Ani Catering & Cafe — Restaurant in Belmont

This place was recommended to me by a close friend to try, so I made a point to drop by today, and I'm extremely glad I made that choice.

Oftentimes when I have a wrap, I usually don't think much of it, it doesn't remind me of what I've had in Paris or in Montreal, referring to the Shawarma trucks.

When I came inside, I asked the gentleman behind the counter what is a popular recommendation, what meat choice is fresh and so forth.

The chicken shawarma was recommended, as a wrap, that wasn't my first choice I was thinking in my head but I wanted to go with what they were suggesting, and I'm glad that I did. They told me that it would be pretty garlicky and if I was okay with that, and optionally there are onions that he would add too, and I said give me everything.

I added a side of hummus as well, which came with pita bread, as I usually like to try people's hummus when I can.

I sat down, small cafe like environment, with some great looking hand-painted murals of Aleppo and Armenia, which I did learn it was by local artist which made me really excited. Lunch time, weekday, not crowded, got lucky on the parking.

I first got my hummus served first, it was a delight, and I specially love the thin pita bread, that was tender and fresh not hard like a old piece of sunbaked cardboard.

While sipping my diet coke, I got lost in the painting in front of me which was a village in armenia, completely mesmerizing in terms of energy.

Moments later my wrap was served, and I was excited, because it wasn't the big hard pita bread wrap that I often times see here in the east coast, at least in the Greater Boston area, and it was tightly wrapped, what I mean is it was condensed and tight, not loose and airy, as those loose and airy wraps I often times get falls apart in my hands and pretty much it's a poor eating experience.

And I'm glad I got the onions, it's pretty much my first rap that I've eaten here in the Greater Boston area that really sung a wonderful song in my heart, from a foodie to a foodie, this isn't your regular chicken shawarma wrap. It actually didn't remind me of what I usually think of chicken from would taste like, which oftentimes carry the traditional American trappings of iceberg lettuce, and common and mundane ingredients.

This had ingredients that I am not natively familiar with, I don't know if it's sumac or a mysterious sauce I haven't tried yet but the onions and the other vegetable like ingredients which I should have paid attention to, a very bright contrasting backdrop against the chicken, which was amazing in its own right, although I'm not a chicken guy, the whole collective eating experience was new to me at least here in america. And dare I say, unlike a meat wrap with veggies that oftentimes boring wraps are, this had the feeling of a medicinal quality, and a feeling of the food temperatures like hot and colds, that often times European cultures in folk, as well as Chinese cultures. Exciting ingredient play that works off of each other that were both sublime, with a deceptive front pallet attack. The garlic oil which the gentleman described was, simply a lot of garlic, really is yet another level of wrap of the whole food experience.

tldr; an exciting gem of a place in which my wrap experience superseded anything I've had here in New...

Vegetarians: The vegetarian plate contains rice that is made with chicken stock.

I ordered my vegetarian plate off of DoorDash and was surprised to learn from the owner that the rice contains chicken stock. He said I should have made a note to order the vegan rice they have, although nowhere on the door dash menu does it say there is a vegan rice option- which I would have gladly ordered. Anyway, a vegetarian plate is implied that the ingredients of the dish are vegetarian- of which chicken stock is most def not!

I've worked in food service for a long time and I was disappointed by the owner's tone. The owner talked over me, interrupted multiple times when I tried to rationally and respectfully suggest to him that the menu should be made clear and vegetarian diets respected, and tried explaining to me that I was wrong in not identifying that I didn't want rice ( unknowingly made with chicken stock) in my vegetarian dish. I won't be ordering from this...

One of the best food spots in the area hands down. I'm always going around trying new foods and this spot is a must go to if you haven't been. I've tried a good amount of different foods here and the Chicken Shawrma, and Beef wraps are top tier delicious! The chicken and beef both are cooked and seasoned to perfection. Can't go wrong with either. Their french fries are extra crispy and perfect as well as a side. I've also tried some pastries not sure of the names but all great and the Baklava is perfect. If you're looking for a new spot to try definitely come here you won't regret it. For the price they make sure you get your money's worth plus quality you can't beat. Very delicious, very nice people, and very...