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Cedars Mediterranean Kitchen
Categories: Restaurants Middle Eastern Restaurants Turkish Restaurants Mediterranean Middle Eastern, Turkish, Mediterranean [Edit]
1206 E 53rd St(between Woodlawn Ave & Kimbark Ave)
Chicago, IL 60615
Neighborhood: Hyde Park
(773) 324-6227
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 11:30 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 11:30 am - 11 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
129 reviews for Cedars Mediterranean Kitchen
Review Highlights
"The falafel and lentil soup were outstanding."
(in 29 reviews)
"My favorite was the Jerusalem salad."
(in 9 reviews)
"Plus their hummus is delicious."
(in 37 reviews)
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129 reviews in English
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Review from Jeanne Z.
Walnut Creek, CA
1/16/2012
Cedars is awesome! The food is awesome, the service is awesome, the atmosphere and decor is awesome, and the prices are awesome.
I have been to Cedars many times and I always leave feeling satisfied and with a very full stomach :)
They have very delicious Mediterranean food. For the quality and the portion, the prices are very reasonable. My favorite dessert is the Cheese Pineapple Hareesa. I know cheese and pineapple sound weird together but it's actually delicious! They also have Baklava, of course. It can get pretty crowded and noisy around meal times.
If you go with a group of four or more, I highly recommend the Family Style meals!!! You get to try a wide variety of food for a great price.
Highly recommend :) -
Review from Emma R.
Cambridge, MA
12/31/2011
This is my favorite restaurant in Hyde Park! Everything I've ever ordered here is extremely delicious and reasonably priced. All of the pita sandwiches are about $6, HUGE, and delicious; they are two meals in one! I also highly recommend the Egyptian lentil soup.
Good for large groups, but not the best for dates because of the proximity of the tables. -
Review from Aashish J.
Chicago, IL
11/28/2011
The food is great, I prefer a little more spacing between the tables so that I can refrain from eavesdropping on other people's conversations but whatev.
Cedar's is a hyde park gem. I have had their pita sandwiches that my work caters regularly and they are awesome. But I had never been to the restaurant and never tried their dinner menu. I loved it.
Thumbs up:
1. Appetizers: great mediterranean grilled shrimp!
2. Main course: great pan-sauted lamb was tomato heavy but it was good. Also good was their lemon-garlic chicken. Both come with soup. Lemon chicken soup was delicious.
3. Service: Our server was nice and friendly.
Thumbs down:
1. It feels like they stuffed a lot of tables in a small space. Please be aware if you are claustrophobic :P -
Review from Anonymous S.
Chicago, IL
2/5/2012
Coming from an Egyptian women I will tell you right now that Cedars is GOOOOOOOD! While I was in the Kenwood Plaza and suddenly received a hunger urge, I decided to get a chicken schwarma pita sandwich from Cedars. It was delicious! I have tried chicken schwarma from all over, from the Nile, Falaffel Grill, and El Souk, to name a few. This was by far the best. The chicken was so tender and the vegetables crispy. The tahini tasted great and I loved the red wine vinaigrette they gave with it. I just did not understand the fried potato slices they served with the sandwich. They were not Arabic at all! I left them alone completely. A nice side salad would have been much more enjoyable than some sliced potatoes....
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Review from Kristen R.
Oak Park, IL
11/19/2011
I was excited to come to Cedars and try another Middle Eastern restaurant in HP. I only wish I had known they had a parking lot with free parking!! I walked, like, an extra 3 blocks. =)
But once I got there, the food was fast and SUPER fresh. My sandwich had so many good flavors going on, and I didn't care that I looked like I just had a shot of Novocaine trying to stuff all that yummy goodness into my mouth. Thankfully the waitress brought extra napkins.
The restaurant is super clean and neat and has a very nice ambiance. But the most impressive thing?? Well, let's just say that I have the stomach of a champ-- seriously, the amount of food I can eat is impressive and borderline dangerous. I actually needed a box!! So uncharacteristic....in fact, I left the box at the restaurant, since I am so unaccustomed to having leftovers. I still have visions of the thin fries and tandoori chicken.... -
Review from Curtis S.
