Sahara Cafe – Middle Eastern Dining on the West Bank

While driving my youngest to and from school, I’ve been watching folks go in and out of the Sahara Cafe for several weeks, preparing for the launch of this new restaurant on the corner of Lapalco Blvd. and Realty Dr.  Finally, they are open for business, serving traditional Middle Eastern food in Gretna. 

I met up with some friends for dinner this week and we went to check them out.  The restaurant just opened about 2 weeks ago, so the staff is still getting familiar with the finer points of the menu, but the service was outstanding and very friendly. 

Questions about the food were welcomed and we started off with a table full of appetizers so we could taste lots of different things.  Baskets of warm pita bread were quickly refilled as we made our way through grape leaves stuffed with rice and vegetables, falafel (kind of like a hush puppy, but made with ground chick peas), kibby and plates of green and black olives.

Then came the entrees, which were huge!  Here are a couple of the plates we ordered:

 
This is the Gyro Plate – spiced lamb & beef with tahini sauce, hummus and salad

Chicken Shawarma – chicken and onions, with hummus, salad and pita bread on the side

Despite our protests that we were too stuffed for dessert, the owner sent out samples of baklava for the entire table to sample….yum!

Affordable Dining

Appetizers at Sahara Cafe range from $2.99 to $12.99 (for a sample platter), while entrees are priced from $9.99 to $12.99.  Four different vegetarian platters are available for only $8.99 and the sandwiches are a bargain at less than $6 for any of them.  Kids plates are $5.99 and desserts are hard to pass up since they are all sold for $1.99.

On our way out the door, we had a chance to chat for a few minutes with the owner, who told us that he plans to add outdoor seating in the future, something that will be welcomed when the evenings are cool and pleasant again in the fall. 

I’m wishing him the best of luck in his new venture and will definitely be back soon!

The Sahara Cafe is located at 401 Realty Drive in Gretna (just off of Lapalco Blvd and 1 block from Wall Blvd).  Hours are from 8:30 am – 10:00 pm, 7 days a week.  For more information, to place an order or request a catering menu, call (504) 394-0460.

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