Alison C.
Yelp
We were looking for a new takeout spot when we came across Smyrna Mediterranean Cafe & Grill, and we were shocked that we had not spotted its positive reviews sooner. I called to place the order and was greeted by a gracious man that was also very friendly when I went to collect the food. The restaurant was small and cozy, with a really welcoming vibe. I picked up the large bag of takeout and brought it back to the car, struggling to delay devouring the heavenly smelling food within it.
We started the experience with some spreads. The Hummus was super creamy and well-spiced, as it was topped with crispy chickpeas, parsley, and za'atar. The Muhammara was similarly delicious with its brightness in color and flavor thanks to its base of roasted red peppers, which were blended with walnuts and Mediterranean spices, and then topped with feta cheese and parsley. It was zesty and sweet all at once. The dips came with a bag of fresh pita that tasted more homemade than those restaurants that tend to give bread that is dry, stale, and seemingly straight from the supermarket. In an effort to try as many things as possible, we also shared the Falafel Pita Sandwich, which was a fluffy wrap smeared with hummus, and stuffed with a very generous amount of falafel, as well as lettuce, tomato, and red onion. While that hummus seemed more bland than the side portion we had tried (did not seem to have the za'atar), the falafel itself was incredible! The sandwich was served with seasoned fries that were a bit greasy, but also delicious.
For my individual meal, I selected the Chicken Shish, which I found very flavorful. The large poultry chunks had been very well-marinated, but, due to their inconsistent sizing, some pieces wound up dry - not at all chewy, but dry. I would still order it again, though. Another member of our party had the Lamb Shish, however, and found that meat to be fatty and tough; I think they will opt for the chicken version next time. All of our platters came with an amazing rice that was more like a larger couscous. It was so flavorful that it had to have been cooked in some sort of broth. The meals also included "grilled vegetables", though there was really only 1 stalk of asparagus, 1 slice of eggplant, 1 slice of zucchini, and 1 baby bell pepper. The vegetables had been drizzled with balsamic vinegar, which was a nice touch, but I had wished there were more veggies included.
Overall, we enjoyed the service, portion size, and flavor profiles we experienced from Smyrna. We would just prefer some more consistent meat textures and added vegetables next time.