Rotana

Fresh. Delicious. Our waitress Greer was a pro and made us feel at home. We found ourselves a new place to relax and be treated well.

The manager of this restaurant, «Steven C.», sent me a message on Unilocal!,calling me an «idiot» for the review I wrote about Rotana. The reason I know this person is the manager, is because when I called to place my order my first time ordering from them, the person who answered was a man named Steven. This was the same person that answered when I called to fix my order. I do not appreciated being called an idiot by someone that I gave money to! It is completely inappropriate an unacceptable that a manger of an establishment would call someone a name online because they didn’t write a 5 star review for their restaurant. I will NEVER be back to Rotana, and maintain my original review and photos I posted.
Beware of Rotana and the manager Steven. I hope my updated review influences enough people to not support a local business that calls customers derogatory names through the very site we use to state our opinions.

We tried Rotana because of the Groupon deal. We found a sign on the door saying that they no longer honor Groupon or Unilocal.Because we had committed to meet another couple there, we decided to stay and eat. The service was very good as was the food. But because of the duplicitous nature of them luring us there, we won’t return and I can only give them one star.

I visited Rotana Mediterranean Restaurant yesterday and will go back as my schedule allows. The restaurant was very clean and well decorated. The service I received from the young lady working was great. The food I ordered was awesome and well prepared for being cooked on a grill. Just the right amount of char, you would expect to find on any B-B-Q’ed food. I will highly recommend this to many of my friends locally. When I have family visiting from out of state next month, we will be making a visit there, so they can experience the atmosphere and delicious food they cannot get at home.

Purchased the Groupon… bad choice. My family and i were the only people in the entire place. The food was just so so. Almost gross imho. The groupon meal turned out to be very small. My husband ate the entire meal by himself. The rest of its were starving… however certainty not going to order anything rider from here. The prices were very high for the amount of food being served. Just all around a horribly idea to try this place. Will ever go back.

If I can give this place a negative star I would.
We have used their groupon/​Yelp promotion twice which was awesome. Until the 3^rd time and 4^th I became super unhappy with their service and quality of food like seriously nothing was ever the same. It’s always so crowded when we go there’s always some type of event going on. We have not ate here except to-​go every single time. There is no consistency here at this place. We loved their Greek salad but the flavor would always change or the ingredients. Or one order we would get all the fixings but shortly after on the next order I would have to remind or ask if I can have pita bread and tzatziki sauce. I’m sorry we fell in love with this place at first bite but after a few bites later I gave up, my husband loves the salad that’s why he keeps going back but I won’t not ever again!!! He can go back but I won’t.

Had a VERY helpful server telling my mother the various ingredients in dishes as it was her 1^st time eating Mediterranean. We ended up with two great dinners, Lamb kabob and chicken shawarma! Used a Groupon with no problems. Missed the live entertainment but table neighbor said they come every couple of months and it is fantastic. we’ll go back some weekend for sure.

Pretty good food. Was interested in trying some Mediterranean food. Go and check it out. I got the mixed sample platter and a few drinks. They have hukkah also if your interested in that.

OK we purchased the Groupon drove all the way up to try this place to see if they are as good as advertised. Found out at the door they do not want to honor any Groupon’s.
Who puts out a coupon and then decides not to honor it anymore?
Would it have been better to just honor the coupon instead of making the customer get back online to demand a refund?

Authentic sophisticated flavors in every bite!!! We enjoyed our generously topped feta Greek Salad followed by a fabulous Mixed Grilled Meat platter with 3 incredible sauces: garlic, tahini, and tzatziki and Rice. We immediately began our mental list of which friends we would bring back. Yes, thats right, we are planning MANY return visits… Friendly, welcoming staff helped make our first visit extra special!!! Can’t wait to go back and try the lunch specials. I’m totally hooked! GO NOW. Go tomorrow.Go this week… SO YUMMY!

The management has changed and the food was ok and it didnt even look the same as it was printed in the menu. The waiter was so rude and he denied to honor the groupon and was very very rude, they should ve stuck a flyer or informed us before dining. Also, the waiter hardly came to your table, it wasnt even busy, there were hardly couple of people dining there. Wont be going there ever and wont recommend my friends as well. The food was also undercooked and it wasn’t really mediterrenean style. Hopefully groupon can refund us the money… We ended up spending way too much and it wasnt worth it… It really ruined our dinner with my friends…

