I came to the Aladdin’s Eatery today ( 9th of September 2019, approximately 3-4pm ) with my mother after her doctor appointment. I ordered a beef shawarma and asked if they could avoid adding the spinach (cause the only way I’d eat that is when it’s cooked), but my mother wanted it, so I had it on the side.I guess there was a miscommunication with the server Jessy, because I ended up having ALL the greens on the side.

Now, that was not an issue at all, but what I’m about to tell you next just made me grind my gears a lot: The Manager, Hannah Wallace, was talking to the cooks, laughing out loud about the way my shawarma was ordered, almost like she was mocking my eating preferences. I was sitting on a table that allowed me to see and hear everything that was going on in the kitchen, and I don’t mind when people make fun of me, I usually laugh with then, but it was my mother who wanted the spinach on the side, so she was basically making fun of her, and that’s not right. Also, while laughing at my plate of greens, she grabbed the salad with her bare hands just to show it to her employees what I a fool “yours truly” is, and put it back in the plate.

Jessy ( or Jessie ) came to my table to check on my meal, I explained the situation to her and asked if she could send her manager over. Jessy politely called her over after apologizing for the inconvenience multiple times, even though it was not her fault. I described everything I heard and watched happening in the kitchen.

I made her apologize and made her promise that a behavior like that would never happen again. So I walked to the entrance of the kitchen with her, making sure that she would make me another side of greens without contaminating it with her hands again. But while walking towards the kitchen, she stopped me right before I made it there, slightly raising her voice, telling me that she is the manager and I’m not allowed to enter the kitchen. Me on the other hand, with 9 years of culinary arts experience, and a culinary degree from Italy, already knew that as a client I cannot walk into the kitchen without the proper equipment, and I did tell her that it wasn’t my intention to walk inside, that just I wanted to be able to see her remake my order, the proper way this time. She did apologize for raising her voice, but nonetheless, she did raise her voice on me.

Long story short, the venue had a nice theme, pleasing to the eyes. The tables seemed clean, the server Jessie was hands down the nicest server I’ve ever met in all my food and beverage academic and career experience, and she makes nice smoothies too. The food was not the greatest since all the greens were missing, but I’m sure that if I try it once more it’ll taste good. The manager Hanna Wallace, is something this establishment needs to improve immediately. She was disrespectful and unprofessional until I was able to put her on the corner.

The venue and the server are the only reasons why this place managed to have 2 stars from me.

I’ll be working around Mishawaka pretty soon, and I’ll be going to this “Mediterranean eatery” every day if necessary, just to see if the management has improved.

Anyone who read this, I apologize for the long review, but It was necessary. I still recommend you to visit this place if you are visiting Mishawaka IN, just avoid ordering greens on the side. Although, if you do wish to have your greens on the side, make sure so stand by the kitchen entrance so you can check the quality of your food, Miss Wallace will be happy to let you observe, but if not, let her read this review so she might understand.

Thank you and have a wonderful your meal.