Sabra Grill

Food is fresh and tasty. Portions nicely sized. Just bailed me out by delivering kosher dinner to the airport for a delayed flight! Thank you!

Located in a former US post office building, that was then bagel bin, and was intended to be a food court, is Sabra. Now the lone tenant, and only kosher restaurant in Rochester outside of the Jewish home. Kosher means that milk and meat are not served in the same dish, and since meat is served, do not expect anything to have cheese or dairy in it. Also the animal products are from animals that were slaughtered in a humane manner, and which themselves qualify as «kosher». The style of food here is largely Israeli so there is an abundance of fresh salads and vegetables, interesting spices, and generally Middle Eastern food. Everything is homemade, fresh and incredibly delicious. The salads and sandwiches are on the large size, I could easily be shared. The prices are very reasonable, and aside from a food court atmosphere, the place is a winner. I need to go back several more times as there are so many tempting meals.

Sad, sad food. I just moved back to the area from NYC and have been craving some quality shawarma and falafel. This was not it. Maybe it would have been better if the plate was served with tahini as advertised. But a giant pile (points for portion size) of chewy meat, bland salad, and a wet mush that claims to be hummus made me so sad. Where are all the veggies? The pickled radish? Why wasn’t everything served together instead of in sad compartments? And where is the white and red sauce that makes middle eastern food an amazing taste experience of joy?
I literally ate five bites, threw it out, and went somewhere else. And at $ 14, that was some seriously overpriced garbage.

Ive seerdered the swarman write ups on Sabra Grill and finally gon eprience the excellence. I ordered the swarma sandwhich with: galic mayo n tahini, cucmber and tomato salad, hummus and fried eggplant. He put hummus as the base n then the meat (turkey swarma) in a fresh just warmed pita then added the other goods. I was worried about flavor but i had no reason fo be! FIRST BITE WAS LOVE! This food at Sabra Grill is made with love! Everything is PERFECT! My co worker got the 5 salad plate and was very impressed. We both agreed the food was amazing and that SABRA GRILL HAS THEE BEST FALAFEL IN ROCHESTER!!! Iv’e had great food at Sinbads, Aladdins and Sultans btw, the all now come second. Awesome establisment. Im a black girl and didnt know what a lot of the items were. I was talked through it without being rushed or feeling stupid! Great service and food. A new staple in my food ventures.

My husband and I stumbled across this place online and were shocked to find it was just a few blocks away. We both loved the food! My husband is usually a hard sell on Mediterranean food of any kind, but he really enjoyed the turkey shawarma sandwich he got. I had the Hamsa plate, because who can decide, right? Every salad I tried was unique but packed with flavor. The very kind woman behind the counter sensed that my husband was not super familiar with their food and comp’ed us 2 falafels for us to try. They were just fresh and delicious, I will definitely be ordering falafel next time. We went a little after 1 pm on a weekday and there weren’t many people there. It was perfection. I would definitely recommend to anyone!

Very good place. Good service, fresh and tasty!
A variety of Israeli food and more.
Highly recommended!
Open also in sunday.

The falafel plate tasted wonderful and the portions were generous. The service good and the seating area was clean and comfortable.

We stopped in for a quick lunch. Great service, TONS of unlimited toppings. We had the kebab and shawarma sandwich. Both were delicious and stuffed with lots of fresh toppings. The kebab sandwich was our favorite. The meeting place is a great location to eat and hang out. Will be back again!

