Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe

This is a strange (but popular) place.
I love Greek food and seek it out, and expected to find some really great stuff here judging by the crowd. I was pretty disappointed.
The gyro I had was beef. I could have gotten lamb, but I went with beef, and I swear it was like mini-​fajita pieces. This was unlike any gyro I’ve had anywhere (including Greece).
The dolmathes were also strange. Dolmas, or dolmathes are stuffed grape leaves. Common ingredients are rice, meat, pine nuts, etc. What I got was seasoned rice. I was hoping for meat, but it was nowhere to be found. (To be fair, they never said there would be, so I was going off what I know I know there are pure-​rice versions. I was just disappointed.)
And to finish the meal off? They served it with potato chips. Really? Really?
Pass.

When in Birmingham recently for meetings, a friend took me and several others out to this café. Nice photographs from Greece on the walls, but otherwise, the atmosphere was nice and clean, but without any particular unique or ethnic sparkle. The food we ate was good, however. I had a Medit. Salad with Grilled Shrimp and Humous with Pita Chips on the side. My friend had a grilled salmon salad, and it also looked tasty. As someone else mentioned, the food was not an awesome «wow», but it was good. The wait staff was friendly and welcoming. I enjoyed it. Even though it was basically lunch time, it was not overly noisy, which made it nice for visiting with others at our table.

So I’ve always liked Taziki’s for what I basically consider «Greek lite» or Greek fast food. Everything they sell is typically fine but nothing wows me. For example, see attached pictures of my last «chicken gyro» that was super unappetizing and bland. I still like their food, I just don’t rush to get it or make a special trip.
Zoe’s is sometimes better and I definitely like the gyros at Glory Bound better.
Still, I return on occasion and it’s good and quick for groups.

Consistently excellent food — I love the salmon feast and their greek rice is the best I’ve ever had.

If you’re passing through and unsure where to go, this is your place. The dimmed light and candles on the table give this restaurant a swanky feel, without the high food prices. Similar to a Panera you order when you walk in and the food is brought to you. I was very pleased with the speed and quality of the food– some of the best Mediterranean «fast food» I have ever had. This hot spot is one you will regret missing and I highly recommend the gyro.

I’m still waiting for my food. Great atmosphere and food is EHh. But I’m still waiting for my food… oh just got it

Place was pretty tasty, don’t have much to compare it to since I’ve never had a gyro before. Even so, the lamb gyro was delicious, the hummus was great, and the grape leaves were good (not sure I’d order that again, I was expecting cold stuffed grape leaves). Anyway, I definitely want to come back and try their spicy pimento and sample another gyro. :)

Yum yum yum

The food is really delicious– I especially like the lamb gyro with tomato cucumber salad. I definitely feel healthier eating here than other fast food restaurants. My only complaint is that the prices are high, which keeps me from going more often.

The friday pasta is amazing. I have to learn how to make it myself haha. I’ve never heard of pimiento cheese, but it’s pretty amazing and I think everyone should try it. The only reason I’m not giving them five stars is cause the grape leaves are disappointing. The rice… I think they used basmati in them… was really dry. Makario’s grape leaves are much better.

A local favorite. I stop by for lunch regularly and the food is consistently good. My top picks are the chicken roll ups, pork sandwich (only one Tuesdays now) and the beef tenderloin sandwich. I also found a sweet deal — small Mediterranean salad with three strips of grilled chicken for less than $ 5!

I agree with the reviewers who say this is not authentic Mediterranean food. We were staying at the hotel in the same plaza and were tired from a day of travel so we tried this place. Meat was all very dry, the pork was almost impossible to chew! Food was also extremely salty. Especially the potatoes. Unfortunately I didn’t even think the pricing was fair. It was a bit more expensive than I was expecting to pay. We come from San Francisco area where there is much tastier Mediterranean food at a cheaper price. The plus sides are the place is very large and clean so it was nice to be able to sit down and relax.

Most consistent «fast food» in town. I like it better than many sit down places. It actually tastes Mediterranean. I get the pork tenderloin plate with the potatoes. I can’t make it taste better when I cook similar.

Taziki’s is always good, but it seems to have gotten a lot better over the last few years. I had their lamb salad; the salad was fresh and the lamb was cooked and seasoned perfectly. If you’re in the mood for dessert, you should try their chocolate cake because it’s also very delicious.

Great entrees but their sides could use work. Salmon sandwich is fantastic but the hummus did not blow me away.

Taziki’s is in the regular rotation for me and they are consistently good. My favorite menu items are:
1. The Soup — often overlooked, but this stuff is serious comfort food. They make it year-​round and I eat it even in the heat of summer. This is also my go-​to chicken soup choice when I have a head cold and soup is the only food worth eating.
2. Greek or Mediterranean salad with chicken: I love the «big salad» and their dressing yummy.
3. The Friday Special: served through the weekend.
4. The portobello mushroom-​grilled chicken sandwich: this is the Monday special. It is seriously filling.
Service here is hit and miss. Usually I am getting take our food when I am here and the wait times are strangely variable. Sometimes, when there is a long long of people ordering and the place is packed, my to-​go order comes out quickly. Yet, I have been there during off hours when the restaurant is mostly empty and had to wait an inordinate amount of time for my to-​go order. I’m not sure why this happens.

I love me some Taziki’s. These restaurants have been a Birmingham area staple for over 10 years and the quality of the food has not dipped at all during that time. This particular location is very easy to get in and out of right off Hwy 280 and has been there several years. This particular visit I had the Thursday special which is a Fish Taco done with Greek seasonings. It includes a wonderful sauce, tomatoes, and a crisp slaw that really helps the dish. All of this is wrapped in a standard tortilla.
I have never had a bad experience at any of the Taziki’s locations in town and I am please to say that is still the case after going to this location.

Had the lab it was OK. I was staying at the hotel and thought I would try it. It was just ok. I wouldn’t go back again, but then I from out of town.

The gyro I took to go and opened up in the hotel was… different. More like a steak sandwich than the usual lamb donner meat that I expect from a Greek restaurant. But it was hot and it was tasty.
Yes, they put a set of plasticware into the to go bag. Yes, they got my order right. But no, there was no tzatziki sauce to put on the gyro. What’s that about?
I did see that they sell beer. American macrobrews in bottles. How can you call yourself a Greek restaurant and not have Athens-​brewed Mythos?

Tazikis is just ok in my opinion and nothing special. I would probably not return here by choice, but wouldn’t resist it much either with good company. The food is Americanized Mediterranean and after having several items on the menu, I just did not find any of them to be very good. I’ve had Dolmas, Lamb kebobs and pitas/​hummus. Everything seems fairly healthy and prices are fair.