Sultan Mediterranean Restaurant
A family-owned gem offering authentic Middle Eastern cuisine with an old-world vibe and a striking, heritage-rich interior.
Highlights
Must-see attractions
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Sultan Mediterranean Restaurant
Highlights
Must-see attractions
A family-owned gem offering authentic Middle Eastern cuisine with an old-world vibe and a striking, heritage-rich interior.
"Legitimately the best Middle Eastern food I have eaten hands down."
Free Lentil Soup Offer
Get complimentary lentil soup with entree purchase before 3 PM.
Save Room for Dessert
Rumor has it, the desserts are exceptionally delicious and worth saving space for.
Quick Facts
Cuisine
Middle Eastern
Price
Mid-range
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences
Sultan Pilau
Kurdish pastry filled with lamb, rice, almonds, and chickpeas, wrapped in phyllo dough. A glorious culinary experience.
Legendary Lentil Soup
Rich, aromatic, and lightly curried lentil soup served with onions and curry powder. A must-try starter.
Fluffy Naan and Perfectly Cooked Kebabs
Experience incredibly fluffy naan bread and perfectly cooked, non-dry kebabs that redefine Mediterranean cuisine.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Menu
Most Popular Items
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Free Lentil Soup Offer
Get complimentary lentil soup with entree purchase before 3 PM.
Save Room for Dessert
Rumor has it, the desserts are exceptionally delicious and worth saving space for.
Parking Information
Limited street and rear parking is available.
Try the House Specialties
Don't miss the unique Sultan Pilau, a flavorful Kurdish pastry.
Tips
from all over the internet
Free Lentil Soup Offer
Get complimentary lentil soup with entree purchase before 3 PM.
Save Room for Dessert
Rumor has it, the desserts are exceptionally delicious and worth saving space for.
Parking Information
Limited street and rear parking is available.
Try the House Specialties
Don't miss the unique Sultan Pilau, a flavorful Kurdish pastry.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Sultan Mediterranean Restaurant is highly praised for its authentic and delicious Middle Eastern cuisine, with many diners raving about the fluffy naan, perfectly cooked kebabs, and exceptional lentil soup. The service is often described as warm and attentive, contributing to a great atmosphere. However, some reviews mention that certain dishes, like falafel and gyros, can be underwhelming, and the restaurant can get loud due to its high ceilings.
"This place changed my view on Mediterranean food. It is legitimately the best middle Eastern food I have eaten hands down. The kebabs were cooked so well and not dry. The naan was so fluffy and airy. Truly one of the best aces you can go to"
Rushad
"The saffron chicken curry was amazing. Until 3PM, they give you the lentil soup for free with the purchase of an entree and it's one of the best lentil soup I have had. The chicken kabob was alright. All of their food has great proportions."
Amey Patil
"First time coming here and definitely won’t be the last! The food and coffee were delicious! Our waiter was very friendly and attentive to any questions we had about the menu. Great atmosphere!"
Renee K
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
The Sultan Pilau is a house specialty: a Kurdish pastry filled with lamb, rice, almonds, and chickpeas, all wrapped in layers of phyllo dough. It's highly recommended for its unique flavor and texture. [^M2]
Yes, you can enjoy complimentary lentil soup with the purchase of an entree if you visit before 3 PM. [^M4]
Diners frequently rave about the perfectly cooked kebabs, fluffy naan bread, and the exceptionally delicious lentil soup. The saffron chicken curry and Sultan Pilau are also highly recommended. [^M1]
The restaurant has a casual, family-owned vibe with an old-world feel, featuring striking decor like colorful chandeliers and tea sets that reflect the family's heritage. It can get a bit loud due to high ceilings. [^M2]
Limited parking is available on the street and in a lot behind the restaurant.
Yes, the menu includes vegetarian entrees such as Vegetable Sultan Pilau, Vegetarian Dolma, Pilau Rice, and Saffron Curry Vegetables. The Saksuka (eggplant appetizer) is also a popular choice.
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The best soups in St. Louis
Sultan’s matriarch, Jenar Mohammed, is technically a restaurant cook; for several years now, she and her husband, Akram Saeed, have been dazzling diners with her outstanding cooking at the beloved Grove neighborhood eatery. When you taste her lentil soup, however, you feel less like a customer than an invited guest into her home, sitting around the kitchen table as a pot of the rich, lightly curried concoction simmers on the stove, filling the air with its aromatic perfume. There’s a warmth to this soup, one that has nothing to do with its serving temperature.
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Kurdish immigrants Akram Saeed and Jenar Mohammed are serving the food of their homeland in a striking space, with large windows overlooking Manchester and charming accents that reference the family's heritage. The colorful chandeliers are from Turkey; the golden-hued tea sets displayed on a shelf near the dessert counter came directly from Kurdistan. House specialties include the Sultan Pilau, a Kurdish pastry that wraps lamb, rice, almonds and chickpeas in layers of phyllo dough.
Ian Froeb's STL 100: Our critic's 2022 guide to the best restaurants in St. Louis
Sultan Mediterranean Restaurant• Mediterranean, Middle Eastern. At Sultan Mediterranean Restaurant in the Grove, chef and owner Jenar Mohammed has built a menu from both family recipes — she and her husband came to the United States in the 1980s from the Kurdistan region of Iraq — and dishes she has learned from YouTube cooking videos. You would never guess which items she has been cooking for years and which she has taught herself more recently.
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The lentil soup at Sultan Mediterranean Restaurant is in its own league for two reasons: It's served with onions and curry powder, and until 3 p.m., you can enjoy it for free with the purchase of a main entrée. So even if you come for the dolma – grape leaves, onion, zucchini and eggplant, stuffed with beef and rice – you'll also enjoy complimentary soup and salad. 4200 Manchester Ave., The Grove, St. Louis, Missouri, 314-390-2020, sultan-stl.com
Highest-rated Middle Eastern restaurants in St. Louis, according to Tripadvisor
– Rating: 5.0 / 5 (36 reviews)– Detailed ratings: Food (5.0/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (5.0/5)– Type of cuisine: Mediterranean, Middle Eastern– Price: $$ – $$$– Address: 4200 Manchester Ave Corner of Boyle & Manchester, Saint Louis, MO 63110-3826– Read more on Tripadvisor. You may also like:Highest-rated breakfast restaurants in St. Louis, according to Tripadvisor
Highest-rated Middle Eastern Restaurants in St. Louis, According to Tripadvisor
- Rating: 5.0 / 5 (36 reviews)- Detailed ratings: Food (5.0/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (5.0/5)- Type of cuisine: Mediterranean, Middle Eastern- Price: $$ - $$$- Address: 4200 Manchester Ave Corner of Boyle & Manchester, Saint Louis, MO 63110-3826- Read more on Tripadvisor. You may also like:How inflation of 10 items in St. Louis compares to the rest of the US
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DISH: The outrageously delicious Sultan Pilau is a phyllo shell filled with luxuriously perfumed rice and lamb, accented with almonds, pistachios, walnuts, and raisins—the most glorious lamb biryani you could ever imagine.
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Sultan is a wonderful new addition to the eclectic Grove neighborhood. Owned by Kurdish immigrants, the menu features much of the Middle East. Catchy Arabic tunes set the mood as you wait for the signature Sultan Pilau.
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Mediterranean favorites such as hummus, baba ganoush, tabbouleh, and kabob’s. Authentic Mediterranean food beautifully plated. 4200 Manchester Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110
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