Without skewers, cooks could not charbroil meat to juicy perfection or settle their chef-hat-verses-bandana disputes with honorable duels. Enjoy properly speared dishes with today's Groupon: for $25, you get $50 worth of Mediterranean fare and drinks at Andy's Mediterranean Grille in the Walnut Hills neighborhood. Twice voted Best of the City and Reader's Choice by Cincinnati magazine, Andy's Mediterranean Grille impresses patrons with its menu of classic Eastern Mediterranean fare, including shawarma, hummus, and tabouli. Or, satisfy a kebab craving with the shish tawook ($16). This dish, winner of the Taste of Cincinnati Best Entree award, features four skewers of marinated and charbroiled chicken breasts lovingly nestled on a bed of rice. The sea-scallop sauté serenades the palate with a medley of fresh mushrooms and veggies, including garlic, tomato, bell pepper, zucchini, and eggplant ($24). Seal your meal with a large slab of baklava ($3.50), a cup of mint tea ($2), and a few puffs on a traditional Lebanese water pipe. The Mediterranean eatery features an enclosed heated patio, live belly dancers on the weekends, and vaudevillian alpacas during the week.
Reviews
Andy's Mediterranean Grille was reviewed by Cin Weekly and the blog Veggie Option. It was also featured on WCPO channel 9. Yelpers give it an average of 3.5 stars, and CitySearchers give it an average of five stars.
- Not only is Andy's marinade delicious, his hummus perfectly creamy and tangy, and the baklava deliciously sweet and flaky - but the atmosphere at Andy's Mediterranean Grille pulls it all together. – Cin Weekly
- The meals are delicious, filling and well worth the money spent. I can hardly wait to visit again. – Veggie Option
Andy’s Mediterranean Grille
As a young Lebanese man living in Cincinnati, Andy Hajjar found himself longing for the tahini, mint, and feta flavors of his family’s home cooking. Once his mother and brother joined him in the US, the three of them decided to start a deli. Their corner establishment quickly burgeoned into an award-winning restaurant, Andy’s Mediterranean Grill, where they continue to share family recipes without asking relatives to adopt every diner first. Their talent with seasoning lamb—which they grind, chop, marinate, and even serve tartar, if a diner orders in advance—landed Andy on WCPO Channel 9, where he showed the audience how to make lamb burgers. When preparing skewers of charbroiled tenderloin, cilantro-flavored sea scallops, and flatbread pizzas, the kitchen also relies on fresh ingredients and house marinades. Diners can also sip dozens of beers or wines, including some from Lebanon, Israel, and Turkey, as they relish the old-fashioned coziness of a wood-burning stove and the modern joys of a flat-screen television. On weekend evenings, belly dancers appear, and on any evening guests can lounge on black-and-red striped cushions in the wood-paneled hookah room. The Hajjars also sell marinades, salad dressing, and Turkish coffees through Andy’s International Market, which helps customers stock the pantry in their own apartment, home, or sandcastle.
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