Chicago, IL
1/10/2012
An omnivore's dilemma -- it's all good. My fam's absolute favorite dining option in Hide Park. The lentil soups (yes, soups, as there are two options) are stand outs as is the baba ghanooj. Perhaps the most unexpected surprise are the chicken wings(!) Put aside your preconceived notions of this humble, ubiquitous bar food staple and order THE WINGS! The chicken tika tandoori is also quite delish. By all means, try the kefta kebob and the beef-lamb shawarma. Lunch is an exceptional value. Bring an appetite and bring a friend because the portion sizes are "generous" -- nobody leaves Cedars hungry.
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Review from Sonja S.
Chicago, IL
12/9/2011
Food was decent, service was good. I was in here in September (I'm a little behind) and I have to say what was most disturbing was watching the clean up process after the table beside me departed. The man sat alone and subsequently used only one half of the table. After he left, the waitress only wiped down half of the table and did not move and/or change the "unused" place setting. Disgusting!
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Review from EVE P.
Chicago, IL
9/19/2011
So I took away a couple of stars because of the customer service. I visited yesterday and when you walk in, you basically have to wait for someone to notice that you are standing there before you get seated.
I was sitting there for a good 20 minutes before I had to get my waitresses attention (she didn't even introduce herself but she had short hair) to order an appetizer. I had to call her because every time she made sure the table next to me was ok she didn't even bother to look my way. When I told her I wanted to order an appetizer as I was waiting on two other people she asked me if I was in a rush, HOW RUDE! I think sitting for twenty minutes with out any food is not a rush at all.
Another rude thing happened when my friend ordered her entree and she wanted to taste the rice that the waitress had mentioned and she hesitated as if it were a problem to bring a sample and it turned out that the rice was just white rice (why didn't she just say that? O_o).
One more incident happened when another friend wanted to order another side dish and the waitress wanted to know if that was part of what she had ordered. Is there an order limit?
I feel like the waitress was arrogant and rude and I don't even think she knows it. I was embarrassed that I was the one who set up this dinner. And my food was thrown in the to- go tray in the end and I didn't get a bag. I ended up separating the food myself.
The good thing about this place is the food is good! Thank heaven it wasn't a completely bad experience but customer service is very important to me.
Oh and btw, I had the salmon but the rest of my party had steaks and they were HUMONGO!! Great for the price and were tasty!
I probably would visit again but only if I get a different waitress. -
Review from Amy Z.
Chicago, IL
12/11/2011
The food here is okay. We had delivery one snowy freezing cold night and were very hungry. Which is why we asked for extra pita bread. Turns out, they didn't give us any. Also, the portions they give out for delivery were tiny and not satisfying at all. The taste itself was meh. The chicken tandoori sandwich is actually pretty good.
BUT no pita?!?!?? we called them afterward for the pita, and they were rude and said we should have requested it. BUT WE DID!!!!! Then they suggested that we go TO THE RESTAURANT to pick up some pita. Remember at the beginning of this review? when I mentioned that it was a snowy night??? YEAH. won't be doing that.
anyway, if you want good mediterranean food, then you should still try Cedar's, but just be sure to dine in, so that you get pita for sure. -
Review from Amy Y.
Chicago, IL
10/31/2011
Food here is mediocre at best. Falafels here are dry, bland, and tasteless, and a huge disservice to the fragrant, delicious crunchy morsels that I had in real Turkish eateries. They taste NOTHING like what falafels ought to taste like. Hummus is terrible too - lacks the silky richness of what real hummus should have. The rest of the menu is barely serviceable, but let's faced it, Hyde Park has limited options when it comes to Meditterranean/Middle Eastern food. Thankfully, I've found better options and I plan to not eat here again.
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Review from Laura A.
Bartlett, IL
9/4/2011
I've heard a lot of U of C students hating on Cedars all the time, and I'm not sure why. It's always "oh, blah blah, the Nile is way better, blah blah." The low down is this: Cedars has seriously INCREDIBLE kofte (kafte? kefte? However they spell it in Lebanon haha); I've traveled in the Middle East/Mediterranean and the kofte at Cedars is outrageously good, especially for a restaurant in the USA.
They also have great veggies and good lentil soup. The falafel is not the best (hence the 4 stars) but I would say just order kofte and you're good to go. Never been to the restaurant, just gotten takeout and eaten it at U of C functions/in Cobb basement cafe, so can't comment on the service or anything. -
Review from Joy W.
