Best Middle Eastern Food In Pittsburgh
The diverse community and neighborhoods of the Pittsburgh region offer a marvelous variety of restaurants to enjoy the cuisine of Middle Eastern food. The atmosphere of the restaurants have a family-friendly appeal and the menus are geared to all tastes. What makes it more advantageous is a family-owned business cares about the customers — the chefs prepare authentic dishes, which are served with guests in mind and attention to the detail of a perfect meal is of utmost importance. Diners and their families who haven't experienced Middle Eastern food will be in for a unique history lesson along with a chance to try something new and develop a taste for ethnic meal preparation.
Casbah Mediterranean Kitchen & Wine Bar
229 S. Highland Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
(412) 661-5636
www.casbahpgh.com
The Casbah restaurant has a menu that will please all members of the family and it doesn't matter if its lunch, dinner or brunch, as the there will be something to please. The menu at the Casbah restaurant in Shadyside has several courses to choose from that include appetizers, soup and salad, pastas and the authentic medley of entrees which are a wide-ranging exploration of different taste buds. Each meal is dotted with seasonal components from local farms, and that attention to the community is a commitment that makes Casbah a comfortable place to take a family or to be with friends to share the ambiance of the restaurant. The entrees are a mouth-watering bonanza of flavors, but the Elysian Fields Farm Lamb Loin is a great choice, which is served with polenta, mushrooms, sweet corn, escarole and pickled mustard seeds is the perfect blend of ingredients.
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Istanbul Sofra
7600 Forbes Ave.
Pittsburgh,PA 15221
(412) 727-6693
www.istanbulsofra.com
Istanbul Sofra combines the best of both worlds with a fare of Turkish food and the lively entertainment of belly dancing. The service is excellent and the staff is prepared to give you the feeling of being a part of their family. The menu comes alive with an assortment of appetizers, soups, salads, entrees and desserts, and the beverages offer a chance to try Turkish tea, coffee and wine. The authentic entrees include a variety of kebabs, gyros, poultry, fish and vegetarian courses, and the special meal of the Sofa Mix Grill is adorned with shish kebab, adana kebab and chicken kofte gyro for the absolute Turkish food experience.
Ali Baba Restaurant
404 S. Craig St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
(412) 682-2829
www.alibabapittsburgh.com
Diners in search of authentic Middle Eastern food have to look no farther than the Ali Baba restaurant. Through the years, the ownership and staff is trying to make the dining experience a satisfying endeavor. Patrons can choose from the lunch and dinner menus and the ingredients are authentic with a wide variety of lamb, kebabs, pitas, chicken, fish, beef, salads, Kibbe and vegetarian fare.The shish kabob platter is a good choice, and there are selections of chicken, beef or lamb on a skewer along with hummus, rice and a salad. There is an ambiance of comfort at Ali Baba and seating is ample, but the overall feeling gives an aura of the dedication of excellence to make guests feel the Middle Eastern influence in the food and surroundings.
Amel's Restaurant
435 McNeilly Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15226
(412) 563-3466
www.amelsrestaurantpgh.com
Amel's restaurant is the great choice for a gathering of family and friends to experience a variety of food, and the menu has a wide variety of selections that even the kids will enjoy. There are soups, appetizers, salads, kabobs, steaks, chops, pastas, seafood, sandwiches, brunch and the Magic Carpet Ride selection that is a medley of Middle Eastern food. The Mixed Grill Kabob is a mouth-watering selection of lamb, chicken, filet mignon and shrimp that is perfect to share for those with varied tastes. The friendly atmosphere of Amel's is alive with the staff involvement who seem to enjoy serving guests and providing a memorable meal.
Kabob-G Grill
3821 Willow Ave.
Castle Shannon, PA 15234
(412) 343-3383
www.kabob-g.com
If you're looking for authentic Lebanese cuisine, then the family-owned Kabob-G Grill is the place for a relaxing dining experience. Start the culinary delight with an appetizer, side dish or a salad and soup and those choices include hummus, gyros, grape leaves and unique Lebanese dishes. There are dinners in combinations that include kabobs, chicken, lamb and filet mignon served on skewers with rice pilaf and a salad, or a selection of kabob, chicken, steak, gyro, fish and falafel sandwiches. The Lamb Shank entree is dripping with Middle Eastern tomato sauce and is served with rice pilaf and a salad, but the real treat in experiencing authentic food in a cozy environment.
Gerry Cernicky is a retired health and physical education teacher with 36 years of experience. He is a former teacher of the year and a sports writer for the Vandergrift News. He delivers podcasts, and maintains a website and blog. He currently resides in Pittsburgh. His work can be found at Examiner.com.
