very strange when we went there for dinner a few weeks ago. Like many gals, sometimes you love making a meal of appetizers. Often we skip the entrees and just order a bunch of appetizers. In the end, you end up spending just as much as ordering two entrees. We asked the waiter about it and he explained that it was not a place for just drinks and appetizers. That they were not a "lounge." Then he went to ask someone in the kitchen and came back and said it would be okay if we ordered the mezza tray and another appetizer. He did warn us that the mezza tray is really for a GROUP to share. But we wanted to try it and we also ordered the chicken souvlaki entree. We were like two small ants trying to tackle a huge MOUNTAIN of food. There was no room at all on our table for anything else once both platters came out. The mezza tray was GIGANTE and could easily have served four hungry people. The chicken was also HUGE. In the end, the waiter was VERY nice, polite and never rushed us at all. But even with the very good service and the tasty grub, we won't be going back because that no appetizer policy and the split plate fee is just WACK. Let your customers order what they want. There should not be a minimum order. If you provide quality food and good service, people will come back for more. Simple as that. We don't need these nickel-and-dime policies imposed on us.
(2)
Thomas L.
I'd give it a 5... yes I would if I could try more things and I wish the place was a little bigger. This is a mediterranean/lebanese joint off to the side from Bellevue Square... a couple blocks down. Seating for 30? We got the Lamb Shawarma and the Farmer's Dish. Let me tell you one thing: unless you can eat 4 bigmacs and 2 orders of fries, you will likely not finish an entree here. The portions are ginormous! The lentil soup and pita bread with garlic/olive oil/mystery dip were great. Only problem is the place is busy and small, so therefore you will wait in line. The good thing is they take your cell # down and will call you when a table is available. Overall, good food, generous portions and great value.
(4)
J G.
Very Yummy, humongous portions food. Have dined here off and on for the last 10+ years, and have never had a bad meal. These guys are the best. We no longer live in the state, but whenever we visit we will always try to make time to stop by for a meal.
(4)
Robin J.
We LOVED this place. Your meal starts with soup and this amazing lemon and garlic oil dip with pitas. We had the falafil appetizer (which would be a lovely whole meal for one person - 4 falafils. Then we shared (what would feed my whole family of 4 at home) the chicken shawarma. FABULOUS - and I mean wonderful. So tasty. Some of the best I have had and I travel all over the country for work. The saffron rice was very nice underneath. I took my hungry 17 year old boy and we still brought half of it home. Lovely (not huge but nice) wine list. I had a very nice Toscana Sangiovese. The interior is so cute - it is small so get there early. They take reservations for larger parties. We were there at 5:20 and had a few minutes wait. This would be a lovely date spot... We will be back.
(5)
Ema I.
This is by far the best Mediterranean food on the eastside. Good flavors, great selection (especially for vegetarians), and the absolute best spanakopita around. My only complaint is that it's a very small space, so the wait is sometimes off-putting and you can sometimes find yourself seated with a crowd of people waiting right behind your chair. On busy nights, calling in a takeaway order is definitely the way to go.
(5)
Ed Y.
took my gf here while she gets her car fixed at the fancy shumancy Barrier Volvo, got a seat right away on a saturday afternoon (2ish) which is probably the best time to arrive for a table on a saturday...took a previous advice about not sitting near the door and was very glad. I gotta be honest, the food was good (we got the first chicken item on the menu..forgot name)...and how awesome was the pita bread with garlic dipping sauce?! however, everything started tasting like lemon, garlic and cilantro near the end...next time I think i will ask for hummus on the side...and try the kabob instead of chicken
(3)
Ryan W.
I don't normally come to Bellevue, but with my parents in town for a conference, I decided to make the trip to the Eastside. We were looking for a good place to eat, and saw the overall rating for this place, and the 200+ reviews. We are a big fan of Mediterranean food, so we decided to give it a chance. This place is very, very, small and does not take reservations. Therefore, be prepared to wait outside for a table to open up (there is not any room inside to wait). The service is very good, but they are a little relaxed in taking names compared to bigger restaurants. I ordered the samaki hurrah (spicy salmon), and it was cooked perfectly. It just melted in my mouth and the rice complimented the dish. I would highly recommend this. While some people may be put off by the prices (aprox. $15 per meal), the dish sizes are enourmous and can easily serve 2-3 people. You will undoubtably go home with a to go box and some leftovers for the following day. All in all, this place is worth the trip to the Eastside and dealing with the traffic without a doubt. I highly recommend it.
(5)
Maylene K.
I have been coming here for the better part of six years, and oh-my-goddess is it good! I must admit that the first time I poked my head into its dark interior, I was a bit intimidated. I was young, naive, and uninitiated in the ways of Mediterranean food. I must say, though, that it was love at first bite. Really. From the lentil soup and pita bread to the HUGE entree portions (my favorite: shish tawook) and finally finishing with the baklava and Turkish coffee... I just knew this place would be a repeat performance. I have since happily dragged out-of-town friends and family to this place if only to watch them go through the same spate of reactions I had my first time, especially if they have never had Mediterranean or Lebanese food. Well worth the garlic reek for the next week. So I hold back one star only for the spotty service. When it's good, it's *really* good, but when it's not, well, at least it's not terrible, how 'bout that? No? Ok, well, what have you.
(4)
Danielle E.
My husband and I went here for dinner tonight after reading all the great reviews. We had stopped in another time, but they were packed. We got lucky this time. We tried making reservations, but they only take them for large groups. The food is absolutely AMAZING! We had the falafel and the combination kabob platter to split. I love that they bring you lentil soup plus the pita and garlic dipping sauce right when you sit down even before ordering. Like you are coming in from a cold, winter day and mom has a cup of soup ready and warm for you - very welcoming. The kabob platter was ideal for two people and you get a good sampling of all the different meats plus some hummus on the side. I really, really loved the Shish Tawook. For dessert, we had the baklava and turkish coffee, which is absolutely indescribable. The waiter said it had rose water and cardamom in it. It was the perfect ending to the meal. However, I wouldn't recommend going here with a person on a first date. The food is very garlicy to the point that you can still taste it the next day and wouldn't be the best for a first kiss. Although, both of you may not even realize the smell, but it is strong enough to ward off the cast of Twlight. Go - you won't regret it!
(5)
Dino D.
Have never eaten here, always takeout. Garlic overload and portions are for sharing. Shish tawook and salmon are our faves.
(5)
Hope N.
Best garlicy food ever! The daily soup is always served with your meal and its real good! We always get the farmers meal, lemon garlic chicken with rice and humus, sharable for two. The kibby appetizer is a favorite too, little lamb meat pockets served on top of garlic yogurt is ideal for dipping your pita. Getting one meal and sharing between two is always enough food but they sometimes charge a split plate fee, depending on how friendly your waiter is. Note: if you get food to go they sometimes give you salad instead of soup with your meal and they will only give you one portion of soup/salad per entree, like one person is going to eat all that food?!
(5)
Tony C.
If there were a Mediterranean Kitchen in Sunnydale, Buffy the Vampire Slayer would be out of a job. You'll come out smelling like garlic for days; it's fantastic (I love garlic)! Both lunch and dinner menu items come with lentil soup and pita bread with a garlic-vinaigrette type dipping sauce. If you are a first time visitor (and eat meat), I would suggest getting the "Combination Kabob" for lunch. You'll get a decent variety of what their different meats taste like: Kafta Kabob (beef) , Shish Tawook (chicken) and Lamb Kabob charbroiled with tomatoes and onions. "Algerian Chicken" is my favorite dish and only on the dinner menu. The chicken is extremely tender and juicer than most steaks. Be warned, the portions are large. They are good for 2, and possibly 3 people if you aren't looking to get completely stuffed. Mediterranean Kitchen is one of my favorite places in Bellevue. Everyone i've recommended it to also loved it, even Buffy.
(4)
Alfa Alyssa E.
I was reading the over 80 reviews on this restaurant and it's amazing how people's opinions vary and they always will. As for me, I love this place and I dream of going when it's been awhile since I've been. It is small and somewhat cramped. It would do something incredible for business should they move into a bigger space. The food is so, so good but I'll have to admit, there are many dishes there I have not tried yet. I usually order the Farmer's wings and it can get messy cause you can't really eat chicken wings with a fork and truly enjoy it.. But I really don't care. It's a nice little restaurant, not to mention in the heart of downtown Bellevue but I will use my hands to eat those chicken wings for maximum enjoyment. It is pretty pricey, I agree. But overall, it's worth it. I don't know if they still have Meditteranean Express down the street from Swedish Hospital but that place was also delicious!! They served a Farmer's wing meal also for about 1/2 the price. You did get salad, hummous, pita bread for that price and the portions were still generous. I don't make it to Seattle too often but gosh... My mouth's starting to water just thinking about those wings. I may have to make that drive across the bridge sometime before the end of this year. Will need to make sure that place is still open though. It was right above the QFC...
(5)
Jennie D.
Great lentil soup and pita bread with dip comes before every meal. As others have written, split your entree with your dinner partner. The food is more than enough for two people. And we wonder why Americans have an obesity problem...Seriously, the main entrees are HUGE! They charge $4.95 to split an entree, but that includes a huge salad to share. The sharwamas are really yummy. The seafood dish...meh... We were seated outside and a car horn was going off--forever. (We didn't complain as what can a person do?) One of the waiters found the car and pulled the fuse. Now that's service.
(4)
Dan P.
Lots of reviews on this place so I'll make my 2 cents short. Good food and lots of it; great service. Gotchas: - Relatively small place... not the best for big groups - Can be busy at lunch. I was seated right away but the guy behind me was told to come back in half an hour - Parking sucks. Lots of parking available a block north at the Bellevue Park
(4)
Aaron I.
4.5 Lamb shwerma dinner was magical, mmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!! By far not your atypical shwerma, this is a quaint Med spot with dishes that wake you up and then knock you out with a food coma. My new Bellevue spot, when i am forced to spend time in the Bell. Service is great and parking is easy.
(5)
Anne R.
One of our favorite repeat restaurants. Staff is always friendly and efficient. Food is always great. A garlic lovers heaven. Our favorite is chicken Shish Tawook. If you're tight on money but want the most for what you spend going out to eat, this is the place for mediterranean food!
(5)
Gina H.
Mediterranean Kitchen isn't even average or fair or even so-so. The "food" is absolutely AWFUL. LOL they give new meaning to the term "falafel". This dish consisted of charred hunks of tasteless crud squatting leadenly over a bag of limp grocery store mixed greens. There was no way to hide nor excuse it. Brave attempts to choke it down resulted in depressing failure for a falafel-lover. Not just falawful, falafoul. A few strings of brown stuff (ordered as lamb) that had the texture of leather boot-straps dotted the top of another entree; I cannot speak for similarity in flavor, since I have never eaten a leather boot-strap, but I'm willing to wager that the bootstrap would win the taste test. What these wee strings tasted of was non-taste save for an overpowering presence of raw garlic. It was as though someone had stood over the dish of tough stuff and used a garlic press over and over. As in tough, I mean NOT CHEWABLE TO SWALLOWING SUBSTANCE. I had to give up and remove the "lamb" to one side of the plate like discarded bubblegum. There was plenty of yellow-colored rice of similar flavor (none). The dishes were way expensive even had they been at all edible, which they weren't. The couple of tablespoons of Wishbone Italian salad dressings (it certainly wasn't "Good Seasons" :p) mixed with some grated cheese and served with what had to be the Wonder Bread brand of pita bread as a "complimentary starter" did nothing to smooth over the grisly (read "gristly) experience. The waiter didn't even ask us if we wanted a doggie bag, but just wordlessly grabbed up the shoved-aside remains and tossed a styrofoam box back down a couple of minutes later. We weren't thanked for our business or bid farewell. The staff just waited for us to get ourselves out of there so they could run some more grist through their customer mill. Mediterranean Kitchen is proof that newspaper reviews are successful, however; on the way out the door we spotted an article we recognized from years ago, and suddenly had the horrid recollection that this same article had coerced us there years ago and we had been grossed out that time, too. Talk about blocking past trauma. An odd side note, I was puzzled by this place being jam-packed, as bad it it was, even if the venue is exceedingly small, and long waits necessary to secure a table. By the way, there is no waiting area, even standing room. You're either in the place or out in the cold. No one in their right mind would go there twice, unless, like your poor forgetful Gina H., they've inadvertantly pulled the scab off of an old war wound.
(1)
Jenny F.
This place was a "10" all the way around. We went there for lunch today, and the service was excellent! Timely, courteous and fantastic waitstaff. The food was even better if that's possible. I ordered an appetizer plate of several Mediterranean items, and the plate was HUGE!!! The food was off the charts amazing; I felt like I was seriously dining in a foreign country at a famous restaurant with the level of design, presentation and quality of food/taste that they presented. I would love to shrink this place and hang it from my rearview mirror in my car and make orders every time I drive. :) Since that's not possible, I'll just keep going back whenever I can. If I were you, I'd GO HERE! They rock the Kasbah.
(5)
Hanna D.
It looks like I'm the only naysayer on Yelp, but nay say I shall. I read the menu online before going, and had my mouth set on beef shish kabobs. Here's the description: BEEF SHISH KABOB . . . . $16.95 Marinated top sirloin charbroiled to perfection with grilled onions and tomatoes. I was envisioning the usual shish kabob on a skewer, but what came was a giant plate completely (and I do mean completely--couldn't see the food underneath) covered in a thick beige sauce. Yuck! The menu doesn't mention it, as you saw. The meat was not in chunks, but in flat pieces. The tomato was a big slice, not shish kabob-like chunks. There was rice under there, but soaked in sauce. My dining companion's dinner was covered as well, but she had no complaints--she's been there before, and was sorry she didn't let me know so I could have asked for mine without sauce. I've had shish kabob many other places--the delicious grilled meat and veggies doesn't need "help" from goopy garlicky sauce. Also, and this is just my taste buds, the hummus seemed a little sour to me--maybe more lemon than I like. I'll stick to King Falafel, near where I live--no sauce covering the food, really good hummus, great falafel.
(2)
Bill M.
I struggled to find the unique piece of information for this review and landed on this...I should have walked from the Sheraton. Not very green of me. To the review: I have to agree with the other reviewers who were less enthused with this place. Don't get me wrong, the food is good. I'm not going to give up a 5-star for it, not yet anyway. The soup is very good. Small portion, definitely can taste the lemon. The dressing for dipping the pita is loaded with garlic and really just a Caesar dressing (to my palate). I had a tabbouleh salad that was good but not great. I had the Fool Madamous. It was very good, but different than I've had elsewhere. There is a noticeable amount of bay leaf, which was overpowering in some bites. The taste was as though there was a meat base to the dish, but it is listed in the Vegetarian section of the menu. The Lebanese wine recommendation was a good one. I sat outside which was very pleasant. The place was busy for a Tuesday night and can see how it would be very crowded on a weekend night (with the additional parking challenges noted by other reviewers). It was a bit pricey for this kind of food. All-in-all I'd say that this place is great if you're in the DT Bellevue area, but a drive over might not be worth it.
(3)
Jeff S.
One of the best places to eat in the Puget Sound, hands down. Not much really to say about this place that hasn't already been said, service is fast attentive and friendly. Atmosphere is great and the head of house runs a tight ship, never had to wait. The food is absolutely amazing. The price is a little on the high side but you will have more than enough leftovers for at least two more meals due to the large portions (so really the prices are a bargain). The only downside I can think of after 5 or 6 visits is that they do not have AC so in the summer it can be very muggy inside. But considering the region of the food it can add to the authenticity.
(5)
J P.
I love the food here. My fave that I nearly always order is shish tawook (grilled chicken kabobs); has a very garlicky, lemon flavor and is tender & delish. Comes with a yellow rice that I wish I knew how to duplicate at home. I've also had the fried cauliflower, served on a bed of greens; I think it comes with tzatziki & hummus? Can't remember, but it is really good and I did figure out how to make that one at home! It's nice to have someone else make it for me though. :)
(5)
Kristin M.
My husband's company gets lunches brought in from Med Kitchen all the time. I could always tell what days those were when he walked through the door. I could be upstairs and still smell the garlic. No lie. But then I became one of the converted. This place is friggin' awesome. I give it my very rare five stars because I find myself craving the divine spanakopita all the time. We introduced this place to two friends this past weekend. The guy part of the couple is a self-described big eater, and actually asked if we should order appetizers. I don't think our buddy believed us when we told him the portions were beyond-belief enormous. And they are beyond-belief enormous. Hubby and I got 4.5 meals out of our two entrees (two dinners, and then my lunch). It's not just the portion sizes, though. The prices are reasonable, the service is great and the food is fabulous. I'm not a lamb eater, so I can only speak to the Spanakopita (already mentioned) and the Chicken Shwarma (tender, tender, tender). Everything is just so flavorful, and yes, so garlic laden. Even the salad dressing has garlic in it. But it's worth the wide berth people will give you post-dinner. Trust me.
(5)
Allon F.
Personally I'm all about their Shish Tawook, a sizzling platter of chicken breast served with a mountain of rice, vegetables, and lots of garlic. If you are garlic lover than go to Mediterranean Kitchen. The starter lentil soup and salad are also quite tasty.
(4)
Flora C.
The dish portion is big and fair priced. The dishes are tasty but the vinegar flavor a little bit too much for me. I have a "MSG after taste" after the meal. The chicken dish was made with chicken breast and it is a bit dry. However, the beef dish is excellent (minute the after taste). The complementary soup and hummus are great. I will still revisit this restaurant some other days with new friends.
(3)
J T.
This was my first experience with shwarma and it was memorable. I craved lamb shwarma for months following. I recently had my 2nd taste of shwarma at another Seattle-based Mediterranean place and it was a huge disappointment. I live in Seattle and I would travel to Bellevue to have this shwarma again...
(5)
Charles D.
Wow! What great food. When you go - you have to, absolutely have to order the Farmer's Dish. Barbequed Chicken wings, with garlic sauce, hummus and wonderful rice. Of course, you'll get the pita and garlic sauce and have to order some nice wine. I loved it. (Can you tell).
(5)
Cliff N.
Hey DOT COM, this place is Da'Bomb! It was reccomended by those who ventured before I, and despite no RESERV, the friendly and eager waiter sat the three large and hungry men that we are and had come from afar, down to some nice lentil soup, hummus amongus, with garlicky dipping pita and so we paroused the med menu for tasty eats and treats! OMG, after ordering our Over-Sized dinner plates came with heaping amounts of meat and saffron rice, everything fresh and nice. Thier service was all over us and kept our glasses filled. After witnessing an Army Ranger and Big Texan unable to finish their "Swarma" and such, I realized that most folks were ordering one dinner and splittin it between themselves! My Algerian garlic laced chicken was 3 large breasts, plenty of veggymite greens and was priced reasonably, a killer deal when most places are downsizing! BTW- Iphone peps, check out the Urban Spoon app, it has the menu and reviewsof many a gastro interesante locales! The Hummus is sew GUUD that you can take it to go and is one of the best I've tasted in the WEST! BabaG'Noush 'it
(4)
Melissa S.
I love this place! The service is friendly, quick, and they serve an amazing amount of food. If you love garlic, this is the place for you! The chicken shishtawook is my favorite. Every meal comes with a small salad or bowl of soup, pita bread with the best hummus in the world, and the entree. I know many a friend who have ordered their hummus for dinner parties and events. It's fabulous! I crave this place. The space is small and so reservations are suggested but not necessary. Enjoy!
(5)
Adam W.
We have this at work all of the time! The chicken souvlaki was great, but be prepared there's a lot of garlic.
(3)
Dale K.
Really solid spot. it is really hard to find good, moderately priced food in bellevue that is not cookie-cutter or chain restaurant. Pretty much anything on the menu is great. Definitely check it out, but please keep in mind the portions are huge. like family style eating huge. so if you're with three people two entrees would do. perhaps less when you factor in bread, soup (free), and appetizers... Even then, you'll still have leftovers to take home.
(5)
Polly H.
First of all, right when you sit down - SOUP! I love places where you get food right when you sit down. My favorite entree is the Shish Tawook. So you order and next comes salad...awesome! The dressing is wonderful and perfect blend of oil and spice. Then comes the dinner...da da DUM! A huge wonderful plate of warmth and goodness! The flavors are complex and smooth yet spicy....definitely garlic city. Oh but the chicken is so tender and the rice so soft and fluffy..and the hummous....one of the best I've had. The service is always so attentive and friendly..you feel like you are being served by your family.....especially at the end when you end up taking half of everything home in care packages! Oh and P.S., you take the garlic smell home for about 2 days on your clothes! Highly recommended! I can't wait to go back!
(5)
S S.
The food is very tasty. Varity of choices. Lunch time can be crowded though.
(4)
Angie J.
Large portions, good food and a cozy atmosphere. I love going here because I always feel welcome and the food / cost ratio is always spot on. Really, if you like hummus and Mediterranean food in general, you'll really enjoy this place.
(4)
Brian C.
The portions are ridiculous...in a GOOD way! Food is good, service is attentive, overall a very good place. Make sure you get there early as this place has limited seating. Just FYI, the tangy white sauce they put over all of their dishes is a bit tart. Might want to ask for it on the side if you can't handle that.
(4)
Shaunna R.
We tried this place a couple months ago and I've been dying to go back! I mean, my breath was NOT the best when I left due to the garlicky-lemony oil with pita bread and (amazing) kababs. We tried the kabab combo that had a little bit of beef, chicken, and lamb. It's a great way to see what they've got. :) The only bad thing about this place is that the plates are so huge! They are definitely enough to share, but then there is an extra charge for that. VERY good food.
(4)
Giles H.
Great healthy food, lots of garlic. Large portions and good value. The mezza plate is a real winner- I love the cauliflower.
(4)
Tammy V.
okay so i my friend referred me to this place and he looved it. he said if you like garlic then you'll love this place. so i went with my bf and he ordered the chicken noodle dish and i ordered the chicken wings dish. with our meal we got free soup and free bread w/ dipping sauce. i really loved the bread and dipping sauce. me and my bf's food was pretty good but too flavorful for my tastes if that makes any sense. it was alot of sauce drizzle on top of the rice and the noodles. i could tell that the food was cooked well and the chicken was very tender -- but i just didn't really enjoy the dish that much. i would probably go back just so i can try other things =D the reason why this place STILL gets 4 stars in my book is because of the GREAT GREAT GREAT customer service. it's so home-y and the server/waiter was extremely helpful and nice. and when you go out to eat, thats what you're looking for. =)
(4)
Winnie L.
If you like garlic, this the place you should go! They have remarkable lamb shank! Place is small, you'd bettter arrive around 6p for dinner.
(5)
Nash C.
Large portions and large amounts of garlic. Love the food.
(5)
Robert G.
Tonight was our first time here. I didn't plan on writing a review but we were so impressed I felt compelled to. The food was fantastic. Everything we tried was really good. Two in our party are #vegan and the wait staff was knowledgeable and friendly and made them feel at home. The menu prices seemed high but not once we saw the portions. Come hungry, they are very generous. Last, but not least was the service. It was top notch also. This is a very well run restaurant and everyone has pride in their work and the food they serve. Highly recommended.
(5)
Crystal S.
This is just really good, authentic Mediterranean food! We had a large party (10 I think), which basically took up half the restaurant, so be aware, it is tiny. The food was awesome and the portions massive (be prepared for leftovers...for a week!). The service was friendly and attentive, super knowledgeable about the menu. We ended with Turkish coffee, since there was no room for desert, and it was heavenly! Absolutely recommended! Just be sure to get there early, make a reservation, or be prepared to wait.
(4)
Mizie S.
Went out for dinner with friends and this place was their pick. Friends said that the Chicken Shwarma is to die for and they were right. Spices are authentic, their usage of Sumac and Middle Eastern spices are an art! I'm pretty sure there was some kabsa powder in there...Is that even sold in the US? The portions are LARGE. husband and I split one entree and neither of us were able to finish it! I'm excited to go back and try their other selections. Ever since I moved back to the US from a life in the Middle East, I was on a search to find some good Shizh Tawook, Schwarma, garlic yogurt dips, etc. This place even does a good twist of using Arborio rice instead of the traditional kind that is used for these dishes. Pros: Large portions Frikken delicious Staff is super friendly and accommodating! Parking available. Cons: Bathrooms could use an upgrade. It's limited to functional uses more than anything else. It wasn't a huge bother though. As long as it is clean. It's a bit crowded. There's outside seating, but it's right by the street so it's pretty loud. It's louder inside than outside. It's crowded inside. Honestly though, despite the cons, it's not anywhere near keeping me from coming back!
(4)
Marangelo N.
I came to the place around 8. Finding the place on the corner was easy. Parking for free was near the downtown park and not on the block. When we came in, it was not very busy. We were seated right away. My friends and ordered the same dish the lamb sharma which is what i recommend. The service was great. The waiter was polite and helpful. Everything was good.
(5)
Tariq C.
There are a few times in life when you make sexual noises when eating, the total pleasure gained from this meal was and is orgasmic.. Everything is terrific
(5)
Robin S.
Excellent food. Portions were huge! Great atmosphere. Definitely bring friends to share ambiance!!
(5)
Nami N.
I enjoyed Mediterranean Kitchen place. I tried most of the menus. Value for 2 people in 1 menu. Great experience to eat here.
(4)
Tim C.
This is one of the better places for Mediterranean foods in the Seattle / Bellevue areas, in my opinion. The flavors are usually spot-on, the portion sizes are huge, and the pricing is fair. Most recently, I went with my wife for dinner, and I got the Lamb Couscous, which was lamb shank with onion, carrots, zucchini, and potatoes, served with couscous. The lamb was fall-off-the-bone tender and well-flavored with a variety of spices. The vegetables weren't cut up, so they maintained their firmness quite well, instead of being overly-mushy. I wasn't sure what to do with the whole onion that was on my plate, though. The couscous was just ok - I like my couscous where I can distinguish between the separate grains, and I felt like this couscous was more clumpy than what I prefer. My wife ordered the Dajaj Mishwi, which was chicken thigh over rice and garlic sauce with a side of hummus. We both are big fans of the garlic sauce, and the chicken and rice were cooked well. One downside, however, was the lack of vegetables in this dish. The restaurant is on the smaller side, so you may have to wait for a table, depending on what time you get there and how large your party is. The service is great, though, and overall, it's a fantastic place for Mediterranean food.
(4)
Matt S.
Yummy and holy smokes! what a great place and hidden gem in Bellevue. The food was excellent, service excellent and they even had a small outdoor dining area. It's a little tough to find parking and the indoor dining is cozy but make a point to try this place out (then keep going back!)
(5)
Minna S.
Lamb Shawarma and Shish Tawook. GET IT! This place has the best Mediterranean food i've had in a while. The only negative is that it's pretty pricey during dinner, but the portions are humongous. It's located right next to Hokkaido Ramen, and is a bit hidden, but whenever I go it is packed with people, so sometimes I just order to-go. There are some outdoor seating which is nice since the inside can feel a bit crowded. Lamb Shawarma - Grilled marinated lamb with vegetables and seasoned yellow rice. This dish is very well seasoned, has so much flavor, and is not dry at all. Shish Tawook - Grilled chicken with great lemon/vinegar flavors. Also comes with rice, vegetables, and hummus! This is my favorite dish here, and I love the tart flavor you get from the vinegar. Tastes great with the hummus and bread they give you.
We chose the restaurant after a yelp research for the area. The service was nice but the food was nothing remarkable. Suggestion for the restaurant: do not serve cuscus on a plate, the juices ended up dripping on my table.
(3)
Liz C.
"Oh my goodness." Those were the words I mouthed when the food was arriving, the words I exclaimed after my first bite of food, and the words I was achingly saying after being stuffed and looking at what was left on my plate. Mediterranean is just a short walk from Bellevue Square. It's a definite must check-out place if you're around the area, both for lunch and dinner. The place is not super big and does fill up quite quickly. We arrived on a Saturday at around 1:00 and there was no wait so we were seated quickly. The meal starts off with some lentil soup as well as some fresh pita bread and garlic dipping sauce. BEWARE, the garlic dipping sauce is VERY garlicky. If you immerse your pita bread in the sauce, your breath will smell very much like strong garlic. However, the garlic sauce is great for garlic lovers and is a nice touch to the pita bread. The pita bread is so nice and warm, not overly thick or thin. I also enjoyed the lentil soup which tasted very hearty. Lamb shwarma - Holy cow, or should I say, holy lamb? This thing is so freaking good. I've had my share of shwarmas and lamb gyros, but this thing is on a whole different level. The yellow rice is perfectly puffed and seasoned and there is such an abundance. Everything floats on this yellow cloud of rice. The lamb is so perfectly grilled, I can't even describe the nice, smoky, meatiness to the dish it brings. The veggies, seriously well seasoned and so crunchy. I swear every bite of this dish makes you feel like you're swimming in flavor. The sauce is the best component binder and really makes the whole thing work together. The only thing I can say is that I wish there was a bit more meat to the rice ratio. There is definitely a lot more rice but honestly, every bite is going to have deliciousness all over it. Dajaj Mishwi - This is a chicken dish that comes with rice, sauce and a heaping mound of garlic hummus on the side. I had no words when I took a bite of the chicken. It was so tender, so perfectly grilled and just melting in my mouth. One of the best preparations of chicken I've had. The sauce on this dish was similar to the one for lamb shwarma. The thing that really made this dish stand out was the garlic hummus. It's perfect with the rice and chicken, and I wish I could take this hummus home for my pita crackers. It's so smooth and creamy with a subtle garlic flavor to it. I can really taste the quality of ingredients in this dish. Portion sizes are HUGE. Since you get soup and pita bread in the beginning, there is a higher chance you're going to have leftovers. I barely made a dent into my dish and I can see how you can turn this into another meal, or even two meals. My partner who is a very hungry eater barely made it through half, so that really tells me something about the portion size. You definitely get what you pay for in terms of portion size. Service was wonderful. They were very polite, well mannered and respectful. I loved their humor and how attentive they were to our water cups. When we were finished they took our plates and boxed it nicely for us. Overall, really awesome place that uses good quality ingredients. I could just taste the quality with each bite. It's prepared so well (I want to know the secrets in that kitchen!) and you will be delighted to be taking home leftovers because that means another day of delicious food! For our two dishes it was a little less than $30 for technically 4 meals. Definitely would recommend and will come again.
(5)
Kimberly S.
There are two five-star attributes of Mediterranean Kitchen: the portions [HUGE] and the lamb [AMAZING!]. We tried the hummus with meat/pine nuts and while the hummus was your everyday, average hummus, the lamb on top was really out of this world. It was very tender, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. It's the same lamb that comes in the lamb shawarma or lamb kabob plates. It's apparently sourced from New Zealand so there's no gaminess to the lamb. I would say the lamb is a must order. The lamb is our main reason to go back. Because most other things we tried were just OK, I'm giving it three stars. The pita bread and garlic sauce at the start of the e-mail are a very nice touch but the pita bread was not soft and fluffy and the garlic sauce tasted too much like salad dressing. Free lentil soup served to you right when you sit is also a nice touch, but it was just OK as far as soups go. We tried the chicken shawarma in addition to the meat hummus and it was a bit disappointing because the chicken was dry, there were way too many onions, and the yellow rice tasted like minute rice. I was most disappointed by the tahini sauce. It was way too thick and lacked the composition and flavor I've come to know in other tahini sauces. My husband and I enjoyed our dinner out and we will definitely be back but pretty much only for the lamb. The other stuff I could do without. I could be convinced to try the Mezza Tray as I eyed our neighbors Mezza and it was huge and looked delicious...
(3)
Brian C.
A busy place and now i know why. For starters they give you pita bread and they offered some very good lentil soup the day i went there for lunch. I had the kabob combo and WOW!! There was some hummus on the side, some nice fragrant rice with what seemed like saffron or curry i could not quite figure out what it was but reminded me of saffron. The kabob meat was excellent chicken and beef. I don't normally eat that much in one sitting but i killed that plate! It was damn good!! I plan on adventuring here again to try the dolmas and a few other dishes that caught my eye. Highly recommend this place for the garlic lovers. Wow!!!
(5)
Alina F.
Been here twice in a month and well the portions are massive. Hate the par boiled rice but ure literally filled up before entree bc of the bread and soup. Also get the sampler appetizer platter so good!
(4)
Lin R.
I wasn't expecting the food to be so good because the decor was a bit subpar and the restaurant was pretty empty when I went at 1:00pm. However, I knew I'd change my mind when I tried their house made dressing which they re purposed as bread dip. The portions served were so large I packed the remainder to go. I had the leftovers for dinner the same day unheated and it was STILL DELICIOUS. The food get's a little greasy though so make sure you pair it with tons of liquids
(5)
Marcy S.
Best mediterranean we've had in WA and the services was great. I had the spanakatopia, which was delicious and crispy and perfect, and my husband had the falafel. Great hummus and pita, and they even made a special spicy sauce for him. We will definitely go back next time we're in the area.
(5)
Barb W.
Wow. This place really surprised me. When I first came in I thought it was too hot to stay. The place is small and it was a warm night. I sat down and the waiter immediately brought me a bowl of lentil soup. I explained to him I may not stay because of the heat and he suggested I try the soup, that it will help me feel cooler. Really? Well he was right! Is after trying the soup I was hooked and wanted to try more items. The pita comes with the house salad dressing which is fantastic! I love a place that takes the care to make their own dressing. Btw....they sell it by the bottle. I also ordered the tabbouleh which was really good. Not sour at all which is sometimes the case with this dish and also the chicken Schwarma. The portions were huge. I could've shared but honestly I didn't want to. Wanted to keep it all to myself. Great service, great food and really nice ambiance. I travel to Seattle for work about 6 times a year. I will definitely add this to my must done list! If u are a fan of Mediterranean cuisine. Check this out for sure!
Wow. What a great hidden gem in Bellevue. Great food, great great food. HUGE portions, consider sharing! Soup to start and hummus in front of you before you even order, these guys know how to serve people efficiently. This would be a great date place, different types of food, really great ambience and mood, great service, and a good amount of food to share and get cozy with. I definitely wouldn't be able to finish a meal on my own. At first I thought the prices were a big high, but once I saw the amount on my plate I knew why, I had tons of leftovers to go around. The food is fragrant. This is the definition of fragrant rice. I absolutely loved it. There was hummus on the side and the chicken was so perfectly tender. It's a busy place that doesn't take reservation, I had to wait about 20 minutes for a table. It's really crowded once you're inside so watch out for that too! But the wait is well worth it, and definitely bring more people so you can try more things, I can't get enough of this!
(5)
Namtran V.
Come hungry!!! I always come here during lunch time because the portions are the same size as dinner, just cheaper. I usually get one order of the lamb shawarma for two and we both leave stuffed with enough left overs for another meal. Each entree comes with a bowl of lentil soup and naan with a very very garlicky dip. It's like eating garlic and I love it. The mint iced tea here is also really refreshing! It's a perfect summer drink, but it's not very relaxing to sit outside with a view of Bellevue way.
(5)
Silvia S.
This is one of my all time favs. The food is amazing, reasonably priced, and generously sized.
(5)
Arahcni S.
Love the place.. its so cosy and welcoming..!!! Love the chicken shawarma
(5)
Kim D.
A hidden gem in Bellevue!! At first it was overwhelming with the all the decisions on the menu but the food and portion will not disappoint. FOOD: Got the MEZZA TRAY and CHICKEN SHAWARMA. The MEZZA TRAY consisted of an assortment of appetizers, hummus, Baba Kanouj, Labnie, Tabouley, Zahra, olives, tomatoes and cucumbers. My personal favorite was the Zahrah, deep fried cauliflower with a tahini sauce. Also, I loved all the fresh veggies. The CHICKEN SHAWARMA was a nice surprise. A plate full of goodness! It had marinated strips of chicken breast with grilled onions, green onions, red cabbage and tomatoes over a flavorful bed of rice. I would definately order this again and would recommend this dish to friends and family! Also, the pita bread with the dipping sauce (lemon pepper I think) was amazing!!! The soup had depth and loads of flavor too! SERVICE: EXCELLENT!! Since it was our first time out server gave us a brief overview of the menu which helped a lot because we did not know what anything was. He was very knowledgeable of the menu which helped us decide what to order. The other servers that cleaned and packed out food togo was also very kind and friendly. PRESENTATION: This restaurant is very small. Not many tables, maybe 8-10. It had a home style feel and a warm atmosphere. LOCATION: Next to the cycle store. In the same building as Hokkaido Ramen Santouka. WOULD I COME BACK: Yes =) Can't wait to try their other dishes!
(4)
Eddie A.
I think I have a problem...more of an addiction to this place:) Most of the time I do take outs. Portions are generous and I love the leftovers! Quality of the food, taste and smell is exquisite. My go-to's are usually mezza tray and chicken shish tawook, although I have so far liked everything.
(5)
Denise L.
Gigantic plates that could feed me 3x, great service, romantic yet casual ambiance. You're greeted with smiles, a bowl of soup, and some fresh pita with dip. I've had dry meat once, but other times, the meat has been pretty delicious. Reasonably priced for what you get! Dinner time is always a full house when it hits around 7 PM; the place is small, so I recommend coming earlier. Whether you're with a friend or on a date, this place is a great spot for anyone and everyone.
(4)
Thuy D.
My first experience with Mediterranean food was here and I'm so glad I did since it set a really high standard. Small cozy restaurant right on the corner on Bellevue way so parking is a bit tricky. The food is very flavorful and their portion is huge! I have never able to finish everything all at once which is good because I can eat it for dinner as well. Plus you get a lot of pita with garlic dipping to snack on while you wait for your food, but don't eat too much and save room for your entry. Service is pretty good and consistent.
(4)
Eva C.
1 meal here can easily turn into 3-4 meals. They give you SO much food!! Which is why I am absolutely IN LOVE with this place! It's a bang for my buck! I recently came here for lunch but I have also been here for dinner. All lunch items come with rice, salad, and pita bread, about $10-12 for an entree. For dinner the prices jump to $15+ I know it seems high but you get A TON of food that lasts for daaaaayyyyyysssss!!!! I got the chicken shawarma which was AMAZING! Lots of onions, garlic, and spices. It smells absolutely heavenly. Good amount of chicken to rice ratio. The salad was a bit over dressed this time but I love how the dressing tastes. It's a vinaigrette so it's not heavy and rich. I have also had the lamb shawarma here which is also BOMB.COM! In the evening I believe all entrees come with a soup. The service here is great! The people are very nice and accommodating. They were willing to split our checks even though they already printed us a copy with all our items on there. Usually people get annoyed, but they were very nice about it. This places doesn't have the best parking so beware. You will have to do some searching and maybe some walking as well, buuuutttt, it's worth it!! This place is a gem in the heart of Bellevue.
(5)
Cin H.
I'm super impressed. Who knew you would find this type of quality of Lebanese/ Mediterranean cuisine in Bellevue! We ordered the Medi Veggie plate and that alone I can eat every single day and feel guilt free about it. Because hey, its so healthy! The Cauliflower I can have 10X of, the garlic yogurt dip I can eat like its ice cream, the hummus will be the best hummus you'll have in your entire life, the Veggies I devoured like it was chocolate cake crack. And then there was the.... Farmer's Chicken. Lemme tell you, I wish I had ordered this to go because then I would have my way with it with my hands with full reckless abandoned. The being in public and me being a lady was just a hindrance. You know how in cartoons they would lower the drumstick in mouth with head tilted back imagery. And out comes out the bone brand spankin clean. Jyeah.THAT would have been me. If it was just me and the wangs alone in the room. ; ) Obviously, I'm a chicken wing pervert, so let's just end it here....shall we????
(5)
Heidi M.
This may be my favorite restaurant of all time! The food is ridiculously good. We usually order takeout, but sometimes eat at the restruant. In the summer they have outside seating. The chicken Sharma is great!!! All meals eaten in include lentil soup, garlic dip and pita bread. They also have a garlic sauce which is fabulous. I buy this by the bottle. Califlower appetizer is a favorite of ours. I highly recommend the farmers chicken wings, oh my gosh I could live on these. My husband loves the Dajaj Mishwi. Overall an excellent choice in dinning or takeout. You will always have leftovers. Only negative we experience is bad breath the next day - worth it!!! Nice wine election too!
(5)
Jenny K.
So spoiled that this restaurant is a mere two blocks from where I live. I've gotten takeout twice so far - the chicken shawarma - and enjoyed every bite of food! First off, I have to admit that I thought it was a bit pricey. But then I realized they give you enough food for at least 3 people, score! The seasonings on the chicken are ridiculously good, as are the grilled veggies that accompany the chicken. The rice is excellent and everything is topped with a delicious Greek yogurt type sauce. There's a salad that accompanies the dish which I don't care for because it has a garlic dressing drizzled on it that hurts your tongue since it is so garlicky! And this is coming from someone who adores garlic! I am a huge fan and this restaurant has quickly become part of my go-to places for takeout. Maybe one day I'll get around to dining in, and that way I can try their lentil soup which I heard you only get when you're dining in versus getting takeout.
(5)
Sumi A.
well, i just had to update this review because mediterranean kitchen just blew my mind again with one of the best plates of chicken shwarma EVER!! i also found out (thanks clark!) that they sell the garlic/vinegar dipping sauce by the bottle... and yes, i'm on my 2nd bottle and it's going quickly!! i'm now in the habit of buying an extra entree to go so that i can take food to lunch for the next 2-3 days... that's how big/delicious the portions are!! i can't tell you how much i love the mediterranean kitchen.... if only you guys were closer to SLU :(
(5)
Kathleen C.
Pretty busy spot on the weekends for sure. I suggest making reservations. Food: Lamb Schwarma is not bad. I feel like it can feed 3 people. Portions are huge. The cauliflower appetizer is pretty good and worth getting. Falafel was just ok but it was also my first time trying it anywhere. Farmer's Dish (chicken wings) was ok too. The chicken was pretty tender and easy to pull off. The Lebanese salad was no bueno. It's just romaine lettuce and croutons or at least that's what it felt like. For 5 people, we got one appetizer, one salad, and two entrees. We had leftovers that could've fed one more person. Prices: Entrees are roughly in the higher teens. Appetizers are around $10. Prices are decent, especially for the portions. Overall, the food is just ok. Not a must try, but doesn't hurt if you want to.
(3)
David J.
I love Mediterranean food having grown up and llved half my life there so in limbo moving to Bellevue area with work had to give this a try as so close by and such great reviews. But not not so impressed, service was Ok and pleasant but slow and impersonal, took ages to get a beer but did get pita and not so great in interim. Got my food which was good, nothing special though, nice enough but not to write home about so will probably be back but not for anything special.just as a baseline reasonable go to place. Lots of room to improve although they seem busy enough just to carry on as is instead od uo giving a better quality service.
(3)
Damian W.
Stopped in on Saturday night and found it to be a busy place and figured that must be a good sign! We were seated after a brief wait at a table right next to the door; not my first pick but it was available and we were hungry. We were promptly served soup, pita bread, and a garlic & oil dipping sauce. That sauce was amazing, holy crap! We ordered spanakopita and lamb schwarma. When the spanakopita arrived I was surprised to see it laying on a GIANT helping of sour cream and ended up scraping most of it off and enjoying what was a delicious spanakopita Then our dinner arrived and I'm REALLY glad that we had decided to split something! This portion was HUGE! The plate was at least a foot long and six inches wide in an oval shape. The flavor of the dish wasn't quite what I expected but it was still very tasty; I was expecting spicy and found a very mild combination of flavors. The awkward part of our experience was the space itself. Getting the table right next to the door wasn't a thrill, but we didn't feel like waiting. The table was so close to the door that if more than two people were waiting to be seated they may as well have pulled up a chair and joined us! I did not order booty with my pita, but thanks anyway! Those who got the clue and waited outside, we all appreciated that... once they figured out they shouldn't be holding the door open and cooling off the whole place! We really enjoyed the food but the space was so awkward that we will not be going back. Glad we noticed a bunch of dinner delivery services and take out options.
(2)
Mary K.
If you want to friend-zone your date, this is where you bring them. The garlic here is so pungently raw that you will be guaranteed a sans-makeout date. Other than that, great for families, large groups, couples who have been together for years and can mutually agree that this restaurant should come with "fat pants" dress code. The customary lentil soup and pita with garlic dipping sauce was delicious, so was the falafel, shawarma and the kabobs. Actually, to tell you the truth, I was kind of mad when I saw my shawarma plate. Yes, Mad. I'm a petite sized girl and the weight and amount of food on this plate was equivalent to the mass of me. Where was my fair warning on their gargantuan serving size? But again, quality food. Hosts/servers/owners are really accommodating.
(4)
Loraine S.
Cozy atmosphere. Was crowded on a week night. It was ok as the service was impeccable. I didn't think I liked lentil soup but this was as Delish as it gets. Made even better as its served as a starter on the house. The garlic pita dipping sauce is so good I wanted to buy a jar to bring home! For appy, the spanakopita.... Flaky light and full of flavor! Also definitely don't miss the baklava! Worth every calorie! Portions are huge so be sure to come hungry. I'm dreaming of the lamb shwarma. Can't wait to visit again!!
(5)
N V.
I usually go to Garlic Crush and was expecting something similar but I was pleasantly surprised by med kitchen. This is a small place but the service is so welcoming that you get comfortable right when you enter. They have complementary soup and pita with sauce, perfect way to start! We ordered two vegetarian dishes, pina kopita (absolute love) and stuffed grape leaves (this was was the first time I tried it and enjoyed it).I even ended up getting more pita. The portions are generous that you could easily have a second meal with that. I'll definitely be returning.
(4)
George M.
I ate here with my wife, coworker and his wife. The restaurant is small but even without a reservation they were quick to get us a table set up. We started with the Mezza Tray (the Baba Kanouj was perfect) and Zahrah. I had the Fool Moudamas and my wife had the Samaki Harrah. I don't remember what my friends are but I do know they both enjoyed their dishes. My wife and I love Mediterranean food and this place is one of the better places we've eaten. We look forward to the next time we eat at this restaurant.
(5)
Omar S.
I had shish touk & Lamb plates. Too much rice and garlic and not enough meat, plus its overpriced. It doesn't have the the authentic mediterranean hot souce (Shatta) that Garlic Crush has. Service wise i will give it 6/10. Garlic Crush across the street is waaay much better.
(2)
Al Y.
NOT as good as the one in Kirkland. I ordered the Algerian Chicken and not only received no hummus, but the chicken was flavor-less and the rice was not as tasty as the other location in Kirkland.
(3)
Raymond C.
Mmm, meat and rice. Essentially that's what everything boils down to. Every cuisine has their own version: teriyaki chicken and rice, vietnamese pork and rice, or beef tongue/intestines and rice (oh, that's just me). And Mediterranean Kitchen does their version pretty well. I got the beef kabobs and the meat was nicely flavored and tender. The meat and onions could've used a bit more char, but I like my food (and women) darker than normal. Nah mean?! The rice was a little bland, but it worked well with the beef. I beasted on like six pitas while waiting for the food, but I still had room to polish off my order. The portions are definitely larger than average, but not a guaranteed two meals in one... at least not for a manly man-sized hunger. Extra kudos for the complimentary soup, pita, and dip. I'll definitely be back to try the beef shawarma, but I'll probably do so at lunch.
(4)
Kristy S.
I like this place, my boyfriend says it is his "favorite restaturant in downtown Bellevue for the price." Crowded all the time which is a good sign unless you don't want to wait. Once you sit down however, the food appears quickly. Dinners come with soup and pita. We like to start with the ZAHRAH appetizer: Cauliflower deep-fried, topped with tahini sauce. Garnished with green onions, raddish, fresh crushed min - $7.95. Or, try the Mezza Tray: An assortment of Middle Eastern appetizers including Hummus, Baba Kanouj, Labnie, Tabouley, Zahrah, olives, tomatoes and cucumbers - 15.95. For dinner, I like the Algerian Chicken: Charbroiled chicken breast topped with sauteed vegetables and a special tomato sauce. Garnished with cilantro, oregano and seasoned garbanzo beans. I get it with thigh meat because it is juicier. And I ask for the tahini sauce that things are usually over-swimming in here on the side or not a all. This dish has so much going on it doesn't need any more flavors - $14.95 My boyfriend really like the Falafil made of ground garbanzo beans mixed with parsley, onions, garlic and spices. Deep-fried and served on a bed of lettuce with green onions, radish, cucumbers and tomatoes and topped with tahini sauce. Dessert - don't miss the Baklava! Some of the best I have had. Why a three? The over-seasoning kills me somethings and the bathrooms are down right nasty. Service is super friendly. We will be back!
(3)
Josh C.
You hungry? You want Mediterranean food? K good. You've found the place to go. I love this restaurant. Ever since my momma came home with her leftovers of Lamb Shwarma, I've been addicted. It's ALWAYS crowded and very popular, especially at lunch and dinner times. But I'll be honest, if I want a delicious, well portioned meal, I'll be coming here. The atmosphere is nice. At nights, it's a getaway from the Bellevue life outside. It's dark and cozy, can have lots of people, but the service makes you feel like you're their #1 customer. The food is EXCELLENT. Perfectly cooked, tender meats surrounded by fresh vegetables with plenty of garlic, all over delicious rice. Plus, they give you pita bread which is always nice to eat. You get what you pay for and plenty more. I could order ONE order of shwarma, eat my share, come home, and give my sister some, and there'd still be some left for mom. They give you more than enough. It's a great leftover food to have too, if you're looking for a lunch for the next day as well. Go here. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Dan S.
*Fast *Furious *Flavors *FFF *Wow,.
(5)
Shoku U.
I like Mediterranean Kitchen for their quality of food, a large portion of meals relative to the price, and they serve the meal quickly after ordering. The place is always busy so expect to wait if you get there during the busy hours. BUT it's definitely worth a wait. Great food and you'll be satisfied.
(5)
Jesse H.
The portions are huge and delicious. I would have given 5 stars if they didn't charge a split fee for sharing entrees. My wife and I usually carry out so we can share one if the following; CHICKEN SHAWARMA $15.95 Marinated strips of chicken breast in red wine vinegar, spices and garlic. Grilled with onions, green onions, red cabbage and tomatoes, served with tahini sauce. DAJAJ MISHWI $15.95 Charbroiled boneless, skinless chicken thighs marinated in spices, served with our house garlic sauce. Either way you can't go wrong when you select a chicken entree!
(4)
Boaz R.
Great service, amazing food, very low prices. When are you going to open a place around Palo Alto, CA? :-)
(5)
Elaina M.
Delicious! Huge servings! You will not leave here hungry. They have a very simple menu, but lots of authentic choices. Had the meat sampler with ground lamb, beef, and chicken. LOVED the lamb and the chicken! Spanakopita was a bit greasy however. Complimentary pita bread with garlicy vinegrate was delicious! Great service. Will definitely return!
(5)
Jim W.
Great food-I had the Algerian Chicken. Succulent chicken, basmati rice, onions, tomatoes and chickpeas. Generous servings, and started off with savory lentil soup. I will be coming back!
(4)
Maria S.
I have been going here for two decades, and that's saying something since I am only 25. I really, really love this place. Food The portions are enormous; I have yet to eat with anyone who leaves hungry. If you like garlic (who doesn't?) you will love this place. When you are seated they bring out a small bowl of lentil soup for everyone, which is OK, and pita bread with a garlicky oil dip. I usually order a glass of the Moroccan wine along with an order of Zahrah for the table (fried cauliflower with garlic sauce, $8). I don't even like cauliflower and I will fight anyone off for the last bite! My favorite entree is the Shish Tawook ($16), my Dad loves the Farmer's Chicken ($17), and my partner loves the Dajaj Mishwi ($15), which are all 3 pretty similar dishes of spiced chicken (lemon, garlic, herbs, etc.) on a bed of yellow rice with a delicious, super-garlicky sauce drizzled on top. The difference is mainly in the type of chicken--breast, wings, thighs. I love, love, love garlic so I always ask for some extra garlic sauce on mine--sooo good! Make sure you are eating with everyone you plan on hanging out with that night as your breath will not be pleasant after dinner. It is worth it though, trust me! You could probably get away with splitting an entree because of the seriously ginormous servings, but why deprive yourself of leftovers? I would not recommend the Chicken Noodle, as it is pretty bland. Atmosphere Don't be fooled by the strip mall exterior! Inside there are nice tablecloths and a cozy vibe. Still, it's maybe not the best "first date" kind of place, since you WILL smell like garlic after. Service Servers are friendly although sometimes they get busy and it takes a while to hear from them again. For the same reason, I would recommend getting reservations for a large party or coming a bit early on weekend night.
(5)
Roger M.
This place is yum! Our favorite is the chicken shwarma, baba ganoush, hummus and the brown lentil soup. The food is very flavorful though a bit oily. The place is very hygienic and the service is quick and amicable.
(4)
Brad S.
I ate here for the first time tonight and I was excited to go home and write the review. My wife and I loved it. My wife loved the garlic vinaigrette they brought to the table with pita. I think she called it garlic crack. I had the lamb shawarma which was pretty good, nothing to jump up and down about. My wife got the shish tawook which was so so so good. mmmm my mouth is watering just thinking about it. If we go again, I think we will both order that and take leftovers. If you go there, you must try the shish tawook!
(4)
Sonia C.
I was disappointed by this place after reading all the great Yelp reviews. My companion & I split the grape leaves and the chicken schwarma and found both dishes pretty bad. The grape leaves had obviously been nuked in the microwave (and for too long), leaving them piping hot but mushy. They were also so sour that neither of us could eat more than one. The chicken tasted better as it had a nice smoky grill flavor but it was also extremely dry. Portions are ridiculously large and there was no way we could finish what we ordered. After the lackluster showing of the appetizer and entree, we had no desire to try their desserts. Won't be back!
(2)
Haydar K.
Awesome food at awesome height! When you order any type of dish, you will see that it is almost "food for two". Prices are reasonable for the location and amount of food you get. The taste: Simply amazing. I admit, I am not considered as a regular at all levels. I stop by for certain occasions every once in a while. However, I never complained that the food taste was different than any other times. I certainly recommend for weekend gatherings, though I found out during the week (Mon-Wed) is more quiet. Perhaps, it is more relaxed environment to my taste. Keep up the good work guys! Thank you.
(5)
Ivan B.
This is one our favorite restaurants. It is cozy but comfortable, on a busy street yet nice area. The food is outstanding, the combination of flavors on the sauces and the portions make it not only a great deal but a delicious one. I always order the Lamb Couscous, I should try something else soon, and my wife's favorite is the Chicken Shawarma. The service is fast, cordial and professional.
(5)
Shady T.
I am Egyptian And the food here is the best, actually better than home. Love it
(5)
Carla J.
Lunch with Mr. and fantastic server Patrick. Me: I get there 1st (I am the smarter driver, parker & finder of spot, OH, and orderer, I know my Mr. and order what he wants) The good thing about getting there 1st is I GET TO SELECT THE APPETIZER!! Starter/Appetizer: Zarah.. fried cauliflower with a beautiful garlic sauce and fresh sweet basil leaves and veggie garnish. Mr: Farmers Dish: Wings, marinated and charbroiled with fab garlic sauce. Me: Lamb Kabob. You get warm pita bread and delcious garlic dipping sauce and warm red lentil soup. ItWasSoWonderfulMyHusbandThatCallsMePegWantsToDrivÂeFromKentToBellevueANYTIMEwe HaveExtraCashToSpendToEaThereWeBothLovedIt!!!
(5)
Monica C.
This place is small and intimate, but the service is attentive and kind and the food is out of this world. The Farmer's Dish might be one of the best items I have had. The combination of flavors and spices is mouth watering and pairs perfectly with the chicken that is crispy on the outside yet falls off the bone and is moist on the inside. The prices are more than fair for the generous portions and home cooked creations. I will be back again. This week. Maybe even for dinner.
(5)
Mydao H.
Oh Em Gee this is Yummy! Picked up some SHISH TAWOOK $14.95, Charbroiled chicken breast tenderloin marinated in garlic, lemon juice, herbs and spices and a side salad TO GO. It was my first time trying this place. Brought it back home to my place on First Hill and it was still nice and warm. The hummus was probably the best I have ever tasted. The chicken was very flavorful and moist. It came with A LOT of rice, and it was really really good. One order fed two grown adults with big appetites and we even had left overs. It's been several hours and even after flossing, 30 seconds of gargling with Listerine, and brushing my teeth, I can still taste the garlic in my mouth. Sexy.
(5)
Bryan L.
This place was slamming. Was visiting on business and just stopped in for a quick bite. Was delicious so much food and so well prepared.
(5)
Darya S.
Very good food. Large portions. A lot of garlic, in everything. I wish they also had tzatziki sauce, not just garlic sauce.
(4)
Rena S.
Absolutely wonderful food! I had the lamb shawarma. Huge portions. The strips of lamb were tender juicy and deliciously seasoned. The vegetables and rice were so flavorful. Best shawarma, ever! I would eat there every day if I lived closer....
(5)
Wilson U.
What can I say about this place in one word...Shawarma. It looks small on the outside and it is actually small on the inside. Crowds can develop and then the tables near the door suffer from the people standing and waiting. So if you can, try to get a table away from the door and the last time I tried to make reservations, they only do it for groups of 4 or more otherwise it is first come first serve. The service is friendly and efficient. I've eaten several times at the place. Once for lunch and few times for dinner. Parking around it is found on the street and could be hard to get if you want to park right next to the restaurant. Back to the food... Chicken shawarma, Lamb shawarma, Beef shawarma, combination kabob have all been what I've tried in the past visits. You get a very HEALTHY portion of food so try not to fill up on the pita bread and hummus they give you before the meal. The flavor has the standard mediterranean spices including garlic flavor. I happen to love garlic and the mix of flavors and would expect if you are eating here that you know there will be garlic. The meats were flavorful. Oh and you might want to bring some breath mints if you are going to be out the rest of the night or the safeway across the way would be a good place to pick some mints up.
(4)
Adria M.
WOW! I am so amazed. Not only did they serve me lentil soup while I waited for my takeout order, but when I finally got my lunch it was SO amazing. There was a ton of flavor, and not overwhelming. I wanted to keep eating, but there's sooo much. I can't wait to go back. Seriously, everyday of my life. (K, maybe not.)
(5)
Ambre C.
Bad experience tonight. Had a question on a dinner item but chose two appetizers instead. When they brought me two dinners and I exclaimed that was not what I'd ordered or pointed to on the menu, the mgr told me that they don't allow people to only order appetizers. ?! He said he'd only charge me for appetizers, but loudly enough to embarrass me in the restaurant. And no one asked me if I'd like tea or anything other than water or dessert. Bummer, thought I'd found a good spot. My appetite was ruined by the whole restaurant being in on "my" mistake.
(2)
Katie K.
This place blew me away with their hospitality and quality of cuisine. I had the lamb kebabs with rice and it was delicious. The portion was also huge. They could charge double for the size and quality. I hope to get to return soon.
(5)
R. F.
I tried this place while in Seattle from the SF Bay Area. Back home we do not have a lot of good options for this kind of food, so the reviews here made me hopeful. Food from this region should be clean, bright and a delight. Mediterranean Kitchen offers none of that. I ordered the chicken shwarma, which should be a straightforward dish with chicken, rice, vegetables. What came to the table was an obscene plate loaded with rice vegetables, and chicken slathered in yogurt sauce. Individually, each component of the dish provided disappointment enough to make the dish a failure. The combined effort of failure led to a mostly uneaten plate. Let us start from the bottom up. The rice had the basic industrial yellow of prepared rice that had not been prepared recently. It clumped together and had no resemblance to having once been a grain. The vegetables were a swirl of uninspired assaults on the taste buds. Only the cabbage tasted like cabbage. Green onions, regular onions, and whatever else may have been there did not taste like themselves, but rather took on the melange of competing flavors. The texture of the vegetables, too, had a consistency that rendered them all into the same whatever it was. The chicken: an inferior grade of chicken came to my plate. If the restaurant actually is using a quality chicken, then the restaurant needs to change suppliers; and it certainly needs to change its treatment of the meat. This chicken had been marinated with some sort of pepper sauce that provided only the sensation of pepper and none of the taste. On the rare chance when one could taste the chicken, the taste was neither fresh or clean. The yogurt slathering could have helped bring pop the dish and bring some cleansing flavor to the dish, lending it some brightness on the top of the hot mess underneath it. As in all the other ingredients of the dish, the yogurt was poor quality. A good yogurt is tangy and fresh and joy to add to the meal. Not this slathering: it was sour and shot through with too much garlic and whatever else they did to it. A little bit of good olive oil, a judicious squeeze of a lemon, and good yogurt could have helped. Having the chicken marinated by some one who gave a tinker's dang about what was happening to the chicken would have helped. Leaving the vegetables as vegetables would have helped. Rice that tasted like rice instead of cardboard box that housed it would have helped. None of these things happened, so my plate went back to the kitchen over 2/3 uneaten. I looked around at what others were being served, and it looked no different. The servings are big, but if that is the most important factor, consider the Claim Jumper (if only for the variety and the 1 foot high slabs of cake). On any other basis, this place cannot be recommended and is not a good value.
(1)
Teri Y.
The food was very delicious. The prices were a bit steep, but not so bad. Would eat here again.
(4)
Sarah D.
Thank You Yelpers! I have found my new favorite restaurant! If you are reading this and it isn't midnight then you need to get in your car and start driving to Mediterranean Kitchen immediately! The portions are enormous, so let me warn you up front to avoid the bread basket. The free soup is too amazing to pass up, however, We have had all kinds of amazing dishes here. As a vegetarian, my faves are the felafel and the spanakopita. My hubby said that it was the best chicken he has ever had anywhere. Suffice it to say, this place is amazing no matter how you look at it.
(5)
Alex M.
I've been a fan of this restaurant for years and they deserve a review for taking care of my craving for Mediterranean/Lebanese style cuisine. The restaurant looks like a good place for a nice intimate dinner date. Just make sure that your significant other enjoys garlic infused foods because chances are you'll both leave with the aftertaste of their vinegar and garlic sauce for hours to come. That being said, whether you're there with friends or family, Mediterranean Kitchen offers a variety of dishes to satisfy appetites for this regional cuisine. This is also a restaurant that maintains high standards in quality, consistency of taste, and service. Each table will be welcomed with complimentary lentil soup, pita bread, and oil/vinaigrette sauce. I'm unsure of whether their lentil soup is considered good as it's a soup that I haven't had anywhere else. But it is, to me, the least impressive part of the overall meal as my taste buds tell me it's just too bland. The warm pita bread is for dipping into their oil/vinaigrette sauce. This is also a bit plain, but the experience is rescued by the menu appetizers and entrees. For people looking to start somewhere, here are some recommended dishes for your consideration: Appetizers * stuffed grape leaves - an incredible taste with its melange of rice, onions, and spices. * baba kanouj - my wife likes eggplant dishes and I confess to avoiding them. But I gave this dish a chance and the taste was surprisingly good. The spices and sauce balanced out the flavor and texture of the eggplant. I ended up actually eating a good portion of the eggplant rather than simply partaking of a single piece. Entrees (portions are generous) * shawarma - choice of lamb, chicken, or beef. They are all good and I particularly enjoyed the lamb shawarma. * dajaj mishwi - this boneless chicken dish is incredibly delicious and features their famous house garlic sauce. Highly suggested! * farmer's dish - tastes similar to the dajaj mishwi. Uses plenty of bone-in chicken wings. Check this place out and start slow on the house garlic sauce. Most garlic lovers will find it instantly addictive!
(4)
Stephanie W.
What's interesting is there is a Mediterranean cafe right across the street. The place is a little small...the people are super nice, the portions are GIANORMOUSLY HUGE...and packed with flavor and garlic! Take a mint or two...or Listerine mouthwash afterwards. It was a decent experience!
(2)
Hemanth B.
Awesome and Awesome !
(4)
K V.
Delicious. Had the combo platter. Flavorful. Loved it.
(5)
Janie K.
Great service, great food, good ambiance. I had the lamb kabob, which was absolutely delicious. My husband had the lamb shawarma, which was also great, but we both liked the kabob better - probably because we like grilled meat. Dinner comes with lentil soup that is very flavorful and pita with a garlicky dipping sauce, which was delicious. The food was very flavorful and fresh, without being spicy. The portions are more than generous and we're looking forward to leftovers for lunch
(5)
Eric H.
Simply my favorite restaurant on the east side. I have eaten every item on the menu and can't say enough positive things about this place. Be warned, garlic is involved. Copious amounts of garlic. You simply can't go wrong.
(5)
Eugene O.
A brilliant place to get your Mediterranean fix. The food was excellent, and the portions were huge. They use a few authentic vegetables in their salads. The falafel is easily some of the best I've had, and their beef kabob is tender, juicy and flavorful. The lentil soup is also hearty and a great compliment to their dinners. Service is quick, friendly and very attentive. They don't allow your water to go unfilled for more than a couple of minutes, which is always the test of a good wait staff. I sat outside for my first visit, as it was just dying hot inside. My only gripe is that they don't have air conditioning, so that's something to keep in mind when it's 85 degrees outside. I'm definitely a fan and will come back.
(4)
Shari X.
The place is a bit small, but in the homey intimate sort of way. The lighting is dim, and the decor is all about Mediterranean. Really sets the mood for eating Mediterranean food. Came with a friend who was a huge fan of middle eastern food. We found the whole experience a little too garlic-y. The pita bread and dip was delicious, but I couldn't take that much garlic. The hummus that came with my dish was also too garlic-y. The Combination Kabob (Kafta Kabob, Shish Tawook and Lamb Kabob) was really well cooked. I really enjoyed eating the different tastes of everything. Service was great. The food portions are massive. (I might literally be eating it for the next week.)
(4)
Ika M.
