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Old 05-10-2009, 07:23 AM
 
362 posts, read 1,044,280 times
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Coming from Metro Detroit and having the 2nd largest middle eastern population in my backyard, I've not really anything here in Austin that compares to authentic Mediterranean food.

Tino's, which is greek, has some decent choices, and the gyro meat is pretty tasty. The rest of the sides are nothing special.

Byblos just doesn't have the authentic taste that you would expect. The hummus and schwarama are both pretty bland. I've learned to make better hummus and Lebanese rice at home and then enjoying that with some of the bread from Phoenicia. The Phoenicia bread is very high quality, though most Middle Eastern experiences in Dearborn are coupled with fresh baked pitas that are niec and puffy... mmmmmmm, now that's a tasty treat!

I'll have to check out a couple of the other recommendations here. For now, trips back to Dearborn will have to suffice!
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Old 05-10-2009, 08:36 AM
 
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Tino's is great. It's fast (cafeteria-style) and very tasty (their chicken is great). Not fancy at all. Just good, quick food.
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Old 05-10-2009, 04:43 PM
 
Location: The Village
1,621 posts, read 4,592,718 times
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I'm surprised no one has mentioned Kismet on 24th just off of the Drag.

I'm not hugely experienced with Mediterranean food, but this place got me to like it. And considering I'm an enchiladas and BBQ kind of guy, that's saying something.
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Old 05-10-2009, 05:43 PM
 
Location: central Austin
7,228 posts, read 16,096,785 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by theloneranger View Post
I'm surprised no one has mentioned Kismet on 24th just off of the Drag.

I'm not hugely experienced with Mediterranean food, but this place got me to like it. And considering I'm an enchiladas and BBQ kind of guy, that's saying something.
Kismet was mentioned multiple times! It is good. For the really good stuff though you have to go to Houston (short of heading north to Dearborn).
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Old 05-24-2009, 12:00 AM
 
12 posts, read 52,392 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AGA View Post
There is a new Mediterranean Buffet on Wm Cannon/Beckett called DeGrassi's, but I have not been there.
I have, it's terrible. Couldn't eat about half the stuff there. The grape leaves were especially terrible. Gritty, mushy, and extremely sour. The only real seasoning in the place seems to be lemon juice. Everything tastes either a) like it's been soaked in lemon juice or b) is extremely bland.

On the way out the guy who seated us apologized.

One of the things that I look for in any ethnic restaurant is if anyone of that ethnicity is eating there. The only people I saw who appeared Mediterranean got large amounts of meat to go, as if they were going to take it home and make the rest of the meal itself. When I asked the guy who ran the place if they had kibbeh (they didn't) he seemed almost worried that I had asked.

Hate to rip the place, but the truth is the truth.
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Old 07-07-2014, 10:46 AM
 
Location: home
1,235 posts, read 1,530,965 times
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Heading back to the states in a month, and I wanted to know if there was a place that served good shawarma in town, like the kind we have in Israel. I've been to Verts and Phoenecia on south Lamar, and Zorba at SPM. The closest to what I've had was Verts, and the others served the Greek version, not authentic shawarma. Suggestions?
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Old 07-08-2014, 10:17 AM
 
249 posts, read 492,053 times
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Athenian downtown does a pretty good gyro (sammich or plate). My company has them cater meetings from time to time and it's always a treat. Dunno about their other stuff besides the hummus and baklava.
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Old 07-08-2014, 10:34 AM
 
4,710 posts, read 7,098,913 times
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We have been wishing for a good falafel is SW Austin, but haven't found it. Yesterday I drove by Beckett and Wm Cannon to try out DiGrassi's, but there was nothing at all at that intersection. They aren't on the internet either. Can anyone give me a more specific address?

We also tried Tino's on Brodie (a few years ago) and found it to be very poor food, not to mention very run down.
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Old 07-08-2014, 10:42 AM
 
Location: Austin
677 posts, read 652,864 times
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I have been searching for 2 years for decent middle eastern/med food here, it doesn't exist. It is one of the few things I really am sad about with this area. I did some graduate work in Israel and Jordan, and I adore the cuisine but there just isn't anything at all in central Texas. San Antonio has none either. Houston has a few good places, but that's the closest half decent med food I've found.
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Old 07-09-2014, 04:50 PM
 
Location: Westbury
3,283 posts, read 6,049,360 times
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[quote=Trainwreck20;1186308]It isn't really a restaurant, but has anyone tried Phoenicia? Great bread . We have gone there for lunch once or twice, and really liked it, but it is take out only (at least at their south location)....don't know about authenticity, but the owners are from Lebanon.

Didnt know they opened a place in austin. Good for them (houston based)
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