Carnival Restaurant Reviews

Good middle eastern food.

Been here many times, I should have left this review years ago. My family and I love coming here. The food is delicious, lots of flavor and served by wonderful staff. Thank you Carnival for the delicious food and great service!!!

Carnival is a table service labanese restaurant located in a strip mall in Sherman oaks. Carnival had been in bussiness since 1983. If you go to Carnival at the wrong time you could wait an hour for a table.

My friend took us out for our marriage ceremony. The waitress was a horrible attitude. We used to go there with my family it was amazing service. This time it was terrible service. If she doesn't like her job she should not work there. The food was good. I will not return there.

Yes. The parking is NOT ideal, and YES, you have to wait during most meal times. Having said that, let me say that this restaurant serves some pretty tasty dishes. For starters, my wife and I share a LARGE appetizer mix of falafel, tabboule, hummus and baba ghannoush (eggplant / sesame dip), YES, we eat a LOT of each of the items with plenty to take home (a must). The falafel is warm and crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside with a LOT of flavor. Better yet, break off a piece and dip it in the hummus, add some turnip pickle into the warm soft pita bite and shove away. HUNGRY yet? You should be. The tabboule is JUST as tasty, and you can taste the roasted eggplant in just enough sesame sauce and a healthy drizzle of olive oil. Yo, vegetarians............... Go wild. This stuff is fantastic. NOT being vegetarians, we either have the daily special meal OR the lamb chops with fries. OOOPS. Did I just say "fries", I meant to say, HOME-MADE, THICK CUT potatoes, grilled to perfection and complementing the meat on your plate. Those who are adventurous and PURISTS for the Lebanese raw meat pate and cracked wheat dish, KIBBE NIYYE, Carnival serves this meal to perfection on Sundays. So, on Sundays, FORGET the la dee da brunch, go to Carnival, have the LARGE appetizer dish, the Kibbe Niyye, and a side of fries, then secretly thank me for sending you there.... BTW. Don't forget the Arak (the Lebanese version of Ouzo). A couple of shots will take care of any fears you may have about eating a raw meat dish. ENJOY.

We love mid eastern food, and friends recommended Carnival in Sherman Oaks. We ate early and the restaurant became full. We had hummus, stuffed grape leaves, salads, chicken kabobs, lamb, and a great baklava for dessert. Everything was fresh and delicious. We eat this type of food a lot, and this was the best we have had. It was so good I got a gift certificate for relatives who live nearby. Service was great and friendly. This was a real find for us, and we will return.

My boyfriend and I tried this place out for the first time and it was so delicious. We had the combination appetizer, pita burger, Greek salad, and topped it off with baklava. Every bite was amazing but there was so much food it barely looked like we ate. We had leftovers for days! The service was also wonderful. Everyone was happy to be there and the service was quick. It's a great spot for families, friends and couples.

Great Food, good atmosphere, wonderful staff and hands-down the best shawarma in town. I've never had a dish there that I didn't think was as good as it gets. Not really into Lebanese food but your friends are? Take them there and have the NY steak while your buddies gorge themselves and give you kudos for picking the best Mediterranean restaurant in the valley. Family friendly. Parking can be a bit difficult on a busy night (and every night seems to be a busy night there) but, if you look hard there is a second parking lot behind the center off Woodman Ave. Go again and again and again and...

If you like eating great food, eat this food. If you don't like eating under fluorescent lighting, get it to go like I do. I have only eaten at this restaurant once, but I have had the food to go dozens of times. The food is great food and a great value. The french fries are surprisingly amazing. The hummus, chicken and pita my mainstays and they are all fantastic. You should try it at least once.

I enjoy the food and ambiance at this restaurant. Festive treatment from the guards at the door! Good jesters! Never rush you to eat and leave. Enjoy your family and friends and eat well! Very healthy menu.

everyone seems to love it. maybe i went on a bad day?

Was not a huge eater of Lebanese food until I married my wife and now I eat it all the time. The food here is fantastic and the service is great. I love everything on the menu and have not had a bad meal there EVER! We go there and eat family style. Order a bunch of different things and everybody eats a little of everything. It brings the family together and definitely fills you up.