HOLY PORTIONS. Please save yourself from unimaginable disease and order a plate to share or something... There's so much dressing/mayonnaise? on everything that it's bound to fill you up. The service is good and there's parking about. Overall, solid dining experience.
(3)
Jen A.
Based on the one time I came here, I'm surprised by such glowing reviews. I ordered the combination lunch plate. The meats (chicken, beef, and a scant amount of lamb) were extremely dry. The pita they give you is store-bought, which, while I understand, it's always a disappointment. They also give you "thei signature garlic sauce" which just tastes like garlicky salad dressing. Yes, the portions are generous and you do get the pita and soup with your meal, but I was underwhelmed.
(2)
Sandy L.
Great lunch place, huge portion (you definitely need to go box) reasonable price and good taste considering how much you paid.
(4)
Nelson J.
This place is GREAT. I ordered the charbroiled chicken, which was delicious and came in a HUGE portion. Be SURE to get the Lebanese yogurt. My advice is to: Come here & To come EARLY. We got there on Saturday around 4:30 when they opened and by 5 the small dining room was completely packed out. They were very very busy but the service was still very good.
(5)
Sunny K.
sooooooooooooo muchhhhhhhhhhhhhh foooooooooooooood!!! and it's good. yay.
(4)
Naseef C.
Let me make one thing clear to you, you will NOT be able to finish your food here. I DARE you to try, although I hold no responsibility if you get sick... This is by far the best Mediterranean place I have been to. They start you off with a fabulous complimentary pita bread/salad/soup which we are often licking off our fingers by the end. Their main dishes are hugeee, usually you can have 3-4 meals out of just one dish. The food is very garlicy and very yummy. The lamb shwarma is very very good, so are the kabobs. If you want to try something a little different, try their farmers dish and you will not be disappointed! The only problem is there is no easy way to eat wings at a fine restaurant but they know this and will bring you wet towels! The ambiance at this place is very good, it is small and cozy, although maybe a little too small. I gets crowded and you barely have any elbow room. On weekends be prepared for a line out the door. The prices are somewhat high, until you consider you are getting 3-4 meals out of this in which case the prices are really quite low! The only thing I didn't really like is they have a split plate charge so instead of sharing your food, you are better off ordering separately and taking your leftovers home for another meal. Everyone really needs to try this place out at least once and you will probably be back!
(5)
Ryan M.
Something has to be said about how much I love garlic, onions, mediterranean and middle eastern spices with savory yogurt. It goes good with anything! I was told that this was Lebanese. I go here for lunch. There has never been a wait during lunch. Never been here for a dinner service. Lunch service was very fast even though it was busy and 3/4 of the all the seats were in use. In and out within 1 hour. I've had their Chicken (10.95 / 15.50 for dinner!) and also their Lamb (12.95 / 18.95 for dinner!) Shawarma. The Chicken Shawarma is Marinated strips of chicken breast in red wine vinegar, spices and garlic. Grilled with onions, green onions, red cabbage and tomatoes, served with tahini sauce. The Lamb version is Lamb tenderloin marinated in a mixture of Mediterranean spices cooked with onions, green onions, red cabbage and tomatoes, served with tahini sauce. Portion size is rediculous, but you get your money's worth. Its two meals for me. At least three if you are eating the "correct" portions. Definately beats going to a Gyro place. That being said, it seems the dinner menu is significantly pricier. Can't tell you if their portions are different since I've never been here for dinner. Each meal is served with soup, rice & pita bread. I love the pita bread and the sauce you dip it in. The soup is a 3.5 out of 5. Environment: A little dark, a little loud when very busy, efficient servers. Very nice waiters but can take some time if very busy. My only other issue is the location and parking situation is not the most convenient. Mostly have to use street parking unless you score one in the lot behind the building.
(4)
Cosmic B.
MUST LOVE GARLIC - I mean love as in being willing to clear your calendar for the next 1-2 days after a meal here. All this deliciousness comes at an interesting price - moderate/great deal monetarily (=great $$ value), but you become a funk factory for up to 48hrs... BAM! GARLIC BREATH. PLADOW! GARLIC SWEAT. ZAM! GARLIC B.O. Worth it? YES. The flavors are outrageous and delicious. Service is quick and clean. Tip - take your boy/girl friend, partner, etc. with you -- that way you can stand to be around each other and no messy break-ups.
(4)
Ronen B.
Too much garlic. Too much lemon. Too little attention to quality, freshness, authentic seasoning and grilling. Huge portions that constitute mainly of rice don't cover for the lack of quality. My wife and I are from the middle-east and know how this food should taste like. The reviews looked great and we really wanted to love this place. But, the food was just bad. The Chicken Shawarma was very dry. The Kabob had a funny taste and overwhelming seasoning and was dry as well. They both tasted as if they were microwaved and not freshly grilled. Most of the portion remained untouched. The hummus was way too sour. The rice, which constituted the major part of the huge portion was good although a bit too oily. Couldn't help thinking that this place will be a great candidate for "Kitchen Nightmares".
(1)
Jens J.
Okay, Penny and I are those inpertinent kids in the parade crowd heckling the emperor because he doesn't have any clothes on. The Yeeps in the crowd are oohing and ahhing at his threads. In this case, the emperor's new clothes are the Kibby appetizer (drowning in a sea of yogurt), the lamb shawarma and the beef noodles. It's also the kookie one-way window that covers the entire far side of the room and the inexplicable covering with drapes the windows facing the street (nice grotto you have here, folks). There wasn't really much difference between the shawarma and noodle dishes. One had rice and the other had pasta. Both dishes had overwhelming and harsh spices. The meat pieces were tough and dry. And on both dishes they plopped a ton of yogurt and parsley, making a mushy mess. We couldn't eat our dishes. We had them box them up and on our way out we dropped our dinners in the dumpster out back. They were that bad. Maybe because of the line that was growing at the door,the waiter pressed us to sign our tab, apparantly to get us out to seat other customers. P.T. Barnum really knew what he was talking about. I feel a bit burned by all the Yeeps that gave such high marks to the Mediterranean Kitchen. That's why we came here in the first place! You guys!
(2)
Chris D.
PROS: Food is excellent, Portion sizes are very large, there is plenty of variety and the wait time from ordering to dropping it off at your table is very reasonable. CONS: Always crowded so you always have to wait without reservations, and sometimes you have to wait even with reservations (although only a few minutes). It is small with poor sound dampening qualities, so it is gets loud
(5)
Lavinder S.
This place is my go to spot, when i am very hungry and can eat more than 1 plate of yummy food. My favorite is farmer's dish, which is full of delicious chicken wings on top of rice. Servers are nice and friendly and ambience is warm too. I have been here numerous times and like the consistency in which food is prepared and it tastes.
(4)
Diana C.
Flavorful food and good prices. A little hard to find, and the actual restaurant is small, but the staff is nice and food is totally worth it. Been here a few times, and always find their food to be consistently good. Will be back for sure. Big portions and yummy food for not much money make for a great day!
(4)
Vlad K.
Every time i came in here the food was good, fresh and they gave big portions.
(4)
Shoshana K.
huge portions - prices seem a little high until you see how much food you get. we did not find it overly garlic-y like some other reviewers, i thought it was seasoned well. not necessarily authentic med/mid east food, but it was delicious. for some reason my mom did not like the leftovers as much the second day as the night we dined in. i'm sure a contributing factor to the enjoyment level the second day was the fact that we could not heat up the leftovers since we were staying in a hotel and only had a fridge. ordered the lamb shanks and the shrimp seafood. the shrimp are EXCELLENT. the lamb was also good, but comes with HUGE vegitables, a little too much. they were crowded by the time we left, and we got there close to when they started dinner service. wait staff was very nice. i really like how this was a non franchised restaurant in a neighborhood of chain eateries (cheesecake factory, red robin, wendys, etc). nice to support the more original little guys. at first i thought i wanted to try garlic crush across the street, but when i walked by this place and saw all the zagat reviews i decided we should try this place instead. garlic crush i think is supposed to be good also...however all i know is the food here was on point. delicious and plentiful.
(3)
Zachary Sam Z.
So I'm a newbie when it comes to interviewing potential hires at work, but I have to say I learned two valuable lessons about interviewing today. ONE: Getting in an accident on the way back from lunch is bad. Thankfully I missed the car in front of me... but just by thaaaat much. Close call. TWO: When you have $40 sanctioned by HR for a lunch for two, you should definitely go to Mediterranean Kitchen. (Even if you don't have $40 for a lunch for two, you should still come here.) The service is prompt and friendly. Within moments of being seated, we had water, soup, and warm pita bread at the table. I don't know the name of the soup, nor if it rotates from day to day... this felt like a cross between a lentil soup and split pea, and it was definitely tasty. The pita bread was warm, and was served with a tasty vinaigrette for dipping. I had been eying the Farmer's Dish, because it was their specialty (and I love wings), but I'm glad the waiter mentioned the dish would take an extra 15 minutes or so. Can't afford it on an interview time table! So I'll get it next time. Instead, I opted for the Dajaj Mishwi at the recommendation of the server, because it uses a similar sauce. And it was really good - the garlic sauce had a really unique flavor that I couldn't get enough of. Actually, I take it back - I COULD get enough, because the plate was insanely large. A huge pile of rice with tons of chicken on top, and hummus (?) on the side. I came to the restaurant hungry, and still left with half of my meal in a to go container. All up, you're looking at $15 including tax and tip, which is a pretty nice price for what you're getting. It's a bit of a trek from Microsoft, but it's totally worth it for a lunch getaway. BTW, if you're trying to find this place based on the picture up above, take note that the awning is really more dark blue than teal. Not sure if the awning has changed or if the lighting was weird in that picture. There are plenty of teal awnings in the area, but only one Mediterranean Kitchen!
(5)
Jace D.
The patio needs an upgrade, they could make it super nice with better tables and lighting. On the other hand, maybe the weather isn't good enough to warrant?? I'm a tourist. On the food side, I loved the garlic goop served with pita. I was also able to order off of the appetizer menu even though it says you can't. That would have been annoying and cost a star. Lucky for me they made an exception - the customer is always right folks!. Service was pretty decent and the meza plate was scrumptious! Oh, the thing that did annoy was that when they brought my pint of beer there were a few inches missing off the top. That always bums me out. If you want to sell me a pint, serve me a pint... Would return, but too many other options around here to try! Nice area!
(4)
Nick V.
Mmmmmm. You haven't been yet? You must go! Expect to reek of garlic the remainder of the evening. Be prepared! Excellent dishes, with ginormous portions that are even better the next day. Don't forget the mint tea! Unlimited refills. I got inspired by their version of mint tea and made my own at home today...with vodka. =)
(4)
Peter H.
Had the chicken shawarma and it was absolutely fantastic! Lentil soup (included) had an interesting, aromatic flavor but was nothing special. As others have mentioned the portions are HUGE- you can get 2 and maybe even 3 meals out of it. Highly recommended.
(5)
Paul M.
Very good! Went here with a co-worker for dinner and we both enjoyed our meals quite a bit. The dining room was pretty empty on a weeknight, surprisingly, but the service was very good. I had a chicken shawarma plate which was perhaps the biggest plate of food I've seen. Maybe ever. It was piled high, hot and fresh, with juicy and well-spiced chicken, great rice, and a lovely assortment of vegetables. It was easily three meals' worth of food for me. Hit the spot. Pricing is not bad considering quantity. Overall, I liked Mediterranean Kitchen and will likely go back.
(4)
Kimmy C.
I am in garlic heaven. Oh boy... if you do come here make sure you bring mints. STRONG mints and you might need to eat all 10 mints all at once. If you come here with a date, share your mints too. Actually, just share your mints with all your neighboring tables. They serve you soup and pita bread with a garlic dip in the beginning. I almost thought about licking the entire plate because it was so good. I decided to refrain myself from embarrassing the other people I was with. Probably a smart move. We ordered 3 dishes and shared among 4 people. We probably make it through 1/3 of the food and had tons of leftovers. I think if I had a dish, I'd be eating it for days. We had the spanikopita, chicken noodle dish, and another chicken dish which is their most popular item on the menu. I can't remember the name. Our server was actually quite funny. He brought our plates over and then said "When you're done, we're going to bring the other half of the meal." My jaw dropped because I thought he was serious. I'm glad there was no other half of a meal. Tip #1: make reservations Tip #2: bring mints Tip #3: share your mints Tip #4: take home leftovers and reheat Tip #5: find your mints and eat more mints.
(5)
Dennis D.
Great sitdown lunch place, small and intimate but right on a lively bustling street, and very close to Bell Square Mall. Their spicy vinaigrette sauce with pita bread is incredible, and the falafel is basic and reliable.
(4)
J T.
I LOVE this restaurant. All the food I've tried here is amazing, so good that I recommend you make reservations before going because there is almost always a wait. Their chicken shawarma is the best I've ever had. My parents used to go here years ago when it was in Seattle on Roy Street, luckily, the food at this location is just as amazing. You can also buy bottles of their garlic sauce and dressing!
(5)
Eunice M.
I would come back here in a heartbeat! Food: I ordered Dajaj Mishwi which is a rice dish with charbroiled chicken thighs served with their house garlic sauce and a side of hummus with lots of herbs sprinkled all over. The chicken was so tender and juicy - the hummus was rich and thick - the rice was cooked and flavored perfectly. Service: The staff members were so friendly and they gave good suggestions. Location/accessibility: This place is easy to spot on NE 124th St. It shares a pretty big parking lot with its neighbor businesses, so parking shouldn't be an issue. Price: Their entrees range from $14~18. Huge portions... You get two meals out of each entree. This place is a deal.
(5)
Jorene S.
This place is awesome. The flavor explosions with every bite keep me coming back for more. The space is small and usually packed which can slow the kitchen down at times. On the other hand the servers are friendly and are constantly zipping around to move things along. Large portions for the price...I usually get two whole meals out of the one or a few small ones! YUMMMMMMMMMMM
(4)
Kazar L.
Why did the foodies cross the road? To get to the other Mediterranean restaurant!.......well I tried. If you ever find $20 on the street and want the same food served at Garlic Crush, but with great table service, better appetizers, and more selection, this is the place for you. After a hard days work, and craving something doused in tzatziki sauce, Mediterranean Kitchen came to mind. We were promptly seated and given some great appetizers in the form of lentil soup and naan bread. While the bread was pretty standard, the lentil soup was definitely a surprise. The entree's themselves were just as everyone else had described: enormous! The lamb was just a bit tough, but the crispy spanakopita ranked among the best that I've had to date(only twice before). The service was fast and friendly, there was more than enough to have a midnight snack, but seeing as how I was only AS impressed with the food as I was with Garlic Crush, I could only justify the +$5 price per dish if you were looking for a restaurant-style dining experience along with your meal. Otherwise, if food is your only priority, you can cut out the extra fluff by walking across the street. Service: 4/5 decor: 3/5 Food: 4/5 TL; DR If you want to show a date you have Shawarma swag, this is a good place to go.
(4)
Shieng L.
As is typical of small quaint restaurants, their restroom was a residential style bathroom -- a dreadful pain of rejection ran through my bowels when I pushed the door only to find that it was locked. But as I moped back to my seat, the customer using the restroom had finished and it was my turn. The restroom was fairly large, about 10' x 9' with a standing urinal -- but this was not just a restroom, it was also a place of storage. There was a vacuum and other supplies stowed against the left side wall. I'm all for efficiency, so that's all cool by me. The reason why I had to give this restroom two stars was due to the poor engineering effort that went into the bathroom tissue holder. The design had three rectangular, closed ended tubes welded at an adequate distance apart to hold the toilet paper; however, there was no end piece to stop the toilet paper from falling off of the rack and rolling around on the dirty bathroom floor! The distance from the toilet was close enough so that it is very easy for a clumsy elbow or awkward turn while gathering toilet paper to lose the roll. If you are reading this, please do yourself a favor and fold the toilet paper with the inside facing out to avoid using the most-likely-soiled outside. ...and the food was pretty decent.
(2)
Food Physicist D.
My fellow Yelpers were "spot on" with this little gem. The cuisine is intoxicating! What an authentic, delectable mediterranean experience. From the soup, to the naan with the delicous dipping garlic sauce, to the Lamb Sharwama and the Seafood Coucous. Every bite was an amazing treat. and yes.... the place is small.... we arrived at 5:00 on a Wednesday night and there were just a few tables left. By 6:00, there was a line gathering at the door. The irony is that the portions are so HUGE, that it would take you alll night to finish or to even be able to get out of your seat. I'm not sure why the owner chose the "large portions / small restaurant" combo, but it doesn't matter. We are hooked and we will be back.
I love mediterranean food ! I like this place for its location and their portions. One plate can last for two, maybe three meals ! My go-to, never-fail dish for any greek or mediterranean food is the lamb gyro or plate.
(3)
Sarath K.
Good portions and decent food. Don't order falafel plate if you hate salad. It's just 4 falafels on top of salad.
(4)
Jeffrey V.
One of my favorite restaurants in the area, and I've tried both this and the Kirkland location (which is a bit more casual, since it's in a strip mall.) The portions are massive, and I hope you love garlic. The shish tawook (chicken, rice, garlic sauce) is simply fantastic.
(5)
Kat A.
I wanted to love this place. The soup (pea, lentil, something) and pita/garlic sauce starter was incredible. I hear you can buy the sauce, and I totally would. We ordered the spanakopita and veg couscous. The veg was just stewed, brown, lumpy, on a huge bed of couscous with some mysterious yogurt sauce on top that tasted like it was a few days past expired. Same sauce on spanakopita plus feta. The feta was way too tangy and sour. I ate two bites and couldn't even eat it to be polite, or satiate my hunger. I is Orexi's, which was right across the street. I was hoping for vibrant, flavorful food but it all came off cheap cafeteria. I would only go back for the pita and garlic sauce. The staff was friendly and attentive, but the large portions make it hard for them to realize that you aren't enjoying your food and have stopped eating it. Won't be back and pretty surprised by all the amazing reviews.
(1)
Natarajan S.
Hands down one of the best mediterranean places in Seattle. Folks here are nice and food is simply delicious. The portions are very large, so you might want to order less than usual. You cant go wrong with their shwarma and their Hummus is delicious. For those who are Gluten free, they have a bunch of options for you here .
(5)
Ella I.
Went here first time Thursday night eith my friend i love the food great place. service was good..nuce place
(5)
Maren H.
Be Ready for Garlic Overload in the best possible way! Wonderful food, huge portions and nice staff. I enjoy my experience here very much. I also love that I have so much food that I can take it home and eat it for a few more meals. I love the Chicken Shishtawook (SP?). I love it so much I crave it. The only down side is I don't find the setting super comfortable, I feel the tables are a bit crammed in both locations... But overall I love it and the prices are totally reasonable.
(4)
Malea X.
i was not impressed, though it was fairly easy to eat gluten-free. i'm a huge fan of mediterranean food and i found the food here to be just ok. apparently, if you're a meat eater, you may have a much different experience. one of my dining companions had the lamb shawarma and found it to be quite good. i and my other dining companion had falafel and babaganoush. the babaganoush was pretty good. the falafel, however was bland and tasteless. to add insult to injury, the food was very expensive. just the babaganoush appetizer and the falafel appetizer (4 falafels) set me back $21! the restaurant got very loud as it filled up and we had three different people bring us our food. despite 2 of us who are gluten-free asking each time we ordered something if it was gluten-free, we were brought 3 small glutenous pastries at the end of the meal. WTF? next time i'll stick with garlic crush across the street.
(2)
Juli-ann W.
Favorite for the last decade. A small, but convenient location with wonderful service. They've recently redecorated with very tasteful art, fresh paint, new blinds and lighting. Looks great! Zahra is cauliflower that I could eat every day with the most amazing spices and sauce. Shish Tawook and Chicken Schwarma are frequent go-to items, but when they have specials, I always try to get them. Love this place and I tend to take everyone I know here as it's a can't miss sort of spot.
(5)
Michael L.
Yum, great food and the wait staff is on top of things. My friends and I were really lucky when we came on Saturday, they had a 3 hour wait for a table but kindly let us sit outside, it was a super nice day so outside didn't matter. After we sat they gave us free pita and a bowl of soup. We ordered a appetizer of hummus which was really good. It was creamy and filled with flavor. For our entrees my table ordered the lamb kabobs, the farmers plate and the lamb shawarma. The lamb from the kabobs were a little over cooked but the other two dishes were just fine, each bite was filled with flavor. The portions of each plate were ginormous, each plate came with a huge serving of rice and a lot of the food ended up as leftovers (sounds like a bad thing but I had a great lunch the next day). The service here was excellent as well, even though we were sitting outside they were very attentive to our table, always asked us how we were doing and made sure that our waters were topped off. The price of each plate was a little bit high but overall the food and experience was worth it. Not a place I would consider eating everyday but I would come back some time in the future. Two people should probably share an Entree since this place has large portions.
(4)
Sharon B.
This place was amazing!!! The portions are heaping. I could not finish my plate (this never happens). And everything tasted absolutely amazing. You receive lentil soup, a garlic sauce (not super crazy about it), and warm pita upon sitting. Highly recommended!
(5)
Sarah F.
This place gets 4.5, so I'm rounding up to 5. One of the main reasons I'm rounding up is I see quite a few reviews that have had negative comments on the chicken, and I for one DISAGREE! :-) Pros? -Super romantic atmosphere -Our server was attentive and not intrusive at all -The salad dressing that they serve with the pita is STOCK FULL OF GARLIC... a plus for me -Our appetizer, the Lamb Kibby was AMAZING- we loved it -The combo platter was quite delicious- lots of rice, as with all Mediterranean places, but ALSO lots of meat (plenty for 2 or 3 people)... the lamb was juicy and flavorful (SO GOOD!), the beef was yummy, and the chicken had a nice lemon flavor and was NOT dry (it's possible this place took the earlier reviews to heart and changed their ways) -Casablanca BEER! It was after a long day of work and errands... so I was happy about that :-) -Their baklava is WAY above average Cons? -I've heard it gets busy during lunch. I went during dinner and it was pleasantly (not crazily) busy -Definitely a bit pricey, but as the portions are so large, you could easily make it a cheap place as well
(5)
Erin W.
This place was pretty good for a random stop during a day of meetings all over Seattle. The food was fresh, warm and flavorful. The salad alone was enough for 10 so a suggestion would be ordering less than you think you'll need to feel satisfied.
(3)
Yekta A.
Good food+great people = great secret spot in Bellevue Try the Mezza plate and one entree to share, there's tons of food! Parking in the dry cleaner lot is your best shot!
(4)
Kay N.
If you are extremely hungry and craving for Greek food. This is the spot. The portions here are hugeee! I only ate like 1/3 of my lamb dish.The dish did not lack flavor. They also give you soup and pita bread with am oil dip while you wait for your food. Service was on spot and the food came out fairly quickly. I would recommend this place.
(4)
Chris M.
The food here is amazing but be prepared to eat it for three days straight! Seriously, the portions are huge! A great place for Mediterranean food. It's always busy so either get there early or be prepared to wait. There are at least three Mediterranean food restaurants on this same street but they're always full. A good sign!
(4)
Wendy P.
To start, the portions are beyond huge. There were 4 of us, we had the appetizer sampler and 4 entrees and had leftovers for days. The food is good, but it's not the best Lebanese I've had. We had the chicken and lamb shwarmas and the beef kafta and the chicken wings. Again, they were good, but not great. The rice didn't have a ton of flavor - although there was a ton of it. The hummus was good but not creamy. We did enjoy the Lebanese wine. Will probably try again...but it wasn't near as good as I had hoped it would be.
(3)
Amos Y.
Ordered the lamb shwarma and farmer chicken wings. They also serve appetizer of soup and Mediterranean flat bread free of charge. Portions are large and filling. The shwarma was excellent, but the chicken wings were slightly bloody near the bones.
(4)
Dee N.
Fellow yelpers were right about the portions, they're huge! I ordered the veggie spinokpita. It was my first time having it. The taste was amazing! The outside was golden and flaky, just the way I like it! When I took the left overs home it was like I ordered a meal to go. The food was great, same goes for the staff as well. I'll definitely be back.
(5)
Lily Y.
Dajaj Mishwi - grilled chicken thighs (boneless!) over a big pile of saffron rice, with a side of hummus, and all you can eat pita bread! the chicken was moist and perfectly seasoned. huge portions! Lentil soup - tasty! Pita bread and dip - the dip as amazing! i couldn't tell what it was.. olive oil with some seasoning, but it was very yummy! Generous portions, excellent service, great price for lunch! :)
(4)
Carleen P.
This place is delicious!! The portions are huge too, so prepare to have what you order for another meal. If you get there early enough during lunch (11ish) then you'll avoid the crowd. As for dinner, this place is such a cute little romantic spot. I've taken dates here before, and I took one of my best female friends here when she was feeling down. This place brought her spirits back up. It's cozy and intimate. Yes that is code for it's smaller, but it's not cramped by any means. There is more than enough space in between tables that you can enjoy a conversation with your date without hearing everyone else over your date. And the servers are really sweet too. If I'm going to go on a date with someone in downtown Bellevue, this is definitely one of my top spots.
(4)
Krista N.
After eating here, I really don't get the hype of this place. I have had a lot of great greek food in my life and this food def wasn't bad or gross, but in my opinion, not very rave worthy. I ordered the chicken shawarma, it was dry and the sauce was missing something. There was also more onions than anything else on my plate. Also, the only hot sauce they have here is tabasco? um... ok?.....for greek food? really? The rice tasted like it had a bunch of chicken boulion in it, which was confusing. My mom ordered a vegetarian dish, which came out as basically onions and tomatoes. The sauce tasted weird. The portions are huge yes, but we didn't want to take ours home. The best part of the meal was that tasty garlic dip they served us in the beginning. I will give this place another try and order other stuff next time. It isn't like this place is bad, but for the price ( 10-11 per person even at lunch), I'd rather head to Santori's in Kirkland for a 6buck bomb gyro, or for way better tasting and cheaper plate of shawarma. Or heck head over across the street to Garlic Crush, it's cheaper and better in my opinion.
(3)
Elaina H.
no other words... the bomb
(5)
May K.
My Pakastani friend raved about this place, so we drove over on a week day evening. We parked at a building across the street since there was no available parking nearby. The place was quite busy, and we waited a few minutes for an empty table. As soon as we placed our order, our server gave us lentil soup and fresh pita to start with. OH MY GOD it was the best lentil soup I've had, and I could've gone home right there and then. We ordered hummus and baba ganoush for appetizers (the menu said that you can't just order appetizers). It was huge and delicious. For main entrees we got the chicken and lamb dishes - both came with sides of hummus and a lot of rice. We wouldn't have gotten the hummus appetizer if we had enough, and the second waiter apologized in saying that he would've told us but I guess the first guy didn't. Needless to say we had a lot of leftovers and the waiter was nice enough to throw in 2 extra pita breads on our way out (including detailed reheating instructions). Great experience and highly recommend it!
(5)
Sam P.
The two stars are solely being awarded because this place has extremely passionate and attentive employees. They seem to love their customers, their jobs, and speak as if their food is the greatest in the world. They bring a great energy to the place. I tend to be a real sucker for great service that is simply too hard to come by these days. Unfortunately, the story goes down hill from here. I thought the soup and appetizers were average and the main dishes were awful. It truly tasted like it was cooked by somebody who had no idea how to use spices and: over used them something terrible. This being said, I have never had this style of food, so maybe it is just something that is good food, but not my style. The great reviews by others lead me to believe that some people must be enjoying it, but I sure did not.
(2)
Nadeem M.
Very large portions, you'll probably have enough for lunch and dinner. Overall good tasting food but very oily with a strong flavor. Most things include a lot of rice. The Spinnakotta was an interesting meal.
(4)
Lisa D.
I was excited due to the great reviews, but was disappointed when I went and got the lamb shwarma. Pro: Service -- Servers were on top of it and were extremely helpful Portions -- Very generous portions Decor -- A neat establishment Con: Food - The food was much more greasy than other Mediterranean establishments I have been to, and nothing stood out as amazing. Wait - Usually crowded
(2)
Sonal K.
I loved the food . It was really delicious and the service was prompt.
(4)
Diane T.
Vampires beware...they don't go easy on the garlic here! The portions are giant on top of the complimentary soup, pita bread, and garlic dressing. You'll definitely be taking home a box! The signature dish is the chicken shawarma. It's packed with tons of flavorful chicken, veggies and rice. Another favorite of mine is the veggie cous cous. It's packed with tons of veggies in a tangy tomato sauce. You also can't go wrong with the lamb shawarma, farmer's dish, shish tawook or anything for that matter. The place is kind of small and gets pretty packed, but they move pretty quick...and do take my warning on the garlic because it stays with you for a day or two.
(4)
Andy V.
My friend says that this place is one of the best places to eat in the Washington area. He wasn't kidding. I've had med food at home, but this place was great. I'm so satisfied, you can see my comment card in the pictures I posted. The service, the food, everything is really good. We stopped by for lunch, and my friend warned me that the portions were big. I was really hungry and thought he was over exaggerating. Boy was I wrong. I couldn't finish my meal. I ordered the 3 kabob combo. You get chicken, beef, and this ground beef thing. Add some saffron rice and a gigantic serving of hummus, and you got yourself a great lunch. The meat is really tendered, and well seasoned with flavors. It's so yummy, and the hummus really kicks it off. The service is great too. The owner or manager kept checking on us, ensuring we enjoyed our meal. Small touches like that is what made the perfect rating for me. The med kitchen was a complete dining experience, and I really enjoyed it here. If I'm ever in Washington, I'll be sure to stop by again!
(5)
Bill B.
You will not leave hungry! There is one serving size: huge. You will have leftovers for a day (if you have just run a marathon or built a house) or two. That's the upside. The downside is that your breath will smell like a Citroen full of Gauls after just a few bites of anything on the menu. I think even the wines are infused with garlic. We've been going here for a handful of years and I have to agree that the quality of the food is sliding downwards. It's still good, but not as great as it once was.
(3)
Jennifer M.
Like: I always come here for the Dajaj Mishwi. This is my all time favorite dish. It includes charbroiled boneless, skinless chicken thighs marinated in spices, served with their house garlic sauce which is GREAT. If you love garlic, their hummus is delicious, which they serve with pita and a side of soup along with their Lunch Menu. An interesting Appetizer to order is the Zahrah, with is a cauliflower deep-fried and tapped with tahini sauce, green onions, raddish and fresh crushed mint. This is a cute little restaurant with not very much seating and gets fairly busy during the lunch hour. I've also had the Farmer's dish which is popular. It's marinated chicken wings served with their garlic sauce. It's somewhat sour but an interesting take on chicken wings. I still prefer the Dajaj Mishwi over this. Probably my favorite plcae for Mediterranean food. They also give extremely large portions so come hungry!
(5)
Damon L.
So what's even better than the food here? I'll tell you. Having it waiting for you as a surprise when you come home. If you haven't been there and you like flavor, garlic, and good service the some should slap you with a piece of pita. Which is served by the loaf. Not really, but it seems that way. My girl will garrote someone for the wings which are only made at this place. I guess if you go to Lebanon they make them to but Bellevue is a bit closer. I pretty much love everything they make here and have never been disappointed. They really have excellent service which goes a long way in their cramped restaurant. Aces aces aces. Now back to eating my Sunday surprise.
(5)
Kevin A.
I love most of the food here. My highlights are: Lamb couscous. Lamb stewed to perfect tenderness, and couscous made to the perfect softness. Heavenly. Lamb shawarma, all the vegetable and garlic sauce with the meat is just too good to resist. Lamb shishi kebab. With the humous and the generous serving of rice and lamb, perfect for the hungriest of man.
(5)
Quincy E.
Went for dinner and it was so good that I took a group of 15 colleagues back for lunch the next day. Service is awesome and food was even better!!
(4)
Ifrah A.
The food was good with massive portions and all. If I was writing the review based on just the food this place would have easily gotten a 4 or 5. But I'm writing the review based on the whole experience in which case I feel like giving it a 3 is being kinda generous. I went there as part of a 15 person party. The restaurant is actually pretty small so we ended up taking over about half the place. There were 3 little kids with us as well and as we were waiting for the food the kids got anxious and started getting out of their seat and walking around. We made sure to keep them on our side of the restaurant so that they wouldn't disturb any other guests (I think 2 other tables were occupied, 4 other people). The waiter came out and asked us to keep the kids in their seats and to not let them walk/play around. Ok. This might have been a little rude but I get where he was coming from and we got the kids back in their chairs. Then, as the kids were still in the chair they started talking to each other and joking around. The place got a bit noisy by this point but I'm sure that expected because there were 20 people in a really small space. The waiter again came out shortly after serving our food and asked us to take the kids outside as they were being too loud apparently. In my opinion, asking people to leave your restaurant isn't exactly good business. The kids were not bothering any of the other customers. Its one thing to ask us to get the kids of be more quiet but this guy just asked us to take them out of the restaurant. At this point everyone was so annoyed at the waiter, who I'm sure was being directed by the other employees in the kitchen to tell us this, that we wanted to leave. I had to wait in the car with the kids as everyone else finished eating their food asap and got the rest of it packed so that we could leave. It was a 15 person party and we ordered tons of food. Their food doesn't come cheap either so that bill was pretty big. Yet we were asked to remove our kids from the restaurant. Really? The first experience there was so bad that we haven't been back there since. There are plenty of other places that serve food just as good if not better and those places don't ask you to take your kids out of the restaurant because they're being as noisy as kids always are.
(3)
Kirry C.
Oh god. How can I eat anywhere else in Bellevue ever again?? I had the lamb shawarma. Oh my F'in tapdancing christ on a cracker it was delectable. Huge plate piled high with saffron rice, vegetables, lots and lots of lamb, and a most amazing garlic sauce. Just SO much flavor in this one dish. I'm going to be thinking about it all day today. My date had the Farmer's Dish which is like a huge portion of perfectly seasoned chicken wings. I just don't know how they're able to flavor everything so perfectly!! I am coming back here again and again when I'm even a few miles away from this place....
(5)
Michael L.
So, I really wanted to LOVE this place. But 1 thing pretty much effed them over. and that was their chicken. omg. heard great things, had great reviews on yelp, so we thought, we're there! strolled up, seemed nice enough, service was great. pita bread was awesome. fun ambiance. i couldn't decide what to order, do i want the lamb, beef, or combination...hmmm...lamb...beef...or...combinatioÂn...well, i thought let's try the combo since it has a variety. if i had gotten the lamb or the beef, i would be debating between 4 or 5 stars here. seriously. but instead, i combo'd it up. the lamb was to die for. soooo...freaking...good. rice was great, hummus was awesome, even the kafta kabob was pretty good. but that chicken...horrible. honestly, probably one of the worst pieces of chicken i've ever had. seasoned well. but man, talk about dry as desert sand. and tough, and chewy, and just...not...good. and unfortunately for me, i had like 4 pieces of it! i even took it home, thinking it might improve for some strange reason. but it didn't. just threw it away. because the chicken was just that bad, i can't bring myself to rate it any higher, even though the service was exquisite, the other parts of the meal were good, the proportions were gigantic...all i can think about is the stupid chicken... so, go here and order something without the chicken and it'll be great. or pray you have better luck than i did.
(3)
Robert K.
Taste is average, portions are HUGE, and the price comes with it...overall I put it below average because for similar taste and much better pricing, I'd rather go elsewhere nearby. The wait was long but I didn't even consider that into my rating. Disclaimer: only been here once, never going back.
(2)
Allie S.
The great -- the service, the neverending supply of hot mint tea, the food, the portions The less great -- the price. Two entrees, one of which was vegetarian, the other was beef (less expensive than the lamb), and one mint tea resulted in a $48 tab including our share of the tip from the UYE split. Ouch. The same meal would have been $27 or so at Totem Lake. Overall -- I love Totem Lake's Mediterranean Kitchen -- it's less classy, more sassy -- and because I love it and gave it 5 stars, MKB just cannot live up to MKK in my heart, mind -- even if it is ultimately just about the same in my stomach. MKB is classier and lacks the delicious wraps and gyro plate on their dinner menu. Sad!
(4)
Sheila L.
This place is small but yet their food is packed with so much goooood flavors! Went here only one time (so far) and absolutely LOVE this place already! For four people we ordered the chicken shawarma, lamb shish kabobs, and seafood couscous and to start it off with we got the hummus appetizer with pita bread and also their very garlicky lemony dipping sauce which was SOO yumm!! And we were also served their vegetarian lentil soup. Each entree was definitely a good BIG size. It is definitely more of a family style than individual so I wouldn't order just one dish per person... We had TONS of leftovers to take home (three big boxes)! For dessert we ordered two plates of the baklava (my first time ever to have baklava) and it was amazingly deliciouss!! We also got turkish coffee that came with it and it was very interesting and tasty (cinnamon and cloves?). Definitely something different and good to go with a buttery sweet dessert. mmm :) I cannot wait to go back and try other dishes they have! Also their staff is soo friendly! Our waiter was very helpful and HONEST! He told us which meat dishes he thought was best yet also said he was a vegetarian but knew which dishes was more popular and definitely were good choices! Our water glasses were constantly being filled too. :) FYI- Parking can be hard but if you go at the right timing its not that bad.
(5)
Robbie K.
Of course, if garlic isn't your thing, go elsewhere. Likewise, if you like small portions presented as art. I remember this place when it was located on Roy St -- near Seattle Center. I'm glad they're near my mother-in-law now. The chicken thighs are an amazing meal and bargain. The eggplant appetizer is delightful and the tabbouleh isn't just a lot of bulger wheat bits of parsley and tomato. Rather, it's a parsley-dominated salad that I love. Likewise, the hummus as a great blend of garbanzo and tahini. They're used to doddy-bagging your leftovers, but remember to ask for a little extra garlic sauce to take home.
(5)
Regina L.
Farmer's Dish: messy. And made me kind of uncomfortable because it smelled like my dog haha. I'm not being mean or nothing but im just saying. couldnt eat much of it because I started to feel bad. Dont tell me to become a vegetarian because i love meat too much. Lamb shawarma: hella good. didnt smell like my dog, really tender lamb. Couldn't eat much of that either though because the lamb dish wasnt mine.
5 stars compared to absolutely everything in Portland. I live down south in the rainy rose city sister. I had a preconceived notion going in here, dragged by good friends, that I didn't like this genre. Why couldn't we just go grab good Asian or Thai? I was blown away by the experience. Nothing back home has yet to come close, there's one more spot to try in PDX, but it has a lot to live up to now. MK was a stellar hole-in-the-wall joint that delivered on every dish they sent from the kitchen. My wife ordered the Salmon which could enter a contest for best salmon we've ever eaten in our life. I went with the standard combo kobabs and was thoroughly pleased. Each stick of meat was equally good on its own without a bland one in the bunch. Whenever we visit for a few days, I think we'll be asking to come back here in the future. It's always nice when one restaurant can change your entire perception of that cuisine.
(5)
Wendy M.
the pita bread is yummy with the first bite of hummus. Whoa!!! There's a ton of garlic in there! I had to make sure my husband had some so that we could both smell like garlic and not notice it on each other. The portions are huge. we had to take it home for leftovers and what wonderful leftovers they make! I had the prawns which were cooked perfectly. My husband had the beef shish kabob. Both meals were very fragrant and lovely. The spices used are very comforting and satisfying. I think their baklava is the best! I was a little concerned because it looked a little on the dry side... I loved that it wasn't too sweet and wasn't drowning in syrup. We also had the house red wine which was very good. We really enjoyed it. The folks here are really friendly and down to earth. Very helpful when making a meal selection for the very first time. I actually probably give it a 4.5
(4)
Ponarett X.
This place definintely does not skimp on the garlic...and I love it! I took my mom here for lunch one day and was immediately greeted by a nice looking guy. =) The place is pretty small and within 5 minutes of my arrival, the place had filled up. Soup and pita with a dipping sauce were immediately brought out. The lentil soup was so-so; nothing amazing. The dipping sauce was to-die-for! Garlicky and oily...it was wonderful. I had already looked at the menu online beforehand so I knew exactly what I wanted. As an fyi, the menu online is more informative. Some dishes come with hummus but you won't know which ones unless you've looked at the online menu. I ordered the kafta kabob and my mom ordered the chicken shwarma. The portions are huge! Enough for 2-3 meals. My dish came with hummus and it was probably the tastiest, freshest hummus I've ever had in a restaurant. My kabobs were delicious; the rice was fluffy. However, the grilled onions were still a bit raw and crunchy for my liking. My mom's dish was beautiful and perfectly cooked. I don't think you can go wrong in this place.
(5)
Angelina L.
This place is very small and a hole in the wall type place. A little dark inside, but more romantic dark than anything. There will almost always be a wait for a table on the weekends, but they do take reservations for parties of four or more. All that being said, it is definitely worth it!!! The food is oh so good!!! My favorite would be the Lamb Shawarma. The service is always good and friendly. Prices, well, they can be a little high for a plate (about $13 to $18 per plate), but the amount of food you get it is understandable!! I can go here and have meals for 3 days off of one plate!! If in the area of Bellevue Square Mall and not wanting to go to Red Robin, The Cheesecake factory, etc.. This is a short few blocks down Bellevue Way and definitely worth the walk or short drive!!!
(4)
Susan X.
Took my parents here last weekend and we had a blast. They've never tried Mediterranean food before, but they are rather picky eaters with good palates, so it's often hard to get them to like something new. Luckily, they LOVED it. Naturally, I was stupid and should have read the Yelp reviews before we headed out. If I'd done that, I would've known that the portions were monstrous. Don't get me wrong, we were happy to take all of it back in 6 gigantic containers, but our little table was possibly about to collapse from the food. One entree could probably feed 3 mildly hungry people or 2 very hungry people. They brought us complimentary flatbread that was hot and wonderful with a fabulously garlicky butter. We ordered baba ganouj as our appetizer, and it was good, but too much tahini and a little too acidic for me. It was hard to taste the eggplant. For our main courses, we ordered lamb with couscous, beef noodles, and beef shish kabob. They were all fabulous. The flavors were rich, the meat was succulent, and I LOVED the spiced couscous. Some people aren't a fan of cinnamon in savory dishes, but I am a HUGE fan. The service was excellent, our waiter was attentive and quick. And the prices are entirely reasonable for the (copious) amount of food in each portion. Overall, a great experience!
(4)
Sherry S.
OMGOSH. LOOOVE THIS PLACE. You definitely get your money's worth here. Though this place is rather small, with a line during lunch hour, it's worth the wait and being crowded. Your meal comes with lentil soup and pita with an olive oil dip. I enjoyed both. I had the Lamb Shawarma and OMG! FREAKIN DELICIOUS!!!!! THe serving is HUUUUUGE ALSO. It's practically 2 meals on 1 plate. The dish was bursting with all sorts of flavor and I swear every bite certainly hit the spot. The lamb was tender, the rice was DELICIOUS, the tahini sauce was MAJORLY OFF THE HOOK. I would highly recommend this dish to EVERYONE. MMMM.... drooling just thinking about it... I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Peter D.
I love this place. There I said it. This has become my favorite lunch place but I dont go often because I eat too much and I am comatose afterwards. I have only had the kabobs, and the chicken and lamb are fantastic. Not as big a fan of the ground beef\lamb one but thats a personal thing. The lentil soup they give you in the beginning is fantastic I think. You have to love lemon and garlic or this is NOT the place for you. I also recommend going early or late because it is full during the rush and you will find yourself wondering where to stand. I find 11-11:45 and 1:30-2:30 the best times to go for lunch. I recommend this place highly. Peter
(5)
Eugene C.
Sooooo dammmmmmn gooooooood. I don't like how they charge you a share plate fee if you want to share their enormously large plates. It's almost like they're begging you to share because they just give you so much, then they trap you into paying more to share a plate! Tricky tricky. I usually get around this by picking up orders to go for dinners for 4 or 5 people. It's nice because I can usually get away with buying only 3 or 4 dishes and have leftovers for the next day! Yes, yes, size does matter. But let's not forget quality too! M. Kitchen rocks my stomach something fierce with delicious I have not known to come from a Mediterranean restaurant. I've have good mediterranean food, but this place is just too good! They overwhelm me with goodness. I'm fairly horrible with remembering Mediterranean dishes, so I usually just do the close my eyes and pick a random dish method. Luckily for me, every time I've done this, I haven't been disappointed. That's saying something! I don't think I've gotten the same "name unknown" dish twice, but every time I have been duly impressed. I strongly recommend takeout because the place is so small, but if you must eat in, I recommend you have a large appetite to tuck away all that food.
(5)
gina m.
Didnt like it. Chicken was dry, too many sauces served on this huge platter with rice on the bottom, charbroiled to death chicken and nasty mushy vegetables on top. We let them pack it in a to go box to be polite because the actual service was top notch. Upon our exit we threw the left overs in their dumpster. Just because you get served huge portions does not make the food good. And what is the deal with that tagged up truck that is parked in the very back of the parking lot with expired tabs??
(1)
Nancy H.
It has been 10 years since I've been here. Can't explain why I haven't been back in so long, as hubby and I have had super meals here in the past. I guess just "life" happened: getting married, setting up house, having some kids, etc. We didn't think our babies/toddlers would be into uber-garlic food - or appreciate us ooze garlic for days, too. So we opted for other fare for a long time and kinda forgot about this place. Tonight I had a hankering for M.K. I don't know what triggered its memory in my mind, but once there, there was NO denying it! The kids are older and adventurous eaters, so hubby and I shang hai'ed them and we all had the most MARVELOUS meal here! The lentil soup was a big hit, as was the supple, warm pita. I found the garlic dipping sauce a tad too intense for my liking, but the kids and hubby ate it up like rabid animals. Hubby had his old stand-by, the Farmer's Plate, full of chicken he says "to die for". He said it was as good and ample a portion as it was 10 years ago. He also had the side salad which was darn big (and only cost $2)! My eldest shared it with him, and she kept saying how "delicious" it was. My kids shared the Shish Kabob sampler plate. Despite being ravenous, they were only able to eat 1/4 of the meal. I chose my old stand-by, Lamb Shawarma. For me, this dish is the epitome of mediterranean cuisine: aromatic, tender lamb, saffron rice, perfectly cooked onions and tomatoes. It was nirvana - and SO much, I could only eat about 1/4 of my meal, too. My hubby, who rarely leaves left-overs anywhere, was only able to eat 1/2 his meal. We were all stuffed. The service was fantastic. Our water glasses were filled every 10 minutes, and our waiter was super-attentive and friendly. Can't say enough about this place. My kids made me promise we'd go back soon. Meanwhile, the left-overs should last 2-3 days, at least!
(5)
Karen Y.
I moved to Seattle about two years now and this place was one of the first places I tried... it still is my absolute favorite restaurant in the surrounding Seattle area. Anytime I have out-of-town guests, this is the place I recommend for them to visit. Well besides the obvious reason, the portions are HUGE and that means when my guests fly out, that means a lot of delicious leftovers for me! I've eaten both inside the restaurant and ordered take-out and it's been a great experience all around. They do not skimp for take-out. Your meal will come with tons of pita bread. My favorite dishes are the Algerian Chicken and Samaki Harrah
(5)
Misty M.
Pretty delicious. For my first foray into Mediterranean food I'm pretty sure I ended up with a great experience. The flavors are so awesome and considering I'm pretty much a vegetarian it made for something new on my tastebuds. The soup before the meal and the fact that I got three wonderfully sized portions out of one meal made it even better. The service was excellent. Very gracious and accommodating of our ever growing group. The price is incredibly steep, but it was still delicious. I think when I frame it with the fact that I got three meals out of one plate it makes the price not sting so much. It's still a hard pill to swallow, enough that even though I like it so much it will become a rare treat for me.
(4)
He M.
I'm lebanese, and i love their mezza platter. Nothing is quite like home, but the best i've had in this area. Combo platter comes with a tiny piece of lamb, i wish it had more! Their kafta and kabab are good. The place is always packed during lunch so go early. Also there always seem to be short of servers so the waits are long.
(4)
Jim H.
Tiny little gem we tried in Bellevue tonight that was definitely worth it. They serve you some very tasty lentil soup to start with and some pita bread with garlic vinaigrette that is good but really garlicky. The pitas taste like they're store bought, so that was a bit of a letdown, but the rest was very good. Wife had the mixed kebab and liked the chicken and lamb but not the beef because of the mint taste (I liked it though). There was also a generous helping of hummus on her plate that was pretty good. As usual though, she had plate envy. I had the lamb shawarma. It was huge and awesome! Her envy was mostly for the veggies in the dish (grilled and tasty) because her lamb was basically the same, but the whole thing was delicious. Nice to know I don't have to go the city to hit Petra for good Mediterranean food (unless I want a better pita of course). Will definitely be hitting this place again!
(4)
Mike F.
So much food. Never order the Mediterranean platter and the lamb schawarma. I ran 8 miles this morning and only burned about 30% of the calories I consumed. My only complaint is that there was too much sauce on the schawarma. Next time (next week), I'll get it on the side.
(4)
John S.
This has been one of my favorite restaurants for years! I love the Shish Tawook or the Farmer's Dish. Absolutely delicious! Don't forget to invite anyone you're visiting with to join you though.... the strong essence of garlic will follow you around for hours (or stay in your car, fill your fridge, etc.)
(5)
Elena M.
Despite my prior experience with poor service and my insistence that I would not go back because of it, I did. The call of the garlic was just too great. Plus, we had errands to do in Bellevue. My husband suggested we give Mediterranean Kitchen another chance since we had been a while since we'd been here. We did and I am glad. I don't know if we had just hit them on a bad day before or if they have seriously revamped their approach, but the service we had at a recent lunch time visit was a complete turnaround from what we had experienced at our previous visit. The place was empty when we first arrived; only one other party, who had walked in just behind us, was seated. But, as the hour went on, the place filled up. Our server gave us friendly, attentive, prompt service throughout. He not only did all the "expected" things that were lacking at our last visit (e.g., simply asking if we had questions on the menu, if we'd like a drink, etc.), he did extra things (like bringing out extra bread without our even asking for it). We felt very welcome, appreciated and take care of. The food was as magnificent as always. I totally agree with the other reviewers who rave about the huge portions served here. My husband and I both went home with leftovers. BUT, since we typically order the same thing -- the shish tawook -- he suggested that next time we split a plate. It would definitely be enough food to fill us both up. We might do that. Or, we might just go for those leftovers... One thing is for certain: There will definitely be a "next time."
(4)
Krystal C.
I find that, with many "mediterranean" restaurants, the fatty meat is the dominant flavor in the dish. With lamb schwarma, especially. Don't get me wrong, I can enjoy schwarma just about anywhere, but at Mediterranean Kitchen, they focus on the other flavors that can really make the dish sing. Each dish is an aromatic taste bud explosion. If you walk in looking for greasy gyro meat, you won't find it here. You'll find something better. The portions are enormous. Each entree will give you one extra meal. In my case, I can usually stretch it to two extra meals. I'd also recommend bringing a few gallon-sized Ziploc bags. That will sequester the smell that will linger in your car and fridge for days. The meal is not complete without a Turkish coffee. A Turkish coffee is best with baklava. This isn't a syrupy, sticky square of walnuted phyllo. This is a lovely, lightly-sweetened, pistachio pastry that is the highlight of the meal here. Hands down the best baklava I have ever had. Now for the logistics. If you have more than four people, call ahead for a reservation because this place is small and to accomodate more than four they'll have to push tables together.
(5)
Connie C.
The lunch prices may seem high compared to regular lunches (around $13-$15), but Mediterranean Kitchen dishes are HUGE. We shared two orders among three of us (the two others are big eaters), and we still had leftovers. Lunch also comes with free lentil soup. The food is delicious. The only downside is that you're left with garlic breath for the next day. Be sure not to come here if you have many meetings in small conference rooms in the afternoon, unless you want to make your coworkers mad.
(4)
Shert J.
Remember: GARLIC is GOOD for you! Very healthy.. so this place must cure all sickness and illness.... If you can't stomach garlic, then better stay away! But that would be sad, as it is an A+++ restaurant in our estimation. The food is soooo good, and yes-- garlicky! Whatever we have ordered, we have loved. It is a wonderful value for the money, everything is great and reasonably priced. Everyone gets a cup of Lentil soup to start and it is DELISH! As is the pita bread and the dip for the bread. I have had many of their entrees, and I love them all! My sons love the Lamb Couscous, Shish Kebab, and the Chicken Shwarma. I love the Algerian Chicken. But I love it all! We have always had great service. The atmosphere is sort of "tacky, strip mall" feeling (less than 2 blocks away from Bell Square, of all things!!), but who cares? You get HUGE portions, and I love that. I bring a couple of my home tupperware containers when we dine here, and take home what will be a FABULOUS lunch the next day (and the day after that probably!) The only real drawback in our book, is the difficulty in finding a parking place! The restaurant is not all that large, either, and tends to get crowded, even on weeknights. So go early, or realize that if you have to wait-- it will be worth it! We moved from Seattle to near the Eastside, and missed the "funky" eateries of the city... most of Bellevue's restaurants are franchises or sort of "plastic-y" formulaic ones. Not M.K.! Definitely worth going to... we are never disappointed, and we leave so full and happy (and healthy from so much garlic-- I dare a flu bug-- or a Vampire-- to get hold of me with so much garlic in me!!!)
(5)
Marc S.
Honestly, I didn't know much about Mediterranean food when I wrote the first review. (I sure I still don't know nearly as much as someone who has actually lived in the region.) It's just not authentic, at MK. Don't get me wrong. It's decent food, a great date place, and a great value. I would heartily recommend paying a visit for the service, ambiance, and very generous portions. A serving probably makes three generous meals (!), and it keeps well in a refrigerator, unlike most authentic Mediterranean food.
(3)
Ankur P.
This is the best mediterranean food I have eaten in the east side. The lamb and the beef gyro was a treat to my palate. I have been here 4 times already over the past 3 months and I haven't been disappointed even once. You will notice that this place is always full with a bunch of loyal customers there no matter what the time and yet surprisingly I have never had to wait more than 10 minutes. Things to watch out for - The lentil soup, the sour mix they give to dip the bread in and the lamb and beef shewerma but beware, there wasn't a man born who could wolf down and entire meal by himself and 100% of the time you will find happy and content folks walking out with leftovers in their hands and a big smile on their faces.
(5)
K S.
The food - amazing. That garlic vinegarette they bring with the pita - wow. I oozed garlic for days... good thing my guy was eating there with me. I had the Dajaj Mishwi (Charbroiled boneless, skinless chicken thighs marinated in spices, served with hummus). Can I just say one thing about this chicken? "Wow!" It was moist, the hummus was garlicky, and the garlic sauce on top, amazing. The rice was a little over done for my tastes, but after re-heating, it was perfect. I got dinner that night, and lunch the next two days out of my leftovers. I had this tea drink that reminded me of sweet tea from the south with cardamom and peppermint with a hint of lemon. I could drink myself out of a tub of that. It made my mouth feel beautiful. Our server was on the ball, prompt, and courteous from the moment we sat down. Great date place, but you gotta love the garlic. And you both gotta eat it.
(4)
Jonah N.
A friend of mine introduced me to this place years ago and I've loved it ever since. The only bad review I can give it is that the location has limited seating and parking isn't exactly the most convenient. But once you're seated, you're in for a treat. All of the dishes I have had are amazing. The portions are extremely large and I tend to bring some home for leftovers the following day. I'm not one for hummus, but I absolutely love theirs! I can easily get full just eating the pita bread and hummus. I usually order the combination kebob plate and it's amazing. They serve it on this bed of rice that is big enough to feed a small village. They throw more hummus on along with the 3 different types of meats. Personally, I'm a big fan of the lamb. I could eat that stuff for days. Every time I eat there, I'm always so uncomfortably full afterward. A little side note....I always have to brush my teeth immediately afterward because of the strong garlic flavors. I won't lie, I even have some garlic breath the day after too. It's totally worth it. It's by far the best Mediterranean food I've ever had. I also joke that if I moved from Seattle, this is one of the places that I would really miss.
(5)
Jamie V.
Hands down best Mediterranean food around the area! The portions are HUGE! And by huge I mean you will have leftovers from your leftovers. I had the beef shawarma. The dish was flavorful and the beef was cooked oh so tenderly. I had lunch for the next 2 days! The wait staff was quick and attentive as well which is always a plus with a bustling place. I would probably suggest going here during a weeknight to avoid what I'm assuming is a lonnnggg wait.
(5)
Alice L.
Eaten here 3 times + numerous takeouts, this place never disappoints! +huge portions, no joke, one plate can last me 2-3 meals. - they charge extra $ for splitting the plate if you're eating in, so it's really worth it to do takeouts and share. Not sure how they do it, but this seemingly family owned business creates every dish with spices and flavors I cannot name that leaves your tummy fully satisfied. Recommendation wise, I really liked all the dishes I've tried so far, but you do need to get the lamb at least once, even if you mind the slight lamby smell, it'll make the whole experience worthwhile.
(5)
Stephanie P.
"Do you like garlic?" asked my dining companion as we walked in. "I mean, REALLY like garlic?" Not to worry, I assured him, garlic was a good friend of mine. But even with the warning, I wasn't fully prepared for how stinky my car, my kitchen, and my person would become over the next 48 hours. Make no mistake - to dine at the Mediterranean Kitchen is to cut yourself off from society for days. On the bright side, that means nobody will be around to steal your leftovers... and you'll have plenty. The Mediterranean Kitchen is over on the Eastside, so yes, it's a bit out of the way, but some might say it's worth the trip just for the food. It's a tiny little place with about ten tables, so you'll probably find yourself waiting for a while - on a Friday night, we waited for about twenty minutes. Inside, the tables are jammed together, so don't have any illusions about privacy - your fellow diners will hear every word you say (although it doesn't get too loud in there, surprisingly). I had the chicken shawarma ($14.95), which is marinated chicken breast in red wine vinegar, spices and garlic, grilled with onions, green onions, red cabbage and tomatoes. My dining companion had the shish tawook ($14.95), charbroiled chicken breast tenderloin marinated in garlic, lemon juice, herbs and spices, which was even better than mine. Entrees come with a little bowl of lentil soup, but don't fill up on that, because your dinner is a vast and mighty mountain of meat, grilled veggies, and rice, with a dollop of tahini on the side and a small basket of pita-esque bread for dippin'. Portions are unbelievably huge, and you'll occasionally dig out an entire clove of roasted garlic with your fork. After eating as much as I could, I still received a Styrofoam take-out container filled to the brim with leftovers, and I ultimately got three or four servings out of one entree. But when I got in my car the next day, it reeked of garlic, just from transporting the leftovers home, and the garlic smell also hijacked my fruit, ice cubes, and pretty much everything else in my fridge for days. Thankfully, I couldn't smell myself, but I'm sure it was not pretty. If you want to be left alone for a few days, the Mediterranean Kitchen is one of the easiest, and tastiest, ways to make that happen.
(4)
Jayant G.
Very nice Mediterranean food. Dinner portions are huge. Everyone gets a starter lentil soup+pita bread and that itself finishes more than half of my dinner. I have never been able to finish more than 1/2 of the main entree.
(4)
Shep G.
I have to give it the elusive 5th star, this place and it's cousin in Kirkland are my favorites! If you don't love garlic? Stay away....
(5)
Tricia A.
The portions are huge so we get containers to go ( lunches for the next day) and in the summer have a cooler with ice to put the to go containers in for the trip home (about 2 1/2 hr drive). The flavors are fantastic! My husband and I have been there with friends and by ourselves and each time was just as good as the last. We all describe it as "a food high". The tables are close together but we haven't had a problem with not being able to hear each other. The times we've gone it hasn't been too crowded. So far I haven't found a dish that wasn't fabulous! The Farmer's dish (whole chicken wings) is AWESOME!!!! Again well worth the drive.
(5)
Tri H.
Really, how can this not be a five star restaurant? I take all my visitors here and they love it (which says a lot for me)! By far the best Mediterranean food in Seattle/Bellevue. I've lived here 15+ years and I haven't found a better place yet. Do yourself a favor and eat there! The hummus is AMAZING. But really, everything is good and servings are enormous. We usually go here to celeberate special events and as a treat to ourselves. Do yourself a favor today and treat yourself to this place.
(5)
M H.
I love this place! They give a generous amount for their portion sizes. Sometimes the service can be a bit off but for the most part they do well. I like that once you get seated you get a bowl of soup served along with pita bread and super garlicky sauce. I have not had to deal with negative experiences with any of the chicken dishes I've ordered in the past. I have tried the Chicken Shawarma and Farmer's dish but my all time favorite is the Shish Tawook. It has the perfect amount of zest in it. For the appetizers, I usually end up getting Tabouly and Zahrah. I LOVE the Zahrah, they serve it piping hot. We once ordered the Mezza tray when a group of us came in. That dish is great too ~ they have this scoop of cucumber/kalamata olives/beet/radish in a vinegrette dressing that I like to order seperately. The Shish Tawook still tastes good reheated! Service is good, they have a gentleman there that is quick on clearing plates & refilling water. The only con I can think of is if you go there during peak times for lunch & dinner ~ you may need to wait a while for seating.
(4)
Julian H.
Still amazing food that falls short of a perfect all-around dining experience, mainly due to how cramped the dining room is. Big props to MK that they are so family-friendly.
(4)
Christine C.
Tonight I sent my husband out to get some dinner at Mediterranean Kitchen, chicken schwarma, stuffed grape leaves and hummus. First, why does everything taste the same?? I did not know that stuffed grape leaves were supposed to be stuffed with Congee!?!? They were WAY overcooked and really bad! The chicken schwarma had actual cores of cabbage in it. Does the prep cook not know how to core a cabbage??!?!?! The hummus is good, but we paid 52.00 and it's the only thing I don't regret having tonight. Eating the meal felt like eating at a Mediterranean Denny's, but bigger portions. No love. I think this will be my last time going..
(2)
Aly M.
I'm sorry I'm sorry. I know I said I would go back and try more dishes, but I didn't. :( They did have a different soup yesterday--red lentil, and I liked it (a little sweet--yum!). Otherwise, we got the same chicken dish. The dipping sauce for the bread is either better or my tastebuds now like it. But, I did like dipping the bread into the soup, too. Still big portions, but this time when we split the dish, there was no charge, just a higher cost for the salads (we got 2). So, it worked out to the same price, but the bill looked different. GREAT service last night. We went hoping for A/C, and there was some, but it was still warm (especially because of the hot food--silly choice on our part).
(5)
wes y.
Tips for eating here: 1] Don't order appetizers. With the entree plates being so HUGE you're wasting your money. 2] People are right, don't sit by the door unless you want people waiting for a table lurking over you. 3] If you don't like garlic, this is not the place for you. 4] Don't make lunch plans for the following day. You'll be eating the leftovers. What could they do to make it a better experience? Move to a larger location. It feels cramped in there.
(4)
Andrew F.
So good, but so much food. No matter what you order there'll be enough for two meals. If you go for lunch, invite everyone you can because you'll all smell of garlic the rest of the day.
(5)
Chris T.
"Oh my god!" That is what your FACE is going to say when they finally bring your order. "We're gonna need a bigger stomach". That's what your BODY is going to say once you start chowing down ;D Heed my words. As you slip into food coma bliss, you'll hear me whispering "I told you so" :D
(5)
Faisal H.
Very rude service.Food is way too expensive for its quantity and doesn't even have any Mediterranean taste whatsoever. Very Disappointed.
(1)
Jennifer F.
Excellent place for take out. Just go with whatever is on special - it's always good. And only order one dish for every three hungry adults. Even then you'll probably have leftovers!
(5)
Richard U.
I ventured into this place during the height of the lunchtime rush so it was packed, always a good sign. Immediately upon being seated I was presented wtih a nice bowl of lentil soup, warm pita with this garlicky dipping sauce. Very nice on a cold and rainy day! The portions here are almost garganutan even for me!! I saw several groups of three people sharing two entrees. My entree was the combo which featured chicken, lamb and Kefta over a freaking mountain of rice and a scoop of hummus. I will be eating my leftovers for at least two meals which makes the over price of the place very reasonable $12.95 for my entree. The service was very friendly and still attentive despite they were packed.
(4)
Neil A.
Excellent service, price and food. 5 out of 4 stars!
(5)
Ranee S.
"...put an addictive chemical in it that makes you crave it fortnightly." It's not an addictive chemical, it's garlic, but it may as well be, because I can't go longer than a month without hummus or shish tawook before my taste buds start to yell at me: Take me home to the deliciousness that is the Mediterranean Kitchen.
(4)
A V.
This is my favorite place to eat in Washington. It does have a "hole in the wall" sort of vibe going on but who cares... the food is amazing!!!! I come from LA and I know Lebanese food very well, The Mediterranean Kitchen delivers. Everything is good! I also love that they have such a great vegetarian selection for when I am feeling a little more ethical than usual. Their dishes are consistently perfect and generous. Best of all, I LOVE the staff here!!!! Such great guys! You will have enough leftovers for at least two more meals so that makes this place extremely economical.
(5)
Saeed J.
This is my favourite mediterranean restaurant in the Seattle area. They make all their sauces in-house, and they taste great. Portions are huge. They can easily last you several meals. Consider sharing a portion.
(5)
Adrienne H.
Hahahaha you jokers! Can't figure out why this place is SO popular? BECAUSE ITS BOMB.COM BABY!!! And I'm a t-o-t-a-l snob, Mediterranean food or otherwise, I am one hard woman to please. Don't believe me? Show me a better place within a 20 mile radius of Seattle. Met Kitchen, I love you forever!!! I don't get the silly recent reviews.... you are far better than that!
(5)
Jon G.
Exceptional food, but a tad too garlicy. Get the Combo Sharma platter if you are a first timer. Also, the combo salad appetizer is aweome. Califlower is delicious.