Chicago, IL
1/20/2011
This is a good place if you know what to order. The portions are huge so it's often a good idea to share the entrees. The dip trio is good, specifically the hummus and the lebna. The soup is typically very good, especially the Egyptian lentil soup. The salads are fine, the best one is the Fattoush salad (pita chips are yummy)- you an ask to have the chicken shawarma put on your salad- this tastes better than the grilled chicken. You can ask for whole wheat pita bread if you want. Also, I really like the falafel appetizer. Sometimes I order just that for dinner as it comes with a little Jerusalem salad (which tastes much better combined with falafel!). The Cedar's sampler is good, but it includes the dolma, which is think is pretty average. On the upside is has hummus and falafel to that's good. The best stuff on the menu is in the starters section.
The flatbreads are pretty good- they're like little thin crust pizzas- the cheese one is the way to go (spinach garlic is good, too). The tomato sausage one seems like it will be amazing but the textures just don't balance (it's both too juicy and too crunchy).
My favorite entree is the veggie curry. All the sandwiches are good, especially the veggie hummus, falafel and shawarma sandwiches (I prefer the lamb). If you go with a friend, order one sandwich to split and each a soup- really, it's that much food (that way you can tip your waiter more). If you order the Kushary make sure to get the tomato sauce and yogurt on it- otherwise it's too dry. The Shekriya is good, as is the Kallayah. The ripe tomato couscous is excellent- I like to add lamb, which is very tender. The "sauteed vegetables" are delicious (sandwich, too) but they are actually deep fried. If you don't mind that they are definitely worth ordering.
The Pineapple cheese Harisa cake is amazing- it's made by the owner, Sudki's, wife- by far the best dessert.
I used to work here so that's how I know all this stuff ;-) That's also why I'll suggest that you tip the takeout orders person. In addition to waiting tables, servers have to manage the to go orders, which divides time and energy. As servers get paid less than minimum wage, it's really helpful if you tip the take out person, even a dollar or two.
Finally, this place is BYOB which is really great. It generally has a nice ambiance. Best for meeting friends, not recommended for a first date (for God's sake, get out of HPK for that). -
Review from Winston G.
Chicago, IL
1/29/2011
I really like this place, even if the U of C law school orders from here several times a week. Actually, it's probably my favorite lunch option when a student group caters from here and gets the chicken shawarma, the falafel balls, and the pita bread with hummus. All of the options are very flavorful and tasty, and the chicken is not very dry.
I've also come here for dinner before with the use of a Groupon - the lentil soup is really good. The dinner portions (also ordered the chicken shawarma again) was very sizable, although the chicken was a bit dryer than what I normally see for lunch. All in all, this is one of the better options to get food in Hyde Park. -
Review from christina s.
Chicago, IL
11/13/2010
I went here for the first time in years and I have to say that I was not missing out on much. I had the seafood kabobs with rice and veggies and the egyptian lentil soup. We also had the falafel appetizer. The egyptian lentil soup was surprisingly pretty good though I thought it was a little too salty. The falafel appetizer was also pretty tasty. Unfortunately my main dish was not good at all and I believe I had the worst tasting scallops I ever had in my life! They were rubbery and tasted slightly of dirty dish water. The salmon was okay but pretty tasteless and the shrimp was again okay. The rice was meh, I only had a few bites of it. The veggies were good, though not very tasty, I just happen to love veggies so it would take a lot for me not to eat them... ^_^
What was extremely off-putting (so much so that I almost informed the management), was that as they cleared a table right next to us, they thought it was okay to spray (from a freakin aersol spray can) this strong smelling cleaner all the over the table while we were eating. wtf?!?! seriously, as if my dinner could be less appetizing!!!!
One good thing about the place is that it is BYOB with no corkage fee.... -
Review from Rosa K.
1/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Hit or miss. Haven't been here in 5 years and came back for some nostalgia the other day. I used to LOVE EVERYTHING on the menu... but this last visit was a bit disappointing. The prices have increased since and the lamb chops aren't spectacular like they once were.
The lentil soup is still outstanding as well as the more affordable and very filling sandwiches that come with fries and salad. I had the falafel sandwich with my lamb chops as well as hummus and hareesa... I had a lot of leftovers... =D
The hummus didn't have pine nuts on it like it used to, but the hareesa is still delish! -
Review from Liz K.
Chicago, IL
6/9/2011
LOVED IT! Went here on a Wednesday night in June 2011, using a Groupon. We'll definitely go back without a Groupon. Our total, before discount, was only $30 + tip, so it's the type of place we might start going to regularly.
