06/24/06

Healthy and Tasty

by pedrobuckeye

They have a pretty good variety on their menu. The wraps are good, but are ala carte so all you get is the sandwich. You have to order hummus seperate and their are not small portions that you can order. The pizzas, soups and dinners also offer some good selections. I personally really like their falafelThe smoothies are not bad either. I have had poor service only once and I could tell they were really understaffed that night. I would definitely suggest stopping by if you have never been.

02/08/06

It was different

by downcydeguy

My girlfriend of Lebanese decent and I visited Aladdin's a little while back. She has been there on several occasions and loves the food. This was my first visit and did not order anything. However, I tried a little of everything she had and was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. Had Rally's not called my name out, I would have ordered something as well. Her order was to go so I can't comment on the staff other than they seemed genuinely polite. The portion was nice for the price too. I'm not sure if I'll ever make it there again but I would recommend it over Rally's anyday!

01/13/06

it's oookay

by aacparty

it's a nice place to go for a vegetarian. i'm not an expert on lebanese food, but i see a huge opportunity for aladdin's nonetheless: i think their bread sucks. it's cold, thin, and tasteless. it could be so, so much better! their food tastes pretty good, i suppose, but i think it needs a delicious bread to accompany it.

12/01/05

The Mujadara is to die for.

by oges11

I just moved into Columbus from California. At my old place of business in Cali we used to have a deli ran by a wonderful Labanese family. They were the ones that originally introduced me to mujadara and I thought it was the best food that I had ever had, until I tried the Mujadara from Aladdin's. Absolutely tremendous!! Thanks guys for fulfilling my craving.

10/31/05

Maybe Authentic is Overrated

by herakles

Although the food at Aladdin's Eatery is perhaps not as authentic as a Lebanese diner, it is very well-prepared. The portions are generous, and the value is good. If you haven't tried Aladdin's then you are missing an excellent restaurant!

06/04/05

User review by leapop

by leapop

Food doesn't need to be authentic in order to be good; authenticity also doesn't automatically translate into quality. That said, Aladdin's does very well at what it sets out to do. They have fast, healthy food at affordable prices, served by a friendly waitstaff in a comfortable environment. Whether you love the food or not depends largely on what you order: the roasted garlic soup is amazing -- I order it every time; their smoothies, however, have too much ice and not enough fruit; in terms of main dishes, the vegetarian meals tend to be more satisfying than the fish or (according to my land-meat-eating friends) the land meat. Nevertheless, any particular dish seems consistent from visit to visit. Overall, it's the perfect place for mid-week takeout if you're trying to avoid greasy pizza and same-old Chinese, and it's a great place for relaxing solo dining.

• Pros: healthy, cheap, great for veggies
• Cons: not for carnivores, sub-par smoothies

05/21/05

Mediocre Middle Eastern Food

by nwuguy23

As a person of middle eastern background, I gotta agree with the other guy. This food is very mediocre. It is not really middle eastern. If you want something more authentic (and trust me MUCH better) try a real middle eastern place. Hummus is bland, the dishes are all just "off" a bit. They lack the right flavor, or taste.

Real Arab food is flavorful, not bland, but not too spicey. Hummus should be creamy and laden with olive oil. The grape leaves should be abundent and MUCH thinner than those giant ones Alladin serves. And I have a tip--make your own Baklava at home. It is the easiest t hing in the world to make...and youre paying an arm and a leg for pastry dough and ground nuts.

All in all...dont eat here unless theres something on the menu you realllly like.

• Pros: cheap, veggie options
• Cons: not authentic, bland

02/26/04

Good, but not really Middle Eastern!

by yallam

I noticed that all these reviews were quite positive. Not to detract from the glowing reviews provided but satisfied customers, I must warn everyone that this isn't real Middle Eastern food. At least not the kind you'd find in authentic restaurants that really are Middle Eastern in places such as Egypt, large cities in Europe, or in Chicago or New York. Slapping together a healthy meal consisting of pitas and tahini-based recipes does not a Middle Eastern meal make. I talked to others of Middle Eastern background who have eaten there and they agree. If you want real Middle Eastern food, but say with a Turkish twist, try the Cafe Istanbul in Easton which is, to be fair, in a different class of restaurant and pricier, but is honestly one of the most authentic places to get this type of food in Central Ohio, complete with atmosphere and ethnic staff.

• Pros: Good food & price, Friendly service, Healthy food
• Cons: , Not authentic!, Not authentic!

01/15/04

A Clintonville eatery making homemade Middle Eastern food that's so healthy, you'll feel compelled to raid the dessert case.

by Contributor

The Scene
This Clintonville eatery is small and quiet, with brightly colored round sculptures hanging from the high ceiling. Despite the healthy vibe of the menu, there's a huge case of cakes and tortes near the front door.

The Food
The dishes contain fresh vegetables and meats, with no additives, artificial sweeteners or sulfites. Soups are starch-free and salad dressings are fresh. Much of the menu is based on chewy wheat pitas; laid flat they're "Pitzas," topped with chili, falafel, vegetables, beef, chicken and savory sauces and dressings. Quartered, they're used to dip into homemade hummus, baba, and, a warm and garlicky fava bean dip. There are freshly squeezed juices and smoothies and a limited but eclectic selection of beer and wine.

12/14/02

Fresh food

by NadalCobaro

My wife and I eat frequently here. The vegetables are always very fresh. Menu seems big, but many of the items are the same thing repeated with a slight variation. Smoothies are very good, and even the Lebanese wine is surprisingly good. This place offers the best VALUE in Columbus.