(4)
John A.
I try to be a tough grader. I think, "it could (always) be better." But then, let's be real. This is Lebanese food in a strip mall in Bellevue, WA. Could I want more from this? Not really. In fact, this is really, really good, and I WILL go back. We stopped in based on all the Yelp raves after an errand at the Apple store down the block. It was 9:10 on a Wednesday, place closing in 20 minutes, and all seats full: probably a good sign. A table turned quickly, and we were presented with a complementary soup bursting with cumin-y goodness. We ordered a fatoush salad and a lamb shawarma. I'll admit that I was pretty skeptical -- ok, annoyed -- at thinking that anyone could charge ~$15 for a fatoush and ~$18 for a shawarma (~$18). Street food, people! What are you thinking? Look, it's worth it. J is from Detroit, where Arabic food is as common as Tex-Mex in the rest of the country. She knows her Middle Eastern comfort food. This stuff represents. Tangy, garlic-y, creamy, rice; colorful radishes with lamb slices.. The salad was fresh and appropriately vinegary. We walked out with two full stomachs and two full takeout containers (which I ate today for lunch even though I knew I'd wind up feeling like exploding afterward - the things we do for love). So, yeah, it's a five. Only complaint I can muster is the pricing, and if you look at this as two or three meals worth of food, which it is, then even that objection is overcome. Go there.
(5)
Corene C.
We, like many others here, LOVED our experience! Yes come hungry and ready to chow down. Make sure everyone in your party likes garlic too - it will stay with you for a while afterwards (but it's worth it). The large appetizer platter is amazing with flavor and variety. We tried lamb and chicken - both delicious. Everything we tried was wonderful. She soup starter was such a nice addition to our meal - gee can you tell we liked it here?!? Take your leftovers (oh yes, there WILL BE LEFTOVERS) home and enjoy for days afterwards.
(5)
Cassandra ..
Friends took me here for dinner. They did all the ordering. The food was incredible! Lentil soup & pitas and garlic dip, a vegetable platter appetizer with several scrumptious dipping sauces, and a HUGE plate of saffron rice (?) chicken, beef, and lamb. I have never liked lamb, but this was amazing! Dessert was yummy non-honey baklava and Turkish coffee (of which I had two!). This place is a dream, I can't wait to go back! Plus the company I had was fantastic!
(5)
Nanako E.
Perhaps I was expecting too much from this place after reading so many great reviews and hearing how awesome their rice is from two of my friends, both of whom are regulars of this place. I was surprised at how they gave us free soup, you don't get that often. It was lentil soup, very good. We also got pita bread with some kind of garlic vinaigrette dip, which was also very good...I might even go as far as saying that was my favorite part of the whole meal. The pita bread was warm and so soft! I ordered the shish tawook, recommended by my friend. It was delicious, but nothing too spectacular. I didn't think the rice was to die for...to tell you the truth, it was too much garlic for me. The portions were huge though, which is a plus. It lasted me for two more meals after I took it home. But I had to throw some of it away, for it was stinking up my fridge and it was really. Just. Too. Garlic-y. I will have to go here again and try something else, because I know they have a lot more to offer!
(3)
Miki M.
Over priced average middle eastern food. (i'm from the region) We came for dinner with our two young children. Their plates are huge but you can't split it, for example, if you wanted to feed two small children with one plate (they charge you extra to do that) we ordered a chicken pasta for the kids that turned out to be spicy and inedible. The waiter argued with us that's it is "just a little spicy". Our food was OK, as others said, the portions are huge. They load up on the rice to justify the steep price. The kids didn't touch their plate. So, in the middle of the table sit a huge plate of pasta and chicken and the waiter is playing dumb and asking if we want to a box for it ( I read another review - apparently we were not the first one to have to get "playing dumb" routine) After we said "no" and looked as pretty unhappy as we could, he went ahead and charged $20 for it. The food is average at best. The place is dirty and rundown. We should have gone to Chipotle near by. Definitely not going back there. Too bad - we love middle eastern food.
(1)
Kate N.
Go hungry, ready for garlic and goodness!!! They have large portions so MAKE SURE you're hungry! The lentil soup is okay, I wasn't a huge fan but I also always want to save myself for the AMAZING RICE AND KABABS!!! Their wine list is okay, with this type of meal you don't even need wine since there are so many flavors and delicious things happening on the plate. The price is pretty good considering the size of the meal you get! This is not your every night dinner spot... but it's GREAT for that every few weeks Mediterranean fix!
(5)
Xander S.
Now this is quality Mediterranean food. That's not to say that I know what good Mediterranean food is supposed to taste like, but I'd imagine it would be something like this. I've eaten here three times, and boldly tried something different each time; each time, was happily surprised at the bold flavors, despite being large portions. One minor complaint that I'd have is that it's very crowded; the tables are small and close together, and it's often hard to hear the person you're with. Regardless, for the price, this is a great food experience. Not for a date though, no no, I can't recommend that.
(4)
Regina C.
Been going here for years. I love this place. Take note though, every dish is packed with garlic and then some more garlic. The dipping sauce they serve with pita bread is so unique and awesome. I always get the same thing Chicken, rice and hummus. There is a name for it I just don't know it. Lentil soup is really good on a cold day.
(4)
greg m.
OK, here's a real review...I ordered the shawarma lamb which is described as lamb tenderloin. To me tenderloin is the filet or back strap and this definitely was not. It was chunks of a cheap cut of meat that had been marinated but was still tough with a mountain of vegetables that were cooked to mush. The garlic was so overpowering it ruined the food. I also ordered the Spinakopita (their spelling not mine)...You could tell it was home made and the dough was nice and crispy where it wasn't slathered with sauce which made most of it soggy and again with the overpowering taste of garlic. If you like huge portions of bad food then this is your place. I've brushed my teeth three times, gargled with mouthwash, ate a granny apple and still can't get rid of the horrible taste of garlic.
(1)
George I.
Went there last night. Got the Algerian chicken. Result - throwing up all night long and having terrible stomack pain. I think the oil was old because the meal had very strong oily smell. don't think will go there anymore.
(1)
Brian M.
Love the Mediterranean kitchen! Went for lunch one day and had and appetizer, a chicken and a lamb dish. All were amazing and between two neither of us could finish half the dish the portions are HUGE. Loved the place so much we went back a month or so later. The price is slightly on the the high side, but its justifiable.
(4)
Brendan P.
The food here was very good, but the service was a bit slow, even after it seemed that it wasn't too busy. I'll try this place again if I'm in the area, I did really like the dish I ordered, which was a chicken schwarma. My wife got a lamb kabob dish but the lamb was very overcooked. I know sometimes there are off nights for resteraunts, it sounds like this is usually a great place to go and I think I'll try them out again. Like I said, my dish was good, but the service, though friendly, was really really slow.
(3)
Mat W.
This place is very small hole in the wall, and you will need reservations for a weekend dinner. Possibly during the week as well. They do take out, and seem to be able to handle party of 2 walk ins. They can't split a check so bring cash if in a group. I would suggest not getting a spot by the door, because you will have the butts of walk ins in your face your whole meal. Now on to the food... While waiting they serve a soup and pita bread, which are tasty, but I would suggest going light on these since the main plates are massive. I am a fairly impressive eater and I couldn't even dent half this plate. I got the lamb schwarma. The meat was very good, tender, and flavorful. The sauce over the top was a super kick, along with the cabbage. I did my best to avoid the rice at the time because I was getting full early on and wanted to stick to the good stuff. Overall I was very impressed with the food. The service was fair, but I think they do the best they can with the place's layout. I would've given 5 stars if the service, bill, and layout was a bit more "modern". But then of course that might subtract from some of the hole in the wall charm the old school east siders enjoy. Food was tops. Definitely recommend giving it a taste!
(4)
Esther S.
Small restaurant but cozy and cute. Went for lunch during the week. I ordered the lamb schwarma and it was delicious! Served with soup and pita bread/dip. HUGE portions you could def share it with someone else. I would definitely go back. Best to go before noon and miss the normal lunch crowd. Food was fast and staff friendly.
(4)
Henry L.
I love the medley of flavors each of their dishes have. I'd usually fill up on the complimentary pita bread and balsamic/vinaigrette dip, so I can't finish my entree. Definitely would bring those who've never tried Mediterranean cuisine. Service sometimes is kind of "snappy", but perhaps it's because they have people waiting at the door for an empty table.
(5)
Richard W.
I came here while visiting at the urging of a friend, who insisted that this place was the best in town. I guess he told half of the city the same thing too, cause this place was PACKED. We arrived at 7ish and ended up waiting about half an hour for a table. The restaurant is fairly small, seating maybe 20 - 30 at most. I thought this was because they were new, but they have Zagat ratings for at least 5 or 6 years! I guess they keep the size small in order to make it seem like the place is packed and bustling. Good work MK. Anyway, onto the important part - the food! They have a limited selection, but each item we ordered was scrumptious, savory and absolutely heaping in portion. I think a limited - yet - awesome menu is better than places that have 100 items including stuff that should NEVER be on their menu (a "kim chee" burger at a mexican restaurant that shall not be named comes to mind... seriously WTF?). I ordered the chef's special with beef and it was amazing. Even their rice is ridiculous - I don't know what they do to it, but just a forkful of rice is tasty enough to stand alone. That night, it was cold and we were standing outside for most of the half-hour wait. Bonus points for having a heat lamp (that scalded my head.. geez that thing was strong), but I will refrain from 5 stars because the limited real estate there left me shivering in the freezing night. A telltale sign to this place's legitimacy and popularity is the fact that directly across the street was a completely empty mediterranean restaurant that was twice this size. ha.
(4)
Helen K.
I would of given it another star if the waiter didn't front and tell me the rice was saffron rice- it clearly isn't-I know my saffron rice and that rice tasted like chicken broth and butter. I'm sorry don't lie and call it saffron just cause it's yellow. It doesn't make it saffron guys! Other than that, the food is good there, the lamb the bf got was really good, cooked well. I love the yogurt, nice and creamy-very good. The chicken was really good also, very tender-even when I had left overs a few days later. I found that the rice tasted much better when its a few days older ( which is usually not the case with rice)-so I can't get too upset about the use of chicken stock and butter. Funny thing is I'm quite sure I went to this place like 3 yrs ago with coworkers and had an awful meal- it was when I was a vegetarian, I'm very happy I came back because the food ( if this is the same place, and I'm thinking it is due to the decor & seats) is much much better than I remembered it to be. I highly recommend this place, even though the rice was not saffron rice.
(4)
rinku i.
It was for my birthday a couple of years ago that i visited this place the first time , i wanted to eat something different from my regular Indian food ! I chose this one based on the great ratings from Yelp . It's a small place & finding parking can be quite a task especially on weekdays . The wait at the door can also be long , though a small place , its quite popular & has a steady flow of office crowd & families . Everything i tried was tasty , perfectly cooked meat with awesome flavours . They serve you complimentary pita bread & soup of the day . Algerian chicken , chicken shavers , falafel ,beef kabobs& many other dishes i cant remember the names now , but all of them were tasty . The portions are huge with lots of healthy veggies & rice . The food is awesome , the 1 star missing in the review is for the wait time to be seated & the struggle of finding a parking space .
(4)
B B.
Many of the appetizers, the rice, the lentil soup and the fool are vegan and very tasty. I especially love the zarrah (appetizer). you better bring your appetite, because they don't know what small portions are here. if you love garlic, lemon, and tahini, this is the place for you. YUM!
(4)
Tricia C.
My husband took me here when we went on our first date... maybe that's how I fell in love with him. Everything, from start to finish, was excellent. They start you off with a delicious bowl of lentil soup, and pita bread accompanied by a tangy dip. So good. That day we ordered the Chicken Shwarma, which was amazing... served over a bed of rice with a yogurt garlic sauce. The portion size was enormous, and the two of us couldn't finish the one dish together. We had a considerable amount left over, but we're not big eaters either. We finished the meal with their baklava - flakey pistachio goodness dripping in honey. Wow. One thing to be aware of is that this place is quite small and gets very crowded on the weekends, but if you have 4 or more people you can make a reservation. We've been there several times since our first date and have never been disappointed. I've recently discovered their Kibby dish and now that's the only thing I order when I go there. I've heard from many people that the food is too garlicky, but I'm a garlic lover so it's not a problem for me. Perhaps that's why my husband offered me a mint before kissing me goodnight.
(5)
Nick C.
So I hate to be the naysayer, but the food here is really disgusting. You have to absolutely love garlic beyond all reasonable measure in order to eat any main course. Food comes in heaping piles with gigantic chunks of garlic mixed in like raisins in raisin bread. These aren't carefully prepared dishes, it's presented more like cafeteria food. Beyond the food tasting like garbage, the decor is hideous. Everything about this place screams cheap except the bill.
(1)
Michael A.
After reading the reviews on this place I went there for lunch with a friend who also loved the place...I have to say after eating at Meze in Kirkland - I would rate this place below that. The food was solid - lunch is a decent value but I was not wildly impressed. The hummus at Meze is from another world compared to Mediterraniean Kitchen..Service was good...over all it was OK but didn't live up to what I expected
(3)
Jeffrey S.
It is worth a try. Good food.
(4)
John M.
This is a great Middle Eastern restaurant (mostly Lebanese I think) that is small, crowded and noisy. You are immediately served a bowl of lentil soup and pita bread while you decide what to order. The Algerian Chicken or the Chicken Shishtawook is good. They serve large portions that can be easily split (for a small extra charge). They also have many vegetarian dishes. This is great dinning for couples, or larger groups that can share entrees and feel comfortable. Their feature wine is Chateau Kefraya (a Lebanese red wine that is bottled in France) that stands up to the heavy herbs, spices, and garlic. They are located within an easy walk of Bellevue Square and the Lincoln Square Cinemas. You will also notice that they do a considerable take-out business, so keep that in mind too. Oh, and be sure to ask for the Turkish coffee following your meal. It's a good finishing touch.
(5)
Veronica S.
This place rocks! Go early-ish (before 6pm) and you shouldn't have too much trouble getting seated. The food is fantastic and you get a lot for the price (I always have enough leftover for lunch the next day). Not a place for young kids but if you get a hankering for the food you can call-in an order to pick up and bring it home to eat with the kiddos. Just bring something to put the soup in... for some reason they don't have soup containers for take-out. Note that they're closed daily between meals (2:30-4:30pm).
(5)
Rick L.
I put LOADS of garlic in lots of things I cook, but this place really overdoes it [in a good way]. The appetizers are really large, and can easily be split by a person or two. The service is more than hospitable and the food is warm, and has a very strong soul. Enjoy!
(5)
Kate M.
This is a great escape from other humdrum food establishments in Bellevue. It's right next to Orexi, so you can go back and forth to spice things up. Great breads and distinctive tastes!
(4)
Anna M.
Here is my idea of heaven: enjoy the company of my charming and good lookin' husband as we make the drive from Ballard to Bellevue, pausing our conversation to appreciate the "reduced noise pavement zone" just after we cross the 520 bridge. Pull up at Mediterranean Kitchen shortly thereafter and find out there's a 45 minute wait for a table. Stroll over to the neighboring liquor store and scoop up a few "cocktails in a can," then retreat to our car and enjoy them with 88.5 and soft drops of rain providing the background to our conversation. Just as we finish our Whiskey Sour and Censored on the Beach (respectively), my husband's cell phone rings: our table at Mediterranean Kitchen is ready. We head inside for cinnamon-laced soup, pita and garlic dipping sauce so strong it immediately makes my tongue hurt. No matter. Next comes fried cauliflower liberally sauced with tahini. And then, just as we begin to think we might be too full for more, our main dishes arrive: shish tawook and chicken schawarma. What follows is totally gustatory delight ... a bite of chicken, dredged through hummous and/or tahini, rice, a slug of belly-warming syrah, repeat. We stuff ourselves and there's still an entire meal's worth of food on each plate. Can't wait for tomorrow! This place is worth the drive times a billion. Mmm mmm mmm.
(5)
P E.
Large portions, fresh and tasty food, reasonable prices and average to above average service. How much better can it get?
(5)
Tod B.
This is such a good place to eat. It is a tiny place with lots of personal attention. The food is huge, so be hungry. The prices are very reasonable. Meals come with Turkish coffee, but they only bring it out when you are finished if you ask for it because it is really strong.
(5)
Danny L.
This is the smaller of the two mediterranean kitchens. Very tight and could use an expansion as busy as they always are, but the food is what really matters. The soup starter is always excellent and the garlic dressing could be put on a piece of cardboard and I'd eat it. The farmer's dish never disappoints and the lamb is tender and melts in your mouth.
(5)
Margie N.
I wish I could love this place as much as everyone else does, but seriously - the garlic is KILLER. I loved the soup and the garlic dip [for the pita bread] as starters, and the Shisk Tawook [charbroiled chicken with a hardcore garlic sauce over a pile of yummy rice and a side of hummus] was good, although slightly overcooked, but after eating less than half of it I could eat no more. I thought I would pass out from garlic exposure. I had to go to the gym afterwards to work off some of my garlic-ness. And drink several bottles of water. It is pretty tasty, but anyone reading this please don't take the garlic warnings lightly. The Med LOVES its garlic.
(3)
Shane D.
crazy good food, and leftovers!
(4)
a a.
burnt lamb. over sauced. super size. good hummus. good service.
(2)
Ebru Y.
An ethnic Middle Eastern and Mediterranean restaurant right in the heart of Bellevue. The food is simply amazing. If you are a meat lover then try any of the shawarmas, or kafta kebabs. If you want to go meatless, then your best bet is falafel, spanikopita, stuffed grape leaves, salads...and the list goes on. Right when you're seated at your table, you are served a bowl of the delicious lentil soup, and then mixed green salad with warm bread. Endless options, great selection. This place has a pretty good reputation, and another location in Seattle. So it gets quite busy and you might have to wait in the line, so take my advice and make your reservations ahead of time. By the way you might be asking, no music? There is great Arabic music playing througout. The owner is usually there at the restaurant and is a very nice guy. He comes around your table and asks how everything is. We weren't sure dessert and he sent us a complimentary plate of baklava. He is a great owner that definitely knows how to get customers' businesses. Way to go!
(5)
Amanda S.
Came in on a Friday night and was able to be seated immediately for a party of two. The service here is great. The waiters were very tentative to us. They start uou off with a warm bowl of lentil soup and some pita bread (i think) and garlicy-lemony dip. Both were very delicious. Plus, they were willing to give us extra bread when we ran out. (Yes, we were fatties~) We ordered the Chicken Shwarma and Kafta Kabob. Both were very good. I think the lean meat from the Kafta Kabob dish was very well seasoned and flavorful but the consistency of the meat wasnt my thing. It seemed a bit dry. The chicken was really goos though, so I would go for that next time. The only other thing that I would mention is that once we ordered it did take quite a while for our order to come out. Which is partially why we asked for me bread. By the time our food came out, I guess we were pretty stuffed with bread. *shrugs* They were nice leftovers. :) The portions are huge but lots of rice. The rice is soo good though!
(4)
Allison T.
This place is amazing! Generous portions, and delicious food. Best hummus I've ever had-- and very kind service, too. I avoid wheat, so the waiter brought me extra cucumber to enjoy the hummus with. I had the lamb shawarma and it was perfection.
(5)
Cathy A.
This was my first visit here, and I felt like I'd discovered a gem!!! Everything was flavored so well and truly delicious. The free cup of lentil soup and flatbread was a nice touch. My only (minor) complaint is that the waiter started clearing the table while one person in our party was still eating. Other than that, it was a perfect experience.
(5)
T M.
First, do not be afraid of Lebanese food! It is so similar to Greek and Moroccan ingredients and flavors. I had the pleasure of dining here last night for the first time. I would definitely come back. The service was great as we felt very attended to by all of the staff. One star. The place was close to where we stayed so proximity was worth a star. The value was pretty crazy. There was a TON of food. Another star. The flavors and presentations were also great and deserve a star. The place is small and full. It may be tough to run a good small business in a small town but these guys are worth a shot.
(4)
Charlene L.
Wow! This is a flavor bomb! How have I not been here before? Came here for lunch and was immediately greeted with a lentil soup, pita bread, and a delicious garlic dip! This was awesome, as we were hungry and ready to eat! After devouring my soup and pretty much drinking this garlic dip with a straw (not literally, but I could have!), I was faced with a challenge... to get the shish tawook or the chicken schwarma... decisions, decisions... I ended up getting the schwarma and convinced my colleague to get the shish tawook, with the understanding that we would be sharing :) Both dishes are DELICIOUS and HUGE! So much rice, meat, and in the schwarma lots of veggies! The quality of meats were on point, flavorful, and juicy! Come here and check it out.. you won't be disappointed! My only regret was that I didn't try the Mezza Plate.. but by the looks of the pictures posted, it looks like a meal within itself! Next time, Mezza plate... we will meet soon!
(4)
Ray C.
Had the lamb swarma....excellent..... and a lot of it to! Great service too!! I'll be back.
(4)
Jackie S.
Good place to visit if you are in Bellevue. You get your money's worth at this restaurant with the quantity and value. Make a reservation since the place was packed after 5:30pm on a Sunday evening. We tried a variety of food since we had a larger party. The table received warm hummus with the garlic olive oil dip and lentil soup. Each dish came with a mountain of rice, so you'll get plenty of carbs throughout the evening. - Mezze Tray: Dips galore with the hummus, babaganoush, cauliflower, and more. The cauliflower was so delicious. The best thing on the platter! - Falafels: We had this as an appetizer as well. These were really good. They had the nice crisp on the outside and was not dry inside. - Salmon: Not bad. I don't remember too much about it except that the fish wasn't dry. - Kabobs: I didn't eat these, but the hubby said that they were pretty good. We also had other meat dishes, but I don't recall what they were. We were so full from the evening that we didn't try any desserts. Service was good throughout the evening. We didn't have any issues.
(4)
G R.
Yes. Go eat here now if you like mediterranean food. The portions are large enough to share and delicious. The meats are grilled but not dry, and the sauces are excellent. One note - do not take a date here as pretty much everything has a ton of garlic and is delicious.
(4)
Chauanh D.
I just adore this place. Amazing service, great ambiance, and incredible food! The lentil soup and the pita bread with the garlic sauce is amazing! Just happy my BF was eating the same thing. ;) Portions are huge and delicious. Will be back many times over. Thanks for such a great meal!
(5)
Lily L.
You really get your bang for the buck with the two-people plate of food you get. I could never finish a plate myself about 99% of the time, which is great because I am guaranteed lunch for the next day. I'm not a fan of lamb, but their lamb dishes as truly delicious and doesn't carry that gamy taste I usually get from other restaurants. Some of my faves are the Lamb shish kabobs, spanakopita, and any of the shwarma dishes. I wasn't in favor of the Dolmas dish because the dolmas were too sour in flavor, but the dish as a whole was still good. Food is quick. The last time I went (8/24), I walked in, ordered and when my family arrived (about 10 minutes later), the food arrived right at that time. Fast and easy! Great for group size of 4, but you should reserve regardless. In the summers, they have a few outdoor seating spots. Try it out! Though I don't go as often, every time I do, I am 95% satisfied with their service and food.
(5)
Maris L.
Decided to try Mediterranean Kitchen because of the rave reviews on Yelp. My husband and I entered the restaurant not really knowing what to expect, especially since we were planning to order to-go but didn't call ahead. After ordering our Chicken Shawarma to go, we were asked if we wanted to take a seat as we waited for the food. I appreciated that we were even given lentil soup and water as we waited for our one meal that we were planning to share (since everyone on Yelp kept saying the portions are huge!). I usually don't like lentil soup, but this one was really flavorful. Would recommend. Chicken shawarma was pretty standard; I loved it though because it was HUGE - definitely enough for two people (and some leftovers). This place certainly gives you bang for your buck. Can't wait to come back and actually eat in! (And up the rating to 5 stars!)
(4)
Rex C.
At lunch here and had the: BEEF SHAWARMA $13.50 Beef strips marinated in red wine vinegar, spices and garlic grilled with onions, tomatoes, green onions and red cabbage, served with tahini sauce. It was ok. The beef was pretty dry and the portion size seemed large but it was really just a huge bed of rice. Service was spot on though. I am not sure I would go back.
(3)
Dieter V.
All of the herbs and seasonings and every other ingredient combine and BOOM into a mouthgasm that will leave you wanting more and more. This place is incredible. Most of my life, I was always into being boring and eating strictly American food. Then, as I got a little older, I became more open to trying new things. If you want to impress a date, you'll earn the title as a man amongst boys (or a woman amongst girls) by recommending that they join you here. The portions are massive. I'm a slender, athletic guy who eats like crazy, but usually have a little left over, which is fine by me because that just means more mouthgasms when I eat those leftovers the following day. I highly recommend the Shish Tawook. Charbroiled chicken breast tenderloin marinated in garlic, lemon juice, herbs and spices. Nom nom nom.
(5)
Amit D.
Nice Little Restaurant. Pita Bread, Dip and soup on the house. Huge Portion Sizes. Amazing Taste. Share the entrees so you can taste various things. Chicken Shawarma is always amazing.
(5)
Trevor L.
Amazing place! First the great, the staff! Second, even better than great is the food. The lamb Shish kebob was amazing and the chicken special was flat out the best I've had to date. I will be returning here as often as possible.
(5)
Catherine Z.
Love the Mediterranean Kitchen. I'm of Lebanese and Syrian descent myself, so I've grown up with amazing, authentic Mediterranean food and I can say that this restaurant lives up to the highest standards on so many levels. Yes, it is expensive, but you always get your money's worth. One entree will feed me for two or three days, which also makes it a great choice for take out. As a bonus, nearly all of their foods are naturally dairy and gluten free. Highly recommended!
(5)
Alexandra M.
I'm trying to read all the reviews to see if anyone else found their food too salty, but I guess it's just me. I'm usually one for sour, savory flavors that give my taste buds a kick, but Mediterranean Kitchen brought it to a whole new -- almost unbearable -- level. I felt like my blood pressure was shooting through the roof eating there. When my friend's salad came out first, he asked me, "Try this salad. Is it just me of is just overly salty?" I tried it and did feel like it was too salty, but I played it down and teased him about being too used to a stem-vegetables-only diet that he can no longer handle anything with flavor. Then my combination plate came. (I asked the waiter what the popular/favorite dishes are, so he recommended getting a "sample" of all of their signature ones: kafta kabob, shish tawook and lamb shawarma in the combination kabob dish.) I had a spoonful and I couldn't continue eating. It was much too salty. I ended up chewing on their pita bread for the rest of dinner because that was the only thing without an overwhelming taste. I have to agree that this is the best Mediterranean food in Bellevue, though I'd suggest crossing the bridge to get the same kind of cuisine with better quality at a better price at Shawarma King. Thank goodness I live three blocks away from the latter! I give them two stars for friendly and prompt service, as well as the quiet, dimly-lit interior that gave it a semi-romantic, semi-intimate ambience. However, I can't really guarantee this since my friend and I were the only ones in the restaurant at the time (I read another review that the restaurant gets extremely loud when it is crowded).
(2)
Rohit K.
Good place to try some very nice Mediterranean cuisine. Farmers chicken is our favorite. The place is small and gets full really fast. The service is decent and generally prompt. Although the prices are slightly high but the portions of food are big. A single dish is okay to be shared by 2. Both soup and salad are good. Parking is a problem though.
(4)
Chipsie P.
Maybe I ordered the worst thing they have on the menu?!!! Seafood couscous: SO SO SO SOOOOOOGGY!!! Overall it felt like eating WARMED-UP FROZEN FOOD :( I do know how Middle Eastern food is supposed to be like. Some details: the veggies were (broccoli, green beans, onion, tomato, zucchini, carrots) overcooked and mushy, the cousous grains instead of being light and fluffy were too soft, overloaded with water and glued together. Chewy pieces of octopus. Just ok pieces of shrimps and fish. The taste was very bland so I had to add some olive oil that was on the table to add flavor. NOTHING AUTHENTIC THAT IS FOR SURE! YOU REALLY HAVE TO NOT HAVE ANY IDEA ABOUT MIDDLE EASTERN FOOD TO BE ABLE TO EAT HERE. Service is friendly (the stars are mainly for that) although not that attentive. Over $20... No no no surely not worth it.
(2)
Abdullah A.
I go there every time I get the chance to. There prices are little bit higher than usual but the food is delicious. Everyone who can eat meat should go there to try the lamb. I think is the best lamb can be served in washington. Thank you.
(5)
Christina B.
So impressed with this small restaurant! Low-lighting at dinner was nice ambiance. A little noisy though because the space is so small and open. I loved the complimentary pita bread and delicious lentil soup. I ordered the chicken shawarma, and my friend a dish I can't remember now. I was so amazed and surprised when our food was served. The portion sizes are huge, and very reasonably priced! I ended up having my leftovers for lunch and dinner the next day. The food was flavorful and delicious. The meal was completed with a yummy, complimentary dessert pastry. I will definitely return.
(4)
Lee A.
Flavor is pretty good and the servings very big. It's a bit expensive though. I've had just as good and better for less. The flavor was good, lots of garlic. I wish they had included a little more chicken and a little less vegetables. More sauce would have also been great. The rice was not good. I'm surprised and it seems like their neighbor, garlic crush uses the same rice. It tastes like rice pilaf and is really think. I'm not really a fan of this kind of rice. If it wasn't so expensive I would probably go back to try more but I think I'll stick with it's less expensive and just as tasty neighbor, garlic crush.
(3)
Leila C.
This place is INCREDIBLE. Ambiance is a solid zero, however the food makes up for that...it is FANTASTIC! Fantastic vegetarian items and my fellow eaters said the meat dishes were very good, too. I cannot believe the quality/quantity of the veggie platter appetizer - SO SO GOOD!
(5)
Mojdeh S.
How I heard of this place: My friend, Marc introduced me to this place a few years ago, when I was looking for a Mediterranean establishment that blew others out of the water. The garlic sauce, here, he claimed, made all other Mediterranean restaurants pale in comparison! Type of cuisine: "Authentic Middle Eastern cuisine - influenced by traditional family recipes." Having been around since 1982, this father and son establishment serves everything from shawarma to mishwi, kafta to shish tawook, and everything served in large portions, full with flavor and spice. Ambiance: A small space, bedecked with mirrors on both of the side walls to create a feeling of bigness. Ten two twelve tables for parties of two to eight are available for seating. Wooden, backed, dark chairs accompany glass-topped tables, offering a bottle of wine adjacent to the salt and pepper shakers. Triangle-shaped, black napkins host silverware. The space is bustling, full and a line often reaches out the door and onto the small patio space in the strip-mall location. Full of people, efficient servers and even quicker bus-boys, the chairs are almost never empty for long. What I ordered: In the past, I've sampled appetizers like the spinakopita ($9.95), baked filo stuffed with spinach and feta cheese, served on homemade drained yogurt, garnished with feta, fresh basil, crushed mint and oregano. On this venture, of the four of us dining, two sampled the hummus ($6.50), mashed garbanzo beans with spices and an abundance of tahini sauce. The hummus was served soon after our complimentary (with the purchase of each entree) green lentil soup, with carrots and garlic arrived, accompanied by warm, thin pita, enough for each of us in our party. Having been the only one who had previously dined at the Mediterranean Kitchen, I warned my dining companions of the size of each meal, offering to share with others, as necessary. Two chose to share the lamb shawarma ($18.95; an additional $4.95 for shared plates), lamb tenderloin marinated in a mixture of Mediterranean spices cooked with onions, green onions, red cabbage and tomatoes, served with tahini sauce (hummus), and a plate of rice. Between the other two of us, I was prepared to share, but my dining companion preferred to take leftovers home, so we each ordered our own meals. I selected my favorite, shish tawook ($15.95), charbroiled chicken breast tenderloin marinated in garlic, lemon juice, herbs and spices, served with rice and hummus. And he felt most drawn to the kafta kabob ($14.95), three sizzling skewers of extra lean ground meat mixed with parsley, onions and spices, charbroiled with tomatoes and onions, served with rice and hummus. To end the meal, we had one order of sweet Turkish coffee, minus the fine grounds, which we attempted to read at the end of the delicious and flavorful meal. What I loved: I love the garlic sauce that is poured over each of the meat dishes! I most loved the charbroiled chicken, juicy, well marinated and grilled to perfection. My dining companions each preferred their own meal most, which aided in creating a very happy dining party! Why I loved it: The selection is great, the staff and service efficient and quick, the food plentiful and the prices reasonable. The cozy atmosphere and the intimate space create a romantic and intimate space without pretentiousness. Cost: Average ($12.95 - $18.95 per dinner entree)
(4)
David C.
Excellent food, I could eat this every day. They have big portions which is perfect if your feeling very hungry
(5)
Anjelica A.
Came here for lunch today based on the great reviews. I ordered the beef shawarma, iced mint tea, and a side of hummus. My thoughts: --Pita bread: While I got the impression that it is not baked on the premises, I did appreciate the fact that it was hot, unlimited, complimentary, and served wrapped in a napkin to keep it warm. It was delicious dipped in my hummus. --Red lentil soup: Yummy! Warm and savory! Served complimentary with the meal. --Iced mint tea: The best thing ever! They make it beforehand, sweeten it, and then freeze it in a carafe so that when they serve it to you, it's icy like an iced-tea smoothie. Pieces of mint floating inside. Wonderful! --Beef shawarma: This is where the meal was a miss. Marinated in spices, it is strips of sirloin, onions, and tomatoes, on a bed of rice and drizzled with tahini sauce. The beef was really tough! I didn't finish my plate, abandoning it instead for the hummus and hot pita bread. --Side of hummus: This was my favorite thing! Lemony, garlicky and delicious, I thought it was a bit overpriced at almost $8 for a plate, but I loved every bit of it! It was a high-powered flavor punch! I would return here for the iced tea and hummus, but not for the shawarma. Next time, I might try the place across the street called Garlic Crush, which sounds like a romantic date to me!
(3)
Vyjayanthi R.
There are several good things about this place. The complimentary pita bread with garlic is one of them - unlimited pita that is oh so soft and delicious. The humongous portions of food that are equal for not just two, but three meals is another. The staff are great about doing separate checks for a large party and additionally even okay with one of the separate checks being split by two cards(not many places do this!). I like that their menu has several vegetarian options too. At the end of the day though, I've found the entrees themselves to be unremarkable and disappointing. The Hummus, for one, is much blander than at other places and the Spinakopita I had recently was so oily that I felt quite sick after a couple of bites. I would think twice about going back here again, I feel like there's better Mediterranean food to be had in the area.
(3)
Terry P.
I resisted against this location for so long because its cousin in Seattle was closer to me, cheaper, and just as tasty. However, good old days were gone. So here I am, crossing the bridge to seek awesome Lebanese food. And the recent visits to this location were just great dining experiences. As soon as we sat down, pita bread and a cup of piping hot complimentary soup were serve. It was such a warm touch in a cold wintery PNW night. Lamb shawarma and farmer's dish were our favorites. I complained about the prices, but each one of the entree dishes was at least enough for two meals (tasted better the next day!)
(5)
Manjae P.
Love this place. Service is always welcoming, everything tastes good and fresh. Also, left-over becomes another one whole meal! If you have a large party, try the Meza plate. It is a HUGE appetizer with lots of fresh vegetables and dips! Chicken Shawarma is always a good pick.
(5)
Gabriel C.
Combo Kabob (4/5) - Generous gigantic portion of rice with your choice of meat, a small side of salad, a small side of hummus (and pita!) and some soup on the side. Definitely tasty and a very large portion. More than happy to come back again!
(4)
Cc H.
Their rice is simply amazing! I have enjoyed all their chicken dishes as well as their roasted cauliflower which is awesome. Huge portions but also high prices. I always come out with left overs. The place is tiny so there is always a wait if you go during peak hours. I would not recommend this place for a date. Although the ambiance is great, they put so much garlic in their food that you smell for at least 12 hours!
(4)
Rachel P.
More Bridesmaid dress shopping means that I get rewarded with food. YAY!! We arrived at the perfect time, just before the dinner rush on a wednesday. Service was fantastic. I converted two newbies to the awesomeness of MK. I had left overs and truly looked forward to lunch the following day. I think my pregnancy cravings might be MK chicken and rice and cotton candy- totally normal.
(5)
Soniya A.
Excellent food and nice cozy ambiance. For parties of 4 or more you can call and reserve a table. Their lentil soup and garlic sauce are just amazing. Their schwarma is the best I've tasted in the ten or fifteen odd Mediterranean restaurants that I have been at. They also have a good selection of vegan items to choose from. Their portions especially their dinner portions are huuuggeee and if you are walking in for dinner you will most certainly walk out with a TO GO box after you've had your dinner as the leftovers themselves make another meal. The taste is great. Nothing to complaint of. The prices are high but considering that you pay for two meals at dinner plus you get good food you can neglect the prices.
(5)
Terry D.
We've eaten here three times now and it's quickly becoming one of our Eastside favorites. Last night I had the Samaki Harrah which is their salmon dish and OMG it was fantastic! I'm pretty sure I'll have that from now on! This location is pretty small and always filled, but we've never had to wait too long for a table. If you love Mediterranean food and you live anywhere nearby then you owe it to yourself to check it out. GREAT STUFF!!
(4)
Sophia W.
We have both dined in the restaurant and gotten take out. When dining in, I find that the service is pretty slow. It takes a good while for the food to come. The place is also rather small so sometimes the wait for a seat can be quite long. In terms of food, the portion size is quite generous. Some of our favorites include the Lamb Sharma and the combination kabob. As other yelpers have mentioned, the taste of garlic is quite overwhelming. Personally, I love garlic, but the aftertaste will stay for hours, even after brushing and mouthwash. Overall, I enjoy getting take out here from time to time, but not somewhere that I would go for a nice meal out.
(3)
Jenny A.
First off, parking was a B to find lol! This is a cute little restaurant and the staff here are very friendly. I wasn't crazy about the lentil soup but everything else was good! :) Get the chicken shawarma!!!!
(4)
David P.
One of our faves, ridiculous portions, awesome hummus, and great flavors. Desserts and apps are great if you arent super hungry, not many seats so plan your arrival strategically!
(4)
Mridula P.
Great Ambiance, Excellent Service.. and flavorful food. I've eaten better lamb shank and Shwarma else where though. But, I thought their Baklava was the best ever I had :)
(3)
Taryn M.
Food was delicious! They begin with a homemade soup which is warm and tasty. They also bring out pita bread and their special garlic sauce which is super addicting! I ordered the chicken shwarma and the flavors were amazing. More garlic sauce was on the chicken which made it even tastier. Everything was warm and the flavors blended so well together. My only complaint would be that my plate was 3/4 rice. Granted they still gave you a ton of chicken and veggies, but better portion control would be preferred. Maybe offering half plates for a little less money? I know I didn't need to eat all the food I did. Walked out with that over-full feeling (which is both a curse and a blessing)
(4)
Sanjay C.
Huge portions - not sure why. Almost always get takeout. Love their Salmon dish with extra sauce. The Spanakopita is quite decent too. If you are a meat lover then you will like the lamb.
(4)
Candace G.
Favorite place for take out in Bellevue (nice to sit down at too though). Shish Tawook is amazing and portions are huge, we usually spilt between the two of us and always have leftovers.
(5)
Ashwin R.
Lovely east side eats, with simple, effective preparations, big portions, and great prices
(4)
Hurst K.
Wow! First time here and it's truly exceptional. Every dish filled with independent flavors, all created uniquely and separately. Really enjoyed the two appetizers and two entrees. I would type what we ate but too full, can barely walk out of here. Enjoy! This place is awesome.
(5)
Yuki I.
Love their meat, soup, and salad. I was addicted to their dishes for awhile. I order one dish and take leftover home and it lasts at least 2 days. The portion of lunch dishes is disappointing even with lower prices. I ordered Farmer's Dish and Combo Kabob (one chicken, beef, and lamb) at lunch but the portion was half of what I get at dinner. Stick with dinner deal.
(4)
Tiff W.
We went here for a team lunch and food was fantastic. Everything tasted fresh and was loaded with flavor. I was surprised by how much I loved the fried cauliflower. I can't wait to take my husband here for dinner.
(5)
Karen L.
Updating this review (long overdue). My favorite entree is the lamb shish kabob. The meat is flavorful and tender and very delicious. And of course the rice is perfectly seasoned. I'm a grains kind of girl and I just love the rice. The portions are pretty amazing also. We come here pretty often. Come hungry!
(4)
Leila N.
I had a lunch with my husband we shared a combination Kebabs platter which was really good and the portion was big enough for two persons, and the service was really fast with nice staff
(4)
Colin M.
I definitely recommend trying this place if you are in Bellevue. The portions are huge, so no need for an appetizer or salad ahead of time. Before your food comes out, they bring you lentil soup plus naan bread and this delicious garlic/vinaigrette dip. The garlic dip was unreal, its' very easy to fill up on the bread/dip because its' amazing. I ordered the lamb schwarma as the main course and it could have easily fed 2 people. The flavors were great and the service was very friendly. I sat outside because the weather was warm and the inside was packed. Great food, great service, and you will not leave hungry.
(4)
Lynette A.
Fantastic! I had a lentil soup, (shared) mezza(?) plate appetizer, and vegetable delight. Everything was amazing. Excellent service. Huge portions. Perfect for Saturday lunch for three friends. No wait.
(5)
Kenny Y.
Found this little gem for our last meal in Seattle. It was bad timing to have lunch in downtown Bellevue, especially when we were short on time and trying to get a quick bite and rush to the airport to make our flight. But this place went far and beyond to serve and help us get in and out on time. We weren't sure how long the food would take so we ordered to go. As we stood waiting for the food the server asked a couple of times if we wanted to sit at a table while we waited. We felt bad for taking a table and the server felt bad we were standing. So we ended up sitting down, and the waiter quickly brought over bowls of soups for us. Which comes with every meal if you dine in, but it was nice of him to serve to us even though we ordered to go. The food came out pretty quick, so we asked if we could just dine in instead. Without hesitation the server ripped the to go bag open and handed each of us our to go plates. He then brought over some salad dressing/dip and extra pita bread. As we scarfed down our food, the server came over numerous times to make sure we were ok and if we needed anything else. O ya... the food... we ordered the chicken shawarma. We are big mediterranean fans and the shawarma here was DELICIOUS!!! If we had found this spot at the beginning of the trip we would have been back for another meal before we left. Everything was so flavorful and tasty... soup, salad dressing, rice! Ohh and also the portions were huge! Our 1 year old baby girl liked the pita bread a lot, so we asked for a to go box to take our remaining half pita for her snack on the plane. And what did they do?? The server went back to the kitchen and brought us out 2 new pitas in a to go bag. Like I said, service was top notch here! I'd recommend this place to anyone for dine in or to go. Both service and food was excellent! I wish I could give more stars!!!
(5)
Emily D.
Went here for dinner with my vegetarian boyfriend, and had a lovely date! Every part of the meal was flavorful, and the hummus was the best I've had in a while. I wish that we would've split an entree, since the portions are huge. I'm sure we'll be back, and keep that in mind. I have two suggestions in mind for Mediterranean Kitchen that kept me from providing a 5-star review: The interior of the restaurant could use a redesign. Food deliveries to the kitchen went straight through the dining area during the dinner rush, and extra chairs are stored, stacked, in the ladies room. Maybe shuffle things around a bit? Also, we ordered hummus as an appetizer (which was a big portion), and then my meal came with EVEN MORE hummus. Still delicious, but I wish I would've known beforehand, so I could've asked for a different side.
(4)
Dale M.
Friendly staff and great service. Free appetizer pita bread with soup and sauces was genius. The lamb was good, but a little on the charred side. The chicken was tender, melt in your mouth delicious. I want to go back asap to try more things!
(4)
Michael A.
Something that looked like roaches in my food... The manager didn't seem to care. I'm done with this place.
(1)
Yann R.
Went there for dinner with the kids. A nice dinner, very friendly staff. Very very generous portions and delicious food. A great deal.
(4)
Kristy R.
Hubby and I went for the first time today for lunch and we were impressed. He had lamb schwarma and I had chicken schwarma. Both were really tasty although the meat on both was rather dry. The soup, pita and garlic they start you out with was super good. My husband was totally won over when they brought the soup and pita before we even ordered. He is usually starving when we get to any restaurant . A guy came in to place a to go order and the waiter had him sit down at a table to wait and gave him the complimentary soup. I thought that was really nice. It is small, maybe a dozen tables, so if you go at prime time, be prepared to wait.
(5)
Mimi L.
I have been wanting to come here for a long time after reading all the good reviews about the place but for some reason have never gone until now. My friend and I came on a weekend for lunch and the place is pretty small but surprisingly not that packed. We got seated right away and they even gave us some appetizers to start. I got the lamb shawarma, which is a popular dish that was recommended on Yelp. It was good and came in a REALLY big portion. I had leftovers that lasted me for dinner and lunch the next day! The place is actually pretty small, but the service was pretty quick. If I came here again, I would definitely share a meal instead of getting my own. In fact, I think sharing one plate for two people, there would still be leftovers!
(4)
Roshni S.
Best Place for mediterranean in Bellevue
(5)
Sidhart B.
I love middle eastern cuisine, this disappointed me....too much garlic, even though the food could be tastier if they reduce the amount of garlic... The dinning room is very small and table are too close to each other..
(1)
Jinny H.
One of my favorite places ever. Consistently yummy. Portions are huge. I always get 3-4 meals out of one order. The Lovers Sydon Prawns is my favorite. I always get the Zahrah appetizer ( fried cauliflower) with the Mezza Tray. Service is always welcoming. They are so nice to everyone.
(5)
Abdelrouf T.
I been to many places for middle eastern food and Mediterranean kitchen is the only one that makes me feel back home, i had the lintel soup and mezza tray and its really good but i got for main course a lamb shawarma and unfortunately its not even belong to shawarma and has ton of nut meg that i could not even feel any other food flavors, other than that food is really how we do back home.
(4)
Leigh F.
My first experience here was definitely 5-stars and my last visit was 2-stars at best, so I guess I will be fair and give them a 3-star (3.5) rating... as in this place is A-OK and I will probably come here again in the future, hoping to recreate that first 5-star experience. If you've never been here before, just know that it is very cozy aka small inside. It can get packed pretty quickly, but if you have a party of four or more, they will take reservations. I've read reviews where people complained about finding parking, but thus far, I have not had any problems. The good: - The portions are HUGE. Huge is probably an understatement, which makes it a great value. You could easily feed two people with one entree. It is highly likely that you will be going home with tons of leftovers. - Service was always spot on. Water never went below being half-full, even when the restaurant was jam packed with a wait outside the door. - The garlic dipping sauce for the pita is TO DIE FOR. - Lovers Sydon prawns were well-seasoned and just delicious. - There are plenty of Vegetarian options, with lots of meaty options as well, so you can easily satisfy every member of the family. - The Falafil is delicious. I will probably order this on my next visit, but fortunately my dad was kind enough to share. The not-so-good: - On my first visit, everything was excellent, but on my last visit here, everything was incredibly SALTY. And I have a salty palette, so that in itself says a lot. - My first visit here, I had lamb and it was so good. My last experience with the lamb shwarma was not a good one. I couldn't really eat it because the gamey taste was so overpowering. - The rice is hard. I don't know if it's supposed to be cooked like that. I mean, it wasn't even al dente, it was hard... as in... still raw. - The lamb kabobs only came with a few pieces of meat. Literally, like three pieces of meat, with tons of rice and onions. Summary: Get the falafil, spanakopita, lovers sydon prawns, or the stuffed grape leaves. Definitely can't go wrong with those options. The portions are huge and affordably priced. Service is attentive and friendly. The Mezza Tray is a great way to try a little bit of everything, but be warned in that after tackling that thing, you probably won't be able to eat much of your entree.
(3)
Kady W.
Absolutely amazing! We will be coming back to Bellevue just to come here again.
(5)
Kshira N.
Nice ambiance. Good for date nights. If you go hungry you will not be disappointed. The portion sizes are huge and generous. They also serve you warm bread with a Zaatar dipper and olive oil as soon as you sit down. But I felt the food tasted a little too garlicky..
(3)
Neil F.
We were staying here for the July 4 weekend and looked for nearby places. They start out with the lentil soup and pita bread. It was OK. We got the lamb shawarma and the beef shawarma. The lamb was tender but the beef was sort of chewy. The majority of the dish is rice. People have described it as saffron, but I didn't really notice it. The rice is more of a pilaf than anything. I personally prefer Persian to Lebanese, but it was still a good meal.
(4)
Elaine S.
I found this gem a while back and fell in love! The food is outstanding as is the service. As my husband said, we feel privileged to be able to eat such great food.
(5)
Tan Lo S.
I cannot stop thinking about this place! Such a small, kind of comforting restaurant that wants you to come in and feast! Super homey-like, very small but definitely casual/romantic/and homey like you're in a small cottage. I arrive shortly after 6 for a table of 4. Their customer service at first entrance, to be quite frank, straight up sucks. No greeting, no welcoming hostess.... to be honest, some people are seating themselves and I awkwardly stand there contemplating if I should seat myself or not be rude and just wait. I opt into waiting and am finally seated probably almost 5 minutes of standing there awkwardly as more people arrive and stand there as well and we all look around trying to avoid the awkward social dilemma. I am seated though (kind of close to another table) and my cousins arrive. We are greeted nicely now with friendly server and lentil soup. To be honest, the lentil soup taste like baby food. It is somewhat nice tasting, however, 1/4 of us ate it all while the 3/4 of us used it as some dipping for the pita that was also complimentary (and their olive oil dipping sauce). We proceed to order and I get the farmers dinner plate. Lord, thank you for blessing me with great cousins who love to eat just as much as I do because my cousin sure chose a fantastic place to eat. Ahh... I love big portions. MK does just that. I got about 7 delicious bbq grilled chicken wings with a load of yellow rice, tahini sauce and good ole' hummus. I AM IN LOVE. For about $19.95, this is a great price in my opinion. It's a restaurant so you can't expect really dirt cheap prices for 7 wings, rice, soup, pita bread and hummus. Anyway, the yellow rice was de-damn-licious. It tasted like it was cooked with chicken broth or something because it was very flavorful. The tahini sauce and hummus tasted really salty at first, but after having it for leftovers, I think it was the perfect combination to help balance the flavors of the dish. The wings were bbq grilled--a little strong on the tahini sauce--I would have liked more of the seasoning/spices/marinade to stand out on the wings, but nonetheless, they were fresh, hot, moist and tasty! My cousins enjoyed their dishes and seriously, none of us ate all of our foods. We all had leftovers and I am so glad because I just had two meals. They have a shared lot on the side of the building. Their service progressed into the night and so I'm glad about that. I definitely recommend this place for their fresh food, huge plates, and such delicious tasting food. I seriously am drooling thinking about their hummus and farmer's plate.... I want to tackle the lamb next.... yummm.
(4)
Todd S.
Great service. Moved tables to seat us quickly. We started with a Mezza Tray, and were very pleased. That alone with the lentil soup they serve could be dinner! Chicken Swarma & Lamb Swarma were enjoyed by the whole table. Will return.
(5)
Review C.
Great food and awesome price. Their portion is huge so I recommend sharing 1 main dish and get 1 appetizer for a couple.
(5)
Sylvia C.
I love this place, its small but neat. the food is really good !!
(5)
Madhu S.
Flavorful and tasty food, and the service is wonderful too. I have never tasted better rice, so fresh and garlicky! the place is small, but is worth the wait. Portion sizes are quite big too.
(5)
Dhiraj K.
Good quantity, but not so great quality. IMO, 3 stars for this place is very reasonable.
(3)
M. S.
For such an amazing restaurant, its sure hard to find! The sign for the hair salon obscured it's location. It was a busy Saturday, but the waiters were attentive and made sure everyones glasses were always full. Had the lamb schwarma and it is amazing. The plate was the size of a hub cap and it was piled with food. Reasonable price considering the amount of food you're served.
(5)
David H.
So good and large portions! I have tried the chicken kabob and it was wonderful. The staff is great and it's great for ouch or dinner. I highly recommend.
(5)
Kate M.
Best. Falafel. Ever. We always get the chicken shish tawook and it is so delicious and garlicky. Yum!!!
(5)
Yumiko K.
I needed to catch up with a good friend of mine, so I suggested we try this place based on the Yelp reviews and a comment from my co-worker. My friend had heard good things about this place, and she wanted to try as well. OH MY GOD! Yelpers, you ARE right (again and again and again). This place was amazing. There was a bit of wait when we arrived at the restaurant around 7:30, but we did not mind chatting outside of the restaurant for 10 minutes or so. As soon as we were seated, they brought us 2 bowls of bean soup and pita bread with some garlic dipping sauce. The soup was tomato-y and tangy with a nice blend of spices. It was not the best soup I ever had, but I really appreciated it came out so fast. Since my friend had never had shwarma, she had to try it (beef). I ordered Lovers Cydon Prawns ($17.95). It is not cheap, but you got to see the portion size! Our food came out on your Thanksgiving service platters. A heaping pile of saffron rice (quite flavourful) topped with a bunch of veggies (biggest carrot chunks!) and char-grilled prawns. My friend also had tons of saffron rice with a heaping pile of beef/grilled green onions/other veggies. We are both hearty eaters, but we barely finished 1/3 of our dinner. Now we won't have to worry about at least next 2 meals. My car and fridge now smell like garlic, but this restaurant is so worth it!
(4)
Alisha W.
Went here for lunch today. My first experience at this restaurant was very disappointing. I had heard a lot of good things, but after coming here two more times, I am definitely a fan. Prompt service, food tastes and looks like its crafted with care. My favorite is the garlic dip that they provide with pita at the beginning. The lamb kebab was a bit dry, and although I'm not a chicken fan, I actually think the chicken was better than the beef and lamb. All in all, really delicious. I would recommend ordering carefully because their portion sizes are HUGE.
(4)
Robert L.
I had the Beef Shish Kabob. The meat was a little on the tough side, but flavorful. The portions were immense, but mostly filler. It is a nice ambiance. Very close quarters with a more European style seating (if there is an open seat it will be filled if need be) so it can get a little crowded and loud. In short, Meh. I've experienced better pretty much sums it up.
(2)
Jonathan M.
If you have the chance, come here! Just be sure you haven't eaten anything all day and don't plan to for the next couple days. The quantity of food that they give you for the price is above and beyond. The Mezza Tray is an awesome combination of appetizers, a mix of vegetables and dips. Most of us ordered the Lamb Shawarma entree, and another buddy got the Lamb Couscous dish. I wasn't particularly happy with the Shawarma dish, as it seemed as if the onion to meat ratio was too heavily skewed to the onion side. However, my judgement could be slightly impaired from the side of the Mezza Tray. The Lamb Couscous came as a lamb shank, which my friend said was very good. I'd go back here, definitely get the Mezza Tray again, but I'll try a different dish for my entree. I'll also be cognizant of the quantity when considering what I want, or making sure I'm able to take the leftovers home for meals the rest of the week!
(4)
Andy L.
Do you like mountains of lemon rice? Good for you. Do you like skewers of tasty meat? Me too. Do you love garlic? Hell yes. Was Top Gun the worst movie ever made? I think so. If you agree with me, try the Mediterranean Kitchen. I actually don't know how they feel about Top Gun. As for the first three questions, you can't go wrong. Kebabs!
(4)
Courtney K.
Super tasty. They start you off with soup, pita bread, and an insanely good garlic dressing for the bread. The shawarma is delicious, and beautiful! I thought it was a bit pricey until I saw the portions - gigantic. Also had really great service.
(5)
Jessica B.
My husband and I have eaten here twice...for dinner on a Friday night and for lunch on a Saturday. It was much less crowded for lunch with no wait. Both times the food was delicious. I don't love the soup they serve but my husband likes it. The pita and garlic dipping sauce taste great.The fried cauliflower is amazing. Both the chicken and the lamb shawarama were delicious. The portions are huge. When we went for dinner we had wine which was very reasonably priced. We'll go back again!
(5)
Mo K.
Food is all ways great. I try to steer towards more healthy, less carby, meals. It's very possible with Med Kit. and it's always been great. A top favorite of a friend, and a fun/welcome place for me. Enjoy it! M
(5)
Z P.
Excellent food. Not complaining, but the portions are insanely large. Suggest you share an appetizer and an entree and still have leftover. One star off for the red wine being room temperature; the boiler room. Nothing fancy, just good food in a mom and pop kind of joint. Enjoy!
(4)
Angela E.
This is one of the best Lebanese restaurants I've been to. The flavors were spot on. I had the Dajaj Mashwi, chicken thighs with garlic sauce served over rice with hummus on the side. The cream sauce is yummy. The pitas were fresh and not microwaved like some places. Our server was very friendly and service was fast. I look forward to coming here often.
(5)
Joa K.
AW YISS! I have dined here a few times now so I think I'm ready to write this...I have to take a breather and wipe my drool first.... Let me preface this by saying I effing love mediterranean food. BUT! I do believe a lot of mediterranean eateries over-salt their food. No thank you. Some menu items here really are too salty for me but overall, everything is quite tasty and I'd love to come back often. The last time I was here it was with my bestie. She said the decor was kind of creepy - like we were eating in someone's living room (but not in a good way). I tend to agree with that. It's very dim and drab. It's only welcoming because the staff here are nice. Just FYI... But the important thing is the food! First - the rice. Wow, I feel like they use a lot of butter or something. But I liked it a lot. It had a good homey flavor to it and good texture! None of that mushy stuff. Second - the Mezza Platter. Seriously could feed a family of 4. So. Much. Food. Would it be rude to just smother my face into this tray? That's not very classy you say? Well my class goes out the window when I'm eating Mediterranean food. Take it or leave it. The various dipping opportunities make this extra fun. Radish, cauliflower, etc. with hummus, some sort of yogurt sauce...drooool. Third - the chicken here is seriously bueno. I actually am perfectly happy eating chicken and some veggies. Very filling, relatively healthy, and warms my foodie soul. The service is notable - they are very patient, attentive, and even serve complementary soup, pita, and dipping sauce. Go ahead - fill up on the pita and dipping sauce. You'll explode when you walk out the door but you'll be pretty happy.
(4)
Linda T.
I paid a visit because the high rating...but the best I could give it is ok...
(3)
d s.
We've been here a couple of times before and the service was meh. We walked in for lunch at 1:30 this time and were ignored by three servers for about 10 minutes standing at the door (the place is not big--they could clearly see us). It was two of us and we asked one of the servers if we could sit at an empty table (they had two 4-tops empty). No, he said, we'd have to wait for a 2-top or wait until the "rush" was over. So, I said, well let's just go someplace else and we headed out the door. Then he started saying, "okay, okay, you can sit, come on guys, I was just kidding, you can sit." We left anyway and won't be back. There are too many good restaurants in Bellevue to put up with service like that. Not to worry guys--with the Bellevue construction going on around this place, you won't be there for long. The wrecking ball has your name on it.
(1)
Chompy C.
Cannot get enough of this place! the food is incredible! The dressing on t he salad, the lentil soup, and the entrees! Great portions for leftovers and everything is wonderful. The only trick is that you have to dine with your significant other because they wouldn't be able to stand the smell of you if they didn't have the garlic-y yumminess too!
(5)
Ethan C.
The food here is fantastic! Everything is home made, and the flavors are mind blowing. The grilled cauliflower was delicious--seriously, how do you make something as bland as cauliflower taste good? Even the eggplant was tasty, and I hate eggplant. Needless to say, the lamb and chicken dishes are amazingly awesome. The last time we went, the owner must have been our waiter, since he talked about every dish in first person. He couldn't hide his enthusiasm or pride in the food, and he was very interested in what the kids liked best. It was funny that he was worried they wouldn't like the lamb, when we had the opposite problem and the snarfed down the best dish. The portions are huge, so the entrees are more pricey than elsewhere. But they're definitely a good deal. On my first visit, when a nearby couple was served their entree, I assumed they ordered a special dish for two. Nope, that's just their portion size. No worries, though, everything tastes great the next day.
(5)
DeAnne E.
I don't visit the Eastside often (maybe twice a year) but this past weekend I was there. I didn't pick the place and I didn't drive. No, it wasn't a hostage situation although some Seattleites might think so. My friend likes Mediterranean food and we happened to be on the Eastside anyway. I was surprised how small the interior was and how all the tables were all filled during the lunch rush. I wasn't expecting soup automatically but there it was in front of me. I'm not a lentil fan so if I knew that was going to be a freebie I think I would have respectfully declined. A dish of garlic dipping sauce came out with pita bread soon after the lentil soup. The garlic sauce was intense! I wasn't able to eat any more of it. It was funny watching my friend attempt to eat it. I ordered the Shish Tawook. The chicken, rice, and hummus were amazing! If you've ever been to Cedars in the U-District, Mediterranean Kitchen is just as good, if not, better. Mediterranean Kitchen's portions are also huge and I fully understand why this restaurant is so popular. The service was very friendly and the price was fantastic for what you get.
(4)
TJ G.
We ordered take out at a family gathering, so we sampled a bunch of different plates. The flavors were pretty good and the portions seemed huge, except that it was mostly rice. The rice was delicious, but the plates are too expensive to be so small without having more of a gourmet presentation and flavor. Only three small pieces of spanikopita on top of a container of rice for $15. Four small strips of chicken on a mountain of rice. Shawarma mixed in with so many vegetables you can hardly find any meat, sitting on seven pounds of rice... There was plenty of rice, none of us feel compelled to try this place again.
(2)
Pam P.
Ordered the falafel salad and while it was kind of expensive for a salad, it was definitely enough to split and have a second time. The waitstaff was nice and made sure that we had plenty of water (we were outside on a very sunny summer day).
As many have already stated, the place is definitely small: you walk in and it seems like you are in the middle of the room. Definitely make reservations if you plan on coming in during prime time. I came here after work for some takeout, and ordered: Farmer's dish: this dish came with about 8 whole chicken wings with tons of rice and lemony garlic sauce. This was my favorite dish: the chicken was really good, and the tzatziki was nice and garlicky. Combo kabab: this dish came with tons of rice, chicken, lamb, and kafta kababs. This was good as well, but not as good as the chicken wings. Both orders came with two pieces of pita, as well as a side salad. Each dinner is good for two to three meals. Each dinner is in the $15-20 range, so it is pretty reasonable for a full meal with tons of leftovers. I can't imagine having room for appetizers and/or dessert, though, with so much food. I look forward to coming back and eating in the restaurant.
(4)
Brian N.
Love this place. Shishtawook is so delicious. You can split most of their dishes. Their hummus is dangerously addictive...
(5)
Shon A.
Superior service, your food is at your table within 5 minutes of ordering. They greet you with a wonderful soup of the day, and an amazing garlic dip! Portions are huge, and delicious.
(4)
Kylie S.
This place is delicious! They start you off, almost immediately when you sit down, with their soup of the day. It's always really great soup, but along with that is this really great bread and garlic dipping sauce that is my absolute favorite! They're super quick, and are there to please. The Algerian chicken is a must! We will definitely be coming back :)
(4)
Tracy I.
HUGE PORTIONS!!! "Disclaimer" Must love garlic! This place is awesome in so many ways! The people who work here are super friendly and the food is soooo- delicious! And the portions are gigantic! The lamb shawarma is absolutely phenomenal! You must get it! I kid you not, I crave their shawarma. The spinakopita is pretty delicious as well! There's soo- many things I want to try here, But the portions are so huge that you can order one dish and share with 3 people. What a deal! Next on my list to try is the farmer's plate and this thing that comes sizzling on a hot stone plate. Also, before they bring out your meal, you are served with the soup of the day, as well as pita and this yummy garlic vinaigrette. My friends and I call this the "crack sauce", as it is yummy and addicting! This place is a bit smaller than I thought it would be, however it is really cozy. Come early, or else you'll have to wait or resort to take out... But it's well worth it! Only wished they would serve waffle greek fries here! Lol.
(5)
David C.
This place is awesome! I order the chicken shawarma each time. It come with a great lentil soup, garlicky dipping sauce with naan-type bread. The portion is huge and is def a two meal portion. You shouldn't be disappointed with this restaurant.
(5)
Karen A.
This place was delicious. I am from out of town and was visiting the area for a long weekend. Looking for places to eat near our hotel seemed to be a chore. I actually found this place through zagat reviews and it didn't disappoint. The portions are large and very tasty. I had the shish tawook and my husband had the kafta. The service was excellent and the prices are very reasonable.
(5)
Silvana E.
Food here is great and the portions are HUGE! Seriously, their lamb shank dish could feed me for 3 days! Awesome value for the quality and amount of good food you get! Knocked off a star because almost all of their dishes come with the same HUGE portion of spiced rice, which I like, but think they should have more alternatives.
(4)
Connie L.
Lamb Schwarmma Plate. Nearly $20, but very worth it because the portions are huge. I split it with one other person, but you can probably split it with 3 people because there were still leftovers. They also give you pita bread and soup in the beginning - also good. MMmMmm Good. Been there twice now and will go again when I have another mediterranean food craving. It's a small place, so you should call ahead to make a reservation.
(5)
Pavel Z.
Great tasty food and portion sizes are huge - I'm always taking box back home with me. Place is quite small and very popular - expect line on weekends and during the lunch time.
(5)
Cynthia L.
All right stop; collaborate and listen CP is back with Mediterranean Kitchen Something grabs your taste buds tightly Garlic flowing from your pores daily and nightly Will it ever stop? Yo, I don't know Hold your nose, and eat some more If there's a problem with your service, yo, they'll solve it 'Cause at $38 for two, then you know they'll handle it Saaaa-fron, bum rush that plate it's huge Saffron rice serving so big you'll go ka-bloooo Farmer's Wings, when I order them regularly My friends run from me like they committed a felony Love it or leave it; CP don't play Their food is awesome and feeds for days If there was a problem; yo, they'll solve it Check out their mixed grill/hummus/lentil soup/salad/baklava while CP devours it Med, Med Kitchen to go (to goooooo), [I order] Med Med Kitchen to goooo (to go, to go)
(5)
Kat W.
