Zeina’s Cafe

What a great find right off I-​90! Wonderful staff, owners, and fantastic cuisine! The owners were big hearted, gregarious people who should be proud of this gem they have created. You will never find better chicken shawarma anywhere. Tzatziki sauce was fresh and flavorful. Treat yourself to the eggplant fries. Interesting variety of local sodas as well. If you like Mediterranean food, and even if you’ve never tried Mediterranean food, don’t pass this up!

Wonderful Lebanese cuisine along with unmatched levels of kindness, generosity and hospitality. We had hummus, baba ganouj, kafta, kibbeh, and a variety of kabobs! We also tried the eggplant fries with tatziki sauce! We finished this amazing meal with baklava and a cup of Turkish Coffee! You must try this restaurant!

Food was pretty good– especially the loaded fries. We ordered Elias’ Gyro, which was dry so we asked for Tazitki sauce but the burger and mixed gyro was yummy. Service was fast but not the friendliest.

Had a terrific lunch here. Utica has plenty of good Lebanese food, but this is GREAT Lebanese food. The kibbeh platter was large for a lunch portion, and it was delicious. The staff was very friendly and helpful. Don’t expect great ambiance, but do expect great food.

Good food. I had a Greek version of a burrito and it was very good. The fried Cauliflower is supper fantastic. Staff was very nice and welcoming.

Absolutely delicious. From Ohio but my husband is from here. His mother hadn’t heard of it. From a Lebanese family it was wonderful. Awesome people also. Thanks for the Turkish coffee!

Authentic food in a nondescript, unassuming location. High quality food. Incredibly friendly and efficient service. Feels like they are welcoming you into their home. Will definitely go back! Must do if you’re in Utica!

I love everything about Zeina’s — the owners, the space, and the food. You will not go wrong with anything you order, and Albert and Layla Zeina are the best.

My 5 star rating is for food. Solid, flavorful Lebanese fare. Very well seasoned and prepared. Started with the melt-​in-​your-​mouth eggplant fries and a complimentary bowl of lemony, light hummus & pita. I had chicken shawarma platter that came with salad & rice — everything was delicious down to the last rice grain and delectable feta crumble on my salad. Dressing had a rich wine red color and well balanced flavor. Yogurt sauce is yogurty and not so garlicky, cucumbery as a Greek tzaziki. Hubby had the mixed gyro with chicken shawarma and kafta beef — ate it all despite the sandwich being as long as a forearm. Boys had the special gyro with the fries rolled into the pita along with the chicken, lettuce tomatoes. Service was super friendly and warm.
Yes, outside area and store front a little sketchy, and the inside could use a makeover … But if you’re looking for a great family-​run hole-​in-​the-​wall offering delicious food made with love, you found it.
About 5 min off NY state thruway, just off the center of Utica.

Looks are deceiving! Drove by the place before finding it. Walking up to the door we weren’t sure… Once we got inside we saw the family cooking, we were greeted warmly and served graciously. The food was fresh, traditional and tasty. We had hummus (home made) and French fries for apps. I had the lamb gyro and my wife the beef gyro. Huge servings, great flavors, clean finish. There is seating in the back that you don’t see when you first walk in. By the time we finished, every table was full and the owners seem to know most of the customers. If you are traveling on the Thruway and passing through Utica around lunch time, get off the highway and get yourself to Zeina’s. It is so worth it.

My bf and I stopped here on the way home from Thanksgiving because the Unilocal reviews seemed really good, and they did not disappoint! The warm grape leaves were delicious and longer and thinner than I’m accustomed to, which meant the leaf-​to-​rice ration was higher and much tastier.
I got the Melissa Gyro (if I remember correctly) and it was soooo good, AND big enough for leftovers. I used to work at a Greek restaurant and Zeina’s put their gyros to shame!
Normally I’m not a huge falafel fan, but these were done just right, not dried out like some sad falafel can be. They smelled amazing too, and were fried just enough to make them crunchy without being too hard or feeling unhealthy.
The waitress was fast and friendly and the staff is clearly loved by the neighborhood, judging by the chit chat from regulars who came in. There’s local soda, too!

As a Utican, I’ve sampled Middle Eastern cuisine all over our city. The quality of the food, the sincere gratitude of Albert and his family, go way beyond any what any review can offer. Honestly while I was a bit surprised to see a perfect 5 star rating with 49 reviews anywhere on Unilocal,Zeinas easily lives up to it. Grape leaves, falafel, and amazing and friendly staff.

This place was AMAZING. We were traveling through town, needed something quick to go. We walked in and were immediately greeted as if we were family. They fed us, and sent us on our way in the best possible fashion.
Homemade labneh, hummus, grape leaves IT WAS INSANE.
Top spot for us.

Their «famous» shawrama consisted of iceberg lettuce, some ice cold pieces of marinated chicken (not off a spit like in Montréal…), a few cuts of purple onion and some tzaziki sauce in a huge pita. This was after basically forgetting the order in the first place. I can forgive them since they were quite busy. but to sort of hurry up and throw together a half-​assed shwarma pita that was ice cold is just Webster’s definition of lame. I’ll stick to way better stuff on my next trip to Canada. Get a spit and do it the right way.

Unilocal came through for us again. Driving by Utica on way home from Canada. Never would have found this fab place without Unilocal.Delicious food. Friendly people. Definitely recommend.

SO good!
If you want authentic, delicious Lebanese food this is a must try! I am Syrian and I have never tasted kefta as good as my Teta’s, until now. I normally don’t like taziki, however I asked for an additional side of it. The chicken was delicious as well. Come hungry, the wraps are huge! The people are wonderful, too! Overall, my husband and I had a great experience!

Family owned and operated this place is worth all the great reviews and then some. From the jumbo Arnold Palmer made with mint tea and fresh squeezed lemonade to the delicious baba ganoush (which I normally don’t love but really enjoyed here) and fresh made hummus. The kibbeh app was good but the lamb strips platter was outstanding. Sis liked the grape leaves I thought they were a bit too much rice but otherwise overall this was a great experience. If in utica this is a must try.

Dude. We were driving by on the the highway, Unilocaled a spot to eat… This is the real deal. The falafel is by far the healthiest I have ever had, but don’t even think that it lacks in flavor. The pita is fresh, the tahini is on point, and the Turkish coffee itself is enough to make me want to visit Utica. The waitress was super friendly too!
One of the newspaper articles on the wall says, «it feel like home more than a restaurant» — even though we’re from 300 miles away, this definitely holds true. Even after we had finished the meal, the mom (Zeina herself?) came out and served us freshly cut watermelon… Just a great experience.

There is a newspaper article on the wall with a picture of the owner with a quote that is to the effect of «We don’t want you to leave hungry.» This is accurate. All the gyros are about as big as they come and are the tastiest.
I usually eat here once a week. Sitting up at the counter to eat, I feel like I’m hanging their family’s dining room.
Great people, great food.

I travel throughout the state and Connecticut and western mass weekly. I stumbled upon this place and saw good reviews on Unilocal.Ate here a few months ago and it was excellent. You feel like family here. Awesome baba ghanouj. Gyros exceptional.
Wonderful family. Wonderful!