We drove to Rotana Mediterranean Grill last night for dinner in great anticipation with our $ 20 Groupon voucher, and were informed that they do not accept any coupons — apparently the ownership changed the day before, and declared they will not honor! We were really looking forward to dinner after reviewing their website, and it was quite a drive. We told them it was the only way we would have ever even known the restaurant existed, and were tempted to go somewhere else. Seems like they need the advertising b/​c at normal dinner hour [7pm] there were only two diners when we arrived. We stayed because it was getting late, but I was disappointed and upset, and advised using these coupons is one way we discover new places that we go back to if the food is good — but we would not be back because of the new owner’s ridiculous decision, and after the meal, based on the food.
Not only was the Groupon not accepted, but there were issues and we wouldn’t go back even if they had honored the deal. Our server, Steve, was pleasant and did try very hard to please us, but the food was sub-​par compared to the beautiful photos posted on their website. First, my glass of «old» wine smelled like vinegar, and he brought me another from a new bottle, which was fine. I mentioned that their photos show saffron rice on top of white rice, and was told saffron is very expensive, but that he would request half saffron rice. There was none, only thinly grated carrots on top. The grilled veggies that accompany some dishes are only tomato and onion, but he had the cook add 4 thin slices of burnt zucchini to each plate. The onion was singed on the edge, but basically raw and the tomato was black. I brought both of our onions home and cut them up to use in dinner tonight.
My grilled chicken kabob was not as pictured on the site [small succulent pieces], but huge cuts that had to be cooked too long to be done, and were totally dried out. Mike said his shrimp were okay, but they were overcooked as well, and he had the same issues about the rest of the meal.
**We were hungry and looking forward to the nice warm, puffy pita bread [usually w/​tzatziki] that is served before meals at any Greek or Mediterranean restaurant. We never got it, so after our meals were delivered, I asked about it, and we were brought cold, flat pitas – I also had to request the tzatziki that comes with most kabob meals. We noted that a table of new guests arrived as we were finishing and had baskets of fresh pita on their table before they even ordered.
Lastly, I was very warm and sweating seated in our corner, and noted they had fans running throughout the entire restaurant above all the empty tables, but not ours. I requested they turn the fans on above us – said he would, but never did.
All-​in-​all, a very disappointing dining experience.

Terrible owner, no customer service a skills. He will yell at you and doesn’t even know what he is saying. This place won’t last long this summer if he treats his customers like this. Order was wrong. At Least Steve is keeping this place afloat with his customer service skills.

Service was good
Shawarma was average. I’d’ve had much better. The kicker was $ 1.50 charge for water. Seems like the ultimate cheap move to me.

We accidentally went here last night and ended up being there on a night where they had a special show and were totally book. Despite being booked for an event the owner got us a table and was very very kind. We ended up getting to see a really cool belly dancing/​drum show that we had not even been planning on! (They do cool events every third Friday!)
Appetizers: I had the Greek salad. My partner had the baba ghanoush. The salad was huge. The baba ghanoush was super smooth and had a great smokey flavor.
Main Course: Kafta kababs and chicken kababs. Both were very good.
As we left the owner stopped us at the door to thank us for coming and asked us to come back. We had a great time. Next third Friday we will be! (We’ll make a reservation next time!)

There gyros are super good! Use Groupon to get a good deal out of them. We pay $ 10 for $ 20 deal. It’s worth the money

I purchased the $ 15 for $ 30 Unilocal deal last week, it was too amazing of a promotion to pass up.
To sum up my experience, the food was delicious, wholesome, and tasted homemade, but these positives were offset by the lack of customer service. Rotana might work better as a takeout joint for me.
Anyways with $ 30 to spend, I ordered a 3 course meal for myself:
Course 1 — Vegetarian platter
It included dolmeh, babaganouj, hummus. I swapped out tabbouleh for m’jadara, which was a savory lentil rice with caramelized onions. I had it once at Ramadan iftar, and the one at Rotana tasted the same. A little chalky, savory, texture more gritty than brown rice. The babaganouj had strong roasted eggplant flavor that made it very addictive to eat and the hummus was a great creamy and tangy dip to accompany the toasted pita (which was not served cold out of a package like at fast food joints). The hummus had a heavier garlic taste than I expected, but I did not mind, it was fresh. Here, the dolmeh were served warm, kind of odd for grape leaves which were not stuffed with meat. They’re still juicy and olive oil seemed to be its dominant flavor. The menu indicated the mezze should include falafels, but I did not receive any.
Course 2 — Kufta kebab
Very similar taste to Persian koobideh, but thankfully not overcooked like the way Persian chefs tend to do. Unfortunately, the accompanying basmati rice was a turnoff because it reminded me too much of a Persian preparation. I was disappointed since Rotana is a Lebanese restaurant. If this restaurant is serious about serving Lebanese food, they should serve kebab dishes with a traditional vermicelli/​lentil rice.
Course 3 — Rice pudding
When the rice pudding was presented in a martini glass, I didn’t think Rotana was serious about their desserts, but it turned out to be spectacular. It was very thick like Greek yogurt and had a lingering sweet floral flavor that tasted amazing with bitter ground pistachio. The rice pudding even had a small crust around the edge. This dessert tasted homemade and was very similar to the Afghan sheer birenj that I had before.
The service during my visit was not very good. I came on a Sunday night and my server was inside the kitchen for most of the time. This restaurant seemed to practice the American-​style of service, where each server is responsible for a set of tables, although another server was available he refused to take my order. Too bad the quality of service was not up to the American standards though. I think that servers should refill waters promptly and be readily available instead of camping inside the kitchen for whatever reason.

