The Desert Inn — Restaurant in Canton

I've been wanting to stop in at this restaurant for years, but I just never thought of it. I finally did. I was not impressed. The decor is lovely, except for the "CCW WELCOME" sticker on the main entrance. The bar is odd - a low counter-bar, with rolling chairs to sit in. i felt like i was at the kid's table at thanksgiving. The food....well the fries were good. I got an appetizer sampler, with hummus, dolmades, and baba ghanoush. The hummus was pretty good. the dolmades had no flavor except that murky bitey flavor of the grape leaves. The baba ghanoush was the most unappetizing color I've ever seen - i kind of gritty grey, with a vague hint of brown. And, it was bland...tasteless. baba ghanoush should have some bite to it, a bit of heat. The pita was ungrilled and dry - i would have to guess it was cut and left out for a while. I also got a gyro w fries. At first I couldn't find the tzatziki, but it was hiding in a thin layer under the gyro meat. The sandwich was mostly pita. A few strips of lettuce (??) and a couple chunks of onion. While the gyro meat was pretty good, there wasn't that much of it, and without much onion or tzatziki it left the sandwich rather bland. Considering they tout their belly dancers, I was expecting more authentic middle-eastern fare, maybe a Doner kabab or even an Iskender, maybe some Turkish tea, or syrian coffee....The menu is loosely middle eastern, i'd say more Greek island than Turkish, but with less mint. except for the meze and lunches, everything is "family style" - you pay one price for a table's worth including salad, i assume bread, entree etc. I wasn't that hungry, so i passed on that option. I did go during a very slow time - the lull between lunch and dinner, on a Tuesday. But....I was severely disappointed in the food. They appear to be terrified of spices of any kind. The bartender was lovely and friendly, and attentive. I found myself wondering about her life, how she ended up tending bar in a sleepy little pretend middle-eastern/mediterranean place in the moderately bad side of Canton, in the middle of the day. She was friendly and helpful with the patrons, who were all clearly regulars (except me). Maybe I should have noticed they were only drinking, and taken...

Made reservations 6 weeks ahead of time and called 2 days ahead of time to confirm for Mothers day dinner. Had reservations for a party of 8, it started off bad when they crammed us at a table that was clearly for 4 to 6 people, there was not even enough room for your silverware and your plate to be on the table, we told the waiter that we were not pleased with being put at such a small table with no room and was told by him that yes it will be extremely tight but they'll make it work. I ordered the cod which was excellent but I could not have a salad plate on the table at the same time for their family style dinner. I felt like we were treated like someone who just walked in at the last minute without a reservation and throughout the dinner the waiter seemed not to want to be their either. Drinks were spilled during dinner and we had to set some glasses on the floor because there was no room to reach the family style tray. Three people got chicken kabob that was 5 small pieces of dried out chicken. One person got the shrimp kabob that was 4 little shrimp those were all about $20 each. Beware kids burgers are $10 each. At the end of our dinner a girl came over and put a placard in the middle of the table with a list of desserts, shortly after that the waiter came over and left the check, so apparently we didn't want any desserts. We had plans on taking our other friend there for her Birthday but that will definitely not happen because it was such an embarrassment and a disappointment to take people out for such a special occasion and have this type...

Worst excuse for a restaurant in Canton. If you make it through the beautiful ride to the establishment you will get to see the best Canton has to offer. The parking lot is sketchy at best. The service is the worst I have ever seen. The food is mediocre at best. A little salt helps. Presentation is sloppy. Not the place it once was. Never will be again. I reccomend closing the place for good. I have 25 yrs of Food and Beverage experience. I have literally had better food and services at McDonald's. Save ur money and go to Alladins or even Papa Gyros. This place is a real joke of an establishment.In response to the generic response given by the restaurant....You do not want me to call. I wouldn't have left the review if I thought it was a one time thing. Your place is terrible. I know this and apparently others do to. Sometimes ot takes more than the name and the old reputation to stay relevant. Your food used to be good. It is not any longer. Your service was also terrible. I can not speak for all of the staff but everyone except the bus people were clueless. Again I have run resturants of this size. I know how to handle one party of people and still take care of the other tables. No excuses. Except...terrible...