Yafa

We loved the food - the waiter told us the house special - a list of dishes and we ordered chicken with ancient grains, it was mouthwatering! We also ordered lamb kebab. We paired the chicken with white Lebanese wine - highly recommend. The kebab was paired with Malbec. The atmosphere was very nice. We didn’t have to do dinner reservation for 5:45 pm on Saturday but later there was a line of people waiting. Highly recommend this place!

Fantastic. Fantastic. Fantastic. Do I need to keep writing? They had a bunch of specials, like 6-8 of them. All sounded amazing. The entire menu sounds amazing. The mamas meatballs were fantastic. Great flavor in everything we ate. Artichoke salad. Handmade pasta ragu. Can’t recommend enough. Sorry about the photos I kept forgetting to take a pic before digging in

A wonderful dinner with amazing food , great service in a friendly and cozy atmosphere. The husband and wife team deliver a wonderful experience. This isn't your average " Mediterranean" food. This is a highlight of the best of the region with a nod more to the Lebanese food. We shared a wonderful spanakopita appetizer, had a perfectly cooked airline chicken breast, and melt in your lamb shank cooked to perfection, both served on a bed of freekah with almonds and cashews. Finished with baklava and a Beirut pudding with pistachio and a wonderful hint of rose water. This is a must stop in Carmel, make a reservation. It is also dog friendly.

2021 Michelin star - it's easy to see why. Second visit here. Started with Grilled pear salad a review of photos from 2022 I found we ordered it last time as well. Fresh beautiful greens with pear, candied nuts, and feta cheese. I had Mama's Kafta meatballs. Nice tender meatballs in a tart, spiced, tomato based broth that swam around and island rice topped with pomegranate seeds. Portions were substantial. Oil cloth table tops and colorful lamp made a perfect atmosphere. It's a small spot and I think the owner attends every single table, very personable and rattles off a long list of special with ease. One word to the wise: if they ask still or sparkling, be sure to say tap. Saying "still" will fetch you a $9 bottle of Saratoga mineral water.

This place is outstanding. Came in late after a long drive and Dia(not sure if I spelled it correctly) greeted my wife, dog and I with open arms. We got the lamb shank, baba ganoush, cauliflower steak and watermelon salad. Excellent! He loves dogs and made sure his water bowl was always full and brought many treats.