Having Israeli relatives and a general fondness for Israeli food, I really wanted to like this place. Much to my regret, I have to say it’s really awful. I have been here probably at least a half-​dozen times since it opened and the one issue I’ve always had with Sabra Grill is the inconsistency of their food. I typically order a pargiot b’lafa (spring chicken in a lafa wrap) — sometimes the meat is seasoned just perfectly, while other times it is overseasoned; sometimes the wrap comes warm, sometimes it comes cold. With Sabra, you simply don’t know what kind of quality you are going to get. I’ve been to Sabra twice in the past few months. On the first of these two visits, I had my usual pargiot b’lafa. The meat was super oily and chewy; the lafa bread was not warmed; the vegetables and sauce were cold… it was a giant mess of mediocrity. I took 2 bites before realizing that I did not wish to stuff myself with hundreds of calories of crappy mediocre food. I threw out a sandwich I had paid $ 12+ for. I returned to Sabra earlier this week, ordered another chicken sandwich and had essentially the same experience. The chicken was served luke-​warm. Was kind of oily, overly seasoned. The bread was not warmed. The vegetables and sauces inside the sandwich were cold (not warmed). It did not taste good. I don’t know if anyone from the restaurant actually bothers to read the complaints on Unilocal,but my sense is is that they don’t, because if they did, they would realize that my complaint (inconsistency of their quality) has been constant since their opening. My sense is, when you charge a customer $ 12+ for a lukewarm, mediocre sandwich and you have ZERO quality control (in terms of consistency, etc.), it shows you don’t care. You just don’t give a crap about the customer.
This restaurant has its purpose– for those who observe Jewish dietary law (Kashruth), it is no doubt great to have a restaurant they can go out to. For everyone else, I’d advise you to spend your money elsewhere.

I just realized the tastiness that is falafel. So I was in the area and saw this was on their menu. The place is interesting. I didn’t realize the building was more like a food court and not dedicated to solely Sabra. The falafel was pretty good, though I am no expert on it… yet. I did loooove the pita bread, so fluffy and delicious. I would go back just for that. They had a ton of sides but I only had a tomato cucumber salad which was good but nothing to rave about. Hummus was really fresh and tasty. If I wanted good Mediterranean quickly I would venture back.

I came, I Jewish-burrito’d, I pooped.
I had the lamb on the jaffa bread with hummus and all the fixin’s. It was good; pretty standard kosher mediterranean fare, but this is one of the only places I know of in Rochester.
I would absolutely return and am confident the food wouldn’t change significantly.

I live in Brighton, and I’ve driven right past Sabra Grill at least once a week since long before it even opened (I drop outgoing mail in the drive-​up blue boxes about 10 feet away), but I never went in. For some reason (maybe the name, or the way it looks from outside) I thought it would be a stuffy upscale candlelight sort of place. Obviously I wasn’t reading Unilocal then, and when I did and discovered it’s like a mall food court without the mall I hotfooted over there the next day.
I got the shawarma plate to go and loved it. The seasoned, marinated, spit-​roasted turkey is juicy, savory and fabulous. Raw veggies are way WAY down on my list of edible foods, but the Israeli salad is fresh and refreshing (I used the tahini as salad dressing); I have to add lots of salt, but I have to do that with most foods I don’t cook myself. I’m not (or wasn’t) into Middle Eastern food, so I don’t know pita from pizza, but theirs is luscious even if it’s not what pita is «supposed» to be like. I could easily make a meal of just their pitas.
I’d never eaten hummus before (the name is nauseating), but I like even it now! I left the hummus sitting there in its compartment while I ate everything else and put it in the fridge, planning to throw it out the next day, but then the next day I figured I might as well taste it, and I fell in love. The grainy tan gunk is just an unobtrusive carrier for the wonderful flavors of fresh garlic and lemon juice.
The next time, I tried the shawarma sandwich, and it was great too, but you get about three times as much food on the plate for only 20% higher cost. Since then I get only the shawarma plate, which always lasts me for two full meals (and I am NOT a light eater) and is fantastically delicious every time. I always get takeout, although there’s a large, nice looking, food-​courty area with tables, and I never go during meal times so there’s never a crowd or a long wait. The people are always friendly and helpful, and sometimes the chef/​owner gives out free samples of marvelous just-​cooked falafel when she’s there.
They put my phone number in their cash register for some sort of frequent-​flyer thing that gets me something free after I’ve paid for some number of them, but I’d keep going back anyway because the food is so good!

Did anyone else encounter poor customer service? The food looked great until, what looked like the owner, completely disregarded me as a customer. I can’t wait to never come back.

