During the past year, this little spot on Neil transformed from Jack's Grill into Holy Land Grill. Many of the dishes (mostly the kebabs, falafel, hummus, etc.) have remained the same, but some new items are now served, including grilled quail, lamb, kibbeh, and many appetizers.
I have to admit that the restaurant's interior is much improved over Jack's Grill, but still quirky. If I plan to dine in, I enjoy coming for a late lunch or early dinner when few patrons are around because the restaurant's TV will play fun music videos from another country (I assume Jordan, as it's the home country of the owner...?). There are only a few tables available, though most of these tables (which are an '80s-inspired turquoise) seat only groups of 6 or more--not the most efficient use of an already limited space.
There seems to be a fairly high turnover of wait staff here, and most appear to struggle through their tasks. I usually don't sweat it, though, since I often get my food to-go.
As for the food, my friends and I usually share a plate of hummus and baba ganoush before our meal. While the hummus is always delicious (topped with a layer of olive oil and paprika), the baba ganoush is a bit too gray and slimy for me. During random visits, we've sometimes received a free appetizer that consists of fried pita chips and chunks of pickled eggplant (much better than the baba ganoush, in my opinion). However, I haven't been able to figure out a pattern in why we're given this free appetizer on some days and not others (maybe when we've brought along particularly charming girls...?). The other discrepancy I've encountered is the lack of grilled onions and tomatoes on my plate when I order entrees, though the menu claims that these items are included with the meals. I won't complain too much about the veggies, though, because I am extremely fond of the other side dish served with the entrees, a spiced rice with chopped almonds and parsley.
While vegetarians can enjoy a few great dishes here, the real treat is...the meat! Both the steak and chicken shish kebabs are almost always a bit dry and tough, but the steak ones compensate with great flavor. Personally my favorite entrees to order are the meat shawarma and shish tawook. People rave about the grilled quail, and while I agree that it is well-seasoned, I am usually annoyed with all the bones in those tiny birds!
This hearty food is a bargain for lunch. Many of the half-portion entrees and sandwiches are less than $6. Dinner prices are also fairly reasonable as the portions are generous.
While waiting for takeout orders, I've casually spied on the cooks as they work behind the counter. I like their technique for fanning the charcoal to life: a hair-dryer! I can also tell they put a lot of gentle care in their grilling and food preparation. Nevertheless, there is usually quite a wait for both a table and meals, which is troublesome if you are rushed or planning to stay for a meal on your lunch break. If you want to enjoy food from Holy Land, my advice is to just order by telephone in advance.