Totally underwhelming! After reading some good reviews, we decided to give Sahara a try. Unfortunate decision... The plates of meats and rice coming from the kitchen to other tables looked very good. We opted for falafel sandwiches and were very disappointed. Falafels flattened in a flour tortilla with what seemed to be no hint of hummus was not what we expected. Babaganoush and tabouleh appetizers were bland; very under-seasoned. As if the food was not enough disappointment, our server seemed like she just didn't want to be there.. All in all an experience that we won't repeat.
Ali Wazir
Great place to get authentic Yemeni food. The Lamb haneeth,lamb chops, rice are great. The lentil soup is ok but can't complain as it's complimentary.Very quick and friendly service.Bare bones, hole in the wall kinda establishment so you know the food is good. They also have sweets like Hareesa and Baklava. These are servicible. The prices are reasonable & that's why I have been back here couple of time
Sean M.
Very happy to find such a good Mediterranean restaurant so close to home! I tried my go-to which was the Lamb Shish Kabob w/ Rice and Salad. The lamb was tender and very flavorful. The rice and salad were plentiful and delicious. I also ordered the Tzatziki on the side for my lamb and rice. Will definitely be my regular place for good lamb in Fairmount. Update - Went from 5 to 3 stars because they stopped making and carrying the Tzatziki. Very disappointed.
Jo Ann Blok
Owner greeted us, gave us complimentary lentil soup, which was delicious! (I don't even like lentil soup!). Atmosphere needs to be improved, but customer service and food was top notch!
Herman Veitch
Delicious food and great service
Tania A.
One evening, I was craving some falafel and stumbled upon this place via Yelp. Originally, I chose it mostly due to proximity to our home, but I'm so glad I did. My husband, 3 year old daughter and I had some trouble finding it (it's nestled in with a carwash next to Advance Auto Parts) but once you make your way in you won't want to leave. We had hummus, babaganoush, a falafel wrap and a chicken and rice entree recommended by our server. I enjoyed both the babaganoush and hummus, but the star of the apps was the naan it was served with. Fresh out of the oven, piping hot, so tasty! Falafel wrap satisfied my craving nicely. Meal is served with a complimentary soup, when we were there I think it was a lamb base (sometimes it is chicken) which was fantastic. The service was prompt & the employees friendly. At the end of the meal the owner (at least I think it was the owner) came over and gave my daughter a piece of chocolate for dessert. Thanks Sahara for the yummy eats :)
David Rose
Best restaurant in Fairmount. Period!!
Steve L.
Found this little gem quite by accident. I was walking along W. Genesee whilst my car was being done and saw a little sign marked Sahara, Mediterranean Food. It's actually a Yemeni restaurant. Must be fairly new as I drive that way a lot and never seen or heard of it before. Very authentic menu. Not huge but something for everyone. I only ordered a starter and it sufficed for 3 meals. $9... I had the Hummus and Lamb Shawarma which was served with the single biggest piece of bread I've ever seen. Delicious Arabic bread with poppy seeds. The Lamb and the Hummus were spectacular and eaten together with the bread, a perfect combination. I'm not a small eater but I had to ask for 2 boxes for my leftovers. If you like Sumer which I highly recommend, you will love this place.
Meg Mawhinney
Had their takeout twice. Both times excellent service and amazing food! The naan are exceptional! No photo because I couldn't resist eating it! Sahara is a true hidden gem!
Hassan Elhalaby
AAWW, I was visiting my friend in Syracuse and we went to try this restaurant for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The only words I can find to describe the food is magical and amazing, however what made the experience delightful are the staff. The owners are so generous and kind. They were so friendly and truly kind hearted people. You felt at home or eating with your family. The food is fresh and you can tell the quality of the food just be looking. I met the 2 owners and ate at the restaurant almost every day during my trip. As I was getting ready to leave back home at the end of my stay in Syracuse I felt a little bad and was already starting to miss them. I can't wait to go back so I can visit them again! Rabena yebarek feekom ya Rab we yerzokum men awsa3 ma3ando. Best of love and wishes to you and will always remember you!
Excellent food, friendly service! The flatbreads are amazing, cooked over charcoal. The rice is beautifully fluffy, the chicken tender, and the tabouli is studded with tons of parsley and cucumber. Everything we have tried has been well cooked, perfectly seasoned, and overall delicious. This has quickly become a favorite in our family for takeout food.
Tracie L.
We ate here and tried the soup- it's included for free. It has good flavor but it is essentially just a broth. Falafel was good. We also tried lamb shawarma sandwich, grilled platter- comes with lamb, chicken, lamb kafta and one lamb chop, salad and rice and chicken curry. It is a half chicken with potatoes and rice- also good flavor. You definitely get a lot of food. We all liked it and would go back. I personally like a bit more spice to my food but it still had good flavor.
I got the falafel with hummus sandwich to go. Mmmm! I've been looking at Sahara for a while and decided to stop in for a quick snack and test the place out. So glad I did. I'm looking forward to going back to try the chicken shawarma!
Jami Schmohe
I'm not sure how to go about writing a review for this restaurant. We've only been here for take out, but the service was exceptional. The owner gave our daughter some nice candies while we waited and played catch with her for a few minutes. They offered us soup to eat while we waited too. My daughter ate almost all of mine.