The carnival is a libanese restaurant. I was there with a group of french people. We have shared many platters (hummus, falafel, libanese taboule, salad, lamd, Chicken, etc...) and the food was pretty good and quite "authentic". The environment is not so nice, but this is clear that it is not a top class restaurant. The price was quite cheap for what we got (quality and quantity), and the price of drinks was good too. The staff is ok,in line with what you can expect in such place. I may go again with a group of people, but this is not a romantic place at all.

Really liked the food, the hummus, the french fries and the olive leaves are delicious. The service is also wonderful. I will definitely go back there.

The menu is a typical mid eastern one, full of tasty meals. Lamb, kabobs, various salads and more. You will find any of them cooked in a delicious way. Let me remind you that, we could hardly find a place for 4, on Sunday noon. Reasonable prices.

Have been going to Carnival for over thirty years. The best middle eastern food around. The menu is fantastic, the prices are reasonable and the customer service is superb. Their baba ghanoug, tabouli and humos are all delicious, All of their meats are cooked fresh. Their specials are so good. The Friday Special is a chicken with rice. It tastes just like my grandma's cooking once did. If you like home cooking, then this is the place.

Visited Carnival many times, food is at best always. Best Falafel, Humus, Taboule. Was back from Israel and comparing to Carnival, is rated top, second to none. Place may need some upgrade, but not at cost of their quality. Prices are very accessible, and servings huge.

Carnival used to be the go-to Middle Eastern restaurant in the Valley. It was always crowded, with lines waiting to get in. Not so any more. The food is good, but not great, and there are better restaurants of this genre a few miles away. We tried the combination platter, with one skewer of lamb, chicken and beef kofte, along with a salad and fries. The lamb was perfectly cooked and delicious. The chicken was a bit dry, and the beef kofte didn't have a lot of flavor. The fries were ordinary. The salad was good. To start we had hummus and pita. The hummus was ok. The pita tasted like it was commercially made for Trader Joe's. The staff was friendly and helpful. Maybe we just visited at a bad time, but it used to be better.

This place is one of my husband's and my favorites. Our 1st date was here back in 2011. It is not fancy, but the food is authentic, fresh and good. Since that 1st date, we've been back quite a few times. We don't live in the area, but its worth it to us to go there. The staff is friendly and helpful. My husband's Mom was Lebanese, so we get to eat dishes that she made for him growing up. No one makes moussaka like theirs. I don't cook, but I might if I had that recipe. Staff is polite and helpful.

First of all the view is fantastic dishes are very good staff works perfectly i feel lucky that we found this place this is a place for everyone i recommend it

This is one of our favorites and a regular stop for us. It is excellent! Try the baba ganoush, and kabobs. The tabouli is the best I've ever had! And if you don't mind the calories the french fries are great!!!!! All around fresh and healthy food. Great lentil soup, too. The service used to be a little iffy, but I have noticed it has improved. They enlarged the place about five years ago and it is as busy as ever. Seriously Carnival, and you can share the portions are generous. I'm always surprised when I meet someone who doesn't know about this place, because most people do and love it!

A beautiful day in Southern California and we had just seen The Getty Center in all its glory. How could it get any better? A stop at Carnival! We shared the incredible hummus which had a substance to it I'd never experienced before. We also shared the lentil soup which elevated lentils to a new level. The chicken shawarma and kafta were extraordinary. And my favorite? The tabooli salad. The service was friendly, the table large enough to comfortably accommodate a large group, and I'm sad to say I can't get there quite often enough....

Wonderful falafel, great hummus, big portions, great service. Only negative...the parking. But definitely worth the effort to walk. The daily special is very good as are the kebabs.and the lentil soup. Can't wait to go back.

This place is excellent. The food is delicious, properly prepared (I'm Armenian and I know this food), fairly priced, efficiently served. The pita is exceptional, slightly doughy and fresh, We had the lamb kebabs in pita, rice, fried potatoes, braised vegetables, feta and a relish of peppers and olives. American coffee was stout, hot and brisk--just the way you get it in the various locales in the Middle East that I've visited. I'll be back to this little gem whenever I'm in town.