Food:
My fiance and I decided to share several appetizers for our meal. We got the chicken wings (mild heat, fried well - juicy inside, lightly crunchy exterior), the grilled shrimp, and the spinach-cheese flatbread. The flatbread was my favorite part of the meal - it's basically cut like pizza, has cheese, spinach, garlic, and lemon. The lemon was perfect - cut through the heavy cheese and enhanced the other flavors, but wasn't very tart. Also ordered the Cedar's Sampler which had hummus, dolmades, tabouli, and falafel. Hummus and tabouli were fine (average for freshly made, better than store-bought). Dolmades were quite tart, but I liked that. Didn't care for the falafel... seemed dry and tasteless compared to everything else we were having. My fiance thought they were okay.
BYOB:
There is a liquor store 2 doors down in the same shopping center. (Kimbark Liquors?) Stopped in for a bottle of wine then headed next door... saw couples doing the same thing. I don't even recall there being a corkage fee - might have been a small one, but I don't think so.
Service:
Our server was very friendly and laid-back (which doesn't mean she took forever, she just had a relaxing vibe). Didn't have to wait long for anything, and she was good at keeping an eye on empty dishes so that she could get them out of our way.
Parking: parked in the lot for that shopping center. Free.
Overall:
Will definitely go back. It's like a 20 minute drive, but that's fine. We live in Beverly and you can't get that kind of food around here. It tasted really fresh and light, but we were both full when we left. -
Review from Laura S.
6/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
I arrived in Chicago after an awkwardly-timed flight - I left for the airport at 10:30 in the morning and arrived at 1:30 Chicago time, which was 2:30 my-stomach time. As I was staying with a friend in Hyde Park, she recommended stopping at Cedars for a quick lunch. I love Greek food (and Mediterranean flavors were conspicuously absent from my food plans for the weekend!), so in we went.
Everything, from the ambiance to the service to the food, was good but not stellar. Our server was very attentive - but almost to the point of being irritating. At one point we started counting the number of times she hovered over us to check if everything was OK. It's hard to fault a server for caring too much, so I thought we had managed not to show any annoyance - but at the end of the meal she disappeared for a solid 15 minutes, so perhaps she did pick up on that vibe. Oh, well.
We shared the "Dip Trio" to start, a dish of pita bread with a choice of three dips. I was not impressed by the pita bread; it was dry and not very flavorful. The dips, however, were absolutely delicious. My favorite was the Jerusalem salad. I expected it to be vinegar-dressed, but instead the cucumber and tomato are in a creamy yogurt dressing. I would have eaten a bowl full! The lebna, a thick creamy cheese, was also delicious. It tasted like butter, but it was acceptable to eat giant hunks of it. We also had the hummus, which was good but not particularly memorable. For an entree I had the kushary - rice with lentils. I had mine topped with chicken and yogurt. It was delicious, but honestly I would have been just as happy to have the rice plain with the chicken and the yogurt. I think the take-home message from my experience at Cedars is that anything involving yogurt will be creamy and delicious, and everything not involving yogurt could be skipped and you'd never miss it. -
Review from Jillian V.
Chicago, IL
1/15/2011
The falafel and lentil soup were outstanding! The pita bread for the table was dry and...bleh.
I was disappointed with my beef-lamb shawarma sandwich; Very dry with tough fat chunks. My boyfriend's kefta sandwich was fantastic, though! Large portions for the price.
3.5 -
Review from AnandShruti R.
Tulsa, OK
8/21/2010
It's an inconspicuous delight!! Finding great Middle Eastern food in the city is hard, finding great Mid East food at a reasonable price is near impossible. Cedars meets and exceeds the bar.
The food is great, from the hummus to grape leaves and entrees like the lamb shwarma, all of them are well plated, large in portions, and fresh. -
Review from Heather L.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 5/10/2011
In restaurant - 5 stars
Delivery - No stars
OK, I had to take Cedar's down a couple of stars b/c of the horrendous experience I had with delivery from them recently. I ordered a couple of wraps and an appetizer for delivery. There was confusion from the get-go. At first, they said that they didn't deliver to my address b/c it was too far, but I only live a few blocks from the restaurant. Once we got that squared away, I ordered and they told me it would arrive in 45 min. Over an hour later I called and there was still confusion - she put me on hold for a long time - and then told me to call her back if it didn't come soon, b/c he left 20 minutes ago. Now, I'm thinking that my lamb shwarma is going to be really cold, but I still waited. I did call back when it still hadn't arrived and asked for the manager. I told him the situation. He said that my order should arrive soon. I told him that I actually wanted to cancel my order. He didn't do/say anything to help me feel better about the situation, so that was a dissapointment, especially because we are frequent customers. Though I cancelled the order, ten minutes later, the delivery guy showed up. They are just very uncoordinated with their delivery. Being that this is the case, I think that they would be better off not offering delivery as an option.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/20/2011
We love Cedar's!
