Okay, so that title is a little of a stretch, but seriously folks, don't waste the time, money or the excitement over Barada Mediterranean Cuisine.
With a wicked craving for Middle Eastern food, we both found the restaurant independently, checked out the menu online and decided to spend our limited cash there. The prices on the menu online were totally reasonable - not so in person. They were at least twice as much in the restaurant. But, whatev, we said. If it's good, we can handle it.
I'm addicted to fried kibbe from a place we call Gas Station Kabob in Downriver Michigan (review coming soon). So we ordered one to compare. It was literally one. Every place I've ever gotten kibbe, there are at least a few, and with the price tag, this was not worth it. It was bland, not really crunchy. In a word: Ehh.
My guy got a ground lamb/sausage dish that the waitress kept saying was "different" and when she recommended the cheese with it and he agreed, she totally patted herself on the back and commented "I should be in sales" without a hint of sarcasm.
When it came, it was essentially a middle-eastern quesadilla. Meat stuffed into a dried out pita with tons of cheese. The green beans, which lovey just loves, were canned - still tasted tin-y and had no seasoning whatsoever, with chopped canned tomatoes. Yuck. Serious disappointment.
I got some simple chicken dish, I believe it was supposed to be the shwarma with rice. The chicken was grilled nicely, but honestly, it didn't stand out. It was a chicken breast with mushy, oily rice. I felt like it was a meal I would have gotten at Chili's or any variation there of.
On top of the food, the servers kept bickering about 4 feet away from us about how many tables each had had or not had during their shift thus far. Ours was complaining that she was not going to make any money. One way to assure a lousy tip - talk about the lousy tip you just know you're going to get. (In our defense we always tip at least 20 percent - usually more like 30 percent.) I felt like a hungry wallet, sitting and waiting to be satiated and then violated.
On the plus side my gimlet and the hon's gin and tonic were quite strong. We should have gone with his urge to book it after the appetizer to hit up some pita hut. It was an expensive lesson to learn. Don't make the same mistake.
Special note to server lady: People can hear you. I know you can complain about shit if you need to. Just don't do it while your patrons are seated right there. That's what the kitchen is for. I will never go back to this place, to give the food a second chance, because of you. Other server lady, don't try to get us to commiserate with you against our server.
Summary:
Flavor: Forget it. Remember those fake store fronts in fake old West towns - if they had a flavor it would have been this. (Looked like it should taste good, but blown over in one gust)
Prices: Um, we paid $60 for 2 meals and 2 drinks (as in one each). Had this been good, or the service had been remarkable, that would have been reasonable. It wasn't.
Ambiance/service: Ridiculous. Once the "big spenders" came in, we no longer existed. Kept hearing the servers complain about each other and bickering about tables.
Location: 5215 Monroe St. in Toledo, Ohio
Website: Menu can be found at http://www.allmenus.com/menus/60130/Barada-Mediterranean-Cuisine
With a wicked craving for Middle Eastern food, we both found the restaurant independently, checked out the menu online and decided to spend our limited cash there. The prices on the menu online were totally reasonable - not so in person. They were at least twice as much in the restaurant. But, whatev, we said. If it's good, we can handle it.
I'm addicted to fried kibbe from a place we call Gas Station Kabob in Downriver Michigan (review coming soon). So we ordered one to compare. It was literally one. Every place I've ever gotten kibbe, there are at least a few, and with the price tag, this was not worth it. It was bland, not really crunchy. In a word: Ehh.
My guy got a ground lamb/sausage dish that the waitress kept saying was "different" and when she recommended the cheese with it and he agreed, she totally patted herself on the back and commented "I should be in sales" without a hint of sarcasm.
When it came, it was essentially a middle-eastern quesadilla. Meat stuffed into a dried out pita with tons of cheese. The green beans, which lovey just loves, were canned - still tasted tin-y and had no seasoning whatsoever, with chopped canned tomatoes. Yuck. Serious disappointment.
I got some simple chicken dish, I believe it was supposed to be the shwarma with rice. The chicken was grilled nicely, but honestly, it didn't stand out. It was a chicken breast with mushy, oily rice. I felt like it was a meal I would have gotten at Chili's or any variation there of.
On top of the food, the servers kept bickering about 4 feet away from us about how many tables each had had or not had during their shift thus far. Ours was complaining that she was not going to make any money. One way to assure a lousy tip - talk about the lousy tip you just know you're going to get. (In our defense we always tip at least 20 percent - usually more like 30 percent.) I felt like a hungry wallet, sitting and waiting to be satiated and then violated.
On the plus side my gimlet and the hon's gin and tonic were quite strong. We should have gone with his urge to book it after the appetizer to hit up some pita hut. It was an expensive lesson to learn. Don't make the same mistake.
Special note to server lady: People can hear you. I know you can complain about shit if you need to. Just don't do it while your patrons are seated right there. That's what the kitchen is for. I will never go back to this place, to give the food a second chance, because of you. Other server lady, don't try to get us to commiserate with you against our server.
Summary:
Flavor: Forget it. Remember those fake store fronts in fake old West towns - if they had a flavor it would have been this. (Looked like it should taste good, but blown over in one gust)
Prices: Um, we paid $60 for 2 meals and 2 drinks (as in one each). Had this been good, or the service had been remarkable, that would have been reasonable. It wasn't.
Ambiance/service: Ridiculous. Once the "big spenders" came in, we no longer existed. Kept hearing the servers complain about each other and bickering about tables.
Location: 5215 Monroe St. in Toledo, Ohio
Website: Menu can be found at http://www.allmenus.com/menus/60130/Barada-Mediterranean-Cuisine
