Garlic 'n Lemons — Restaurant in Boston

The food is delicious and the staff were super nice and made ordering a breeze even though I hadn't ever been there and there was no one in line in front of me to help me figure it out on my own lol. Between the two of us, my husband and I have had the Chicken Shawarma, spicy chicken Shawarma, falafel pita, chicken kebab plate, rice (reminds me of a fluffy rice pilaf), and hummus. Everything was delicious! Between the chicken and the spicy chicken, I would get the spicy chicken from now on as it has more zest to it, although both are really great. They offer a garlic sauce (which seems to have a mayo like consistency and is very good as it provides moisture to the wrap without taking away from the flavor of all of the other ingredients) as the default sauce on the shawarma wraps and they put some sort of mildly spicy sauce (creamy orange in color) on the spicy chicken Shawarma. Not to worry if you're not a fan of spice as it provides flavor more than anything and just a hint of heat (a slight warmth). It should not blow you away and for those who like it more spicy, it seems like people tend to add a bunch more of the spicy sauce to their dish and I believe there are 2-3 other options, one of which also might be spicy. According to my husband, the falafel is some of the best he’s had in recent years, and the kebabs take 5-7 minutes (as they are cooked to order) and worth the wait! The hummus is also delicious and you can get a very small side for less than a dollar or a larger size to take home for a couple of dollars.

They have whole wheat pita for those who prefer that option. I don’t know if they make their own pita because it's available to buy (in packs of 6) in a professional looking bag, but the pita is really good so I don't personally care. They also have Paklava (yes, with a "P"), rice pudding and another dessert I can't remember the name of right now, along with some other things. Their combo meals are absolutely worth it as you get a side and any drink from the refrigerator. Finally, the seating area is very updated, bright, clean and has a nice atmosphere. We are headed back right now and I'm looking forward to...

As others have mentioned, Garlic ‘n Lemons is very clean and the service is very friendly and polite. I ordered a mixed shawarma plate (spicy chicken and spicy beef) with tabouleh, rice pilaf, and garlic sauce, adding a falafel. I also asked for some spicy sauce on top. For dessert, I ordered a piece of baklava.

I haven’t seen shawarma sliced so thinly before, which isn’t a bad thing. I found that being so thinly sliced and dressed with sauce, I never had a dry bite, nor one that felt too saucy. The flavors were perhaps less intense than other excellent shawarma plates that I’ve eaten, but were as balanced and if anything, more nuanced. Though I am always a bit self conscious after eating a lot of parsley and garlic sauce, I wasn’t swimming in my own garlic breath after eating it. Anyway, it was really, really good. The falafel was good, though something of an afterthought. It is probably excellent when fresh.

The baklava, though tasty, had the syrup poured on it before being placed in the package, meaning that it was not as crisp nor as bright as other baklava that I’ve had, but still really tasty.

I found the price to be on par with other Middle Eastern counter-serve restaurants in the area, meaning that while reasonable, I wouldn’t call it cheap. All told, I paid $17-$18 for my meal, which seems fair to me, though I would have felt like I got better value if the baklava and the falafel were fresher. Overall, I certainly...

This unassuming place on the busiest street in Allston is easy to be overlooked. However, if you are curious enough to prove how this mediocre-looking shop survived and thrived in the pandemic, enter through their glass vestibule and you’ll realize there’s nothing mediocre here.

This Mediterranean place is friendly, down to earth, and generous in serving portions. The owner Mardig greets every guest personally and walks them through the line patiently. The amount he scoops and packs into the bowl/plate usually takes me two meals to finish. Yet when you pay at the cashier, you’ll discover with amazement that almost 2-pound bowl only costs $15 including tax.

Places like Garlic ‘n Lemons in the post-pandemic Allston is a rare find. Allston, for anyone who knows it, is a neighborhood crowded with crazy rich kids unconcerned about money who inadvertently helped foster a flock of overpriced restaurants. Yet this Mediterranean restaurant can hold its integrity, continues to serve fresh, big-portioned food and charges only a very reasonable price. This place is a noble contrarian to the hedonistic environment it’s located in.

I applaud Mardig for maintaining his principles as a business owner and encourage anyone who ever stops by Allston to give his place a try.

(The pictures don’t serve this place justice, probably because their food is made to please the stomach, not...