I've been several times and it's always been really good (except once when the… Read more »
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Review from Lynda D.
Chicago, IL
11/11/2011
Good food. The chicken kabobs and the lentil soup are great.
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Review from Fatima H.
Chicago, IL
1/7/2011
This place is close to my home so now and then I'll go and grab a bite. First, only the lamb on the menu is halal and so that limits my selection from the get go. From the lamb dishes, I'd say only 3 are worth getting: lamb chops, Kefta Kebob and Pan-Sauteed Lamb (Kallayah)
They get 3 stars because they are very inconsistent in what is or isn't halal. I have been told on many occasions that the lamb is halal but two times I went there, once on Eid and then recently, the server told me EVERYTHING was. Really, you work there and don't know your own menu?? -
Review from Reuben H.
5/6/2009
Ribs and Chicken are not something that I usually associate with a Middle Eastern restaurants. Especially when one considers Harold's is immediately next door to this place, why would I, the fried chicken fiend that I am, try out the chicken at Cedar's?
To answer things delicately, I am living out a daily struggle to break my addiction to Harold's and his greased-up devil meat- so I need to take baby steps away from Harold's and get my chicken fix elsewhere.
I have tried many things here and my reactions have run the gamut of either really disappointed to very impressed. One thing that I can stand by here is that Chicken and Ribs dinner plate.
The chicken is a boring piece of breast that has been sauced up bright red- like a tika masala. The flavors are good despite using the wrong piece of meat. With no fat, and the way it is cooked- it is always dry.
The saving grace for the meal comes from those heavenly short-ribs. I don't know what that sauce is, some kind of pomegranate infused au jus or something, but the sweetness goes so well with the smoky, earthy, meaty ribs that just fall apart with a pull of your fork. Hell- that sauce could go on my damn cornflakes in the morning and turn them good. If only I had cornflakes in the morning, or ever...
Anyway, I use that sauce on everything that comes on the plate- including the chicken, which gives it just enough juice to keep it from grabbing hold of your throat as you try to swallow, causing you to choke and turning your face a similar color red.
The restaurant itself is nice, but really loud. Not sure if it is because of the modern decor, and therefore a lot of flat, shiny, reverberant materials; or if Hyde Parkers just like to shout over one another- but for the simple reason that it is too loud inside for us to enjoy a peaceful meal, we always get our food to go. Luckily we live three blocks away.
Oh yeah, my worldly wife really likes their kefta. Only second to my own in terms of flavor and how well it is cooked. That's right- I do a mean kefta!Listed in: (Dr. Jekyll and Mr.) Hyde Park
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Review from Kara B.
Chicago, IL
7/29/2008 1 Check-in Here
Cedars Restaurant is actually good food, not just good food for Hyde Park (which is almost an oxymoron) but darn good food.
Kimbark Plaza, where it is located, is very run down and looks pretty unappealing from the outside. (And if you make the mistake of going in Leona's -- from the inside as well) However, once you step inside it feels as if you have been transported out of a hideous strip mall to a cute downtown restaurant. Cedars is stylishly decorated with a great open kitchen that includes a wood fired grill -- pretty impressive for a strip mall.
The food is also some of the best Mediterranean food you can get in the city. The hummus is outstanding but their specialties like the Lemon Chicken are to die for! Its also a great place to bring vegetarian friends as they have a VERY vegetarian friendly menu.
As others have mentioned it is also BYOB, so on top of being incredibly reasonable, you save money by going next door to Kimbark Liquors to get your wine!
Bottom Line: This place is worth traveling to Hyde Park for... which is saying something.Listed in: Eating in Hyde Park
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Review from Tina B.
8/20/2008
They have fusion Mediterranean food that I crave like an hummus ravished dervish, free parking, and some kind of fruity ribs that keep my carnivore man happily not complaining about having to eat "ethnic" food.
