Saj — Restaurant in New Orleans

A Misguided Culinary Identity Crisis

I came in genuinely excited to try this place, hoping for a flavorful Mediterranean experience. What we got instead was a pricey, confusing spread of dishes that seemed unsure of what cuisine they were trying to represent. We ordered the halloumi, hummus, chicken shawarma, Mediterranean paella, kofta, and the baklava cheesecake—and nearly every item left us disappointed.

Let’s start with the “pita,” which was actually a toasted tortilla—burnt and overwhelmed with tahini and heavy spices. It was nowhere near actual pita, and calling it that felt careless at best.

The halloumi was sliced too thin and cooked to death, leaving it rubbery, dry, and almost inedible. It lost the satisfying saltiness and squeaky bite that make halloumi such a standout when prepared correctly. The hummus, meanwhile, was bland and uninspired. No garlic punch, no lemon brightness—just a beige smear on the plate that added nothing.

The Mediterranean paella was equally lackluster: a boring pile of rice, underseasoned, unimaginative, and devoid of any of the vibrant, layered flavors that give paella life.

Then came the “shawarma,” which was not shawarma in any recognizable form. Instead, we got chunks of curry-style chicken buried under raw strips of onion. No marinade, no slow-roasted depth, no proper seasoning blend. It felt like someone Googled “chicken shawarma” once and went rogue.

The kofta was the only item that remotely tasted like what it was supposed to be—well-seasoned and grilled decently. But even that got tripped up by the sweet red sauce it was served with, which tasted eerily like spaghetti sauce. The sweetness clashed hard with the savory kofta, completely throwing off the dish’s balance.

As for the baklava cheesecake? It was neither. What arrived was a cinnamon-heavy dessert bar that more closely resembled an oatmeal cream pie than anything remotely resembling baklava or cheesecake. No phyllo, no honeyed nuttiness, no creaminess. Just confusion.

What frustrates me most isn’t just the mediocre food—it’s the complete misrepresentation. If this had been labeled Indian-fusion, or a creative interpretation of global flavors, I might’ve been more open-minded. But marketing it as Mediterranean sets expectations that were simply not met. At $100 for an à la carte meal, we expected far better.

I’m an honest reviewer. When food is good, I say so. But when it’s not, especially at this price point, I have to be equally honest. This meal was a disappointment dressed up in borrowed culinary terms. I hope the restaurant takes this as constructive feedback, because right now, it’s not delivering what it promises—not in flavor, not in identity, and definitely not in value.

To make matters worse, my partner became violently ill shortly after we left—vomiting and experiencing GI distress from both ends. That was the final nail in the coffin. We won’t...

The food was okay and a reasonable value for the money (prices are quite low). The baked feta was quite good and the paella was flavorful (just an average size bowl-full, plunked down as the waiter passed by with a “there ya go” not stopping to ask if we’d like fresh plates or anything else!). That was after we had finished our appetizers and I had to call for him from across the room to order an entree. He was very intent on not making eye contact nor coming back our table. The falafel bread had a peculiar taste, and the mint iced tea was downright bitter. The service was so bad it was laughable! I cannot remember encountering a more rude, arrogant or inattentive waiter in years. It should have been a sign that at 8 p.m. on a Saturday night this place was nearly empty. The waiter seemed annoyed that we showed up (as per our reservation). He was very brusque, effectively us know that he was not interested in going out of his way. Unfortunately the overall tenor of the dining room didn’t help in overcoming the cold shoulder routine we were getting from our so-called “server”. It was so dimly lit as to be gloomy, the entire atmosphere gave the impression that they were only half-heartedly open. When I asked if he could tell us about the Baked Feta he replied; “well what do you want to know?” After dragging a very curt answer out of him, I asked about the size of the appetizer. I simply wanted to know whether or not it would be ample enough for my wife and I to share. To this we were told; “it’s about the size of a hockey puck”. We ordered appetizers and told him we would see how filling they were, and then decide on entrees. He said he wanted to take our menus but would give them back when we needed them! We asked may we keep them; this guy actually said “no, I’ll take them and give them back to you”. There were only two other occupied table at the time, surely he didn’t need to pass them to others.! This waiter was just plain strange and he could not have been less courteous. Our experience in general was...

OMG. I went to Saj for the first time last night, and was blown away. It is a casual spot with sophistication. You can head here for a laid back night with family and little kids, or get dressed up with friends and get that perfect insta post with the neon Habibi sign! The food is anything but casual; we started with a Mezze sampler of hummus, labna, muhamara, and beetroot tahini. Everything was so delicious, and the flavors complimented each other so well. I loved the more traditional flatbread for dipping because it is lighter on the stomach, and I had more room for other food! The saffron rice is amazing alone, or mixed with a platter, salad, or dips! I ordered the Green Tahini Salad which was excellent; they warned me it was large, and oh my it was like "The Big Salad" from Seinfeld. Great for family style, however I am guilty of eating over half of it by myself! I also ordered the french fries because I love carbs, and they make for an additional way to enjoy the dips. I left the restaurant, and was so sad I forgot to order dessert. Actually forgot, because my stomach and brain were so excited about all the flavors I had just consumed. I am a vegetarian, and so the menu was amazing for those who do not eat meat. My friend ordered the gyro and said it was delicious. We brought a bottle of white wine, and they provided a bucket with ice which was wonderful. Anyway, I will be back for more, in person, and to-go because the...