Cedar

Stopped into Cedar on Monroe Ave and was seriously impressed. It’s a small Lebanese spot where the focus is clearly on the food, and they absolutely nail it. I ordered the gyro plate, which came with hummus and a Greek salad. The hummus alone deserves a mention because it was SO GOOD. Smooth, flavorful, and easily some of the best I’ve had locally. The gyro itself was excellent too, well seasoned and very satisfying. My wife went with the shawarma plate, which also came with hummus and a Greek salad, and she was just as happy with her meal. Everything tasted fresh and well prepared. Another thing worth mentioning is the portion size. Both plates were huge. This is definitely a place where you leave full and feeling like you got great value for what you paid. The setup is simple. You wa

The lamb shawarma plate came with great portion size and super tender meat, yummy hummus and veggies, and fresh bread! Great fast service and loved the meal. The cheese manakeesh was rich and filling. The zaatar manakeesh had a super strong and salty flavor fyi because of how much zaatar was on it—we ate it together with the cheese one.

I took a friend who lives in the East Ave area to lunch. He didn't even know it existed! Ceder is a great little Lebanese eatery on busy Monroe Ave and is easy to miss. There is a small parking lot in front. They have a busy takeout service but also have good, if somewhat utilitarian seating. It is counter service with the food preparation open for viewing. The menu is extensive, reasonably priced and delicious. Their large, warm and homemade pitas are a wonderful foundation for their sandwiches and appetizers. Portions are generous. A hidden gem.

This place is honestly awesome. Everything is homemade, and you can really tell from the first bite. The quality of the ingredients is so fresh, and it never disappoints. The baba ganoush is absolutely to die for — that very first bite alone is worth the visit. All the meats are incredibly flavorful and cooked just right. Just a friendly warning: go easy on the garlic unless you want to be vampire-proof for the next 24 hours! And if you’ve got room for something sweet, definitely try the baklava. What a treat. The restaurant isn’t fancy by any means, but that’s part of its charm. The food speaks for itself and takes you straight to the Mediterranean with every bite. A truly comforting and delicious experience every time.

Authentic Lebanese cuisine and it shows. So much care is taken w preparation and customer satisfaction. 11/10 experience, the food is perfectly seasoned and cooked. Would recommend to anyone wanting authentic middle eastern cuisine!