Al Madina restaurant — Restaurant in Rochester

Closer to a 2.5 in terms of food quality, but the economical aspect of its pricing brings its rating up to a 3 here. Honestly most of the food here has provided my partner and I with a mid experience, with a few highlights, but for a quick bite in a place with heavy cultural components, this is still a solid establishment, especially in the city of Rochester.

My beef and lamb shawarma was overall tasty with an abundance of meat and sauces. The tabbouleh salad had way too much lemon juice which dominated the bottom, so when there was very little salad left on the plate, it quickly became extremely sour. Maybe more cucumber pieces could've helped neutralize the taste more. The baba ghanouj was pretty good with pita bread, but the consistency over time started changing and could no longer be held up in the air for some reason, maybe because it was too hot in the establishment on that day (they only had fans and no AC). My partner had the grape leaves and did not like them at all, unfortunately, but they didn't give a reason. The samosas didn't really have concrete content in them, but rather more dough-y ingredients inside. I was expecting maybe lentils, or even potatoes which would resemble a samosa more than a sambusa, but they didn't exist. My partner and I both enjoyed the bhaklava, and since one box had three pieces, we ate a total of six small pieces in two boxes. They were sweet, not too sweet, and had a good amount of pistachios while maintaining the exterior crisp.

While I personally would only recommend this establishment under certain occasions, I still think that the fact that this place exists serves the local community nicely, as when I was there, I saw lots of people coming in and out for quick bites...

Al Madina Restaurant in downtown Rochester, offers an authentic Middle Eastern dining experience that stands out for its commitment to quality and hospitality. Owned by Samar Alwanan, who brings her Iraqi heritage into every dish, the restaurant emphasizes fresh, in-house preparations, including hand-rolled dolmas made by her mother. The menu features a variety of traditional dishes such as shawarma, kebabs, falafel, and lentil soup, catering to diverse dietary preferences with vegan and gluten-free options.

The dining atmosphere is casual and welcoming, with attentive staff ensuring a pleasant experience. Signature dishes like the Al Madina Feast offer a generous assortment of meats and sides, providing a comprehensive taste of the restaurant's offerings. Customers frequently praise the flavorful food and the warm service, noting the restaurant's dedication to maintaining high standards.

Located at 101 N Broadway Ave, Al Madina is open daily from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM. They offer dine-in, takeout, and delivery options through platforms like Uber Eats and DoorDash . For those seeking authentic Middle Eastern cuisine in Rochester, Al Madina Restaurant provides a memorable and satisfying...

Wow, I was tremendously disappointed with this visit.

Sunday evening. Place was kinda busy. I saw locals inside, so I figured the food was good.

I don't want to say never again, but.... unless I can help it, I will not be back.

I service was extremely slow, the server seemed disinterested and seemed to not understand me. Not a good sign....

I ordered the beef lamb shawarma, I was immediately told it was not available.

I odered the gyro combo, with salad and drink.

Took 20 minutes to arrive.

I got discolored integrated fries (some cooked dark, some cooked light) with my meal rather than salad! Given the length of the wait for my food and the idea of sending it back was abandoned.

At least the drink was right.

The gyro pita bread fell apart when I picked up the sandwich!

What a wasted meal opportunity.

I don't know what was going on on 7/30/23 that resulted in my meal being such a bust - Maybe the staff was over worked, tired, or they just didn't like me or what, but this was the worst Mediterranean meal I have ever had.

As a visitor, I felt unwelcome, and very...