Al Madina restaurant

We did a mixture of appetizers and dishes to share and try a variety. I enjoyed everything, and service was good. I felt like the restaurant was clean. The staff helped explain dishes and offered to prepare them so easier to slip in our group. Food is delicious. Many dishes I have not ever had before. Highly recommend trying. Nothing too hot or spicy. Very flavorful.

Closer to a 2.5 in terms of food quality, but the economical aspect of its pricing brings its rating up to a 3 here. Honestly most of the food here has provided my partner and I with a mid experience, with a few highlights, but for a quick bite in a place with heavy cultural components, this is still a solid establishment, especially in the city of Rochester. My beef and lamb shawarma was overall tasty with an abundance of meat and sauces. The tabbouleh salad had way too much lemon juice which dominated the bottom, so when there was very little salad left on the plate, it quickly became extremely sour. Maybe more cucumber pieces could've helped neutralize the taste more. The baba ghanouj was pretty good with pita bread, but the consistency over time started changing and could no longer be held up in the air for some reason, maybe because it was too hot in the establishment on that day (they only had fans and no AC). My partner had the grape leaves and did not like them at all, unfortunately, but they didn't give a reason. The samosas didn't really have concrete content in them, but rather more dough-y ingredients inside. I was expecting maybe lentils, or even potatoes which would resemble a samosa more than a sambusa, but they didn't exist. My partner and I both enjoyed the bhaklava, and since one box had three pieces, we ate a total of six small pieces in two boxes. They were sweet, not too sweet, and had a good amount of pistachios while maintaining the exterior crisp. While I personally would only recommend this establishment under certain occasions, I still think that the fact that this place exists serves the local community nicely, as when I was there, I saw lots of people coming in and out for quick bites or take out.

Ordered the chicken and beef kabob mixed plate with rice. The beef chunks were flavorful – I’d rate them 9/10. Chicken was decent, about 7/10. However, the rice, which made up the bulk of the dish, was completely bland and lacked any flavor – not even onions seemed to be added. The restroom experience was disappointing: no lights, no hand soap, and I had to use my phone flashlight. Overall, it’s a poorly managed restaurant with good food potential but in need of serious improvements.

Al Madina Restaurant is a fantastic spot for Middle Eastern cuisine. My husband and I ordered the Al Madina Small Feast and it was an impressive amount of food, definitely enough for multiple people. Everything was flavorful and well seasoned, from the tender meats to the fresh sides. The quality and portion sizes make it a great value. I also got the baklava to go and it was excellent, very sweet, crisp, and nutty, just the way baklava should be. If you're looking for delicious halal food with generous portions, this place is worth a visit.

Received food from doordash and it was not very good. Ordered the crispy chicken sandwich with rice and a sprite. Chicken was burnt and overflowed with sauce and lettuce. Was enough lettuce to make a meal in inself. Didn't give me utensils to eat the rice or napkins. The sprite can was dirty on top. Overall bad experience and would not recommend these dishes.

Good looking, hot, but bland food. Their customer service is topnotch but food is average and lack seasoning. Ordered Kanafah which was a serious disappointment as it was nothing close to what a real Kanafah looks like.

Had an excellent time catching up with a colleague at this establishment. I liked the low key nature of the restaurant. Seems like a place I would loiter at in retirement. The food itself was tasty, but I was expecting a little bit more regarding flavor. Will be back and may addend this review in the future.

Best food we have had in Rochester on our visit! Everything was so fresh and flavorful. My steak and potato loving husband ate everything and left satisfied - there is a nice variety of delicious meats and vegetarian options. A great value for a reasonable cost. We will definitely be eating here again!