ALEV Mediterranean Grill — Restaurant in Rockaway

I want to talk about a few things about Alev.

The staff are very friendly professional and are clean. The place is spotless. If you call them they will spend time to explain all the menu items. They are very nice and respectful.

The food was good the two times we ordered as well as great service but it was not better than any other turkish restaurant we been too which I paid less for a larger portion. The shish kebab i find it to be undercooked but the other meats are cooked very well adana kofte and gyro (some were burnt not good to put into platter unless we ask for it)

The portions are very low in size. Like the rice and borgel should be alot more for the price they charge. I find their prices to be about 25% more than other places. The hummus is 7 dollars and it really is not alot for that price but was good (needs more olive oil only). The platters should be under 9 dollars they are 11 dollars for lunch. You get soup and soda but the portion is not enough im my opinion.

The snow really messed up everywhere but they shoveled their parking lot enough for about 6 cars or so to fit. Dine in is open now but after 4pm only. I wish they had a larger place so they can make more orders and bring down their costs. Community should support them and help them grow. I will continue to go there but not as often as I can. Its covid and we have to be careful how we spend our money.

Below is a picture of their mix platter (was expecting 1 more adana, 5 chicken kebabs and 5 shish kababs and more burgal for the price I paid) and their hummus. I wish that you put the salad on the side and make it better portion as well. :(

Good luck everyone and god bless. I give 3.5 stars but I cant...

I ended up at Alev (Turkish for “flame”) admittedly after finding out the bbq take out store nearby was closed for summer vacation. I was curious about the food and being that I am a big fan of Mediterranean food, decided to pop in. I’m glad I did! I took a gander at the menu and ordered the Chicken Shish Kebab lunch special with the Shepherd Salad (Coban Salatasi), the classic chopped salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, and parsley, tossed with EVOO, and a special blend of herbs and lemon juice. The feta cheese is $1 extra which I was not aware of, just a heads up! The lunch specials come with your choice of the red lentil soup or a salad. The salad was a no brainer on this August afternoon. They truly cook everything fresh because it was about a 10 minute wait which I did not mind. The wonderful aromas from the kitchen were making me even hungrier! Herbs and spices delicately permeated the air and I was eager to sink my teeth into that kebab! Wow, the chicken was seasoned to perfection and cooked just right- the bed of rice underneath provided a balance of flavor and texture that complemented the savory, tender meat tremendously. The lunch specials are served with fresh pita bread. (What’s the Turkish equivalent for heck yeah?!) The restaurant is modest in size and subtly decorated. There is music but it is not piped out loudly, which makes for a pleasant atmosphere in which to get get your sassy kebab groove on with grace. This is a place I have passed more times than I can count, but today I am glad I stopped in! I will definitely return to Alev. They offer free delivery, online ordering, order by phone, and table service, if you are dining...

I was eager to try this place after seeing the wonderful reviews. I have been seeking authentic Mediterranean food since I moved to the area several years ago. This cozy place did not disappoint. Very cute and clean inside, this small dining spot is big on flavor.

Our party of 7 tried several server recommended dishes. The Hibbah was delicious. Our entrees ranged from the gyro platter to the mixed chicken platter which was huge. The Chicken Adana and the Chicken gyro were both fabulous. Even my mother, with her discerning palette, enjoyed the lamb chops. I cannot rave enough about the quality of the ingredients. We were also treated by several sumptuous desserts including the pistachio baklava. The flan-like custard dessert was also top notch. The only thing not to our taste was the Turkish coffee, which I never tried before. I'm sure it was authentic but it was just not too our liking. Even the leftovers were completely gone the next day.

A few important notes, it is byob and since the restaurant is small, reservations for any party larger than 4 is a must.

I wish all the best to this locally owned authentic Turkish/Mediterranean spot. The staff was amazingly attentive to all our needs. We will definitely...