Cover Photo by Pushpak Dsilva on Unsplash

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Fevzi Mediterranean Grill has two restaurants located in a rather close proximity, one in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and the other in Camden, New Jersey. 

According to the chef, the grill opened “ two years ago, before the thick of COVID”. 

The menu ranges from salad bowls, grain bowls, wraps, to desserts and more.  Each menu item is heavily influenced by Mediterranean and middle eastern cuisine. 

For instance, the grains include seasoned bulgur, quinoa, and the flavorful sauces are seasoned with traditional flavors of the culture, such as tzatziki which is a yogurt based dill-minty dip, baba ganoush which is a smoky eggplant,and tahini dip.

I ordered the Lavash Wrap, Lavash is a leavened flat bread that is native to the Middle East (Armenia and Istanbul, specifically) traditionally cooked in a tandoor (a type of oven, constructed using clay, and fueled by coal), similar to naan; and is served alongside cheese, kebab, or even stacked up and dried to be used in other recipes. Here, the Lavash was used to wrap the toothsome fillings, toppings, and sauces that were offered; which is almost reminiscent of the traditional chipotle burrito wrapping format that is followed. Here, due the fast food-chain restaurant nature of this grill, premade lavash wraps were used- which was a thin, almost translucent layer that neatly encased the textured fillings. 

The veggies section also included crisp cucumbers, juicy tomato chunks, pickled purple cabbage (my personal favorite), grape vine leaves, another traditional staple to the Mediterranean cuisine; and the succulent meat options such as the chicken kebab, chicken Gyro, and more. Upon the addition of these toppings, they were all beautifully complemented by the wide array of sauces that best suit the bold flavors of the meats, by mellowing it down with the traditional yogurt based dips. 

My wrap, specifically, consisted of the thin layer of the bread, lavash, that encased a layer of fragrant and deep flavored coarse bulgur. Then followed by a layer each of pickled onions, purple cabbage, cannellini beans, spring greens. 

Along with fresh-out-of-the fryer falafels, which possessed the perfect crisp texture, through the crunchy exterior and almost fluffy-green interior to complement the softer more mellower aspects of the wrap, and was ultimately topped with the Tzatiziki ‘sauce’.The wholesome bulgur absorbed all of the delicious minty-tzatziki, along with the greens which simply made the meal soenjoyable till the last bite. 

To end the bulky wrap on a sweet note, the pistachio baklava is a perfect dessert. 

With its buttery layers of phyllo, drenched heavily in sweet spices, sugar syrup and nutty layers, each piece of baklava is a perfect mouthful of something buttery, sweet, crisp,and delicate.
The coarse pistachio nut mixture not only provides another varying crunch, but also adds depth in flavor to the otherwise buttery tasting pastry, and cuts through the sweet-fatty layers with its savory,nutty flavors. 

Fevzi Grill is a delicious hangout spot for anyone who is looking for a quick and fresh bite to eat.  The customer service, menu offering, and location is excellent, and offers a comfortable and ambient place for diners to sit and enjoy their meals while gazing outside into the scenic downtown Philly, across the waterfront. 

Links:

Lavash – Wikipedia

Tandoor – Wikipedia

Fevzi’s Mediterranean Grill – Camden, NJ Restaurant | Menu + Delivery | Seamless

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By: Arielle Champion

Restaurant: Villa Barone

Address: 753 Haddon Ave, Collingswood, NJ 08108

Hours: Mon-Fri 11am-9pm & Sat-Sun 12pm-9pm

Price Range: $$

Valentine’s Day is finally here which means it’s the season of love, but also chaos. Stores are crowded with people buying gifts for their significant other and fancy restaurants are mostly booked for the entire day.

Luckily, there’s a little restaurant hidden in the historic New Jersey town of Collingswood. Located on Haddon Ave is an Italian restaurant named Villa Barone. Guests can dine with them indoors or out on their beautiful sidewalk patio. 

