Editorial note: This is a personal restaurant recommendation from my family trip. It is not sponsored. If you visit, tell them Slomos Blog sent you their way.
Restaurant details
- Ammatoli: 285 E. Third Street, Long Beach, CA 90802
- Phone: (562) 435-0808
- Reservations: Book through Ammatoli's website
- Best for: Levantine flavors, fresh salads, baked goods, kebabs, mezze, vegetarian-friendly plates, and dessert.
In the LA and Long Beach travel article, I called out Ammatoli as the restaurant memory of the trip. This deserves its own Food & Mezza article because some places are not just “good for the area.” They become the place you tell people to build a meal around.
Ammatoli is in Downtown Long Beach, and its current site describes the restaurant as Chef Dima Habibeh's ode to Eastern Mediterranean and Levantine food. That tracks with what stood out to me: hospitality, brightness, bread, olive oil, grilled meat, herbs, and the kind of sides that could carry the table by themselves.
If you go, here are the six things I would focus on from appetizers through dessert.
1. Fatayer and baked goods to start
Start with the baked goods. Fatayer-style pastries and flatbreads set the tone because they show off the dough, fillings, herbs, and spices before you get into the heavier plates.
This is the kind of starter I like for a table because everyone can taste a little, and it immediately tells you the kitchen knows how to handle bread. When a Middle Eastern restaurant gets the dough right, that is usually a good sign for the rest of the meal.
2. Refreshing salads
Do not treat the salads like filler. The salads at Ammatoli are refreshing, bright, and exactly what you want next to richer dips, grilled meats, and warm bread.
A good salad in this style of cooking wakes up the whole table. Parsley, lemon, tomato, herbs, olive oil, and crunch all matter. If you are ordering several plates, a fresh salad balances the meal instead of feeling like the responsible but boring choice.
3. Hummus with the sides
If you are vegetarian, or if you simply love a great mezze spread, hummus should be part of the order. What makes it work is not only the hummus itself. It is everything around it: bread, pickles, falafel, dips, vegetables, and the little side dishes that turn a plate into a meal.
This is also where that olive oil matters. The olive oil they use was a 10 out of 10 in my book. When olive oil is that good, hummus becomes more than a dip. It becomes something you slow down for.
4. Falafel and vegetarian sides
Falafel can be forgettable when it is dry or treated like an obligation. At a restaurant like Ammatoli, it belongs in the main conversation. Pair it with hummus, salad, bread, and other sides, and a vegetarian meal does not feel like the backup plan.
If you are going with a group, I would order enough sides for everyone to graze. That is one of the pleasures of this style of food: the meal gets better when the table shares.
5. Kebabs or grilled meat
If you are into kebabs, I do not think you will be disappointed. Grilled meat works best when it is seasoned properly, cooked with care, and supported by rice, sauces, pickles, salads, and bread.
The reason I like this as a main order is simple: it gives you the heartier part of the meal without losing the brightness from everything else on the table. Add salad and hummus, and the plate feels complete.
6. Kanafeh for dessert
For dessert, I went with the kanafeh, and it was simply heavenly. Kanafeh is one of those desserts that has to hit several notes at once: crisp pastry, sweet syrup, warm richness, and enough texture to keep every bite interesting.
I also liked that it came in an individual size. That is a plus when you want dessert but do not necessarily want the whole table negotiating one giant plate. It felt like the right finish after a meal that already had plenty going on.
If you visit Ammatoli, tell them Slomos Blog sent you their way.
How I would order for the table
For a first visit, I would build the meal in layers:
- Start with fatayer or baked goods.
- Add at least one bright salad.
- Order hummus and a few vegetarian sides.
- Add falafel for the table.
- Choose kebabs or another grilled meat if the group eats meat.
- Finish with kanafeh.
That gives you bread, freshness, dips, crunch, protein, olive oil, and dessert. It also lets the table share instead of everyone locking into one isolated plate.
Why this restaurant stands out
What stuck with me was not just one dish. It was the confidence in the basics. Great olive oil, good bread, fresh salads, properly handled sides, and a dessert worth remembering are the pieces that make a restaurant feel special.
Ammatoli is the kind of recommendation I like making because it works for different eaters. Meat lovers have options. Vegetarians have real options. Dessert people have a reason to stay excited. And anyone who appreciates Middle Eastern food will notice the care in the details.
Plan your visit
- Address: 285 E. Third Street, Long Beach, CA 90802
- Phone: (562) 435-0808
- Reservations: Use Ammatoli's reservation link
- Menu: Review current menus before you go
Menus, hours, and availability can change, so check Ammatoli's website before making the trip. But if you are in Long Beach and looking for a meal that feels memorable from appetizers to dessert, this is the spot I would recommend first.