Tag Archives: Hummus

Restaurant

Ansari’s Mediterranean Grill & Lounge – Eagan, MN

Ansari’s Mediterranean Grill & Lounge, 1960 Rahncliff Ct, Eagan, MN 55122

Ansari is in the running for one of the top restaurants in Eagan, MN.  Especially for the south side of Eagan.  It is one of two or three great restaurants.

Taste of Jerusalem

The taste of Jerusalem is amazing.  Their hummus is to die for.  I had it once when it wasn’t the most incredible thing ever, but normally it is a testament to hummus.  The taste of Lebanon isn’t very good.  I assume the items prepared taste as good as those items can taste.  I just do not like eating grass very much.  I do not know what is in it, but that is what it taste like to me.

They Gyro meat is some of the best I have ever eaten.  I am generally not a huge fan, but I actually enjoyed theirs.

Ansari's Mediterranean Grill & Lounge 5

I ordered a chocolate martini as Ansari’s.  Word to the wise, this martini contains dairy.  Overall it was a good drink with a great presentation.

Ansari's Mediterranean Grill & Lounge Martini

Everything at Ansari’s has a great presentation.  They not only know how to cook, but how to display the meal.

There is a large bar area that you can sit and enjoy a drink or some food.  The belly dancer is located in the main dining area, but you can see her from the bar.  I have not been there to see the show, but the stage is always intriguing.

Ansari's Mediterranean Grill & Lounge Mojito

Great food and a great atmosphere.  It is easy to talk at this restaurant.  If you are looking for a place to take a date I would suggest Ansari’s.  If you think she will be offended by the belly dancer I suggest going early in the night apposed to later in the evening.

Get the hummus!

Restaurant, Travel

Naf Naf Grill

Naf Naf Grill – 13250 Technology Dr, Eden Prairie, MN 55344

Middle Eastern fast food – What?  Yes, that’s right, a fast food Middle Eastern restaurant in Minnesota.

Inside of Naf Naf

You get the feel of walking through a Chipotle in the layout and the way you get to build your own pita or bowl.  How it works:

Naf Naf menu

Start by choosing a pita or a bowl.  You get a pita with a bowl so unless you are planning on eating everything there I would go with the bowl.  In the bowl you can get rice, lettuce, or hummus.  The rice is amazing and the hummus is so good.  I get both.

Next the meat or vegetarian option.  You can choose between chicken or steak shawarma or Falafel.  A shawarma is a way of preparing meat on a spit and cook for an extended period of time, up to a day.  Falafels are chickpeas smash and formed into a ball and then deep-fried.  Falafels are incredible.  I highly suggest trying these.

Next add your salad and garnishes.  You can have chopped salad, purple cabbage salad, sumac onions, and/or pickles.  I have tried and like the chopped salad.  Pick your preference.

Now add your favorite sauces.  The tahini sauce is a must in my books.  They also offer a garlic sauce.  I think you would choose one or the other on these.  You can then get the green sauce s’khug or the red sauce called fire sauce.  When I asked for the hottest sauce they had they gave me the red sauce.  When I asked for hot sauce they gave me the green sauce.  I believe the red may have been hotter and I love hot sauces, but honestly the green sauce gave the whole thing a much better flavor.  They are both hot so get either one.

Side dishes:

Naf fries are kind of like American fries as apposed to French fries in that they are thin slices of potatoes.  They are cooked like French fries and not in a pan like American fries.  Overall they are the best of both worlds.  They are also very salty.  I have found them somewhat overwhelming in their saltiness at times.

Lentil soup is another option.  I have never tried it so I cannot give an opinion on this one.

Basmati rice is your third option for a side.  I can only imagine ordering this if I went with the pita instead of the bowl.  Their rice is very good.