As you walk in you’re met with stunning Italian artwork and furniture throughout the room. Flowers and vines hung amongst the inner corners where the wall and ceiling meet. Dim lighting to add to their intimate atmosphere and candles placed on each table adding just the right amount of light to the tables.

The menu is about 4 pages long consisting of an appetizer, pizza, and pasta section. Each of the pages is filled with many different platters to choose from.

Some of the appetizers include Bruschetta Bread, Antipasto Caprese, and a few others. The Bruschetta Bread is homemade bread toasted and topped with roasted peppers, plum tomatoes, provolone, olive oil, and basil. Antipasto Caprese is also homemade mozzarella and tomato with spring mix, roasted red peppers, artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, and prosciutto.  

If you’re in the mood for pizza they have 5 different kinds to choose from. The pizzas range from Margherita to Americana to Napoletana. The Margherita pizza has a way of being crispy on the bottom but soft and fluffy on top. The sauce to cheese ratio is perfect and the hint of basil and parmesan is simply the cherry on top.

There are eight different pasta platters to choose from and some of the most popular include Vodka Rigatoni and Penne Tartufo. The Vodka Rigatoni has a cream sauce with prosciutto, a hint of vodka, and basil placed perfectly on top.

According to the Villa Barone website, “Villa Barone wasn’t just a place for eating and drinking: it was like home for family and friends to celebrate, reminisce and enjoy the essence of Italian life”. 

Whichever platter you choose, your taste buds will thank you. Good food and a beautiful setting make it the ideal place for a romantic dinner on Valentine’s Day.

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Where: 1003 US-1, Edison, NJ 08817

Type of Cuisine: Mexican

Outdoor Dining: Yes

Delivery: Yes

Take Out: Yes

Hours: M, T, W, F, S 11 am – 10 pm, Thurs 11 am – 11 pm, Sun 11 am – 9 pm

Price: $$

Rating: ★★★★★

Quesadillas, tacos, fajitas, and all the above. If you want authentic Mexican food, Tio Taco and Tequila is the place to dine at. Located in Edison, NJ, Tio Taco and Tequila is a  newly opened taqueria located right off the highway.

The restaurant strictly follows COVID guidelines and provides a safe atmosphere for its customers. Not only is it a safe environment but also a comfortable one. Inside, they offer booths, high tables, and seats around the bar. For those who prefer outdoor dining and are willing to brave the cold, they have two outdoor patios with a fireplace and heaters surrounding the entire area. No matter the weather, there’s a place to sit. 

You’ll get to eat comfortably and also have a large selection of famous Mexican dishes to choose from. Their menu has ten different tacos, seven fajita selections, nine appetizers, and so much more. Whether you want spicy, tangy, or sweet, there’s something to satisfy your taste buds.

Their most popular tacos are the Baja shrimp and the carne asada tacos. The Baja shrimp taco comes with your choice of blackened or fried shrimp, cabbage, pico de gallo, ranchero aioli, and lime crema. The carne asada taco is stuffed with steak, lettuce, green onion, tomatillo salsa, and queso fresco. 

During my visit, I ordered the popular carne asada tacos as well as the short rib tacos. Each of the tacos had a distinct flavor and was definitely worth the $14. The steak and ribs were cooked well done but still maintained a moist and tender texture. The mixture of different veggies and spices combined perfectly to compliment the meat used in each taco. 

While Tio’s tacos are delicious, if you’re not in the mood for tacos or quesadillas, their wings are the best option. The wings are marinated in a sweet chipotle honey glaze with avocado crema and ranchero aioli drizzled on top. You can make it a full entree by adding a side of their fajita fries. The fries are thin and crispy with a fajita seasoning sprinkled on top. 

This Mexican restaurant should be on your list of places to eat at. From the beautiful indoor setting to the unique menu, Tio Taco and Tequila is the perfect place to grab a bite to eat. Not to mention there’s a Top Golf right next door making it great for a night out with friends. 

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