I’ve been here twice now, and it’s safe to say I’m a fan! The first time I had the Hamsa plate, which allowed me to choose five different salads, and came with pita. I chose the Moroccan carrot salad, beet salad, cucumber salad, cabbage salad, and the squash salad. The salad were ALL delicious, but my favorites were the carrot, cucumber and cabbage. I’m definitely a sucker for that tang of vinegar, and the cucumbers were on point. Dressed simply in fresh dill and vinegar, they are divine. The cabbage is a very simple vinegar dressed shredded cabbage and carrots. Yum. The carrot salad was really a standout — tender carrots (they are cooked then cooled) with a warm yet fresh flavor, thanks to the cumin and parsley. The beets were quite tasty, as well as the squash, which seemed to a daily special salad. I also got a cup of the Moroccan Lentil soup (I can never seem to pass up any lentil soup!). My dining companion did not enjoy it as much as I did, but kudos to one of the owners for offering us a taste before we committed. I, however, LOVED it. It was thick thanks to the brown lentils, and had chunks of carrots and other veggies. The spices were warm, and I could taste hints of cinnamon, cumin, coriander which made it deliciously warm and comforting. If they have this soup on the menu, get it. It’s that good.
I went again tonight and tried their shawarma pita with the Israeli salad (tomato and cucumbers and onions), pickled cabbage, hummus, and tahini. It was warm and oh so good. I found the shawarma to be that perfect combination of crispy edges with a tender center. It wasn’t dried out at all and was again spiced really well. They give you a choice of white or wheat pita, I chose wheat it was heated and soft. This thing is a beast to eat, I ended up eating about a third of it intact, and then finished it with a fork and knife, breaking off pita as I went. If you get it take out, beware that the pita can become soft and a bit wet during travel time.
The service here can be quite slow, but everyone I’ve encountered has been beyond friendly and helpful. Even today, I was paying for my shawarma and cabbage salad side, and the owner came over to me and handed me a falafel topped with hummus to try! It was amazing (seriously, the hummus is SO GOOD), and with my mouth full, I gave her the thumbs up as she was back behind the counter waiting to gauge my reaction! Beyond sweet, and a great strategy, as I’ll be back soon to get those falafels!
The portions are plentiful, the staff are warm and welcoming, and the food is delicious and obviously homemade and fresh. A wonderful addition to the 12 Corners area, and you need to check this place out, regardless if you keep kosher or not! Yum!

I was really excited about this place, especially with all the great reviews.
After my experience, I would say it’s just average.
The chicken Pargiot was lightly seasoned and overall taste was ok.
The meat shwarma was dry.
The fries under salted.
The falafel was ok. It was likely made within the hour and kept under the hot lamp.
There was nothing exciting here that would make me want to come back unless I was forced by religious (kosher/​halal) needs.

On Wednesday afternoon I read an article in the D&C reviewing Sabra Grill, and my mouth was watering for the rest of the day in anticipation. I have been looking for an authentic Israeli (especially shawarma) place in Rochester every since I got back from Israel 2 years ago, where I practically lived off the stuff. I have tried some other people’s sad attempts at recreating the same delicious wrap of goodness I practically lived off of in Israel, but no one could do it. Until I went to Sabra Grill.
For dinner that night, I ordered the shawarma in a laffa pita with everything on it. After my first bite it felt like I was back in heaven. the meat was juicy, the outside was crispy and beautifully seasoned, and the mix of toppings balanced everything out perfectly. Not to mention, the wrap was about the size of my forearm and could comfortably satisfy two people. Not this guy though, I crushed the whole thing in about 5 minutes. I haven’t come close to finding anything this delicious since I went to Israel, and I have been actively looking.
For dinner the next night, I was back! This time with a friend who had never tried shawarma. Needless to say, he will be going back frequently. He also ordered some falafel which he said were delicious. I really wish it was open on Friday nights/​saturdays so I could get some more tonight. I guess I will have to wait for next week!
The only downside was service was a little slow for a place where everything is already cooked. The first night I went, they were having cash register problems so I gave them a break. They did, however, have 4 people behind the counter, only one of which who was making food and the other 3 just standing around trying to figure out the register. The second night the register was back up and running, and they had more people making the food which sped things up a bit. the place is still new so I will give them a break, and the food was good enough to not even dock them a star on the rating.
Just go here. It’s awesome. I can’t wait to go back. I am getting hungry just thinking about it.