Totally underwhelming! After reading some good reviews, we decided to give Sahara a try. Unfortunate decision... The plates of meats and rice coming from the kitchen to other tables looked very good. We opted for falafel sandwiches and were very disappointed. Falafels flattened in a flour tortilla with what seemed to be no hint of hummus was not what we expected. Babaganoush and tabouleh appetizers were bland; very under-seasoned. As if the food was not enough disappointment, our server seemed like she just didn't want to be there.. All in all an experience that we won't repeat.
Great place to get authentic Yemeni food. The Lamb haneeth,lamb chops, rice are great. The lentil soup is ok but can't complain as it's complimentary.Very quick and friendly service.Bare bones, hole in the wall kinda establishment so you know the food is good. They also have sweets like Hareesa and Baklava. These are servicible. The prices are reasonable & that's why I have been back here couple of time
Very happy to find such a good Mediterranean restaurant so close to home! I tried my go-to which was the Lamb Shish Kabob w/ Rice and Salad. The lamb was tender and very flavorful. The rice and salad were plentiful and delicious. I also ordered the Tzatziki on the side for my lamb and rice. Will definitely be my regular place for good lamb in Fairmount. Update - Went from 5 to 3 stars because they stopped making and carrying the Tzatziki. Very disappointed.
Owner greeted us, gave us complimentary lentil soup, which was delicious! (I don't even like lentil soup!). Atmosphere needs to be improved, but customer service and food was top notch!
Delicious food and great service
One evening, I was craving some falafel and stumbled upon this place via Yelp. Originally, I chose it mostly due to proximity to our home, but I'm so glad I did. My husband, 3 year old daughter and I had some trouble finding it (it's nestled in with a carwash next to Advance Auto Parts) but once you make your way in you won't want to leave. We had hummus, babaganoush, a falafel wrap and a chicken and rice entree recommended by our server. I enjoyed both the babaganoush and hummus, but the star of the apps was the naan it was served with. Fresh out of the oven, piping hot, so tasty! Falafel wrap satisfied my craving nicely. Meal is served with a complimentary soup, when we were there I think it was a lamb base (sometimes it is chicken) which was fantastic. The service was prompt & the employees friendly. At the end of the meal the owner (at least I think it was the owner) came over and gave my daughter a piece of chocolate for dessert. Thanks Sahara for the yummy eats :)
Best restaurant in Fairmount. Period!!
Found this little gem quite by accident. I was walking along W. Genesee whilst my car was being done and saw a little sign marked Sahara, Mediterranean Food. It's actually a Yemeni restaurant. Must be fairly new as I drive that way a lot and never seen or heard of it before. Very authentic menu. Not huge but something for everyone. I only ordered a starter and it sufficed for 3 meals. $9... I had the Hummus and Lamb Shawarma which was served with the single biggest piece of bread I've ever seen. Delicious Arabic bread with poppy seeds. The Lamb and the Hummus were spectacular and eaten together with the bread, a perfect combination. I'm not a small eater but I had to ask for 2 boxes for my leftovers. If you like Sumer which I highly recommend, you will love this place.
Had their takeout twice. Both times excellent service and amazing food! The naan are exceptional! No photo because I couldn't resist eating it! Sahara is a true hidden gem!
AAWW, I was visiting my friend in Syracuse and we went to try this restaurant for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The only words I can find to describe the food is magical and amazing, however what made the experience delightful are the staff. The owners are so generous and kind. They were so friendly and truly kind hearted people. You felt at home or eating with your family. The food is fresh and you can tell the quality of the food just be looking. I met the 2 owners and ate at the restaurant almost every day during my trip. As I was getting ready to leave back home at the end of my stay in Syracuse I felt a little bad and was already starting to miss them. I can't wait to go back so I can visit them again! Rabena yebarek feekom ya Rab we yerzokum men awsa3 ma3ando. Best of love and wishes to you and will always remember you!
Restaurantji Recommends
Excellent food, friendly service! The flatbreads are amazing, cooked over charcoal. The rice is beautifully fluffy, the chicken tender, and the tabouli is studded with tons of parsley and cucumber. Everything we have tried has been well cooked, perfectly seasoned, and overall delicious. This has quickly become a favorite in our family for takeout food.
We ate here and tried the soup- it's included for free. It has good flavor but it is essentially just a broth. Falafel was good. We also tried lamb shawarma sandwich, grilled platter- comes with lamb, chicken, lamb kafta and one lamb chop, salad and rice and chicken curry. It is a half chicken with potatoes and rice- also good flavor. You definitely get a lot of food. We all liked it and would go back. I personally like a bit more spice to my food but it still had good flavor.
Excellent Mediterranean food — amazing homemade pitas & delicious Yemeni dishes
I got the falafel with hummus sandwich to go. Mmmm! I've been looking at Sahara for a while and decided to stop in for a quick snack and test the place out. So glad I did. I'm looking forward to going back to try the chicken shawarma!
I'm not sure how to go about writing a review for this restaurant. We've only been here for take out, but the service was exceptional. The owner gave our daughter some nice candies while we waited and played catch with her for a few minutes. They offered us soup to eat while we waited too. My daughter ate almost all of mine.