"Ammatoli in Long Beach has a lot of things going for it—the airy dining room, a solid wine list, a pleasant sidewalk patio, and tons of fantastic Levantine food. Their dinner menu is full of Lebanese mezzes, kebabs, and family-style entrees that work wonderfully for sharing. And while you can certainly spend some money here, most plates on the menu are less than $30. If you're planning on coming with a group of 4 or 5, get the $98 Family Mashawi Feast—it comes with six juicy kebabs, grilled veggies, vermicelli rice, and your choice of two sides (think spicy hummus and mutabbal)." - nikko duren
"Ammatoli is an attractive outdoor/indoor downtown Long Beach spot with big windows, tiled walls, and a long leather banquette that wouldn’t be out of place in a Parisian cafe. The casual Mediterranean menu is an all-day affair, specializing in mezze platters, kebab plates, and more dishes from Levant. Whether you’re stopping by for spicy shakshouka at brunch or a shawarma and hummus platter at dinner, everything here is beautifully plated and well-seasoned, with lots of sort-of-healthy options like a falafel bowl and beet-feta salad we could eat daily. The moussaka, a hearty casserole made with eggplant, ground beef, and creamy bechamel sauce, makes it onto our table every time we come." - sylvio martins, brant cox
"Dima and Sam Habibeh’s Long Beach restaurant Ammatoli has a menu straight from the Levant region that encompasses Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Cyprus, Turkey, Israel, Jordan, and Palestine. Most dishes have a familiar Mediterranean lilt, with hummus, labneh, and spicy garlic lemon chicken all on the menu. The wine list showcases winemakers from Italy, France, and Lebanon; the space has high ceilings and tall windows that make it welcoming to dine in." - Mona Holmes
"Ammatoli is an attractive outdoor/indoor downtown spot with big windows, tiled walls, and a long leather banquette that wouldn’t feel out of place in a Parisian cafe. The casual Mediterranean menu is an all-day affair, specializing in mezze platters, kebab plates, and more dishes from the Levant. Whether you're stopping by for spicy tomato shakshouka at brunch or a shawarma and hummus platter at dinner, everything here is beautifully plated and well-seasoned, with lots of sort-of-healthy options like a falafel bowl and beet-feta salad we could eat daily. The moussaka, a hearty casserole made with eggplant, ground beef, and creamy bechamel sauce, makes it onto our table just about every time we come." - garrett snyder
"Long Beach’s Levantine restaurant Ammatoli is a 15-minute walk or three-minute drive from the Performing Arts Center. Order the muhammara dip with piping hot pita bread, savory musakhan chicken, or flatbreads with a glass of Lebanese wine before catching a show." - Mona Holmes