I come to Rochester for Shabbat and kosher food. Didn’t know the community had a kosher falafel/​shawarma diner. It is a terrific alternative to in-​room dinners!
The items I have tried were hot, tasty, ample in quantity, and the owner is a blast. Also the prices are very reasonable.

Delicious shawarma plate! The dish included the meat, a few side salads, and pita. Nice family run business in the heart of twelve corners. I can’t wait to go back and try a shawarma laffa (pita wrap). Sabra is very accommodating to catering orders– we used them for an event in June and they did a great job.

I finally had the chance to visit Sabra Grill for lunch yesterday after all the buzz died down some and a had a bit of a mixed experience. The service behind the counter was funny, attentive, and extremely friendly which instantly made the entire experience for me, but the food itself was a bit all over the place.
Although the flavor and seasonings of everything was really deep and wonderful, the chicken I had was extremely overcooked and tough in the mouth. I specifically had the Pargiot sandwich on laffa bread, and the tough meat combined with the overly tough griddled laffa dough left a poor feeling for my teeth afterwards. It’s such a shame because everything *tasted* amazing. It’s just that the two primary components, the poultry and bread, were extremely tenacious against my jaw making for an awkward and seriously long eating experience (from all of the chewing).
Thankfully, it shares a building with one of those frozen yogurt places so I was quickly able to refresh my palette with some amazing pink lemonade sorbet covered in mango spheres, coconut, and Nerds, so I guess there’s a silver lining to everything!
I’ll definitely try Sabra Grill again eventually I’m sure, but for everyone going in the mean time — perhaps it’s best to avoid the pargiot and laffa and stick with maybe the kebab and pita instead.

I am from SE Asia and love phở more than most but I was still flooded with relief when I discovered that the newest restaurant in Rochester wasn’t yet another Vietnamese joint!
Sabra Grill is Chipotle’s non corporate, distant Israeli cousin. They offer a variety of salads and meats presented right in front of you. You can order it as a plate (with tomato cucumber salad and hummus) or wrapped in a pita or laffa. In addition, they offer some of my favourite snacks like falafels, latkes, kibbe (deep fried balls of beef) and boureka (pastry stuffed with meat). There are plenty of veggie options as almost the salads are 100% veggie and there are 2 vegetarian sandwiches.
When I went to pick up lunch, the line was long and slow. This was mostly due to people ignoring the well written descriptions of the dishes and choosing to ask the staff instead. The staff themselves were quite efficient.
I ordered the shawarma platter and a side of falafels. When I got back to work, I realized that they gave me the pargiot instead. It was still very tasty. The tomato cucumber salad was dressed with tahini. It was a mild and refreshing contrast to the chicken. I could have still used another strong/​bright flavour component like the garlic sauce offered at Sultan.
The hummus was fresh, fresh, fresh. The pita that came with the plate was thick yet fluffy. The hot sauce that one of the employees gave me (despite being warned by his mother that it may be too hot for me) was a Middle Eastern take on the chilli oil. It was not that hot but it was smoky.
The falafels were so close to being the best in Rochester. The ratio of crispy exterior to soft/​fluffy interior was spot on. They were herb-​y and cumin-​y. However, none of the falafels were salted. This was a little sad but I quickly remedied it. At 2 for $ 1, these are also the cheapest falafels in Rochester.
Last but not least, I had to try the baklava. It tasted nothing like any other baklava I have had before. It was more doughy and didn’t have that nutty flavour. It was more like a baklava inspired dough like creation. It was good but I like my baklava full of pistachios so I am not sold on this. Not that this was a huge gamble at $ 2. Oh yes, this was the cheapest baklava in Rochester too. I would recommend trying it once at least.
The family running this place is absolutely adorable. When one the employees’ mother told him to not give me the hot sauce and the guy looked at me sheepishly to warn me about the heat level, it reminded me of something my own mom might yell at me about. It was kind of hilarious in that cheesy family movie kind of way. Something about that exchange showed just how family centric this business is.
I would recommend trying them for a well priced, efficient and tasty lunch first as they seem to be having issues gauging the demand in the evening. I will be back soon to try the kibbe!
p.s They offer (kosher) hot dogs, burgers and French fries so you can come here with your picky eater friends!