Talk to any Muslim or person of Middle Eastern decent around the twin cities, and they know of Holy Land. This establishment is everything you would think of with regards to an ethnic grocery/restaurant. The website has coupons that reduce the substantial lunch buffet’s price to a pittance of about $6, including drink.

What is included on this Middle Eastern Menu is indicative of the American pallet. Romain lettuce salad with tomatoes and cucumber can be topped with baba ganoush (not very garlic-y or salty) or whipped cucumber sauce. Smooth feta cheese, olives and a plethora of pita are available, and this is only the “salad” bar. The hot bar contained the standard slew of falafel, rice, a variety of curries, chick pea-based dishes, gyro, BBQ chicken, and lamb.

Being a huge fan of middle eastern food, especially vegetables, I most definitely got my $6 worth. However, considering the variety and authenticity of their grocery store, I found the buffet to be a little Americanized. BBQ chicken and a “Greek” chicken curry reminded my very little of my Lebanese friend’s mother’s cooking. I felt a little wasteful as I had to leave much of my lamb dish on my plate, seeing as how it was mostly was bone, grissle, or fat.

If you are looking for the best an establishment has to offer, you most likely wont find it in their buffet. However, if you are looking for a sampling because like me, your hungry, cant decide, and dont have the wallet to buy the enormous sample platter (which is quite impressive), there is no better place. The grocery is about as comprehensive and genuine as it gets. That being said, if your just looking to eat out, the Midtown location’s food is exactly the same, so dont bother hiking all the way up to Central if the global market is closer to you.