Buried in Barracks Road, Aromas Cafe serves fresh, healthy Moroccan inspired cuisine for those on a tight budget. We’re completely skeptical of the restaurant’s Daily Progress “Best New Restaurant” award (didn’t Arby’s win best lunch place?). This time, we totally agree with the readers; it’s awesome! Aromas rests right across from Tara Thai and Five Guys. On to the review…
If you are lucky when you first enter the restaurant, you will be greeted by Hassan, the jovial, welcoming owner. I have yet to experience a restaurant owner as happy as Hassan to have me dine in his restaurant. Actually, scratch that. I have yet to experience a restaurant owner who makes me feel like I’m entering his home, not just any old restaurant. His cheery mood translates to his staff who also convey that same sense of caring and homeliness.
Ambiance
We really enjoy the layout of Aromas. It’s exceptionally clean with an open wait station and kitchen. The dark wood floors complement the black ceiling. Lighting is soft and welcoming. It’s modest, but it doesn’t feel cheap. I really liked it and I think you will feel comfortable.
Dinner
Open the dinner menu and you will be impressed, not only because it’s simple, but also because it’s very affordable and healthy. Appetizers range from $6 to $8 and entrees can go as low as $7.
We recommend the mezza trio (seen above) which lets you sample the hummus, dolmas and baba ghannouge. In case you aren’t familiar, dolmas are grape leaves stuffed with rice, spices and sometimes meat. Most dolmas you’ve eaten probably came from a can, but at Aromas they’ve obviously been fresh made. Unlike most dolmas I’ve had the grape leaves are extremely tender and the filling just dissolves in your mouth. I wish they had an option for a meat filling. The baba ghannouge, an eggplant dip, has a strong smokey character which is unique to most I’ve tasted. I find that store bought baba ghannouge often tastes bland, but the smokiness brought out a lot of flavors in the eggplant. The hummus was had very balanced, smooth flavors, but I am a more of a fan of Stick’s Kebob hummus, given the stronger spices.
For dinner I’ve tried the falafel wrap, el morocco sandwich and the lamb sausage with lentils. My el morroco (eggplant) sandwich looked a little sparse. The eggplant portion was tiny and was lost in the bread. The falafel, on the otherhand, had an abundant flavor. I’m not sure what make the spices for Aroma’s falefel unique, but it’s something to try. The lamb sausage is made off-site according to Aromas’ recipe. I loved this dish and it’s myriad flavors and spices. I was a little surprised that it cost $17, but it was large enough to take home and make a second meal.
Dessert
We tried the homemade baklava and cashew fingers with a heavy, sweet/sour dessert yogurt. I don’t remember where else I’ve had baklava in Charlottesville, but Aromas’ wins by miles. It’s light and crispy, but not too dry-a perfect balance for the standard middle eastern treat. The cashew fingers, also excellent, paired interestingly with the sweet/sour in the yogurt. I don’t think I have the right palette to judge that dessert, but it’s an interesting experience you should try. We also sampled some of Aromas’ mint tea, which we highly recommend for an end-of-evening belly warmer.
Drinks
Aromas doesn’t have a full bar, but their wine menu is intelligently priced. I was disappointed with a $26 Malbec, but I’m sure those with more knowledge can make better selections.
Service
You get a full-service waitstaff tending to your needs, which for a menu this inexpensive might seem a little strange. The service excels above many restaurants in Charlottesville that cost two or three times as much. No complaints here.
Overall
We highly recommend Aromas Cafe because it’s a healthy, tasty, inexpensive and full-service experience. Hassan and his team make you feel at home. All we need is a hookah for the after-dinner debates!
Enjoy it and let us know what you think.
Related posts:
- A Review of Charlottesville’s Si Tapas Restaurant
- Charlottesville Deathmatch Round 4: Battle of the Dinner Date
- The Upstairs Restaurant Review
I like this place, but am not as in love with it as some people. The ingredients are fresh and the prices reasonable, but I leave often feeling like I could’ve easily made some of it at home or found a comparable version at the store for much cheaper. In fact, almost everything on their menu can, in my opinion, be found in improved form at another restaurant.
–Tip-Top, without question, has the best falafel pita in town. Anything else is a disappointment.
–Sticks has the best hummus.
–Bashir’s has the best eggplant/zaaluk. And don’t even try to compare Aroma’s baklava to Bashir’s. I’ve been eating middle eastern food all my life and Bashir’s is, hands down, the best I’ve ever tasted.
What about Al Hamraa? Anyone tried it?
I really like this place because the owner seems to care so much about getting it right and the food is good!
