Mecca Grill

Wow, what a find - if you can find it.\r \r This ""Lebanese Cuisine"" restaurant is tucked away in a small strip mall off of S. Downing near Washington Park. \r \r There was only one other table with customers, so the service was quick and very friendly- the waiter, looked like a local from Wash Park but spoke a little Arabic as he greeted us.\r \r We had almost everything on the menu by ordering the King Combo (chicken kafta, beef kabab, some lamb, hom os (hummus), tabouleh, falafel, baba ghanouj, and pita bread. Enough food for two people. The baba ghanouj was great with a subtle smoky egg plant flavor. The chicken was very moist with a nice marinade flavor. \r \r A fresh lemonade with some type of mild flower-type infusion and pickled turnips made the meal even more unique. \r \r Two can eat for less that $20 total easily as an added bonus. Definitely a place to go back and try other items from the menu.\r \r Pros: Service, Unique Taste, Large Portions, Value Cons: Location more

If I could leave 0 stars I would!!\r I went to Mecca Grill last night. I can not comment on the food because while we were there for 38 minutes we never ate or drank anything. When we first went to walk in there was an employee in front of the door talking with someone in the parking lot. He pretty much shut the door in our face. Ok, no big deal he didn’t hold the door. \r We walked in the half the tables were still dirty, but we were literally the only ones in there. They didn’t ask to seat us they pretended like we weren’t there. So I asked if we seat ourselves and he made some gesture that was kind of a yes. We picked a clean table. \r 15 minutes later still no clean tables in the place and no sign of anyone, and then menus are put down on the table. No water no nothing. \r We do not see anyone for another 15 minutes again. I gave the server a coupon I had and actually asked me if I had read it because he didn’t want to explain it to me. Of course I read it. He walks away. \r 10 minutes later he comes back to take our order, still no one is in the place and it is now near 6pm. We go to order. No grape leaves, no lamb. Fine I go to order something to go that I already knew I wanted to take home for my boyfriend, while I look over the menu again and he tells me if I order anything to go he will not take the coupon, because it says for dine in. Dine in for buy one get one free entree, so my dinner guest and I can’t use the coupon if I order something to go…even though we are eating two entrees there. \r After near 45 minutes of no food and they won’t honor my coupon we finally left. Not even did I get water! \r I would never go there again! In fact I wish I would have never tried! There are so many amazing Middle Eastern places in this great city! Why would anyone go there! Well I have the answer to that one! It sucks! Pros: NOTHING Cons: EVERYTHING more

I've eaten at Jerusalem quite a few times and their food quality and service just is not all that great. I am THRILLED to discover Mecca Grill! It's in a strip behind the Starbuck's at Downing and Alameda so I never noticed the place until I got a coupon to use there. My husband and I ordered just about everything to try. Hummus, grape leaves, falafel, Harira (Moroccan veggie and lentil soup), tabouli to start. All appetizers were between $2.75 and $3.95! The quality was outstanding. Hummus tasted extremely fresh with a lovely roasted cumin flavor, and the falafel was about the best I've ever had. The soup, grape leaves, and tabouli were all delicious! Nothing missed the mark. We both ordered the meat combo plates for dinner. Lamb, chicken, kofta all arrived tender and tasty. Even the rice was fluffy and heavenly. TONS of meat, rice, and salad for just over $10! Sandwiches are only $3-4, and dinners range from $8.95 - $10.95. This has got to be the best kept secret in town, which is why I needed to do this review. The kind staff at Mecca deserve MUCH more business! GO eat there today I promise you won't be disappointed!!! Pros: Prices, food quality, service Cons: Parking a little limited more