La Shish Greek & Lebanese Cafe

We go to La Shish whenever we get a opportunity! I always get the Lentil Soup w/ Spinach as my App. and follow it up with the fruit salad that is so sweet and refreshing. The soup is light w/ lemon and not heavy which is wonderful on the waist as I do not feel bloated as most lentil soups. The fruit salad (make sure you get the small...because they give you A LOT!) There is pineapple, kiwi, strawberries, melon,grapes with a homeade greek yogurt, walnuts and drizzled with honey. It makes a wonderful ending to the meal as it is sweet and refreshing! I would recommend this cafe to everyone. Also, the prices are very reasonable. You cannot miss on anything you order at this wonderful place.

Pros: Wonderful Food

Cons: What draw backs?

La Shish has been my favorite restaurant in Cary for about three years. It is run by a very vivacious couple, whom I have enjoyed getting to know, and sometimes I go there for conversation as much as for food. Negative remarks about service in some of the reviews probably relate to the owner's getting involved in conversations with other customers, or, more rarely, just getting distracted, but she nevertheless manages to serve all meals, when I am there, within five to ten minutes. I am amazed at her efficiency, and, if you do feel neglected, it is all right to interrupt her. It is a small restaurant and one may feel almost as though eating in a home. Sometimes the owner is not there and others may be serving, in which case service is good, just not as exciting.

Then there is the food. There are a number of original salads that are freshly prepared and delicious. The usual Mediterranean food is excellent - my favorites are shawarma lavash and spanakopita. But there are also original creations that I highly recommend - the linguini from fresh extrusions, spinach, garlic, basil, or black pepper flavored. The pasta is served with Lebanese, not Italian, toppings, and is a unique experience. My favorite is Mediterranean chicken with black pepper pasta, but the pasta also can be served with steak kabob, or vegetarian with basil and pine nuts.

I do not care a lot for sweets and usually do not eat dessert. But once I tried the home-made tiramisu, which I like with the excellent Turkish coffee, I became a fan. Sometimes I go just for tiramisu and coffee. A couple times when there was no tiramisu - it has to be made fresh every day, and some days there is not time - I have been so frustrated that I have gone to other high class restaurants to get some tiramisu. But it has not been the same. I do not know whether I can ever leave Cary, and not be able to have tiramisu at La Shish.

Pros: freshly prepared, flavorful food, best Tiramisu ever

Cons: Tiramisu not always available

I can't say enough good things about La Shish, the food is amazing. The owner is friendly and inviting, you will feel right at home in this cozy little restaurant.

Pros: Great Menu, Friendly Staff

I have eaten at this restaurant on many occasions. I have never received bad food nor bad service and usually get a pretty good conversation and a good glass of wine. I have always enjoyed myself and truly to believe it to be the best Mediterranean in the Triangle.

Pros: Excellent Food, Special Orders, Amazing Staff

Cons: Some would say Price (you get what you pay for in this case)

On the great reviews written here I decided to try La Shish for lunch. I had a small bowl of lentil soup, tiny spinach salad and average sized Gyro. The Soup was just lentals, water and curry powder, the spinch salad did not have bacon in, instead sort of over-ripe avacados and a f ew mushrooms and a dressing that didn't seem to fit the salad. then the gyro has about 2 OZ of meat in it, it tasted fresh but the pita was simple a store bought wheat pita. this meal would have been worth $7 many $8, instead it cost $15! I left hungry and will not return. the owner is quite pleasant but she didn't even offer me a little humus and some pita. prior to the dinner. Save your money and go to Bab ghanoui in Durham corner of 55 and 54. Their buffet only cost $9 and has 10 times the authentic flavor.

Pros: fresh, hand made enviornmentaly contentious

Cons: Price

The gyros meat had very little flavor, very small order of french fries, the only waitress carried on a long conversation on the phone, they charge $1.75 for each small glass of coke

Pros: none

Cons: very average food, below average service,

I've been making and eating med food for 20 years. The food quality and prepartion at La Shish is great. I ate there with my eight year old and my girlfriend, we go the spanikopita, gyro, shwarma, an appetizer sampler and baklava for dessert. I'm typically able to pick something out that was sub-par or inauthentic but I am not able to do that for LaShish. The only thing that I would say, and I discussed this with the staff there, is that the kids menu is chicken nuggets and french fries or a grill cheese pita. While I understand this approach, I wish there were better selections (authentic) for kids to provide a better introduction to med food. My eight year old ordered the nuggets, of course, fearing the med selections, but ended up eating my schwarma and gryo meat.

