Mediterranean Bakery and Sandwich - North Hills

Mediterranean Bakery and Sandwich is a small Lebanese grocery store that can be found at 3362 Chamble-Tucker Rd, Atlanta GA 30341 in the tired North Hills shopping center. If you've been around as long as me you'll remember when there was a Kroger at this location - much of the architecture for the Kroger-as-anchor-store is still there and recognizable, only the main building is now a Big Lots. If you're traveling on I285 exist West and you'll see a McDonald's on your right - the shopping center is right behind it. Alternatively, if you're traveling on I85 exist Chamble-Tucker Rd and travel East - the road will wind North a bit. Within a mile or so you'll see a series of business on your left - the North Hills shopping center is also on your left before you get to the ramps for I285.

I'm a bit hesitant to review this place because I don't want it to become so busy it's impossible to visit. I've been piling on the praise of this small grocery store for many years - this whole shopping complex has an unusual number of very good ethnic restaurants and it all started with Mediterranean Bakery. Since I live about a mile from this place I've had plenty of opportunity to sample them all. Although the place has some very interesting retail foods (many common American brand snacks made with real sugar and not that crappy high-fructose corn syrup crap), the real treat is the lunch counter. Here you'll find Lebanese style Mediterranean food like swarma, felafel and the like. You line up and order at the counter - they take credit cards - and you're food is prepared like magic within a few minutes. There's a limited number of tables inside but there's also tables under the covered awning for overflow.

My favorites on the menu:

Chicken Shawarma - this is the real deal here folks. The pieces come on a bed of rice with a few Lebanese pickles (these can be a bit harsh but lately they've been supplying some that are more palatable to Americans). I like to get this as a platter with two sides - the baba ghanouj and the Greek salad. What makes the chicken shawarma special is the garlic spread - it's simply delicious. From what I can tell, it's pureed garlic with a bit of lemon and salt. Your taste buds will thank you even if you're coworkers don't.

Chicken Shawarma with Greek Salad and Baba Ghanouj (garlic spread in small container)

Beef Shawarma - many of my friends like this better than the chicken - it's really dripping-down-your-arm juicy as a wrap, but then again you don't get the garlic spread...

Shish Kabob -juicy bits of beef - what more can you ask for?

Shish Kabob with Greek salad and fries

Chicken Kabob - another favorite of most of my friends (sorry but I get stuck on the chicken shawarma) - 

Lamb Kabob - the lamb here is delicious.

Lamb Kabob with Baba Ghanouj and Fatoush Salad

Felafel - very good felafels here with good flavor. I've found better but these always work for me and you can get a couple as one of your sides.

Chicken Shawarma with Baba Ghanouj and Felafel

Baba Ghanouj - delightfully smoky and smooth - perhaps the best version of eggplant I've ever experienced.

The Hummos here is silky smooth and flavorful, the Fatoush and Greek salads fresh and the tabouli very freshly made - you can't go wrong with any of these.

Chicken Shawarma with Fatoush salad and Hummos

Don't be fooled by the styro-plates and plastic forks - Mediterranean Bakery and Sandwich has great food and very good prices. You can also get just about every spread as a carry-out in pints or larger. Also, take a look at their breads - I'm not sure where they get their pita but it's very good.

In any case, give this place a try - you'll be glad you did.

-- John

(shorter review also posted to Yelp)

Aladdin's Mediterranean Grill and Deli - Between Sandy Springs and Roswell

Aladdin's Mediterranean Grill and Deli is located at 8725 Roswell Rd, Atlanta GA 30350 near 400 and the Northridge Dr exit (take the right fork driving West onto Dunwoody Pl and enter the shopping center on your left before you hit Roswell Rd). There's a Starbucks in the same lot as well as an Arby's you can see from Roswell Rd. This is the same shopping center as Circle Sushi (to the left side of the building, closest to Dunwoody Pl). I'm not sure what to call this location - it's South of Roswell and north of Sandy Springs - Northridge?

The word for Aladdin is Terrific - actually if I could have two words, I'd say Terrific and Delicious. Three words your say? Terrific, Delicious and Generous! Usually when I'm feeling like Mediterranean I hit Mediterranean Bakery near my home - or if I'm at work (I work at Northpark near 400 and Abernathy), I head over to Cafe Sababa. If it's a special occasion, I seek Rumi's Kitchen on Roswell Rd (still consistently the best Persian I've found in Atlanta). I feel a bit like a turncoat saying this and no, Aladdin is no Rumi's, but I think the food is better than my usual standbys. Sorry Sababa, but Aladdin just has better food, hands-down.

The restaurant is rather unassuming, with a small room facing the sidewalk to the right of the door for hookah enthusiasts. You walk in and a blackboard to the left lists menu items. Specials can be found to the right of the register where you order, usually on a stand-up board. You can walk down and watch them assembling your food but you may as well get seated and wait for your number to be called. Make sure you grab utensils and your drink (try some of the flavorings to add to your tea - the mint and rosewater create something refreshing and unique).

Speaking of the soup - make sure you try the lentil soup for a great cold-weather treat. It's a great, low-fat way to get your meal started.

I'm also rather fond of the felafel at Aladdin's...

For the pita pocket sandwiches, I've tried the chicken and beef shawarma and the falafel. These come with a side, so every time you come you can try something different!

If you're feeling really hungry, the meals are huge - they come with your meat, a cup of really delicious rice, hummus, Jerusalem salad (tomatoes and cukes in a delicious yogurt with dill) and pita. Prices range from $9.95 for the falafel to $14.95 for the Kabob Sampler. They usually have some rather remarkable lamb chops that I've yet to order, but I've seen the dish and it smells divine! The prices at Aladdin are slightly higher than Mediterranean Bakery and Sababa, but they more than make up for the price with the quantity of food - the portions here are ginormous! When you pick up your food make sure you get a side of their really great hot sauce...

More plates:

The Chicken Shawarma Plate - delicious and what shawarma is all about.

The Aladdin's Kabob Sampler - if you're like me, you want to try everything!

The Shish Tawook Plate - this is my favorite, marinated chicken tenders grilled to perfection!

I've now had lunch at Aladdin a half dozen times and I'm happy to report that they are consistently good and very generous. The staff are very good and happy to accommodate your needs. You get so much that it's fairly easy to split one of the meals between two people - or the pitas are so stuffed that getting a pocket sandwich is an easy choice, especially when paired with the delicious green-lentil soup.

-- John

(shorter review also posted to Yelp)