Aladdin's Grill in Revere: Tasty Hummus to Kebabs

Located in an unassuming building on Squire Road (Route 60) in Revere, not far from Esposito Bakery, Aladdin's Grill offers delicious Mediterranean & Middle Eastern dishes. You might drive by it without a second glance but that would be a mistake. It isn't a place that seems to garner much publicity yet it's a worthy destination. Quality food, excellent service, and reasonable prices.

Aladdin's Grill, which is small, clean, and casual, is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner. At Breakfast, you can order items such as Omelets, Shakshouka, and Ful Medames (a Lebanese dish of favs beans). For lunch and dinner, the menu includes Appetizers ($5.50-$11.99) such as Tabouleh, Baba Ghanounj, and Grape Leaves; Lunch Sandwiches ($9.99), such as Shawarma, Kebab, or Falafel, served on a 7 inch pita or gyro bread; Dinner Sandwiches ($12.50), served on a 10 inch pita or gyro bread with French fries; Entrees ($14.50-$19.99) such as Shawarma, Kebab, Falafel, and Vegetarian; Daily Specials ($24.99 each) such as Lamb Shank, Lamb Chops, Chicken Tagine, and Salmon; Soup, Sides & Salads; and Desserts ($4.99-$5.50) such as Baklava and Kenafa.

I've dined there a few times and have been impressed with what I've experienced. I will definitely be returning to check out more of their menu, and am especially interested in tasting items from their breakfast menu.

You can start your lunch or dinner with an appetizer or two, such as their Hummus ($6.99), which is topped by olive oil. It is creamy, flavorful and full of garlic, a delicious appetizer.

With the hummus, and as an accompaniment to many other dishes too, you'll receive a basket of warm, fresh pita bread. And if you need more pita, all you have to do is ask and they will gladly bring more to your table. For the hummus, I definitely needed a second basket of pita. 

Another appealing appetizer is the Falafel ($6.50), topped by tahini sauce, and with a crispy coating and a "meatier" interior. The combination of the falafel and tahini is a delight, and these would make an excellent filling for a pita sandwich too.

The Lamb Kebab Sandwich (Dinner size, $12.50), like most of the sandwiches, usually contains meat, lettuce, onions, peppers and tahini sauce. The lamb was tender, plentiful and flavorful, the pita fresh and soft, and the fries were crisp. In some restaurants, the lamb can be tough or fatty, but that is definitely not the case here. 

The Lamb Kebab entree ($14.50), covered by Tahini sauce, is accompanied by a mound of yellow rice. Again, the lamb was tender and flavorful, enhanced by the tahini, and I was very satisfied with this dish. You also get a basket of pita bread, which you can dip in the tahini, or even make a little sandwich with the lamb. 

The Beef Shawarma ($14.50), which is usually topped by tahini sauce, is also accompanied by yellow rice and a basket of pita bread. For this dish, I got the tahini on the side, wanting to experience the beef with and without the sauce. The beef was tender and tasty, good on its own though the tahini elevated the dish. 

Service was excellent, attentive without being obtrusive, and you feel quite welcomed while you dine there. The food tastes fresh, is prepared well, and prices are reasonable for the quality and quantity you receive. Aladdin's Grill is certainly one of the best restaurant options in that area of Squire Road and I strongly recommend you check it out. And maybe I'll see you there.