All in all its a great place, and when I want med, its where I want to go, even though I live in north Raleigh, at least a good 30 minutes away.

Pros: excellent service

Cons: i wish it wasn't in Cary

I visited La Shish with a friend of mine after I met the owners of La Shish. I loved the humus and my friend, who is a vegetarian, loved La Shish also. It is a great place to celebrate or to just get together with old friends. By the way, the owners care about their customers and love people.

Pros: Great food, great service, great owners

Cons: none

I've been to this restaurant several times because it's close to my office and I truly enjoy the food (though you don't receive very much of it for the prices you pay), however I'm not sure if I plan on going back. I'm not sure if the owner (I think she's the owner) was in a bad mood during my last visit, however she provided extremely substandard service to my party. We were very nice and kind, yet she never came to check on us, when we went up to the counter (after being left alone for thirty plus minutes), she seemed annoyed (even though I was nice) and when I ordered tiramisu she looked put out and came back saying "sorry, it's not thawed yet." We were nice about it, but she acted as though we did something to offend her. Perhaps she was having an off day (because she was nicer the time before), but I wasn't pleased with her level of service at all. And, the prices are too high for what you receive in return.

Pros: great Tiramisu and hummus

Cons: not very good service and too pricey for amount of food

The new menu at LaShiSh tops the old one, and I didn't think that was possible! The owner is putting her personal flair and knowledge of fine Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine into all her dishes. Often she personally serves you. Savor the delicious kofta kebabs -- they have just the right amount of fresh parsley. Tzaziki makes an excellent side.
Everything is fresh. Try the freshly-squeezed, iced orange juice. The salads are perfect. You can order anything and be delighted. The prices are reasonable, and the decor is tasteful and artistic. Enjoy!

Pros: Authentic menu, exquisitely prepared

Oustanding. Certainly you could spend more. But no matter how much you pay, you cannot take the decor home with you. Everything at Lashish is nicely prepared. The offerings always have appealing flavor with an attractive presentation. The hummus is the best I've ever had. Ditto for the spanakopita?and the soups are excellent.

The cook has great skill: she's rather an artist. Lashish's owner is usually there, a very good thing in this age of remote, unconcerned management. There's good variety on the menu, so almost everyone can leave happy and fulfilled. The place is small, but I've never had a long wait for seating or service.

If all the corporate-controlled food warehouse restaurants were replaced with small, locally-owned, conscientiously operated places like Lashish, we'd enjoy a much higher standard eating out as well as a more sound economy with more fulfilling opportunities for employment.

Pros: location, excellent food & service, easy parking, wonderful staff

Cons: I can't walk to it.

My husband and I have become regulars in the year since we first discovered this small, casual, cozy restaurant that is hidden away in the Reedy Creek shopping center in Cary. We tend to go on weeknights or Saturdays for lunch when it is not quite so busy, which gives us the opportunity to visit with the lovely owner who is generally the waitress - this is the type of place where it is like a visit with friends.

We have enjoyed everything we have tried on the menu. Favorite lunch is a Chicken Pesto Wrap combo with hummus. The hummus is the creamiest and the bright, fresh taste of the basil comes through in the wrap. Favorite dinner is the Spanikopita which perfectly balances the cheese and spinach. Portion sizes are filling but might leave you room for dessert ? which given the Tiramisu is a very good thing. The rice pudding and baklava are tasty too.

All in all, La Shish is a friendly restaurant, with fresh, well prepared food.

