Cafe Hummus Restaurant Review

The other day, I needed a day off from work.  Sometimes things just pile up and a break is needed.  One day, that’s all. Just enough to clear the head, maintain perspective and get stuff done at home that you really don’t want to do on the weekend.   It was on this particular day, Ted suggested we try a new place in town, very close to home, offering Mediterranean cuisine, specifically Greek – Turkish flavors for the usual foods we find around Utica but so used to having a Lebanese flare.  This lunch was different.

We perused the menu of many options.

While Ted enjoyed a beer.  Always a plus when a restaurant opens with a liquor license in place.

We started with the hummus and pita bread.  The hummus was very mild, and drizzled with a paprika oil.

Tabouleh was offered as a sample for us to try.

These appetizers were both different from what we were used to by way of hummus and tabouleh.  The hummus was creamier, less garlicky, and very mild in comparison.  There were assorted hummus flavors to choose from but we went traditional.   Although the pita bread is purchased from Karams Bakery (as is most pita bread from local restaurants), Cafe Hummus add a little of their own personal style to it.  Very good and served warm.

The tabouleh was light on the parsley, tomato and other colorful herbs and vegetables.  It was more bulgur wheat, lemon flavors, but still refreshing.  

Love these plates!

We chatted a bit with both the owner and our waitress.  Very friendly staff, exhibiting so much pride in their restaurant, the food, and heritage.  All bread is fresh. All vegetables are only kept for two days before replacing with fresh, local produce, and you can taste this in the salads.

Our lunches arrived lickety-split

Ted enjoyed a choban chicken salad.  Tender marinated chicken in a flavorful, not overpowering marinade.  Fresh cucumber, tomato, pepper in a light vinaigrette.

I had the warm grilled shrimp salad.  Five tender shrimp, grilled to perfection, on top of fresh mixed greens, thin sliced cucumber, thin sliced tomato wedges, with the house vinaigrette (oil, lemon, herbs, pomegranate essence) and I asked for crumbled feta on the side.   This was the best shrimp salad I’ve had in a very, very long time.

As you’ve probably determined, we enjoyed our experience at Cafe Hummus.  We arrived at 12:40, there were 3 tables of customers, we decided to dine at the bar.  Served immediately. Service, food, prices, all good.  We’ll be back to eat again. Count on it.

Have you tried any new restaurants lately? What’s your favorite cuisine?