In search of a new favorite Mediterranean spot? Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the best affordable Mediterranean restaurants around Pittsburgh, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of where to meet your needs.
1. Madonna's Mediterranean Cuisine
Topping the list is downtown's Madonna's Mediterranean Cuisine, situated at 408 Smithfield St. With 4.5 stars out of 90 reviews on Yelp, it's the highest rated low-priced Mediterranean restaurant in Pittsburgh.
Popular dishes at the casual eatery include the chicken shawarma, beef kafta, falafel, roasted chicken and shish tawook along with sides of stuffed grape leaves, tabbouleh, hummus and loubieh (green beans in oil).
"This is my favorite Mediterranean place in Pittsburgh," wrote Yelper Francis L. "The owner/cashier gentleman is very friendly and gave me extra pita just for asking. They give big portions of everything and it is always well worth the money."
2. Palmyra Mediterranean Cuisine
Another popular spot downtown, Palmyra Mediterranean Cuisine has earned 4.5 stars out of 44 reviews on Yelp. Dig in at the Mediterranean spot by heading over to 10 Smithfield St.
Notable menu options include the Palmyra Mixed Grill entree with two choices of either shish kebab, shish tawook, shawarma or kafta; mujaddara, which is a lentil and rice pilaf topped with caramelized onions and served with salad; and sfeeha, a beef and lamb pie.
Yelper Erin K. wrote, "Everything is fresh and homemade. The chicken shawarma is beyond delicious and juicy. All of my co-workers are jealous when I bring this back to the office. Such a good value for your money! The owner is always so nice as well."
3. Sam's Sun Sandwich
And then there's Sam's Sun Sandwich, a Carrick favorite with 4.5 stars out of 34 reviews. Stop by 2616 Brownsville Road to hit up the Mediterranean spot next time you're in the mood for cheap eats.
This place has a deli that serves up fresh meat, sandwiches and salads, and also offers pies, special combos and pastries. Menu offerings include the Sunny Special, which includes a gyro or falafel sandwich, hummus and choice of dessert; and the Sam Sandwich with baba ghanoush, lettuce, tomatoes and onion. Treat yourself to baklava or a pistachio roll for dessert. View the menu here.
"The prices are super reasonable and the food is delicious," wrote Yelper Becky D. "As a former vegetarian, I was a huge fan of the falafel sandwich. It's really good and huge. ... The owners are super nice, and they continue to recognize us even when we haven't ordered in a while. I've ordered almost every single thing on this simple menu and I can tell you we loved it all."
