Aladdin's Eatery

Healthy food, flawless service

I dine at Aladdin's at least twice a week. The healthy food is flavorful and the variety is awesome. My favorites are the chicken chili and the Greek Pitza. The wait staff is friendly and professional.

Part of a regional chain

Aladdin's in Akron is part of chain of Lebanese-style cafes in Ohio and a few other states. I emphasize "lebanese-style" not authenic Lebanese. Don't expect Arabic music, exotic surroundings, or flavorful food. The menu is strictly pedestrian and Anglo friendly. Smoothies, Americanized versions of Arabic specialties, and grocery store-style flatbread are served in addition to stand-by favorites like baklava pastry, stuffed grape leaves, and grilled lamb. Some disappointments: my salad was drenched in crumbled feta, completely overpowering the greens. The grilled lamb pita sandwich was tough and chewy and the "bite sized" pieces were actually so big that I could barely chew them. The service was not very speedy or attentive either. Tends to be a date restaurant on weekends. Not very gay, but the vegetarian specialties and allegedly "foreign" ambience attract sophisticated gay guys. It's OK, but not great.