Aria Mediterranean Cuisine
About
Mediterranean, Halal
Price Range : $11-30 ($$)
Location
Adress: 405 Dartmouth Ave, Swarthmore, PA 19081
Phone: (610) 543-2701
Work Hours
Business info
- list_altTakes ReservationsYes
- directions_carDeliveryYes
- move_to_inboxTake-outYes
- credit_cardAccepts Credit CardsYes
- thumb_upGood ForLunch, Dinner
- local_parkingParkingStreet
- directions_bikeBike ParkingYes
- accessibilityGood for KidsYes
- groupGood for GroupsYes
- insert_emoticonAmbienceCasual
- volume_upNoise LevelAverage
- local_barAlcoholNo
- transit_enterexitOutdoor SeatingNo
- wifiWi-FiNo
- tvHas TVYes
- fastfoodCatersYes
Reviews
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Han N.
I ordered a chicken kabob sandwich with a side of fries, and the serving size was perfect for me. Food quality was pretty good, though I would have liked my food to be served a little hotter than it was. It was only a little warmer than room temperature. They weren't heavy on the spices at all; I wouldn't have minded a little more. I love how they gave two baskets for free pita and dip. It may just be one basket for those not in a group. The room in the back for larger groups was very dim and offered fans instead of air conditioning, which is found in the front room. Staff was very friendly. Might try it as take out next time. I also learned that after your meal, you're supposed to go to the register by the front to pay for your meal - they don't bring a check to you.
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Brian P.
Take out place at best. The poor waitress was both cooking and serving and what resulted is some of the worst service I've ever had. Couldn't get water for over a half hour, parts of meal missing, food was ok. Nothing fantastic but not inedible. The table got lamb curry (not bad but no nearly as favorable as expected) fallafel salad that took forever to come out, salmon Kabob (she said it was pretty good) and A chicken Kabob sandwich all of which took about 50 minutes to come out. With other options I have for better medeteranian take out I don't think I'll ever come back here.
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Bram W.
TLDR: Mediocre food and messy kitchen.
I hate to give what is clearly a small local institution a bad review, but it is warranted.
To begin, Aria is a tiny hole in the wall. Normally, the more hole-in-the-wall an ethnic restaurant is, the better the food is. Not in the case of Aria.
The food selection was the first warning. There was no particular regional specialization, with Central Asian mantu dumplings, Greek gyros, and Indian curry alongside Levantine staples such as hummus, falafel, and baba ghanoush.
We got the mantu, the lamb curry, and the gyro. None of the food was made to order, all of it was preprepared and reheated. The mantu in particular were only warm, rather than hot. None of the food had very much depth of flavor, and the spices were basic. The pita seemed store-bought. The yogurt sauce (which seemed to serve simultaneously as raita and tzatziki) was clearly just store-bought yogurt mixed with some cucumber. Unimpressive, to say the least.
Finally, the kitchen was messy, making me concerned regarding Aria's hygiene quality. Usually, restaurant hygiene is not one of my top concerns, but this worried me.
Ethnic food doesn't have to be expensive or fancy. In fact, it's usually better the less expensive and more down-to-earth it is. However, it still needs to taste good and be prepared well. -
Elena N.
My absolute favorite place to go around Swarthmore - delicious, quick, volume of food was even enough for my 6-something-foot brother. I'd post a photo of it with this review, but we've already eaten it! :)
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Stacy P.
The owner is very friendly !!! the food is wonderful haven't bought a meal that I've been unhappy with.