AJ'S Mediterranean — Restaurant in Edwardsville

I was delighted to discover a gem of a Mediterranean restaurant in our area. Based on a recommendation, we decided to visit, and I couldn't be more pleased with our experience.

The restaurant, located in a typical strip mall, was a pleasant surprise. Upon entering, we were greeted by a spotless environment, soothing music, and enticing aromas.

As it was our first visit, we sought guidance from the owner, who recommended the combo. We followed his advice and were not disappointed.

To our delight, the restaurant features local sodas from Excel Bottling on tap. Supporting a local company is always a plus, and I genuinely prefer their sodas over the mainstream brands.

Our meal was served promptly and beautifully presented. The portions were generous, yet not overwhelming, a welcome departure from what is often encountered at Mediterranean establishments. We began with the Falafel and Kibbeh, both of which were perfectly prepared and delightfully moist. As someone who usually avoids falafel, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it, as well as the hummus and Baba Ghanoush.

The meats were cooked to perfection, with the beef showcasing a delightful sumac seasoning and the chicken equally well-prepared.

The staff were a joy to converse with, and we engaged in a fascinating discussion about the intricacies of the cuisine.

For dessert, I opted for the strawberry tart, which, like the rest of our meal, was exceptional. The buttery base, creamy filling, and fresh strawberry topping were the perfect conclusion to our dining experience.

If you're in the area and seeking high-quality food with friendly service that stands out from the usual options, I highly recommend giving this...

I'm trying to eat less meat, so was excited to see meatless options on the menu. The food was just ok. I tried the vegan Kibbeh appetizer, vegan Saujok, falafel, choclava. The Kibbeh and it was decent but it had a spice in it that didn't quite go. I couldn't eat the Saujok because it was too spicy for me. If you like food that's so spicy that you can't taste it, then that sandwich is for you. The falafel was ok, but the tahini dipping sauce was not good. The cholava also was a miss - dry and again, a spice I didn't like. My husband is a meat eater and he tried the chicken shawarma and spicy fries. The fries were just regular fries in our opinion no spice (other than maybe seasoned salt). He said the shawarma was decent. Although the food was a miss, the staff was very kind and our food was made quickly. We didn't love the atmosphere of the restaurant. There was a TV playing music videos very loudly (kind...

Shawarma was pretty salty, and overall did not taste like traditional shawarma, the side dishes were also not that great. Tabouli was mainly just parsley with a bit of bulgar wheat and other ingredients, seasoning was decent. Hummus, kind of bland flavor and underwhelming. Pita was pretty thin but okay flavor. We took baklava home, it had a very strong almost citrus flavor that also seemed odd. We also purchased a ‘Dubai chocolate bar’ it was extremely disappointing… more of a ‘crunch’ bar and not worth $10! I do not think the quality of the food matches the advertised descriptions of said food. Sadly, I do not think we will return. We have tried, other better quality Mediterranean restaurants and will seek those instead. (Also, I have lived in the Middle East and traversed the region…I do not expect that quality necessarily but this was...