Zeitouni Mediterranean Grill — Restaurant in Charlotte

Went looking for good Lebanese cuisine - something that continues to evade Charlotte, North Carolina. No better luck today. First, this establishment is designed more as a carry-out. Dining in consists of a few plain tables and uncushioned chairs. The place gets a 4/5 for cleanliness and there is plenty of natural lighting through the traditional retail center window panes. It is counter order service only. Still, I came here for the food. It amazes me what people settle for as ‘good’ or ‘delicious’ Arabic food. 😳 They are usually Americans who never experienced good Middle Eastern cooking at home or out and therefore have no real perspective. Having had both home cooked and excellent Midde Eastern meals out, I know the difference. I ordered a kafta sandwich. It was flat in shape. If this sandwich is made right it is rolled or oval because of the volume of ingredients. A flat sandwich is achieved by skimping on content, especially the kafta as in my sandwich. The vegetarian ingredients were also lacking and limp not fresh. I ordered a side of baba ganouge. Good baba ganouge is greenish/grey in color from the eggplant. It should not be loose or runny but more dense. It should also have a distinct smoky flavor. The eggplant is supposed to be roasted on an open grill. This had neither. It had too much tahini, a method often used to save money. Tahini is cheaper than eggplant and even cheaper than paying somebody to roast and prepare it. Lastly. I ordered grape leaves. A good grape leave has the shape and size of a four to five inch cigar. It is stuffed full of rice and ground lamb mixture and rolled tight to seal in the juices. The rice is neither overcooked nor undercooked. Once stuffed they are cooked in the oven which takes the harshness out of the leaf and allows the flavor to cook through. They are extremely easy to make correctly. These were two inch piles of mush. The grape leaves were not cooked and their bitterness overpowered the content. Not much of a challenge since the content consisted of maybe a teaspoon of overcooked rice. I did not detect any lamb. They were clearly not cooked after being assembled. The leafs were more folded than rolled and the entire thing was a mess. I could not get past the first one. Prices were average but considering the poor quality they were overpriced. In Arabic we say ‘Khalas!’ It means ENOUGH! I am sad to say I have had enough of...

Not what it used to be. 20200118 .

The owner messaged to be more specific regarding our three-star review of 20200118.

We wanted to be kind and not say much when we commented a few days ago, but the owner asked.

The meat was swimming in watery tahini sauce, so unpleasant. The pita tasted stale. The pickled vegetables were tasteless. The portions were smaller than they used to be. Paid much more here for two small meager meals with sodas than we would have paid at Cantina do Brasil in Mint Hill for two very large meals with full plates of freshly cooked-to-order beef (filé encebolado, picanha), plentiful and tasty sides, fried vegetables, fruit shakes, full table service, and generous tip for excellent service. The floors were grimy. The credit card machine forces you to tip, which for a counter-serve fast-food place is unbelievable. All they do is drop off the food at your table. They do not get your drinks or ask if you need anything else or even clear your table. You have to clear your own table. Why force tipping if no service is provided?

On a positive note, one of us states that the baba ghanouj is worth going to Zeitouni. The other states that it was icy cold from the refrigerator, which made it difficult to eat.

Ultimately, this review is based on our historied experience. We have been eating at this locale since the Quiznos vacated and Zeitouni moved in.

Back in the day, Zeitouni was wonderful!

Zeitouni is Lebanese fast food, even though one of us continues to yearn for mujaddara, kibbe (both raw kibbe nayyeh, and fried into little football shapes), as well as for authentic tabbouleh loaded with lots of cracked wheat and chopped mint and tangy dressing, like an Aunt used to make at home during our childhood.

We strongly used to recommend Zeitouni to anyone and everyone, in the past. After all these years, perhaps they are feeling tired and worn out. The freshness and taste are no longer there. The value for money is not there.

The owner should not have messaged for further details and should have left well-enough...

I should have taken a picture, as the item I adoore the most isn't even featured on the menu, or wasn't for at least 8+ years. I've lived around Ballantyne, or technically the greater South Charlotte metro, for over 38 years, and this restaurqnt establishment likely offers the cleanest and phenomenal Mediterranean meals around the entire Carolinas. The owner is friendly, and looks the part as far as clean eating; he is energetic and jacked. You can't miss him, as he stands out to be health-conscious, while somehow incorporating his delicious food or own diet at exceptional prices within Ballantyne expensive real estate. That is a miracle, and as a small Jewish guy, a huge mazeltov to my brotha. The special sandwich is an 8th wonder of our world. It has perfectly grilled skewered kabob chicken cut in bite-sized pieces with hot sauce, garlic aoili-esq sauce, 1 or 2 French fries a pickle (I omit) lots of herbs all inside a thin Lebanese pita-like wrap, yet thinner, better and crispier. It's cooked perfectly, served in a skillet and is the best item under $10 in the land. On this particular day, I was coming from my doctors, as I'm battling an aggressive, incurableand rare cancer that spread to my brain. The floors were just mopped so I needed a little bit of extra help and love. My credit card also gives many vendors trouble due to a bum magnetic strip. The cancer has made me bilaterally deafvin both ears and partially blind. ( I will win round 2). Jose, provided top notch (temp) handicapped help with both situations including communication plus carrying my food, while manning the register during the peak lunch tlhour. I've had many other dishes there and all my other Zeituni visits have been exceptional, yet today I felt compelled to leave this small note...