We definitely ordered too much food as the portions were huge, but not complaining!! The ' small ' Mixed platter of humous and tabouleh salad was definitely enough for 4 people and very tasty.After this large starter we were unable to finish our main courses which again were large portions. A good place to go for a casual meal offering an array of reasonably priced Middle Eastern foods.

We ate lunch here with friends (all adults). The positive, there was a lot of food. The negative, the food was ok, I have had better Mediterranean food. I had the chicken shawarma sandwich. The chicken was dry, the flavor ok, but certainly not memorable. Parking--horrible. Would I go again, only if friends insisted.

When we want a hardy lunch or lunch as the main meal, we love Carnival. Usually we even split a plate - we love the chicken kababs and arab salad (cucumber, tomatoes, onion, parsley) but I've never had anything here I didn't think was delicious. Grape leaves - yum! Lamb shank, falafel, tabouli, lentil soup - all outstanding. It's a popular spot so sometimes there is a little wait to get seated, but if you come a little early or later than the lunch rush, it's usually a quick minute to get seated and the order taken. Hmm.. actually it's been a while since we were there - time to go back!

I have been coming here for years and always enjoyed the food and service ( see previous reviews). Unfortunately, I won't be returning as the service we experienced on a last visit ruined our meal. The waitress was laughing away being very attentive to customers she obviously knew, but didn't make any effort in serving us - we found it difficult to get her attention; plates not cleared,... surely, all customers deserve the same level or service?

We've been coming here for years and it is always delicious. I went with the lamb kabob and it was cooked to perfection. The salad is great with their lemon flavor. This place also has the best french fries you will ever try. Yummm!

This place has fabulous Lebanese food. We were here on a Tuesday and were able to enjoy their delicious daily special of lamb shanks. As soon as we were seated, we were served green olives, pickled radishes and pita. We didn’t wait more than five minutes before this beautiful, huge plate was placed before us. A large lamb shank was surrounded by potatoes, carrots, onions and zucchini in a delicious tomatoey sauce, and was all sitting on a bed of rice. Sheer perfection. There was so much that we were able to take half of it home for dinner the next night. Other times we have eaten here, we have had their chicken shawarma plate that comes with either rice or french fries, soup or a great tomato, cucumber, parsley salad. The restaurant is in a small strip mall with limited parking, but if you are patient, a spot will be available. Everything at Carnival is delicious. You can’t go wrong with any of their selections.

The food has no flavor and the quality is average. I was expecting so much more from an Arabic style restaurant. The experience was not a good one.

My L.A. resident brother introduced me to the Carnival some years ago on one of my trips from the "Frozen Tundra" of Wisconsin to the warm breezes of Southern California. I've eaten Mediterranean/Middle Eastern food all over the globe, and on balance, the Carnival sits atop the list -- Like the classic NY Yankees, Boston Celtics, and yes- - Green Bay Packers. The food is simple, flavorful, authentic. The owners are in a class of one - -suddenly appearing with a free bowl of this or that, and then sitting down for a chat. I note that the Carnival welcomes many varied ethnic Middle Eastern types, and they all load up with the classics, ranging from hummus to chicken shawarma- - and everything in between. The serving are uniformly mammoth- - and the "value" for your dollar is obvious. I can eat like a T-Rex, but I'm always asking for a carry-out box. Don't miss this place. It's big. It's ambiance is not posh, but who cares - - it's clean! It can be "happily noisy." And if you have to wait a bit for table, well worth it. The service from the long-time staff is flawless. It's unique in the truest sense of the word, and you WILL go back again and again and again.

This place is my Sherman Oaks secret whenever I pass through town. They have great Lebanese food, excellent hummus and baba ghanouj (they slightly burn the outside of the eggplant, giving a great "smoky" flavor note). There is one word to describe their portions, "massive". Had lamb kabobs and lamb chops, both well cooked. Home-style fries are excellent and also massive portions.