The interior is beautifully simple with low lighting, minimalist without being cold, which was nice and unexpected coming in from a strip mall parking lot. The service was warmly smiling, kind and thoughtful, even bringing my baby free goodies to snack on (and pretty much throw on the floor -sorry...). I was with my baby eating during the off hours (also known as "whenever he lets me eat"), but this is totally a date night spot.
Menu was like a fusion of Greek, traditional Middle Eastern stuff, Turkish and some other stuff that had elements of parts of all of it.
The man got the pomegranate ribs, which, while too sweet for my taste, were tender and made him more than content. The lemon chicken soup was so good that I ate half of my baby's bowl, too (What! He was just throwing it on the damn floor anyway). I had a fantastic scallop kabob thing. The scallops were a tiny bit dry, but the flavor was so good it made up for it. Every veggie on the kabobs was flavor full, nothing on the plate, even the rice, was a throw-away. We all cleaned our plates (Even the baby, but only because he dropped so much on the floor - sigh...).
The only knock I give them is that the prices were a little bit higher than I expected, but am also kind of a cheap ass who likes my falafels to be less than $3. But then again, I also know how to make my own.
I'll totally be back again the next time man wants ribs and I don't. -
Review from Sixto M.
Chicago, IL
2/15/2009
For those of us living in Hyde Park, good food is hard to come by. It should automatically be assumed that most restaurants in Hyde Park that recieve a 4 or 5 star rating are actually 2 or 3 star quality. Context matters in all things, and food is no different. Cedars is an excellent example of this "inflated" rating system that envelops Hyde Park reviews (I'm guilty of it myself).
Is Cedars a good place to eat? Yes. The space is very cute and conducive to a relaxing dining experience. Is Cedars a 4 star dining experience? No. Unless you only eat in Hyde Park (which is where the inflated ratings come from). Sorry, but I've been to too many restaurants in this city to place Cedars next to them.
I do not recommend Cedars for group dining. First off, they don't have any round tables, so the group can only spread our horizontally. Meaning, the more people in your group, the more polarized and isolated the conversations become. Second, and this is something that Cedars does not tell you when making reservations, once the group becomes more than 10, your dining automatically becomes "family style". In my experience, we weren't given options, they just brought out our food. And it was a lot of food! But what if you don't want as much as they bring you? Too bad, you have no choice. The result is a bill that can be well over $20 when individually a dinner at Cedars can easily be $10 and under.
This aside, Cedars is a great choice for those looking for good mediterranean cuisine at a descent price (except if you go in a group of more than 10). Cedars is also BYOB so be sure to drop-in to Kimbark Liquors before and pick-up some wine.Listed in: Hyde Park
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Review from Kristen F.
Woodstock, IL
5/14/2007
Cedars is a Hyde Park gem. The hummus is creamy, pita bread soft & warm, and portions huge. Lots of veggie options. I got the cauliflower and eggplant sandwich for $4.50! Crazy cheap for a very yummy curry-like veggie pita sandwich plus a salad and french fries. I just wish I had ketchup for the fries, but I was afraid that would make me an uncultured American. I was so full at the end and there was plenty to take home. It's BYOB, which we were not aware of, but next time-- and there will be a next time-- we're bringing a bottle of red.
Edit 6/15/08: You cannot compare Cedars to Zaytinya--that's like comparing McDonald's to Ruth's Chris and wondering why people still like to eat at McDonald's. It's cheap, that's why. Living in DC, I've been to Zaytinya many times and it is probably the best Mediterranean food I've had (although I will qualify that by saying I've never been to an eastern Mediterranean country). Zaytinya is a fancy restaurant--trendy decor, cocktails, a fashionable crowd (well, as fashionable as DC gets), a famous chef owner (Jose Andres), and high prices. Cedars is a neighborhood restaurant where you can wear jeans and flip flops. Six dollars at Cedars gets you a huge meal while you drink your own bottle of wine. Six dollars at Zaytinya gets you 1/2 cup of (the most delicious) hummus and a glass of water.
PS. They also deliver, which is great. -
Review from Deirdre R.
Chicago, IL
8/13/2008
Good old Hyde Park. I'm happy to have migrated to the north side but I really miss some of the neighborhood gems like Cedars. This is some of the best Mediterranean food I've ever had, especially for the price.