It’s moderate prices (given the rent it’s got to pay) and good service are most welcome.
I’m from Philly but I was in Charlottesville this week for a class. Before I left on my long drive home, I returned for my third trip to Aromas in four days so I could bring home some incredible food for my husband. I love mediterranean food. The dolmas were to die for. And the baklava was amazing – sweet but not dripping in honey. The hummus and baba ghannoug were some of the best I have ever had. Hassan is a great host and his staff courteous and attentive. I highly recommend it.
Tip-Top for falafel? Really? I like the place, but it never felt right to order anything there other than what you might call “Denny’s food.”
Good to hear some love for Aromas, I work right by there and hadn’t bothered to try it yet.
lovelovelove aromas. the chicken shawarma is the best thing there. maybe we will go there today, if my friend’s hangover ever abates.
@2 al hamraa is really good (except for the wines i’ve tried). especially loved the rabbit. shen, my veg friend had just some kind of soup & sides & was happy, but i’m sure there’s seafood too. thor, they have hookah, & a kid whose job it is to just give people hookah. he’s very knowledgeable.
@ 2: Al Hamraa is very tasty. No entrees for vegetarians, but I was happy with the selection of sides. Didn’t try wine (selection wasn’t that appealing), but my martini was excellent. Enjoyable experience overall. Also better than Aroma’s.
@ 4: your loss. Tip Top is owned and operated by a Greek native who absolutely knows what he’s doing. I’m sure better falafel exists in the world, but for the price, and in Cville, you can’t beat Tip Top. I would never go there for Denny’s food. In my opinion, that’s missing the point
It definitely looks more authentic Moroccan than Aroma’s so I’m confused as to why you called Aroma’s “moroccan inspired” Mr. Thor. Isn’t hummus and baklava greek?
http://www.alhamraa.net/moroccan.php
@7 – I think those dishes are regional middle eastern.
Hassan!.
Loves him.
This restaurant even made it in Baltimore?
Baltimore Sun Article
try Zam-Zam’s for “Persian” cuisine
@8: Morocco is not in the Middle East
You must be from the north. I love Tip Top…it reminds me of the diners at home just a little bit.
I feel sorry for people who didn’t grow up with really, really good diners. Tip Top is good, but I miss the diners at home…ones with full bars and their own merch.
@13 Jersey? PA?
@12 lets call it regional Mediterranean instead. Plenty of countries in that part of the world (Med) share very similar dishes with the only difference being spelling and pronunciation. Wouldn’t be surprised if the reach of the Ottoman Empire has something to do with this:
Current Mediterranean geography:
try the insalata mista and mint tea. nomtastic.
their falafel is awesome. they tuck other goodies into the wrap as well, some kind of pickled something-or-other and other delights.
@13: nope…born and raised in Va (not Cville). My father is from Brooklyn, though, so I’ve spent quite a bit of time in NY. Unfortunately, I think some people in this town are afraid of dives, and would rather pay too much at a trendy place than $4.75 for a wholeheartedly satisfying meal.
@15 Damn Francesco, get all Bruce Lee on us and now you’re posting cool maps? What gives man aren’t you just another Thor ( #3 perhaps)?
I’m guessing not anyone can post pics on here.
Durty Nelly’s is my favorite Dive in these parts.
Well having grown up eating Lebanese, Syrian and Greek foods, i give very high marks to Hassan @ Aromas and Bashir’s. I have yet to eat at Al Hamraa. What makes these places special is the owners, the hardest-working men in food biz, sweethearts all, and they put out some fantastic plates. of course i’m very biased about hummus because i think MAS has the best (and was hurt a little that our wood-fired oven pizza was excluded from previous discussions on the pizza topic,) but i always order hummus when i’m @ Aromas. Hassan amazes me with his unflagging sincerity, generosity, great food and prices, and boy they are very fast. the lebnan cheese w/ pistachios and dried fruit is to die for as are most of the dishes including falafel.
MAS haz pizza? Holy shit! I need to try that.
Aromas has been around before, hasnt it?
Aroma’s started as a small restaurant in the forestry building in Fontaine Research park near UVA. I’m assuming it had the means to relocate due to its popularity there. Not sure what took its place.
The Cozy Bear Cafe replaced Aroma’s at the forestry building.
Can’t believe no on is talking about the chicken salad. It’s the best I have ever had.
i have to agree with LOSTINACROWD bashir’s baklava,zaalouk and falafel are the best . i ate at aroma , cafe europa and others but Bashir as a host and chef ( he still cooks)is way above the crowd.