Pomegranate

I LOVED THIS PLACE, but I heard it was closing. so I was going to go for lunch to get my last taste of it. However, I called and was assured that it was not closing, «I don’t know why people keep saying that… we are not closing,» so I decided to pass on lunch for the moment. My friend did go for lunch that day and also asked if they were closing and was again assured that no, they were not.
The restaurant was boarded up in the next two days. I was furious and appalled.
The situation was handled in a terrible manner, and they lost out on my business as a result.
Transparency anyone?

Great food!
The beef kabob plate is highly recommended. The marinade is awesome and the kabobs come out delicious.
The babaganoush is remarkable!
The falafel sandwich is very popular in our family too.

Great cheap and fast lunch option that is tasty too.
I got the falafel wrap which had the right balance of hummus and Jerusalem salad and the falafel itself was crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. I’ve had better falafel, but I’ve also had much much worse, so this is a good, safe choice.
The interior is clean, but nothing special. Almost reminded me of a Chipotle inside. The food came out fast and hot though, so for a casual lunch, it fits the bill.

Blehhhh. This is pretty bad Mediterranean food for a number of reasons:
1) It’s overpriced. Hummus is $ 5, Sandwiches are $ 7+ and entrees are $ 11 – 12, which may not seem bad, but is for this kind of food, especially when it’s of such low calibre.
2) The hummus is underwhelming, bland, and grainy
3) Falafels are hot only half the time
4) Sandwiches are served on lavash bread that is practically rock hard
5) You have to pay for harissa, which I’m convinced is actually jarred sweet chili sauce at this place
6) (the most egregious complaint by far) THE PITA IS OUTSOURCED! It’s inexcusable to use bagged pita bread. Take the extra time to bake your own if you’re gonna charge me for it!
In general, the prices are unacceptable for the quality of the food served. Olive Mountain is similarly mediocre, but ends up being far cheaper despite its being a sit down establishment.
This place does have some saving graces. The Mo’jadara is excellent, very authentic, and a good value to boot. Salads are decent. It’s a breeze to cater with these people (in part because the prices become reasonable if you do this).
In summary: If you want Middle Eastern food badly, take the extra 15 minutes and drive to Pita Inn. If you don’t have a car, walk to Dempster and take the bus to PIta Inn. This is pedestrian at best.

Pomegranate has awesome falafel sandwiches! Crispy on the outside, tender and spiced on the inside, wrapped in an oversized wrap pita. With a drink it’s like $ 6.50. Great lunch deal! Get yourself some hot sauce on the side too.
Pom has friendly service, and they bring your meal out to you, and bus your table. Steps away from Northwestern University, it’s a nice quick lunch place between classes!

Let’s get honest: Is this the best Middle Eastern food I’ve ever eaten? Not even close! But boy, does it win hands down for being a top winner for cheap eats!
My classmates and I went looking for food in Evanston and one of them said that Pomegranate was the place to go. Being a foodie and in the mood to try something new, I went along joyfully, not knowing what to expect. What I found was a limited menu, but delightfully priced! My friends got there before me and ordered a few appetizers: Hummus, Grape Leaves, and Falafal. Very tasty and a nice warm up for dinner (we had a good size party so no problem with overeating on the appetizers).
I had the Chicken Shawarma which was well seasoned and served on a big bed of rice with grilled vegetables. It would have made sense to mix it all up, but alas, I had no interest in eat that much rice! Many of my friends took part of their food with them for lunch tomorrow… seems the portions are just right for small appetites to eat this the next day. I got out of there with my meal and a large beverage for about 12 bucks. Not too shabby!

I just discovered this place, and I’m definitely going to report back once I’ve had some of their other dishes.
But I’ve had better falafel sandwiches.

Pomegranate… a Mediterranean hidden gem in the heart of Evanston.
Not gonna lie, I had NO IDEA what kind of restaurant this was until I Unilocaled it and set foot in it. I thought the only places I could get a good chicken shawarma in the area was Olive Mountain or Cross-​Rhodes (moreso Cross-​Rhodes). This place looks so pretty and fancy on the outside that I had no idea I could get such amazing deals on food!
Chicken Shawarma and a Jerusalem Salad won y heart that night. Both served in very big portions and for less than $ 10. You place your order and give you a number, Corner Bakery styles, and they serve the food to you. Very friendly staff and pretty amazing food that won’t shred your wallet to pieces.
I…shall…return.