Everything that I've tried here has been fresh, unique and flavorful. All of the usual suspects like hummus, lamb kabobs and falafel are great. They have daily soup specials and an extensive menu to choose from. Cedars offers a great selection of small plates and appetizers that are plenty big to pass as hearty meals. One of the benefits of dining near a university is that the neighborhood restaurants understand college kids are trying to stretch a buck. I recently ate here with a large group and we ordered one of the family style meals- everything was delicious and plentiful- it's a great way to sample a variety of dishes and leave with food for the next day's lunch. This place is also BYO which is AOK in my book. There is a huge liquor store in the same shopping center so if you like booze with your tabuli you're in luck.
Cedars bonus:
If you are a member of the Barack fan club like me, after a filling meal at Cedars, you can meander the 3 blocks or so to casa Obama. Don't worry about the black SUVs hanging around, in fact, if you're like my mom you can even wave to the "undercover" secret service and let them know that you are huge fans of the future pres. The house is beautiful, classic and understated. I get a warm fuzzy feeling thinking about having a leader who comes from the diverse and middle class Hyde Park hood- you won't find any gated communities here! -
Review from Aurore L.
1/15/2009
I am trying hard to find a story to tell about my experiences at Cedars but really nothing comes to mind.....damn...a bland review....
I guess it's just the sign of an honest "ok" place. Hence the 3 stars.
I really can't complain about this little restaurant conveniently located 3 blocks from my place because everything I had here has always been good. I tend to always get the lamb kefta kebabs though; they are really tasty and come with two sides. It has become a take-out staple for us, and a very reliable one: good and cheap. Feed the beast. Straight to the point. I actually don't like eating on-site because it tends to get really loud and pretty cold in any season. I prefer eating my meat in front of my fireplace. Call me asocial if you want - I don't care as long as I can feast on my skewers.Listed in: Hyde Park - the 'eating'…
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Review from Jason L.
Chicago, IL
5/14/2007
I remember a couple of years ago when this place was nothing but a hole in the wall at it's old 53rd and Cornell location. With Cedar's move across Hyde Park to 53rd and Woodlawn, this restaurant has simultaneously crossed over into the realm of an upscale type eatery.
Cedars has a very calming ambiance, with a modern contemporary decor, and nice, light ethnic music. The wait staff is always incredibly polite, helpful, and knowledgeable about their menu.
While their lentil soup is not as good as their competitor, The Nile Restaurant, they do over a wide variety of dishes, all of which are bigger portions than served at The Nile. They do tend to be a little pricier than The Nile. Regardless of price, I highly recommend you try the chicken shwarma here. It's delicious!
While I tend to give the edge of middle-eastern/Mediterranean cuisine to The Nile, Cedars is not a bad choice! -
Review from Mark F.
Chicago, IL
9/9/2011
I've been here a lot in the past and found the food good, but the service erratic. We just visited on a Friday night. Started off with the three-cheese flatbread, which was good. Then we shared the Mashawi (Lamb-Beef and Chicken Shawirma, along with a skewer of Kefta Kebob). This was delicious--and a side and soup were included in the price. The entree portious are so large that there is more than enough to share--which seems common for people to do. The waitress was generally attentative and helpful. The bill only came to $20 (plus tip). Incredibly good value for such delicious food. They are also BYOB (and there is a liquor store a few doors down). Sometimes the service here has been so shocking that I'd rate them at 2 or 3 stars, but tonight I felt they deserved 4 stars.
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Review from Marie B.
8/21/2007
One of the nice things about Hyde Park is the diversity of its cuisine. From Thai to Italian...or, in this case - Mediterranean, one has a plethora of choices. I often find myself dining here for a variety of reasons:
1. The restaurant is very nicely decorated. Soothing colors, nice comfy seating and a 'chill' atmosphere.
2. The food is actually quite good. They have a variety of dishes, some familiar and not so much. All, quite satisfying.
3. The food is moderately priced and very plentiful. A dinner often nets several meals!
That said, if you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the "loop" ... -
Review from Candace P.
Chicago, IL
10/12/2009
Ate here recently...good conversation, okay food. Started off with crispy falafel (which was tasty) and for my entree I had Chicken Shawerma which was just okay. In my opinion I have not had any chicken shawerma that taste better than the Nile (also in Hyde Park). The person I was with had the eggplant stew with lamb which I must say was delicious and when I return to Cedars, that is what I will get next time.