Initially looking at the menu and the price, it might look expensive for the same food at other restaurants. Finally went to try this place and it was totally worth it! Portions are huge so it's well worth your money. Pictures really don't do it justice since you might just think of it as smaller size plates that were full. Well, these were HUGE plates with HUGE servings. Easily can share a plate among 2 or 3 people, and still feel full. Large portions easily evens out the expensive price. Was a good 20 minute wait for dinner time on a Thursday night. We reserved a time, but still had to wait because it was packed! When we finally got inside, we were quickly seated and served hot lentil soup and some warm pita bread. It was easy to pass the time in looking at the menu while eating and chatting away. Plenty of choices on the menu, and a lot of options for vegetarians. I ordered the vegetarian spinakopita dish, as recommended by the waiter. Ended up with three full sized of these delicious feta cheese-spinach triangles. It was rich and thick filling with crispy and flaky layers of baked dough. They sat on a bed of rice and placed with delicious hummus. The dish was so big, I didn't know where to start. I ate as much as I can and still left with 1/2 dish in a doggie bag. Service was good, reacted fast but wasn't pushy. My party apparently kept our conversation a bit past the close time (there were still other customers too) and weren't edged to leave. Definitely would come back to see what other things they have.
(4)
David Z.
While the menu may appear pricy, you definitely get your money's worth because the portions are quite large. One entree is generally worth 3 meals to me (I always have a lot of leftovers to box). The staff are very attentive and the restaurant is quite cozy. Be prepared for a wait depending on when you go (Friday nights are in my opinion the longest wait). The dishes I recommend are the salmon and chicken/beef noodle dishes.
(4)
Gracey A.
Delicious! And very worth the wait... Exactly. Great food but can have long line on Friday nights in Bellevue
(4)
Gavin N.
Geez what has taken me so long to visit this place? Anyway, finally went here last night with my family. Ordered the Lamb Shawarma and Chicken Sish Tawook. Both were delicious, I really liked the chicken, and the soup they gave us as soon as we sat down. Everything was just really flavorful and tasted of good quality. Also worth noting, I think there's a lot of garlic, cus I definitely had a ton of garlic breathe after (if that matters to you or not). Anyway, why five stars? well the service was just fast, friendly and amazing last night. And on top of that, every entree was literally enough to feed 2 people. We both packed half our meals, and I eat like a piggy. Good service, good quality, and good value? That's a hard combo to find in Bellevue. I will be back....soon :).
(5)
Gary S.
Stopped in for lunch after a shopping stop on the way back to the east side. What a great place. My wife had the lamb shawarma and I had the mixed kabob. It came with soup and pita bread and a dip. Everything was just great and the portions were generous Good value... Likable,attentive waitstaff.
(5)
Rajalakshmi R.
This place has some good food. The portions are generous. The problem is there is no attempt to develop any flavor in vegetarian dishes. The falafel plate was basically 4 pieces with a bunch of greens and beets. The vegetables were so huge that I hurt my gums trying to bite into a piece of beet. Not worth the money
(2)
Christiana A.
Ate there last night for the first time. Lamb shawarma was very good. I'd say the food is definitely worth the visit--it's pricey but you get 2-3 meals out of one entree! As for as criticism, our server was sort of aloof (really nice but forgetful)and forgot the pita bread, gave us the wrong check and then forgot to bring out our to go boxes. And the decor and ambience isn't very nice but I would definitely go back for the food.
(4)
Virginia S.
Fantastic food. Got the tabouly. Grape lives, falafel, and kibbee. The wait staff was great and very friendly. I know it seems like a lot of food, but it was what we were accustom to. Shame we are leaving on Friday.
(5)
Sunny H.
Chicken or beef schawarma Ground meat kabob Chicken kabob All great tasty dishes. Will return agSin and again!
(4)
Dean K.
Tried Mediterranean Kitchen again after our initial bad experience since it was convenient and maybe they've improved. Not! Service still sucked and the place is still dirty. My wife and I left before we ordered as there were insects flying around and food stuck on our silverware. This is the last time we'll be trying this place. We also pointed these issues out to management and they were unresponsive and defensive. Poor customer service.
(1)
Susan D.
I love, love, love this restaurant. I've dined in and have also done take out. Portions are huge and usually good for dinner and lunch the next day. However, they do use a LOT of garlic so plan accordingly. Favorite dish: Shish Tawook.
(5)
Matt S.
My girlfriend is Brazilian and grew up eating a lot of Lebanese food in Sao Paulo (there is a large Lebanese population there), so we found Mediterranean Kitchen and decided to try it out. They give complimentary pita, soup, and garlic dipping sauce when you sit down and everything is really good. One word of warning, if you need to talk to anyone that is NOT eating the garlic dipping sauce within 48 hours - I'd use every ounce of restraint and skip it, it's friggin' delicious but I've never had garlic breath that lasted over a day and multiple brushings. It's radioactive goodness. We also got the hummus appetizer and it was excellent, with large portions. 1 order would be enough for 4 people, easily. For the main course, we tried the Lamb Shwarma and the Farmer's Deli Chicken. The portions are ridonkulously large, they could each easily feed 2 people. The food itself was delicious and well-prepared. Eating the chicken is a messy affair, it's skin-on legs with lots of bone and little meat on each - think of the effort that goes into eating Dungeness and you're in the ballpark... but the flavor was so damn good it was well worth it. Just don't order the chicken on a date, there's no way to eat it politely ;) They brought a very tasty fig cookie out with the bill, it was a nice end to the meal. We found an awesome new Lebanese restaurant to go to regularly :)
(5)
Allison T.
I actually resort to eating that complimentary garlic olive oil butter dip with the spoon from my delicious complimentary lentil soup after I've polished off the complimentary pitas. I'm ashamed, but IT IS SO GOOD! Share the lamb shwarma (DON'T GET YOUR OWN UNLESS YOU HAVE A CENTAUR STOMACH, THE PORTIONS ARE HUGE). Seriously. I freaking LOVE their lamb shwarma.
(5)
Angela B.
Portion size...huge! No, make that gigantic. After eating dinner, I looked at what was left and decided that it could "still" feed two very hungry adults. Really loved the pita bread & the special dip they give you before dinner. Yum! I think I was full before I even started dinner. Service was excellent & fast (especially for how many people were crammed into this tiny place. We were told it was going to be a 30-min wait but it only took 10min. There is parking close by (street and lot) but it fills up fast. We ended up parking at the downtown park nearby.
(4)
Alex M.
Good food. Small place...okay service.
(3)
Scott F.
Fast service. Some of the best shawarma in the PNW!!! Can be very busy but well worth it. Come hungry the portions are huge. The mint ice tea is very refreshing.
(5)
Sabrina M.
Not a fan, at all. I came here because I love Mediterranean food and wanted a relaxed restaurant to dine by myself. The food was mediocre at best. I ordered a lamb dish and did not enjoy the lamb, the vegetables, or the rice pilaf where they dumped all of that. The portion was enormous and I ate less than half of my order. The mint tea that I ordered tasted like it was made with hard tap water. I also thought that Mediterranean Kitchen was too pricey-- the quality of the food does not justify the price.
(2)
Mandy S.
This has shown up as one of the top rated places in bellevue so we wanted to give this a try on 'world veggie day'. The great thing about this place is you can feed a whole family for the price of one entree. or maybe it was just my Mezza Tray that was 14.95 as an appetizer. But you pretty much will get sick of it half way through because it's bigger than any entree I've seen. The mezza tray includes lots of chunky veggies to dip into eggplant dip, hummus, and yogurt/sour cream base..not exactly tzatiki sauce but still good if someone else at your table ordered chicken. photos here may look smaller than in real life!! the rice and meat dishes are very popular and they do serve dinner with soup. The soup varies I believe but we had a veggie lentil soup that reminded us of Christmas due to the hints of nutmeg or cinnamon. I had to minus one star because the turkish coffee never came...
(4)
Doug H.
Love Mediterranean Kitchen. Nice setting in Bellevue. The food is amazing the service fantastic and the portions huge. I come here for lunch and get the Lamb or Chicken Shawarma ($13.99/$10.99 respectively. Big enough to split and still have a little left. Includes soup and pita with a garlic dipping sauce. Leave a 20%+ tip and you are out the door for $20 for two. Fantastic.
(5)
Irina S.
I love this place. no no no ...I LOVE this place. For all the reviews that are picking apart the food, you are total food snobs. This place is clean, delicious, and has amazing portions. The plates are great if you want to share, or just take half home, because it tastes amazing the next day! My only complaint of course, the lack of space. The restaurant is pretty small, so make a reservation ahead of time. Cambo Kabab is a great way to treat a couple of different things for your first time. The soup you get is delicious! You must have the garlic sauce - for dipping your pita. Enjoy!
(5)
Harsha G.
I love this place. Their shawarma's are amazing and portions are huge. I always go here for lunch and I can eat my leftover for dinner as well. So, imagine the portions. Their pita's are soft and fresh. I like them. Place is small and waiting time is a lot to get a table. Parking can be challenging. you can always park in the centre opposite to restaurant and cross the road for free parking.
(4)
Andrew P.
Great people, amazing food, and tons of it. Candidate for best restaurant in Bellevue.
(5)
Nicole G.
The lamb shawarma was delicious. So were the vegetables and rice. I would have liked a bit more lamb and a bit less rice. (My fault for not ordering a green salad with the meal!) I would like to eat there again, the next time I'm in Seattle. The service was very good.
(4)
Whitney B.
This place definitely has a homey, grandma-esque, "come into my home and eat until your head explodes" type of ambiance. There is no receptionist desk or anything like that, so it feels like walking into a house. But there's wine, candlelight, and olive oil placed strategically at the end of every table. We ordered one lamb shawarma and a chicken shawarma, and let me tell you, I am glad we only stuck to two entrees. Unbeknownst to us that we would also be served bottomless pita bread and a rather generous-sized bowl of lentil soup. Now, for the starved, this sounds like heaven. If you're anything short of starving, this is going to be a frightening food experience. The portions are massive--my chicken shawarma ended up feeding me for over 4 meals. Totally not exaggerating. So, after only being able to complete a quarter of my chicken shawarma, I had this feeling that there was something in my teeth: pure garlic extract. I swear that this is what they put in their dishes along with dried garlic and chopped fresh garlic, perhaps? If it's anything you can taste, it's garlic. I would advise against this restaurant if you detest garlic or cannot handle flavorful dishes. They're definitely heavy-handed with the garlic. I could even taste what I had eaten the morning after. After we threw up the white flag and looked down at our plates in shock that both of us had not created a dent in the dish, our very nice waiter asks if we have room for baklava. Are you kidding me? Really? REALLY? We politely declined. I had to inquire if any human being had ever finished a shawarma here by him or herself. He told me that the only person who was able to was a Seahawks lineman. That's how freaking big the portions are. The overall experience was very pleasant, however. Every waiter seemed to be pleasant and friendly. I had my water refilled constantly, which was nice, you know, considering the levels of garlic here.
(4)
Karon M.
Great place! I can't wait to go again. A bit noisy and no a/c but go in the evening for some great food.
(4)
Gabe O.
A lot of delicious food, need I say more? You may have to wait in line and the place is relatively small but worth it.
(4)
Vinh N.
Man, I love this place. The wait usually isn't that bad. Like others have said, the portions are HUGE. Be prepared to take home half of your dinner. They are usually very fast and the quality of the food is on point. I have no complaints whatsoever about this place.
(5)
Shereen A.
Aaaaaand iiiiiiiiiiiiiiii will alwaaaaaaaaaaays loveyouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuooooooooooh
(5)
Dan W.
Free soup & pita bread. Ordered the spinakopolito appetizer which was delicious, and kabob platter with the beef kabob my favorite. The others seemed a little dry for me. Large portions. Be hungry or take home your leftovers. I think you can order takeout too. Fairly small eating space and you're sitting pretty close to the other tables. There were some couples there when I came in with a friend after a hike and felt a little out of place. I'll definitely keep coming back.
(4)
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Address :103 Bellevue Way NE,Ste 103
Bellevue, WA, 98004
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Ken S.
What a letdown. The portions are obscenely large and most everything is drenched in a tangy yogurt sauce. All I tasted was sauce and it didn't help the appearance one bit. Much too goopy for my tastes. I've had good luck with Yelp up until this one. It might just be a Bellevue thing. Seattle Yelpers rarely disappoint.
(3)Chris H.
Portions are massive and the quality of the food is way up there. Love the mix of flavors and the garlic is positively breathtaking. My personal fave is probably the chicken, lamb, and kufta combo plate. A bit on the spendy side for lunch, but I always look forward to my next visit.
(4)Launa B.
I wanted to give this place a better review. We had okay service, not great. When I was eating there, I raved about the food. It was delish. I'm a veggie, so the choices were a bit limited. However, in the moment, I thought it was pretty good. However, for DAYS afterward I smelled and tasted garlic continuously. I couldn't stand myself, so I'm sure it was equally unpleasant for people around me. I want to go back to have some more yummy food but can't stand the thought of the days of garlicness afterward. Oh well.
(3)Krishna V.
The food is fine, though it will make you reek of garlic. The prices are a little high. The waiters are way too friendly. Not real friendly, the creepy, insincere brand of friendliness that drives a waiter to greet a group of strangers with "Hello good friends!" All things considered, I'd much rather go across the street to Garlic Crush.
(3)Sam H.
GaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaÂaarlic! OK maybe I'm caught up in world cup excitement, but really, if you love garlic and bits of meat, you hit this place.The first time I went in, I was a little nervous b/c I'd never had Lebanese food. I've been here many times now and it has never disappointed. My favorite is the [Chicken or beef] and noodles, but the schwarma is outstanding (even better than Zizo) also. The Kabobs are quite good too, but better can be had at Kabul or Bamiyan. Also, my son and I love the rice. I think they flavor it with saffron or something... not quite sure. It's bright yellow, large grained (orzo-sized). I could go there just for that. There's always more than enough food, so I never get to finish it all the first day. As you may have guessed, I love garlic. I eat whole roasted heads all the time, which my wife thanks me for. I've made soup out of garlic (over 60 cloves!) and eaten it raw. That being said, I wanted to mention that Mediterranean Kitchen is the only place I've ever been that has been able to produce something that is too garlicky for me. It's the salad dressing. It's rip-your-head-off strong. I tend to pick around the concentrated sections. Also, the lentil soup is good. It has a nice sweet aroma similar to apple butter if you've ever made that at home. Not the most spectacular ever, but good. The service is always friendly and perfectly unrushed. My only complaint is they place the house music too loud, which makes it hard to have a conversation.
(5)Bon Vivan T.
Once again, Yelp hits it out of the park! Yeah baby, *THAT'S* what I'm talking about! So, it's Saturday afternoon and we're thinking about dinner. Not dinner at any of our usual places, but something different. And good. So, we spark up the Apple, Firefox our way over to Yelp, and start looking. A few searches, sorts and screens later, we settled on trying Mediterranean Kitchen. After a brief phone call to secure a table and a delousing shower, we were off in eager anticipation of delicious Mediterranean fare. First thing we noticed was that parking was at a premium. Fortunately for us, some recently sated diners were exiting, food cartons in-hand, leaving us a primo spot right in the front - a Good Sign. We entered MK and saw that it was less than half full. Our reservation was checked, and were were shown to a table for four in the corner, handed menus, and immediately presented with this lentil (and cinammon?) soup, with pitas and some garlic dipping sauce. Mmmmm.... Double Mmmmm... Good Stuff. After this good start, we sat back to soak up the aura of the place. Travel posters of Lebanon. Fake wooden paneling. Some funky middle-eastern music. I liked it immediately. We looked around and noticed that each and every order coming out of the kitchen was huge - more food than a middle eastern family eats in a week...so we passed on the appetizers. Blushing Bride ordered the chicken shawarma, I ordered the lamb shwarma, and our guests split an order of lover's sydon prawns. At this point, we noticed that the place was now full and there were several people milling about outside, waiting to enter - another Good Sign. We did notice that the clientele represented a greater variety of locations than your typical Bellevue eatery - ethnically diverse if you will, and nice to see on the Eastside. Perhaps if we had more/better places and fewer Red Cheesecake Robin Factories... The food arrived and, as expected, was more than we could eat in several sittings. Some of the earlier reviewers commented about the fact that this food isn't authentic in their eyes - too much lemon, garlic and olive oil. Well, I don't care if they boil up Nutria and serve it up on a plate of cardboard - if it tasted this good, I'd be there at least once a month! My food was delicious, I liked it, and that's that. BB thought her chicken was a bit rich, but she normally exists on a near vegetarian light diet, so I can see how this would be a bit rich for her. Needless to say, we had plenty for lunch the next day. Our dining companions devoured their Sydon prawns, and commented on how delicious they were (they generously shared one, and it was that good). Again, thanks to earlier Yelp reviewers, we ordered Turkish coffee and baklava. Excellent - and a wonderful end to a great dining experience. Total bill for four people, a bottle of some Australian Syrah, dinner, dessert and tip came to about a buck forty. Not too bad at all. Plus, lunch the next day! Will we be back? Hell yes. And, I hope lots of you Yelpers read those negative reviews below and free up parking and tables for us.
(5)Pavan R.
Loved the food, huge portions please plan on sharing. Make reservations on weekends, can get a bit crowded.
(4)Capt k.
Yes, this place is a garlic heaven. I like - a) Rice pilaf b) Hummus c) Meat dishes (beef and lamb) d) big portion. I don't like - a. all chicken dishes (they put too much vinegar as marinate taste too sour for me). b. dipping sauce for the pita (again too much spices and vinegary) I will go back again if I want my taste bud feeling like eating garlic for few days or have craving for garlic.
(3)Yan Z.
If garlic didn't exist, neither would Mediterranean Kitchen. Seriously, their review cards have garlic bulbs instead of stars. I've been here many times, and both the food and the service are consistently great. It's very reasonably priced, especially considering that you'll almost certainly go home with leftovers. (Note: I did ask the waiter once if anyone actually ever finished their entrees, and he replied that typically they were either really big guys or really tiny elderly women.) Everyone starts out with delicious legume-based soup, which is where you get your first whiff of garlic, and fresh hot pita bread with an acidic garlic-based dipping sauce. For entrees, I usually stick to the chicken schwarma or the spanakopita, though in recent visits I've leaned more toward the spanakopita. The spanakopita comes in two incredibly flaky and tasty triangular pieces, along with sides of rice and hummus. The chicken in the schwarma is moist and tender, though I find that they do tend to overdo the sauce. Either way, both would satisfy garlic lovers. The atmosphere is quaint-- it's a smallish, dimly lit space with very attentive and helpful waiters. Be prepared for a short wait during peak times.
(4)Bilal A.
Mediterranean Kitchen is always one of my first choices when dining in Bellevue. The portions are gigantic and more than filling. The running joke is that you always get two meals for the price of one. Everything comes with an amazing side, either a lentil soup or a salad with olive oil. The pita bread and dipping oil is also amazing. I always get the Lamb Shawarma (Halal!) that comes with rice and hummus. Amazing stuff! The only problem with the place is that you can't ever finish your food and you will occasionally have to wait for a while before you get a table.
(5)Jamie H.
Delicious! The portions are huge and the food is fantastic. I highly recommend the dajaj mishwi. The chicken is juicy and covered in tasty spices. The rice is perfectly cooked and full of flavor. I wish we had a Mediterranean Kitchen in Portland!
(5)Chris H.
After all the rave reviews, I was very disappointed. The portions are generous, but I've had much better Mediterranean food -- although that was in Los Angeles and I've yet to find a great place here. However, the reason I won't be back is the garlic. I love garlic as much as the next person, but they use way too much. And I couldn't get the garlic aftertaste out of my mouth for days! Way too much to deal with for so-so food.
(2)Shawn M.
i went here for lunch the other day with co-workers, I had the Lamb Shawarma, and it was delicious. The wait wasn't too long even though it was lunchtime in this busy area and we also had a table of nine. This dish was around $13, not cheap for a lunch, but the portions were more than I could eat and the quality was good.
(4)David X.
I really love Mediterranean food and this is my favorite place to go on the East side. It's very popular and the wait can be very long sometimes during the evening if you don't make reservations. The price is very reasonable as well, around $14 to $18 a dish, considering they give you a mountain of food. In fact it's so much food that it's more than the baby-sized burrito at Gordito's Healthy Mexican Food in Seattle. They also give you soup and unlimited pita bread, in case you naively think you can fill up on appetizers before your main dish comes. Prepare to pack away leftovers unless you have a huge appetite. I've gotten all of the shawarmas and some of the kabobs before. The shawarmas have meat along with onions and other vegetables in a garlic sauce. They are all good although my favorite is the lamb shawarma because I'm partial to lamb. I would suggest not getting any of the Beef or Chicken Noodle dishes because my friend got it once and it's basically a pasta dish that is sort of tasteless and lacks any Mediterranean flavor. And since the servings are huge, you'll basically be eating a ton of tasteless linguine noodles. Aside from my dislike of their noodle dishes, my only other complaint is that sometimes they overdo it on the garlic. I myself like garlic but their sauce in the shawarma is sometimes still too garlicky for my taste. Sometimes they do it just right but other times I think they go overboard a bit. Some of my friends don't like garlic as much and they definitely complain about the excessive garlicky flavor more than I do. If you don't like the garlicky taste of Mediterranean food, I would suggest not ordering the shawarma. The people are extremely nice and the service is always fantastic. I highly suggest coming here if you like Mediterranean/Middle Eastern food.
(4)Cat C.
Can I just say WOW!!!! I have never had food that gave me the same reaction as a really, really awesome piece of chocolate truffle! Mediterranean Kitchen is bomb! Their food is absolutely amazing! I have NEVER EVER had a bad meal here. They really know how to tie a meal together. The place is so small though, so the wait can be unreal! The parking is not so great and if you do not like garlic, you might as well not even try here! The parking and wait are so worth the minor inconvenience for the best food of your life!! The best meal here is their chicken shawarma! WOW! and their humus is the best I've had in a really, really long time! Five stars for FAB-U-LOUS!!!!
(5)Nicole W.
Seriously this was the best lamb shawarma I've ever tasted! I literally could not stop eating it, it was that good. The lamb was tender and flavorful, the grilled veggies were sweet and tasty. I loved every bite. Definitely recommend. Oh and the portions are HUGE enough to share or have leftover lunch/dinner.
(5)Liz R.
If you love garlic, come here. The food here is great, the staff is nice, and it's the best middle-eastern food I've had in the area. It's a little pricey, but it's worth it. You'll eat for days. It's a bit of a special treat to come here, particularly for lunch, which can get crowded, so try to go early or late. It's nice because lunch and dinner also come with a soup and pita bread served with this lovely garlicy dipping sauce. It's good. Things to order: Chicken or lamb shawarma. So good!
(4)Chris O.
Great, tasty food. Small tables and tables near door can be breezy. It's really dark in the restaurant. I particularly like the spanikopita, I have found none better. But beware, it is the most garlicy food you will ever eat. You know how at Dixie's they make a big deal out of meeting the man? They should do the same for garlic here. I mean, you are going to have garlic breath, garlic farts, and if you take home leftovers your car and your fridge will reek of garlic for awhile. But then again it may be worth it. ;)
(4)King C.
Got the lamb sharwama. Portions were ginormous. Lamb was a bit tough and not so tasty. Lentil soup was just ok. Decor was a bit drab.
(2)Jarrod L.
We love this place. The portions are huge (order a max of 3 items for a party of 4; 2 is probably better for most people) and everything is excellent every time. There's lots of good grilled meat options with varying veggies on top of rice. The pita dipping sauce is garlic-lover heaven, and the hummus is nicely bitter from a generous amount of tahini.
(5)S C.
The portions here are huge, and the prices in proportion - but I guess that's ok if you assume it's two or even three meals you're buying - half to eat in and the other half to take out for later. The flavors though were just barely average. The lamb shank I had had very little meat on the bone and the chickpeas weren't cooked. The service is friendly and prompt.
(3)Vitaliy P.
I like the rise that they have. Its the bomb. Their restaurant a bit small. I was there first time and I was thinking what to order. Since I like chicken, I ordered "Algerian chicken" It was good. Most of all, the plate was really big. So I had to bring the left overs with me. So a little recommendation. Bring a buddy with you and share the plate. Only if you want, of course. I had a fellow that I know near me and he said to try his appetizer . So I say why not. Appetizer called "Stuffed grape leaves" I tasted and I loved it. Its also a medium-big plate. Actually if you just order that and you eat it. You would be full. I would be happy to there again and try more food.
(4)Paul E.
I'm converted from a previous non-fan... Unlike my previous visit 15 years ago, my dish was no longer overpowered with garlic sauce. Instead of having a memory tainted by the use of garlic, this time I came away being impressed by the generosity of the establishment. Servings were generous (an understatement), and when we asked for some bread and sauce to take with us, we weren't given a pittance, we were given a STACK of bread and sauce and our carry-out bags were laden with the weight of a huge amount of food. To top it off, my 11yo son even liked the shrimp dish! My gf wants to go back, and that we will certainly do. NOTE: it was really busy on a Friday night, so you might want to make reservations if it's a weekend evening.
(4)Paul R.
Second visit to Mediterranean Kitchen - first time my wife and I were invited as part of a birthday dinner for a fellow foodie. This time I suggested it as a dinner option to some out-of-towners visiting on business. We're friends as well as industry colleagues and I wanted some place less expensive but a little different. After comparison to the fondue place in Bellevue this was easily the winner on price and I actually prefer the atmosphere to the smaller and less flashy restaurant than a national chain Keg-like interior. The food here honestly isn't wild or special in a way that makes your mouth water days later while reminiscing. It's good, but I think that a testament to the not-great is that the plate and portion size is Texas all the way and had I loved it I wouldn't have gone home with three meals of leftover (just from my dish!) Had I loved it I would have rolled out with only two meals carried homeward. It's a fun place, with nice wait staff and a relatively inexpensive menu that isn't run-of-the-mill in Seattle, so definitely worth a try. Keep your expectations in check and bring a large appetite or be the sort of person that savors the value in massive leftovers that warm well.
(3)Beth W.
Why do I love this restaurant? The waitstaff/busser/owner/etc are like family...family that wants to make sure everything is perfect for you, but without pestering you. Family that occasionally flirts or jokes with you, but who always, always treat you with the utmost respect. Being a small restaurant (about 10 tables total), the staff is minimal, but amazing. The food quality is superb. Whether you love lamb, or fish, or chicken, or are vegetarian, or vegan, or prefer Moroccon, or Greek...you will find something to love here. The menu is not overly complex, but it's all fresh and savory. I ALWAYS pick a different dish during repeat visits to the same restaurant, as a matter of course....except here. I love the Lamb Shawarma so much that I cannot bring myself to order anything else. They also start you off with a nice homemade soup (usually lentil) and pita bread. Don't rush through or pass on the soup! It's a delightful way to tingle your tastebuds. As is the hummus. Yum! Food quantity. Each plate is $10+, but I get 2 or 3 meals out of a single plate....and believe me, I have tried to finish an entire plate in one sitting. It is just so much food! And not filler stuff, either, but fresh veggies and meat and sauce. I also typically end dinner with baklava and Turkish coffee. I'm not a fan of the syrupy, overly-sweet desserts, as baklava tends to be. But here, it's a nice blend of pistachios and phyllo, with honey acting as the happy binding that unites the flavors, as opposed to the only thing you can taste. Also, the Turkish coffee is as strong as it's supposed to be, without being bitter or filled with dregs. And lastly, they listen. If you ask for a dish to come plus or minus something, they accomodate you. If you tell them that a dish was superb, they thank you and take it into account when making that dish again. If you tell them the soup had too much salt, they will alter the recipe to accomodate future patrons (and likely go to the ends of the earth to make it up to you...and this is a hypothetical situation, because I've yet to experience any dish being less than amazing here). The drawback? It's a tiny location, and very popular, so expect a wait time on any given night. Other than that...it's perfection!
(5)Katie M.
Great food and great service! I came here with co-workers for dinner and had a great meal! The lentil soup was delicious. I had the combination kabob plate which was huge. It provided an additional two lunches with the leftovers. Highly recommend this place!!
(5)Nikhil R.
I'm a vegetarian and ordered a vegetarian shawarma from this - you won't find this on the menu. The dish was tasty and the portions are really huge. I got it to go, and later at home, I realize there was a piece of chicken tucked in, and I ate it inadvertantly. I used to eat meat, before converting to vegetarianism, and I know chicken. It's inexcusable that they messed up like this. I'm definitely not going back, and would advise to stay away if you're vegetarian
(1)Tricia M.
Great vegetarian options. Huge portions- 2 per plate (at least), meals come with complimentary gorgeous lentil soup. Great garlicky dressing and crispy mouth watering falafel. Prices very reasonable for what you receive. The seating here is very limited, and there is no room to wait, so reservations are recommended though not required. If you order to go food, bring a container for soup! I got take out there a few times, and they didn't have a to go bowl so I missed out on the soup.
(5)Angie W.
Went there early a few Saturday's ago and never made it to a table. Was with a friend in a wheelchair and while the restaurant is "technically" accessible, the staff acted like they weren't. A few stares, mumbled comments, and no true feeling of being welcomed, so we were on our way. With all the choices in the area, I was really suprised!
(1)Josh B.
I asked a friend what he thought of Mediterranean Kitchen. He told me, "It's terrific, but the portions are huge and contain huge amounts of garlic." My reply was simple: "What do you mean, 'BUT'?!" 2 hours (and untold calories) later I was sitting motionless, praying not to explode. The shish kebobs were enormous, tender, and flavorful. The hummus was delicious. The rice was delicious. The salad was delicious. My $30 was gone and I wasn't sure I would ever eat again. When I got home 3 hours later, my girlfriend said "Did you just eat a whole head of garlic?" And thus all of the original predictions proved true.
(4)Justin H.
Gaaaaaarlic. You get a lot of food here. It's a little pricier than Gyros2Go, for instance, but you get a lot of food and a bit better seating. So, a much better date/sometimes food location. You do need to be careful, as it's really garlic-filled. Your whole fridge will stink of it afterwards. As good as it was, I'd rather do Gyros2Go for an every day/carryout meal.
(4)Genevieve S.
Well, I don't know how original I need to be here, since all the previous reviews are so amazingly true. Garlic - check. Huge portions - check. Friendly staff - check Entire experience - wonderful. Each time I go here, I ask myself why I don't live in the bathroom and bathe in the garlic-yogurt sauce. Probably because I'd smell like garlic so badly I wouldn't have any friends... which would be okay with me as long as I could eat there every single day. Fabulous food. Portions are large enough I ate them for 3 meals. I just plan ahead an bring a plastic tub with me to haul away all my delicious leftovers. PS - the food ages well, and gets more delicios after soaking in the sauce overnight. Mmmm. So freaking good!
(5)Stephanie H.
I know I will be going back to this restaurant, but until I do, I'm saving the 5th little star to see if it has the same charm, great food, and ease of service as my first visit. I think it will. Surprisingly the only 2 slight "snags" in our visit were at the very beginning. It took a few minutes until someone greeted us at the door to be seated for our 7:30 reservation. And when they brought out the soup, the first waft hit your nostrils like a ton of "is that body odor or my soup?" bricks. Once that initial wave of aroma hit, we were golden. The soup was a very mild, curry infused lentil soup. It was tasty, but the dipping sauce which accompanied the pita bread was absolutely delicious. I said immediately, "I'm going to dip my entree in that!" I didn't. When I took my first bite of my chicken from the Shish Tawook, I think I had to pause because there was so much flavor playing on my tongue. There is no way the dipping sauce was touching this dish. So, so good. In our group of 4, 2 of them are fairly picky eaters, and I was worried they may not enjoy the semi exotic (to us), fare. But everyone was happy, and everyone's food was plentiful and delicious (Shish Tawook, Beef Noodle, Chicken Noodle, Lamb Schwarma). From the time we got seated, the service was outstanding. Our pita bread, dipping sauce, and drinks were refreshed constantly; we were never without anything. The only snag I could possibly see is the bill. My boyfriend was kind enough to pay for everyone's meal, but I wouldn't have been surprised if it might've been slightly difficult to get separate checks. The place is small and cozy, the bathrooms make me laugh (they're basically storage rooms, keep an eye out!), and the portions are gigantic. Eat here and you'll have enough for at least 2-4 meals, hopefully with the memories of a meal shared with loved ones.
(4)Farshid S.
Great Mediterranean place. very flavorful. They serve warm pita bread and dipping (garlic) sauce. dish sizes are very generous.
(5)Mars Y.
I went with another foodie friend of mine for lunch this week. The messa tray is just that...a LARGE tray of a great assortment of appetizers. The lamb shawarma has the right amount of spices that make the lamb so tender, juicy and flavorful. Fresh ingredients done right! Large portions so that you can enough for leftovers.
(5)Mike V.
Went here for lunch with a friend. It was the first time I had been to a Mediterranean place. The service was fast, the food was great, the portions are large, and the price was decent. Looking forward to going back again.
(4)Kathryn Z.
If you want the Best homemade authentic Mediterranean dishes you have to try this food! The portion sizes are big even at lunch time, heavy on the garlic in a good way! Try the platter if you don't know what to get and bring a friend! The service in wonderful especially if you are lucky enough to get the owner in the restaurant. Don't miss the red lentil soup or dessert. Small place hard to find at first worth the work to find the parking. Kathryn
(5)Dena R.
Yum! My husband and I split the combo platter. We used to eat here and returned recently during our Christmas vacation. Friendly staff and the combo platter had flavorful meats and yummy hummus. I'd have given 5 stars if the rice was different and if they served more soup as the appetizer.
(4)John P.
Pros: Large portions. Food was tasty. Staff was friendly. Cons: Hard to find parking.
(4)Tanya Z.
Oh Mediterranen Kitchen, why do you have to be on the east side?!??! Seriously though, this is my favorite place to eat in Bellevue. Hands down!!! i can't say enough about this place - the food is FANTASTIC, the portions are huge and the service is great. I can never finish the whole plate, so it's nice to have leftovers for the next day. Win-win!
(5)zubin l.
I am writing this review knowing that I might have to change it after a while. I went on a weekday around 9 pm (they close at 9:30) and was served lentil (pretty good) soup and Pitta bread and some sauce (or chutney whatever you want it to call). I guess it wasnt the best time to for for dinner there. We ordered combination kabobs and I found it to be average. On top of that, we ordered one dish between two people and they charge us for a split of $4.50 (They also serve you soup with that if you split). What I cant comprehend is the following: - We got the main serving in Just one plate though we were charged for a split - The soup that comes with the split was never served. They counted the lentil soup they serve everbody (like chips you get in mexican restaurnat) as the soup. What was the extra $4.50 charge was for. On top of that, the server made us feel that we were unwanted. I will be apprehensive when I go the next time.
(2)Angela G.
While I wish I could find a truly Greek restaurant in the Seattle area, Mediterranean Kitchen takes the cake when it comes to the Mediterranean regional food. The location in Bellevue is a tiny and cute sit down place for a candle lit dinner. A little shy of the ambiance, the food is flavor that can only be enjoyed in company of others that will have the same garlic breath! No kisses for you! The portions are HUGE. Split something and thank me later. If you're in Seattle try the Mediterranean Kitchen Express. The portions, and the prices, are half what the Bellevue location are. It's more a take out kind of place with a few tables for casual and quick dining. I was happy when I moved from Cap Hill to the East side that my favorite take out place was still within reach! Try it out, just make sure you have Listerine on hand. It's just that good.
(5)Scott A.
Wow. Two visits so far, and all I have are cravings to go back. Mad cravings. The kind that make you look at your car keys and think, "I wonder if I can get over the bridge in time to get there before they close?" The kind that make you swear you'll go there for lunch every day. That's how good the Shish Tawook is. And I hope you love garlic... I do. You'll want to before you show up.
(5)Michael V.
The shish tawook is really good.
(4)Jimmy C.
The food here is amazing! Such great, strong flavors, but not overpowering. Simply delicious. The fried cauliflower with tahini sauce is amazing. And then there's the best chicken, the Farmer's Chicken. Tried some of my friends and it was delicious. I'll have to get that next time. The portions are huge and a great deal for the price. The wait staff was wonderful as well. A 5-star experience.
(5)Tim L.
Two days worth of food, and the best waitstaff I've ever received at a "normal" restaurant. Lots of spices, garlic especially, but in a great way. The food is full of flavor and just keeps going. You can't, CAN'T, eat a whole plate in a sitting. I've been there 3 times and have been impressed each time. The meat is tender, the bread is tasty, the soup is delicious, the drinks are constantly full, and the price is completely acceptable. Amazing restaurant!
(5)Adam D.
I hope you are hungry. I think it has been said a number of times but the portions are out of control. I miss the days when salad was included. The food is great and the price is reasonable. I have celebrated a number of big occassions at the Mediterranean Kitchen. The Lamb Shwarma is what I order every time I go... So good. Good for small groups not large groups as there is limited space.
(5)Katy H.
If you really love garlic this is the place for you. The food is very tasty and the people running the place are cool. I really enjoy the soup they serve. If you want something here that doesn't taste like garlic you won't find it. The food all has the same flavor. Actually, the salads they serve are garlicier than the rest of the food. I'm not sure how they accomplish that. O_O
(4)Moshe D.
Mediterranean Kitchen serves authentic and tasty Lebanese/ Mediterranean food. I like to go there for lunch. My favorite dish is the Shawarma, either chicken or lamb. The portions are huge. The service is quick. The setting is simple, not a place for a romantic date, but the food is very enjoyable.
(4)Elmo G.
Excellent food, attentive service. Standard pita bread AND soup as a starter while you look at the menu. The vegetarian section is small, but delicious. Portions are huge, which can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on your viewpoint. One portion can easily feed two adults. This is a casual, small resturant and not a "romantic" place. It's a place to come and eat some good food. Not a "big date" place. But an excellent casual date place.
(4)Heather J.
I consider this to be the best food in the area, but unfotunately it may only be for people who like a lot of flavor. Some of the people I have taken to dine at this restuarant did not seem to enjoy it as much as me, but perhaps its because I love garlic a little too much. I am not one for bland food. Everything is super delicous and flavorful. I love the pita and dip they bring you when you sit down, I love the soup. I usually get the dolmas which are so good. I am always tempted by the huge 15$ appetizer combo and often end up getting this and taking my food home. The place is small though and there is no parking lot, so reservations might be best. Its crowded inside and you do have to sit very close to your neighbors. This location is much preferred over the location in Kirkland which is less of a sit down restaurant.
(5)dill w.
Delicious food! I'm flaberghasted at Susan H's comment that it's not authentic and to try Omar Al Khayyam. O.A.K is it pits! If that's what she thinks is authentic fine, she can have it but I will stick with scrumptious chicken shish tawook and my favorite salmon SAMAKI HARRAH from the most charming restauranteur Bassam, who coincidentally is from LEBANON so wouldn't that by default make his food authentic Lebanese? Sheesh. Anyhow, as the more clear thinking reviewer have noted, the lentil soup is amazing as well as the hummus. I am sorry to trash O.A.K, but just wanted to offer perspective.
(5)Raza M.
One of the best Mediterranean restaurant in Seattle area. The food is great. The portions are huge, nearly impossible to finish, two can easily share, but they charge extra if you share. I will recommend a takeout.
(4)Sonia G.
Hands down the best Mediterranean food I've had the pleasure of eating and that includes their oh so addicting Baklava. I can't wait to go back.
(4)Debra L.
This is one of our favorite restaurants! Great food and reasonable prices and large portion sizes which usually makes for 3 meals out of one dinner entree for me. Love the Shish tawook and the salad dressing is a must buy!
(4)Aisha M.
One of my absolutely fav restaurants. Amazing (and awfully large) food. Nice atmosphere. And friendly staff. Highly recommend the spinokova (I usually hate items without meat) and the lamb Kebobs.
(5)Sophia S.
The service is always great and the portions are enough to feed 3. They usually serve a lentil soup and pita with garlic dip shortly after you're seated. I'm not usually a big fan of either one, but I have to say, my bf loves the garlic dip. Just be warned, the dip makes anyone instantly unkissable. The shawarma is the real reason to come here, or the lamb shanks...I'm getting hungry thinking about it.
(5)Dianne C.
After seeing all the reviews, I finally got to go! With the bf and 5 friends, we headed out to Bellevue, since they let me do the planning. (Heh) My bf and I were probably blind, we turned around quite a few times to find the place. We should have just kept going with our original instinct. For those of you who are as blind as we are, it's right on Bellevue Way NE, right next to the Hair Masters (that one, you definitely can't miss). The place was actually smaller than I expected. From the entrance, lengthwise, it was probably about a little over 7 tables long and about 9 tables wide, wall-to-wall. With 7 of us, I'm rather glad we called in for a reservation. (They talk rather quickly and will let you off the phone really quickly as well when you call in, but that's probably because they're very busy). Being our first time, I figured that we should try what they had to offer and started by ordering the Mezza Tray. The Mezza tray is described as "An assortment of delicious Middle Eastern appetizers. Hummous, Baba Kanouj, Labnie, Tabouley, Zahra, olives, tomatoes and cucumbers." It came at about the size of a lunch tray and was enough to make all 7 of us a little full (and wondering if we could eat the main course). Can I just say that the labnie was absolutely delicious? The baba kanouj was wonderful, (and I'm not usually a big baba kanouj fan) and the hummous was good as well. Before we even got the Mezza Tray, though, and before we ordered our actual courses, they already brought out our sides: pita bread, olive oil dip, and a lentil soup. It took us about 20 minutes to start ordering, as we had a hard time deciding on what to eat... and there really was only one server for the whole room. I had the lamb couscous... which turned out to be a way bigger dish than I expected (bigger than my head). I thought the $16 tag was rather pricy, but with that much served, we really were getting a deal! We would probably have gotten a bigger deal if we'd known to just share one dish between each couple - as NONE of us got past a third of our food. (My lamb couscous dish was bigger than my head! Two big shanks of lamb, a whole onion, a whole carrot, a whole cucumber, two halves of a potato, and a spattering of olives. My couscous came in a separate plate.) No complaints, though. Everyone told me they loved their dishes (Orders among the group included: lamb shawarma, dajaj mishwi, combination kabob, beef shawarma, seafood couscous, escadrilles de chef. The hummous was noted to be spicier on the dish than what was served on the appetizer.) I probably had six bites from my dish (I looked like I didn't touch it at all!), before I had to give up and had it packed to go. I'll be having lamb for about 3 days, I swear. A friend entertained the thought of baklava but we all joked that it may be as big as a tray - and we were definitely much too filled by good food to eat any more. By the way, reviewers weren't kidding about the garlic. There was garlic sprinkled everywhere - if they weren't cooked right in.... and it was great. The servers were all very kind and patient with us. There really only was one person serving the tables, but if you try to wave him down, he'll come right by. He also seems to remember everything! The other server kept our glasses full all night. Oddly, they said they couldn't split checks - but they could split our payments. As we were trying to partition our payments, he came by and offered to re-organize the amounts. He came back with a basic map with the appropriate dollar amount for each seat (lol). I'd say, it was mutually beneficial. (Thank you!) I definitely have to say that I wouldn't mind going back again... after I'm done with my leftovers.
(5)Alexis C.
Okay first off, I'm Lebanese. This is better than my family makes it. First off we were brought hot soup, which comes with an entree. Next we all shared the Fatoush, I highly recommend it. I also ordered the Shish Tawook that was outstanding. The chicken has prepared to perfection. My friends all ordered the Lamb Shawarma that was also good but my dish was better. The hummus is just like my family makes it and the Baba Kwas really fresh. Loved this place. Our server was nice and the portions are worth the money. Only thing that could have made it better was a nice glass of wine! Next time I am going to try the kafta and see if its as good as my uncles. It will probably be better.
(5)Jaime P.
Not much of an expert of this kind of food, but they were definitely delicious. Portions are huge! My wife loves their baklava, been back a handful of times and ordered their baklava on my way from work.
(4)Dan D.
This is my favorite restaurant in the greater Seattle area. Or maybe all of the evergreen state? The food is simply divine. Only go if you are a garlic lover though! I absolutely love everything on the menu- I go at least five times a year. It is the perfect combination of mediterranean cuisine, taking influences from Lebanon, Greece, Egypt, etc. Their baba ghanouj is the best i've ever had. I recommend the Chicken Schawarma or Shish Tawook- both fantastic. Truly a fantastic restaurant!
(5)Laural B.
I've been going to this place even before I moved to town. I love garlic and this place does not disappoint in that department. Generous portions, tasty fresh pitas, delicious soups and salads - dinner is almost never finished by a single individual. And the baklava is likewise excellent. One drawback - you will reek of garlic, especially if you keep eating the leftovers. Which seem to go on for days.
(5)Rachel J.
I grew up in Bellevue and now, every time I come back to visit family, the single non-negotiable for my trip is a visit to this restaurant. I just try to time it so that I have a few days before flying again for the garlic to wear off (I have to think about my poor seat-mates, after all). No need for appetizers here; the meals all come with soup, salad, and unlimited delicious pita. The entrees are enormous, easily enough for a full leftover meal the next day. I used to order different things, but now I'm dedicated to the Shish Tawook. Good god, how can garlic-y chicken on rice taste so amazing? I have no idea, but I dream about this place and that dish! The only drawback is that the place is small, so I try to go on weeknights or time my visit outside of the obvious rush hours. Even if I had to wait, though, I would. For hours. This food is worth it!
(5)Stacey H.
Very large portions - I'd suggest sharing a plate with someone, or plan on taking home 1-2 additional meals worth of food! The food is very garlic-y, so if you aren't a big fan of garlic, stay away. I enjoy strong flavors, so the vinegar-garlic dip for the pita bread and the garlic everything was good :-). Our service was quite slow - our waiter told us he would be "right back" to take our order, but it must have been a good 20 minutes before he reappeared. It also took awhile to bring out the pita bread and soup to start. Otherwise, he was very courteous.
(4)Honestly... E.
Being Mediterranean myself, and having recently moved to the area, I really wanted to like this restaurant. I read the reviews, and couldn't wait to have dinner there with my husband and two kids. We walked in shortly after they opened for dinner around 6pm. The restaurant is small, dirty and looks like it was decorated with cheap garage sale finds (OLD wicker hanging baskets with dusty fake plants, weird home made curtains that looked like they were made in the 70s, etc.) We were warmly welcomed and seated, and the waiter brought us warm pita bread and lentil soup almost right away. I tought the free soup was a nice touch, and as I woud soon find out, the most edible thing in the restaurant. My husband, an avid lover of red meat ordered the beef shwarma platter, my son got the all meat platter with a variety of meats like the shwarma, the kefte, etc. And I decided to try the chicken shish kebab and share it with my daughter. When the food came, we were beyond excited...until we tasted it. The beef shwarma was extremely dry, dry rubbed with a weird mix of spices that didn't look, taste or smell mediterrenean. My son's platter had a little bit of everything, and although he is NEVER picky, and will eat most about anything, he picked at his food, and didn't eat most of it. My chicken shish--I specifically ordered, because it was rated delicious by all of the reviewers--was un edible! First of all, it was a BAD cut of chicken, full of all the parts you would cut off if you were preparing it at home, and secondly, it was obviously marinated in lemon juice for sooooo long, that it was extremely sour. All of our meat dishes we ordered came on a large bed of rice to make it look like we were getting more food than we actually were getting, and considering the main meat dishes were low quality and plain not edible, we tried really hard to eat the rice, and were still hungy. The dinner for 3 adult entres came to about $70, and we would have no problems paying that for dinner had the food been good. The waiter saw that most of the food on our plates wasn't touched, asked if we wanted to go boxes (ofcourse we said no, since we wouldn't even give these leftovers to our dogs!) and didn't act too surprised that we didn't want to take the leftovers. I took the time to write this review in hopes that either the owner, or someone who knows the owner reads this review and takes it to heart: Mediterrean cuisine is rich, and wonderful and utilizes great, fresh ingredients. Don't open a restaurant and basterdize the cuisine, and the culture it represents. Just because you are thousands of miles away from the mediterrenean region, and most of your customers are non suspecting Americans who have never been there, doesn't mean you should serve them garbage. Have some integrity, and either learn how to prepare the food, or hire someone that does.
(1)Ricky K.
Great exotic food! you can't find this type of food in very many places especially in Bellevue. It's a bit pricey but completely worth it! Bought one meal and ate the left overs on three separate occasions. Every time i think of Med Kitchen I begin to salivate! (ie- RIGHT NOW!) if you haven't tried this place, DO IT!
(4)Pierre G.
Go & order the : - Dajaj Mishwi [$14.95 plus tax & tip] Charbroiled boneless, skinless chicken thighs marinated in spices, served with house garlic sauce - The sauce is addicting; the char broil is perfectly executed It's served with a delicious, thick hummus and a superb yellow rice; The portion is considerable - Bring mouthwash! This place is justifiably popular, so plan ahead on weekends.... for Tina
(4)Jonathan K.
Its been like 6 months since I've eaten here (moved away) but this place was so good that it deserves to be reviewed. I came here once with some co-workers and didn't know what to expect since its a small and unassuming restaurant, but it was quite busy. When seated we got the pea soup (see pictures) which was very good, along with pita bread and hummus which was also very good. I ordered the shawarama which was incredible and HUGE. It seemed reasonably priced at about $18, but its closer to a meal for two then a meal for one. I came here with 6 people, all 6 of us took home left overs. The food is quite heavily spiced which made my fridge smell like greek food for a few days, but it tastes incredible and was never too much. I came back a few weeks later with a friend, both of us have pretty good appetites, and ordered an appetizer and the shawarma. There was a good amount of left overs. Dinner for 2 for under $35, incredible.
(5)Dina A.
Just make sure you aren't going to be physically close to anybody for the rest of the evening :) The garlic is overwhelming. But the food is great, the portions are gigantic (like seriously, only ever seen 1 person i know finish his plate), and it's always packed Be prepared for a bit of a wait if you go at a busy time. If you don't want to wait, you might want to check out the kirkland one.
(4)Christine C.
Came in on a Thursday afternoon, around 12:30, they were extremely busy so I had to take my selection to go. I've been to the Med Kitchen in Kirkland many many times and absolutely love their portions and pricing. It was a sore disappointment at the Bellevue location. The Kirkland location has the same lunch pricing, ALL DAY. For all to go orders, you also get soup, hummus, salad, and arabic pita bread. I ordered a Veggie Shawarma at the Bellevue location after seeing the picture on yelp for the Veggie Shawarma at the Kirkland location. What I actually got had no semblance to the picture. Let me tell you what the "Veggie" Shawarma consists of: Dry rice and more dry rice, a few pieces of tomato...I'd say perhaps it may have once been half of a small tomato....a sprinkling of cabbage, a couple sprigs of green onions and loads of semi raw, semi-burnt onions...and lest I forget, I few dribbles of sauce here and there. I LOVE onions. I eat at least one a day. I couldn't eat these. My boyfriend and I were extremely disappointed. I love the sauce at the Med Kitchen in Kirkland. I was SO looking forward to it. No hummus either!!! And I love the hummus. The salad? WAAAYYY overloaded with an extremely overpowering garlic sauce. Um, not to be redundant but I love the salad at the Kirkland location. I definitely will never order take out here again. I may try to dine in here...maybe not. I'd probably try Garlic Crush first. I was pretty annoyed when my boyfriend who'd called in to complain pretty much got a too bad pal...had you checked your order right then and there, even though you were in a rush, and saw that there wasn't enough sauce, we would've given you some....oh, and sorry you thought "veggies" entails an assortment of vegetables. The business card reads two locations, one owner, but we're separate and different so don't expect the same amazing food. Sucks to be you. We're busy so I'm going to hang up now. Sigh. Oh, and did I mention they don't give you any utensils to eat your order with, unless you ask for it specifically. This was the first time I ever threw any leftovers away...I gave it a go. But truly, it was so dry and the onions, oh the onions. BIG sigh.
(1)Catherina H.
My boyfriend kept saying good things about this place and I never understood until I ate there my first time. The food was amazing and the staff seemed polite and quick. Yes it was a bit hard to find but when you do find it you do realize its pretty close to the mall. And yes the place is small but there is take out and catering. I am here to judge the food and the service not necessarily the size of a place anyhow.
(5)Jon K.
No one has mentioned their rice pilaf! It is one of the best I have ever had. ...although if you added some mushrooms. It would be the best in the world! Yeah, the garlic theme is WOW. The chicken (Farmer's Dish) is a bit sour. Comes from being soaked in either lemon or vinegar or both even. The chicken is cooked to perfection...with a tad of crispy charring. The Shish Tawook was excellent. The Baklava were 3 tiny but heavenly bites. I'll be returning. Many other items look good and I must try them.
(5)R C.
I like anywhere with great healthy food and appropriate lighting. M.k. gets both right. Excellent food, big portions, so you actually get what you pay for here! Take out is just as good. They give you salad with a tasty dressing instead of their soup that you get when you eat there. Both are good. I'm trying their mezza appy plate tonight for the first time *a great selection! and my usual lamb kebab. Nom nom.
(5)Alli D.
Fantastic! I've never had a bad meal here and the service is always warm and attentive. They bring you a bowl of soup right after you sit down and the dipping sauce for the pita bread is to die for. I am vegetarian and have tried most of the veggie dishes- my favorite being the falafil and the couscous.
(5)Smihit S.
The review is specially for rude staff. We were expecting a friend to join us after 15 mins and we were ready to order from him. But they don't allow as per their policy and don't allow the rest of the people to sit until everyone is there. I agree with their policy but I still feel they should be polite enough to explain this and tell us before even we book the table. Better service is as important as better food
(2)todd s.
Wow. Deliciously unique. Unlike any other Mediterranean Restaraunt I've frequented. Good helping of food. Good wait staff. Simple decor. I recommend it.
(5)Melroy M.
the food is good. I ordered off the lunch menu. it is really a lot of food.
(4)Mandy L.
This place is delicious!! Went there for lunch and was so pleasantly surprised. The dip they bring out with the warmed pitas is out of this world. I ordered a chicken dish, was delicious and the portions are huge. Definitely share so you can try different things. The service was so good and I cannot wait to go back!
(5)Randy P.
The portions are huge, they treat you like a king. Menu hasn't changed in years then again neither has what I usually order. Been going here for over a decade and still Dajaj Mishwhi with EXTRA GARLIC SAUCE. You can forget kissing anyone for a day or so after that. The garlic sauce is so potent 24 HRS later you can still smell it on ya. It's a nice place so no don't leave your cell phone on or expect to see a ball game playing on a TV. Go to a bar for that.
(5)Matthew Y.
Great food, great service! The portions are huge, I usually share one meal with my wife, and we have plenty of leftovers for the next day. Oh, a word of advice. You DON'T want to eat here if you have an important business meeting the next day-the garlic is a killer!
(5)Vijay A.
Large amounts of food, certain dishes are good, long wait times. I try to avoid going there during busy times as the place is small. I felt the food tasted good, but the portions are too big and is a bit pricy for my budget.
(3)Kathy C.
I came here with my girlfriends the other night -- all of us really liked their food, so i decided to yelp it. The restaurant itself was quite small and didn't really have a waiting area, but we were able to get a table within 15 min. I heard about their poritions being ginormous, so we decided to order 2 dishes (beef shish kabob and lamb shawarma) and 1 appetizer (mezza tray). I thought the 3 of us could handle it....untile we saw the appetizer - it covered 1/3 of our table. It included various sauces and veggies which were all very flavorful - my fave was their yogurt sauce and deep fried cauliflowers. The other two dishes were also huge - it was literally mountain of rice topped with veggies/lamb and onion/beef. We ate and ate and ate and ate...but couldn't even finish half the plate. The beef itself was a bit tough, but the whole dish was good because of the flavors (lots of spices). There wasn't much meat on the lamb dish, but it may have been covered up with all the veggies. We had a lot of leftovers, so each of us took'em to go - my bf devoured it when i brought it home.
(4)Denis N.
Went here for lunch for the first time and was treated like VIP! The waiter was very attentive and the servings were very generous! Food tasted great and love the experience and atmosphere!
(5)Travis E.
Three important things I need to point out first. 1. They only accept reservations for groups of four or more. There were two of us on a Saturday night at 7 and they said the wait would be 45 minutes. Fortunately, it was only about 15. There isn't much of a waiting area so give them your cell number and walk around the area for a bit. 2. It's a small place, it maybe holds fifty people, so it probably wouldn't be good for a big group of people. 3. The portions are huge. Two people could easily share an order. Other than that, the food was very good and the price was reasonable. I had the lamb shish kabob, my date had the chicken shwarma. We had the hummus as an appetizer, it was good, but it tasted a bit 'vinegary'. The atmosphere was relaxed, but the place was packed so it was a bit noisy. There were quite a few takeout orders while we were there so it's probably popular for takeout as well. I would go there again.
(4)Linda V.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this place. Being that I spent 4 years attending UW and thus hadn't really eaten much Greek/Mediterranean food other than gyros and falafels, I have to say this place is absolutely amazing. I've probably come here about four times total, and gotten three different things (for dinner). It is a little pricey, but you sure get your money's worth in terms of amount of food and taste. One friendly tip I have is if you and your friend are thinking about getting the same dish, you're better off just sharing it unless you want TONS of leftovers (which I totally wouldn't blame you if you did). I love the rice the most--I don't know how they make it so good, but it's seriously perfection. Overall, the service is great, but I was a little claustrophobic. They sure did make the best of the space though. It's really cozy and intimate, so perfect for a date, but just kind of small with few tables. A minor issue, really.
(4)Chelsea J.
Amazingly flavorful, delicious food at a reasonable price. So happy I found this place! The menu has a variety of meat, veggie, and appetizer options ranging from skewers to stuffed grape leaves to hummus and other small bites. The hummus was creamy and tasty. Also very garlicky! I will get the hummus again for sure. I had the fava and garbanzo bean dish with pita and it was absolutely delicious. I didn't even miss having meat when I was eating this dish. Everything was a HUGE portion! The bean dish was just the right amount of spice and garlic. Very very good. The prices are reasonable, $9-12 for lunch and it comes with pita bread and small cups of soup to start. The service was gracious and fast. The inside of the restaurant is pretty and well decorated. You would miss it if you didn't know it was here. Can't wait to go back! I'm glad I have a go-to place in Bellevue now.
(5)Lydia N.
Gigantic portions. Came here with 4 other girls, ordered 2 entrees (spanakopita & schwarma) and left with 2 doggie bags. Dazed & defeated. Will definitely return.
(4)E. P.
Tried it for the first time for lunch today: falafel plate. Yum! Very good, small spot with great service. Get ready for garlic for sure (need mouthwash!). I'd never been before because I sometimes like a falafel gyro, but they only have platters. I'd go again!
(4)Doug E.
COW FULL OF HOLES! I'm sure you've noticed by now that all reviewers have made comments about the portions... THEY REALLY ARE HUGE! I ordered the Seafood Couscous and this entree was probably about 5 pounds. If you're ordering takeout for more than just yourself, please bring help or at least be in a shape. Otherwise, it's a helluva farmer's walk back to your car. The entrees may seem pricey, but they are more than reasonable. One plate will feed two grown people or provide a full day's meal for one lonely person. Oh, and the food is quite good, but then again I'm a sucker for anything with a lot of garlic in it.
(4)Yeelin T.
My fiance and I returned here after about a 3 year hiatus. We had mostly stopped coming because the portion sizes were so ridiculous that we would eat for most of the week on two entrees. Well, the portion sizes are still crazy, however they have clearly been cutting costs. My fiance ordered a lamb schwarma, but instead seems to have gotten an onion schwarma. Seriously, there were nearly 2 onions on his plate, and just a tiny bit of lamb buried under all of the onions and cabbage. My spanikopita was deep fried. It was tasty, though very heavy, having picked up a lot of oil during its frying Given that there are far better Mediterranean options around, we probably won't be back any time soon.
(2)Nicole N.
The food is uh-mazing. Best spanikopita ever, and friendly service too. Beware that when you get takout dinner they don't give you the soup or Turkish coffee listed as coming with dinner on their menu...however the price is the same, which is pretty lame in my mind.
(4)Zack W.
Love this place! Cozy atmosphere, attentive waitstaff, superb food with generous portions.
(5)Tanya J.
Once upon a time I used to eat meat. When I used to eat meat, Med Kitchen was a place required for FPOS (frequent pigging out sessions) as often as I could. I rarely tried anything new, the Dajaj Mishwi was heaven on a plate for me and did the job every time... AND I DIDN'T EVEN LIKE CHICKEN THIGHS then either! The whole combination of the chicken and the rice topped with a heaping amount of garlic sent me straight into a euphoric and garlicicious state. It was that good. ...But then I went back to my vegetarian ways and my long standing love affair with Med Kitchen has since been broken. It makes me shed a tear or two just thinking about our break up, but now I prefer to talk about the little sister, Garlic Crush who rocks a perfect falafel patty like nobody's business, right across the street.. Back to Med Kitchen though... For all you meat eaters who enjoy garlic and a hearty 3-days worth of leftovers -- get the dajaj mishwi. You will be happy that you did and keep in mind, my recent visit to Med Kitchen and ordering the falafel plate was still very good. Not Dajaj Mishwi good. But fantastic in it's own right. The Dajaj Mishwi. Yum. Order it. For my sake if not for yours. It's so good that even the 3 days of indigestion from the unintentional garlic cleanse didn't keep me away from this place...
(4)Erika H.
It's bad when every waiter knows you, because you find a way to go every week. 1/2 Shish Tawook 1/2 Falafel 1/2 rice 1/2 salad is the way to go. Okay, my mouth is drooling, I have to stop thinking about this.
(5)Carolyn J.
Tried and true formula, this place has been awesome since the 80s. Tons of garlic and huge portions. Feed yourself for days on it or share.
(5)Karen D.
Love, love, love this place, and I'm not even too fond of garlic. I just skip the dip that comes with the pita at the beginning of the meal, and stick with ordering entrees that don't include garlic in the description...such as the falafel and the spanakopita, which are both excellent versions of those dishes. I did try the house special chicken wings one time, and while loaded with garlic, they were dee-lish, but I felt they were too messy to eat gracefully in such a quietly elegant setting, so....will only get those in the future if we're ordering take-out. Also, service is spot-on, they are very kind and helpful. And I love the fact that both lentil soup at the beginning of the meal and Turkish coffee at the end are included in the already reasonable price of the entree...it doesn't get much better!
(5)Vince S.
Bleh. portion sizes were gigantic, but nothing tasted too good. I was burping up garlic for the next 2 days. Sometimes there is such a thing as too much garlic. I may give it another shot, but not anytime soon. My receipt also has Miditerranean Kitchen printed at the top.... :)
(1)Melissa F.
Hate Twilight? Hate the idea of vampires? Come here!! WE HEART GARLIC! This place is delicious if you love garlic.. and I mean you have to LOVE garlic. You have to want to breathe, eat, smell like, and soak in garlic. My parents almost always come here when they're in town. Mom gets the chicken schwarma and Pops gets the Algerian chicken. They are fanatics, and I agree both of those dishes are really tasty. Do not, do not, do NOT get the lamb couscous. It sounds harmless, right? I like lamb, I like couscous.. Nooooo!!! The two "tender" shanks of lamb are not tender at all.. also it comes literally as two giant SHANKS. It's served with vegetables, as in whole vegetables. ...As in, you get a giant boiled potato and a giant boiled onion and a giant boiled carrot PLONKED down on this platter next to the giant shanks of lamb. Holy mother... I mean, it still tasted good, but geez it was hard to eat and just ridiculous-looking. ... Oh, and the couscous was good, but was served on the side and rather ignored. I've resigned myself to the schwarmas, like the lamb schwarma. Delicious and more than enough to serve for a few more meals.
(4)Poulina K.
You definitely get some bang for your buck and your taste buds at the Mediterranean Kitchen! The space is small, but warm and cozy. Service was very prompt, unobtrusive and pleasant. That alone makes me want to come back. The menu was not huge, but included a nice variety of dishes. Mediterranean favorites like Baba Kanouj, tabouly and stuffed grape leaves to start. Shawarmas, kabobs and couscous of various preparations for main course. Dinner starts with pita bread, daily home made soup and a garlic dip. Oohwee, it is garlic flavor all the way on the dip, I loved it (but you may want to skip it on a date). Side salad had fresh mixed greens and wedges of tomato, however the dressing was a bit too vinegary. As others have mentioned, portions are very large. My Lamb Kabob plate was served on a huge bed of very well seasoned and flavored rice. It's delicious, but you can feed 5 people with the amount on my plate. Fear not, it makes for great leftovers. Home made hummus on the side, grilled veggies with some lemony tzatziki sauce were a welcome accompaniment to tender and mouthwatering lamb chunks. My friend had the Shish Tawook. I sampled some of the chicken and it was perfectly grilled and moist. Add a glass of Shiraz and it's a savory, comforting meal. Don't forget those leftovers for next day lunch!
(4)Jack S.
Good restaurant overall. Nice setting. The portion is so big that no one in our group could finish, but the price is not expensive. Good taste. Pretty authentic.
(4)Gilad B.
Garlic Galore! I went with a small group on Saturday night and it was great. The food was tasty, the service was good, and the garlic was plenty. This is a good options for mediterranean food (and i grew up there so I know). Enjoy it. The combo plate was pretty damn great and has a nice variety of stuff and the house wine was surprisingly good.
(4)Mitch G.