I found Carnival to be first class for Mediterranean food. Good friendly service was provided, the parking situation is a bit problematic. At one point the owner was outside directing the double parking patrons out of spaces. I think this comes with the territory, though. It's a crowded city to begin with. The food was so tasty, especially the homemade potato fries, oh so golden, tender and delicious. Lamb kabobs were bbqd nicely. I was served a massive mazza, with gracious amounts of tabouleh, homus, and some delicious smoky sauce in the middle. Not many other Mediterranean places I've been have exceeded the quality and taste of Carnival Restaurant.

Wonderful restaurant for middle eastern food in a nice atmosphere. Excellent service. Definitely worth the money.

This we be our regular stop. The food was awesome. The owner even walked around & walked our little boy around the tables with him while we enjoyed our meal. Now that is service. Their desserts are also homemade. This is a must stop for a Great Middle eastern meal.

soooo yummy ... best grape leaves & hummus outside of my family's own. delicious chicken kebabs too ...

We have eaten here for many years. Always fresh and flavorful. Lentil soup is amazing. Grape Leaves were hot and fresh...never had them hot....unbelievably good. Falafels always flavorful and good as well. Great food great service and great Value!

Wonderful restaurant in Sherman Oaks; we have eaten here many times. Personal favorites include their fresh middle eastern salads. The restaurant also includes a number of traditional Lebanese and middle eastern dishes that are excellent. The owner and his staff have also been friendly and nice.

I have been going to Carnival for years, mainly picking up, eating in the restaurant 2-3 times. The restaurant is located in a strip mall with very limited parking, with people often double-parking just to run in and pick up. The problem is that about 50% of the time, your pick up is not ready. Recently, I emailed my order two days ahead to ensure that the order was correct and to have it in writing when I wanted it ready. Well, come to find out it doesn't matter even though the website offers this as an option. My order was over a half an hour late, and food was left off. To "make up" for it, I got $2 off a $160 order and supposedly "extra" food. When I addressed these issues with the owner I was told that he doesn't normally take orders over email and just wants everyone to be happy so he gives the food out when people come in. I asked him why would there be an option like that over the website and he said it shouldn't be there and had no good reason for why some of the food was missing or why my order wasn't ready. I have waited 10 - 15 minutes before when I have ordered, but to have 40 people waiting 45 minutes at my house for food is ridiculous. In this day and age, good food is not enough, service also needs to be emphasized. I will go to Pita Kitchen, or one of the other restaurants in the area instead of this place. Not a fan.

The best Middle Eastern restaurant in the LA area. I have known Afif and the crew for more than 35 years. The quality and consistency of the food is amazing, not to mention the quantity. The place is supper clean; the food is fresh and made daily on the premises. Whenever I'm in LA there is only one place for me to eat (outside my daughter's) CARNIVAL.

We have had Armenian and Lebanese Food all of our lives in our homes. Carnival is just as good if not better than home made authentic Lebanese food. It is reasonably priced with plentiful portions. Not in an exciting location in a shopping center next to a Dale's Market in Sherman Oaks. I think most people come for the food not the ambiance. Once inside you forget where you are! I have hosted a couple of Birthday parties there - they do a great job with family size platters for parties and catering too!

My favorite restaurant for YEARS. This restaurant turned me (a post-cancer vegetarian) into a raging carnivore. After my first visit here and first taste of their shwarma, I came here every other day for months. All of my friends and family know its my favorite restaurant. And everyone knows me and treats me like family. Food: 5++++ Ambiance (for me): 5+++ Ambiance (objective, that is, for everyone else): 2.. My recommendations: The schwarma plate (I like the beef/lamb combo, but the chicken is good, also. the appetizer combo with humuus, baba ganoush, tabouli, and falafel. the moussaka (it's vegetarian). I would stay away from the fish.

Great Humus, salads, kabobs, rice, incredible french fries. Best Lamb Shanks I have ever eaten (available on Tuesdays only.) Different special every night.Also love grilled cornish hen.