Pros: friendly service and good food

Cons: busy on weekend nights

This is one of our absolute favorite places. We've only been for supper, but I think I've tried everything on the menu at least once. The owner has always served as our waitress as well, and she is incredibly sweet and helpful. They don't advertise it anywhere, but once when we were talking with her she mentioned that a lot of their groceries are organic. It's a nice little independently-run place and the food is prepared fresh in the store by their chef.
The menu has a good variety and offers some great combination platters. You'll get a full meal no matter what you order.
It's funny because even though the entire rest of the menu is Greek/Lebanese, the tiramisu is absolutely amazing. It seems so random and out of place on the menu but it's better than any Italian-restaurant/bakery tiramisu I've ever had.

Pros: Fresh and authentic, good variety of food, personal service, gorgeous decor

Cons: Should definitely expand to a larger location outside of a strip mall

I've had a hankerin' for a good gyro lately. I had one last week that was merely OK, so I was hoping this would be better - and it was. A little pricey, but worth it. We got a 2 person sampler and I got the gyro added on . We liked everything on the sampler, especially the beef and chicken shawarma. Neither my wife nor I were particularly thrilled with the orange blossom flavor in the iced tea and lemonade. It's different, I'll give it that, but we found it distracting and slightly off-putting. My gyro was big and loaded with moist lamb, had nice red onion and a good tzatziki sauce. We split a piece of baklava for dessert after reading good reviews, but I found it way too dry. Service was pleasant. Total came to about $45 pre-tip, which isn't too bad given the amount of food.

as we were driving through cary we spotted this small restaurant. we were surprised to find this place and only went in because we thought it was part of the michigan chain. although it is not part of the chain, the food was still amazing. the waitress was very friendly and made good conversation. my dad, a picky expert on middle eastern food, had very few complaints (which is a great compliment). it was a little pricier than we expected. for the two of us, no dessert, it came to about 35. which isn't too bad, but definitely more that other middle eastern restaurants in the area.
its a little dark inside, but decorated in a cozy, yet stylish way.
because i am a vegetarian, i am often forced to pick "sample platters" at middle eastern restaurants. although i had something similar to that at la shish, i got a lot of food and it was all really, really good. my dad's chicken, he said, was prepared well.
it was a very good experience and i would definitely recommend this restaurant.

My husband and I just had dinner and it was excellent! From the appetizer to dessert; everything was delicious. Even the grape leaves. I usually don?t like them but they were very good. Now I can say I like grape leaves =)

Pros: Food and service

Cons: The bathroom needs a little clean up.

My husband and I had dinner at La Shish for the first time this week and we loved it. It's a small, but charming restaurant with excellent service and wonderful food for a reasonable price. We had appetizers, two full entrees, and two desserts for under $45.00

Some highlights include the beef shawarma and the stuffed grape leaves, but everything was delicious. The portions are substantial and well seasoned is great. I would recommend asking for extra lemon on the chicken shawarma. Aside from that, everything was seasoned perfectly. The desserts were great too.

Pros: great value, wonderful food, welcoming atmosphere

Cons: small restaurant

This is one of our favorite local restaurants in Cary. The food is consistently good with good portion sizes and flavour. (not huge portions, but filling).

Pros: Great Mediterranean Food, parking, service

Cons: closed sundays?

the new management has done wonders with this restaurant, changing it from a dingy hole in the wall type place into a romantic middle eastern cafe. I recommend the spanakopita.

Pros: great food, not over-crowded, quiet and serene atmosphere

Cons: location

I've read the reviews here and decided to give this place a try, based on the fact that they serve Turkish Coffee, which is a rare commodity in this area. Well, I arrive and am greeted as soon as I walk through the door by a lovely and friendly staff. I ordered a Spanakopita, Gyro, Baklava, and of course, Turkish coffee, which were all prepared very well. Mid way through my meal, the chef comes out to ask how everything was. I came to find out that he and his wife are the new owners of this establishment. They took over 3 weeks ago and had put considerable time into updating the dining area, to look like a mediteranian bistro and had soothing music playing gently in the background. Overall, I was very pleased with my experience and will become a regular there, if solely based upon the Turkish Coffee, let alone the food.

Pros: Friendly staff, very good food, and of course Turkish Coffee!!!

