AMMATOLI

Olivia M 2 months ago

This place had a beautiful beginning and middle… just wait for the end. A friend and I walked here during a lunch break at our conference and were seated quickly at the bar, which was perfect. I ordered the lunch special with kefta, hummus with beef shawarma, cauliflower, and a salad, and my friend got the chicken kebab. My friend said it was the best chicken she’s ever had, which is really saying something. My entire plate was so good I was genuinely annoyed we had to rush through it to get back to work. The pita was incredibly fresh with the best texture, and we could actually see them making it from the bar. We definitely overordered and ended up taking leftovers for the plane the next day, which we were excited about. We also grabbed baklava and a sesame cookie to go. Service was great and everything came out quickly. Now fast forward to the flight. I take a bite of the baklava and find a pistachio shell inside my mouth. I literally could have broken a tooth. That alone took the experience down a star for me. There needs to be more care with the desserts, because otherwise Ammatoli would have been close to perfect.

Tina wolfe Bookwithtinacom 4 months ago

10 out of 10 recommend! I got the Greek salad with the chicken and my friend got the falafel along with an amazing breakfast plate. I got the mint lemonade freshest I’ve ever had! Good and potent! We Both enjoyed it so much and we ate outside on a beautiful day.

Green Sea Shells a month ago

Had dinner at Ammatoli in Downtown Long Beach tonight. The restaurant was recently named a 2026 James Beard semifinalist for Outstanding Hospitality, and the service was excellent from start to finish. We ordered the 7-item vegetarian platter with two types of hummus, muhammara, grape leaves, a fava bean dip, cucumber yogurt, and falafel, along with a fattoush salad and warm pita bread. We also tried a Lebanese wine that was fruit-forward with a dry, slightly powdery finish. What makes Ammatoli interesting is that the menu pulls from across the Levant region — Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Palestine — so the meal feels broader than a standard Mediterranean restaurant menu. You see it in the mezze selection, the spice profiles, the use of grains and legumes, and the balance between fresh herbs, acidity, and richer dips. For vegetarians, the platter is probably the easiest way to eat here. It comfortably fed 3–4 people and felt substantial enough that we didn’t need entrées afterward. At around $80 just for the platter, it’s more of a planned dinner spot than a casual weeknight takeout stop, but the portions, service, and overall experience make sense for the price point. Parking nearby was also surprisingly easy for Downtown Long Beach. Still one of our favorite places in the LA area for Levantine food.

A L 7 months ago

This place is so cute, and the food was really delicious. Our server was incredibly friendly and helpful when ordering (I forgot his name, but he was tall with curly hair and a nose ring - thank you to him!). We got three appetizers, pita, and two skewers plus a dessert and it was just barely too much food for the two of us. We would definitely come back here!

Brianna Pruitt a month ago

I ordered food to go so I can’t speak for the dine in experience. However the food I got was disappointing in size and flavor for the cost. I make a lot of Mediterranean food at home and am very well versed in flavor and how it’s supposed to look. The chicken shawarma was okay, the chicken could have had more flavor. The fries had a weird after taste and needed more toppings for the amount of fries. The pickles were good, and the pistachio baklava was very good but they should make it clear that the ice cream is only available for dine in. It makes it seem like they forgot something when you were expecting ice cream. Now the grape leaves were very disappointing. Thin, covered in oil, and not worth the price. I was refunded for the dolmas, but I will not be coming back here. The manager I spoke with seemed a bit prideful that I didn’t enjoy the food. She stated that the dolmas are just “grape leaf forward” over the rice and I have to disagree. That’s like a pizza restaurant saying they care more about the dough than the quality of the cheese and tomato sauce. Was very excited to try this place and I’m sad it won’t be in my rotation.