Really good food. Cant wait to go back to have the lamb shanks again. I recommend you call and make a reservation if you are more than 2 people dining. Place can get pretty full quickly, quite a popular place. ....... Cant stop thinking about the lamb shanks....... yum!!!!
(4)Ibrahim A.
I got great recommendations about the restaurant from friends and colleagues at work, so I decided to celebrate my wife's birthday with my family with a dinner at the Bellevue restaurant. I booked a table for my family the day before and mentioned that we are celebrating my wife's birthday, so the person on the phone confirmed that a birthday cake will be served after the dinner. We went and were nicely welcomed and seated and we were served tasty food, exactly as we expected from all the recommendations, but unfortunately, we went back very disappointed from 2 things; the first was that there was no birthday cake as we requested, second, which was really disappointing is that after we paid the bill, and went out of the restaurant, the waiter stopped us on the street and said with a loud voice: hey, you know, the tips are not included in the bill and I think I gave you a good service and pushing the receipt on me! I was astonished and embarrassed in front of my family, but did not want to argue with the waiter or complain as I did not want to spoil a celebration of my wife's birthday, so I put a small amount on the bill and went to the car ... I do not think I will try to go again to this restaurant.
(1)Maylee L.
SOUPS IN THE KITCHEN soo apparently, my friend Keya never went to Bellevue.. like OMG. we were planning on stopping by &have a chit chat w one of the hot managers that transferred to jcp bellevue sq mall, but we needed to fuel food! we were starving! got here in the late afternoonish &thought this greek pl was a cafe but once you go inside it is absolutely unexpected. tables are in corners, somewhat fancy condiments on the table. -1* cuz I still have a salty tongue after three hours eating. and i drank a lot of water too. o.o I got the veggie delight --the food was A MOUNTAIN. my JUMBO cucumba was rolling down hill slathering my olives, onions, and cabbage. their lentil soup is very tasty, it has a nice texture and you can taste potatoes, and beans at the same time even though it only has mini chippy carrots and mushy lentil beans.
(4)Hassan S.
Eh. The food portions for the entrees will easily feed two normal sized persons. The food doesn't taste bad, it's decent though quite garlicky, the restaurant itself is clean and service is decent/good, however it's absolutely not authentic mediterranean food which seriously bothers me as I was born over there and grew up on that food. To start with, nobody eats rice with all these dishes in the Middle East, nobody puts that much garlic in the food, the beef shawarma is unrecognizable, so is the chichtaouk, etc... Feel free to eat there, it doesn't taste bad, but it's a totally americanized version of meditteranean food.
(3)Darrell S.
4.5 stars One of the few Bellevue restaurants that's worthy of the "you have to check this place out". I use to work in Bellevue and my group basically selected every 2nd Thursday to go here (it would have been every week - but the portions are seriously a weight concern.) 3 things that great: 1.) Seasoning and menu are authentic and prefect. The Lamb Shawarma - try it folks. 2.) Portions - still can't polish off a plate to date. The Lamb Shawarma guys, seriously. 3.) Great menu - I've had 7 of the dishes they serve (6/7 are awesome - the last one being "okay". That's a pretty good ration in my book.) The Lamb Shawarma - just order it already! - .5 stars for the seating area being cramped (doesn't seat enough people for the demand.)
(4)Michelle L.
My husband and I LOVE this place. I'm pretty sure I could eat it everyday and I think I did while I was pregnant. We love to order to-go during the week and split the lamb kebab. We dine in for the extra treat of their pita and garlic dip. That stuff is amazinggggggg! Be prepared to smell of garlic when you leave! We no longer live in Bellevue but still come to this location for the service and ambiance! Love the food too!
(4)Julie R.
I was treated to dinner last night at Mediterranean Kitchen. I hope to visit again soon. The food is amazing. The service was even better, if at all possible. We were shown to our table. Water glasses were filled and a bowl of soup is brought to each diner. Last night's soup was green lentil - hearty and delicious. I ate about half of it. (Let's just say I read the reviews before I stepped foot in the place, and I knew I needed to pace myself.) A basket of warmed pita bread, a plateful of hummus and a bowl of the most delicious garlic dipping sauce EVER made a rapid appearance on the table as well. It was all delicious, but the garlic dipping sauce is unreal. I resisted the impulse to eat it by the spoonful. My friend ordered the fried cauliflower appetizer. Unbelievably good. I can't wait to have more. I had chicken shwarma for dinner. I made it through about 1/4 of the plateful before caving and asking for a to-go box. The chicken was tender and flavorful, the rice was perfectly cooked, the vegetables were delicious as well. My husband ate a good portion of last night's leftovers, and there is STILL enough for lunch today. My water glass was never empty. I can't remember the last time I had that happen at a restaurant. The servers were friendly and brought whatever we asked for promptly. The restaurant is also clean and comfortable. I've heard of long lines on the weekends, but Tuesday night at 6 was perfect for us. What a wonderful and fun dinner. Thanks, Mediterranean Kitchen!
(5)Isabelle G.
The truth is that I ate there twice, 4 years ago and I still have that perfect taste of their Lamb Kabobs in my mouth. It's THAT amazing. I plan to go next year back to Seattle and you know which is the first place I'm going to stop in on.
(5)Vikrant J.
Great food, ample of quantity and good service. We love to go here.
(4)Katie H.
Best Hummusand Best Salad Dressing ever!! We always buy the dressing for salads and marinades at home. I compare all hummus to this zesty, creamy gem. They have great Shwarma, shishkawook and farmers Chicken wings. Great date night or friendly lunch. Take out just as good. Call ahead the dinning area is small. We drive from Kent for this tasty goodness. We used to go to the Seattle Key Arena area location 10 yrs ago before it closed and hired them to cater our wedding, they showed up late so avoid catering if they still do that but we had to forgive them because the food is that good. Moderate priced
(4)Kim F.
Amazing service and food! Large quantities of food, especially when considering the price! Wait staff was attentive and funny. We had the Spinakopita appetizer (delicious), Falafel dinner, and mixed Kabob dinner (mmmmmm). While looking at the menu they bring you lentil soup and pita with this garlic sauce that is something I have never tasted before.
(5)Sean C.
My main difficulty with reviewing the Lebanese wonder that is Mediterranean Kitchen, which I've started to do many times over the past two years to culminate in the dreaded reviewer's block, is that it's already pretty much been done to death, to the point of being the Eastside analog of Paseo. In particular, my more quotable thoughts have already been recorded with a dash of poetic license as the not-so-tall, dark, or mysterious "dining companion" warning of impending garlic in one of the venue's ROTDs. So, in lieu of a normal narrative review and in an attempt to freshly contribute, instead a concise hint book for Mediterranean Kitchen: (B = Basic, M = Moderate, E = Expert, A = Advanced) B: If someone in your party doesn't like garlic, redirect mission to Bamboo Garden. B: Dinner has a much better price vs. portion ratio (excellent) than lunch. B: Arrive early, the restaurant is busy and quite small, but beats almost all of the Bellevue Collection mall dinner options. B: Order the shish tawook, the salmon variant, or the Algerian chicken (eschewing some chicken for vegetables), all roughly $15. Skip the shwarma. B: Don't order an appetizer unless you can divide it among 4+, if not 6+, people. M: Consciously divide your entree into thirds, if not quarters, up front to avoid gut burst. M: The baklava is delicious (and uncharacteristically tiny) but is meant more of a tease, a reminder of your failure to resist the garlic mountain than a sensible option. M: Don't head anywhere directly afterward. If you are going out and not planning on stopping home first, you will encounter a problem as a potent bag of garlic is one of the few items against Seattle's relaxed idea of a dress code, and your vehicle will regret it. E: Bringing a hot date is always a mixed proposition. The venue is small, dimly lit, quite romantic (albeit slightly loud) and is mood-enhancing for the garlic lover. However, you will smell like garlic for the next day, including your breath directly after brushing your teeth. If you drove, your vehicle will smell like garlic the next morning from the leftovers. Unless you adequately planned (see above), you will be on the verge of a food coma. Avoid for a first date, but highly recommended for a coming-of-age date. If you can successfully integrate the garlic into your intimacy and neither of you mind, you can be assured of the strength of your mutual feelings or at least the superglue of lust. A: If you or your monogamous partner are going away for a weekend trip and fidelity is in doubt, take him/her here before leaving - you will ruin his/her game for at least 24 hours. This also works on a dishonest, over-libidinous frienemy. (Not that I've ever intentionally done this.) By all means, go. Enjoy the garlic. Just please be properly prepared.
(5)Laura B.
The portions are so big I think I want to take off a star. Why do they need to be so big? Why? Service? EXCELLENT Atmosphere? Fancy Strip Mall Popular? Yes... a line out the door by 7 pm on a Wednesday evening. Garlic? SO MUCH.... (too much... um... maybe a little too much.) I'd like to give this 3.5 stars. But I'm rounding down because the portions do NOT need to be so big. It's silly. We had the kabob combo dish. The garlic doesn't need to be so overpowering.
(3)Nikki R.
I had the kafta kabob here, which was tasty, though far from the best I've had. The things most likely to bring me back are actually the orange-spice tea (I had mine iced) and the deliciously syrupy baklava, which was so good I had to buy extra to take home. The restaurant is small, and was fine for our small group of four, but would have been hard to fit a large group in, I think. Edit: 10-30-09 I'm ashamed that it has taken me so long to come back and change my review from 3 to 5 stars. Ever since I discovered the lamb shish kabob over a year ago, this has been one of my favorite restaurants! The lentil soup is always delicious, though they change up the variety and I like some better than others. (I think the green lentil soup is my favorite.) My friends and family rave about the dip served at the beginning of the meal with pita bread, but beware the garlic! I love garlic, myself, but this is too garlicky for me. Let me just say once again, that if you haven't tried the lamb shish kabob here, please do. You won't be disappointed. For the hungry muslims out there, the lamb (and only the lamb) here is halal.
(5)L P.
This place is great - definitely worth the drive over from Seattle. The building it's in looks a bit like a small strip mall, but the restaurant is nice inside and the service was fantastic, as was the food. The serving sizes are enormous - enough for three - and everything was delicious, including the side salad, which was also three times the size one would normally expect. My husband and I both had the prawn dinner and our friends had the salmon dinner and one of the mixed plates and all of us said the dinner was delicious. If you're looking for a great meal at a reasonable price and either live in Bellevue or don't mind a bit of a drive from Seattle, I'd definitely recommend going by Mediterranean Kitchen. Yum!
(5)Karl H.
After reading all the other reviews about this place I have come to one conclusion... I will not be able to say anything differently than what has already been said. This place is just fantastic. The one thing I can add is that this is a great little place to take a date. I know because my date and I had a great time and if she plays her cards right... she just might get lucky tonight. After all this was her idea! Could be fun.
(5)Paul F.
I must have come on the wrong day, at the wrong time. But my seafood cous cous looked, smelt, felt and tasted reheated. Either way it didn't taste good, or fresh. The vegetables were all wilted and the seafood was terrible. The shrimp were hard, tough, the squid was like bubble gum. For 17 dollars I felt extremely taken advantage of. Terrible experience. I probably should have sent it back.
(1)Sarah K.
Wait, I thought the owner was Lebanese? Oh well, who cares? the food is that good. Fantastic hummus and the soup is the opener that tells you the food will be really good. I'm so fascinated with their kababs that I have yet to try the vegetarian dishes, but they look good. Try the Labnie platter ... mmmmm You know it takes REALLY good food for a West Seattleite to leave *just* for their restaurant and this is that place. I've never had a problem with the service but the place is very hard to get in and out of for parking and at certain times youhave to be patient for your seat because it is kind of small.
(5)Bill L.
Omg. Garlic heaven. Huge portions. I was sweating garlic for 12 hours! Shish ta mook is wonderful!! If you are in the area two humbs up!
(4)Nuri G.
This place was one of the first places I was brought when I moved to the area, and I've been back so many times. The food is so delicious and full of interesting and unusual flavors. The portions are incredible, so you'll definitely take home leftovers. My personal recommendation would be to try the cous-cous... it's the best I've ever had... anywhere. The appetizer sampler is so large that two people could easily eat it as an entire meal! I've had several types of kabobs, the shistawook, the schwarma... and have never been disappointed. One time, I left my Blackberry (I know, shame shame!) but went back after they had closed and one of the servers had saved it in the kitchen and it was returned to me. The relief! Thank God for honest servers! Due to the "intimate" size of the restaurant (coupled with the incredible food) the wait is sometimes a little long, and sometimes parking is not so great, but once again... it's completely worth it. Oh... and don't leave your leftovers in your trunk -- your car will smell like garlic for weeks.
(5)Rob B.
I try to reserve my 5-stars for places I genuinely love. I went here with a friend for his birthday. A party of 12. We were seated easily (although comfort was a bit of an issue) and timely. The hummus was phenomenal. The cous-cous was also stellar. My friend got some sort of lamb-shank that was to die for. The lentil soup was excellent. The wine was well paired and not grossly inflated, value wise. My only grievance with them is the abundance of cucumbers in everything, but even they are at least the higher quality English Cucs.
(5)Paula K.
This was our second visit and it wont be our last! The lentil soup and garlic dipping sauce that comes out before you have have a chance to take your jacket off is fantastic! Very attentive service - I love the small somewhat noisy atmosphere of this place. The Falafel is amazing, the sauces they use are so good and the hummus, well.....I did everything on my plate in it! Be prepared to leave with take home, the portions are huge. Also, be prepared to brush your teeth several times before bed, the garlic is thick and stays with you all night (but so worth it). Great Baklava too!
(5)Kazuo O.
I had to go to catch up on some work on a Saturday so I decided to order take out to the office. I ordered the Beef Shawarma and thought it was not bad. I'm not used to eating any kind of Middle Eastern type food so the taste was new to me. I don't think I liked it well enough to make me come back again but who knows. I liked the big portions though. I always feel like I'm getting my moneys worth when I walk out with a heavy bag of food.
(3)Tialen K.
What can I say, we keep going back. I really like the daja mishwi, and the lamb coucous (spelling??) If you are into garlic, chicken, lamb and beef.. this is your place. (their humus is really good to.. and this is from someone who didn't think he liked humus!
(5)You W.
I've been coming here for YEARS and it's my go to spot in Bellevue. Whenever I'm in the area you will find me here for lunch or dinner. The place is small so if you have a group of 4 or larger definitely call for a reservation. Parking can be a problem, but there is a parking lot behind and to the north if full. Service and food is great and very consistent. As others have mentioned this place has huge portions and is for garlic lovers. Favorite Dishes: Zahar: My fav appetiser Humus: Very well done. Lot's of tahini flavor! Farmer's Dish: Chicken wings in a lemon, garlic, herb marinade covered in tahini sauce served over amazing saffron rice. My favorite if I'm willing to deal with the mess. Not good if you're on a date. Shish Tawook: Same marinade and style as the Farmer's dish, but sliced chicken breast instead of winds. Chicken Shawarma: Very flavorful and lots of herbs. Lamb Shawarma: I'm not a big fan of Lamb, but my friend ordered this and made me try it... It was amazing! The lamb was not gamey at all and actually tasted like beef. Spinakopita: Very well done. Super flaky and crispy. Sometimes can be a little greasy. They also just opened a lunch only spot in Kirkland as well. This place is nice for a grab and go, quick fix. Prices are a couple bucks less. Same food, smaller portions, but still plenty. Would recommend the Bvue location. Kirkland just isn't the same...
(5)Shaarwari S.
Used to be my favorite haunt but the food has slipped up in a way that is just unacceptable. When garlic crush across the street which is more fast food starts tasting better you have to start fixing something.
(2)L Eldub W.
Prerequisites: (1) Take everyone you plan to kiss, hug or otherwise fondle within 24 hours with you. The only way to gain an immunity to garlic-reek is to consume it yourself. (2) Ask yourself "do I really like garlic?" If not, don't go. (3) Ask yourself "am I going to get bitchy because everything is covered in garlic sauce?" If so, don't go. The soup they put in front of you as soon as you sit down should set the tone. Notice the little bite? Garlic. See the bread and the sauce they put on the table for you? Garlic. This is also a trap. Once you eat this, you can't get up and go elsewhere because you now reek. Just deal with it and persevere. You should have an appetizer. It won't ruin your ability to finish your entree because you never had a chance of finishing it in the first place. I like the Zahrah (fried cauliflower). Give it a try. You pretty much can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Oh, and the service. Fantastic. Very attentive, but not too in-your-face. Enjoy!
(4)Calvin M.
It's a weak four stars. The place is very nicely decorated, but a little too small and stuffy. We sat by the door and people waiting for a table would be standing right by our table. The meal comes with a lentil soup and naan. The soup was great. Although the naan was store bought, it was still good. It came out piping hot. I ordered the mint iced tea ($3.5). I was great and came with free refills. Here's what we ordered: Lamb Kabob ($19). The plate was huge. It could have fed both of us. It came with rice pilaf, grilled purple cabbage/onion, and grilled lamb. The lamb portion was o.k. But they really piled on the rice. Kibby ($9). It came with six kibby. A small oval shape of fried lamb about the size of a grape. It came with a serving of hummus and lots of rice. This dish was a little disappointing. The kibbies were so small, I essential paid $9 for a huge plate of rice and hummus. Overall, the food was good and the portions were plentiful. The total bill was $35, before tips. I would come back here occasionally, but not too often. It was a little too expensive for me.
(4)matt m.
Everything in this place is on point! It's a bit small, but that shouldn't take away from their grade. The portions are astoundingly large. The menu has a great variety for almost any palette i had the lamb shwarama, and it was FANTASTIC. I'll be going back man times.
(5)Marina H.
I grew up having Mediterranean cuisine, and admittedly have high standards to begin with. And to be short and candid, large quantities of vinegar and lemon in almost every meal don't equal Mediterranean cuisine. Plates are huge, food mediocre, place small, parking scarce. I won't be back
(1)R J.
The food was out of this world! Excellent! I had the lamb shawarma and every bite was filled with flavor and richness. Just ridiculously good!! Besides it being good, the portions were humungo! I tested myself and see if I could finish it all but failed! The meal was very filling, I took the rest home and chomped on it later!!! My friend had raved about this place a while back but just never got the chance to go in. Boy was she right! The place was packed for lunch and it seemed like with many regulars! If you are into this type of food, med. kitchen is THE PLACE!!!
(5)Dave W.
First of all, no one goes to Bellevue from Seattle for good dining. Seattle is not lacking and Bellevue is awash with restaurant/bar chains and other gems like PF Changs (3000 mg of sodium please). But since being clued into Mediterranean Kitchen (MK), I have not hesitated to make the trip over the bridge. What everyone says about it is true: the portions are ridiculous, the space is cramped and "social" and there is equal garlic to rice. I actually woke up the next morning and my breath still tasted like garlic and I have excellent oral hygiene. Ordered (for 4 HUNGRY people) 1 Mezza Tray 1 "Farmers Dish" (wings, but not like bar wings) Thats it. We still had leftovers. I am 6'6" and 220 lbs and I ran for seven miles an hour and a half before with this meal in mind. Unfortunately, there is a split plate charge, but the meal still came out to $14 a person and we were at our limit. We always try something new when we go there, with the exception of the Mezza tray. You must get the Mezza tray. Our recent pick of the "Farmers Dish" was a great decision too. I doubt many people order this because, lets face it, it is wings. How good can they be. It is like ordering a Philadelphia roll at Shiro's. You just don't do it. But the claim that these wings date back generations was enough to sway us, and we have been through almost all the menu anyway. The wings were amazing, and so flavorful. They were perfectly marinated and sauced and lacked nothing. The rice they were served on was also delicious, soft yet firm, like a toothsome risotto. If you are in a long term relationship or are single and don't care about garlic seeping from every pore in your body, then go here with your significant other and marvel at the serving size. And bring friends too. UPDATE: I have been here about ten more times since writing this, including getting Mezza Trays for takeout. And it is still awesome.
(5)Jennifer S.
Heavy, but AMAZING food. We had our wedding day gathering here and everyone was thoroughly impressed and satisfied. It's a small place but they were able to accommodate our 20 or so guests, and did a great job of it, I might add. Worth the wait on a Saturday night, as well. Note: Must love garlic (They use even more than Garlic Crush across the street). Only wish they could get a bigger, more visible place. Also, "Mediterranean Kitchen" sounds like a casual lunchy place, while in fact they have a more elegant feel and could benefit from a name change to reflect this fact.
(4)Sim M.
I moved from Midwest and once you've eaten at Lashish, the bar is raised quite high. The portions are big but bland. I'm still searching for good Mediterranean food, have tried Byblos Deli and IFC and found them better than this place.
(1)Greg V.
It was just OK. The BEEF SHAWARMA ($11.50), or beef strips marinated in red wine vinegar, spices and garlic had WAY TOO MUCH ground coriander as the spice. It overwhelmed the flavor of the meat. Also, the dish has too many grilled onions, they also overwhelmed the taste. Finally, the HUMMOUS ($6.50), or mashed garbanzo beans with spices and tahini sauce, has WAY TOO MUCH lemon juice and tahini. I have made better hummous at home. In fact, my dining companion said that the hummous was off-color (it was too pale or white) due to using to much tahini.
(2)S K.
Went to dinner last night with a couple of friends and we really enjoyed it! The complimentary garlic oil dip and lentil soup was a nice start and wonderfully quick. We started with the Mezza Tray which was really enormous. The baba ganoush was a standout and a great foil to the taboulleh and marinated veg. My friends liked the fried cauliflower and hummus as well. It was unfortunate that it all tasted so good, because I went through 2 entire pitas before our entrees arrived. Caloric overload anyone? We were going to order 3 entrees but the server warned us that we'd be good with just 2. We got the seafood couscous and the lovers sydon prawns. The seafood couscous was calamari, shrimp and bay scallops in a tomato sauce over couscous. Pretty good, but not as good as the charbroiled prawns over rice. Like the other posters have stated, their portions are huge and you'll likely be taking half of it to go. I couldn't stop eating the leftover couscous all night. I would get up in the middle of the night thinking about it. One thing though, the vegetables are cut in huge chunks. But it's probably a good thing as the need for cutting somewhat slows down the hoovering from the plate to my mouth.
(4)Tatiana R.
I'm not going to talk about their food here, as by now it's obvious that it's one of the tastiest in the greater Seattle area. I want to talk about payment methods. Specifically, I want to advise you to always pay with plastic there, instead of cash, because they don't have any cash change-giving culture. Imagine, you have 2 $20 bills, and you want to pay for a $24 meal. First of all, it takes them forever to get you change, and when they finally do, it's $1, $5, and $10. This leaves you with a choice of either tipping them $1 (not really a choice) or $5 (over 20%). Now, maybe they're awesome and think they deserve an over-20%-tip, but I think it's pretty ballsy and rude to not give you a choice. Instead of getting all offended, I will just attribute it to the fact that it's Bellevue, and they just don't get cash-paying people often. Don't pay them with cash - QED.
(4)Sarah M.
i havne't been here in a year, but i love it. short of my trips to stephos up in bc when i just have to eat moist lamb for 6 dollars, med kitch is my greek fix here in bellevue. the owner is suave, friendly and charismatic. the servers are very cute and very ogle-able. the portions are huge and i love their soups. it's a very small place, so expect an intimate eating time-but dont worry, it's so good and the vibe so chill that it makes for a fun night.
(5)Amanda J.
Just got back from lunch there with my husband. We got their largest appetizer (Mezza Tray), and 2 (huge) veggie entrees. All for a whopping $40. My husband was very hungry and thought he needed all that food :) So we now have 3 to-go boxes, that will probably provide us with 2 more meals, for both of us. Service was excellent, totally willing to accommodate our dairy and meat free diets. He was also very knowledgeable about the menu and what goes into the food, and gave us extra pita to take home! Food was spectacular. The fried cauliflower included in the appetizer was TO DIE FOR. I hope to be able to return when I am not in such a hurry to get back to work from my lunch hour. Even if you have a fairly large appetite, an order of their Mezza Tray appetizer would probably be enough for a meal for 2 people.
(5)Inder S.
I do not know if this is authentic Mediterranean or Lebanese food, but I like the food. People complain about the portions, but ever since I started coming here, I've asked them to replace the rice with a salad (at no extra charge). They bring the same dish on a bed of greens instead of rice. This makes the meal much lighter, although I still end up taking leftovers home. Replacing the rice is definitely one thing that makes the meal palatable for me (I couldn't bear to eat that much rice) - the other things I like are the hummus and the tahini sauce. The meat portions are huge, and the aforementioned tahini and hummus make it tasty. In the end, replacing the rice, the flavorful condiments, plus the huge portion makes it a good value meal for me. P.S: For people wondering if the meat is halal or not, some dishes have halal meat, others do not - just ask.
(4)Kimon T.
This place is amazing. Maybe just the best restaurant on the east side? best mediterranean restaurant on the west coast? Go hungry and you will not be disappointed. In fact, you will have left overs. If you like lamb, you have no choice but to order the leg of lamb. Carnivores, next up, try the shawarmas. If for some reason you still resist... go for the foul mudammas & hummus.
(5)Rosa C.
I love mediterranean food and this place does it right! i found med kit through yelp and decided to check it out with some of my friends. the restaurant is a bit small but as soon as you get seated, you get pita bread and lentil soup as a complimentary appetizer. i recommend the falafel and the combo shwarma. the dishes are HUGE so they're good to share as family style. i would have given it 5 stars if it weren't for difficult parking and the frequent long waits. the food though is definitely 5 stars!
(4)B W.
Had a Greek colleague in town, who spent decades working around the Mediterranean, and decided that this might be a good choice. And it was. This is a fairly small place with a fairly casual atmosphere. We ate early, and were a little surprised when the place filled up with a number of larger parties. The fellows running the room were very knowledgeable and efficient. Before we ordered our lamb shawarma and Moroccan lamb couscous, a delicious lentil soup was set down for us. When two heaping platters of food arrived, we assumed the order had come to the wrong table. We were mistaken. Each order could have fed a family (and I ended up eating the left overs for several days.) Would definitely consider sharing next time. A very good kitchen, great service, and a nice atmosphere.
(4)Ernie F.
Makes other food taste like packing material. Lots of flavor in everything, but not annoyingly like some kind of toxic crop dusted Doritos. Wait to get in... they'll fill you up and you'll love them for it.
(4)Coki B.
LOVE the food and the portions are GIGANTIC. prepare yourself for blissful food-coma.
(4)Mason M.
If I had never had good mediterranean food before, I would have been satisfied. But I had and so I was not. Totally not authentic. If you think this place is amazing, check out Omar al L\Khayyam in Renton or Aladdin's place in Silverdale. Then you'll have something to compare it to. I will say, HUGE portions and decent prices.
(2)Lulu T.
This place is small, but their food portions are very large. Ordered the chicken shawarma, beef shawarma and falafel appetizer. The meals also came with pita bread and salad. The flavors are garlicky and good. Could have probably ordered one for two people. Will be eating leftovers for several days. I really wanted to comment on the service at this place. It was outstanding. The servers were very friendly and nice. They did not seem pushy at all and they were very helpful even during the dinner rush. Can't wait to go back and try other dishes!
(4)Ivan B.
The restaurant is on the side of a strip mall walking distance from Bellevue square. Parking may be challenging at times but there should be tons of parking a block away. The ambiance is average and somewhat cramped. The place gets busy! Service is average - not great but not bad by any means. The food is awesome, and you get a lot of it. The main course can satisfy any appetite - a mountain of rice and meat, generously flavored with tahini sauce and humus. You get a soup with your dinner, which is in included in the price of main course; the soup was not to my taste but my wife really liked it. Overall - tasty and plentiful food, decent service, good selection. Definitely one of my favorite places in Bellevue.
(4)Janet T.
WOW. The portions are huge and the food is fabulous! I'd go at least once a week if I wasn't watching my figure! lol. The food is truly authentic and the price is reasonable. I've been frequenting this place for over 5 years now and everytime I go back the food tastes exactly the same.. The atmosphere here is very cozy and intimate and the wait staff are very attentive and super friendly. If you love garlic and i mean lots of garlic then this place is for you. Just remember to bring gum or breath mints with you because you'll need one or maybe 5 to take the taste out of your mouth but its so worth it! Makes me sooooo hungry just thinking about the shishtoowook (sp) at Mediterranean Kitchen!
(5)Karma W.
Had a wonderful dinner...first time there. Little crowded and music was too loud but the food...the best ever. Come hungery and hope you like garlic...cant wait to check the one out in Kirkland now.
(5)Srivathsan V.
Easily the best Spinakopita and Falafils I've ever heard. The place is small, warm and well set.
(5)Sharon K.
I'm gonna sound like I'm imitating the previous review listed below mine but WOW. This place is so awesome! I tried it for the first time last year during lunch with a friend. You wouldn't expect much just looking at the place but walking in, you knowwww that you are going to get good food. All the tables are packed in this semi-tight location. I wasn't sure what to get so I got the same thing as my friend. I had fun looking at what other people ordered and built up an appetite by the time my food arrived. The portion was very generous. I knew that the smell would probably be absorbed into my clothes, hair and skin but it was well worth the food!
(5)Rachel H.
Robert T in Kirkland - who said Greek? Lebanese! And it *ROCKS*!
(5)Janell U.
YUMMY YUMMY YUMMY. This food rocks. I have been going there for many years and many more years to come.
(5)Peter B.
The food here is to die for and the leftovers will keep you fed for days.
(5)S P.
This restaurant makes driving to Bellevue totally worth it! Some good friends of mine practically dragged me across the bridge to eat a this place and I have never looked back! Start with the Mezza tray--Amazing! Last time we were there we ordered the Farmer's Dish (or something like that) it was these incredible chicken wings served over some delicious rice. My favorite part about this restaurant is the size of its entrees, we go with four people--all of us with good appetites--and order the Mezza Tray and one entree and we are full--WITH LEFTOVERS!
(4)Linda L.
Not as good as it used to be...
(3)Carmel P.
Their motto should be: Because, sometimes you want some food to go with your garlic. Don't get me wrong though, because I loooove garlic. Seating is prompt--if there is an open table (restaurant is rather small)--but they are always very apologetic if you are made to wait. Sometimes I feel compelled to order something other than shish kabobs, but they are so delicious and not bone dry like other places, that I usually end up ordering them
(4)Pete B.
We went here for a dinner before a movie and the place was packed by 6pm - make a reservation! I had the Farmer's Dish - basically chicken wings with a spicy, yogurty sauce on saffron rice - wow. The lentil soup was also great.
(4)Wander L.
My husband and I went here on a Friday night for dinner on a friend's recommentdation. Within minutes of our being seated, hot lentil soup, pita bread and a garlic-vinegar-oil dip were presented to us. We raised our eyebrows a little at the entree prices before ordering some chicken shawarma and fool moudamas. But when we saw the portions on the other tables, we realized we were paying for two meals (the half we'd have at the restaurant and the half we'd take home). So it was ok. We expected the food to be nice, but it was amazing! As soon as we took our first bite, we simultaenously looked at each other in amazement. On top of the food, our server was really warm and attentive without being obtrusice. It was a fantastic experience!
(5)Monica R.
Came here for dinner on New Year's Eve this year...good thing I was hungry! Once you are seated, they serve complimentary lentil soup and pita with garlic dipping sauce. When your meal comes out, your eyes will be in shock. As people have mentioned, the portions are HUGE. After eating the soup and pita, everyone at my table only managed to eat 1/4 of their plate. The lamb schwarma was delicious! Be prepared to have leftovers for days :)
(4)vidhu t.
I have been to Med Kitchen a number of times ...but somehow missed to write a review. A good place to treat yourself for some good food...Firstly the parking is always easy to find here. Second if you are a group of 4 or more you can make a reservation over the phone...saves you some wait time.The wait time can be longer over the weekends. Its a very dim lit place with tables really close to each other. Once you are seated u get some warm pita bread with a dip....which is great...but....but..Go SLOW on those pita coz a huge meal is still to come!! Each entree comes with a soup..which is usually ok. I always want to try something new here...but l love the chicken Shawarma so much that i end up ordering it always. One thing to remember before you order is that the portions are really huge I would recommend sharing it with some1 or split 1 entree between 2. They do charge you for sharing a plate though !!:( I have tried the kafta kabob,combination kabob which were good too . I would definitely recommend this place to my friends.The service is very good and polite. But go with a voracious appetite and enjoy the meats !!
(4)Sameer A.
So really, what is the big deal about garlic? I mean, I understand that its a fine fragarant thing to add to your food. But I really do not get all all the cheering that happens everytime emeril adds some garlic to whatever it is that he is cooking. Similarly, how can the selling point of a restaurant be the vast amounts of garlic that they manage to place on your table? So yeah, the lentil soup was good, slightly tart, garlicky but good. The same cannot be said about the kafta kebab that I had. The ground beef was grilled okay though not great. It was served on a huge bed of what was .. surprise.. garlicky rice. So far so good. The problem however was the overabundance of this tart tahini sauce that the entire platter was doused with. It completely overwhelmed everything else on the platter except for.. you guessed it.. the garlic. The portions as everyone else says are huge. The service was good, but the food was quite frankly mediocre.
(3)Swagato C.
Decent food and quick service .. A bit too crampy space Good value for price
(3)Len M.
Fabulous food in a busy atmosphere. There is so much delicious food on the table you just wonder what to eat first. Leftovers will feed us for another day!
(5)Tomas K.
The food is okay. Certainly a ton of it (or rather a ton of rice), but doesn't deserve, in my opinion a 4 or 5 star. In Mediterranean restaurants I always expect the olive oil to be excellent. And believe me don't try the oil that is on the table... It is totally burned-out and taste terrible... If you want to get some good oil, I guess you need to ask for it. The Lamb kebab is pretty good. The service is very good and the relative small place makes it "homey".
(3)gary g.
damn, that's some goooood hummus! and frigging HUGE plates of food! you can definitely share. the mixed platter was amazing! the chicken kabobs were to die for. of course, you are going to STINK of garlic for a day after you eat here, so make sure to get some beforehand. because afterwards, wooooooooh! btw, the gyros are nasty.
(4)Bruce E.
I wouldn't say avoid this place like the plague, as that would be insulting to the plague. Having a Mediterranean wife and having lived and visited a few Mediterranean countries, I looked forward to an evening with the family at the Mediterranean Kitchen, after all, it has a lot of good reviews. Too bad those who rated this place apparently didn't understand that Mediterranean (in this case Lebanese) food IS supposed to be edible. I ordered the Beef Shawarama. Realizing there are many ways to prepare a shawarama, I'm not as concerned about presentation or what specific ingredients are or are not used. My issues are that the meat was overcooked to the point of being flavorless and tougher than leather. (Leather would have been preferred, as it would have tasted better.) In an apparent attempt to cover up the fact the meat had no flavor, it was doused in spices to the point it was very gritty to chew. I like grilled vegetables, which came in the pile (no presentation of the food - only a pile). Unfortunately, I couldn't eat them, as they, too, had the thick coating of spices. I give my one star to our waiter. Not outstanding, but not bad either. As I ate virtually nothing on my plate, I think he knew better than to ask if everything was okay. But, he did ask me if I wanted a box. I said yes, conveniently left the box on the table, and fled as quickly as possible to avoid being chased by the waiter with the box and having to have it smell my car for months to come.
(1)Alice C.
I agree with some of the reviewers..the garlic is a bit too much. Don't get me wrong, I love garlic, but the amount of garlic they use just kill the flavor of the food. I wasn't a big fan of the hummus too. All I could taste was garlic and not the true flavor of how hummus should be. I will go back to the restaurant with friends though since people I know seem to love it. Be prepared to almost always take left overs home. The portions are humongous!
(3)M K.
We were brought lentil Soup and pita to start which were good. The portions were all generous - we split an appetizer mezze plate and couldny't finish it all! It was all very fresh and tasty. I will for sure go back for more! The place is very tiny and I was there for lunch so I can see how dinner might get crowded quickly.
(4)Jonathan M.
Just went for the first time last night. Loved it!! You get served soup, fresh, hot pita bread and dipping sauce within seconds of arriving, and the wait staff is fast, knowledgeable, and very friendly. When the food arrived, it was, as many others here have noted, incredibly tasty, perfectly seasoned, and generously portioned. This is obviously a business run by folks who care about food, not another chain serving bland copies of popular fare. I'll definitely be back. Only downsides: the house music is a little loud, and the view is nothing to write home about. A lot of folks seem to think there's too much garlic, but my meal didn't have that much. If you don't like garlic--well, don't order a dish that's seasoned with a lot of it, or just ask your waiter about it. Problem solved!
(4)Singto K.
Generous portions and very flavorful, this is a good Mediterranean spot!
(4)Jen R.
If you order a dinner... please please no matter how much you normally eat, split it with someone. The portions are HUGE. Not to mention the moment you sit down you are served yummy pita type bread with a giant bowl of garlic dipping sauce.. . AND lentil soup! The soup has great flavor that reminds me of the feast at the Hare Krishna Temple down in Laguna Beach. That may not sound appetizing, but to me its a wonderful compliment. Very good fast, and friendly service. I made the mistake (but couldn't resist) to get a "side" of hummus, which to my dismay was served in a large bowl with more pita. Probably the same amount of hummus you would get in a container at Costco! So when dinner arrived i was not hungry.. needless to say all the food came home with me and was slowly devoured over the next 3 days. GO! You will not regret it!!
(5)Sara M.
Food is amazing! Authentic! The portions are huge, but you get to eat for another day! Great service, great food! The only thing that could be better would be the size of the restaurant. If they expanded, they could be making a ton of money. Well worth the wait in line though!
(5)Dan W.
More quantity does not mean better food. A very cramped restaurant, I was blown away that this place is not that good based on the reviews. We both had chicken dishes that probably weighed 10lbs each. I may still come back, but direct them to do something with the dishes.
(2)Steve M.
Did you know most of the garlic grown in the US comes from Gilroy, CA? And did you know most of that garlic ends up being used in the Med Kitchen? Well, I'm half-joking. But the Med Kitchen is an incredible restaurant, especially if you are avoiding vampires. The entrees (chicken shwarma, especially) are terrific, and the appetizers divine (make sure to order the cauliflower, it's amazing.) Even the lentil soup and basic green salad (with lots of garlic dressing) is superb. Plus you end up with enough food for another 2 or 3 meals afterwards. If you can make it to desert, the baklava is incredible, but make sure you get turkish coffee with it to wash it down. Both locations are good, but I'm an Eastsider so I tend to go to the Bellevue location.
(5)M D.
Love, love, love the food. The Bellevue venue is quite, quite crowded, which I don't like. The owners have opened a little place in a Totem Lake West strip mall, with a different concept (very low prices). They do a great takeout business and the food quality is consistent with the Bellevue site. I'm very happy they're here in Kirkland area.
(3)Malcolm L.
Great Mediterranean comfort food but be warned the portions are huge!
(4)Carrie W.
Very good food. Huge portions. Friendly staff. Price reasonable. The only reason I wouldn't give it a 5 is because it's not 5-star worthy in regards to ambiance.
(4)meiling s.
Full of flavors! Can't wait to go back.
(4)Jeff J.
Honestly, couldn't have been better... My girlfriend, my kids and I went here around 5:30 on a Saturday night - not busy yet and that was the plan. We started with the Meza Plate to let the kids try a bit of everything offered therein and they loved almost all of it...I loved it all!! (I can't help that they don't like pure parsley) The two kids split the Combo Shish and the gf and I the Lamb Shwarma...OMFG! That's about all we can say - yes, yes the portions are huge and we walked out with at least a whole meal's worth of food but so what? The rice? Tasty. The veggies? Tasty. The lamb? Tasty. The Kafta? Tasty...everything was on point. Our glasses were never wanting of lemonade or soda... Our server Patrick (?) was amazing and picked up on our moods and allowed us to joke around and have fun...the kids loved it! We will be back, we will tell friends, we will Yelp, we will eat the leftovers! Go to this restaurant! (so full...can't...write...any...more...)
(5)Yiling W.
Summary: -tasty, but large portions (correspondingly expensive) -order family-style -service could be improved -call ahead for groups Just went here last night on the recommendation of my s.o.'s work friend. Yes, it turned out to be delicious fare (different in ethnic style, but comforting in my meat-and-potatoey couscous choice). Certainly it was more expensive than it had to be, but you probably could feed a small family with one entree, not to mention the complimentary flatbread and chickpea soup beforehand. Service was well-intentioned but lax. It would've been very useful for them to mention when we ordered stewed lamb couscous that it would take a full 30 minutes to stew. Instead, I think he only thought to mention it when he overheard me saying maybe we should just leave (after seeing dozens of other tables' dishes whiz past us). They also forgot to even try soliciting a drink order out of us, which we found odd. When my couscous dish came I fretfully searched all around with my fork to find the couscous, but they had appropriately meant for it to come on a separate plate, (so as to mix it perfectly without it being soggy --the way it should be) it just could've come a few minutes earlier..but when I had my delicious fall-apart lamb, carrots, potatoes and eggplant (and inexplicably, an entire onion?!) swimming in stewy sauce atop couscous, I declared it had been worth the wait. I've also heard you want to call ahead to get a table in the small space, but we had no trouble sitting down right away without calling. We felt bad enough about not finishing leftovers (more than half of each our dishes) if we went to a movie that we cancelled plans and went home with the to-go boxes. That's ok, we had leftovers for the rest of the weekend.
(3)Greg G.
Get there early. I got there at 5:30pm, and there was a long wait by the time I was done on a Monday night. Food was good...very flavorful. Like the other posters said, it was a ton of food. I ate way too much. Took home my leftovers and ate way too much the next night. It was enough food for two people easy, but there's a pretty hefty split plate charge.
(4)Tia S.
I was ecstatic after my first visit here!! I was eating kibbeh and baba ghannoush, all foods I know and love! After a few visits though (say 3 or 4) I started getting turned off. The portions are not just big their absolutely ridiculous. Sure you can pack it to take home but then you're eating it for lunch and dinner the next two days -- ok i exaggerate a little, but c'mon! It got even crazier when I ordered the couscous (plate for 6?) Also, they over-do it a little with the sauce on some of their dishes. Don't get me wrong: I love this place. But I'd rather come here as little as once a year. Once so I don't completely forget it. I wish it weren't against their rules to order only appetizers -- that would suite me! Losing all the points due to portion sizes -- that only leads to more food wastage and that's last thing we need in North America
(3)Michael W.
So this Mediterranean Kitchen sister still has it together. Been going here for over 15 years and the service and food is always impeccable. Bassam, the manager/owner is the coolest guy and remembers me and my wife from our first visit here at the age of 15. The ambience of this place is nice for being right on Bellevue Way. Only wish this place was a little bigger. Get the Farmer's Dish. You can't go wrong with all those wings in garlic sauce.
(5)Cameron W.
Been there a few more times since my yelp about this place. The food is still awesome. Service is still the same for me! Maybe its just me.... =)
(4)The-Hoa H.
I yelped a bunch of reviews about this place...and after seeing nothing but good reviews I decided to give it a try. Went here for dinner with my girl and a friend last night. First thing we noticed was the embeance of the restaurant, although small...it was dim lit and very comfortable. The waiters were cordial and attentive. The outside of the restaurant doesn't seem to stick out much....I've driven by it a million times without even noticing it...so most likely the amount of customers we saw are from word of mouth advertising...which is always a great sign...The appetizer was on the house....some bread with garlic dip, and bean chili....The three of us shared the beef shawarma and shish shawook or something with the chicken....the portions are HUGE! We couldn't even finish it all and had to take about half of it home. It was delicious and came out at a very reasonable wait time, and price. Will definately be back in the future to try out their lamb!
(4)Mark F.
I have eaten here and in their Queen Anne restaurant for over 10 years. The food is amazing and the owners and staff are fantastic people. For my last meal on Earth, I would head here. The Dajaj Mishwi is amazing. In fact, I'm heading over this week. Their wine list is pretty good too.
(5)Chris S.
I got takeout there. While I was waiting, they offered me water and *a bowl of soup*. Seriously. Found with Yelp and it didn't disappoint. Not one bit. One reason I'm glad our regional office got moved from Seattle proper to Bellevue.
(5)Lynn C.
Why do people rave about this place like it's going out of style? I don't get it it. The highlight is probably the lentil soup served as an appetizer to everyone. And yes, the food in general is tasty and I might return again. But you've gotta wonder when it's served within 10 minutes and the portion size is big enough to feed a family of 4 (not exaggerating), is it really high quality mediterranean cuisine? Me thinks not.
(3)Pam J.
This place is good for fast-food. Not enough vegetables although the servings are HUGE
(3)Molly F.
I'm surprised that this is reviewed so highly. I've been here about 5 times, and never found anything that I really enjoyed. I'm usually a big fan of dolmas, but there's were pretty disappointing. Most of their dishes seem to be too salty and just generally off-tasting. My favorite part of my meals is usually the mint tea, which is actually pretty good. I'd try Meze in Kirkland instead if you're looking for great Mediterranean food.
(2)kimberly l.
I have been wanting to try this place for awhile. We were seated right away but they filled up quickly. The food was amazing, nice options on the menu and the portions were beyond plenty! We shared an entree and still had plenty of left overs. You must love garlic as I still have garlic coming out my pores as I write this. I will for sure be heading back to sample the rest of the menu!
(4)Trevor R.
I haven't actually been to the restaurant, but my company ordered lots of take-out from here one night. Once I accepted the fact that I would stink from all the beloved garlic, the food was delicious. The place was chosen by a coworker from Lebanon that said this is the only Lebanese restaurant he'd recommend in town. The salad, shish tawouk (chicken and rice), veggie kibbi (fried balls of cracked wheat stuffed with veggies in yogurt), hummus, and pitas were all excellent. I can't wait to try dining in.
(5)Al H.
The food is OK but a little too much garlick on everything. If you want to eat great medeteranian I would reccomend the place accrose the street - The Garlick Crush
(2)Christian P.
food is absolutley amazing, great staff very attentive, hidden gem especially on valentines day super accomidating, even gave my girl a rose, huge portions...best damn lamb ive ever had!
(5)Vatsal B.
Great good, knowledgeable staff. their appetizer sampler rocks.
(5)ben h.
this place has become a staple of my bellevue diet. a shining star amongst the many souless (sp?) chains of the bellevue corporate machine. everything here is good. order whatever suits your fancy. i love the lamb kebab. just make sure you bring your third stomach. they serve A LOT of food. oh...and maybe bring breath mints...the garlic will kick your ass for hours...
(4)Chris C.
I recently moved to Bellevue and discovered this little gem after a month or two. This is now probably my favorite restaurant I've EVER eaten at. Great atmosphere. superb service, EXCELLENT food. This place has it all.
(5)Kimberley D.
Yum. It isn't cheap ($10 for a lunch entree) but the portions are so huge that one entree is really two. Everything I've tried here has been awesome, particularly the spanakopita (although they spell it spinakopita? hm.)
(5)Marco D.
I stopped by for lunch and had the Lamb Sharwarma. The flavors spices and flavors were great. I wish that my lamb came with more lamb and less rice. The food was delicious and a very good value for the money. I would definitely recommend this place.
(4)Gena U.
Yeeeeum. Came in for a late dinner and it was full of diners. Snagged a table that wasn't very close to any others (how could people on a romantic dinner of 2 be inches away from another party. that sucks) and started in on my book. The waiter brought me soup and pita and dip before ordering. If you like lentils, you'll like the soup. I did. The pita was fresh but the dip reminded me of salad dressing and wasn't anything remarkable. Ordered the combination kebab. Loved the lamb, liked the chicken, said eh to the kafta. The rice was overly salty. Even though it's an abundant resource does not mean you need to over season my food with it. The hummus was respectable, but again, not worth my effort eating - and covered with parsley. Again, no need to over do it. The meat stood alone as delicious, and merits the full four stars. OK service, the waiter was quick and helpful, although he swapped my credit card with another man's (and mine has a picture of me on it). Whoops. But no matter. Just make sure not to go to the mediterranean place across the street. Don't miss this one.
(4)Tu D.
I think this is the first 5 star i giving. I been going to this place for at least 5 years now and they have been always consistent. How do i know? I have always order the same thing hehe. The lamb shawarma, its so good i don't really want to order anything else and i am a guy who loves to try different dishes. I have try the Salmon dish, but i still like the lamb and beef if you are a meat eater like me. Like everyone said, its going to be a big meal and you probably not going to finish it unless your Joey Chestnut. You want to split it if you going as a couple or group. Don't try to finish it on your own its just not enjoyable. The dishes here you definitely want to eat there at the restaurant, i had it as leftovers and it wasn't that enjoyable. Also, this place is a good place to take your date. It has that romantic little italian restaurant feel to it like in the movies.
(5)Clint W.
I picked this place after reading the Yelp reviews. It has consistently received high marks so I thought it was time to give it a whirl. It's a small place in a strip mall that I drove past once before I finally found it. I was glad to find a parking lot in the back and since I was a bit late, I hustled on in. Small....really small. Staff greeted me quickly and when my friend walked in, we had small bowls of soup on the table in the blink of an eye. There were quite a few things I was interested in trying and it took us quite a bit to settle on dinner. I was peeking at the tables around us and saw huge platters of food, so we decided we had best skip apps and go right to the entrees. She tried the seafood couscous and I ordered the Algerian chicken. Mounds of food appeared quickly and we dove in. I really enjoyed all the goodies hidden in my entree but will admit that her seafood was a little overcooked and dried out. The amount of garlic didn't tip me over, but you had better enjoy it if you come here. For the amount of food we received, I thought it was quite a good deal. We both walked out with about half our entrees left and it made for lunch and a bit more for me. Service was both friendly and prompt. I'll have to come back again when I'm monster hongry and even in that state of mind, I'm not sure I could polish a whole entree off.
(4)Arjan Singh N.
Awesome place. I had the Chicken Shawarma and it was tasty as hell. Tip: Very large portions (good for 2 people). And wait for the andy's mints at the end! Tip2: make a reservation. We had to wait ~20 mins even on a thursday evening.
(5)C M.
My favorite food in town. Succulent Lebanese cooking. Nothing is lacking in flavor at this restaurant! Given the HUGE servings, the prices make this a bargain since I always manage to take a doggy (Doberman sized!) bag home and savor the leftovers. I have been coming here for many years and will continue as long as they maintain such excellent standards of cooking and customer service.
(5)Peg C.
It's true. The portion sizes are HUGE. The food is very tasty. You will reek of garlic for days. But the reason I only give the MK 2 stars (really, 2.5 stars) is because of the fine print on the menu that says you cannot just order appetizers. Also, there is a charge if you split an order. Have you seen the size of the entrees? Who in their right mind could eat a whole entree on their own? My sister-in-law and I found this to be very strange when we went there for dinner a few weeks ago. Like many gals, sometimes you love making a meal of appetizers. Often we skip the entrees and just order a bunch of appetizers. In the end, you end up spending just as much as ordering two entrees. We asked the waiter about it and he explained that it was not a place for just drinks and appetizers. That they were not a "lounge." Then he went to ask someone in the kitchen and came back and said it would be okay if we ordered the mezza tray and another appetizer. He did warn us that the mezza tray is really for a GROUP to share. But we wanted to try it and we also ordered the chicken souvlaki entree. We were like two small ants trying to tackle a huge MOUNTAIN of food. There was no room at all on our table for anything else once both platters came out. The mezza tray was GIGANTE and could easily have served four hungry people. The chicken was also HUGE. In the end, the waiter was VERY nice, polite and never rushed us at all. But even with the very good service and the tasty grub, we won't be going back because that no appetizer policy and the split plate fee is just WACK. Let your customers order what they want. There should not be a minimum order. If you provide quality food and good service, people will come back for more. Simple as that. We don't need these nickel-and-dime policies imposed on us.
(2)Thomas L.
I'd give it a 5... yes I would if I could try more things and I wish the place was a little bigger. This is a mediterranean/lebanese joint off to the side from Bellevue Square... a couple blocks down. Seating for 30? We got the Lamb Shawarma and the Farmer's Dish. Let me tell you one thing: unless you can eat 4 bigmacs and 2 orders of fries, you will likely not finish an entree here. The portions are ginormous! The lentil soup and pita bread with garlic/olive oil/mystery dip were great. Only problem is the place is busy and small, so therefore you will wait in line. The good thing is they take your cell # down and will call you when a table is available. Overall, good food, generous portions and great value.
(4)J G.
Very Yummy, humongous portions food. Have dined here off and on for the last 10+ years, and have never had a bad meal. These guys are the best. We no longer live in the state, but whenever we visit we will always try to make time to stop by for a meal.
(4)Robin J.
We LOVED this place. Your meal starts with soup and this amazing lemon and garlic oil dip with pitas. We had the falafil appetizer (which would be a lovely whole meal for one person - 4 falafils. Then we shared (what would feed my whole family of 4 at home) the chicken shawarma. FABULOUS - and I mean wonderful. So tasty. Some of the best I have had and I travel all over the country for work. The saffron rice was very nice underneath. I took my hungry 17 year old boy and we still brought half of it home. Lovely (not huge but nice) wine list. I had a very nice Toscana Sangiovese. The interior is so cute - it is small so get there early. They take reservations for larger parties. We were there at 5:20 and had a few minutes wait. This would be a lovely date spot... We will be back.
(5)Ema I.
This is by far the best Mediterranean food on the eastside. Good flavors, great selection (especially for vegetarians), and the absolute best spanakopita around. My only complaint is that it's a very small space, so the wait is sometimes off-putting and you can sometimes find yourself seated with a crowd of people waiting right behind your chair. On busy nights, calling in a takeaway order is definitely the way to go.
(5)Ed Y.
took my gf here while she gets her car fixed at the fancy shumancy Barrier Volvo, got a seat right away on a saturday afternoon (2ish) which is probably the best time to arrive for a table on a saturday...took a previous advice about not sitting near the door and was very glad. I gotta be honest, the food was good (we got the first chicken item on the menu..forgot name)...and how awesome was the pita bread with garlic dipping sauce?! however, everything started tasting like lemon, garlic and cilantro near the end...next time I think i will ask for hummus on the side...and try the kabob instead of chicken
(3)Ryan W.
I don't normally come to Bellevue, but with my parents in town for a conference, I decided to make the trip to the Eastside. We were looking for a good place to eat, and saw the overall rating for this place, and the 200+ reviews. We are a big fan of Mediterranean food, so we decided to give it a chance. This place is very, very, small and does not take reservations. Therefore, be prepared to wait outside for a table to open up (there is not any room inside to wait). The service is very good, but they are a little relaxed in taking names compared to bigger restaurants. I ordered the samaki hurrah (spicy salmon), and it was cooked perfectly. It just melted in my mouth and the rice complimented the dish. I would highly recommend this. While some people may be put off by the prices (aprox. $15 per meal), the dish sizes are enourmous and can easily serve 2-3 people. You will undoubtably go home with a to go box and some leftovers for the following day. All in all, this place is worth the trip to the Eastside and dealing with the traffic without a doubt. I highly recommend it.
(5)Maylene K.
I have been coming here for the better part of six years, and oh-my-goddess is it good! I must admit that the first time I poked my head into its dark interior, I was a bit intimidated. I was young, naive, and uninitiated in the ways of Mediterranean food. I must say, though, that it was love at first bite. Really. From the lentil soup and pita bread to the HUGE entree portions (my favorite: shish tawook) and finally finishing with the baklava and Turkish coffee... I just knew this place would be a repeat performance. I have since happily dragged out-of-town friends and family to this place if only to watch them go through the same spate of reactions I had my first time, especially if they have never had Mediterranean or Lebanese food. Well worth the garlic reek for the next week. So I hold back one star only for the spotty service. When it's good, it's *really* good, but when it's not, well, at least it's not terrible, how 'bout that? No? Ok, well, what have you.
(4)Danielle E.
My husband and I went here for dinner tonight after reading all the great reviews. We had stopped in another time, but they were packed. We got lucky this time. We tried making reservations, but they only take them for large groups. The food is absolutely AMAZING! We had the falafel and the combination kabob platter to split. I love that they bring you lentil soup plus the pita and garlic dipping sauce right when you sit down even before ordering. Like you are coming in from a cold, winter day and mom has a cup of soup ready and warm for you - very welcoming. The kabob platter was ideal for two people and you get a good sampling of all the different meats plus some hummus on the side. I really, really loved the Shish Tawook. For dessert, we had the baklava and turkish coffee, which is absolutely indescribable. The waiter said it had rose water and cardamom in it. It was the perfect ending to the meal. However, I wouldn't recommend going here with a person on a first date. The food is very garlicy to the point that you can still taste it the next day and wouldn't be the best for a first kiss. Although, both of you may not even realize the smell, but it is strong enough to ward off the cast of Twlight. Go - you won't regret it!
(5)Dino D.
Have never eaten here, always takeout. Garlic overload and portions are for sharing. Shish tawook and salmon are our faves.
(5)Hope N.
Best garlicy food ever! The daily soup is always served with your meal and its real good! We always get the farmers meal, lemon garlic chicken with rice and humus, sharable for two. The kibby appetizer is a favorite too, little lamb meat pockets served on top of garlic yogurt is ideal for dipping your pita. Getting one meal and sharing between two is always enough food but they sometimes charge a split plate fee, depending on how friendly your waiter is. Note: if you get food to go they sometimes give you salad instead of soup with your meal and they will only give you one portion of soup/salad per entree, like one person is going to eat all that food?!
(5)Tony C.
If there were a Mediterranean Kitchen in Sunnydale, Buffy the Vampire Slayer would be out of a job. You'll come out smelling like garlic for days; it's fantastic (I love garlic)! Both lunch and dinner menu items come with lentil soup and pita bread with a garlic-vinaigrette type dipping sauce. If you are a first time visitor (and eat meat), I would suggest getting the "Combination Kabob" for lunch. You'll get a decent variety of what their different meats taste like: Kafta Kabob (beef) , Shish Tawook (chicken) and Lamb Kabob charbroiled with tomatoes and onions. "Algerian Chicken" is my favorite dish and only on the dinner menu. The chicken is extremely tender and juicer than most steaks. Be warned, the portions are large. They are good for 2, and possibly 3 people if you aren't looking to get completely stuffed. Mediterranean Kitchen is one of my favorite places in Bellevue. Everyone i've recommended it to also loved it, even Buffy.
(4)Alfa Alyssa E.
I was reading the over 80 reviews on this restaurant and it's amazing how people's opinions vary and they always will. As for me, I love this place and I dream of going when it's been awhile since I've been. It is small and somewhat cramped. It would do something incredible for business should they move into a bigger space. The food is so, so good but I'll have to admit, there are many dishes there I have not tried yet. I usually order the Farmer's wings and it can get messy cause you can't really eat chicken wings with a fork and truly enjoy it.. But I really don't care. It's a nice little restaurant, not to mention in the heart of downtown Bellevue but I will use my hands to eat those chicken wings for maximum enjoyment. It is pretty pricey, I agree. But overall, it's worth it. I don't know if they still have Meditteranean Express down the street from Swedish Hospital but that place was also delicious!! They served a Farmer's wing meal also for about 1/2 the price. You did get salad, hummous, pita bread for that price and the portions were still generous. I don't make it to Seattle too often but gosh... My mouth's starting to water just thinking about those wings. I may have to make that drive across the bridge sometime before the end of this year. Will need to make sure that place is still open though. It was right above the QFC...
(5)Jennie D.
Great lentil soup and pita bread with dip comes before every meal. As others have written, split your entree with your dinner partner. The food is more than enough for two people. And we wonder why Americans have an obesity problem...Seriously, the main entrees are HUGE! They charge $4.95 to split an entree, but that includes a huge salad to share. The sharwamas are really yummy. The seafood dish...meh... We were seated outside and a car horn was going off--forever. (We didn't complain as what can a person do?) One of the waiters found the car and pulled the fuse. Now that's service.
(4)Dan P.
Lots of reviews on this place so I'll make my 2 cents short. Good food and lots of it; great service. Gotchas: - Relatively small place... not the best for big groups - Can be busy at lunch. I was seated right away but the guy behind me was told to come back in half an hour - Parking sucks. Lots of parking available a block north at the Bellevue Park
(4)Aaron I.
4.5 Lamb shwerma dinner was magical, mmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!! By far not your atypical shwerma, this is a quaint Med spot with dishes that wake you up and then knock you out with a food coma. My new Bellevue spot, when i am forced to spend time in the Bell. Service is great and parking is easy.
(5)Anne R.
One of our favorite repeat restaurants. Staff is always friendly and efficient. Food is always great. A garlic lovers heaven. Our favorite is chicken Shish Tawook. If you're tight on money but want the most for what you spend going out to eat, this is the place for mediterranean food!
(5)Gina H.
Mediterranean Kitchen isn't even average or fair or even so-so. The "food" is absolutely AWFUL. LOL they give new meaning to the term "falafel". This dish consisted of charred hunks of tasteless crud squatting leadenly over a bag of limp grocery store mixed greens. There was no way to hide nor excuse it. Brave attempts to choke it down resulted in depressing failure for a falafel-lover. Not just falawful, falafoul. A few strings of brown stuff (ordered as lamb) that had the texture of leather boot-straps dotted the top of another entree; I cannot speak for similarity in flavor, since I have never eaten a leather boot-strap, but I'm willing to wager that the bootstrap would win the taste test. What these wee strings tasted of was non-taste save for an overpowering presence of raw garlic. It was as though someone had stood over the dish of tough stuff and used a garlic press over and over. As in tough, I mean NOT CHEWABLE TO SWALLOWING SUBSTANCE. I had to give up and remove the "lamb" to one side of the plate like discarded bubblegum. There was plenty of yellow-colored rice of similar flavor (none). The dishes were way expensive even had they been at all edible, which they weren't. The couple of tablespoons of Wishbone Italian salad dressings (it certainly wasn't "Good Seasons" :p) mixed with some grated cheese and served with what had to be the Wonder Bread brand of pita bread as a "complimentary starter" did nothing to smooth over the grisly (read "gristly) experience. The waiter didn't even ask us if we wanted a doggie bag, but just wordlessly grabbed up the shoved-aside remains and tossed a styrofoam box back down a couple of minutes later. We weren't thanked for our business or bid farewell. The staff just waited for us to get ourselves out of there so they could run some more grist through their customer mill. Mediterranean Kitchen is proof that newspaper reviews are successful, however; on the way out the door we spotted an article we recognized from years ago, and suddenly had the horrid recollection that this same article had coerced us there years ago and we had been grossed out that time, too. Talk about blocking past trauma. An odd side note, I was puzzled by this place being jam-packed, as bad it it was, even if the venue is exceedingly small, and long waits necessary to secure a table. By the way, there is no waiting area, even standing room. You're either in the place or out in the cold. No one in their right mind would go there twice, unless, like your poor forgetful Gina H., they've inadvertantly pulled the scab off of an old war wound.
(1)Jenny F.
This place was a "10" all the way around. We went there for lunch today, and the service was excellent! Timely, courteous and fantastic waitstaff. The food was even better if that's possible. I ordered an appetizer plate of several Mediterranean items, and the plate was HUGE!!! The food was off the charts amazing; I felt like I was seriously dining in a foreign country at a famous restaurant with the level of design, presentation and quality of food/taste that they presented. I would love to shrink this place and hang it from my rearview mirror in my car and make orders every time I drive. :) Since that's not possible, I'll just keep going back whenever I can. If I were you, I'd GO HERE! They rock the Kasbah.
(5)Hanna D.
It looks like I'm the only naysayer on Yelp, but nay say I shall. I read the menu online before going, and had my mouth set on beef shish kabobs. Here's the description: BEEF SHISH KABOB . . . . $16.95 Marinated top sirloin charbroiled to perfection with grilled onions and tomatoes. I was envisioning the usual shish kabob on a skewer, but what came was a giant plate completely (and I do mean completely--couldn't see the food underneath) covered in a thick beige sauce. Yuck! The menu doesn't mention it, as you saw. The meat was not in chunks, but in flat pieces. The tomato was a big slice, not shish kabob-like chunks. There was rice under there, but soaked in sauce. My dining companion's dinner was covered as well, but she had no complaints--she's been there before, and was sorry she didn't let me know so I could have asked for mine without sauce. I've had shish kabob many other places--the delicious grilled meat and veggies doesn't need "help" from goopy garlicky sauce. Also, and this is just my taste buds, the hummus seemed a little sour to me--maybe more lemon than I like. I'll stick to King Falafel, near where I live--no sauce covering the food, really good hummus, great falafel.
(2)Bill M.
I struggled to find the unique piece of information for this review and landed on this...I should have walked from the Sheraton. Not very green of me. To the review: I have to agree with the other reviewers who were less enthused with this place. Don't get me wrong, the food is good. I'm not going to give up a 5-star for it, not yet anyway. The soup is very good. Small portion, definitely can taste the lemon. The dressing for dipping the pita is loaded with garlic and really just a Caesar dressing (to my palate). I had a tabbouleh salad that was good but not great. I had the Fool Madamous. It was very good, but different than I've had elsewhere. There is a noticeable amount of bay leaf, which was overpowering in some bites. The taste was as though there was a meat base to the dish, but it is listed in the Vegetarian section of the menu. The Lebanese wine recommendation was a good one. I sat outside which was very pleasant. The place was busy for a Tuesday night and can see how it would be very crowded on a weekend night (with the additional parking challenges noted by other reviewers). It was a bit pricey for this kind of food. All-in-all I'd say that this place is great if you're in the DT Bellevue area, but a drive over might not be worth it.
(3)Jeff S.
One of the best places to eat in the Puget Sound, hands down. Not much really to say about this place that hasn't already been said, service is fast attentive and friendly. Atmosphere is great and the head of house runs a tight ship, never had to wait. The food is absolutely amazing. The price is a little on the high side but you will have more than enough leftovers for at least two more meals due to the large portions (so really the prices are a bargain). The only downside I can think of after 5 or 6 visits is that they do not have AC so in the summer it can be very muggy inside. But considering the region of the food it can add to the authenticity.