Every time we visited Carnival, we were greeted by a big friendly smile and wonderful staff. The food here is prepared in the kitchen, yet feels like it was picked and cooked a world away in the Mediterranean. We love the selection and the quantities. Highly recommended.

I have eaten at this great restaurant many times. My personal favorites are their fresh middle eastern salads; you can order two or three of these or a small appetizer platter that includes a variety of the salads and make a meal of it. The restaurant also includes a number of traditional Lebanese and middle eastern dishes that are excellent. The owner and his staff have also been friendly and nice. A great find and highly recommended.

Delicious food made with fresh ingredients. It made us feel as if we were in Lebanon. We ordered some appetizers (hummus, balila, fattouch salad), kebabs and salmon. Everything was great and exceeded our expectations.

All the food here is awesome. We get dinners to go at least once a week. They have the best Shawarma and I love their french fries :)

Middle eastern and delicious

Early arrival will give you a nice table, friendly staff, the owner/chef comes out and makes sure you are enjoying what you ordered. We had the Tuesday night lamb special, beef kebobs and humos with meat and few pine nuts... The taboulleh and the french fries were excellent. overall the food and service was very good, This was my first visit but I will return.

I love middle eastern food! I visited family in the area and this was one of the top choices they selected for me. They eat here often and I know why now. Great portions and wonderful flavors. The Chicken Shawarma was perfect.

I've eaten Middle Eastern food a lot of times in a lot of different places, but this is the best. Everything's fresh, well-made and really tasty. This is Lebanese-style. the portions are large, the service is really good. Loved it! Sometimes, there's a wait--it's worth it!

I have eaten here many times - my late father-in-law really liked this place. He is now gone, so we ventured back in - the staff acts like they are doing you a favor by getting you their average (at best) food. And takeout, the guy on the phone is just a jerk. You are way better off at many competing restaurants near by

Love this place! If you like middle eastern food, you have to try their falafel! Their shish kabobs are great, hummus terrific! This place is busy but they do their best to get you in quickly. The prices are reasonable and the portions are large. We always split a meal and there's more than enough for two, plus you just have to get a plate of hummus while you're waiting for your food. Their mediterranean salad is one of my favorites also. Great food, good service.

Delicious food and huge portions. Great service and even had the owner come over and chat with us. Everyone was down to earth. Definitely recommend the Lental soup and falafel balls. Soo good

I arrived early for a dinner meeting with a few family members. Right away I was impressed with the warmth and family vibe I witnessed between the diners and the staff. While waiting I saw more than a few hugs, which put me in an anticipatory mood. I requested we be seated in the room at the back, which is quieter than the main dining room. The owner, seeing the restaurant was filling up, escorted me to our table to insure we'd get a space I wanted. Going vegetarian on this occasion, I ordered the baba ghanouj and French feta cheese. The other family members ordered a variety: kebob, labneh, salads, and the combination appetizer plate. We all shared, and in particular I enjoyed the tabouli, which had plenty of parsley and lemon juice for my taste. As other reviewers have mentioned, you will have more than enough to eat, and probably some to take home for lunch tomorrow. This is not your typical chain restaurant. It's special, and you'll be glad you went. See you there next time!

This has to be the best Lebanese restaurant in the San Fernando Valley, if not all of Los Angeles! The falafel, hummus, and shawarma are always delicious & fresh. The wait staff are friendly, attentive to your needs, & helpful when deciding in your order - the owner and the head cook come out to greet you and check in you. The prices are very reasonable and the portions are large so bring your friends or you'll enjoy lots of leftovers! Highly recommended!

While not the fancy place on the block this place serves some good grub. And a fair deal. The service, is lack luster though, the girls that work there seem to be interested in something else other than the customer! But you go in for the food and let me recommend the lental soup( spice it up with yellow peppers) the chicken shwarma and the quail! Great dishes and the amount you get for the price is well worth a visit!

TERRIBLE place!!! Menu was not so good; food was not so good. THE SERVICE WAS Terrible!!! I would not go there again if they paid me.