Cons: limited dining area, which they are expanding, so get there early

Refused to allow more than $5.00 off instead of the whole $8 the Entertainment coupon said I was entitled to. Said manager only allows $5 off at lunchtime. However, the coupon says lunch OR dinner, plus I was designing my own entree and not even getting a special. The cashier was rude and refused to budge for anything. He crossed his arms and said to come back at dinner. I said fine, keep it. He obviously preferred to waste all that food and lose a customer for $3 to honoring what Entertainment had put into print. Terrible!

Pros: Terrible, slow, unsmiling service. Refused to honor valid coupon.

Cons: Didn't get to experience any.

My husband and I meet for lunch there once a week. The combination platters and kebobs are great. I prefer the hummus and falafel at La Shish over that of Neomonde. Everything at La Shish is seasoned nicely. My only suggestion would be to add mujadara to the menu. The rice pilaf is an unexciting substitute. The service is always friendly.

Pros: best falafel in town

Cons: no mujadara

This little strip-mall secret is fantastic. The menu is interesting, with great variety and a surprising use of spices.

Pros: Comfortable, Good Parking, Unique

Cons: Location

Whenever I think of La ShiSh, my mouth begins to water. I ate there so much for lunch (when I worked in Cary) that the staff knew what I would order even before I walked in the door. Never rushed, never hurried, and attentive service (most of the time) made this my #1 lunch spot!

Pros: chicken schwarma, baklava, Spanakopeta

I went to La ShiSh with my wife last night and we loved the food as much as we loved the friendly service we got. Their Tiramisu and Baklava were the best we got. La ShiSH Falafel was even better than the ones we had in Lebanon few weeks.

Pros: Fresh Food, Service, Great desserts

what a delicious meal!!

try the special Ramadan fare! all delicious. the lemonade and desserts are all the best we've had in the area! we totally loved it!

Pros: value, portions

Went there when in town on business from LA. The food was average at best, but the flavor is not Greek at all. Could barely taste lemon in any of the dishes. If you come to LA go to any of the places in W3rd St and enjoy the true flavor of Greece. Espicially the new one at Farmers market food like your greek mother would cook.

Pros: easy parking, cheap food

Cons: , taste , where the lamb

La ShiSh is a small cafe offering very, very good meals. If you are familiar with the types of dishes they serve, you will be pleased with the quality. If you are not familiar with this type of dinning experience, but are ready for a culinary adventure, prepare to be awed! And, they serve real Turkish coffee(good, but very strong), which is great with their homemade desserts.

The best way to fully enjoy the large variety of Greek and Lebanese dishes is to dine in a party of four and sample as much as possible. You won't be sorry.

If you truly appreciate great tasting international cuisine, La ShiSh will easily become one of your favorite destinations.

Pros: Great food/desserts, Turkish Coffee, Homemade Lemonade

I came here for lunch and was suprised to find it as a quaint little place with a fairly busy dining room. The food was good, and the service was as expected with one person on the floor and 9 tables to be serviced. All in all it's a nice place with decent food. The taboule wasn't as lemony as I like but the shawerma was tender and the portions were plentiful.

Pros: Good Food, Portions, PArking

The grape leaves are outstanding here. The overall food selection is the best mediterranean I've had. They seem to be still working out the kinks on service and sliver/plasticware.

This is a great late lunch place hidden away in a tacky mini-mall.

...last, the lemonade really is the best in the triangle.

Pros: taste, unique, authentic

Cons: small, limited variety, service

My wife and I tried La Shish for lunch last weekend after reading the compelling review in the N&O. We were both very pleased. We had the combo platter for two ($16) and it was excellent- tender, juicy chicken, beef, and sausage kabob with rice, hummus, stuffed grape leaves, tabouleh, and pita bread. The meats were the best we've had- more tender and juicy than the Baba Ganoush restaurant we had been going to. My wife tasted fresh cinnamon in the sausage and made the comment to the owner, who was kind enough to explain many of the dishes to us. The stuffed grape leaves were the best I've ever had- not greasy at all and the filling was very tasty. Lastly, the homemade baclava was excellent. We'll definitely return for a quick, inexpensive, and delicious meal.

Pros: fresh, homemade food, family owned

The food was amazing, it's nice to see a GOOD middle eastern restaraunt in the area!!

Pros: Great food!, Family atomosphere!