(5)J P.
I love the food here. My fave that I nearly always order is shish tawook (grilled chicken kabobs); has a very garlicky, lemon flavor and is tender & delish. Comes with a yellow rice that I wish I knew how to duplicate at home. I've also had the fried cauliflower, served on a bed of greens; I think it comes with tzatziki & hummus? Can't remember, but it is really good and I did figure out how to make that one at home! It's nice to have someone else make it for me though. :)
(5)Kristin M.
My husband's company gets lunches brought in from Med Kitchen all the time. I could always tell what days those were when he walked through the door. I could be upstairs and still smell the garlic. No lie. But then I became one of the converted. This place is friggin' awesome. I give it my very rare five stars because I find myself craving the divine spanakopita all the time. We introduced this place to two friends this past weekend. The guy part of the couple is a self-described big eater, and actually asked if we should order appetizers. I don't think our buddy believed us when we told him the portions were beyond-belief enormous. And they are beyond-belief enormous. Hubby and I got 4.5 meals out of our two entrees (two dinners, and then my lunch). It's not just the portion sizes, though. The prices are reasonable, the service is great and the food is fabulous. I'm not a lamb eater, so I can only speak to the Spanakopita (already mentioned) and the Chicken Shwarma (tender, tender, tender). Everything is just so flavorful, and yes, so garlic laden. Even the salad dressing has garlic in it. But it's worth the wide berth people will give you post-dinner. Trust me.
(5)Allon F.
Personally I'm all about their Shish Tawook, a sizzling platter of chicken breast served with a mountain of rice, vegetables, and lots of garlic. If you are garlic lover than go to Mediterranean Kitchen. The starter lentil soup and salad are also quite tasty.
(4)Flora C.
The dish portion is big and fair priced. The dishes are tasty but the vinegar flavor a little bit too much for me. I have a "MSG after taste" after the meal. The chicken dish was made with chicken breast and it is a bit dry. However, the beef dish is excellent (minute the after taste). The complementary soup and hummus are great. I will still revisit this restaurant some other days with new friends.
(3)J T.
This was my first experience with shwarma and it was memorable. I craved lamb shwarma for months following. I recently had my 2nd taste of shwarma at another Seattle-based Mediterranean place and it was a huge disappointment. I live in Seattle and I would travel to Bellevue to have this shwarma again...
(5)Charles D.
Wow! What great food. When you go - you have to, absolutely have to order the Farmer's Dish. Barbequed Chicken wings, with garlic sauce, hummus and wonderful rice. Of course, you'll get the pita and garlic sauce and have to order some nice wine. I loved it. (Can you tell).
(5)Cliff N.
Hey DOT COM, this place is Da'Bomb! It was reccomended by those who ventured before I, and despite no RESERV, the friendly and eager waiter sat the three large and hungry men that we are and had come from afar, down to some nice lentil soup, hummus amongus, with garlicky dipping pita and so we paroused the med menu for tasty eats and treats! OMG, after ordering our Over-Sized dinner plates came with heaping amounts of meat and saffron rice, everything fresh and nice. Thier service was all over us and kept our glasses filled. After witnessing an Army Ranger and Big Texan unable to finish their "Swarma" and such, I realized that most folks were ordering one dinner and splittin it between themselves! My Algerian garlic laced chicken was 3 large breasts, plenty of veggymite greens and was priced reasonably, a killer deal when most places are downsizing! BTW- Iphone peps, check out the Urban Spoon app, it has the menu and reviewsof many a gastro interesante locales! The Hummus is sew GUUD that you can take it to go and is one of the best I've tasted in the WEST! BabaG'Noush 'it
(4)Melissa S.
I love this place! The service is friendly, quick, and they serve an amazing amount of food. If you love garlic, this is the place for you! The chicken shishtawook is my favorite. Every meal comes with a small salad or bowl of soup, pita bread with the best hummus in the world, and the entree. I know many a friend who have ordered their hummus for dinner parties and events. It's fabulous! I crave this place. The space is small and so reservations are suggested but not necessary. Enjoy!
(5)Adam W.
We have this at work all of the time! The chicken souvlaki was great, but be prepared there's a lot of garlic.
(3)Dale K.
Really solid spot. it is really hard to find good, moderately priced food in bellevue that is not cookie-cutter or chain restaurant. Pretty much anything on the menu is great. Definitely check it out, but please keep in mind the portions are huge. like family style eating huge. so if you're with three people two entrees would do. perhaps less when you factor in bread, soup (free), and appetizers... Even then, you'll still have leftovers to take home.
(5)Polly H.
First of all, right when you sit down - SOUP! I love places where you get food right when you sit down. My favorite entree is the Shish Tawook. So you order and next comes salad...awesome! The dressing is wonderful and perfect blend of oil and spice. Then comes the dinner...da da DUM! A huge wonderful plate of warmth and goodness! The flavors are complex and smooth yet spicy....definitely garlic city. Oh but the chicken is so tender and the rice so soft and fluffy..and the hummous....one of the best I've had. The service is always so attentive and friendly..you feel like you are being served by your family.....especially at the end when you end up taking half of everything home in care packages! Oh and P.S., you take the garlic smell home for about 2 days on your clothes! Highly recommended! I can't wait to go back!
(5)S S.
The food is very tasty. Varity of choices. Lunch time can be crowded though.
(4)Angie J.
Large portions, good food and a cozy atmosphere. I love going here because I always feel welcome and the food / cost ratio is always spot on. Really, if you like hummus and Mediterranean food in general, you'll really enjoy this place.
(4)Brian C.
The portions are ridiculous...in a GOOD way! Food is good, service is attentive, overall a very good place. Make sure you get there early as this place has limited seating. Just FYI, the tangy white sauce they put over all of their dishes is a bit tart. Might want to ask for it on the side if you can't handle that.
(4)Shaunna R.
We tried this place a couple months ago and I've been dying to go back! I mean, my breath was NOT the best when I left due to the garlicky-lemony oil with pita bread and (amazing) kababs. We tried the kabab combo that had a little bit of beef, chicken, and lamb. It's a great way to see what they've got. :) The only bad thing about this place is that the plates are so huge! They are definitely enough to share, but then there is an extra charge for that. VERY good food.
(4)Giles H.
Great healthy food, lots of garlic. Large portions and good value. The mezza plate is a real winner- I love the cauliflower.
(4)Tammy V.
okay so i my friend referred me to this place and he looved it. he said if you like garlic then you'll love this place. so i went with my bf and he ordered the chicken noodle dish and i ordered the chicken wings dish. with our meal we got free soup and free bread w/ dipping sauce. i really loved the bread and dipping sauce. me and my bf's food was pretty good but too flavorful for my tastes if that makes any sense. it was alot of sauce drizzle on top of the rice and the noodles. i could tell that the food was cooked well and the chicken was very tender -- but i just didn't really enjoy the dish that much. i would probably go back just so i can try other things =D the reason why this place STILL gets 4 stars in my book is because of the GREAT GREAT GREAT customer service. it's so home-y and the server/waiter was extremely helpful and nice. and when you go out to eat, thats what you're looking for. =)
(4)Winnie L.
If you like garlic, this the place you should go! They have remarkable lamb shank! Place is small, you'd bettter arrive around 6p for dinner.
(5)Nash C.
Large portions and large amounts of garlic. Love the food.
(5)Robert G.
Tonight was our first time here. I didn't plan on writing a review but we were so impressed I felt compelled to. The food was fantastic. Everything we tried was really good. Two in our party are #vegan and the wait staff was knowledgeable and friendly and made them feel at home. The menu prices seemed high but not once we saw the portions. Come hungry, they are very generous. Last, but not least was the service. It was top notch also. This is a very well run restaurant and everyone has pride in their work and the food they serve. Highly recommended.
(5)Crystal S.
This is just really good, authentic Mediterranean food! We had a large party (10 I think), which basically took up half the restaurant, so be aware, it is tiny. The food was awesome and the portions massive (be prepared for leftovers...for a week!). The service was friendly and attentive, super knowledgeable about the menu. We ended with Turkish coffee, since there was no room for desert, and it was heavenly! Absolutely recommended! Just be sure to get there early, make a reservation, or be prepared to wait.
(4)Mizie S.
Went out for dinner with friends and this place was their pick. Friends said that the Chicken Shwarma is to die for and they were right. Spices are authentic, their usage of Sumac and Middle Eastern spices are an art! I'm pretty sure there was some kabsa powder in there...Is that even sold in the US? The portions are LARGE. husband and I split one entree and neither of us were able to finish it! I'm excited to go back and try their other selections. Ever since I moved back to the US from a life in the Middle East, I was on a search to find some good Shizh Tawook, Schwarma, garlic yogurt dips, etc. This place even does a good twist of using Arborio rice instead of the traditional kind that is used for these dishes. Pros: Large portions Frikken delicious Staff is super friendly and accommodating! Parking available. Cons: Bathrooms could use an upgrade. It's limited to functional uses more than anything else. It wasn't a huge bother though. As long as it is clean. It's a bit crowded. There's outside seating, but it's right by the street so it's pretty loud. It's louder inside than outside. It's crowded inside. Honestly though, despite the cons, it's not anywhere near keeping me from coming back!
(4)Marangelo N.
I came to the place around 8. Finding the place on the corner was easy. Parking for free was near the downtown park and not on the block. When we came in, it was not very busy. We were seated right away. My friends and ordered the same dish the lamb sharma which is what i recommend. The service was great. The waiter was polite and helpful. Everything was good.
(5)Tariq C.
There are a few times in life when you make sexual noises when eating, the total pleasure gained from this meal was and is orgasmic.. Everything is terrific
(5)Robin S.
Excellent food. Portions were huge! Great atmosphere. Definitely bring friends to share ambiance!!
(5)Nami N.
I enjoyed Mediterranean Kitchen place. I tried most of the menus. Value for 2 people in 1 menu. Great experience to eat here.
(4)Tim C.
This is one of the better places for Mediterranean foods in the Seattle / Bellevue areas, in my opinion. The flavors are usually spot-on, the portion sizes are huge, and the pricing is fair. Most recently, I went with my wife for dinner, and I got the Lamb Couscous, which was lamb shank with onion, carrots, zucchini, and potatoes, served with couscous. The lamb was fall-off-the-bone tender and well-flavored with a variety of spices. The vegetables weren't cut up, so they maintained their firmness quite well, instead of being overly-mushy. I wasn't sure what to do with the whole onion that was on my plate, though. The couscous was just ok - I like my couscous where I can distinguish between the separate grains, and I felt like this couscous was more clumpy than what I prefer. My wife ordered the Dajaj Mishwi, which was chicken thigh over rice and garlic sauce with a side of hummus. We both are big fans of the garlic sauce, and the chicken and rice were cooked well. One downside, however, was the lack of vegetables in this dish. The restaurant is on the smaller side, so you may have to wait for a table, depending on what time you get there and how large your party is. The service is great, though, and overall, it's a fantastic place for Mediterranean food.
(4)Matt S.
Yummy and holy smokes! what a great place and hidden gem in Bellevue. The food was excellent, service excellent and they even had a small outdoor dining area. It's a little tough to find parking and the indoor dining is cozy but make a point to try this place out (then keep going back!)
(5)Minna S.
Lamb Shawarma and Shish Tawook. GET IT! This place has the best Mediterranean food i've had in a while. The only negative is that it's pretty pricey during dinner, but the portions are humongous. It's located right next to Hokkaido Ramen, and is a bit hidden, but whenever I go it is packed with people, so sometimes I just order to-go. There are some outdoor seating which is nice since the inside can feel a bit crowded. Lamb Shawarma - Grilled marinated lamb with vegetables and seasoned yellow rice. This dish is very well seasoned, has so much flavor, and is not dry at all. Shish Tawook - Grilled chicken with great lemon/vinegar flavors. Also comes with rice, vegetables, and hummus! This is my favorite dish here, and I love the tart flavor you get from the vinegar. Tastes great with the hummus and bread they give you.
(5)Alden C.
An excellent discovery in Bellevue! We seemed to have been doing an all day eating affair and had this place on our itinerary when we were scouting out town! We were immediately served soup and bread to munch on for starters. As I said already it was an all day eating affair so Steve and I shared an entrée. We got the special which consisted of rice, grilled chicken, peppers, onions and a yogurt sauce. We didn't eat everything there but the food was simply fantastic! As the waiter indicated that it would make excellent leftovers and indeed it did...indeed it did! I'm highly anticipating a return trip back here!
(5)Me M.
We chose the restaurant after a yelp research for the area. The service was nice but the food was nothing remarkable. Suggestion for the restaurant: do not serve cuscus on a plate, the juices ended up dripping on my table.
(3)Liz C.
"Oh my goodness." Those were the words I mouthed when the food was arriving, the words I exclaimed after my first bite of food, and the words I was achingly saying after being stuffed and looking at what was left on my plate. Mediterranean is just a short walk from Bellevue Square. It's a definite must check-out place if you're around the area, both for lunch and dinner. The place is not super big and does fill up quite quickly. We arrived on a Saturday at around 1:00 and there was no wait so we were seated quickly. The meal starts off with some lentil soup as well as some fresh pita bread and garlic dipping sauce. BEWARE, the garlic dipping sauce is VERY garlicky. If you immerse your pita bread in the sauce, your breath will smell very much like strong garlic. However, the garlic sauce is great for garlic lovers and is a nice touch to the pita bread. The pita bread is so nice and warm, not overly thick or thin. I also enjoyed the lentil soup which tasted very hearty. Lamb shwarma - Holy cow, or should I say, holy lamb? This thing is so freaking good. I've had my share of shwarmas and lamb gyros, but this thing is on a whole different level. The yellow rice is perfectly puffed and seasoned and there is such an abundance. Everything floats on this yellow cloud of rice. The lamb is so perfectly grilled, I can't even describe the nice, smoky, meatiness to the dish it brings. The veggies, seriously well seasoned and so crunchy. I swear every bite of this dish makes you feel like you're swimming in flavor. The sauce is the best component binder and really makes the whole thing work together. The only thing I can say is that I wish there was a bit more meat to the rice ratio. There is definitely a lot more rice but honestly, every bite is going to have deliciousness all over it. Dajaj Mishwi - This is a chicken dish that comes with rice, sauce and a heaping mound of garlic hummus on the side. I had no words when I took a bite of the chicken. It was so tender, so perfectly grilled and just melting in my mouth. One of the best preparations of chicken I've had. The sauce on this dish was similar to the one for lamb shwarma. The thing that really made this dish stand out was the garlic hummus. It's perfect with the rice and chicken, and I wish I could take this hummus home for my pita crackers. It's so smooth and creamy with a subtle garlic flavor to it. I can really taste the quality of ingredients in this dish. Portion sizes are HUGE. Since you get soup and pita bread in the beginning, there is a higher chance you're going to have leftovers. I barely made a dent into my dish and I can see how you can turn this into another meal, or even two meals. My partner who is a very hungry eater barely made it through half, so that really tells me something about the portion size. You definitely get what you pay for in terms of portion size. Service was wonderful. They were very polite, well mannered and respectful. I loved their humor and how attentive they were to our water cups. When we were finished they took our plates and boxed it nicely for us. Overall, really awesome place that uses good quality ingredients. I could just taste the quality with each bite. It's prepared so well (I want to know the secrets in that kitchen!) and you will be delighted to be taking home leftovers because that means another day of delicious food! For our two dishes it was a little less than $30 for technically 4 meals. Definitely would recommend and will come again.
(5)Kimberly S.
There are two five-star attributes of Mediterranean Kitchen: the portions [HUGE] and the lamb [AMAZING!]. We tried the hummus with meat/pine nuts and while the hummus was your everyday, average hummus, the lamb on top was really out of this world. It was very tender, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. It's the same lamb that comes in the lamb shawarma or lamb kabob plates. It's apparently sourced from New Zealand so there's no gaminess to the lamb. I would say the lamb is a must order. The lamb is our main reason to go back. Because most other things we tried were just OK, I'm giving it three stars. The pita bread and garlic sauce at the start of the e-mail are a very nice touch but the pita bread was not soft and fluffy and the garlic sauce tasted too much like salad dressing. Free lentil soup served to you right when you sit is also a nice touch, but it was just OK as far as soups go. We tried the chicken shawarma in addition to the meat hummus and it was a bit disappointing because the chicken was dry, there were way too many onions, and the yellow rice tasted like minute rice. I was most disappointed by the tahini sauce. It was way too thick and lacked the composition and flavor I've come to know in other tahini sauces. My husband and I enjoyed our dinner out and we will definitely be back but pretty much only for the lamb. The other stuff I could do without. I could be convinced to try the Mezza Tray as I eyed our neighbors Mezza and it was huge and looked delicious...
(3)Brian C.
A busy place and now i know why. For starters they give you pita bread and they offered some very good lentil soup the day i went there for lunch. I had the kabob combo and WOW!! There was some hummus on the side, some nice fragrant rice with what seemed like saffron or curry i could not quite figure out what it was but reminded me of saffron. The kabob meat was excellent chicken and beef. I don't normally eat that much in one sitting but i killed that plate! It was damn good!! I plan on adventuring here again to try the dolmas and a few other dishes that caught my eye. Highly recommend this place for the garlic lovers. Wow!!!
(5)Alina F.
Been here twice in a month and well the portions are massive. Hate the par boiled rice but ure literally filled up before entree bc of the bread and soup. Also get the sampler appetizer platter so good!
(4)Lin R.
I wasn't expecting the food to be so good because the decor was a bit subpar and the restaurant was pretty empty when I went at 1:00pm. However, I knew I'd change my mind when I tried their house made dressing which they re purposed as bread dip. The portions served were so large I packed the remainder to go. I had the leftovers for dinner the same day unheated and it was STILL DELICIOUS. The food get's a little greasy though so make sure you pair it with tons of liquids
(5)Marcy S.
Best mediterranean we've had in WA and the services was great. I had the spanakatopia, which was delicious and crispy and perfect, and my husband had the falafel. Great hummus and pita, and they even made a special spicy sauce for him. We will definitely go back next time we're in the area.
(5)Barb W.
Wow. This place really surprised me. When I first came in I thought it was too hot to stay. The place is small and it was a warm night. I sat down and the waiter immediately brought me a bowl of lentil soup. I explained to him I may not stay because of the heat and he suggested I try the soup, that it will help me feel cooler. Really? Well he was right! Is after trying the soup I was hooked and wanted to try more items. The pita comes with the house salad dressing which is fantastic! I love a place that takes the care to make their own dressing. Btw....they sell it by the bottle. I also ordered the tabbouleh which was really good. Not sour at all which is sometimes the case with this dish and also the chicken Schwarma. The portions were huge. I could've shared but honestly I didn't want to. Wanted to keep it all to myself. Great service, great food and really nice ambiance. I travel to Seattle for work about 6 times a year. I will definitely add this to my must done list! If u are a fan of Mediterranean cuisine. Check this out for sure!
(5)Marc P.
Wow! This was, bar none, the best Mediterranean food we have ever had! We had the hummus, tabouli, baba ghanouj, and many other appetizers and they were all fantastic. In addition we had a combination chicken and lamb Shawarma on half rice and half lettuce, and it was a fantastic entrée to go along with the appetizers. The waitstaff was quick and efficient and the dinner was delivered within 10 minutes! It's a small, quaint, local sit down restaurant with large portions; and, it's one of Bellevue's best dining secrets.
(5)Carmen Q.
Wow. What a great hidden gem in Bellevue. Great food, great great food. HUGE portions, consider sharing! Soup to start and hummus in front of you before you even order, these guys know how to serve people efficiently. This would be a great date place, different types of food, really great ambience and mood, great service, and a good amount of food to share and get cozy with. I definitely wouldn't be able to finish a meal on my own. At first I thought the prices were a big high, but once I saw the amount on my plate I knew why, I had tons of leftovers to go around. The food is fragrant. This is the definition of fragrant rice. I absolutely loved it. There was hummus on the side and the chicken was so perfectly tender. It's a busy place that doesn't take reservation, I had to wait about 20 minutes for a table. It's really crowded once you're inside so watch out for that too! But the wait is well worth it, and definitely bring more people so you can try more things, I can't get enough of this!
(5)Namtran V.
Come hungry!!! I always come here during lunch time because the portions are the same size as dinner, just cheaper. I usually get one order of the lamb shawarma for two and we both leave stuffed with enough left overs for another meal. Each entree comes with a bowl of lentil soup and naan with a very very garlicky dip. It's like eating garlic and I love it. The mint iced tea here is also really refreshing! It's a perfect summer drink, but it's not very relaxing to sit outside with a view of Bellevue way.
(5)Silvia S.
This is one of my all time favs. The food is amazing, reasonably priced, and generously sized.
(5)Arahcni S.
Love the place.. its so cosy and welcoming..!!! Love the chicken shawarma
(5)Kim D.
A hidden gem in Bellevue!! At first it was overwhelming with the all the decisions on the menu but the food and portion will not disappoint. FOOD: Got the MEZZA TRAY and CHICKEN SHAWARMA. The MEZZA TRAY consisted of an assortment of appetizers, hummus, Baba Kanouj, Labnie, Tabouley, Zahra, olives, tomatoes and cucumbers. My personal favorite was the Zahrah, deep fried cauliflower with a tahini sauce. Also, I loved all the fresh veggies. The CHICKEN SHAWARMA was a nice surprise. A plate full of goodness! It had marinated strips of chicken breast with grilled onions, green onions, red cabbage and tomatoes over a flavorful bed of rice. I would definately order this again and would recommend this dish to friends and family! Also, the pita bread with the dipping sauce (lemon pepper I think) was amazing!!! The soup had depth and loads of flavor too! SERVICE: EXCELLENT!! Since it was our first time out server gave us a brief overview of the menu which helped a lot because we did not know what anything was. He was very knowledgeable of the menu which helped us decide what to order. The other servers that cleaned and packed out food togo was also very kind and friendly. PRESENTATION: This restaurant is very small. Not many tables, maybe 8-10. It had a home style feel and a warm atmosphere. LOCATION: Next to the cycle store. In the same building as Hokkaido Ramen Santouka. WOULD I COME BACK: Yes =) Can't wait to try their other dishes!
(4)Eddie A.
I think I have a problem...more of an addiction to this place:) Most of the time I do take outs. Portions are generous and I love the leftovers! Quality of the food, taste and smell is exquisite. My go-to's are usually mezza tray and chicken shish tawook, although I have so far liked everything.
(5)Denise L.
Gigantic plates that could feed me 3x, great service, romantic yet casual ambiance. You're greeted with smiles, a bowl of soup, and some fresh pita with dip. I've had dry meat once, but other times, the meat has been pretty delicious. Reasonably priced for what you get! Dinner time is always a full house when it hits around 7 PM; the place is small, so I recommend coming earlier. Whether you're with a friend or on a date, this place is a great spot for anyone and everyone.
(4)Thuy D.
My first experience with Mediterranean food was here and I'm so glad I did since it set a really high standard. Small cozy restaurant right on the corner on Bellevue way so parking is a bit tricky. The food is very flavorful and their portion is huge! I have never able to finish everything all at once which is good because I can eat it for dinner as well. Plus you get a lot of pita with garlic dipping to snack on while you wait for your food, but don't eat too much and save room for your entry. Service is pretty good and consistent.
(4)Eva C.
1 meal here can easily turn into 3-4 meals. They give you SO much food!! Which is why I am absolutely IN LOVE with this place! It's a bang for my buck! I recently came here for lunch but I have also been here for dinner. All lunch items come with rice, salad, and pita bread, about $10-12 for an entree. For dinner the prices jump to $15+ I know it seems high but you get A TON of food that lasts for daaaaayyyyyysssss!!!! I got the chicken shawarma which was AMAZING! Lots of onions, garlic, and spices. It smells absolutely heavenly. Good amount of chicken to rice ratio. The salad was a bit over dressed this time but I love how the dressing tastes. It's a vinaigrette so it's not heavy and rich. I have also had the lamb shawarma here which is also BOMB.COM! In the evening I believe all entrees come with a soup. The service here is great! The people are very nice and accommodating. They were willing to split our checks even though they already printed us a copy with all our items on there. Usually people get annoyed, but they were very nice about it. This places doesn't have the best parking so beware. You will have to do some searching and maybe some walking as well, buuuutttt, it's worth it!! This place is a gem in the heart of Bellevue.
(5)Cin H.
I'm super impressed. Who knew you would find this type of quality of Lebanese/ Mediterranean cuisine in Bellevue! We ordered the Medi Veggie plate and that alone I can eat every single day and feel guilt free about it. Because hey, its so healthy! The Cauliflower I can have 10X of, the garlic yogurt dip I can eat like its ice cream, the hummus will be the best hummus you'll have in your entire life, the Veggies I devoured like it was chocolate cake crack. And then there was the.... Farmer's Chicken. Lemme tell you, I wish I had ordered this to go because then I would have my way with it with my hands with full reckless abandoned. The being in public and me being a lady was just a hindrance. You know how in cartoons they would lower the drumstick in mouth with head tilted back imagery. And out comes out the bone brand spankin clean. Jyeah.THAT would have been me. If it was just me and the wangs alone in the room. ; ) Obviously, I'm a chicken wing pervert, so let's just end it here....shall we????
(5)Heidi M.
This may be my favorite restaurant of all time! The food is ridiculously good. We usually order takeout, but sometimes eat at the restruant. In the summer they have outside seating. The chicken Sharma is great!!! All meals eaten in include lentil soup, garlic dip and pita bread. They also have a garlic sauce which is fabulous. I buy this by the bottle. Califlower appetizer is a favorite of ours. I highly recommend the farmers chicken wings, oh my gosh I could live on these. My husband loves the Dajaj Mishwi. Overall an excellent choice in dinning or takeout. You will always have leftovers. Only negative we experience is bad breath the next day - worth it!!! Nice wine election too!
(5)Jenny K.
So spoiled that this restaurant is a mere two blocks from where I live. I've gotten takeout twice so far - the chicken shawarma - and enjoyed every bite of food! First off, I have to admit that I thought it was a bit pricey. But then I realized they give you enough food for at least 3 people, score! The seasonings on the chicken are ridiculously good, as are the grilled veggies that accompany the chicken. The rice is excellent and everything is topped with a delicious Greek yogurt type sauce. There's a salad that accompanies the dish which I don't care for because it has a garlic dressing drizzled on it that hurts your tongue since it is so garlicky! And this is coming from someone who adores garlic! I am a huge fan and this restaurant has quickly become part of my go-to places for takeout. Maybe one day I'll get around to dining in, and that way I can try their lentil soup which I heard you only get when you're dining in versus getting takeout.
(5)Sumi A.
well, i just had to update this review because mediterranean kitchen just blew my mind again with one of the best plates of chicken shwarma EVER!! i also found out (thanks clark!) that they sell the garlic/vinegar dipping sauce by the bottle... and yes, i'm on my 2nd bottle and it's going quickly!! i'm now in the habit of buying an extra entree to go so that i can take food to lunch for the next 2-3 days... that's how big/delicious the portions are!! i can't tell you how much i love the mediterranean kitchen.... if only you guys were closer to SLU :(
(5)Kathleen C.
Pretty busy spot on the weekends for sure. I suggest making reservations. Food: Lamb Schwarma is not bad. I feel like it can feed 3 people. Portions are huge. The cauliflower appetizer is pretty good and worth getting. Falafel was just ok but it was also my first time trying it anywhere. Farmer's Dish (chicken wings) was ok too. The chicken was pretty tender and easy to pull off. The Lebanese salad was no bueno. It's just romaine lettuce and croutons or at least that's what it felt like. For 5 people, we got one appetizer, one salad, and two entrees. We had leftovers that could've fed one more person. Prices: Entrees are roughly in the higher teens. Appetizers are around $10. Prices are decent, especially for the portions. Overall, the food is just ok. Not a must try, but doesn't hurt if you want to.
(3)David J.
I love Mediterranean food having grown up and llved half my life there so in limbo moving to Bellevue area with work had to give this a try as so close by and such great reviews. But not not so impressed, service was Ok and pleasant but slow and impersonal, took ages to get a beer but did get pita and not so great in interim. Got my food which was good, nothing special though, nice enough but not to write home about so will probably be back but not for anything special.just as a baseline reasonable go to place. Lots of room to improve although they seem busy enough just to carry on as is instead od uo giving a better quality service.
(3)Damian W.
Stopped in on Saturday night and found it to be a busy place and figured that must be a good sign! We were seated after a brief wait at a table right next to the door; not my first pick but it was available and we were hungry. We were promptly served soup, pita bread, and a garlic & oil dipping sauce. That sauce was amazing, holy crap! We ordered spanakopita and lamb schwarma. When the spanakopita arrived I was surprised to see it laying on a GIANT helping of sour cream and ended up scraping most of it off and enjoying what was a delicious spanakopita Then our dinner arrived and I'm REALLY glad that we had decided to split something! This portion was HUGE! The plate was at least a foot long and six inches wide in an oval shape. The flavor of the dish wasn't quite what I expected but it was still very tasty; I was expecting spicy and found a very mild combination of flavors. The awkward part of our experience was the space itself. Getting the table right next to the door wasn't a thrill, but we didn't feel like waiting. The table was so close to the door that if more than two people were waiting to be seated they may as well have pulled up a chair and joined us! I did not order booty with my pita, but thanks anyway! Those who got the clue and waited outside, we all appreciated that... once they figured out they shouldn't be holding the door open and cooling off the whole place! We really enjoyed the food but the space was so awkward that we will not be going back. Glad we noticed a bunch of dinner delivery services and take out options.
(2)Mary K.
If you want to friend-zone your date, this is where you bring them. The garlic here is so pungently raw that you will be guaranteed a sans-makeout date. Other than that, great for families, large groups, couples who have been together for years and can mutually agree that this restaurant should come with "fat pants" dress code. The customary lentil soup and pita with garlic dipping sauce was delicious, so was the falafel, shawarma and the kabobs. Actually, to tell you the truth, I was kind of mad when I saw my shawarma plate. Yes, Mad. I'm a petite sized girl and the weight and amount of food on this plate was equivalent to the mass of me. Where was my fair warning on their gargantuan serving size? But again, quality food. Hosts/servers/owners are really accommodating.
(4)Loraine S.
Cozy atmosphere. Was crowded on a week night. It was ok as the service was impeccable. I didn't think I liked lentil soup but this was as Delish as it gets. Made even better as its served as a starter on the house. The garlic pita dipping sauce is so good I wanted to buy a jar to bring home! For appy, the spanakopita.... Flaky light and full of flavor! Also definitely don't miss the baklava! Worth every calorie! Portions are huge so be sure to come hungry. I'm dreaming of the lamb shwarma. Can't wait to visit again!!
(5)N V.
I usually go to Garlic Crush and was expecting something similar but I was pleasantly surprised by med kitchen. This is a small place but the service is so welcoming that you get comfortable right when you enter. They have complementary soup and pita with sauce, perfect way to start! We ordered two vegetarian dishes, pina kopita (absolute love) and stuffed grape leaves (this was was the first time I tried it and enjoyed it).I even ended up getting more pita. The portions are generous that you could easily have a second meal with that. I'll definitely be returning.
(4)George M.
I ate here with my wife, coworker and his wife. The restaurant is small but even without a reservation they were quick to get us a table set up. We started with the Mezza Tray (the Baba Kanouj was perfect) and Zahrah. I had the Fool Moudamas and my wife had the Samaki Harrah. I don't remember what my friends are but I do know they both enjoyed their dishes. My wife and I love Mediterranean food and this place is one of the better places we've eaten. We look forward to the next time we eat at this restaurant.
(5)Omar S.
I had shish touk & Lamb plates. Too much rice and garlic and not enough meat, plus its overpriced. It doesn't have the the authentic mediterranean hot souce (Shatta) that Garlic Crush has. Service wise i will give it 6/10. Garlic Crush across the street is waaay much better.
(2)Al Y.
NOT as good as the one in Kirkland. I ordered the Algerian Chicken and not only received no hummus, but the chicken was flavor-less and the rice was not as tasty as the other location in Kirkland.
(3)Raymond C.
Mmm, meat and rice. Essentially that's what everything boils down to. Every cuisine has their own version: teriyaki chicken and rice, vietnamese pork and rice, or beef tongue/intestines and rice (oh, that's just me). And Mediterranean Kitchen does their version pretty well. I got the beef kabobs and the meat was nicely flavored and tender. The meat and onions could've used a bit more char, but I like my food (and women) darker than normal. Nah mean?! The rice was a little bland, but it worked well with the beef. I beasted on like six pitas while waiting for the food, but I still had room to polish off my order. The portions are definitely larger than average, but not a guaranteed two meals in one... at least not for a manly man-sized hunger. Extra kudos for the complimentary soup, pita, and dip. I'll definitely be back to try the beef shawarma, but I'll probably do so at lunch.
(4)Kristy S.
I like this place, my boyfriend says it is his "favorite restaturant in downtown Bellevue for the price." Crowded all the time which is a good sign unless you don't want to wait. Once you sit down however, the food appears quickly. Dinners come with soup and pita. We like to start with the ZAHRAH appetizer: Cauliflower deep-fried, topped with tahini sauce. Garnished with green onions, raddish, fresh crushed min - $7.95. Or, try the Mezza Tray: An assortment of Middle Eastern appetizers including Hummus, Baba Kanouj, Labnie, Tabouley, Zahrah, olives, tomatoes and cucumbers - 15.95. For dinner, I like the Algerian Chicken: Charbroiled chicken breast topped with sauteed vegetables and a special tomato sauce. Garnished with cilantro, oregano and seasoned garbanzo beans. I get it with thigh meat because it is juicier. And I ask for the tahini sauce that things are usually over-swimming in here on the side or not a all. This dish has so much going on it doesn't need any more flavors - $14.95 My boyfriend really like the Falafil made of ground garbanzo beans mixed with parsley, onions, garlic and spices. Deep-fried and served on a bed of lettuce with green onions, radish, cucumbers and tomatoes and topped with tahini sauce. Dessert - don't miss the Baklava! Some of the best I have had. Why a three? The over-seasoning kills me somethings and the bathrooms are down right nasty. Service is super friendly. We will be back!
(3)Josh C.
You hungry? You want Mediterranean food? K good. You've found the place to go. I love this restaurant. Ever since my momma came home with her leftovers of Lamb Shwarma, I've been addicted. It's ALWAYS crowded and very popular, especially at lunch and dinner times. But I'll be honest, if I want a delicious, well portioned meal, I'll be coming here. The atmosphere is nice. At nights, it's a getaway from the Bellevue life outside. It's dark and cozy, can have lots of people, but the service makes you feel like you're their #1 customer. The food is EXCELLENT. Perfectly cooked, tender meats surrounded by fresh vegetables with plenty of garlic, all over delicious rice. Plus, they give you pita bread which is always nice to eat. You get what you pay for and plenty more. I could order ONE order of shwarma, eat my share, come home, and give my sister some, and there'd still be some left for mom. They give you more than enough. It's a great leftover food to have too, if you're looking for a lunch for the next day as well. Go here. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Dan S.
*Fast *Furious *Flavors *FFF *Wow,.
(5)Shoku U.
I like Mediterranean Kitchen for their quality of food, a large portion of meals relative to the price, and they serve the meal quickly after ordering. The place is always busy so expect to wait if you get there during the busy hours. BUT it's definitely worth a wait. Great food and you'll be satisfied.
(5)Jesse H.
The portions are huge and delicious. I would have given 5 stars if they didn't charge a split fee for sharing entrees. My wife and I usually carry out so we can share one if the following; CHICKEN SHAWARMA $15.95 Marinated strips of chicken breast in red wine vinegar, spices and garlic. Grilled with onions, green onions, red cabbage and tomatoes, served with tahini sauce. DAJAJ MISHWI $15.95 Charbroiled boneless, skinless chicken thighs marinated in spices, served with our house garlic sauce. Either way you can't go wrong when you select a chicken entree!
(4)Boaz R.
Great service, amazing food, very low prices. When are you going to open a place around Palo Alto, CA? :-)
(5)Elaina M.
Delicious! Huge servings! You will not leave here hungry. They have a very simple menu, but lots of authentic choices. Had the meat sampler with ground lamb, beef, and chicken. LOVED the lamb and the chicken! Spanakopita was a bit greasy however. Complimentary pita bread with garlicy vinegrate was delicious! Great service. Will definitely return!
(5)Jim W.
Great food-I had the Algerian Chicken. Succulent chicken, basmati rice, onions, tomatoes and chickpeas. Generous servings, and started off with savory lentil soup. I will be coming back!
(4)Maria S.
I have been going here for two decades, and that's saying something since I am only 25. I really, really love this place. Food The portions are enormous; I have yet to eat with anyone who leaves hungry. If you like garlic (who doesn't?) you will love this place. When you are seated they bring out a small bowl of lentil soup for everyone, which is OK, and pita bread with a garlicky oil dip. I usually order a glass of the Moroccan wine along with an order of Zahrah for the table (fried cauliflower with garlic sauce, $8). I don't even like cauliflower and I will fight anyone off for the last bite! My favorite entree is the Shish Tawook ($16), my Dad loves the Farmer's Chicken ($17), and my partner loves the Dajaj Mishwi ($15), which are all 3 pretty similar dishes of spiced chicken (lemon, garlic, herbs, etc.) on a bed of yellow rice with a delicious, super-garlicky sauce drizzled on top. The difference is mainly in the type of chicken--breast, wings, thighs. I love, love, love garlic so I always ask for some extra garlic sauce on mine--sooo good! Make sure you are eating with everyone you plan on hanging out with that night as your breath will not be pleasant after dinner. It is worth it though, trust me! You could probably get away with splitting an entree because of the seriously ginormous servings, but why deprive yourself of leftovers? I would not recommend the Chicken Noodle, as it is pretty bland. Atmosphere Don't be fooled by the strip mall exterior! Inside there are nice tablecloths and a cozy vibe. Still, it's maybe not the best "first date" kind of place, since you WILL smell like garlic after. Service Servers are friendly although sometimes they get busy and it takes a while to hear from them again. For the same reason, I would recommend getting reservations for a large party or coming a bit early on weekend night.
(5)Roger M.
This place is yum! Our favorite is the chicken shwarma, baba ganoush, hummus and the brown lentil soup. The food is very flavorful though a bit oily. The place is very hygienic and the service is quick and amicable.
(4)Brad S.
I ate here for the first time tonight and I was excited to go home and write the review. My wife and I loved it. My wife loved the garlic vinaigrette they brought to the table with pita. I think she called it garlic crack. I had the lamb shawarma which was pretty good, nothing to jump up and down about. My wife got the shish tawook which was so so so good. mmmm my mouth is watering just thinking about it. If we go again, I think we will both order that and take leftovers. If you go there, you must try the shish tawook!
(4)Sonia C.
I was disappointed by this place after reading all the great Yelp reviews. My companion & I split the grape leaves and the chicken schwarma and found both dishes pretty bad. The grape leaves had obviously been nuked in the microwave (and for too long), leaving them piping hot but mushy. They were also so sour that neither of us could eat more than one. The chicken tasted better as it had a nice smoky grill flavor but it was also extremely dry. Portions are ridiculously large and there was no way we could finish what we ordered. After the lackluster showing of the appetizer and entree, we had no desire to try their desserts. Won't be back!
(2)Haydar K.
Awesome food at awesome height! When you order any type of dish, you will see that it is almost "food for two". Prices are reasonable for the location and amount of food you get. The taste: Simply amazing. I admit, I am not considered as a regular at all levels. I stop by for certain occasions every once in a while. However, I never complained that the food taste was different than any other times. I certainly recommend for weekend gatherings, though I found out during the week (Mon-Wed) is more quiet. Perhaps, it is more relaxed environment to my taste. Keep up the good work guys! Thank you.
(5)Ivan B.
This is one our favorite restaurants. It is cozy but comfortable, on a busy street yet nice area. The food is outstanding, the combination of flavors on the sauces and the portions make it not only a great deal but a delicious one. I always order the Lamb Couscous, I should try something else soon, and my wife's favorite is the Chicken Shawarma. The service is fast, cordial and professional.
(5)Shady T.
I am Egyptian And the food here is the best, actually better than home. Love it
(5)Carla J.
Lunch with Mr. and fantastic server Patrick. Me: I get there 1st (I am the smarter driver, parker & finder of spot, OH, and orderer, I know my Mr. and order what he wants) The good thing about getting there 1st is I GET TO SELECT THE APPETIZER!! Starter/Appetizer: Zarah.. fried cauliflower with a beautiful garlic sauce and fresh sweet basil leaves and veggie garnish. Mr: Farmers Dish: Wings, marinated and charbroiled with fab garlic sauce. Me: Lamb Kabob. You get warm pita bread and delcious garlic dipping sauce and warm red lentil soup. ItWasSoWonderfulMyHusbandThatCallsMePegWantsToDrivÂeFromKentToBellevueANYTIMEwe HaveExtraCashToSpendToEaThereWeBothLovedIt!!!
(5)Monica C.
This place is small and intimate, but the service is attentive and kind and the food is out of this world. The Farmer's Dish might be one of the best items I have had. The combination of flavors and spices is mouth watering and pairs perfectly with the chicken that is crispy on the outside yet falls off the bone and is moist on the inside. The prices are more than fair for the generous portions and home cooked creations. I will be back again. This week. Maybe even for dinner.
(5)Mydao H.
Oh Em Gee this is Yummy! Picked up some SHISH TAWOOK $14.95, Charbroiled chicken breast tenderloin marinated in garlic, lemon juice, herbs and spices and a side salad TO GO. It was my first time trying this place. Brought it back home to my place on First Hill and it was still nice and warm. The hummus was probably the best I have ever tasted. The chicken was very flavorful and moist. It came with A LOT of rice, and it was really really good. One order fed two grown adults with big appetites and we even had left overs. It's been several hours and even after flossing, 30 seconds of gargling with Listerine, and brushing my teeth, I can still taste the garlic in my mouth. Sexy.
(5)Bryan L.
This place was slamming. Was visiting on business and just stopped in for a quick bite. Was delicious so much food and so well prepared.
(5)Darya S.
Very good food. Large portions. A lot of garlic, in everything. I wish they also had tzatziki sauce, not just garlic sauce.
(4)Rena S.
Absolutely wonderful food! I had the lamb shawarma. Huge portions. The strips of lamb were tender juicy and deliciously seasoned. The vegetables and rice were so flavorful. Best shawarma, ever! I would eat there every day if I lived closer....
(5)Wilson U.
What can I say about this place in one word...Shawarma. It looks small on the outside and it is actually small on the inside. Crowds can develop and then the tables near the door suffer from the people standing and waiting. So if you can, try to get a table away from the door and the last time I tried to make reservations, they only do it for groups of 4 or more otherwise it is first come first serve. The service is friendly and efficient. I've eaten several times at the place. Once for lunch and few times for dinner. Parking around it is found on the street and could be hard to get if you want to park right next to the restaurant. Back to the food... Chicken shawarma, Lamb shawarma, Beef shawarma, combination kabob have all been what I've tried in the past visits. You get a very HEALTHY portion of food so try not to fill up on the pita bread and hummus they give you before the meal. The flavor has the standard mediterranean spices including garlic flavor. I happen to love garlic and the mix of flavors and would expect if you are eating here that you know there will be garlic. The meats were flavorful. Oh and you might want to bring some breath mints if you are going to be out the rest of the night or the safeway across the way would be a good place to pick some mints up.
(4)Adria M.
WOW! I am so amazed. Not only did they serve me lentil soup while I waited for my takeout order, but when I finally got my lunch it was SO amazing. There was a ton of flavor, and not overwhelming. I wanted to keep eating, but there's sooo much. I can't wait to go back. Seriously, everyday of my life. (K, maybe not.)
(5)Ambre C.
Bad experience tonight. Had a question on a dinner item but chose two appetizers instead. When they brought me two dinners and I exclaimed that was not what I'd ordered or pointed to on the menu, the mgr told me that they don't allow people to only order appetizers. ?! He said he'd only charge me for appetizers, but loudly enough to embarrass me in the restaurant. And no one asked me if I'd like tea or anything other than water or dessert. Bummer, thought I'd found a good spot. My appetite was ruined by the whole restaurant being in on "my" mistake.
(2)Katie K.
This place blew me away with their hospitality and quality of cuisine. I had the lamb kebabs with rice and it was delicious. The portion was also huge. They could charge double for the size and quality. I hope to get to return soon.
(5)R. F.
I tried this place while in Seattle from the SF Bay Area. Back home we do not have a lot of good options for this kind of food, so the reviews here made me hopeful. Food from this region should be clean, bright and a delight. Mediterranean Kitchen offers none of that. I ordered the chicken shwarma, which should be a straightforward dish with chicken, rice, vegetables. What came to the table was an obscene plate loaded with rice vegetables, and chicken slathered in yogurt sauce. Individually, each component of the dish provided disappointment enough to make the dish a failure. The combined effort of failure led to a mostly uneaten plate. Let us start from the bottom up. The rice had the basic industrial yellow of prepared rice that had not been prepared recently. It clumped together and had no resemblance to having once been a grain. The vegetables were a swirl of uninspired assaults on the taste buds. Only the cabbage tasted like cabbage. Green onions, regular onions, and whatever else may have been there did not taste like themselves, but rather took on the melange of competing flavors. The texture of the vegetables, too, had a consistency that rendered them all into the same whatever it was. The chicken: an inferior grade of chicken came to my plate. If the restaurant actually is using a quality chicken, then the restaurant needs to change suppliers; and it certainly needs to change its treatment of the meat. This chicken had been marinated with some sort of pepper sauce that provided only the sensation of pepper and none of the taste. On the rare chance when one could taste the chicken, the taste was neither fresh or clean. The yogurt slathering could have helped bring pop the dish and bring some cleansing flavor to the dish, lending it some brightness on the top of the hot mess underneath it. As in all the other ingredients of the dish, the yogurt was poor quality. A good yogurt is tangy and fresh and joy to add to the meal. Not this slathering: it was sour and shot through with too much garlic and whatever else they did to it. A little bit of good olive oil, a judicious squeeze of a lemon, and good yogurt could have helped. Having the chicken marinated by some one who gave a tinker's dang about what was happening to the chicken would have helped. Leaving the vegetables as vegetables would have helped. Rice that tasted like rice instead of cardboard box that housed it would have helped. None of these things happened, so my plate went back to the kitchen over 2/3 uneaten. I looked around at what others were being served, and it looked no different. The servings are big, but if that is the most important factor, consider the Claim Jumper (if only for the variety and the 1 foot high slabs of cake). On any other basis, this place cannot be recommended and is not a good value.
(1)Teri Y.
The food was very delicious. The prices were a bit steep, but not so bad. Would eat here again.
(4)Sarah D.
Thank You Yelpers! I have found my new favorite restaurant! If you are reading this and it isn't midnight then you need to get in your car and start driving to Mediterranean Kitchen immediately! The portions are enormous, so let me warn you up front to avoid the bread basket. The free soup is too amazing to pass up, however, We have had all kinds of amazing dishes here. As a vegetarian, my faves are the felafel and the spanakopita. My hubby said that it was the best chicken he has ever had anywhere. Suffice it to say, this place is amazing no matter how you look at it.
(5)Alex M.
I've been a fan of this restaurant for years and they deserve a review for taking care of my craving for Mediterranean/Lebanese style cuisine. The restaurant looks like a good place for a nice intimate dinner date. Just make sure that your significant other enjoys garlic infused foods because chances are you'll both leave with the aftertaste of their vinegar and garlic sauce for hours to come. That being said, whether you're there with friends or family, Mediterranean Kitchen offers a variety of dishes to satisfy appetites for this regional cuisine. This is also a restaurant that maintains high standards in quality, consistency of taste, and service. Each table will be welcomed with complimentary lentil soup, pita bread, and oil/vinaigrette sauce. I'm unsure of whether their lentil soup is considered good as it's a soup that I haven't had anywhere else. But it is, to me, the least impressive part of the overall meal as my taste buds tell me it's just too bland. The warm pita bread is for dipping into their oil/vinaigrette sauce. This is also a bit plain, but the experience is rescued by the menu appetizers and entrees. For people looking to start somewhere, here are some recommended dishes for your consideration: Appetizers * stuffed grape leaves - an incredible taste with its melange of rice, onions, and spices. * baba kanouj - my wife likes eggplant dishes and I confess to avoiding them. But I gave this dish a chance and the taste was surprisingly good. The spices and sauce balanced out the flavor and texture of the eggplant. I ended up actually eating a good portion of the eggplant rather than simply partaking of a single piece. Entrees (portions are generous) * shawarma - choice of lamb, chicken, or beef. They are all good and I particularly enjoyed the lamb shawarma. * dajaj mishwi - this boneless chicken dish is incredibly delicious and features their famous house garlic sauce. Highly suggested! * farmer's dish - tastes similar to the dajaj mishwi. Uses plenty of bone-in chicken wings. Check this place out and start slow on the house garlic sauce. Most garlic lovers will find it instantly addictive!
(4)Stephanie W.
What's interesting is there is a Mediterranean cafe right across the street. The place is a little small...the people are super nice, the portions are GIANORMOUSLY HUGE...and packed with flavor and garlic! Take a mint or two...or Listerine mouthwash afterwards. It was a decent experience!
(2)Hemanth B.
Awesome and Awesome !
(4)K V.
Delicious. Had the combo platter. Flavorful. Loved it.
(5)Janie K.
Great service, great food, good ambiance. I had the lamb kabob, which was absolutely delicious. My husband had the lamb shawarma, which was also great, but we both liked the kabob better - probably because we like grilled meat. Dinner comes with lentil soup that is very flavorful and pita with a garlicky dipping sauce, which was delicious. The food was very flavorful and fresh, without being spicy. The portions are more than generous and we're looking forward to leftovers for lunch
(5)Eric H.
Simply my favorite restaurant on the east side. I have eaten every item on the menu and can't say enough positive things about this place. Be warned, garlic is involved. Copious amounts of garlic. You simply can't go wrong.
(5)Eugene O.
A brilliant place to get your Mediterranean fix. The food was excellent, and the portions were huge. They use a few authentic vegetables in their salads. The falafel is easily some of the best I've had, and their beef kabob is tender, juicy and flavorful. The lentil soup is also hearty and a great compliment to their dinners. Service is quick, friendly and very attentive. They don't allow your water to go unfilled for more than a couple of minutes, which is always the test of a good wait staff. I sat outside for my first visit, as it was just dying hot inside. My only gripe is that they don't have air conditioning, so that's something to keep in mind when it's 85 degrees outside. I'm definitely a fan and will come back.
(4)Shari X.
The place is a bit small, but in the homey intimate sort of way. The lighting is dim, and the decor is all about Mediterranean. Really sets the mood for eating Mediterranean food. Came with a friend who was a huge fan of middle eastern food. We found the whole experience a little too garlic-y. The pita bread and dip was delicious, but I couldn't take that much garlic. The hummus that came with my dish was also too garlic-y. The Combination Kabob (Kafta Kabob, Shish Tawook and Lamb Kabob) was really well cooked. I really enjoyed eating the different tastes of everything. Service was great. The food portions are massive. (I might literally be eating it for the next week.)
(4)Ika M.
HOLY PORTIONS. Please save yourself from unimaginable disease and order a plate to share or something... There's so much dressing/mayonnaise? on everything that it's bound to fill you up. The service is good and there's parking about. Overall, solid dining experience.
(3)Jen A.
Based on the one time I came here, I'm surprised by such glowing reviews. I ordered the combination lunch plate. The meats (chicken, beef, and a scant amount of lamb) were extremely dry. The pita they give you is store-bought, which, while I understand, it's always a disappointment. They also give you "thei signature garlic sauce" which just tastes like garlicky salad dressing. Yes, the portions are generous and you do get the pita and soup with your meal, but I was underwhelmed.
(2)Sandy L.
Great lunch place, huge portion (you definitely need to go box) reasonable price and good taste considering how much you paid.
(4)Nelson J.
This place is GREAT. I ordered the charbroiled chicken, which was delicious and came in a HUGE portion. Be SURE to get the Lebanese yogurt. My advice is to: Come here & To come EARLY. We got there on Saturday around 4:30 when they opened and by 5 the small dining room was completely packed out. They were very very busy but the service was still very good.
(5)Sunny K.
sooooooooooooo muchhhhhhhhhhhhhh foooooooooooooood!!! and it's good. yay.
(4)Naseef C.
Let me make one thing clear to you, you will NOT be able to finish your food here. I DARE you to try, although I hold no responsibility if you get sick... This is by far the best Mediterranean place I have been to. They start you off with a fabulous complimentary pita bread/salad/soup which we are often licking off our fingers by the end. Their main dishes are hugeee, usually you can have 3-4 meals out of just one dish. The food is very garlicy and very yummy. The lamb shwarma is very very good, so are the kabobs. If you want to try something a little different, try their farmers dish and you will not be disappointed! The only problem is there is no easy way to eat wings at a fine restaurant but they know this and will bring you wet towels! The ambiance at this place is very good, it is small and cozy, although maybe a little too small. I gets crowded and you barely have any elbow room. On weekends be prepared for a line out the door. The prices are somewhat high, until you consider you are getting 3-4 meals out of this in which case the prices are really quite low! The only thing I didn't really like is they have a split plate charge so instead of sharing your food, you are better off ordering separately and taking your leftovers home for another meal. Everyone really needs to try this place out at least once and you will probably be back!
(5)Ryan M.
Something has to be said about how much I love garlic, onions, mediterranean and middle eastern spices with savory yogurt. It goes good with anything! I was told that this was Lebanese. I go here for lunch. There has never been a wait during lunch. Never been here for a dinner service. Lunch service was very fast even though it was busy and 3/4 of the all the seats were in use. In and out within 1 hour. I've had their Chicken (10.95 / 15.50 for dinner!) and also their Lamb (12.95 / 18.95 for dinner!) Shawarma. The Chicken Shawarma is Marinated strips of chicken breast in red wine vinegar, spices and garlic. Grilled with onions, green onions, red cabbage and tomatoes, served with tahini sauce. The Lamb version is Lamb tenderloin marinated in a mixture of Mediterranean spices cooked with onions, green onions, red cabbage and tomatoes, served with tahini sauce. Portion size is rediculous, but you get your money's worth. Its two meals for me. At least three if you are eating the "correct" portions. Definately beats going to a Gyro place. That being said, it seems the dinner menu is significantly pricier. Can't tell you if their portions are different since I've never been here for dinner. Each meal is served with soup, rice & pita bread. I love the pita bread and the sauce you dip it in. The soup is a 3.5 out of 5. Environment: A little dark, a little loud when very busy, efficient servers. Very nice waiters but can take some time if very busy. My only other issue is the location and parking situation is not the most convenient. Mostly have to use street parking unless you score one in the lot behind the building.
(4)Cosmic B.
MUST LOVE GARLIC - I mean love as in being willing to clear your calendar for the next 1-2 days after a meal here. All this deliciousness comes at an interesting price - moderate/great deal monetarily (=great $$ value), but you become a funk factory for up to 48hrs... BAM! GARLIC BREATH. PLADOW! GARLIC SWEAT. ZAM! GARLIC B.O. Worth it? YES. The flavors are outrageous and delicious. Service is quick and clean. Tip - take your boy/girl friend, partner, etc. with you -- that way you can stand to be around each other and no messy break-ups.
(4)Ronen B.
Too much garlic. Too much lemon. Too little attention to quality, freshness, authentic seasoning and grilling. Huge portions that constitute mainly of rice don't cover for the lack of quality. My wife and I are from the middle-east and know how this food should taste like. The reviews looked great and we really wanted to love this place. But, the food was just bad. The Chicken Shawarma was very dry. The Kabob had a funny taste and overwhelming seasoning and was dry as well. They both tasted as if they were microwaved and not freshly grilled. Most of the portion remained untouched. The hummus was way too sour. The rice, which constituted the major part of the huge portion was good although a bit too oily. Couldn't help thinking that this place will be a great candidate for "Kitchen Nightmares".
(1)Jens J.
Okay, Penny and I are those inpertinent kids in the parade crowd heckling the emperor because he doesn't have any clothes on. The Yeeps in the crowd are oohing and ahhing at his threads. In this case, the emperor's new clothes are the Kibby appetizer (drowning in a sea of yogurt), the lamb shawarma and the beef noodles. It's also the kookie one-way window that covers the entire far side of the room and the inexplicable covering with drapes the windows facing the street (nice grotto you have here, folks). There wasn't really much difference between the shawarma and noodle dishes. One had rice and the other had pasta. Both dishes had overwhelming and harsh spices. The meat pieces were tough and dry. And on both dishes they plopped a ton of yogurt and parsley, making a mushy mess. We couldn't eat our dishes. We had them box them up and on our way out we dropped our dinners in the dumpster out back. They were that bad. Maybe because of the line that was growing at the door,the waiter pressed us to sign our tab, apparantly to get us out to seat other customers. P.T. Barnum really knew what he was talking about. I feel a bit burned by all the Yeeps that gave such high marks to the Mediterranean Kitchen. That's why we came here in the first place! You guys!
(2)Chris D.
PROS: Food is excellent, Portion sizes are very large, there is plenty of variety and the wait time from ordering to dropping it off at your table is very reasonable. CONS: Always crowded so you always have to wait without reservations, and sometimes you have to wait even with reservations (although only a few minutes). It is small with poor sound dampening qualities, so it is gets loud
(5)Lavinder S.
This place is my go to spot, when i am very hungry and can eat more than 1 plate of yummy food. My favorite is farmer's dish, which is full of delicious chicken wings on top of rice. Servers are nice and friendly and ambience is warm too. I have been here numerous times and like the consistency in which food is prepared and it tastes.
(4)Diana C.
Flavorful food and good prices. A little hard to find, and the actual restaurant is small, but the staff is nice and food is totally worth it. Been here a few times, and always find their food to be consistently good. Will be back for sure. Big portions and yummy food for not much money make for a great day!
(4)Vlad K.
Every time i came in here the food was good, fresh and they gave big portions.
(4)Shoshana K.
huge portions - prices seem a little high until you see how much food you get. we did not find it overly garlic-y like some other reviewers, i thought it was seasoned well. not necessarily authentic med/mid east food, but it was delicious. for some reason my mom did not like the leftovers as much the second day as the night we dined in. i'm sure a contributing factor to the enjoyment level the second day was the fact that we could not heat up the leftovers since we were staying in a hotel and only had a fridge. ordered the lamb shanks and the shrimp seafood. the shrimp are EXCELLENT. the lamb was also good, but comes with HUGE vegitables, a little too much. they were crowded by the time we left, and we got there close to when they started dinner service. wait staff was very nice. i really like how this was a non franchised restaurant in a neighborhood of chain eateries (cheesecake factory, red robin, wendys, etc). nice to support the more original little guys. at first i thought i wanted to try garlic crush across the street, but when i walked by this place and saw all the zagat reviews i decided we should try this place instead. garlic crush i think is supposed to be good also...however all i know is the food here was on point. delicious and plentiful.
(3)Zachary Sam Z.
So I'm a newbie when it comes to interviewing potential hires at work, but I have to say I learned two valuable lessons about interviewing today. ONE: Getting in an accident on the way back from lunch is bad. Thankfully I missed the car in front of me... but just by thaaaat much. Close call. TWO: When you have $40 sanctioned by HR for a lunch for two, you should definitely go to Mediterranean Kitchen. (Even if you don't have $40 for a lunch for two, you should still come here.) The service is prompt and friendly. Within moments of being seated, we had water, soup, and warm pita bread at the table. I don't know the name of the soup, nor if it rotates from day to day... this felt like a cross between a lentil soup and split pea, and it was definitely tasty. The pita bread was warm, and was served with a tasty vinaigrette for dipping. I had been eying the Farmer's Dish, because it was their specialty (and I love wings), but I'm glad the waiter mentioned the dish would take an extra 15 minutes or so. Can't afford it on an interview time table! So I'll get it next time. Instead, I opted for the Dajaj Mishwi at the recommendation of the server, because it uses a similar sauce. And it was really good - the garlic sauce had a really unique flavor that I couldn't get enough of. Actually, I take it back - I COULD get enough, because the plate was insanely large. A huge pile of rice with tons of chicken on top, and hummus (?) on the side. I came to the restaurant hungry, and still left with half of my meal in a to go container. All up, you're looking at $15 including tax and tip, which is a pretty nice price for what you're getting. It's a bit of a trek from Microsoft, but it's totally worth it for a lunch getaway. BTW, if you're trying to find this place based on the picture up above, take note that the awning is really more dark blue than teal. Not sure if the awning has changed or if the lighting was weird in that picture. There are plenty of teal awnings in the area, but only one Mediterranean Kitchen!
(5)Jace D.
The patio needs an upgrade, they could make it super nice with better tables and lighting. On the other hand, maybe the weather isn't good enough to warrant?? I'm a tourist. On the food side, I loved the garlic goop served with pita. I was also able to order off of the appetizer menu even though it says you can't. That would have been annoying and cost a star. Lucky for me they made an exception - the customer is always right folks!. Service was pretty decent and the meza plate was scrumptious! Oh, the thing that did annoy was that when they brought my pint of beer there were a few inches missing off the top. That always bums me out. If you want to sell me a pint, serve me a pint... Would return, but too many other options around here to try! Nice area!
(4)Nick V.
Mmmmmm. You haven't been yet? You must go! Expect to reek of garlic the remainder of the evening. Be prepared! Excellent dishes, with ginormous portions that are even better the next day. Don't forget the mint tea! Unlimited refills. I got inspired by their version of mint tea and made my own at home today...with vodka. =)
(4)Peter H.
Had the chicken shawarma and it was absolutely fantastic! Lentil soup (included) had an interesting, aromatic flavor but was nothing special. As others have mentioned the portions are HUGE- you can get 2 and maybe even 3 meals out of it. Highly recommended.
(5)Paul M.
Very good! Went here with a co-worker for dinner and we both enjoyed our meals quite a bit. The dining room was pretty empty on a weeknight, surprisingly, but the service was very good. I had a chicken shawarma plate which was perhaps the biggest plate of food I've seen. Maybe ever. It was piled high, hot and fresh, with juicy and well-spiced chicken, great rice, and a lovely assortment of vegetables. It was easily three meals' worth of food for me. Hit the spot. Pricing is not bad considering quantity. Overall, I liked Mediterranean Kitchen and will likely go back.
(4)Kimmy C.
I am in garlic heaven. Oh boy... if you do come here make sure you bring mints. STRONG mints and you might need to eat all 10 mints all at once. If you come here with a date, share your mints too. Actually, just share your mints with all your neighboring tables. They serve you soup and pita bread with a garlic dip in the beginning. I almost thought about licking the entire plate because it was so good. I decided to refrain myself from embarrassing the other people I was with. Probably a smart move. We ordered 3 dishes and shared among 4 people. We probably make it through 1/3 of the food and had tons of leftovers. I think if I had a dish, I'd be eating it for days. We had the spanikopita, chicken noodle dish, and another chicken dish which is their most popular item on the menu. I can't remember the name. Our server was actually quite funny. He brought our plates over and then said "When you're done, we're going to bring the other half of the meal." My jaw dropped because I thought he was serious. I'm glad there was no other half of a meal. Tip #1: make reservations Tip #2: bring mints Tip #3: share your mints Tip #4: take home leftovers and reheat Tip #5: find your mints and eat more mints.
(5)Dennis D.
Great sitdown lunch place, small and intimate but right on a lively bustling street, and very close to Bell Square Mall. Their spicy vinaigrette sauce with pita bread is incredible, and the falafel is basic and reliable.
(4)J T.
I LOVE this restaurant. All the food I've tried here is amazing, so good that I recommend you make reservations before going because there is almost always a wait. Their chicken shawarma is the best I've ever had. My parents used to go here years ago when it was in Seattle on Roy Street, luckily, the food at this location is just as amazing. You can also buy bottles of their garlic sauce and dressing!
(5)Eunice M.
I would come back here in a heartbeat! Food: I ordered Dajaj Mishwi which is a rice dish with charbroiled chicken thighs served with their house garlic sauce and a side of hummus with lots of herbs sprinkled all over. The chicken was so tender and juicy - the hummus was rich and thick - the rice was cooked and flavored perfectly. Service: The staff members were so friendly and they gave good suggestions. Location/accessibility: This place is easy to spot on NE 124th St. It shares a pretty big parking lot with its neighbor businesses, so parking shouldn't be an issue. Price: Their entrees range from $14~18. Huge portions... You get two meals out of each entree. This place is a deal.
(5)Jorene S.
This place is awesome. The flavor explosions with every bite keep me coming back for more. The space is small and usually packed which can slow the kitchen down at times. On the other hand the servers are friendly and are constantly zipping around to move things along. Large portions for the price...I usually get two whole meals out of the one or a few small ones! YUMMMMMMMMMMM
(4)Kazar L.
Why did the foodies cross the road? To get to the other Mediterranean restaurant!.......well I tried. If you ever find $20 on the street and want the same food served at Garlic Crush, but with great table service, better appetizers, and more selection, this is the place for you. After a hard days work, and craving something doused in tzatziki sauce, Mediterranean Kitchen came to mind. We were promptly seated and given some great appetizers in the form of lentil soup and naan bread. While the bread was pretty standard, the lentil soup was definitely a surprise. The entree's themselves were just as everyone else had described: enormous! The lamb was just a bit tough, but the crispy spanakopita ranked among the best that I've had to date(only twice before). The service was fast and friendly, there was more than enough to have a midnight snack, but seeing as how I was only AS impressed with the food as I was with Garlic Crush, I could only justify the +$5 price per dish if you were looking for a restaurant-style dining experience along with your meal. Otherwise, if food is your only priority, you can cut out the extra fluff by walking across the street. Service: 4/5 decor: 3/5 Food: 4/5 TL; DR If you want to show a date you have Shawarma swag, this is a good place to go.