Rotana is a large Mediterranean Middle Eastern Style restaurant. They also offer an outside patio, a full bar and hookah and some weekend entertainment. They offer the largest middle eastern style menu I have ever seen. I was excited to see Muhammara (spicy red pepper walnut dip) on the menu so I had to order it. It was hard to tell what seasonings were in Rotana’s version of this dip because it was a salt bomb. All I tasted was salt and I should have sent it back. It also lacked the heat it should have. Maybe someone just slipped with the salt on that batch and hopefully it’s normally better.
Everything after the Muhammara was better.
We shared a Hot Appetizer Combo Plate. It was a big plate with lots of variety. Overall it was A-​OK. Some things were better than other things. The falafels were different and not like what I was expecting. They were shaped like donuts and were oddly bread like.
Fortunately the best plate was the Rotana Combo Plate. We had Kefta, Chicken and Filet Mignon Kabobs with long grain rice. We both thought the chicken was the best of the three kabobs because it was nicely seasoned and moist. Steak had some tough chewy parts but was nicely flavored. Garlic sauce I thought was very harsh and concentrated with flavor.
This restaurant is clean and a grade «A» Maricopa Inspection Sign is posted in the window.
Service was fine.
Parking was easy.

I’ve been eyeing this place for a long, long time. The husband and I decided to give it a try after a movie date, and ordered takeout.
They were very kind, offering us water while we waited. The restrooms are clean, although I didn’t notice any changing tables for babies.
We ordered the chicken shawarma plate, falafels and baba ganouj. The chicken was perfection, with a delicious garlic sauce (super potent! Not first date friendly, but fine for us old married people). The falafels were donut shaped, which was new to me. They were good, but I wanted some kind of sauce with them or something. The baba ganouj was ok, it could have used maybe a tad more salt?
Food is a bit on the pricier side ($ 12+) for entrees, and I think $ 6 something for the dips. Bc of the proximity to my parents house, we will prob eat here again, but not on the regular.

The place is clean and the servers are nice.
The food was a little lacking in flavor. We had Chicken kaabob, kefta, fries and rice. The chicken was good, needed more marination. The kefta was boring and the rice was horrible, old and dry. The garlic spread they use with the chicken is awesome and very very strong garlic.
I used the Unilocal deal but the meal only can to $ 22 so I have a Unilocal deal to go back. I just am not sure I will. Maybe for the live music???

We arrived on a Saturday night around 8p. The atmosphere is hip and new with middle eastern music playing softly. We were greeted immediately and seated. The staff was very nice. They did say that they do a club like vibe w music after 10 with hookahs. 5 out of 5
We ordered drinks from the bar. The pours were good and not too heavy.
The food was amazing. We ordered and appetizer and I ordered the gyro and gf got the beef shawarna. We enjoyed them both. We will be back. 5 out of 5.

If you like Mediterranean food you have to check this place out. It’s only been open for about a month. They have a great menu with a lot more items than you usually will find in a Mediterranean restaurant. Great selection of items. Another great thing about their menu is they have pictures of everything! That always helps and of course the pictures on Unilocal.Service was great, friendly and attentive.
I went there for lunch and use the $ 15 for $ 30 Unilocal coupon. What a great deal! Recommendation of the server I got the fried cheese which was wrapped in a thin pastry. I forgot what they call it was excellent. Crunchy on the outside and cheesy goodness on the inside. The hummus was also excellent. I also tried the chicken Shawarma, also good. They let me substitute Armenian Salad instead of rice. Brussel sprouts also were good. They came with walnuts because they were out of cranberries.
They have a full bar and happy hour from 3 to 7pm.
Nice décor. Last time I was in this place it was Chuy’s and it is more upscale now.

I am so glad that Rotana is open! I love their selection of food. Not many places to get Lebanese or Armenian dishes.
The hummus with chicken shawarma is fantastic.
I love the mixed grill with lamb, chicken kabob, and kafta.
The Labna dip has a hint of spice, it pairs well with any meat.
The rice is good. Comparable to most other places. It was fresh.
I ordered takeout 3 nights in a row. No complaints, my order was correct, it was a normal wait time, and each item was a good sized portion to generous.
It has been remodeled inside. Only one large booth, the rest are tables. 2 patios to enjoy this gorgeous autumn weather. They have many flavors of shisha for hookah enthusiasts. There is an area for live music inside as well, ask for details.
Looks like a full bar too.
Currently offering a Unilocal deal.
Healthy choices for kids meals also. I’ll be back many times.
Happy hour– appetizers 3pm-​6 or 7pm, I only glanced at the sign. To be updated.