Eli Kociba
Food
The food at both restaurants tasted wonderful and both had a different feel than the other. Lyla’s tastes more homemade like something your mother would make, while Bucharest tasted less homemade and special. At Lyla’s we got the Lamb Kafta Combo Platter, which we personally didn’t like too much as we felt it was too dry, but the dryness was made up for by the other things included in the combo such as the Lebanese salad and the Lebanese bread which tasted really good. At Bucharest we ordered the Bucharest Shawarma, and it was very flavorful and was a great wrap that we would highly recommend. We also got Chicken Shawarma from both places, and we believe that the price accurately reflects the taste of the food for both. The Chicken Shawarma at Lyla’s did not taste as good as the Chicken Shawarma from Bucharest, but it costs less at Lyla’s than Bucharest.
Price
Both restaurants have rather different menus from each other. Lyla’s menu consists of a wider variety of items compared to Bucharest, with items such as the Lamb Kafta and Baked Kibbee Balls, showing much more diversity. On the other hand, Bucharest’s menu consists mostly of different types of shawarma, such as the Chicken Shawarma and the Bucharest Shawarma. The items at Lyla’s were less expensive than the items at Bucharest. For example, a Chicken Shawarma at Bucharest costs $8.50, while a Chicken Shawarma at Lyla’s is only $7.00. The difference in price makes it more affordable for students to eat at Lyla’s than Bucharest.
Atmosphere
The atmosphere at both restaurants was very welcoming. Upon entering Lyla’s we were greeted with a pleasant aroma and very friendly people, making it feel like we were regulars. Similarly, Bucharest smelled very nice and had very kind workers to greet us, however it was much busier and louder there, giving it a less calm and relaxing feel compared to Lyla’s. Both locations are about the same distance from North with approximately a 5 minute drive to both, allowing for students to easily go there for lunch.
Rating
The wait times for both places were not bad. At Bucharest, we only ended up waiting about 10 minutes and our food was done, and at Lyla’s all we had to do was order online and pick it up 20 minutes later. We think that both of these wait times are completely fine and allow enough time for students to eat during lunch, assuming that an online order is placed approximately 20 minutes in advance. While both places offer carry-out and catering as service options, Bucharest allows for people to order there and eat in the store, while at Lyla’s the only options would be some form of ordering ahead of time and either picking it up or getting it dropped off. However, we don’t see this as a big deal if students are able to order before lunch. Overall we would give Lyla’s 4.5/5 stars and Bucharest 4/5 stars.