Good atmosphere, service was so so. It took awhile for them to bring us our food but it was hot and fresh. :-) -
Review from Iliana P.
Oak Park, IL
3/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
BIG, yummy servings! I liked this place because the food was good, reasonably priced, and the servings were big, so my companion and I were able to try each other's entrees. The hummus and lentil soup are a must. I ended my meal with a Turkish coffee - also very good.
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Review from Marion B.
Chicago, IL
1/15/2010
Okay, let me start by saying I feel guilty for giving the place 3 stars. The friend I went to eat with lives nearby and loves it loves it here. But I suppose that doesn't mean that I have to.
There's plenty of parking in the lot, and a liquor store next door, so parking and BYOB isn't an issue. That's nice. But...I met my friend inside and we literally sat there for 25 minutes drinking water and nibbling on pita before my friend flagged down an employee and asked if we had a server. The employee said "Let me check" and returned saying "Your server is busy but I can take your order if you're ready." We were, of course, having had 25 minutes to study the menu. We both ordered falafel sandwiches. They came, after what seemed like an absurdly long time, and they were good, but my friend mentioned that every time she comes, her veggie hummus pita is made differently....sometimes with some kind of red saucy stuff, sometimes with traditional yogurty stuff, and this time it had neither of those but it did have zucchini...she said she'd never seen that one there before.
More plusses...once the food arrived, it was good. The restaurant is pretty. The bathrooms were clean. The server, once we got one, was efficient and nice. And oh, holy cow, was this ever cheap. -
Review from Aaron B.
Chicago, IL
3/27/2007
I think that this is one of Hyde Park's little secrets. Too much to go on about but just think of the best of city dining without the attitude and a genuine interest in your visit. The food reflects the best of the Med.
I will definitely be going back down there soon! -
Review from Luan N.
Columbus, OH
11/7/2008
If you're looking for kabobs in Hyde Park, this is the place.
It's quite trendy and more upbeat compared to all the restaurants on the same street eastbound.Listed in: Middle Eastern Fare
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Review from Chrissy N.
Chicago, IL
2/5/2009
I'm not a huge fan of Mediterranean cuisine, but I often order from Cedars to cater lunches at work- and they are always a HUGE hit. They have such nice vegetarian options as well. They always do a great job recommending serving sizes for our group #s, they are on time, friendly and easy to work with, and we will just keep on ordering from them.
I've been to the restaurant once- and it's very lovely inside. I'd venture to say one of the nicer places in Hyde Park. -
Review from Dustin T.
Pittsburgh, PA
3/24/2008
Are are the reviewers for Cedars insane? Or maybe just overly optimistic when it comes to good Med food. Sorry to break it to ya, but this place is average at best. Now, I'm not from the Middle East, nor am I from Chicago. I'm from Pittsburgh. So what does a Pittsburgher know about Med food? Not much. But... I can recognize good Middle Eastern food when I have it. And sadly, this ain't it.
I ordered the Lentil soup that is supposed to be out of this world. It was tasty but nothing that I will remember come tomorrow. And the cup really is a small cup.
I also ordered the Baba Ghanooj as an app. All I have to say is "Ehh... just ok." To make it worse, the pita were microwaved so while they did come out warm and soft, but you know what happens when they sit for awhile. By the end of my meal, they were cardboard.
And finally a falaffel sandwich. Again, just ok. The falaffel's were fried too hard. I hate it when they're super crunchy. Makes me feel like I'm eating my mom's overdone tater tots back in 3rd grade. The sandwich came with the Cedar's "homestyle fries". Not sure what that's all about. I checked with a friend of mine who moved to the US a few years ago from Lebanon. He couldn't think of anywhere that potatoes were done like this as part of a meal. Oh well, perhaps Cedars is trying to cater to the non-Med-food-eating crowd.
So, I dunno what all the fuss is about. I've had much better Middle Eastern fare (for example, check out my review for Zaytinya in Washington DC). Maybe in Hyde Park your choices for this kind of food are slim. I realize I'm in the minority when it comes to this review so I'll probably be ignored. It's ok, I won't take it personally ;) -
Review from Andrea G.
Virginia Beach, VA
11/29/2008
Come for the hummus and soup specials.
Stay because it's BYOB, and there's a liquor store next door.
Leave because the service--especially delivery--is downright awful.