Pomegranate is my new go-​to for mediterranean in Evanston.
I will admit that I was intimidated by the restaurant for almost 2 years– from the outside, it looked so high class (read: expensive) that I had stayed away in favor of my other go-​to, Olive Mountain. But a friend suggested we go here a couple weeks ago and it would rock my world. First, I was taken aback by the ordering style– its a bit like Noodles and Co or Panera– you order at a register, grab your drink, and sit down. They bring your food to you and clean up the table and there is no expectation of a true tip. Perfect for a college student!
I LOVE falafel. Like, if I could make them, I’d have them with every meal. No joke. And so seeing a falafel appetizer with 6 falafel for $ 2 is an absolute delight– it’s a no brainer! They are delicious, although I will admit the first time I was served them, they were luke warm (although I much prefer this to having scalding oil come out when I bite in… which has happened at other places before).
The entrees are pretty darn good too. I had a kifta kabob the first time, which contrary to olive mountain’s shredded lamb in a pita, resembled a GIGANTIC brautwurst in the biggest pita I’ve ever seen. I had to ban any innuendo from the dinner table to be able to eat that. The second time, I had the shaved steak, which comes off of the big hunk of meat thats hanging out in plain sight– very very good, although a bit messy I will admit.
I love this place so much that I actually came here twice in a week despite having a fridge full of leftovers. Yes, it’s really THAT good. If you have a remote interest in Mediterranean food, you NEED to try Pomegranate.

Totally solid Mediterranean food just a quick walk from south campus.
First, the guy taking orders in the afternoon is ridiculously quick and good at his job. Bravo, dude. Second, this isn’t fast food — it’s cheap and you do order at the counter, but plan on a solid 10 minutes or so before your food is ready. And it’s worth it.
First visit, in which I come to know Pomegranate by name: Kifta Kabob plate. Tons of food. I’ve had better, but it was still good. It does come out in the rather unappetizing form of meat logs, but try to see past that. Surprised that I didn’t love the pita that came with it.
Second visit, in which Pomegranate dispels any previous mediocre feelings: Falafel sandwich and grape leaves were both so delicious, and the perfect amount of food for my hungry hungry tummy that forgot to eat breakfast this morning. Add a diet pepsi and I ended up spending the same here as I do at Panera, so no extra points for beating that $ 10 threshold — but maybe when my stomach isn’t eating itself it’ll be a little less, and then I’ll love Pomegranate a few dollars more.

Pomegranate is back in my good graces again! My lunch here today was simply fantastic.
First of all, this place never seems to be busy (at least whenever I go). This makes me happy because I can sit around all zombie-​like and it is so quiet and serene, unlike other options with loud patrons and/​or annoying children that make me feel all stabby. The guys that work in here are also great. Efficient and friendly service. Did I mention it is so quiet in here? My newly discovered food haven.
As for the food, not only is it delicious but it is insanely cheap. I think their chicken shawarma sandwich rivals the size of a Chipotle burrito and is only around $ 4! I ate about half of mine and will consume the other half soon. Thinking that I needed something else, I added a tabbouleh salad to my meal. How big could a $ 3 tabbouleh salad be really? It looked like more than 3 cups of tabbouleh, scooped over romaine. Bring 3 friends to share, or plan on eating a lot of it as leftovers. Yay leftovers!
Welcome back Pomegranate! I have no clue why I shunned you for so long but I will be seeing you (and that Steak in a Sack sandwich) very very soon.

I have a new crush and it’s name is Pomegranate. Actually, I think it’s turning into an obsession. I’ve been here three times this week for lunch and I don’t envision stopping anytime soon.
You know the Mexican joints that claim to have burritos the size of your head? Well, let me introduce to you the chicken shawerma sandwich that is the size of your head. This stomach stretching sandwich is filled with nice sized chunks of chicken, onions, lettuce, tomato, and tasty tahini sauce. It is all wrapped in a Lebanese style pita. I’m drooling just thinking of the leftovers in the fridge.
Let’s move on to their hummos. It is simply fantastic. The small portion is a perfect accompaniment to lunch. There is a pool of olive oil in the middle and it’s sprinkled with parsley. The pita bread is served warm and you get about four big pieces.
Their Fattoush salad is huge and filled with big chunks of tomatoes, cucumbers, and radishes. Also in the mix are onions and tiny bits of Mediterranean pickles. The dressing is tangy mix of lemon, garlic, and olive oil. All of this comes on a big bed of Romaine lettuce.
To wrap this all up, my lunch has never been over $ 10.
Cheap lunch + leftovers = happy Lori

Now that I’m working in my own neighborhood I get to try all the places I have walked past and made a mental note to visit. I came here for lunch with colleagues a few weeks ago and have been back 3 times already. The food is fresh, cheap, full of flavor, and the people that work there are very friendly.
I’ve had the falafel sandwich, which is around $ 4.00 and huge! It can easily be split with another person if you are getting sides. You do have to get tahini and hot sauce on the side for an extra charge, but, it’s not much and adds to the flavor. I’ve had the tabouleh as well, which is an absolutely gigantic portion for the price, and yummy. The hummus is very garlicky, which I like, but, if you have a meeting or date where you’re going to be in close quarters you may want to take a pass. The lentil soup gets 4 thumbs up and a serious high-​five from my coworkers, and will be the next item I try.
They have plenty of seating and I’ve never found it to be too crowded at high noon. If you are in the area and are looking for an affordable Mediterranean meal, this is the spot.

I have dined in once and ordered delivery once. On the plus side, the delivery was super quick-​about 30 min from time of order. But that scares me a little – clearly things are not made to order.
However, the food is just not that good. Both times my shish touk (chicken breast) was dry. I was choking on it. It was served on top of some rice mix that definitely came in a box-​I did not even touch that it was so gross. We had the sampler appetizer and I thought the hummus and baba ganoush were pretty good but not spectacular.
I doubt I will go back.