Authentic. Hospitable. Dining Experience. My husband and I just moved into the neighborhood and an acquaintance from the neighboring Avalon community recommended to us we HAD to check this place out... It did not disappoint. At all... The minute you walk into this establishment, you are treated like royalty and that does not even compare to the cuisine! It's insane delicious. Compliments to the chef. Never had I had more flavorful, savory hummus with hot pitas, a pickle plate with peppers and olives and the most delectable fries we have ever had... We both ordered pita sandwiches, me the pita burger, husband the shawarma and a side of cabbage salad(a small can easily feed 2 hungry adults!) When you are in the neighborhood, check this place out. WE WILL BE BACK! Thank you! Ps I took a picture of the dining room because the food speaks for itself. A must try!

This place is usually at the top of our rotation when we go out for a nice all office lunch. The Lebanese food here is really great, authentic, fresh, and tasty, and the atmosphere is inviting and fun. I almost always order the Lamb Shawarma Platter, and while I should probably strike out further into the menu, why make a change when things are working so well? The platter is made up of a massive portion of shaved Lamb meat, grilled onions and tomatoes, and rice... what else do I want in the world, really? We also usually share their massive appetizer sampler, which means plenty of Hummus, Pita Bread, Tabouili, etc. This is one of the best places to get any sort of Middle Eastern cuisine in the valley, and the specific Lebanese flavors make it so authentic. The staff is always super nice and the colorful murals on the walls contribute to the atmosphere. Tucked away in the corner of a valley strip mall, Carnival is certainly worth seeking out.

I've been frequenting this restaurant for decades and it has yet to disappoint me. The selection of food fits right within the middle-eastern style. The homemade hummus is to die for and you will wipe that plate dry with the warmed pita bread leaving nothing behind. The salads, lentil soup, and variety of kabab choices will leave you satisfied and maybe even with a to-go box. Writing this review is making me hungry. See ya there!

Delicious Middle Eastern food. Large portions, outstanding service, very tasty and well prepared. You know it's really good food when many of the patrons are from the Middle Eastern countries. A great bargain!

Tucked away in a small strip mall off Woodman, you'd easily miss this hidden gem of a restaurant. The Lebanese food is delicious and very reasonably priced. We often do take-out on nights when we're too tired to cook. Highly recommended.

Ate here twice this week while visiting LA. Fast, friendly service, good choice of specialties on the menu. The portions are very large, and the shawarma dinner was huge. We could have easily split one plate between 2 people instead of having LOTS of leftovers to take back to our hotel.

I love this place! They have the best Lamb Kebobs I've had in the Valley by far. The place gets very busy so I usually just order the food to go. If you love lamb this place is a must go.

Everytime I go to Los Angeles, I have to go to Carnival! They are the friendliest and best place for Lebanese food. Great falafels, taboli and shawarma, I also love to order the Arabic salad, fresh and light and always good! Large portions, always have to take some home, but it is never a waste to take it home, it doesn't last long before it is eaten. Yummy!

The best Middle Eastern food in LA, the owner Afif is amazing. Must try off menu item Ballela. Also they cater to me the best whole stuff lamb I have ever had.

Very good restaurant with traditional Lebanese/Sepharadic food. If you like Arabic food, you will love it. The portions are large and everything is tasty!

First time eating at this valley restaurant. We really enjoyed the variety of the combo platter. My only complaint with all the meats and chicken, no tahini or sauce of any that the food was prepared in or to add to. So a bit dry for my taste. The lamp strips had a wonderful seasoning. The house salad is very light but tasty. The hummus with mushrooms were excellent as we're the French fries and large pittas in a basket. I would recommend the place, good service So remember to ask for some side sauce AND a clean plate after appetizers for the main meal, which they never did for us. Enjoy!

Great food, very authentic, everything is freshly made, great selection of authentic Lebanese dishes. Good service.

Large menu insures everyone will find something. Friendly service and dishes large enough to share. I was with a group of 10 and we had a banquet by passing dishes around, the daily special was well received and the fries (crispy by order) were a favorite.