(4)Shieng L.
As is typical of small quaint restaurants, their restroom was a residential style bathroom -- a dreadful pain of rejection ran through my bowels when I pushed the door only to find that it was locked. But as I moped back to my seat, the customer using the restroom had finished and it was my turn. The restroom was fairly large, about 10' x 9' with a standing urinal -- but this was not just a restroom, it was also a place of storage. There was a vacuum and other supplies stowed against the left side wall. I'm all for efficiency, so that's all cool by me. The reason why I had to give this restroom two stars was due to the poor engineering effort that went into the bathroom tissue holder. The design had three rectangular, closed ended tubes welded at an adequate distance apart to hold the toilet paper; however, there was no end piece to stop the toilet paper from falling off of the rack and rolling around on the dirty bathroom floor! The distance from the toilet was close enough so that it is very easy for a clumsy elbow or awkward turn while gathering toilet paper to lose the roll. If you are reading this, please do yourself a favor and fold the toilet paper with the inside facing out to avoid using the most-likely-soiled outside. ...and the food was pretty decent.
(2)Food Physicist D.
My fellow Yelpers were "spot on" with this little gem. The cuisine is intoxicating! What an authentic, delectable mediterranean experience. From the soup, to the naan with the delicous dipping garlic sauce, to the Lamb Sharwama and the Seafood Coucous. Every bite was an amazing treat. and yes.... the place is small.... we arrived at 5:00 on a Wednesday night and there were just a few tables left. By 6:00, there was a line gathering at the door. The irony is that the portions are so HUGE, that it would take you alll night to finish or to even be able to get out of your seat. I'm not sure why the owner chose the "large portions / small restaurant" combo, but it doesn't matter. We are hooked and we will be back.
(4)Katie V.
Soooo much garlic. Sooooo good! This place is great for dining in the restaurant or for take out. It is a small location, so if you want to do take out, I would recommend that you call ahead, because sometimes it gets busy and you have to wait for your food outside. My favorite is the Chicken Schwarma. To be honest, that's really the only thing I have ever tried. One order is plenty of food for 2 people. And I like to eat a lot of food. If two people order two entrees, you will both have lunch and dinner the following day. I really love this place. You just want to make sure that you don't have a first date the following day, or a job interview. They are generous with the portions, and the garlic. But it is delicious!! I often place orders to go, but if you dine in, your entrée comes with a yummy soup, pita bread and a garlic dipping sauce, and Turkish coffee.
(5)Crystal N.
I love mediterranean food ! I like this place for its location and their portions. One plate can last for two, maybe three meals ! My go-to, never-fail dish for any greek or mediterranean food is the lamb gyro or plate.
(3)Sarath K.
Good portions and decent food. Don't order falafel plate if you hate salad. It's just 4 falafels on top of salad.
(4)Jeffrey V.
One of my favorite restaurants in the area, and I've tried both this and the Kirkland location (which is a bit more casual, since it's in a strip mall.) The portions are massive, and I hope you love garlic. The shish tawook (chicken, rice, garlic sauce) is simply fantastic.
(5)Kat A.
I wanted to love this place. The soup (pea, lentil, something) and pita/garlic sauce starter was incredible. I hear you can buy the sauce, and I totally would. We ordered the spanakopita and veg couscous. The veg was just stewed, brown, lumpy, on a huge bed of couscous with some mysterious yogurt sauce on top that tasted like it was a few days past expired. Same sauce on spanakopita plus feta. The feta was way too tangy and sour. I ate two bites and couldn't even eat it to be polite, or satiate my hunger. I is Orexi's, which was right across the street. I was hoping for vibrant, flavorful food but it all came off cheap cafeteria. I would only go back for the pita and garlic sauce. The staff was friendly and attentive, but the large portions make it hard for them to realize that you aren't enjoying your food and have stopped eating it. Won't be back and pretty surprised by all the amazing reviews.
(1)Natarajan S.
Hands down one of the best mediterranean places in Seattle. Folks here are nice and food is simply delicious. The portions are very large, so you might want to order less than usual. You cant go wrong with their shwarma and their Hummus is delicious. For those who are Gluten free, they have a bunch of options for you here .
(5)Ella I.
Went here first time Thursday night eith my friend i love the food great place. service was good..nuce place
(5)Maren H.
Be Ready for Garlic Overload in the best possible way! Wonderful food, huge portions and nice staff. I enjoy my experience here very much. I also love that I have so much food that I can take it home and eat it for a few more meals. I love the Chicken Shishtawook (SP?). I love it so much I crave it. The only down side is I don't find the setting super comfortable, I feel the tables are a bit crammed in both locations... But overall I love it and the prices are totally reasonable.
(4)Malea X.
i was not impressed, though it was fairly easy to eat gluten-free. i'm a huge fan of mediterranean food and i found the food here to be just ok. apparently, if you're a meat eater, you may have a much different experience. one of my dining companions had the lamb shawarma and found it to be quite good. i and my other dining companion had falafel and babaganoush. the babaganoush was pretty good. the falafel, however was bland and tasteless. to add insult to injury, the food was very expensive. just the babaganoush appetizer and the falafel appetizer (4 falafels) set me back $21! the restaurant got very loud as it filled up and we had three different people bring us our food. despite 2 of us who are gluten-free asking each time we ordered something if it was gluten-free, we were brought 3 small glutenous pastries at the end of the meal. WTF? next time i'll stick with garlic crush across the street.
(2)Juli-ann W.
Favorite for the last decade. A small, but convenient location with wonderful service. They've recently redecorated with very tasteful art, fresh paint, new blinds and lighting. Looks great! Zahra is cauliflower that I could eat every day with the most amazing spices and sauce. Shish Tawook and Chicken Schwarma are frequent go-to items, but when they have specials, I always try to get them. Love this place and I tend to take everyone I know here as it's a can't miss sort of spot.
(5)Michael L.
Yum, great food and the wait staff is on top of things. My friends and I were really lucky when we came on Saturday, they had a 3 hour wait for a table but kindly let us sit outside, it was a super nice day so outside didn't matter. After we sat they gave us free pita and a bowl of soup. We ordered a appetizer of hummus which was really good. It was creamy and filled with flavor. For our entrees my table ordered the lamb kabobs, the farmers plate and the lamb shawarma. The lamb from the kabobs were a little over cooked but the other two dishes were just fine, each bite was filled with flavor. The portions of each plate were ginormous, each plate came with a huge serving of rice and a lot of the food ended up as leftovers (sounds like a bad thing but I had a great lunch the next day). The service here was excellent as well, even though we were sitting outside they were very attentive to our table, always asked us how we were doing and made sure that our waters were topped off. The price of each plate was a little bit high but overall the food and experience was worth it. Not a place I would consider eating everyday but I would come back some time in the future. Two people should probably share an Entree since this place has large portions.
(4)Sharon B.
This place was amazing!!! The portions are heaping. I could not finish my plate (this never happens). And everything tasted absolutely amazing. You receive lentil soup, a garlic sauce (not super crazy about it), and warm pita upon sitting. Highly recommended!
(5)Sarah F.
This place gets 4.5, so I'm rounding up to 5. One of the main reasons I'm rounding up is I see quite a few reviews that have had negative comments on the chicken, and I for one DISAGREE! :-) Pros? -Super romantic atmosphere -Our server was attentive and not intrusive at all -The salad dressing that they serve with the pita is STOCK FULL OF GARLIC... a plus for me -Our appetizer, the Lamb Kibby was AMAZING- we loved it -The combo platter was quite delicious- lots of rice, as with all Mediterranean places, but ALSO lots of meat (plenty for 2 or 3 people)... the lamb was juicy and flavorful (SO GOOD!), the beef was yummy, and the chicken had a nice lemon flavor and was NOT dry (it's possible this place took the earlier reviews to heart and changed their ways) -Casablanca BEER! It was after a long day of work and errands... so I was happy about that :-) -Their baklava is WAY above average Cons? -I've heard it gets busy during lunch. I went during dinner and it was pleasantly (not crazily) busy -Definitely a bit pricey, but as the portions are so large, you could easily make it a cheap place as well
(5)Erin W.
This place was pretty good for a random stop during a day of meetings all over Seattle. The food was fresh, warm and flavorful. The salad alone was enough for 10 so a suggestion would be ordering less than you think you'll need to feel satisfied.
(3)Yekta A.
Good food+great people = great secret spot in Bellevue Try the Mezza plate and one entree to share, there's tons of food! Parking in the dry cleaner lot is your best shot!
(4)Kay N.
If you are extremely hungry and craving for Greek food. This is the spot. The portions here are hugeee! I only ate like 1/3 of my lamb dish.The dish did not lack flavor. They also give you soup and pita bread with am oil dip while you wait for your food. Service was on spot and the food came out fairly quickly. I would recommend this place.
(4)Chris M.
The food here is amazing but be prepared to eat it for three days straight! Seriously, the portions are huge! A great place for Mediterranean food. It's always busy so either get there early or be prepared to wait. There are at least three Mediterranean food restaurants on this same street but they're always full. A good sign!
(4)Wendy P.
To start, the portions are beyond huge. There were 4 of us, we had the appetizer sampler and 4 entrees and had leftovers for days. The food is good, but it's not the best Lebanese I've had. We had the chicken and lamb shwarmas and the beef kafta and the chicken wings. Again, they were good, but not great. The rice didn't have a ton of flavor - although there was a ton of it. The hummus was good but not creamy. We did enjoy the Lebanese wine. Will probably try again...but it wasn't near as good as I had hoped it would be.
(3)Amos Y.
Ordered the lamb shwarma and farmer chicken wings. They also serve appetizer of soup and Mediterranean flat bread free of charge. Portions are large and filling. The shwarma was excellent, but the chicken wings were slightly bloody near the bones.
(4)Dee N.
Fellow yelpers were right about the portions, they're huge! I ordered the veggie spinokpita. It was my first time having it. The taste was amazing! The outside was golden and flaky, just the way I like it! When I took the left overs home it was like I ordered a meal to go. The food was great, same goes for the staff as well. I'll definitely be back.
(5)Lily Y.
Dajaj Mishwi - grilled chicken thighs (boneless!) over a big pile of saffron rice, with a side of hummus, and all you can eat pita bread! the chicken was moist and perfectly seasoned. huge portions! Lentil soup - tasty! Pita bread and dip - the dip as amazing! i couldn't tell what it was.. olive oil with some seasoning, but it was very yummy! Generous portions, excellent service, great price for lunch! :)
(4)Carleen P.
This place is delicious!! The portions are huge too, so prepare to have what you order for another meal. If you get there early enough during lunch (11ish) then you'll avoid the crowd. As for dinner, this place is such a cute little romantic spot. I've taken dates here before, and I took one of my best female friends here when she was feeling down. This place brought her spirits back up. It's cozy and intimate. Yes that is code for it's smaller, but it's not cramped by any means. There is more than enough space in between tables that you can enjoy a conversation with your date without hearing everyone else over your date. And the servers are really sweet too. If I'm going to go on a date with someone in downtown Bellevue, this is definitely one of my top spots.
(4)Krista N.
After eating here, I really don't get the hype of this place. I have had a lot of great greek food in my life and this food def wasn't bad or gross, but in my opinion, not very rave worthy. I ordered the chicken shawarma, it was dry and the sauce was missing something. There was also more onions than anything else on my plate. Also, the only hot sauce they have here is tabasco? um... ok?.....for greek food? really? The rice tasted like it had a bunch of chicken boulion in it, which was confusing. My mom ordered a vegetarian dish, which came out as basically onions and tomatoes. The sauce tasted weird. The portions are huge yes, but we didn't want to take ours home. The best part of the meal was that tasty garlic dip they served us in the beginning. I will give this place another try and order other stuff next time. It isn't like this place is bad, but for the price ( 10-11 per person even at lunch), I'd rather head to Santori's in Kirkland for a 6buck bomb gyro, or for way better tasting and cheaper plate of shawarma. Or heck head over across the street to Garlic Crush, it's cheaper and better in my opinion.
(3)Elaina H.
no other words... the bomb
(5)May K.
My Pakastani friend raved about this place, so we drove over on a week day evening. We parked at a building across the street since there was no available parking nearby. The place was quite busy, and we waited a few minutes for an empty table. As soon as we placed our order, our server gave us lentil soup and fresh pita to start with. OH MY GOD it was the best lentil soup I've had, and I could've gone home right there and then. We ordered hummus and baba ganoush for appetizers (the menu said that you can't just order appetizers). It was huge and delicious. For main entrees we got the chicken and lamb dishes - both came with sides of hummus and a lot of rice. We wouldn't have gotten the hummus appetizer if we had enough, and the second waiter apologized in saying that he would've told us but I guess the first guy didn't. Needless to say we had a lot of leftovers and the waiter was nice enough to throw in 2 extra pita breads on our way out (including detailed reheating instructions). Great experience and highly recommend it!
(5)Sam P.
The two stars are solely being awarded because this place has extremely passionate and attentive employees. They seem to love their customers, their jobs, and speak as if their food is the greatest in the world. They bring a great energy to the place. I tend to be a real sucker for great service that is simply too hard to come by these days. Unfortunately, the story goes down hill from here. I thought the soup and appetizers were average and the main dishes were awful. It truly tasted like it was cooked by somebody who had no idea how to use spices and: over used them something terrible. This being said, I have never had this style of food, so maybe it is just something that is good food, but not my style. The great reviews by others lead me to believe that some people must be enjoying it, but I sure did not.
(2)Nadeem M.
Very large portions, you'll probably have enough for lunch and dinner. Overall good tasting food but very oily with a strong flavor. Most things include a lot of rice. The Spinnakotta was an interesting meal.
(4)Lisa D.
I was excited due to the great reviews, but was disappointed when I went and got the lamb shwarma. Pro: Service -- Servers were on top of it and were extremely helpful Portions -- Very generous portions Decor -- A neat establishment Con: Food - The food was much more greasy than other Mediterranean establishments I have been to, and nothing stood out as amazing. Wait - Usually crowded
(2)Sonal K.
I loved the food . It was really delicious and the service was prompt.
(4)Diane T.
Vampires beware...they don't go easy on the garlic here! The portions are giant on top of the complimentary soup, pita bread, and garlic dressing. You'll definitely be taking home a box! The signature dish is the chicken shawarma. It's packed with tons of flavorful chicken, veggies and rice. Another favorite of mine is the veggie cous cous. It's packed with tons of veggies in a tangy tomato sauce. You also can't go wrong with the lamb shawarma, farmer's dish, shish tawook or anything for that matter. The place is kind of small and gets pretty packed, but they move pretty quick...and do take my warning on the garlic because it stays with you for a day or two.
(4)Andy V.
My friend says that this place is one of the best places to eat in the Washington area. He wasn't kidding. I've had med food at home, but this place was great. I'm so satisfied, you can see my comment card in the pictures I posted. The service, the food, everything is really good. We stopped by for lunch, and my friend warned me that the portions were big. I was really hungry and thought he was over exaggerating. Boy was I wrong. I couldn't finish my meal. I ordered the 3 kabob combo. You get chicken, beef, and this ground beef thing. Add some saffron rice and a gigantic serving of hummus, and you got yourself a great lunch. The meat is really tendered, and well seasoned with flavors. It's so yummy, and the hummus really kicks it off. The service is great too. The owner or manager kept checking on us, ensuring we enjoyed our meal. Small touches like that is what made the perfect rating for me. The med kitchen was a complete dining experience, and I really enjoyed it here. If I'm ever in Washington, I'll be sure to stop by again!
(5)Bill B.
You will not leave hungry! There is one serving size: huge. You will have leftovers for a day (if you have just run a marathon or built a house) or two. That's the upside. The downside is that your breath will smell like a Citroen full of Gauls after just a few bites of anything on the menu. I think even the wines are infused with garlic. We've been going here for a handful of years and I have to agree that the quality of the food is sliding downwards. It's still good, but not as great as it once was.
(3)Jennifer M.
Like: I always come here for the Dajaj Mishwi. This is my all time favorite dish. It includes charbroiled boneless, skinless chicken thighs marinated in spices, served with their house garlic sauce which is GREAT. If you love garlic, their hummus is delicious, which they serve with pita and a side of soup along with their Lunch Menu. An interesting Appetizer to order is the Zahrah, with is a cauliflower deep-fried and tapped with tahini sauce, green onions, raddish and fresh crushed mint. This is a cute little restaurant with not very much seating and gets fairly busy during the lunch hour. I've also had the Farmer's dish which is popular. It's marinated chicken wings served with their garlic sauce. It's somewhat sour but an interesting take on chicken wings. I still prefer the Dajaj Mishwi over this. Probably my favorite plcae for Mediterranean food. They also give extremely large portions so come hungry!
(5)Damon L.
So what's even better than the food here? I'll tell you. Having it waiting for you as a surprise when you come home. If you haven't been there and you like flavor, garlic, and good service the some should slap you with a piece of pita. Which is served by the loaf. Not really, but it seems that way. My girl will garrote someone for the wings which are only made at this place. I guess if you go to Lebanon they make them to but Bellevue is a bit closer. I pretty much love everything they make here and have never been disappointed. They really have excellent service which goes a long way in their cramped restaurant. Aces aces aces. Now back to eating my Sunday surprise.
(5)Kevin A.
I love most of the food here. My highlights are: Lamb couscous. Lamb stewed to perfect tenderness, and couscous made to the perfect softness. Heavenly. Lamb shawarma, all the vegetable and garlic sauce with the meat is just too good to resist. Lamb shishi kebab. With the humous and the generous serving of rice and lamb, perfect for the hungriest of man.
(5)Quincy E.
Went for dinner and it was so good that I took a group of 15 colleagues back for lunch the next day. Service is awesome and food was even better!!
(4)Ifrah A.
The food was good with massive portions and all. If I was writing the review based on just the food this place would have easily gotten a 4 or 5. But I'm writing the review based on the whole experience in which case I feel like giving it a 3 is being kinda generous. I went there as part of a 15 person party. The restaurant is actually pretty small so we ended up taking over about half the place. There were 3 little kids with us as well and as we were waiting for the food the kids got anxious and started getting out of their seat and walking around. We made sure to keep them on our side of the restaurant so that they wouldn't disturb any other guests (I think 2 other tables were occupied, 4 other people). The waiter came out and asked us to keep the kids in their seats and to not let them walk/play around. Ok. This might have been a little rude but I get where he was coming from and we got the kids back in their chairs. Then, as the kids were still in the chair they started talking to each other and joking around. The place got a bit noisy by this point but I'm sure that expected because there were 20 people in a really small space. The waiter again came out shortly after serving our food and asked us to take the kids outside as they were being too loud apparently. In my opinion, asking people to leave your restaurant isn't exactly good business. The kids were not bothering any of the other customers. Its one thing to ask us to get the kids of be more quiet but this guy just asked us to take them out of the restaurant. At this point everyone was so annoyed at the waiter, who I'm sure was being directed by the other employees in the kitchen to tell us this, that we wanted to leave. I had to wait in the car with the kids as everyone else finished eating their food asap and got the rest of it packed so that we could leave. It was a 15 person party and we ordered tons of food. Their food doesn't come cheap either so that bill was pretty big. Yet we were asked to remove our kids from the restaurant. Really? The first experience there was so bad that we haven't been back there since. There are plenty of other places that serve food just as good if not better and those places don't ask you to take your kids out of the restaurant because they're being as noisy as kids always are.
(3)Kirry C.
Oh god. How can I eat anywhere else in Bellevue ever again?? I had the lamb shawarma. Oh my F'in tapdancing christ on a cracker it was delectable. Huge plate piled high with saffron rice, vegetables, lots and lots of lamb, and a most amazing garlic sauce. Just SO much flavor in this one dish. I'm going to be thinking about it all day today. My date had the Farmer's Dish which is like a huge portion of perfectly seasoned chicken wings. I just don't know how they're able to flavor everything so perfectly!! I am coming back here again and again when I'm even a few miles away from this place....
(5)Michael L.
So, I really wanted to LOVE this place. But 1 thing pretty much effed them over. and that was their chicken. omg. heard great things, had great reviews on yelp, so we thought, we're there! strolled up, seemed nice enough, service was great. pita bread was awesome. fun ambiance. i couldn't decide what to order, do i want the lamb, beef, or combination...hmmm...lamb...beef...or...combinatioÂn...well, i thought let's try the combo since it has a variety. if i had gotten the lamb or the beef, i would be debating between 4 or 5 stars here. seriously. but instead, i combo'd it up. the lamb was to die for. soooo...freaking...good. rice was great, hummus was awesome, even the kafta kabob was pretty good. but that chicken...horrible. honestly, probably one of the worst pieces of chicken i've ever had. seasoned well. but man, talk about dry as desert sand. and tough, and chewy, and just...not...good. and unfortunately for me, i had like 4 pieces of it! i even took it home, thinking it might improve for some strange reason. but it didn't. just threw it away. because the chicken was just that bad, i can't bring myself to rate it any higher, even though the service was exquisite, the other parts of the meal were good, the proportions were gigantic...all i can think about is the stupid chicken... so, go here and order something without the chicken and it'll be great. or pray you have better luck than i did.
(3)Robert K.
Taste is average, portions are HUGE, and the price comes with it...overall I put it below average because for similar taste and much better pricing, I'd rather go elsewhere nearby. The wait was long but I didn't even consider that into my rating. Disclaimer: only been here once, never going back.
(2)Allie S.
The great -- the service, the neverending supply of hot mint tea, the food, the portions The less great -- the price. Two entrees, one of which was vegetarian, the other was beef (less expensive than the lamb), and one mint tea resulted in a $48 tab including our share of the tip from the UYE split. Ouch. The same meal would have been $27 or so at Totem Lake. Overall -- I love Totem Lake's Mediterranean Kitchen -- it's less classy, more sassy -- and because I love it and gave it 5 stars, MKB just cannot live up to MKK in my heart, mind -- even if it is ultimately just about the same in my stomach. MKB is classier and lacks the delicious wraps and gyro plate on their dinner menu. Sad!
(4)Sheila L.
This place is small but yet their food is packed with so much goooood flavors! Went here only one time (so far) and absolutely LOVE this place already! For four people we ordered the chicken shawarma, lamb shish kabobs, and seafood couscous and to start it off with we got the hummus appetizer with pita bread and also their very garlicky lemony dipping sauce which was SOO yumm!! And we were also served their vegetarian lentil soup. Each entree was definitely a good BIG size. It is definitely more of a family style than individual so I wouldn't order just one dish per person... We had TONS of leftovers to take home (three big boxes)! For dessert we ordered two plates of the baklava (my first time ever to have baklava) and it was amazingly deliciouss!! We also got turkish coffee that came with it and it was very interesting and tasty (cinnamon and cloves?). Definitely something different and good to go with a buttery sweet dessert. mmm :) I cannot wait to go back and try other dishes they have! Also their staff is soo friendly! Our waiter was very helpful and HONEST! He told us which meat dishes he thought was best yet also said he was a vegetarian but knew which dishes was more popular and definitely were good choices! Our water glasses were constantly being filled too. :) FYI- Parking can be hard but if you go at the right timing its not that bad.
(5)Robbie K.
Of course, if garlic isn't your thing, go elsewhere. Likewise, if you like small portions presented as art. I remember this place when it was located on Roy St -- near Seattle Center. I'm glad they're near my mother-in-law now. The chicken thighs are an amazing meal and bargain. The eggplant appetizer is delightful and the tabbouleh isn't just a lot of bulger wheat bits of parsley and tomato. Rather, it's a parsley-dominated salad that I love. Likewise, the hummus as a great blend of garbanzo and tahini. They're used to doddy-bagging your leftovers, but remember to ask for a little extra garlic sauce to take home.
(5)Regina L.
Farmer's Dish: messy. And made me kind of uncomfortable because it smelled like my dog haha. I'm not being mean or nothing but im just saying. couldnt eat much of it because I started to feel bad. Dont tell me to become a vegetarian because i love meat too much. Lamb shawarma: hella good. didnt smell like my dog, really tender lamb. Couldn't eat much of that either though because the lamb dish wasnt mine.
(4)Brian C.
If you do not love garlic, stop reading. This is not the restaurant for you. If, however, you are a huge fan of large portions of garlic-crammed food that makes your eyes roll back in your head, this is your place to go in Bellevue. The staff were super friendly, offering experienced recommendations and were appropriately attentive. The prices first look somewhat on the high side, but when you see the food you will realize that you're guaranteed to have leftovers (and probably leftovers from your leftovers). I loved the spices in my Beef Kafka. They made the whole thing salty, peppery, and savory. Everyone else at the table was going crazy over the Lamb Kabobs. There are a large assortment of sides (rice, hummus, cream - even good size chunks of fresh vegetables), so you'll have plenty of ways of mixing together flavors with your entrée. When we left, I pulled over our group organizer and called him a jerk. "What for?" he asked. "You didn't take us here earlier."
(5)Joseph H.
5 stars compared to absolutely everything in Portland. I live down south in the rainy rose city sister. I had a preconceived notion going in here, dragged by good friends, that I didn't like this genre. Why couldn't we just go grab good Asian or Thai? I was blown away by the experience. Nothing back home has yet to come close, there's one more spot to try in PDX, but it has a lot to live up to now. MK was a stellar hole-in-the-wall joint that delivered on every dish they sent from the kitchen. My wife ordered the Salmon which could enter a contest for best salmon we've ever eaten in our life. I went with the standard combo kobabs and was thoroughly pleased. Each stick of meat was equally good on its own without a bland one in the bunch. Whenever we visit for a few days, I think we'll be asking to come back here in the future. It's always nice when one restaurant can change your entire perception of that cuisine.
(5)Wendy M.
the pita bread is yummy with the first bite of hummus. Whoa!!! There's a ton of garlic in there! I had to make sure my husband had some so that we could both smell like garlic and not notice it on each other. The portions are huge. we had to take it home for leftovers and what wonderful leftovers they make! I had the prawns which were cooked perfectly. My husband had the beef shish kabob. Both meals were very fragrant and lovely. The spices used are very comforting and satisfying. I think their baklava is the best! I was a little concerned because it looked a little on the dry side... I loved that it wasn't too sweet and wasn't drowning in syrup. We also had the house red wine which was very good. We really enjoyed it. The folks here are really friendly and down to earth. Very helpful when making a meal selection for the very first time. I actually probably give it a 4.5
(4)Ponarett X.
This place definintely does not skimp on the garlic...and I love it! I took my mom here for lunch one day and was immediately greeted by a nice looking guy. =) The place is pretty small and within 5 minutes of my arrival, the place had filled up. Soup and pita with a dipping sauce were immediately brought out. The lentil soup was so-so; nothing amazing. The dipping sauce was to-die-for! Garlicky and oily...it was wonderful. I had already looked at the menu online beforehand so I knew exactly what I wanted. As an fyi, the menu online is more informative. Some dishes come with hummus but you won't know which ones unless you've looked at the online menu. I ordered the kafta kabob and my mom ordered the chicken shwarma. The portions are huge! Enough for 2-3 meals. My dish came with hummus and it was probably the tastiest, freshest hummus I've ever had in a restaurant. My kabobs were delicious; the rice was fluffy. However, the grilled onions were still a bit raw and crunchy for my liking. My mom's dish was beautiful and perfectly cooked. I don't think you can go wrong in this place.
(5)Angelina L.
This place is very small and a hole in the wall type place. A little dark inside, but more romantic dark than anything. There will almost always be a wait for a table on the weekends, but they do take reservations for parties of four or more. All that being said, it is definitely worth it!!! The food is oh so good!!! My favorite would be the Lamb Shawarma. The service is always good and friendly. Prices, well, they can be a little high for a plate (about $13 to $18 per plate), but the amount of food you get it is understandable!! I can go here and have meals for 3 days off of one plate!! If in the area of Bellevue Square Mall and not wanting to go to Red Robin, The Cheesecake factory, etc.. This is a short few blocks down Bellevue Way and definitely worth the walk or short drive!!!
(4)Susan X.
Took my parents here last weekend and we had a blast. They've never tried Mediterranean food before, but they are rather picky eaters with good palates, so it's often hard to get them to like something new. Luckily, they LOVED it. Naturally, I was stupid and should have read the Yelp reviews before we headed out. If I'd done that, I would've known that the portions were monstrous. Don't get me wrong, we were happy to take all of it back in 6 gigantic containers, but our little table was possibly about to collapse from the food. One entree could probably feed 3 mildly hungry people or 2 very hungry people. They brought us complimentary flatbread that was hot and wonderful with a fabulously garlicky butter. We ordered baba ganouj as our appetizer, and it was good, but too much tahini and a little too acidic for me. It was hard to taste the eggplant. For our main courses, we ordered lamb with couscous, beef noodles, and beef shish kabob. They were all fabulous. The flavors were rich, the meat was succulent, and I LOVED the spiced couscous. Some people aren't a fan of cinnamon in savory dishes, but I am a HUGE fan. The service was excellent, our waiter was attentive and quick. And the prices are entirely reasonable for the (copious) amount of food in each portion. Overall, a great experience!
(4)Sherry S.
OMGOSH. LOOOVE THIS PLACE. You definitely get your money's worth here. Though this place is rather small, with a line during lunch hour, it's worth the wait and being crowded. Your meal comes with lentil soup and pita with an olive oil dip. I enjoyed both. I had the Lamb Shawarma and OMG! FREAKIN DELICIOUS!!!!! THe serving is HUUUUUGE ALSO. It's practically 2 meals on 1 plate. The dish was bursting with all sorts of flavor and I swear every bite certainly hit the spot. The lamb was tender, the rice was DELICIOUS, the tahini sauce was MAJORLY OFF THE HOOK. I would highly recommend this dish to EVERYONE. MMMM.... drooling just thinking about it... I can't wait to go back.
(5)Peter D.
I love this place. There I said it. This has become my favorite lunch place but I dont go often because I eat too much and I am comatose afterwards. I have only had the kabobs, and the chicken and lamb are fantastic. Not as big a fan of the ground beef\lamb one but thats a personal thing. The lentil soup they give you in the beginning is fantastic I think. You have to love lemon and garlic or this is NOT the place for you. I also recommend going early or late because it is full during the rush and you will find yourself wondering where to stand. I find 11-11:45 and 1:30-2:30 the best times to go for lunch. I recommend this place highly. Peter
(5)Eugene C.
Sooooo dammmmmmn gooooooood. I don't like how they charge you a share plate fee if you want to share their enormously large plates. It's almost like they're begging you to share because they just give you so much, then they trap you into paying more to share a plate! Tricky tricky. I usually get around this by picking up orders to go for dinners for 4 or 5 people. It's nice because I can usually get away with buying only 3 or 4 dishes and have leftovers for the next day! Yes, yes, size does matter. But let's not forget quality too! M. Kitchen rocks my stomach something fierce with delicious I have not known to come from a Mediterranean restaurant. I've have good mediterranean food, but this place is just too good! They overwhelm me with goodness. I'm fairly horrible with remembering Mediterranean dishes, so I usually just do the close my eyes and pick a random dish method. Luckily for me, every time I've done this, I haven't been disappointed. That's saying something! I don't think I've gotten the same "name unknown" dish twice, but every time I have been duly impressed. I strongly recommend takeout because the place is so small, but if you must eat in, I recommend you have a large appetite to tuck away all that food.
(5)gina m.
Didnt like it. Chicken was dry, too many sauces served on this huge platter with rice on the bottom, charbroiled to death chicken and nasty mushy vegetables on top. We let them pack it in a to go box to be polite because the actual service was top notch. Upon our exit we threw the left overs in their dumpster. Just because you get served huge portions does not make the food good. And what is the deal with that tagged up truck that is parked in the very back of the parking lot with expired tabs??
(1)Nancy H.
It has been 10 years since I've been here. Can't explain why I haven't been back in so long, as hubby and I have had super meals here in the past. I guess just "life" happened: getting married, setting up house, having some kids, etc. We didn't think our babies/toddlers would be into uber-garlic food - or appreciate us ooze garlic for days, too. So we opted for other fare for a long time and kinda forgot about this place. Tonight I had a hankering for M.K. I don't know what triggered its memory in my mind, but once there, there was NO denying it! The kids are older and adventurous eaters, so hubby and I shang hai'ed them and we all had the most MARVELOUS meal here! The lentil soup was a big hit, as was the supple, warm pita. I found the garlic dipping sauce a tad too intense for my liking, but the kids and hubby ate it up like rabid animals. Hubby had his old stand-by, the Farmer's Plate, full of chicken he says "to die for". He said it was as good and ample a portion as it was 10 years ago. He also had the side salad which was darn big (and only cost $2)! My eldest shared it with him, and she kept saying how "delicious" it was. My kids shared the Shish Kabob sampler plate. Despite being ravenous, they were only able to eat 1/4 of the meal. I chose my old stand-by, Lamb Shawarma. For me, this dish is the epitome of mediterranean cuisine: aromatic, tender lamb, saffron rice, perfectly cooked onions and tomatoes. It was nirvana - and SO much, I could only eat about 1/4 of my meal, too. My hubby, who rarely leaves left-overs anywhere, was only able to eat 1/2 his meal. We were all stuffed. The service was fantastic. Our water glasses were filled every 10 minutes, and our waiter was super-attentive and friendly. Can't say enough about this place. My kids made me promise we'd go back soon. Meanwhile, the left-overs should last 2-3 days, at least!
(5)Karen Y.
I moved to Seattle about two years now and this place was one of the first places I tried... it still is my absolute favorite restaurant in the surrounding Seattle area. Anytime I have out-of-town guests, this is the place I recommend for them to visit. Well besides the obvious reason, the portions are HUGE and that means when my guests fly out, that means a lot of delicious leftovers for me! I've eaten both inside the restaurant and ordered take-out and it's been a great experience all around. They do not skimp for take-out. Your meal will come with tons of pita bread. My favorite dishes are the Algerian Chicken and Samaki Harrah
(5)Misty M.
Pretty delicious. For my first foray into Mediterranean food I'm pretty sure I ended up with a great experience. The flavors are so awesome and considering I'm pretty much a vegetarian it made for something new on my tastebuds. The soup before the meal and the fact that I got three wonderfully sized portions out of one meal made it even better. The service was excellent. Very gracious and accommodating of our ever growing group. The price is incredibly steep, but it was still delicious. I think when I frame it with the fact that I got three meals out of one plate it makes the price not sting so much. It's still a hard pill to swallow, enough that even though I like it so much it will become a rare treat for me.
(4)He M.
I'm lebanese, and i love their mezza platter. Nothing is quite like home, but the best i've had in this area. Combo platter comes with a tiny piece of lamb, i wish it had more! Their kafta and kabab are good. The place is always packed during lunch so go early. Also there always seem to be short of servers so the waits are long.
(4)Jim H.
Tiny little gem we tried in Bellevue tonight that was definitely worth it. They serve you some very tasty lentil soup to start with and some pita bread with garlic vinaigrette that is good but really garlicky. The pitas taste like they're store bought, so that was a bit of a letdown, but the rest was very good. Wife had the mixed kebab and liked the chicken and lamb but not the beef because of the mint taste (I liked it though). There was also a generous helping of hummus on her plate that was pretty good. As usual though, she had plate envy. I had the lamb shawarma. It was huge and awesome! Her envy was mostly for the veggies in the dish (grilled and tasty) because her lamb was basically the same, but the whole thing was delicious. Nice to know I don't have to go the city to hit Petra for good Mediterranean food (unless I want a better pita of course). Will definitely be hitting this place again!
(4)Mike F.
So much food. Never order the Mediterranean platter and the lamb schawarma. I ran 8 miles this morning and only burned about 30% of the calories I consumed. My only complaint is that there was too much sauce on the schawarma. Next time (next week), I'll get it on the side.
(4)John S.
This has been one of my favorite restaurants for years! I love the Shish Tawook or the Farmer's Dish. Absolutely delicious! Don't forget to invite anyone you're visiting with to join you though.... the strong essence of garlic will follow you around for hours (or stay in your car, fill your fridge, etc.)
(5)Elena M.
Despite my prior experience with poor service and my insistence that I would not go back because of it, I did. The call of the garlic was just too great. Plus, we had errands to do in Bellevue. My husband suggested we give Mediterranean Kitchen another chance since we had been a while since we'd been here. We did and I am glad. I don't know if we had just hit them on a bad day before or if they have seriously revamped their approach, but the service we had at a recent lunch time visit was a complete turnaround from what we had experienced at our previous visit. The place was empty when we first arrived; only one other party, who had walked in just behind us, was seated. But, as the hour went on, the place filled up. Our server gave us friendly, attentive, prompt service throughout. He not only did all the "expected" things that were lacking at our last visit (e.g., simply asking if we had questions on the menu, if we'd like a drink, etc.), he did extra things (like bringing out extra bread without our even asking for it). We felt very welcome, appreciated and take care of. The food was as magnificent as always. I totally agree with the other reviewers who rave about the huge portions served here. My husband and I both went home with leftovers. BUT, since we typically order the same thing -- the shish tawook -- he suggested that next time we split a plate. It would definitely be enough food to fill us both up. We might do that. Or, we might just go for those leftovers... One thing is for certain: There will definitely be a "next time."
(4)Krystal C.
I find that, with many "mediterranean" restaurants, the fatty meat is the dominant flavor in the dish. With lamb schwarma, especially. Don't get me wrong, I can enjoy schwarma just about anywhere, but at Mediterranean Kitchen, they focus on the other flavors that can really make the dish sing. Each dish is an aromatic taste bud explosion. If you walk in looking for greasy gyro meat, you won't find it here. You'll find something better. The portions are enormous. Each entree will give you one extra meal. In my case, I can usually stretch it to two extra meals. I'd also recommend bringing a few gallon-sized Ziploc bags. That will sequester the smell that will linger in your car and fridge for days. The meal is not complete without a Turkish coffee. A Turkish coffee is best with baklava. This isn't a syrupy, sticky square of walnuted phyllo. This is a lovely, lightly-sweetened, pistachio pastry that is the highlight of the meal here. Hands down the best baklava I have ever had. Now for the logistics. If you have more than four people, call ahead for a reservation because this place is small and to accomodate more than four they'll have to push tables together.
(5)Connie C.
The lunch prices may seem high compared to regular lunches (around $13-$15), but Mediterranean Kitchen dishes are HUGE. We shared two orders among three of us (the two others are big eaters), and we still had leftovers. Lunch also comes with free lentil soup. The food is delicious. The only downside is that you're left with garlic breath for the next day. Be sure not to come here if you have many meetings in small conference rooms in the afternoon, unless you want to make your coworkers mad.
(4)Shert J.
Remember: GARLIC is GOOD for you! Very healthy.. so this place must cure all sickness and illness.... If you can't stomach garlic, then better stay away! But that would be sad, as it is an A+++ restaurant in our estimation. The food is soooo good, and yes-- garlicky! Whatever we have ordered, we have loved. It is a wonderful value for the money, everything is great and reasonably priced. Everyone gets a cup of Lentil soup to start and it is DELISH! As is the pita bread and the dip for the bread. I have had many of their entrees, and I love them all! My sons love the Lamb Couscous, Shish Kebab, and the Chicken Shwarma. I love the Algerian Chicken. But I love it all! We have always had great service. The atmosphere is sort of "tacky, strip mall" feeling (less than 2 blocks away from Bell Square, of all things!!), but who cares? You get HUGE portions, and I love that. I bring a couple of my home tupperware containers when we dine here, and take home what will be a FABULOUS lunch the next day (and the day after that probably!) The only real drawback in our book, is the difficulty in finding a parking place! The restaurant is not all that large, either, and tends to get crowded, even on weeknights. So go early, or realize that if you have to wait-- it will be worth it! We moved from Seattle to near the Eastside, and missed the "funky" eateries of the city... most of Bellevue's restaurants are franchises or sort of "plastic-y" formulaic ones. Not M.K.! Definitely worth going to... we are never disappointed, and we leave so full and happy (and healthy from so much garlic-- I dare a flu bug-- or a Vampire-- to get hold of me with so much garlic in me!!!)
(5)Marc S.
Honestly, I didn't know much about Mediterranean food when I wrote the first review. (I sure I still don't know nearly as much as someone who has actually lived in the region.) It's just not authentic, at MK. Don't get me wrong. It's decent food, a great date place, and a great value. I would heartily recommend paying a visit for the service, ambiance, and very generous portions. A serving probably makes three generous meals (!), and it keeps well in a refrigerator, unlike most authentic Mediterranean food.
(3)Ankur P.
This is the best mediterranean food I have eaten in the east side. The lamb and the beef gyro was a treat to my palate. I have been here 4 times already over the past 3 months and I haven't been disappointed even once. You will notice that this place is always full with a bunch of loyal customers there no matter what the time and yet surprisingly I have never had to wait more than 10 minutes. Things to watch out for - The lentil soup, the sour mix they give to dip the bread in and the lamb and beef shewerma but beware, there wasn't a man born who could wolf down and entire meal by himself and 100% of the time you will find happy and content folks walking out with leftovers in their hands and a big smile on their faces.
(5)K S.
The food - amazing. That garlic vinegarette they bring with the pita - wow. I oozed garlic for days... good thing my guy was eating there with me. I had the Dajaj Mishwi (Charbroiled boneless, skinless chicken thighs marinated in spices, served with hummus). Can I just say one thing about this chicken? "Wow!" It was moist, the hummus was garlicky, and the garlic sauce on top, amazing. The rice was a little over done for my tastes, but after re-heating, it was perfect. I got dinner that night, and lunch the next two days out of my leftovers. I had this tea drink that reminded me of sweet tea from the south with cardamom and peppermint with a hint of lemon. I could drink myself out of a tub of that. It made my mouth feel beautiful. Our server was on the ball, prompt, and courteous from the moment we sat down. Great date place, but you gotta love the garlic. And you both gotta eat it.
(4)Jonah N.
A friend of mine introduced me to this place years ago and I've loved it ever since. The only bad review I can give it is that the location has limited seating and parking isn't exactly the most convenient. But once you're seated, you're in for a treat. All of the dishes I have had are amazing. The portions are extremely large and I tend to bring some home for leftovers the following day. I'm not one for hummus, but I absolutely love theirs! I can easily get full just eating the pita bread and hummus. I usually order the combination kebob plate and it's amazing. They serve it on this bed of rice that is big enough to feed a small village. They throw more hummus on along with the 3 different types of meats. Personally, I'm a big fan of the lamb. I could eat that stuff for days. Every time I eat there, I'm always so uncomfortably full afterward. A little side note....I always have to brush my teeth immediately afterward because of the strong garlic flavors. I won't lie, I even have some garlic breath the day after too. It's totally worth it. It's by far the best Mediterranean food I've ever had. I also joke that if I moved from Seattle, this is one of the places that I would really miss.
(5)Jamie V.
Hands down best Mediterranean food around the area! The portions are HUGE! And by huge I mean you will have leftovers from your leftovers. I had the beef shawarma. The dish was flavorful and the beef was cooked oh so tenderly. I had lunch for the next 2 days! The wait staff was quick and attentive as well which is always a plus with a bustling place. I would probably suggest going here during a weeknight to avoid what I'm assuming is a lonnnggg wait.
(5)Alice L.
Eaten here 3 times + numerous takeouts, this place never disappoints! +huge portions, no joke, one plate can last me 2-3 meals. - they charge extra $ for splitting the plate if you're eating in, so it's really worth it to do takeouts and share. Not sure how they do it, but this seemingly family owned business creates every dish with spices and flavors I cannot name that leaves your tummy fully satisfied. Recommendation wise, I really liked all the dishes I've tried so far, but you do need to get the lamb at least once, even if you mind the slight lamby smell, it'll make the whole experience worthwhile.
(5)Stephanie P.
"Do you like garlic?" asked my dining companion as we walked in. "I mean, REALLY like garlic?" Not to worry, I assured him, garlic was a good friend of mine. But even with the warning, I wasn't fully prepared for how stinky my car, my kitchen, and my person would become over the next 48 hours. Make no mistake - to dine at the Mediterranean Kitchen is to cut yourself off from society for days. On the bright side, that means nobody will be around to steal your leftovers... and you'll have plenty. The Mediterranean Kitchen is over on the Eastside, so yes, it's a bit out of the way, but some might say it's worth the trip just for the food. It's a tiny little place with about ten tables, so you'll probably find yourself waiting for a while - on a Friday night, we waited for about twenty minutes. Inside, the tables are jammed together, so don't have any illusions about privacy - your fellow diners will hear every word you say (although it doesn't get too loud in there, surprisingly). I had the chicken shawarma ($14.95), which is marinated chicken breast in red wine vinegar, spices and garlic, grilled with onions, green onions, red cabbage and tomatoes. My dining companion had the shish tawook ($14.95), charbroiled chicken breast tenderloin marinated in garlic, lemon juice, herbs and spices, which was even better than mine. Entrees come with a little bowl of lentil soup, but don't fill up on that, because your dinner is a vast and mighty mountain of meat, grilled veggies, and rice, with a dollop of tahini on the side and a small basket of pita-esque bread for dippin'. Portions are unbelievably huge, and you'll occasionally dig out an entire clove of roasted garlic with your fork. After eating as much as I could, I still received a Styrofoam take-out container filled to the brim with leftovers, and I ultimately got three or four servings out of one entree. But when I got in my car the next day, it reeked of garlic, just from transporting the leftovers home, and the garlic smell also hijacked my fruit, ice cubes, and pretty much everything else in my fridge for days. Thankfully, I couldn't smell myself, but I'm sure it was not pretty. If you want to be left alone for a few days, the Mediterranean Kitchen is one of the easiest, and tastiest, ways to make that happen.
(4)Jayant G.
Very nice Mediterranean food. Dinner portions are huge. Everyone gets a starter lentil soup+pita bread and that itself finishes more than half of my dinner. I have never been able to finish more than 1/2 of the main entree.
(4)Shep G.
I have to give it the elusive 5th star, this place and it's cousin in Kirkland are my favorites! If you don't love garlic? Stay away....
(5)Tricia A.
The portions are huge so we get containers to go ( lunches for the next day) and in the summer have a cooler with ice to put the to go containers in for the trip home (about 2 1/2 hr drive). The flavors are fantastic! My husband and I have been there with friends and by ourselves and each time was just as good as the last. We all describe it as "a food high". The tables are close together but we haven't had a problem with not being able to hear each other. The times we've gone it hasn't been too crowded. So far I haven't found a dish that wasn't fabulous! The Farmer's dish (whole chicken wings) is AWESOME!!!! Again well worth the drive.
(5)Tri H.
Really, how can this not be a five star restaurant? I take all my visitors here and they love it (which says a lot for me)! By far the best Mediterranean food in Seattle/Bellevue. I've lived here 15+ years and I haven't found a better place yet. Do yourself a favor and eat there! The hummus is AMAZING. But really, everything is good and servings are enormous. We usually go here to celeberate special events and as a treat to ourselves. Do yourself a favor today and treat yourself to this place.
(5)M H.
I love this place! They give a generous amount for their portion sizes. Sometimes the service can be a bit off but for the most part they do well. I like that once you get seated you get a bowl of soup served along with pita bread and super garlicky sauce. I have not had to deal with negative experiences with any of the chicken dishes I've ordered in the past. I have tried the Chicken Shawarma and Farmer's dish but my all time favorite is the Shish Tawook. It has the perfect amount of zest in it. For the appetizers, I usually end up getting Tabouly and Zahrah. I LOVE the Zahrah, they serve it piping hot. We once ordered the Mezza tray when a group of us came in. That dish is great too ~ they have this scoop of cucumber/kalamata olives/beet/radish in a vinegrette dressing that I like to order seperately. The Shish Tawook still tastes good reheated! Service is good, they have a gentleman there that is quick on clearing plates & refilling water. The only con I can think of is if you go there during peak times for lunch & dinner ~ you may need to wait a while for seating.
(4)Julian H.
Still amazing food that falls short of a perfect all-around dining experience, mainly due to how cramped the dining room is. Big props to MK that they are so family-friendly.
(4)Christine C.
Tonight I sent my husband out to get some dinner at Mediterranean Kitchen, chicken schwarma, stuffed grape leaves and hummus. First, why does everything taste the same?? I did not know that stuffed grape leaves were supposed to be stuffed with Congee!?!? They were WAY overcooked and really bad! The chicken schwarma had actual cores of cabbage in it. Does the prep cook not know how to core a cabbage??!?!?! The hummus is good, but we paid 52.00 and it's the only thing I don't regret having tonight. Eating the meal felt like eating at a Mediterranean Denny's, but bigger portions. No love. I think this will be my last time going..
(2)Aly M.
I'm sorry I'm sorry. I know I said I would go back and try more dishes, but I didn't. :( They did have a different soup yesterday--red lentil, and I liked it (a little sweet--yum!). Otherwise, we got the same chicken dish. The dipping sauce for the bread is either better or my tastebuds now like it. But, I did like dipping the bread into the soup, too. Still big portions, but this time when we split the dish, there was no charge, just a higher cost for the salads (we got 2). So, it worked out to the same price, but the bill looked different. GREAT service last night. We went hoping for A/C, and there was some, but it was still warm (especially because of the hot food--silly choice on our part).
(5)wes y.
Tips for eating here: 1] Don't order appetizers. With the entree plates being so HUGE you're wasting your money. 2] People are right, don't sit by the door unless you want people waiting for a table lurking over you. 3] If you don't like garlic, this is not the place for you. 4] Don't make lunch plans for the following day. You'll be eating the leftovers. What could they do to make it a better experience? Move to a larger location. It feels cramped in there.
(4)Andrew F.
So good, but so much food. No matter what you order there'll be enough for two meals. If you go for lunch, invite everyone you can because you'll all smell of garlic the rest of the day.
(5)Chris T.
"Oh my god!" That is what your FACE is going to say when they finally bring your order. "We're gonna need a bigger stomach". That's what your BODY is going to say once you start chowing down ;D Heed my words. As you slip into food coma bliss, you'll hear me whispering "I told you so" :D
(5)Faisal H.
Very rude service.Food is way too expensive for its quantity and doesn't even have any Mediterranean taste whatsoever. Very Disappointed.
(1)Jennifer F.
Excellent place for take out. Just go with whatever is on special - it's always good. And only order one dish for every three hungry adults. Even then you'll probably have leftovers!
(5)Richard U.
I ventured into this place during the height of the lunchtime rush so it was packed, always a good sign. Immediately upon being seated I was presented wtih a nice bowl of lentil soup, warm pita with this garlicky dipping sauce. Very nice on a cold and rainy day! The portions here are almost garganutan even for me!! I saw several groups of three people sharing two entrees. My entree was the combo which featured chicken, lamb and Kefta over a freaking mountain of rice and a scoop of hummus. I will be eating my leftovers for at least two meals which makes the over price of the place very reasonable $12.95 for my entree. The service was very friendly and still attentive despite they were packed.
(4)Neil A.
Excellent service, price and food. 5 out of 4 stars!
(5)Ranee S.
"...put an addictive chemical in it that makes you crave it fortnightly." It's not an addictive chemical, it's garlic, but it may as well be, because I can't go longer than a month without hummus or shish tawook before my taste buds start to yell at me: Take me home to the deliciousness that is the Mediterranean Kitchen.
(4)A V.
This is my favorite place to eat in Washington. It does have a "hole in the wall" sort of vibe going on but who cares... the food is amazing!!!! I come from LA and I know Lebanese food very well, The Mediterranean Kitchen delivers. Everything is good! I also love that they have such a great vegetarian selection for when I am feeling a little more ethical than usual. Their dishes are consistently perfect and generous. Best of all, I LOVE the staff here!!!! Such great guys! You will have enough leftovers for at least two more meals so that makes this place extremely economical.
(5)Saeed J.
This is my favourite mediterranean restaurant in the Seattle area. They make all their sauces in-house, and they taste great. Portions are huge. They can easily last you several meals. Consider sharing a portion.
(5)Adrienne H.
Hahahaha you jokers! Can't figure out why this place is SO popular? BECAUSE ITS BOMB.COM BABY!!! And I'm a t-o-t-a-l snob, Mediterranean food or otherwise, I am one hard woman to please. Don't believe me? Show me a better place within a 20 mile radius of Seattle. Met Kitchen, I love you forever!!! I don't get the silly recent reviews.... you are far better than that!
(5)Jon G.
Exceptional food, but a tad too garlicy. Get the Combo Sharma platter if you are a first timer. Also, the combo salad appetizer is aweome. Califlower is delicious.
(4)John A.
I try to be a tough grader. I think, "it could (always) be better." But then, let's be real. This is Lebanese food in a strip mall in Bellevue, WA. Could I want more from this? Not really. In fact, this is really, really good, and I WILL go back. We stopped in based on all the Yelp raves after an errand at the Apple store down the block. It was 9:10 on a Wednesday, place closing in 20 minutes, and all seats full: probably a good sign. A table turned quickly, and we were presented with a complementary soup bursting with cumin-y goodness. We ordered a fatoush salad and a lamb shawarma. I'll admit that I was pretty skeptical -- ok, annoyed -- at thinking that anyone could charge ~$15 for a fatoush and ~$18 for a shawarma (~$18). Street food, people! What are you thinking? Look, it's worth it. J is from Detroit, where Arabic food is as common as Tex-Mex in the rest of the country. She knows her Middle Eastern comfort food. This stuff represents. Tangy, garlic-y, creamy, rice; colorful radishes with lamb slices.. The salad was fresh and appropriately vinegary. We walked out with two full stomachs and two full takeout containers (which I ate today for lunch even though I knew I'd wind up feeling like exploding afterward - the things we do for love). So, yeah, it's a five. Only complaint I can muster is the pricing, and if you look at this as two or three meals worth of food, which it is, then even that objection is overcome. Go there.
(5)Corene C.
We, like many others here, LOVED our experience! Yes come hungry and ready to chow down. Make sure everyone in your party likes garlic too - it will stay with you for a while afterwards (but it's worth it). The large appetizer platter is amazing with flavor and variety. We tried lamb and chicken - both delicious. Everything we tried was wonderful. She soup starter was such a nice addition to our meal - gee can you tell we liked it here?!? Take your leftovers (oh yes, there WILL BE LEFTOVERS) home and enjoy for days afterwards.
(5)Cassandra ..
Friends took me here for dinner. They did all the ordering. The food was incredible! Lentil soup & pitas and garlic dip, a vegetable platter appetizer with several scrumptious dipping sauces, and a HUGE plate of saffron rice (?) chicken, beef, and lamb. I have never liked lamb, but this was amazing! Dessert was yummy non-honey baklava and Turkish coffee (of which I had two!). This place is a dream, I can't wait to go back! Plus the company I had was fantastic!
(5)Nanako E.
Perhaps I was expecting too much from this place after reading so many great reviews and hearing how awesome their rice is from two of my friends, both of whom are regulars of this place. I was surprised at how they gave us free soup, you don't get that often. It was lentil soup, very good. We also got pita bread with some kind of garlic vinaigrette dip, which was also very good...I might even go as far as saying that was my favorite part of the whole meal. The pita bread was warm and so soft! I ordered the shish tawook, recommended by my friend. It was delicious, but nothing too spectacular. I didn't think the rice was to die for...to tell you the truth, it was too much garlic for me. The portions were huge though, which is a plus. It lasted me for two more meals after I took it home. But I had to throw some of it away, for it was stinking up my fridge and it was really. Just. Too. Garlic-y. I will have to go here again and try something else, because I know they have a lot more to offer!
(3)Miki M.
Over priced average middle eastern food. (i'm from the region) We came for dinner with our two young children. Their plates are huge but you can't split it, for example, if you wanted to feed two small children with one plate (they charge you extra to do that) we ordered a chicken pasta for the kids that turned out to be spicy and inedible. The waiter argued with us that's it is "just a little spicy". Our food was OK, as others said, the portions are huge. They load up on the rice to justify the steep price. The kids didn't touch their plate. So, in the middle of the table sit a huge plate of pasta and chicken and the waiter is playing dumb and asking if we want to a box for it ( I read another review - apparently we were not the first one to have to get "playing dumb" routine) After we said "no" and looked as pretty unhappy as we could, he went ahead and charged $20 for it. The food is average at best. The place is dirty and rundown. We should have gone to Chipotle near by. Definitely not going back there. Too bad - we love middle eastern food.
(1)Kate N.
Go hungry, ready for garlic and goodness!!! They have large portions so MAKE SURE you're hungry! The lentil soup is okay, I wasn't a huge fan but I also always want to save myself for the AMAZING RICE AND KABABS!!! Their wine list is okay, with this type of meal you don't even need wine since there are so many flavors and delicious things happening on the plate. The price is pretty good considering the size of the meal you get! This is not your every night dinner spot... but it's GREAT for that every few weeks Mediterranean fix!
(5)Xander S.
Now this is quality Mediterranean food. That's not to say that I know what good Mediterranean food is supposed to taste like, but I'd imagine it would be something like this. I've eaten here three times, and boldly tried something different each time; each time, was happily surprised at the bold flavors, despite being large portions. One minor complaint that I'd have is that it's very crowded; the tables are small and close together, and it's often hard to hear the person you're with. Regardless, for the price, this is a great food experience. Not for a date though, no no, I can't recommend that.
(4)Regina C.
Been going here for years. I love this place. Take note though, every dish is packed with garlic and then some more garlic. The dipping sauce they serve with pita bread is so unique and awesome. I always get the same thing Chicken, rice and hummus. There is a name for it I just don't know it. Lentil soup is really good on a cold day.
(4)greg m.
OK, here's a real review...I ordered the shawarma lamb which is described as lamb tenderloin. To me tenderloin is the filet or back strap and this definitely was not. It was chunks of a cheap cut of meat that had been marinated but was still tough with a mountain of vegetables that were cooked to mush. The garlic was so overpowering it ruined the food. I also ordered the Spinakopita (their spelling not mine)...You could tell it was home made and the dough was nice and crispy where it wasn't slathered with sauce which made most of it soggy and again with the overpowering taste of garlic. If you like huge portions of bad food then this is your place. I've brushed my teeth three times, gargled with mouthwash, ate a granny apple and still can't get rid of the horrible taste of garlic.
(1)George I.
Went there last night. Got the Algerian chicken. Result - throwing up all night long and having terrible stomack pain. I think the oil was old because the meal had very strong oily smell. don't think will go there anymore.
(1)Brian M.
Love the Mediterranean kitchen! Went for lunch one day and had and appetizer, a chicken and a lamb dish. All were amazing and between two neither of us could finish half the dish the portions are HUGE. Loved the place so much we went back a month or so later. The price is slightly on the the high side, but its justifiable.
(4)Brendan P.
The food here was very good, but the service was a bit slow, even after it seemed that it wasn't too busy. I'll try this place again if I'm in the area, I did really like the dish I ordered, which was a chicken schwarma. My wife got a lamb kabob dish but the lamb was very overcooked. I know sometimes there are off nights for resteraunts, it sounds like this is usually a great place to go and I think I'll try them out again. Like I said, my dish was good, but the service, though friendly, was really really slow.
(3)Mat W.
This place is very small hole in the wall, and you will need reservations for a weekend dinner. Possibly during the week as well. They do take out, and seem to be able to handle party of 2 walk ins. They can't split a check so bring cash if in a group. I would suggest not getting a spot by the door, because you will have the butts of walk ins in your face your whole meal. Now on to the food... While waiting they serve a soup and pita bread, which are tasty, but I would suggest going light on these since the main plates are massive. I am a fairly impressive eater and I couldn't even dent half this plate. I got the lamb schwarma. The meat was very good, tender, and flavorful. The sauce over the top was a super kick, along with the cabbage. I did my best to avoid the rice at the time because I was getting full early on and wanted to stick to the good stuff. Overall I was very impressed with the food. The service was fair, but I think they do the best they can with the place's layout. I would've given 5 stars if the service, bill, and layout was a bit more "modern". But then of course that might subtract from some of the hole in the wall charm the old school east siders enjoy. Food was tops. Definitely recommend giving it a taste!
(4)Esther S.
Small restaurant but cozy and cute. Went for lunch during the week. I ordered the lamb schwarma and it was delicious! Served with soup and pita bread/dip. HUGE portions you could def share it with someone else. I would definitely go back. Best to go before noon and miss the normal lunch crowd. Food was fast and staff friendly.
(4)Henry L.
I love the medley of flavors each of their dishes have. I'd usually fill up on the complimentary pita bread and balsamic/vinaigrette dip, so I can't finish my entree. Definitely would bring those who've never tried Mediterranean cuisine. Service sometimes is kind of "snappy", but perhaps it's because they have people waiting at the door for an empty table.
(5)Richard W.
I came here while visiting at the urging of a friend, who insisted that this place was the best in town. I guess he told half of the city the same thing too, cause this place was PACKED. We arrived at 7ish and ended up waiting about half an hour for a table. The restaurant is fairly small, seating maybe 20 - 30 at most. I thought this was because they were new, but they have Zagat ratings for at least 5 or 6 years! I guess they keep the size small in order to make it seem like the place is packed and bustling. Good work MK. Anyway, onto the important part - the food! They have a limited selection, but each item we ordered was scrumptious, savory and absolutely heaping in portion. I think a limited - yet - awesome menu is better than places that have 100 items including stuff that should NEVER be on their menu (a "kim chee" burger at a mexican restaurant that shall not be named comes to mind... seriously WTF?). I ordered the chef's special with beef and it was amazing. Even their rice is ridiculous - I don't know what they do to it, but just a forkful of rice is tasty enough to stand alone. That night, it was cold and we were standing outside for most of the half-hour wait. Bonus points for having a heat lamp (that scalded my head.. geez that thing was strong), but I will refrain from 5 stars because the limited real estate there left me shivering in the freezing night. A telltale sign to this place's legitimacy and popularity is the fact that directly across the street was a completely empty mediterranean restaurant that was twice this size. ha.
(4)Helen K.
I would of given it another star if the waiter didn't front and tell me the rice was saffron rice- it clearly isn't-I know my saffron rice and that rice tasted like chicken broth and butter. I'm sorry don't lie and call it saffron just cause it's yellow. It doesn't make it saffron guys! Other than that, the food is good there, the lamb the bf got was really good, cooked well. I love the yogurt, nice and creamy-very good. The chicken was really good also, very tender-even when I had left overs a few days later. I found that the rice tasted much better when its a few days older ( which is usually not the case with rice)-so I can't get too upset about the use of chicken stock and butter. Funny thing is I'm quite sure I went to this place like 3 yrs ago with coworkers and had an awful meal- it was when I was a vegetarian, I'm very happy I came back because the food ( if this is the same place, and I'm thinking it is due to the decor & seats) is much much better than I remembered it to be. I highly recommend this place, even though the rice was not saffron rice.
(4)rinku i.
It was for my birthday a couple of years ago that i visited this place the first time , i wanted to eat something different from my regular Indian food ! I chose this one based on the great ratings from Yelp . It's a small place & finding parking can be quite a task especially on weekdays . The wait at the door can also be long , though a small place , its quite popular & has a steady flow of office crowd & families . Everything i tried was tasty , perfectly cooked meat with awesome flavours . They serve you complimentary pita bread & soup of the day . Algerian chicken , chicken shavers , falafel ,beef kabobs& many other dishes i cant remember the names now , but all of them were tasty . The portions are huge with lots of healthy veggies & rice . The food is awesome , the 1 star missing in the review is for the wait time to be seated & the struggle of finding a parking space .
(4)B B.
Many of the appetizers, the rice, the lentil soup and the fool are vegan and very tasty. I especially love the zarrah (appetizer). you better bring your appetite, because they don't know what small portions are here. if you love garlic, lemon, and tahini, this is the place for you. YUM!
(4)Tricia C.
My husband took me here when we went on our first date... maybe that's how I fell in love with him. Everything, from start to finish, was excellent. They start you off with a delicious bowl of lentil soup, and pita bread accompanied by a tangy dip. So good. That day we ordered the Chicken Shwarma, which was amazing... served over a bed of rice with a yogurt garlic sauce. The portion size was enormous, and the two of us couldn't finish the one dish together. We had a considerable amount left over, but we're not big eaters either. We finished the meal with their baklava - flakey pistachio goodness dripping in honey. Wow. One thing to be aware of is that this place is quite small and gets very crowded on the weekends, but if you have 4 or more people you can make a reservation. We've been there several times since our first date and have never been disappointed. I've recently discovered their Kibby dish and now that's the only thing I order when I go there. I've heard from many people that the food is too garlicky, but I'm a garlic lover so it's not a problem for me. Perhaps that's why my husband offered me a mint before kissing me goodnight.
(5)Nick C.
So I hate to be the naysayer, but the food here is really disgusting. You have to absolutely love garlic beyond all reasonable measure in order to eat any main course. Food comes in heaping piles with gigantic chunks of garlic mixed in like raisins in raisin bread. These aren't carefully prepared dishes, it's presented more like cafeteria food. Beyond the food tasting like garbage, the decor is hideous. Everything about this place screams cheap except the bill.
(1)Michael A.
After reading the reviews on this place I went there for lunch with a friend who also loved the place...I have to say after eating at Meze in Kirkland - I would rate this place below that. The food was solid - lunch is a decent value but I was not wildly impressed. The hummus at Meze is from another world compared to Mediterraniean Kitchen..Service was good...over all it was OK but didn't live up to what I expected
(3)Jeffrey S.
It is worth a try. Good food.
(4)John M.
