12 Best Mediterranean Restaurants in Saint Paul

“Absolutely lovely restaurant and a must-visit when visiting the twin cities. Love the atmosphere and kind staff. Try the fancy hummus and grab some baklava to take home.“

“I ordered online late at night and when I arrived, they’d had to close early, but told me to come back the next day and they would honor my order. I’m so glad I did! They provided me with the falafel wrap and mango smoothie I ordered (both fresh and delicious) and also gave me an order of hummus for the inconvenience I experienced. Excellent customer service, good food, clean and quiet restaurant. Thank you!“

“Hyacinth is a keeper. Creative food, well prepared, small but extremely well chosen wines. Portions were large, a bit too large in my view. Hyacinth is one of the few restaurants in the post Covid dining world that is daring to show us how innovative dining can be done.“

“We wanted to highlight and thank the excellent service we received from Mr. Shaik Mustafa. The food was good but the service was exceptional as Mr. Shaik Mustafa took time to explain the menu items for us for a nice dinner before departure. His suggestions were very good and his attitude was sincere and professional. We enjoyed our time at La Tapenade due in large part to the excellent service. Thank you.“

“Food was good. The owner was very nice, and friendly service for kids. Had Dahi Puri after a long time.“

“Honestly I'm shocked reviews are so low. Some of the best airport food I've ever had! And many gluten free options!!! Which is nearly impossible as someone with celiac. Airports suck for celiacs, and dining hours need to adapt with travel schedules, but that's another story... This place has a halal certified food truck that serves shwarma, hummus, falafel, and more. The servings are slightly small but the quality is immensely good. Chicken was cooked perfectly and seasoned nicely. Hummus was good - much, much better than store ought. I'm serious. If you're in MSP, go eat here. You'll be glad you did. I got the chicken shwarma with hummus and my fiancee got the falafel. She got the pita, which they steam and place in a bag. We shared dolmas. All tasty!“

“No disrespect to the old establishment, but the new ownership hit it out of the park. The chicken shawerma is bangin. Good portions, good price. Not a fan of ordering on a tablet, and I’d recommend a menu on the wall for easier reading but I’ve already eaten here multiple times. Check it out!“

“Embetito Dnish at Snelling Café

I keep coming back for this.

They call it Embetito Dnish—potato sandwich. Nothing fancy. Just warm sliced potatoes, fresh tomato, romaine, green senstro peppers, olive oil, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt, all wrapped in toasted bread.

What makes it hit? The contrast.

The warmth of the potatoes and bread. The cool bite from the romaine and tomato. The salty edge mixed with olive oil. A slight heat from the green pepper. And that twist of lemon—it wakes everything up.

Then there’s the tea. Hot, simple, spiced with Aforki’s touch. You feel it in your chest.

No menu can explain this. You just know when it’s right.“

“excelente lugar y atención“

“You are seriously a dummy if you go to Minneapolis and don’t hit one of these. The beef sambusa with the green hot sauce and steak plate and plantains…nomnomnom and the girls working the counter are adorable and friendly. It rocks and I took mine on Amtrak to Chicago. It’s only expensive if you order too much! Go!!“

“Moving reviews over from Yelp. This was originally posted on 10/23/16:

This little hole-in-the-wall place really caught me by surprise and I have Yelp to thank for finding them.

I dined there but they seem to do a healthy carry-out business as well. I arrived just before their lunch rush and scored a parking spot on the street right in front of the place. There was just one other table full when I arrived but the place was packed by the time I left.

I asked the guy taking orders at the counter and doubling as a waiter about their most popular dishes. He pointed out the Number 30 combo. It comes with beef & lamb doner, chicken kebab, two kofte kebabs, grilled green peppers, onions and tomatoes. They add a pita bread on the side and give you the option between a salad, fries or rice. I opted for the salad and it came with a few big chunks of feta cheese - score!

Everything on the plate was delicious but the biggest stand-out of the bunch was the gyros meat that was described as beef & lamb doner. It was carved right off the spit like you find in the places where they understand the stuff as opposed to merely feeling like they should have it on the menu. It was shaved into long, thin ribbons and appropriately crispy on one side while moist on the other. It represented EXACTLY what I'm hoping for when I order gyros anywhere outside of the little Greek neighborhood places in Chicago. Yum!

I debated star count for a while and was going to give them 4-stars. Why not the full 5 stars? Mainly because I have a hard time giving up the whole magilla when there really isn't a service component to a dining experience. That said, the food was every bit a 5-star experience and very reasonably priced as well...a combination that tips the scale.“

“Quick (10min if not busy). Good value. To-go area is laid out very poorly - looks like a closed off-storage area at first glance. Needs signs, menus, more light. Need to more clearly disclose the ~5% "hospitality fee" that's automatically added to the bill.“