We went here with 35 people... sat in a small room off the main restaurant. We found the food wonderful.... The chef/owner is Lebanese and we have had many Lebanese dishes and found this restaurant to be authentic in every way. He even made a special favorite dish of raw ground beef… and it was good… If you are ever in this area stop in and try some food.. BTW the prices are very good too…

Although the wait staff is very friendly and helpful, this does not make up for just OK food. The humus platter was good. The salads were OK. My wife enjoyed the generous lamb dish. I thought the shrimp skewers were OK. The kibbeh rolls were dry. All in all, the food is just OK. The restaurant is located in a dumpy strip mall with inadequate parking, and the interior is tired. I would not return.

This place has my favorite kind of food. Traditional Lebanese. From Delicious hummus, baba ghanouj, pickled beets and other traditional dishes, this restaurant is one not to miss. I recommend trying lots of dishes and sharing. The service isn't the best, but try to make the waitresses smile as its always slammed. Quite affordable and delicious! Get ready to NOM!

I remember this Restaurant when it opened about thirty years ago or so, I have eaten there when it was one store front with a small kitchen. I kept coming back as a single person, came back when I got married, came back with my kids and still go back with my beautiful new girl friend after the divorce in short this restaurant ,the food and the owners, Afif, and Nabeel and their staff have kept me coming back for al this years. I used to see only middle Eastern clients eating there mainly Arabs and Israelis, but since ten or fifteen years ago, all kind of background customer flock in their daily and on the week ends its packed. The daily specials of the tradition Arabic food are generous and delicious , the meet is fantastic and tender, perfectly seasoned ,if its chicken beef or lamb. They also have your all American style Hamburger , great fish, just ask them not to grill it to long, unless you like it dry. If you a vegetarian , then you would be very pleased with their salads, Fatush, Tabuleh, or simple Arabic salad, and there is nothing simple about it its delicious .Dont forget the Hummos, Baba Ghenouge, and Falafel. The portions are generous ,the prices are very reasonable, and the Arabic music, is lots of fun and exotic. The only draw back, there is not enough parking all the time, but there an additional free parking just on the south side of it few yards away. Enjoy and say hi to the Chef, Afif , he is a great guy and very hospitable to all his customers. He kept the quality and high standard all those years, which is not easy in this fast changing world we live in La.

Best Italian I have had in long time will go back

After living for the past 6 years in the middle east, I have really high standards as to what can be labeled as "authentic Arabic flavor". Thanks to a friend who insisted that I try it out, we finally got to get lunch on a not so busy day. Needless to say that following my initial shock about the prices (compared of course to those in the middle east), the meat shawarma and the fried kibbeh that I had, were not only enough to feed 2 persons, but the flavors were up to par with some of the best restaurants in the Arabic world! Kudos for managing to deliver a spot on middle eastern experience. Definitely recommend it

Although the chicken was good, several of the other important dishes were disappointing, including the humus, and the tabouleh. One of my favorite dishes, the meat tartar, was not available at all.

This is the best Middle Eastern restaurant I've been to. The prices are fair, the staff was friendly, the ambiance was comfortable, and the food was great.Must try the kibbe naye and tabboule salad :)

Good basic Middle Eastern, huge portions.

For a middle east resteraunt it did not meet expectations. The salads were average, the pita was flat and not airy as you get in the middle east. The meat was a little tough especially for lamb. The dessert was was supposed to be baklava but was lacking in flavor and substance. I will not be making a return trip.

Warm welcome. Pleasant atmosphere. Great Humus. Large portions. Much to choose from. Quiet. Feels like an authentic neighborhood restaurant.

My pet peeve is small portions and high prices. Not at Carnival. Chef Afif and his staff make everyone feel at home It's my choice for break the fast after Yom Kippur. It's not Kosher but it's heavenly! Don't miss the lentil soup, tabbouleh made fresh everyday, baba ghanouj, kabobs, and those hand cut french fries. I can eat at Michelin starred restaurants but return to Carnival more often than haute cuisine. BTW great for catering. Big orders are treated generously.