I am a sucker for restaurants with a name that is only word. I am also a sucker for Mediterranean food. Put the two together, and I thought we would have a winner.
Lets make no bones about it, you will leave full from Pomegranate. It might not be the tastiest meal ever, but full nonetheless. Here is what you need to know — The falafel, chicken shwarma, and steak in a sack are the best of the average options.
Here is my beef, pun intended. No feta cheese. What? No lamb gyro? What? Say it aint so. Out of principle I should never walk in but sometimes I cant pass up the good deal.
Yes, and they will charge for extra sauces if you order them at the counter. My advice to you is to ask the nice people walking around if you can get some hot sauce and more tahini. You will for sure need it. I dont think I am cheating the system either. You shouldnt charge me for what should come on the sandwich in the first place!
Also, they do not accept the
coupon and it is real bitch to get
to refund your money. I just cut my loses with the $ 2. Win some lose some.

Pomegranate isn’t the first food I think of when I have Mediterranean on the mind. I’d expect a juice bar or a fresh produce stand, but surely not falafels, hummus, and kabobs.
My get-​$ 25-​off-​a-​$ 35-​purchase
certif brought me and a dining buddy in. For a whole $ 11.07, we nom nom’ed on baba ganooj (eggplant dip), falafels, a chicken shawerma plate, lamb shish kabob, baklawa, and fancy pants Naked juice.
While Pom is no Pita Inn, the falafels were satisfying, as was the chicken. I left full and got my Mediterranean fix.
My only real gripe is that the restaurant doesn’t have any posted menus. You either have to check out the menu displayed underneath the cash registers or peruse a menu pamphlet as you wait in line, which isn’t very earth friendly. Lay out is like a Noodles & Co or Panera where you order first, pay, and your grub is brought to your table. And… I kind of feel like I just ate a lot of MSG. Dehydrated, bloated, and blobby.

Reasonably priced for the amount of food you get, although their prices are higher than the paper menus that you read in line suggest. The small plate of hummus was more than enough for two of us, except they didn’t give us enough pitas to eat it with! I had the Kifta Kabob plate — good meat and too much yellow rice, and the onions on the kabob were nearly raw.
Unfortunately, you will smell like the kitchen when you walk out — maybe take your order to go?

I don’t get all the Pomegranate hate.
The food is amazing, the service is attentive, and it’s a great place to go out to eat with friends without spending ridiculous amounts (take a hint, other places in Evanston). The seasoning they use here is spot-​on. I’ve read on here that the pita isn’t made in-house…oh, how horrid. It still is warm and yummy. No complaints.

So, I’ve been back twice since my initial review. The second time I had the falafel sandwich again — perfection. Today my entire family went there, and were somewhat disappointed. I decided to branch out and try the chicken shwarma sandwich — not great. The chicken was a bit dry, and I don’t like their tahini sauce (but in all fairness, I don’t like Pita Inn’s very much either, so I should have asked for it on the side).
My mom had the spicy chicken sandwich (I think it’s called touck or something) and her’s was dry as well. My dad had the chicken shwarma plate and they gave him a hearty portion, and he loved the veggie skewer and rice. My brother’s kifka plate was pretty good, and his jerusalem salad was huge, but not as good as he’s had in the past elsewhere. His girlfriend had the kifka sandwich and seemed to enjoy it. We also all split an order of grape leaves, and they were decent (I’ve only had them once before in California and they were horrible, so I was pleasantly surprised).
This is still a nice place to go grab lunch every once in awhile, but unfortunately it’s not good enough to be a regular destination for me. I’d rather go to Olive Mountain, drive to Pita Inn, or make my own falafels.
However, I will say that I LOVE that they serve their sandwiches on a Lebanese style pita… I’ve never been a fan of trying to shove filling into a pita pocket, so the larger and still tasty Lebanese pitas are terrific.

When Pomegranate opened in the spring of 2007, it filled a too-​long-​empty niche in downtown Evanston: cheap, tasty, counter-​service Middle Eastern food. That alone is enough to recommend it to anyone who doesn’t want to drive a few miles west to Pita Inn (and if you don’t know Pita Inn, I feel sorry for you).
I often enjoy the fattoush salad, which is probably the most flavorful and satisfying salad under $ 4 that you can find. It makes a great lighter option for a quick lunch or takeout dinner. Their hummus is also excellent, with a nice tang of lemon and garlic which many hummuses lack. Also solid choices are the «steak in a sack» and falafel sandwiches.
I consider myself a connoisseur of Chicagoland baba gannouj, and unfortunately, Pomegranate’s is poor. It is quite bland and too chunky and stringy; I prefer something pureed smoother like hummus. I also agree with another reviewer that there are better chicken shawarmas.
The cashiers and bus staff are always friendly, but the kitchen area sometimes seems disorganized. The food preparation can be frustratingly slow (typical wait times are 8 – 12 minutes), especially when there is only one person waiting.