Looking for your next great Mediterranean meal in New Orleans? These new spots will satisfy all your cravings. Here are the newest places to check out the next time you're in the mood for Mediterranean food.
Byblos Mediterranean Cuisine
737 Octavia St., Uptown
Byblos Mediterranean Cuisine is a local eatery with three other locations in the greater New Orleans area.
Situated in what used to be the Flaming Torch — which ironically went up in flames last year, according to The Gambit's Best of New Orleans — the new locations bill of fare includes chicken shawarma, hummus, baba ghanoush and kafta kebabs.
Yelp users are still warming up to Byblos Mediterranean Cuisine, which currently holds three stars out of four reviews on the site.
Yelper Eddie C. noted, "The food is just as great as the other locations, the portions are huge and the staff is friendly. Really cool looking decor and the place is very bright with an airy outdoor feel to it, but nice and cool."
"This place will put Shawarma on the Go out of business," Yelper Bryant G. added. "Far more options, better flavor, and not inside of a Gas Station. Quick Mediterranean Eatery."
Byblos Mediterranean Cuisine is open from 11 a.m.–9 p.m. on Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m.–10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Saba
5757 Magazine St., Audubon
Saba is a new Mediterranean spot with Middle Eastern, North African and European influences.
Get ready for foie gras with honey and marcona almonds; blue crab hummus with snap peas and lemon butter; pickled vegetables, cauliflower, cabbage, green beans and cucumbers.
With a 4.5-star rating out of 23 reviews on Yelp, Saba has been getting positive attention.
"This was amazing," Yelper Alex N. said. "I am an unapologetic carnivore, but this is the only place I've ever been to where I could actually imagine being vegetarian."
Yelper Meg A. added, "Everything was amazing. But we ordered too much and maybe ate too fast, and we both had to basically be rolled home. I would come back with more self control anytime."
Saba is open from 11 a.m.–10 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m.–11 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m.–11 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m.–10 p.m. on Sunday. (It's closed on Monday and Tuesday.)
Shahrazad Cafe
4739 Magazine St., Uptown
Shahrazad Cafe is a Mediterranean and Middle Eastern spot that's a short cab ride away from the original Tipitina's live music venue, where you can catch legendary artists like The Meters, Dr. John, Rebirth Brass Band, George Porter Jr. and Eric Lindell.
Before the show, stop in and grab a Turkish coffee and look for items like grilled shrimp, gyros, Philly-style sandwiches and baba ghanoush.
Shahrazad Cafe's current rating of 4.5 stars out of 44 reviews on Yelp indicates positive attention from users.
Yelper Patrick T. noted, "Hands down, some of the best food of its type in the city. It's not the "2 a.m. street gyro" kind of stuff — this is way nicer."
Yelper Mike T. wrote, "New place. I was greeted by all. Clean decor, kind of nice. I just tried a gyro that came with fries. Very tasty. Every bite you get some flavor. All good."
Shahrazad Cafe is open daily from 11 a.m.–10 p.m.
