Mediterranean Oasis Mart

Reviews 4

JI

Jimmy Peterson

What can be said about Mediterranean Oasis that hasnt already been said? Its a great place to go, be it for grocery shopping or for lunch/dinner. Its your basic, divey, hole-in-the-wall joint that offers everything that that designation should afford it. Let me first start with how kind these people are. Incredibly, incredibly nice and kind gentleman who make you feel right at home. Im a 5 foot 2 inched people mcnugget who has never had to reach for the top shelf in this store because someone or the other comes rushing to my aid to help me. On EVERY occasion, I find something new to try from the grocery aisle, and their meat is always super clean, especially of fat, so much so that I know I can take it straight from the butchers hand to the pan (except lamb, they tend to leave some fat on that, be forewarned, as the lamb and goat in Mediterranean cuisine is generally cooked with its fat - but for this, just clarify that youd like it cleaned of all fat, please). Also, they have an array of lovely drinks in their fridge, and a bunch of sweets that are absolutely a delight. Do give some of these things a try, they will not disappoint! Now, lets talk about the food; this is where Mediterranean Oasis surpasses all expectation. When you walk up to the food window, right away, you will see a bunch of different meats and rice, and veggies on display, but there is SO much more in the menu. They have a very wonderful Lunch menu, from Monday-Thursday that has very generous portions, but their sandwiches are extremely filling as well. Some of the stand out things on the menu are: Lamb Shank (Dinner) - if youre a fan of lamb, this is a MUST try! They literally give you a bone in lamb shank, surrounded by a bed of roasted veggies, with fall of the bone, succulent and unctuous meat, laden with flavor. They also give you saffron rice, salad and hummus along with it. Beware though, theres enough meat and accompaniments here to easily feed two people! Lamb Kabob Sandwich (or Dinner) - guys, Im not kidding. The only other place Ive eaten lamb meat so damn perfectly done (the perfect cook) was at a Michelin star restaurant in San Francisco ages ago. This is the only other meat that comes even close! I actually prefer this in sandwich form, as the sauces and the veggies along with the pita make each bite a perfect bite! But theres so much meat in the sandwich I sometimes have to take some chunks out for it to fit in my mouth! XXX-Spicy Chicken - if youre not a fan of spicy food, this is not for you. But if you are, this chicken is a zinger when it comes to flavor. Paired with their garlic sauce, in sandwich or dinner form, this chicken is top-notch. Whole Chicken- they have a spatch-cocked whole chicken that is extremely simple, lovely in flavor, and similar to rotisserie chicken (but better!). Its the definition of comfort food, especially paired with their rice! Whole Fish - yes they have fish as well, but not every day, so if youre going for this specifically, it may be a good idea to call in advance. The fish is fried whole, and has a lovely crust to it. The bones are still in, which can be a nuisance, but those of us who are Seafood fanatics know thats what imparts the juiciness and flavor to the meat. This is a real delight for those of us who want a change in pace from all the lamb and chicken (I dont really eat beef). Truly, everything on their menu is fantastic! From their dolmas (stuffed great leaves), to their lamb ouzi. I would recommend going there, every week or another, and trying something new. I have yet to be disappointed by anything Ive eaten there. And there are still things on the menu that I have not gotten to! I absolutely LOVE this place. Also, if youre into tea, they have some AMAZING flavored tea (no milk, flavored with cardamom and other spices), which is not on the menu and they dont sell it, but if you ask for it, they may have some prepped!

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VE

Venkat Nandam

Agree 100% with Aletheas comments. I had similar experience. My wife was going there and bringing meat whenever we had unexpected guests and needed lamb or goat on short notice. I went there once the lamb or goat price was quoted under $5 per lb. When it was all cut and priced, it came to more than $8.50/lb. When I asked, I was told, the weight they put was before they trimmed the fat off the meat. When I picked the pack of meat to be cut it already looked trimmed but the butcher was cutting the meat he was taking off or setting aside stuff. This is the only place I have come across where the weight marked on the pack is not what you take home or when you give the butcher to trim. I buy meat many places big and small, for example, Nea Agora in Chicago or other places in Aurora or Bolingbrook. This is the only place where weight quoted on the package doesnt match what you take home. I trim meats myself layer after layer and I have never seen fat and waste cuts take away close to 40 percent of what you buy, even with a bad cut of lamb or goat. Never again will I buy anything from these cheats. I hope they get what they deserve when they meet their maker. I also wonder if there is a govt office we can report this to. May be, I should go there with a cell phone and record the transaction, shouldnt be that hard.

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AL

Alethea Alexander-Sawchuk

The other reviews are jokes. I called the store and wanted some halal leg of lamb. The man I spoke to, an older person, I assume the owner quated me the price $5.39 per pound, not the best price, however not the worst either. I go there, I end up buying meat at more than $9.22 per pound. The explanation they give me is we cleaned it. I told him, you know I will clean it myself, still they did not give me anywhere near the price they quated. Besides that, I got less than 3 lbs. of lamb, and would have ended paying $67.something, when I confronted them, they say, or it is a mistake and improved the mistake putting price $27.79, again this is for less than 3 lbs. of ground lamb. Costco, on the other side of 75th Street, has the everyday price of $4.99 per pound every day, of course this one is not halal, which only means that they drained the blood from the animal, when they killed it. The ratings are joke. The prices for everything else are not that great either, Caputos in Naperville carries almost all of the staff and for better prices. 20 cents here, 40 cents there ads up very quickly. Make your own conclusions and decisions...

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LA

Laura McFarland-Taylor

Although we have heard about this place for some time, we finally made it over there for the first time yesterday – can’t believe we waited so long! Not only is the prepared food delicious, but the grocery section is excellent. Bought some of the best brined vegetables and olives I have ever had (and I am a BIG fan of all things olive or pickled). While we were shopping and waiting for our food, we were offered glasses of tea – hands down the best tea I have ever had. When I asked what it was, the young man said that it was Earl Grey with sage and offered to teach me how to make it. I will definitely be taking him up on his offer. Everyone was very gracious and helpful. So glad to have finally checked the store out and we will be back.

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