Hala's Mideast Eatery and Market — Restaurant in Jacksonville

Look- I realize this place is in a temporary location right now- so I’m giving some grace on atmosphere. The store is DIRTY! Y’all- they had spinach pies on a pan covered with Saran Wrap by the register that you could just uncover and grab from. The staff were not friendly, but they weren’t rude- it was more like we were interrupting their lunch break or something. We went here specifically for the Strawberry Dubai cup and got the mango ice cream as well. They make the Dubai cup at a little table in the back and the ice cream is in the freezer. The lady who made our cup was scrambling looking for the strawberries and when she found them, she didn’t even use gloves to make the cup. We stayed because they have a couple of tables set up where you can eat in the back. The ice cream/sorbet tasted very artificial with a weird texture. It honestly didn’t even melt after sitting at the table for 20 minutes. Yuck! Now- I’ve had the Strawberry Dubai cup from Peterbrooke several times, but I’ve read reviews that it was better here, hence the review. The price was $13.99, so alittle cheaper than Peterbrook, for the same size cup. I’m not sure if the ingredients just weren’t fresh or the chocolate at Peterbrooke is just far better, but this honestly was not good at all. The strawberries were cut up and tasted like they had been sitting in syrup. The knafeh crunch and pistachio cream layers were well proportioned, but did not taste good at all. We ate a few bites and ended up throwing it out. Needless to say, I will gladly keep going to PeterBrooke and paying a few dollars more to have the clean/friendly experience inside the store and the taste be there! This...

The reason I traveled 15 minutes out of my way for the food is because I have always enjoyed the lunch and dinners at Halas. The customer service on this particular day was questionable. I don’t know if the young lady was having a really bad day, or frustrated by the current renovation process so I just let the unfriendly rudeness pass. HOWEVER, the coldness changed when an elderly Caucasian couple came in after me…I was hoping that the treatment I received wasn’t falling into the category of the color of my skin, or me not being considered privileged enough for the same kind welcoming greeting with a smile that the couple after me received. This totally made me question why I bothered traveling all the way from downtown 15 minutes out of my way to then be treated like I was a genuine inconvenience to this young lady. I won’t give up on this place because the food is phenomenal it’s the blatant inconsistency in how certain classes or races of people are treated. Also I was never asked what size order I wanted. She told the order person I wanted large and I was charged for large never asked but hey, I enjoy their food. After I left I looked at the order. It was quite small for the cost. Regardless of race, color or creed please do better in the customer service category…please? There’s already enough of this kind of behavior in the...

One of Jacksonville's hidden gems when it comes to resteraunts and bakeries. I've been here multiple times for lunch, dining in and for takeout, and the staff were always friendly, both at the kitchen and at the grocery. Huge fan of their falafel platter, I get that almost every visit. Pro tip: Ask for a cherry limeade the next time you go.

As someone who doesn't eat meat, I also appreciate establishments that have multiple options for vegetarians/vegans, and Hala's a great choice if you have those specific dietary restrictions.

The grocery is where you can, honestly, buy the best, freshly baked pita bread in the city. Not hyperbole. Their spinach pies, zaatar bread, and baklava are equally delicious and are house-made as well. If you ever wanted to try authentic Turkish delight, dates, and other staples that make up middle eastern dishes, you buy them here. And as far as I know, Hala's is one of the only places in the city where you can purchase brands of Turkish coffee grounds, cups, and pots (Cezve) in the same place. It's where I bought mine!

This is an easy 5/5 for me. Go eat there already and see for yourself, as Hala's has a...