This is a great Middle Eastern restaurant (mostly Lebanese I think) that is small, crowded and noisy. You are immediately served a bowl of lentil soup and pita bread while you decide what to order. The Algerian Chicken or the Chicken Shishtawook is good. They serve large portions that can be easily split (for a small extra charge). They also have many vegetarian dishes. This is great dinning for couples, or larger groups that can share entrees and feel comfortable. Their feature wine is Chateau Kefraya (a Lebanese red wine that is bottled in France) that stands up to the heavy herbs, spices, and garlic. They are located within an easy walk of Bellevue Square and the Lincoln Square Cinemas. You will also notice that they do a considerable take-out business, so keep that in mind too. Oh, and be sure to ask for the Turkish coffee following your meal. It's a good finishing touch.
(5)Veronica S.
This place rocks! Go early-ish (before 6pm) and you shouldn't have too much trouble getting seated. The food is fantastic and you get a lot for the price (I always have enough leftover for lunch the next day). Not a place for young kids but if you get a hankering for the food you can call-in an order to pick up and bring it home to eat with the kiddos. Just bring something to put the soup in... for some reason they don't have soup containers for take-out. Note that they're closed daily between meals (2:30-4:30pm).
(5)Rick L.
I put LOADS of garlic in lots of things I cook, but this place really overdoes it [in a good way]. The appetizers are really large, and can easily be split by a person or two. The service is more than hospitable and the food is warm, and has a very strong soul. Enjoy!
(5)Kate M.
This is a great escape from other humdrum food establishments in Bellevue. It's right next to Orexi, so you can go back and forth to spice things up. Great breads and distinctive tastes!
(4)Anna M.
Here is my idea of heaven: enjoy the company of my charming and good lookin' husband as we make the drive from Ballard to Bellevue, pausing our conversation to appreciate the "reduced noise pavement zone" just after we cross the 520 bridge. Pull up at Mediterranean Kitchen shortly thereafter and find out there's a 45 minute wait for a table. Stroll over to the neighboring liquor store and scoop up a few "cocktails in a can," then retreat to our car and enjoy them with 88.5 and soft drops of rain providing the background to our conversation. Just as we finish our Whiskey Sour and Censored on the Beach (respectively), my husband's cell phone rings: our table at Mediterranean Kitchen is ready. We head inside for cinnamon-laced soup, pita and garlic dipping sauce so strong it immediately makes my tongue hurt. No matter. Next comes fried cauliflower liberally sauced with tahini. And then, just as we begin to think we might be too full for more, our main dishes arrive: shish tawook and chicken schawarma. What follows is totally gustatory delight ... a bite of chicken, dredged through hummous and/or tahini, rice, a slug of belly-warming syrah, repeat. We stuff ourselves and there's still an entire meal's worth of food on each plate. Can't wait for tomorrow! This place is worth the drive times a billion. Mmm mmm mmm.
(5)P E.
Large portions, fresh and tasty food, reasonable prices and average to above average service. How much better can it get?
(5)Tod B.
This is such a good place to eat. It is a tiny place with lots of personal attention. The food is huge, so be hungry. The prices are very reasonable. Meals come with Turkish coffee, but they only bring it out when you are finished if you ask for it because it is really strong.
(5)Danny L.
This is the smaller of the two mediterranean kitchens. Very tight and could use an expansion as busy as they always are, but the food is what really matters. The soup starter is always excellent and the garlic dressing could be put on a piece of cardboard and I'd eat it. The farmer's dish never disappoints and the lamb is tender and melts in your mouth.
(5)Margie N.
I wish I could love this place as much as everyone else does, but seriously - the garlic is KILLER. I loved the soup and the garlic dip [for the pita bread] as starters, and the Shisk Tawook [charbroiled chicken with a hardcore garlic sauce over a pile of yummy rice and a side of hummus] was good, although slightly overcooked, but after eating less than half of it I could eat no more. I thought I would pass out from garlic exposure. I had to go to the gym afterwards to work off some of my garlic-ness. And drink several bottles of water. It is pretty tasty, but anyone reading this please don't take the garlic warnings lightly. The Med LOVES its garlic.
(3)Shane D.
crazy good food, and leftovers!
(4)a a.
burnt lamb. over sauced. super size. good hummus. good service.
(2)Ebru Y.
An ethnic Middle Eastern and Mediterranean restaurant right in the heart of Bellevue. The food is simply amazing. If you are a meat lover then try any of the shawarmas, or kafta kebabs. If you want to go meatless, then your best bet is falafel, spanikopita, stuffed grape leaves, salads...and the list goes on. Right when you're seated at your table, you are served a bowl of the delicious lentil soup, and then mixed green salad with warm bread. Endless options, great selection. This place has a pretty good reputation, and another location in Seattle. So it gets quite busy and you might have to wait in the line, so take my advice and make your reservations ahead of time. By the way you might be asking, no music? There is great Arabic music playing througout. The owner is usually there at the restaurant and is a very nice guy. He comes around your table and asks how everything is. We weren't sure dessert and he sent us a complimentary plate of baklava. He is a great owner that definitely knows how to get customers' businesses. Way to go!
(5)Amanda S.
Came in on a Friday night and was able to be seated immediately for a party of two. The service here is great. The waiters were very tentative to us. They start uou off with a warm bowl of lentil soup and some pita bread (i think) and garlicy-lemony dip. Both were very delicious. Plus, they were willing to give us extra bread when we ran out. (Yes, we were fatties~) We ordered the Chicken Shwarma and Kafta Kabob. Both were very good. I think the lean meat from the Kafta Kabob dish was very well seasoned and flavorful but the consistency of the meat wasnt my thing. It seemed a bit dry. The chicken was really goos though, so I would go for that next time. The only other thing that I would mention is that once we ordered it did take quite a while for our order to come out. Which is partially why we asked for me bread. By the time our food came out, I guess we were pretty stuffed with bread. *shrugs* They were nice leftovers. :) The portions are huge but lots of rice. The rice is soo good though!
(4)Allison T.
This place is amazing! Generous portions, and delicious food. Best hummus I've ever had-- and very kind service, too. I avoid wheat, so the waiter brought me extra cucumber to enjoy the hummus with. I had the lamb shawarma and it was perfection.
(5)Cathy A.
This was my first visit here, and I felt like I'd discovered a gem!!! Everything was flavored so well and truly delicious. The free cup of lentil soup and flatbread was a nice touch. My only (minor) complaint is that the waiter started clearing the table while one person in our party was still eating. Other than that, it was a perfect experience.
(5)T M.
First, do not be afraid of Lebanese food! It is so similar to Greek and Moroccan ingredients and flavors. I had the pleasure of dining here last night for the first time. I would definitely come back. The service was great as we felt very attended to by all of the staff. One star. The place was close to where we stayed so proximity was worth a star. The value was pretty crazy. There was a TON of food. Another star. The flavors and presentations were also great and deserve a star. The place is small and full. It may be tough to run a good small business in a small town but these guys are worth a shot.
(4)Charlene L.
Wow! This is a flavor bomb! How have I not been here before? Came here for lunch and was immediately greeted with a lentil soup, pita bread, and a delicious garlic dip! This was awesome, as we were hungry and ready to eat! After devouring my soup and pretty much drinking this garlic dip with a straw (not literally, but I could have!), I was faced with a challenge... to get the shish tawook or the chicken schwarma... decisions, decisions... I ended up getting the schwarma and convinced my colleague to get the shish tawook, with the understanding that we would be sharing :) Both dishes are DELICIOUS and HUGE! So much rice, meat, and in the schwarma lots of veggies! The quality of meats were on point, flavorful, and juicy! Come here and check it out.. you won't be disappointed! My only regret was that I didn't try the Mezza Plate.. but by the looks of the pictures posted, it looks like a meal within itself! Next time, Mezza plate... we will meet soon!
(4)Ray C.
Had the lamb swarma....excellent..... and a lot of it to! Great service too!! I'll be back.
(4)Jackie S.
Good place to visit if you are in Bellevue. You get your money's worth at this restaurant with the quantity and value. Make a reservation since the place was packed after 5:30pm on a Sunday evening. We tried a variety of food since we had a larger party. The table received warm hummus with the garlic olive oil dip and lentil soup. Each dish came with a mountain of rice, so you'll get plenty of carbs throughout the evening. - Mezze Tray: Dips galore with the hummus, babaganoush, cauliflower, and more. The cauliflower was so delicious. The best thing on the platter! - Falafels: We had this as an appetizer as well. These were really good. They had the nice crisp on the outside and was not dry inside. - Salmon: Not bad. I don't remember too much about it except that the fish wasn't dry. - Kabobs: I didn't eat these, but the hubby said that they were pretty good. We also had other meat dishes, but I don't recall what they were. We were so full from the evening that we didn't try any desserts. Service was good throughout the evening. We didn't have any issues.
(4)G R.
Yes. Go eat here now if you like mediterranean food. The portions are large enough to share and delicious. The meats are grilled but not dry, and the sauces are excellent. One note - do not take a date here as pretty much everything has a ton of garlic and is delicious.
(4)Chauanh D.
I just adore this place. Amazing service, great ambiance, and incredible food! The lentil soup and the pita bread with the garlic sauce is amazing! Just happy my BF was eating the same thing. ;) Portions are huge and delicious. Will be back many times over. Thanks for such a great meal!
(5)Lily L.
You really get your bang for the buck with the two-people plate of food you get. I could never finish a plate myself about 99% of the time, which is great because I am guaranteed lunch for the next day. I'm not a fan of lamb, but their lamb dishes as truly delicious and doesn't carry that gamy taste I usually get from other restaurants. Some of my faves are the Lamb shish kabobs, spanakopita, and any of the shwarma dishes. I wasn't in favor of the Dolmas dish because the dolmas were too sour in flavor, but the dish as a whole was still good. Food is quick. The last time I went (8/24), I walked in, ordered and when my family arrived (about 10 minutes later), the food arrived right at that time. Fast and easy! Great for group size of 4, but you should reserve regardless. In the summers, they have a few outdoor seating spots. Try it out! Though I don't go as often, every time I do, I am 95% satisfied with their service and food.
(5)Maris L.
Decided to try Mediterranean Kitchen because of the rave reviews on Yelp. My husband and I entered the restaurant not really knowing what to expect, especially since we were planning to order to-go but didn't call ahead. After ordering our Chicken Shawarma to go, we were asked if we wanted to take a seat as we waited for the food. I appreciated that we were even given lentil soup and water as we waited for our one meal that we were planning to share (since everyone on Yelp kept saying the portions are huge!). I usually don't like lentil soup, but this one was really flavorful. Would recommend. Chicken shawarma was pretty standard; I loved it though because it was HUGE - definitely enough for two people (and some leftovers). This place certainly gives you bang for your buck. Can't wait to come back and actually eat in! (And up the rating to 5 stars!)
(4)Rex C.
At lunch here and had the: BEEF SHAWARMA $13.50 Beef strips marinated in red wine vinegar, spices and garlic grilled with onions, tomatoes, green onions and red cabbage, served with tahini sauce. It was ok. The beef was pretty dry and the portion size seemed large but it was really just a huge bed of rice. Service was spot on though. I am not sure I would go back.
(3)Dieter V.
All of the herbs and seasonings and every other ingredient combine and BOOM into a mouthgasm that will leave you wanting more and more. This place is incredible. Most of my life, I was always into being boring and eating strictly American food. Then, as I got a little older, I became more open to trying new things. If you want to impress a date, you'll earn the title as a man amongst boys (or a woman amongst girls) by recommending that they join you here. The portions are massive. I'm a slender, athletic guy who eats like crazy, but usually have a little left over, which is fine by me because that just means more mouthgasms when I eat those leftovers the following day. I highly recommend the Shish Tawook. Charbroiled chicken breast tenderloin marinated in garlic, lemon juice, herbs and spices. Nom nom nom.
(5)Amit D.
Nice Little Restaurant. Pita Bread, Dip and soup on the house. Huge Portion Sizes. Amazing Taste. Share the entrees so you can taste various things. Chicken Shawarma is always amazing.
(5)Trevor L.
Amazing place! First the great, the staff! Second, even better than great is the food. The lamb Shish kebob was amazing and the chicken special was flat out the best I've had to date. I will be returning here as often as possible.
(5)Catherine Z.
Love the Mediterranean Kitchen. I'm of Lebanese and Syrian descent myself, so I've grown up with amazing, authentic Mediterranean food and I can say that this restaurant lives up to the highest standards on so many levels. Yes, it is expensive, but you always get your money's worth. One entree will feed me for two or three days, which also makes it a great choice for take out. As a bonus, nearly all of their foods are naturally dairy and gluten free. Highly recommended!
(5)Alexandra M.
I'm trying to read all the reviews to see if anyone else found their food too salty, but I guess it's just me. I'm usually one for sour, savory flavors that give my taste buds a kick, but Mediterranean Kitchen brought it to a whole new -- almost unbearable -- level. I felt like my blood pressure was shooting through the roof eating there. When my friend's salad came out first, he asked me, "Try this salad. Is it just me of is just overly salty?" I tried it and did feel like it was too salty, but I played it down and teased him about being too used to a stem-vegetables-only diet that he can no longer handle anything with flavor. Then my combination plate came. (I asked the waiter what the popular/favorite dishes are, so he recommended getting a "sample" of all of their signature ones: kafta kabob, shish tawook and lamb shawarma in the combination kabob dish.) I had a spoonful and I couldn't continue eating. It was much too salty. I ended up chewing on their pita bread for the rest of dinner because that was the only thing without an overwhelming taste. I have to agree that this is the best Mediterranean food in Bellevue, though I'd suggest crossing the bridge to get the same kind of cuisine with better quality at a better price at Shawarma King. Thank goodness I live three blocks away from the latter! I give them two stars for friendly and prompt service, as well as the quiet, dimly-lit interior that gave it a semi-romantic, semi-intimate ambience. However, I can't really guarantee this since my friend and I were the only ones in the restaurant at the time (I read another review that the restaurant gets extremely loud when it is crowded).
(2)Rohit K.
Good place to try some very nice Mediterranean cuisine. Farmers chicken is our favorite. The place is small and gets full really fast. The service is decent and generally prompt. Although the prices are slightly high but the portions of food are big. A single dish is okay to be shared by 2. Both soup and salad are good. Parking is a problem though.
(4)Chipsie P.
Maybe I ordered the worst thing they have on the menu?!!! Seafood couscous: SO SO SO SOOOOOOGGY!!! Overall it felt like eating WARMED-UP FROZEN FOOD :( I do know how Middle Eastern food is supposed to be like. Some details: the veggies were (broccoli, green beans, onion, tomato, zucchini, carrots) overcooked and mushy, the cousous grains instead of being light and fluffy were too soft, overloaded with water and glued together. Chewy pieces of octopus. Just ok pieces of shrimps and fish. The taste was very bland so I had to add some olive oil that was on the table to add flavor. NOTHING AUTHENTIC THAT IS FOR SURE! YOU REALLY HAVE TO NOT HAVE ANY IDEA ABOUT MIDDLE EASTERN FOOD TO BE ABLE TO EAT HERE. Service is friendly (the stars are mainly for that) although not that attentive. Over $20... No no no surely not worth it.
(2)Abdullah A.
I go there every time I get the chance to. There prices are little bit higher than usual but the food is delicious. Everyone who can eat meat should go there to try the lamb. I think is the best lamb can be served in washington. Thank you.
(5)Christina B.
So impressed with this small restaurant! Low-lighting at dinner was nice ambiance. A little noisy though because the space is so small and open. I loved the complimentary pita bread and delicious lentil soup. I ordered the chicken shawarma, and my friend a dish I can't remember now. I was so amazed and surprised when our food was served. The portion sizes are huge, and very reasonably priced! I ended up having my leftovers for lunch and dinner the next day. The food was flavorful and delicious. The meal was completed with a yummy, complimentary dessert pastry. I will definitely return.
(4)Lee A.
Flavor is pretty good and the servings very big. It's a bit expensive though. I've had just as good and better for less. The flavor was good, lots of garlic. I wish they had included a little more chicken and a little less vegetables. More sauce would have also been great. The rice was not good. I'm surprised and it seems like their neighbor, garlic crush uses the same rice. It tastes like rice pilaf and is really think. I'm not really a fan of this kind of rice. If it wasn't so expensive I would probably go back to try more but I think I'll stick with it's less expensive and just as tasty neighbor, garlic crush.
(3)Leila C.
This place is INCREDIBLE. Ambiance is a solid zero, however the food makes up for that...it is FANTASTIC! Fantastic vegetarian items and my fellow eaters said the meat dishes were very good, too. I cannot believe the quality/quantity of the veggie platter appetizer - SO SO GOOD!
(5)Mojdeh S.
How I heard of this place: My friend, Marc introduced me to this place a few years ago, when I was looking for a Mediterranean establishment that blew others out of the water. The garlic sauce, here, he claimed, made all other Mediterranean restaurants pale in comparison! Type of cuisine: "Authentic Middle Eastern cuisine - influenced by traditional family recipes." Having been around since 1982, this father and son establishment serves everything from shawarma to mishwi, kafta to shish tawook, and everything served in large portions, full with flavor and spice. Ambiance: A small space, bedecked with mirrors on both of the side walls to create a feeling of bigness. Ten two twelve tables for parties of two to eight are available for seating. Wooden, backed, dark chairs accompany glass-topped tables, offering a bottle of wine adjacent to the salt and pepper shakers. Triangle-shaped, black napkins host silverware. The space is bustling, full and a line often reaches out the door and onto the small patio space in the strip-mall location. Full of people, efficient servers and even quicker bus-boys, the chairs are almost never empty for long. What I ordered: In the past, I've sampled appetizers like the spinakopita ($9.95), baked filo stuffed with spinach and feta cheese, served on homemade drained yogurt, garnished with feta, fresh basil, crushed mint and oregano. On this venture, of the four of us dining, two sampled the hummus ($6.50), mashed garbanzo beans with spices and an abundance of tahini sauce. The hummus was served soon after our complimentary (with the purchase of each entree) green lentil soup, with carrots and garlic arrived, accompanied by warm, thin pita, enough for each of us in our party. Having been the only one who had previously dined at the Mediterranean Kitchen, I warned my dining companions of the size of each meal, offering to share with others, as necessary. Two chose to share the lamb shawarma ($18.95; an additional $4.95 for shared plates), lamb tenderloin marinated in a mixture of Mediterranean spices cooked with onions, green onions, red cabbage and tomatoes, served with tahini sauce (hummus), and a plate of rice. Between the other two of us, I was prepared to share, but my dining companion preferred to take leftovers home, so we each ordered our own meals. I selected my favorite, shish tawook ($15.95), charbroiled chicken breast tenderloin marinated in garlic, lemon juice, herbs and spices, served with rice and hummus. And he felt most drawn to the kafta kabob ($14.95), three sizzling skewers of extra lean ground meat mixed with parsley, onions and spices, charbroiled with tomatoes and onions, served with rice and hummus. To end the meal, we had one order of sweet Turkish coffee, minus the fine grounds, which we attempted to read at the end of the delicious and flavorful meal. What I loved: I love the garlic sauce that is poured over each of the meat dishes! I most loved the charbroiled chicken, juicy, well marinated and grilled to perfection. My dining companions each preferred their own meal most, which aided in creating a very happy dining party! Why I loved it: The selection is great, the staff and service efficient and quick, the food plentiful and the prices reasonable. The cozy atmosphere and the intimate space create a romantic and intimate space without pretentiousness. Cost: Average ($12.95 - $18.95 per dinner entree)
(4)David C.
Excellent food, I could eat this every day. They have big portions which is perfect if your feeling very hungry
(5)Anjelica A.
Came here for lunch today based on the great reviews. I ordered the beef shawarma, iced mint tea, and a side of hummus. My thoughts: --Pita bread: While I got the impression that it is not baked on the premises, I did appreciate the fact that it was hot, unlimited, complimentary, and served wrapped in a napkin to keep it warm. It was delicious dipped in my hummus. --Red lentil soup: Yummy! Warm and savory! Served complimentary with the meal. --Iced mint tea: The best thing ever! They make it beforehand, sweeten it, and then freeze it in a carafe so that when they serve it to you, it's icy like an iced-tea smoothie. Pieces of mint floating inside. Wonderful! --Beef shawarma: This is where the meal was a miss. Marinated in spices, it is strips of sirloin, onions, and tomatoes, on a bed of rice and drizzled with tahini sauce. The beef was really tough! I didn't finish my plate, abandoning it instead for the hummus and hot pita bread. --Side of hummus: This was my favorite thing! Lemony, garlicky and delicious, I thought it was a bit overpriced at almost $8 for a plate, but I loved every bit of it! It was a high-powered flavor punch! I would return here for the iced tea and hummus, but not for the shawarma. Next time, I might try the place across the street called Garlic Crush, which sounds like a romantic date to me!
(3)Vyjayanthi R.
There are several good things about this place. The complimentary pita bread with garlic is one of them - unlimited pita that is oh so soft and delicious. The humongous portions of food that are equal for not just two, but three meals is another. The staff are great about doing separate checks for a large party and additionally even okay with one of the separate checks being split by two cards(not many places do this!). I like that their menu has several vegetarian options too. At the end of the day though, I've found the entrees themselves to be unremarkable and disappointing. The Hummus, for one, is much blander than at other places and the Spinakopita I had recently was so oily that I felt quite sick after a couple of bites. I would think twice about going back here again, I feel like there's better Mediterranean food to be had in the area.
(3)Terry P.
I resisted against this location for so long because its cousin in Seattle was closer to me, cheaper, and just as tasty. However, good old days were gone. So here I am, crossing the bridge to seek awesome Lebanese food. And the recent visits to this location were just great dining experiences. As soon as we sat down, pita bread and a cup of piping hot complimentary soup were serve. It was such a warm touch in a cold wintery PNW night. Lamb shawarma and farmer's dish were our favorites. I complained about the prices, but each one of the entree dishes was at least enough for two meals (tasted better the next day!)
(5)Manjae P.
Love this place. Service is always welcoming, everything tastes good and fresh. Also, left-over becomes another one whole meal! If you have a large party, try the Meza plate. It is a HUGE appetizer with lots of fresh vegetables and dips! Chicken Shawarma is always a good pick.
(5)Gabriel C.
Combo Kabob (4/5) - Generous gigantic portion of rice with your choice of meat, a small side of salad, a small side of hummus (and pita!) and some soup on the side. Definitely tasty and a very large portion. More than happy to come back again!
(4)Cc H.
Their rice is simply amazing! I have enjoyed all their chicken dishes as well as their roasted cauliflower which is awesome. Huge portions but also high prices. I always come out with left overs. The place is tiny so there is always a wait if you go during peak hours. I would not recommend this place for a date. Although the ambiance is great, they put so much garlic in their food that you smell for at least 12 hours!
(4)Rachel P.
More Bridesmaid dress shopping means that I get rewarded with food. YAY!! We arrived at the perfect time, just before the dinner rush on a wednesday. Service was fantastic. I converted two newbies to the awesomeness of MK. I had left overs and truly looked forward to lunch the following day. I think my pregnancy cravings might be MK chicken and rice and cotton candy- totally normal.
(5)Soniya A.
Excellent food and nice cozy ambiance. For parties of 4 or more you can call and reserve a table. Their lentil soup and garlic sauce are just amazing. Their schwarma is the best I've tasted in the ten or fifteen odd Mediterranean restaurants that I have been at. They also have a good selection of vegan items to choose from. Their portions especially their dinner portions are huuuggeee and if you are walking in for dinner you will most certainly walk out with a TO GO box after you've had your dinner as the leftovers themselves make another meal. The taste is great. Nothing to complaint of. The prices are high but considering that you pay for two meals at dinner plus you get good food you can neglect the prices.
(5)Terry D.
We've eaten here three times now and it's quickly becoming one of our Eastside favorites. Last night I had the Samaki Harrah which is their salmon dish and OMG it was fantastic! I'm pretty sure I'll have that from now on! This location is pretty small and always filled, but we've never had to wait too long for a table. If you love Mediterranean food and you live anywhere nearby then you owe it to yourself to check it out. GREAT STUFF!!
(4)Sophia W.
We have both dined in the restaurant and gotten take out. When dining in, I find that the service is pretty slow. It takes a good while for the food to come. The place is also rather small so sometimes the wait for a seat can be quite long. In terms of food, the portion size is quite generous. Some of our favorites include the Lamb Sharma and the combination kabob. As other yelpers have mentioned, the taste of garlic is quite overwhelming. Personally, I love garlic, but the aftertaste will stay for hours, even after brushing and mouthwash. Overall, I enjoy getting take out here from time to time, but not somewhere that I would go for a nice meal out.
(3)Jenny A.
First off, parking was a B to find lol! This is a cute little restaurant and the staff here are very friendly. I wasn't crazy about the lentil soup but everything else was good! :) Get the chicken shawarma!!!!
(4)David P.
One of our faves, ridiculous portions, awesome hummus, and great flavors. Desserts and apps are great if you arent super hungry, not many seats so plan your arrival strategically!
(4)Mridula P.
Great Ambiance, Excellent Service.. and flavorful food. I've eaten better lamb shank and Shwarma else where though. But, I thought their Baklava was the best ever I had :)
(3)Taryn M.
Food was delicious! They begin with a homemade soup which is warm and tasty. They also bring out pita bread and their special garlic sauce which is super addicting! I ordered the chicken shwarma and the flavors were amazing. More garlic sauce was on the chicken which made it even tastier. Everything was warm and the flavors blended so well together. My only complaint would be that my plate was 3/4 rice. Granted they still gave you a ton of chicken and veggies, but better portion control would be preferred. Maybe offering half plates for a little less money? I know I didn't need to eat all the food I did. Walked out with that over-full feeling (which is both a curse and a blessing)
(4)Sanjay C.
Huge portions - not sure why. Almost always get takeout. Love their Salmon dish with extra sauce. The Spanakopita is quite decent too. If you are a meat lover then you will like the lamb.
(4)Candace G.
Favorite place for take out in Bellevue (nice to sit down at too though). Shish Tawook is amazing and portions are huge, we usually spilt between the two of us and always have leftovers.
(5)Ashwin R.
Lovely east side eats, with simple, effective preparations, big portions, and great prices
(4)Hurst K.
Wow! First time here and it's truly exceptional. Every dish filled with independent flavors, all created uniquely and separately. Really enjoyed the two appetizers and two entrees. I would type what we ate but too full, can barely walk out of here. Enjoy! This place is awesome.
(5)Yuki I.
Love their meat, soup, and salad. I was addicted to their dishes for awhile. I order one dish and take leftover home and it lasts at least 2 days. The portion of lunch dishes is disappointing even with lower prices. I ordered Farmer's Dish and Combo Kabob (one chicken, beef, and lamb) at lunch but the portion was half of what I get at dinner. Stick with dinner deal.
(4)Tiff W.
We went here for a team lunch and food was fantastic. Everything tasted fresh and was loaded with flavor. I was surprised by how much I loved the fried cauliflower. I can't wait to take my husband here for dinner.
(5)Karen L.
Updating this review (long overdue). My favorite entree is the lamb shish kabob. The meat is flavorful and tender and very delicious. And of course the rice is perfectly seasoned. I'm a grains kind of girl and I just love the rice. The portions are pretty amazing also. We come here pretty often. Come hungry!
(4)Leila N.
I had a lunch with my husband we shared a combination Kebabs platter which was really good and the portion was big enough for two persons, and the service was really fast with nice staff
(4)Colin M.
I definitely recommend trying this place if you are in Bellevue. The portions are huge, so no need for an appetizer or salad ahead of time. Before your food comes out, they bring you lentil soup plus naan bread and this delicious garlic/vinaigrette dip. The garlic dip was unreal, its' very easy to fill up on the bread/dip because its' amazing. I ordered the lamb schwarma as the main course and it could have easily fed 2 people. The flavors were great and the service was very friendly. I sat outside because the weather was warm and the inside was packed. Great food, great service, and you will not leave hungry.
(4)Lynette A.
Fantastic! I had a lentil soup, (shared) mezza(?) plate appetizer, and vegetable delight. Everything was amazing. Excellent service. Huge portions. Perfect for Saturday lunch for three friends. No wait.
(5)Kenny Y.
Found this little gem for our last meal in Seattle. It was bad timing to have lunch in downtown Bellevue, especially when we were short on time and trying to get a quick bite and rush to the airport to make our flight. But this place went far and beyond to serve and help us get in and out on time. We weren't sure how long the food would take so we ordered to go. As we stood waiting for the food the server asked a couple of times if we wanted to sit at a table while we waited. We felt bad for taking a table and the server felt bad we were standing. So we ended up sitting down, and the waiter quickly brought over bowls of soups for us. Which comes with every meal if you dine in, but it was nice of him to serve to us even though we ordered to go. The food came out pretty quick, so we asked if we could just dine in instead. Without hesitation the server ripped the to go bag open and handed each of us our to go plates. He then brought over some salad dressing/dip and extra pita bread. As we scarfed down our food, the server came over numerous times to make sure we were ok and if we needed anything else. O ya... the food... we ordered the chicken shawarma. We are big mediterranean fans and the shawarma here was DELICIOUS!!! If we had found this spot at the beginning of the trip we would have been back for another meal before we left. Everything was so flavorful and tasty... soup, salad dressing, rice! Ohh and also the portions were huge! Our 1 year old baby girl liked the pita bread a lot, so we asked for a to go box to take our remaining half pita for her snack on the plane. And what did they do?? The server went back to the kitchen and brought us out 2 new pitas in a to go bag. Like I said, service was top notch here! I'd recommend this place to anyone for dine in or to go. Both service and food was excellent! I wish I could give more stars!!!
(5)Emily D.
Went here for dinner with my vegetarian boyfriend, and had a lovely date! Every part of the meal was flavorful, and the hummus was the best I've had in a while. I wish that we would've split an entree, since the portions are huge. I'm sure we'll be back, and keep that in mind. I have two suggestions in mind for Mediterranean Kitchen that kept me from providing a 5-star review: The interior of the restaurant could use a redesign. Food deliveries to the kitchen went straight through the dining area during the dinner rush, and extra chairs are stored, stacked, in the ladies room. Maybe shuffle things around a bit? Also, we ordered hummus as an appetizer (which was a big portion), and then my meal came with EVEN MORE hummus. Still delicious, but I wish I would've known beforehand, so I could've asked for a different side.
(4)Dale M.
Friendly staff and great service. Free appetizer pita bread with soup and sauces was genius. The lamb was good, but a little on the charred side. The chicken was tender, melt in your mouth delicious. I want to go back asap to try more things!
(4)Michael A.
Something that looked like roaches in my food... The manager didn't seem to care. I'm done with this place.
(1)Yann R.
Went there for dinner with the kids. A nice dinner, very friendly staff. Very very generous portions and delicious food. A great deal.
(4)Kristy R.
Hubby and I went for the first time today for lunch and we were impressed. He had lamb schwarma and I had chicken schwarma. Both were really tasty although the meat on both was rather dry. The soup, pita and garlic they start you out with was super good. My husband was totally won over when they brought the soup and pita before we even ordered. He is usually starving when we get to any restaurant . A guy came in to place a to go order and the waiter had him sit down at a table to wait and gave him the complimentary soup. I thought that was really nice. It is small, maybe a dozen tables, so if you go at prime time, be prepared to wait.
(5)Mimi L.
I have been wanting to come here for a long time after reading all the good reviews about the place but for some reason have never gone until now. My friend and I came on a weekend for lunch and the place is pretty small but surprisingly not that packed. We got seated right away and they even gave us some appetizers to start. I got the lamb shawarma, which is a popular dish that was recommended on Yelp. It was good and came in a REALLY big portion. I had leftovers that lasted me for dinner and lunch the next day! The place is actually pretty small, but the service was pretty quick. If I came here again, I would definitely share a meal instead of getting my own. In fact, I think sharing one plate for two people, there would still be leftovers!
(4)Roshni S.
Best Place for mediterranean in Bellevue
(5)Sidhart B.
I love middle eastern cuisine, this disappointed me....too much garlic, even though the food could be tastier if they reduce the amount of garlic... The dinning room is very small and table are too close to each other..
(1)Jinny H.
One of my favorite places ever. Consistently yummy. Portions are huge. I always get 3-4 meals out of one order. The Lovers Sydon Prawns is my favorite. I always get the Zahrah appetizer ( fried cauliflower) with the Mezza Tray. Service is always welcoming. They are so nice to everyone.
(5)Abdelrouf T.
I been to many places for middle eastern food and Mediterranean kitchen is the only one that makes me feel back home, i had the lintel soup and mezza tray and its really good but i got for main course a lamb shawarma and unfortunately its not even belong to shawarma and has ton of nut meg that i could not even feel any other food flavors, other than that food is really how we do back home.
(4)Leigh F.
My first experience here was definitely 5-stars and my last visit was 2-stars at best, so I guess I will be fair and give them a 3-star (3.5) rating... as in this place is A-OK and I will probably come here again in the future, hoping to recreate that first 5-star experience. If you've never been here before, just know that it is very cozy aka small inside. It can get packed pretty quickly, but if you have a party of four or more, they will take reservations. I've read reviews where people complained about finding parking, but thus far, I have not had any problems. The good: - The portions are HUGE. Huge is probably an understatement, which makes it a great value. You could easily feed two people with one entree. It is highly likely that you will be going home with tons of leftovers. - Service was always spot on. Water never went below being half-full, even when the restaurant was jam packed with a wait outside the door. - The garlic dipping sauce for the pita is TO DIE FOR. - Lovers Sydon prawns were well-seasoned and just delicious. - There are plenty of Vegetarian options, with lots of meaty options as well, so you can easily satisfy every member of the family. - The Falafil is delicious. I will probably order this on my next visit, but fortunately my dad was kind enough to share. The not-so-good: - On my first visit, everything was excellent, but on my last visit here, everything was incredibly SALTY. And I have a salty palette, so that in itself says a lot. - My first visit here, I had lamb and it was so good. My last experience with the lamb shwarma was not a good one. I couldn't really eat it because the gamey taste was so overpowering. - The rice is hard. I don't know if it's supposed to be cooked like that. I mean, it wasn't even al dente, it was hard... as in... still raw. - The lamb kabobs only came with a few pieces of meat. Literally, like three pieces of meat, with tons of rice and onions. Summary: Get the falafil, spanakopita, lovers sydon prawns, or the stuffed grape leaves. Definitely can't go wrong with those options. The portions are huge and affordably priced. Service is attentive and friendly. The Mezza Tray is a great way to try a little bit of everything, but be warned in that after tackling that thing, you probably won't be able to eat much of your entree.
(3)Kady W.
Absolutely amazing! We will be coming back to Bellevue just to come here again.
(5)Kshira N.
Nice ambiance. Good for date nights. If you go hungry you will not be disappointed. The portion sizes are huge and generous. They also serve you warm bread with a Zaatar dipper and olive oil as soon as you sit down. But I felt the food tasted a little too garlicky..
(3)Neil F.
We were staying here for the July 4 weekend and looked for nearby places. They start out with the lentil soup and pita bread. It was OK. We got the lamb shawarma and the beef shawarma. The lamb was tender but the beef was sort of chewy. The majority of the dish is rice. People have described it as saffron, but I didn't really notice it. The rice is more of a pilaf than anything. I personally prefer Persian to Lebanese, but it was still a good meal.
(4)Elaine S.
I found this gem a while back and fell in love! The food is outstanding as is the service. As my husband said, we feel privileged to be able to eat such great food.
(5)Tan Lo S.
I cannot stop thinking about this place! Such a small, kind of comforting restaurant that wants you to come in and feast! Super homey-like, very small but definitely casual/romantic/and homey like you're in a small cottage. I arrive shortly after 6 for a table of 4. Their customer service at first entrance, to be quite frank, straight up sucks. No greeting, no welcoming hostess.... to be honest, some people are seating themselves and I awkwardly stand there contemplating if I should seat myself or not be rude and just wait. I opt into waiting and am finally seated probably almost 5 minutes of standing there awkwardly as more people arrive and stand there as well and we all look around trying to avoid the awkward social dilemma. I am seated though (kind of close to another table) and my cousins arrive. We are greeted nicely now with friendly server and lentil soup. To be honest, the lentil soup taste like baby food. It is somewhat nice tasting, however, 1/4 of us ate it all while the 3/4 of us used it as some dipping for the pita that was also complimentary (and their olive oil dipping sauce). We proceed to order and I get the farmers dinner plate. Lord, thank you for blessing me with great cousins who love to eat just as much as I do because my cousin sure chose a fantastic place to eat. Ahh... I love big portions. MK does just that. I got about 7 delicious bbq grilled chicken wings with a load of yellow rice, tahini sauce and good ole' hummus. I AM IN LOVE. For about $19.95, this is a great price in my opinion. It's a restaurant so you can't expect really dirt cheap prices for 7 wings, rice, soup, pita bread and hummus. Anyway, the yellow rice was de-damn-licious. It tasted like it was cooked with chicken broth or something because it was very flavorful. The tahini sauce and hummus tasted really salty at first, but after having it for leftovers, I think it was the perfect combination to help balance the flavors of the dish. The wings were bbq grilled--a little strong on the tahini sauce--I would have liked more of the seasoning/spices/marinade to stand out on the wings, but nonetheless, they were fresh, hot, moist and tasty! My cousins enjoyed their dishes and seriously, none of us ate all of our foods. We all had leftovers and I am so glad because I just had two meals. They have a shared lot on the side of the building. Their service progressed into the night and so I'm glad about that. I definitely recommend this place for their fresh food, huge plates, and such delicious tasting food. I seriously am drooling thinking about their hummus and farmer's plate.... I want to tackle the lamb next.... yummm.
(4)Todd S.
Great service. Moved tables to seat us quickly. We started with a Mezza Tray, and were very pleased. That alone with the lentil soup they serve could be dinner! Chicken Swarma & Lamb Swarma were enjoyed by the whole table. Will return.
(5)Review C.
Great food and awesome price. Their portion is huge so I recommend sharing 1 main dish and get 1 appetizer for a couple.
(5)Sylvia C.
I love this place, its small but neat. the food is really good !!
(5)Madhu S.
Flavorful and tasty food, and the service is wonderful too. I have never tasted better rice, so fresh and garlicky! the place is small, but is worth the wait. Portion sizes are quite big too.
(5)Dhiraj K.
Good quantity, but not so great quality. IMO, 3 stars for this place is very reasonable.
(3)M. S.
For such an amazing restaurant, its sure hard to find! The sign for the hair salon obscured it's location. It was a busy Saturday, but the waiters were attentive and made sure everyones glasses were always full. Had the lamb schwarma and it is amazing. The plate was the size of a hub cap and it was piled with food. Reasonable price considering the amount of food you're served.
(5)David H.
So good and large portions! I have tried the chicken kabob and it was wonderful. The staff is great and it's great for ouch or dinner. I highly recommend.
(5)Kate M.
Best. Falafel. Ever. We always get the chicken shish tawook and it is so delicious and garlicky. Yum!!!
(5)Yumiko K.
I needed to catch up with a good friend of mine, so I suggested we try this place based on the Yelp reviews and a comment from my co-worker. My friend had heard good things about this place, and she wanted to try as well. OH MY GOD! Yelpers, you ARE right (again and again and again). This place was amazing. There was a bit of wait when we arrived at the restaurant around 7:30, but we did not mind chatting outside of the restaurant for 10 minutes or so. As soon as we were seated, they brought us 2 bowls of bean soup and pita bread with some garlic dipping sauce. The soup was tomato-y and tangy with a nice blend of spices. It was not the best soup I ever had, but I really appreciated it came out so fast. Since my friend had never had shwarma, she had to try it (beef). I ordered Lovers Cydon Prawns ($17.95). It is not cheap, but you got to see the portion size! Our food came out on your Thanksgiving service platters. A heaping pile of saffron rice (quite flavourful) topped with a bunch of veggies (biggest carrot chunks!) and char-grilled prawns. My friend also had tons of saffron rice with a heaping pile of beef/grilled green onions/other veggies. We are both hearty eaters, but we barely finished 1/3 of our dinner. Now we won't have to worry about at least next 2 meals. My car and fridge now smell like garlic, but this restaurant is so worth it!
(4)Alisha W.
Went here for lunch today. My first experience at this restaurant was very disappointing. I had heard a lot of good things, but after coming here two more times, I am definitely a fan. Prompt service, food tastes and looks like its crafted with care. My favorite is the garlic dip that they provide with pita at the beginning. The lamb kebab was a bit dry, and although I'm not a chicken fan, I actually think the chicken was better than the beef and lamb. All in all, really delicious. I would recommend ordering carefully because their portion sizes are HUGE.
(4)Robert L.
I had the Beef Shish Kabob. The meat was a little on the tough side, but flavorful. The portions were immense, but mostly filler. It is a nice ambiance. Very close quarters with a more European style seating (if there is an open seat it will be filled if need be) so it can get a little crowded and loud. In short, Meh. I've experienced better pretty much sums it up.
(2)Jonathan M.
If you have the chance, come here! Just be sure you haven't eaten anything all day and don't plan to for the next couple days. The quantity of food that they give you for the price is above and beyond. The Mezza Tray is an awesome combination of appetizers, a mix of vegetables and dips. Most of us ordered the Lamb Shawarma entree, and another buddy got the Lamb Couscous dish. I wasn't particularly happy with the Shawarma dish, as it seemed as if the onion to meat ratio was too heavily skewed to the onion side. However, my judgement could be slightly impaired from the side of the Mezza Tray. The Lamb Couscous came as a lamb shank, which my friend said was very good. I'd go back here, definitely get the Mezza Tray again, but I'll try a different dish for my entree. I'll also be cognizant of the quantity when considering what I want, or making sure I'm able to take the leftovers home for meals the rest of the week!
(4)Andy L.
Do you like mountains of lemon rice? Good for you. Do you like skewers of tasty meat? Me too. Do you love garlic? Hell yes. Was Top Gun the worst movie ever made? I think so. If you agree with me, try the Mediterranean Kitchen. I actually don't know how they feel about Top Gun. As for the first three questions, you can't go wrong. Kebabs!
(4)Courtney K.
Super tasty. They start you off with soup, pita bread, and an insanely good garlic dressing for the bread. The shawarma is delicious, and beautiful! I thought it was a bit pricey until I saw the portions - gigantic. Also had really great service.
(5)Jessica B.
My husband and I have eaten here twice...for dinner on a Friday night and for lunch on a Saturday. It was much less crowded for lunch with no wait. Both times the food was delicious. I don't love the soup they serve but my husband likes it. The pita and garlic dipping sauce taste great.The fried cauliflower is amazing. Both the chicken and the lamb shawarama were delicious. The portions are huge. When we went for dinner we had wine which was very reasonably priced. We'll go back again!
(5)Mo K.
Food is all ways great. I try to steer towards more healthy, less carby, meals. It's very possible with Med Kit. and it's always been great. A top favorite of a friend, and a fun/welcome place for me. Enjoy it! M
(5)Z P.
Excellent food. Not complaining, but the portions are insanely large. Suggest you share an appetizer and an entree and still have leftover. One star off for the red wine being room temperature; the boiler room. Nothing fancy, just good food in a mom and pop kind of joint. Enjoy!
(4)Angela E.
This is one of the best Lebanese restaurants I've been to. The flavors were spot on. I had the Dajaj Mashwi, chicken thighs with garlic sauce served over rice with hummus on the side. The cream sauce is yummy. The pitas were fresh and not microwaved like some places. Our server was very friendly and service was fast. I look forward to coming here often.
(5)Joa K.
AW YISS! I have dined here a few times now so I think I'm ready to write this...I have to take a breather and wipe my drool first.... Let me preface this by saying I effing love mediterranean food. BUT! I do believe a lot of mediterranean eateries over-salt their food. No thank you. Some menu items here really are too salty for me but overall, everything is quite tasty and I'd love to come back often. The last time I was here it was with my bestie. She said the decor was kind of creepy - like we were eating in someone's living room (but not in a good way). I tend to agree with that. It's very dim and drab. It's only welcoming because the staff here are nice. Just FYI... But the important thing is the food! First - the rice. Wow, I feel like they use a lot of butter or something. But I liked it a lot. It had a good homey flavor to it and good texture! None of that mushy stuff. Second - the Mezza Platter. Seriously could feed a family of 4. So. Much. Food. Would it be rude to just smother my face into this tray? That's not very classy you say? Well my class goes out the window when I'm eating Mediterranean food. Take it or leave it. The various dipping opportunities make this extra fun. Radish, cauliflower, etc. with hummus, some sort of yogurt sauce...drooool. Third - the chicken here is seriously bueno. I actually am perfectly happy eating chicken and some veggies. Very filling, relatively healthy, and warms my foodie soul. The service is notable - they are very patient, attentive, and even serve complementary soup, pita, and dipping sauce. Go ahead - fill up on the pita and dipping sauce. You'll explode when you walk out the door but you'll be pretty happy.
(4)Linda T.
I paid a visit because the high rating...but the best I could give it is ok...
(3)d s.
We've been here a couple of times before and the service was meh. We walked in for lunch at 1:30 this time and were ignored by three servers for about 10 minutes standing at the door (the place is not big--they could clearly see us). It was two of us and we asked one of the servers if we could sit at an empty table (they had two 4-tops empty). No, he said, we'd have to wait for a 2-top or wait until the "rush" was over. So, I said, well let's just go someplace else and we headed out the door. Then he started saying, "okay, okay, you can sit, come on guys, I was just kidding, you can sit." We left anyway and won't be back. There are too many good restaurants in Bellevue to put up with service like that. Not to worry guys--with the Bellevue construction going on around this place, you won't be there for long. The wrecking ball has your name on it.
(1)Chompy C.
Cannot get enough of this place! the food is incredible! The dressing on t he salad, the lentil soup, and the entrees! Great portions for leftovers and everything is wonderful. The only trick is that you have to dine with your significant other because they wouldn't be able to stand the smell of you if they didn't have the garlic-y yumminess too!
(5)Ethan C.
The food here is fantastic! Everything is home made, and the flavors are mind blowing. The grilled cauliflower was delicious--seriously, how do you make something as bland as cauliflower taste good? Even the eggplant was tasty, and I hate eggplant. Needless to say, the lamb and chicken dishes are amazingly awesome. The last time we went, the owner must have been our waiter, since he talked about every dish in first person. He couldn't hide his enthusiasm or pride in the food, and he was very interested in what the kids liked best. It was funny that he was worried they wouldn't like the lamb, when we had the opposite problem and the snarfed down the best dish. The portions are huge, so the entrees are more pricey than elsewhere. But they're definitely a good deal. On my first visit, when a nearby couple was served their entree, I assumed they ordered a special dish for two. Nope, that's just their portion size. No worries, though, everything tastes great the next day.
(5)DeAnne E.
I don't visit the Eastside often (maybe twice a year) but this past weekend I was there. I didn't pick the place and I didn't drive. No, it wasn't a hostage situation although some Seattleites might think so. My friend likes Mediterranean food and we happened to be on the Eastside anyway. I was surprised how small the interior was and how all the tables were all filled during the lunch rush. I wasn't expecting soup automatically but there it was in front of me. I'm not a lentil fan so if I knew that was going to be a freebie I think I would have respectfully declined. A dish of garlic dipping sauce came out with pita bread soon after the lentil soup. The garlic sauce was intense! I wasn't able to eat any more of it. It was funny watching my friend attempt to eat it. I ordered the Shish Tawook. The chicken, rice, and hummus were amazing! If you've ever been to Cedars in the U-District, Mediterranean Kitchen is just as good, if not, better. Mediterranean Kitchen's portions are also huge and I fully understand why this restaurant is so popular. The service was very friendly and the price was fantastic for what you get.
(4)TJ G.
We ordered take out at a family gathering, so we sampled a bunch of different plates. The flavors were pretty good and the portions seemed huge, except that it was mostly rice. The rice was delicious, but the plates are too expensive to be so small without having more of a gourmet presentation and flavor. Only three small pieces of spanikopita on top of a container of rice for $15. Four small strips of chicken on a mountain of rice. Shawarma mixed in with so many vegetables you can hardly find any meat, sitting on seven pounds of rice... There was plenty of rice, none of us feel compelled to try this place again.
(2)Pam P.
Ordered the falafel salad and while it was kind of expensive for a salad, it was definitely enough to split and have a second time. The waitstaff was nice and made sure that we had plenty of water (we were outside on a very sunny summer day).
(4)Phily B.
I'm a fan of the lamb!... and omgz the crazy large portions. PROs: * Overall food was good! Some items were better than others, but we all enjoyed our meal. * The portions are huge. Each person order their own plate... we all agree that we could have fed our table of 6 with probably 3 entrées. But its all good... I love left overs! * Customer service was GREAT! The place was packed, and the waiters were moving a mile a minute. But their faces, and the way they interacted with customers didn't reflect any worry or stress. As a former waiter, i applaud you gentleman! * Outdoor seating! There are a couple tables right outside the restaurant! I wish I stopped by this place when I worked downtown :( * The pita bread is great! It's really light a fluffy. * Large amount of vegetarian options. CONs: * It's a bit small in here. I counted seats, and restaurant could fit 40 people or so tops. Plus 6 more outside if it were warm enough. * Parking is odd. There is parking close by on the side of the street... but there's this strange lump in the dirt that puts your car at a strange angle. * Chicken Shawarma was moist... but a little bland for my tastes. OTHER COMMENTs: * Lamb Shawarma was better than the Beef version. Lamb was more tender! * The meat in the Beef Shish Kabob was better than the meat in Beef Shawarma. The shish kabob's beef was more flavorful, and had a hint of smokey-ness since it was charbroiled. FINAL THOUGHTS: I'm far from an expert in Mediterranean food, but overall everyone at my table enjoyed themselves. The portions are BIG, so we'll probably order 1 dish for every 2 people, and eat family style. I'll be back again!
(4)Tony L.
As many have already stated, the place is definitely small: you walk in and it seems like you are in the middle of the room. Definitely make reservations if you plan on coming in during prime time. I came here after work for some takeout, and ordered: Farmer's dish: this dish came with about 8 whole chicken wings with tons of rice and lemony garlic sauce. This was my favorite dish: the chicken was really good, and the tzatziki was nice and garlicky. Combo kabab: this dish came with tons of rice, chicken, lamb, and kafta kababs. This was good as well, but not as good as the chicken wings. Both orders came with two pieces of pita, as well as a side salad. Each dinner is good for two to three meals. Each dinner is in the $15-20 range, so it is pretty reasonable for a full meal with tons of leftovers. I can't imagine having room for appetizers and/or dessert, though, with so much food. I look forward to coming back and eating in the restaurant.
(4)Brian N.
Love this place. Shishtawook is so delicious. You can split most of their dishes. Their hummus is dangerously addictive...
(5)Shon A.
Superior service, your food is at your table within 5 minutes of ordering. They greet you with a wonderful soup of the day, and an amazing garlic dip! Portions are huge, and delicious.
(4)Kylie S.
This place is delicious! They start you off, almost immediately when you sit down, with their soup of the day. It's always really great soup, but along with that is this really great bread and garlic dipping sauce that is my absolute favorite! They're super quick, and are there to please. The Algerian chicken is a must! We will definitely be coming back :)
(4)Tracy I.
HUGE PORTIONS!!! "Disclaimer" Must love garlic! This place is awesome in so many ways! The people who work here are super friendly and the food is soooo- delicious! And the portions are gigantic! The lamb shawarma is absolutely phenomenal! You must get it! I kid you not, I crave their shawarma. The spinakopita is pretty delicious as well! There's soo- many things I want to try here, But the portions are so huge that you can order one dish and share with 3 people. What a deal! Next on my list to try is the farmer's plate and this thing that comes sizzling on a hot stone plate. Also, before they bring out your meal, you are served with the soup of the day, as well as pita and this yummy garlic vinaigrette. My friends and I call this the "crack sauce", as it is yummy and addicting! This place is a bit smaller than I thought it would be, however it is really cozy. Come early, or else you'll have to wait or resort to take out... But it's well worth it! Only wished they would serve waffle greek fries here! Lol.
(5)David C.
This place is awesome! I order the chicken shawarma each time. It come with a great lentil soup, garlicky dipping sauce with naan-type bread. The portion is huge and is def a two meal portion. You shouldn't be disappointed with this restaurant.
(5)Karen A.
This place was delicious. I am from out of town and was visiting the area for a long weekend. Looking for places to eat near our hotel seemed to be a chore. I actually found this place through zagat reviews and it didn't disappoint. The portions are large and very tasty. I had the shish tawook and my husband had the kafta. The service was excellent and the prices are very reasonable.
(5)Silvana E.
Food here is great and the portions are HUGE! Seriously, their lamb shank dish could feed me for 3 days! Awesome value for the quality and amount of good food you get! Knocked off a star because almost all of their dishes come with the same HUGE portion of spiced rice, which I like, but think they should have more alternatives.
(4)Connie L.
Lamb Schwarmma Plate. Nearly $20, but very worth it because the portions are huge. I split it with one other person, but you can probably split it with 3 people because there were still leftovers. They also give you pita bread and soup in the beginning - also good. MMmMmm Good. Been there twice now and will go again when I have another mediterranean food craving. It's a small place, so you should call ahead to make a reservation.
(5)Pavel Z.
Great tasty food and portion sizes are huge - I'm always taking box back home with me. Place is quite small and very popular - expect line on weekends and during the lunch time.
(5)Cynthia L.
All right stop; collaborate and listen CP is back with Mediterranean Kitchen Something grabs your taste buds tightly Garlic flowing from your pores daily and nightly Will it ever stop? Yo, I don't know Hold your nose, and eat some more If there's a problem with your service, yo, they'll solve it 'Cause at $38 for two, then you know they'll handle it Saaaa-fron, bum rush that plate it's huge Saffron rice serving so big you'll go ka-bloooo Farmer's Wings, when I order them regularly My friends run from me like they committed a felony Love it or leave it; CP don't play Their food is awesome and feeds for days If there was a problem; yo, they'll solve it Check out their mixed grill/hummus/lentil soup/salad/baklava while CP devours it Med, Med Kitchen to go (to goooooo), [I order] Med Med Kitchen to goooo (to go, to go)
(5)Kat W.
Initially looking at the menu and the price, it might look expensive for the same food at other restaurants. Finally went to try this place and it was totally worth it! Portions are huge so it's well worth your money. Pictures really don't do it justice since you might just think of it as smaller size plates that were full. Well, these were HUGE plates with HUGE servings. Easily can share a plate among 2 or 3 people, and still feel full. Large portions easily evens out the expensive price. Was a good 20 minute wait for dinner time on a Thursday night. We reserved a time, but still had to wait because it was packed! When we finally got inside, we were quickly seated and served hot lentil soup and some warm pita bread. It was easy to pass the time in looking at the menu while eating and chatting away. Plenty of choices on the menu, and a lot of options for vegetarians. I ordered the vegetarian spinakopita dish, as recommended by the waiter. Ended up with three full sized of these delicious feta cheese-spinach triangles. It was rich and thick filling with crispy and flaky layers of baked dough. They sat on a bed of rice and placed with delicious hummus. The dish was so big, I didn't know where to start. I ate as much as I can and still left with 1/2 dish in a doggie bag. Service was good, reacted fast but wasn't pushy. My party apparently kept our conversation a bit past the close time (there were still other customers too) and weren't edged to leave. Definitely would come back to see what other things they have.
(4)David Z.
While the menu may appear pricy, you definitely get your money's worth because the portions are quite large. One entree is generally worth 3 meals to me (I always have a lot of leftovers to box). The staff are very attentive and the restaurant is quite cozy. Be prepared for a wait depending on when you go (Friday nights are in my opinion the longest wait). The dishes I recommend are the salmon and chicken/beef noodle dishes.
(4)Gracey A.
Delicious! And very worth the wait... Exactly. Great food but can have long line on Friday nights in Bellevue
(4)Gavin N.
Geez what has taken me so long to visit this place? Anyway, finally went here last night with my family. Ordered the Lamb Shawarma and Chicken Sish Tawook. Both were delicious, I really liked the chicken, and the soup they gave us as soon as we sat down. Everything was just really flavorful and tasted of good quality. Also worth noting, I think there's a lot of garlic, cus I definitely had a ton of garlic breathe after (if that matters to you or not). Anyway, why five stars? well the service was just fast, friendly and amazing last night. And on top of that, every entree was literally enough to feed 2 people. We both packed half our meals, and I eat like a piggy. Good service, good quality, and good value? That's a hard combo to find in Bellevue. I will be back....soon :).
(5)Gary S.
Stopped in for lunch after a shopping stop on the way back to the east side. What a great place. My wife had the lamb shawarma and I had the mixed kabob. It came with soup and pita bread and a dip. Everything was just great and the portions were generous Good value... Likable,attentive waitstaff.
(5)Rajalakshmi R.
This place has some good food. The portions are generous. The problem is there is no attempt to develop any flavor in vegetarian dishes. The falafel plate was basically 4 pieces with a bunch of greens and beets. The vegetables were so huge that I hurt my gums trying to bite into a piece of beet. Not worth the money
(2)Christiana A.
Ate there last night for the first time. Lamb shawarma was very good. I'd say the food is definitely worth the visit--it's pricey but you get 2-3 meals out of one entree! As for as criticism, our server was sort of aloof (really nice but forgetful)and forgot the pita bread, gave us the wrong check and then forgot to bring out our to go boxes. And the decor and ambience isn't very nice but I would definitely go back for the food.
(4)Virginia S.
Fantastic food. Got the tabouly. Grape lives, falafel, and kibbee. The wait staff was great and very friendly. I know it seems like a lot of food, but it was what we were accustom to. Shame we are leaving on Friday.
(5)Sunny H.
Chicken or beef schawarma Ground meat kabob Chicken kabob All great tasty dishes. Will return agSin and again!
(4)Dean K.
Tried Mediterranean Kitchen again after our initial bad experience since it was convenient and maybe they've improved. Not! Service still sucked and the place is still dirty. My wife and I left before we ordered as there were insects flying around and food stuck on our silverware. This is the last time we'll be trying this place. We also pointed these issues out to management and they were unresponsive and defensive. Poor customer service.
(1)Susan D.
I love, love, love this restaurant. I've dined in and have also done take out. Portions are huge and usually good for dinner and lunch the next day. However, they do use a LOT of garlic so plan accordingly. Favorite dish: Shish Tawook.
(5)Matt S.
My girlfriend is Brazilian and grew up eating a lot of Lebanese food in Sao Paulo (there is a large Lebanese population there), so we found Mediterranean Kitchen and decided to try it out. They give complimentary pita, soup, and garlic dipping sauce when you sit down and everything is really good. One word of warning, if you need to talk to anyone that is NOT eating the garlic dipping sauce within 48 hours - I'd use every ounce of restraint and skip it, it's friggin' delicious but I've never had garlic breath that lasted over a day and multiple brushings. It's radioactive goodness. We also got the hummus appetizer and it was excellent, with large portions. 1 order would be enough for 4 people, easily. For the main course, we tried the Lamb Shwarma and the Farmer's Deli Chicken. The portions are ridonkulously large, they could each easily feed 2 people. The food itself was delicious and well-prepared. Eating the chicken is a messy affair, it's skin-on legs with lots of bone and little meat on each - think of the effort that goes into eating Dungeness and you're in the ballpark... but the flavor was so damn good it was well worth it. Just don't order the chicken on a date, there's no way to eat it politely ;) They brought a very tasty fig cookie out with the bill, it was a nice end to the meal. We found an awesome new Lebanese restaurant to go to regularly :)
(5)Allison T.
I actually resort to eating that complimentary garlic olive oil butter dip with the spoon from my delicious complimentary lentil soup after I've polished off the complimentary pitas. I'm ashamed, but IT IS SO GOOD! Share the lamb shwarma (DON'T GET YOUR OWN UNLESS YOU HAVE A CENTAUR STOMACH, THE PORTIONS ARE HUGE). Seriously. I freaking LOVE their lamb shwarma.
(5)Angela B.
Portion size...huge! No, make that gigantic. After eating dinner, I looked at what was left and decided that it could "still" feed two very hungry adults. Really loved the pita bread & the special dip they give you before dinner. Yum! I think I was full before I even started dinner. Service was excellent & fast (especially for how many people were crammed into this tiny place. We were told it was going to be a 30-min wait but it only took 10min. There is parking close by (street and lot) but it fills up fast. We ended up parking at the downtown park nearby.
(4)Alex M.
Good food. Small place...okay service.
(3)Scott F.
Fast service. Some of the best shawarma in the PNW!!! Can be very busy but well worth it. Come hungry the portions are huge. The mint ice tea is very refreshing.
(5)Sabrina M.
Not a fan, at all. I came here because I love Mediterranean food and wanted a relaxed restaurant to dine by myself. The food was mediocre at best. I ordered a lamb dish and did not enjoy the lamb, the vegetables, or the rice pilaf where they dumped all of that. The portion was enormous and I ate less than half of my order. The mint tea that I ordered tasted like it was made with hard tap water. I also thought that Mediterranean Kitchen was too pricey-- the quality of the food does not justify the price.
(2)Mandy S.
This has shown up as one of the top rated places in bellevue so we wanted to give this a try on 'world veggie day'. The great thing about this place is you can feed a whole family for the price of one entree. or maybe it was just my Mezza Tray that was 14.95 as an appetizer. But you pretty much will get sick of it half way through because it's bigger than any entree I've seen. The mezza tray includes lots of chunky veggies to dip into eggplant dip, hummus, and yogurt/sour cream base..not exactly tzatiki sauce but still good if someone else at your table ordered chicken. photos here may look smaller than in real life!! the rice and meat dishes are very popular and they do serve dinner with soup. The soup varies I believe but we had a veggie lentil soup that reminded us of Christmas due to the hints of nutmeg or cinnamon. I had to minus one star because the turkish coffee never came...
(4)Doug H.
Love Mediterranean Kitchen. Nice setting in Bellevue. The food is amazing the service fantastic and the portions huge. I come here for lunch and get the Lamb or Chicken Shawarma ($13.99/$10.99 respectively. Big enough to split and still have a little left. Includes soup and pita with a garlic dipping sauce. Leave a 20%+ tip and you are out the door for $20 for two. Fantastic.
(5)Irina S.
I love this place. no no no ...I LOVE this place. For all the reviews that are picking apart the food, you are total food snobs. This place is clean, delicious, and has amazing portions. The plates are great if you want to share, or just take half home, because it tastes amazing the next day! My only complaint of course, the lack of space. The restaurant is pretty small, so make a reservation ahead of time. Cambo Kabab is a great way to treat a couple of different things for your first time. The soup you get is delicious! You must have the garlic sauce - for dipping your pita. Enjoy!
(5)Harsha G.
I love this place. Their shawarma's are amazing and portions are huge. I always go here for lunch and I can eat my leftover for dinner as well. So, imagine the portions. Their pita's are soft and fresh. I like them. Place is small and waiting time is a lot to get a table. Parking can be challenging. you can always park in the centre opposite to restaurant and cross the road for free parking.
(4)Andrew P.
Great people, amazing food, and tons of it. Candidate for best restaurant in Bellevue.
(5)Nicole G.
The lamb shawarma was delicious. So were the vegetables and rice. I would have liked a bit more lamb and a bit less rice. (My fault for not ordering a green salad with the meal!) I would like to eat there again, the next time I'm in Seattle. The service was very good.
(4)Whitney B.
This place definitely has a homey, grandma-esque, "come into my home and eat until your head explodes" type of ambiance. There is no receptionist desk or anything like that, so it feels like walking into a house. But there's wine, candlelight, and olive oil placed strategically at the end of every table. We ordered one lamb shawarma and a chicken shawarma, and let me tell you, I am glad we only stuck to two entrees. Unbeknownst to us that we would also be served bottomless pita bread and a rather generous-sized bowl of lentil soup. Now, for the starved, this sounds like heaven. If you're anything short of starving, this is going to be a frightening food experience. The portions are massive--my chicken shawarma ended up feeding me for over 4 meals. Totally not exaggerating. So, after only being able to complete a quarter of my chicken shawarma, I had this feeling that there was something in my teeth: pure garlic extract. I swear that this is what they put in their dishes along with dried garlic and chopped fresh garlic, perhaps? If it's anything you can taste, it's garlic. I would advise against this restaurant if you detest garlic or cannot handle flavorful dishes. They're definitely heavy-handed with the garlic. I could even taste what I had eaten the morning after. After we threw up the white flag and looked down at our plates in shock that both of us had not created a dent in the dish, our very nice waiter asks if we have room for baklava. Are you kidding me? Really? REALLY? We politely declined. I had to inquire if any human being had ever finished a shawarma here by him or herself. He told me that the only person who was able to was a Seahawks lineman. That's how freaking big the portions are. The overall experience was very pleasant, however. Every waiter seemed to be pleasant and friendly. I had my water refilled constantly, which was nice, you know, considering the levels of garlic here.
(4)Karon M.
Great place! I can't wait to go again. A bit noisy and no a/c but go in the evening for some great food.
(4)Gabe O.
A lot of delicious food, need I say more? You may have to wait in line and the place is relatively small but worth it.
(4)Vinh N.
Man, I love this place. The wait usually isn't that bad. Like others have said, the portions are HUGE. Be prepared to take home half of your dinner. They are usually very fast and the quality of the food is on point. I have no complaints whatsoever about this place.
(5)Shereen A.
Aaaaaand iiiiiiiiiiiiiiii will alwaaaaaaaaaaays loveyouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuooooooooooh
(5)Dan W.
Free soup & pita bread. Ordered the spinakopolito appetizer which was delicious, and kabob platter with the beef kabob my favorite. The others seemed a little dry for me. Large portions. Be hungry or take home your leftovers. I think you can order takeout too. Fairly small eating space and you're sitting pretty close to the other tables. There were some couples there when I came in with a friend after a hike and felt a little out of place. I'll definitely keep coming back.
(4)