Best Middle Eastern/Eastern Mediterranean restaurant
Mast Khiyar -- a mixture of freshly diced cucumbers yogurt, raisins, walnuts and fresh herbs -- at Rumi's Kitchen. The Sandy Springs spot was your pick and our pick for best Middle Eastern/Eastern Mediterranean restaurant in and around Atlanta. Photo: Elissa Eubanks, eeubanks@ajc.com
YOUR PICKS
1. Rumi’s Kitchen
You say, “The food at Rumi’s is absolutely delicious” and “Rumi’s Kitchen is the best I’ve had in the city. No wonder this place is always packed.”
2. Café Sababa
3. Mediterranean Grill
4. Café Agora
5. Sufi’s
6. Baba’s Gyro & Kabob
Barg kabob (marinated strips of tenderloin charbroiled and served on a bed of saffron Basmati rice) at Rumi's Kitchen. The Sandy Springs spot was your pick and our pick for best Middle Eastern/Eastern Mediterranean restaurant in and around Atlanta. Photo: Elissa Eubanks, eeubanks@ajc.com
OUR PICKS
1. Rumi’s Kitchen
AJC Chief Dining Critic John Kessler says, “This restaurant is, at heart, a kebab house, so order a variety of kebabs and have them presented on a communal platter and sided by a mound of white and saffron basmati rice that’s so vast you could burrow in it. Good Persian food, such as this, has flavors that aren’t merely clean but immaculate. Salt, lemon, yogurt, saffron, sumac, grill char: Each flavor comes through as a clear, stark chime.”
2. Pita Palace
3. Mediterranean Bakery
4. Mediterranean Grill
5. Mezza
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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
77 comments Add your comment
Edward
March 14th, 2012
6:49 pm
Cafe Istanbul is terrible and is NOT “authentic”. There is absolutely nothing Turkish about that place. I made the mistake of taking my friend visiting from Istanbul there. I was so embarrassed. For some authentic Turkish, try IstanBlue on Pharr Rd in Buckhead. For great Middle Eastern, Sufi’s in south Buckhead is very nice.
And Kristen Rae, bless your heart, but India is not in the Middle East and is nowhere near the Mediterranean. Please go look at a map.
deanna fiveash
March 14th, 2012
8:09 pm
for fresh food made daily try melody lane diner in marietta off canton highway. everything cooked to order!
Anonymous
March 14th, 2012
11:39 pm
Rumi’s is the best by far. It may cost a little more, but you have to pay for quality.
mark
March 15th, 2012
7:50 am
Sufi’s on Peachtree is amazing!
Nate
March 15th, 2012
9:00 am
Med Grill!!!
MWoodruff
March 15th, 2012
9:21 am
Sheik Burritos n Kabobs & Rumi’s
Hans
March 15th, 2012
2:58 pm
Persian food is the godfather of all foods and Rumis kichean is the best.
Stephen
March 15th, 2012
5:55 pm
Rumi’s Kitchen in Sandy Springs is the best, hand’s down. It takes Persian/Middle Eastern cuisine to a new level.
Angelica
March 15th, 2012
5:58 pm
Rumi’s Kitchen in Sandy Springs blows everyone out of the water. Their ambiance, food, and extensive wine list are beyond those of any other Middle Eastern restaurant in the city.
Linda
March 16th, 2012
8:36 am
Sultans in Sandy Springs is delicious.
PJ
March 16th, 2012
9:47 am
It has to be Nicola’s on Lavista Road. Wonderful food!
jv
March 16th, 2012
1:42 pm
Efes on marietta square
Jeanel Carlson
March 16th, 2012
1:47 pm
Rumi’s by far is the best.
Shahrouz Aliabadi
March 16th, 2012
1:48 pm
Rumi’s by far is the best.
Farrokh Mazahery
March 16th, 2012
3:00 pm
Rumi’s Kitchen is absolutlety the best Middle Eastern restaurant in Atlanta and one of the top three in United State. The quality of food and sevice is exceptional.
Wayne
March 16th, 2012
3:06 pm
Rumi’s Kitchen food is amazing.
sowgy
March 16th, 2012
3:16 pm
Rumi’s food is the best I have ever had.
Ray
March 17th, 2012
11:22 am
Rumi`s kitchen is the best , best dine and wine , best service , beautiful girls
KMK
March 17th, 2012
9:00 pm
The Beirut in Peachtree City is my absolute favorite for Mediterranean food. Everything is consistently delicious, and the service is always great. Try the mezza platter, the Beirut’s Best, and the shrimp and mushrooms, and you will understand why the family at the table next to us tonight traveled all the way from Alpharetta to dine at The Beirut. Oh, and don’t forget to try the secret garlic sauce with pita slices!
takin
March 18th, 2012
1:40 pm
Rumi’s Kitchen food is just unbelievable.
Zia
March 18th, 2012
1:45 pm
There is no debate, Rumi’s kitchen food is number 1 in Atlanta
Bijan
March 18th, 2012
1:49 pm
I thought the best Persian /Middle Eastern restaurants are in LA, but I was absolutely wrong. Rumi is the best
DunwoodyFoodie
March 18th, 2012
1:53 pm
Cafe Sababa, http://www.cafesababa.net, is one of the highest-rated Mediterranean and Middle Eastern restaurants in Metro Atlanta. Their kabobs, lamburger, appetizers, and salads are all on point. Thier weekend Moroccan brisket and other specials are off the charts. What sets this place apart from the pack is, not only the exellent food, but also the friendly and attentive service and the chef, who has a great personality and checks to make sure that you are having a wonderful experience.
jimbob
March 18th, 2012
7:19 pm
Cafe Sababa is excellent. Not a real fancy type of place, and it’s on a pretty ugly stretch of North Shallowford, but the food and hospitality are excellent. I particularly like the lamb burger with some skhug, and maybe a soup with it. They usually have two or three home-made soups that you can get for a side (or purchase frozen to heat up at home). The Israeli-style salads are excellent too.
Tracy
March 19th, 2012
4:20 am
5 Star Review is an understatement for Rumi’s Kitchen! No competition, the best is restaurant in Atlanta, is… Rumi’s Kitchen! Delicious, large portions, addicting and accommodating! The wonderful staff, is well trained and can fulfill your every need.
Crazy T for Rumi's!!!!!
March 19th, 2012
4:36 am
I will vote Rumi’s Kitchen! Authentic Persian food! We came here for a work event with a group of 20. The service was very friendly efficient and absolutely amazing. The serving sizes where very large. The food was so savory! Mint, onions, yogurt and flatbreads. Shish kabobs, saffron rice and several other treats. The Persian ice cream was a perfect, refreshing touch at the end. Our Server,very was very knowledgeable and helped explain the cuisine to my guest. For sure, you won’t leave this place hungry and you will be back for more!
Atl-Marietta Foodie
March 19th, 2012
9:18 am
My vote would be for Sultan’s in Sandy Springs where the food is fresh, prepared right and and reasonably priced.By the way Efe’s in Marietta has been closed for a long time now. I will have to give Rumi’s another try. I was not impressed with my server or my choice of food when I went.