Flames Mediterranean Restaurant — Restaurant in Shreveport

Well, this was disappointing.

When we saw this restaurant open up in town, we were so excited to try it out as I absolutely love Mediterranean lamb chops with rice.

My first impression upon arriving at the restaurant was how beautiful and modern the waiting area was. They had clearly taken time to attempt to create an ambiance, which was appreciated. We were then seated at a booth and were given menus.

We took a look over the menu and pretty quickly knew what we wanted to order. I ordered the lamb chops cooked to medium. We let our waitress know about our dietary restrictions (no dairy and no egg) and she was so helpful and accommodating, bringing us different options aside from the usual appetizers. I will say that the highlight of the entire visit was the service from the waitstaff. They were kind and very attentive.

Unfortunately, that's where the positives end. When the food arrived, I tried to cut into my lamb chop only to realize that it was completely raw. No worries I thought, it's quite a simple fix. I would simply send it back to cook a bit longer.

Then someone came out of the kitchen, I'm guessing it was the owner/chef. He asked if we needed steak knives and I told him that I actually needed to send my plate back. His demeanor immediately changed from friendly to accusatory.

He asked what the issue was, and I explained that I ordered the lamb to be cooked medium but received it rare. He demanded to know whether or not I wanted to lamb to actually be medium. I responded that I did, but that what I had received was raw lamb instead, even going as far as showing him the inside of the lamb. He didn't apologize, instead he just grabbed my plate saying he would fix it.

I then heard him chastise someone in the kitchen, that person responded that they thought it was ready.

I waited a while longer and then finally was able to eat. This time what I received was well done and burnt lamb chops, each lamb chop also had been pre-cut. Which I assume was done to make sure it was cooked thoroughly. I don't personally mind, but it wasn't particularly pretty to see on my plate.

Then I tried the lamb, and my hopes were dashed. Up until that point I was trying to give them the benefit of the doubt, but the lamb was completely bland. The only flavor being hints of burnt garlic.

My husband asked for salt so that I could at least try to salvage the lamb but by that point I just wanted to go home.

We unfortunately won't be returning to...

This place is absolutely gorgeous. It really feels luxurious. And the prices felt low compared to the ambiance of the place, to be honest. The service was also incredible.

There was a piano playing, reminiscent of television and movies where there's a piano player somewhere in a high end restaurant. A nice touch for some, but for me a bit strange.

When you're seated, you're greeted with a lovely complementary trio of dips and fresh bits of bread. Very nice way to start a meal.

The menu includes various rice options, which was quite nice.

As a person with some Turkish ancestry, who has spent some of my life living overseas, I always view Mediterranean or similar cuisine outside of the actual demographic with a broader lens.i know it's not going to be exactly what I'm accustomed to, and that's fine- authenticity doesn't equate to tastiness.

So, that being said, i opted for a combination plate with rice while my companion opted for a beef and grilled vegetable plate.

I was disappointed that the meats were not as flavorful as i hoped. Also, the rice that i got was somewhat bland. I never add additional salt to an entree but it was in dire need.

My companion remarked that the grilled vegetables were underwhelming, despite their beautiful char. I tasted one and agreed. She ordered a different kind of rice which was also surprisingly bland.

Rice is at least half of the meal, which was disappointing, as she would have loved more grilled vegetables and i would have loved more meat for the price. But i can't deny we left sated, in any case.

So my verdict. It's a lovely date spot. I would consider coming again and utilizing the patio. The service and parking is good. The food is not bad by any means but not what i was expecting in...

Honestly a great gem of Persian and Mediterranean food. When I went it wasn't busy but the wait staff was great. Sia was my waitress and she recommended an amazing dish that I got word for word.

The lamb shank falls off the bone into a delicious savory broth that pairs beautifully with cranberry rice. The cranberry rices has a savory sweetness snd acidity that when you eat it with the lamb and broth, the flavors just meld together so well.

The atmosphere of the restaurant is honestly a little barren. The space isn't really being utilized to its full potential yet. It looks like the building used to host Valet and has a pretty nice front entrance and parking because of it.

There's a beautiful Persian rug on the wall as you enter the building. But once you're past the little atrium it kind of starts looking like a more generic upscaled restaurant, not bad but I think lacking in potential character. I'd love to see them push their identity a little further.

Once you enter the dining area with the bar, the character picks up a bit. The bar is absolutely gorgeous with the lighting and statues in the back and also fully stocked lol. it also looked as though there were herbs and plants lining part of the bar, it reminded me of visiting my Persian roommate's family and they'd have a mint plant growing on their countertop.

They seems to also have private dining and such and from the brief look I got at the soace it looks like its more of the general upscale, fine dining vibe. A good date spot in general with options that are pretty affordable, wbout what you'd spend at a steakhouse.

Definitely going to go there more often for my Persian...