The Sahara Cafe
954 Manitou Ave, Manitou Springs, CO, 80829
The Sahara Cafe Menu
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Address :
954 Manitou Ave
Manitou Springs, CO, 80829 - Phone (719) 685-2303
- Website https://www.thesaharacafe.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Heather C.
This is a really fantastic place to eat in Manitou. It's NOT pricey, which is kind of big deal in this down. The food is delicious. Highly recommend the chicken shawarma sandwich. Downside: the kids burgers have mayo on them and it wasn't listed on the menu. Also you may have to pay to park or walk a couple of blacks.
(5)Angie T.
Very nice employees! Love the Sage tea, bought some to take home :) Baklava, Mmmmm, mmmmm, delicious! Gotta get one of those lamps, way cool, definitely sets the mood and makes the atmosphere A new fav! Looking forward to trying new dishes here :)
(4)Josie W.
Wow the service and the food was fantastic at this little hole in the wall place!! They make this wonderful cinnamon and sage tea, iced or hot, both ways are delish!! My fiancé and I ordered the shawarma mixed plate and the kabob mixed plate Both were delish!! Very friendly and professional staff.
(5)Bibi L.
This little cafe is a simple mom and pop eatery. The decor had a spice of Mediterranean feel. I believe the owners or at least the extended family was all running it along with one hired employee. I had the sampler plate and it was awesome. Hummus, mixed meats of chicken, lamb, and beef, 2 falafels, and a side salad with a Ziki dressing. Please note the falafels was exceptional well made. It was probably the best falafels I've had. The ones I've had in the past were usually more crispy or how I see it, over cooked. They served fluffy, moist falafels. For Colorado Springs that have minimal dining options, I was impressed. Cheers!
(5)JoAnne N.
Very good food for the price. Fast friendly service too. I'd definitely go back. Don't miss the locally made ice cream.
(4)Anna N.
Delicious spot and great stop after hiking the incline. The food is fresh, flavorful, and filling. The hummus is smooth and tasty. The baklava is freshly baked and absolutely heavenly. If you looking for an affordable lunch spot to satiate your post hike hunger- this is your place!
(5)Jon C.
Had dinner here on a Sunday night wasn't crowded and the food was really good. I had the chicken shawarma - which I love. My nearly 2yr old had Mac and cheese - which he loved! :) As someone else said, this place is a hole in the wall type with very good food for not much money. It's a good people watching place too. They serve local ice cream, which was pretty good. Street parking is everywhere and we paid $3 to park for 2hrs...not bad at all. Lots of sights and sounds in this town.
(5)Judah L.
Wow, don't judge them based on decor! This tiny little dive has some amazing authentic food. Everything is fresh and amazing. I had falafel and baklava and my life is forever changed lol.
(5)Adrienne H.
Best middle eastern food I've had in a while - and I've been to the middle east! Nice staff, clean place, fresh pita & hummus. Just sad I don't live anywhere close to here!
(5)Gaye B.
The freshest falafel I have ever had...and I've had a lot. The fotoush salad was excellent also.
(5)Sophia Y.
It is delicious ! Definitely worthily coming when you visit. We had lunch here and then head to the incline. We left our leftover here and come back for the food afterwards. People work here are super friendly ! And piña colado is the best after the climb !
(5)Michele M.
This is the first time in 20 years of coming to Manitou that we actually had fast, courteous service. Add to that that the food was fantastic it is a definite place to visit again.
(5)Sara A.
I lived in the Middle East for years and am so happy to have this place in my town. Very authentic and some of the best middle eastern/Mediterranean food I have had in a loooong time.
(5)Nutan C.
Absolutely loved this place. As a vegetarian it's not always easy to find healthy options in tourist towns. We both had the falafel and it was very tasty. The baklava is made on site and is outstanding! Very friendly staff.
(5)Eric B.
Food was good. Our table had the beef, chicken and lamb kabob platter. Gave us a nice amount of pita with hummus. Good service. Definitely recommend.
(4)John N.
Great shawarma and falafel. I had the Sahara which was good, but tried my daughters shawarfel and it was even better, Also sampled the falafel sandwich and hummus. All some of the best I've had and at a great price. Small and casual place that makes a nice quick stop.
(4)Trin N.
I had the Falafel plate. Besides hummus, salad and warm pita... u get 5 huge meatballs size falafel! All for under $9. Good the stomach and wallet. Service was great too.
(4)Lisa C.
Outstanding! May be the best chicken shawarma I've had. The pita bread is definitely the best I've had.
(5)Meghan B.
My fiancé and I were visiting Manitou for our engagement pictures and decided to get lunch afterwards. I am a bit of a Yelp Nerd, I'll admit and put a lot of weight on the reviews. After skimming through, we decided to come here and boy, we were not disappointed! It was so delicious it was silly. My fiancé ordered a gyro and I got the felafel sandwich and we were both licking our fingers at the end. Delicious food with great seasonings! We will be back
(5)Maegan B.
I've been there many times, and I've loved it each time. The parking situation is the only negative thing I have to say about this place. Food: The dolma are the best I've ever had. I also very much enjoy their side of falafel. They serve three large falafel balls on hummus, and it's delicious. Their Sahara sandwich I believe it's called, is delectable. It has a mixture of meat, pickled turnips along with the standard gyro veggies. Service: The last time I was there, the waiter was cheerful and prompt. He had us smiling every time he came to the table. I have had similar service every time I have been there. Atmosphere: It's a small cafe with about fifteen tables. The decor is fun with murals painted on the walls and pretty decorative lamps hanging in the front windows.
(5)Harvey F.
I didn't expect great falafel in Manitou Springs, but it was some of the tastiest I've ever had. The taziki sauce was excellent as well.
(5)Martin J.
Amazing! I would eat here every day. The staff was so friendly and helpful. Best hummus I've ivermectin had. Great kabobs and great ice cream. Go there!
(5)Alı B.
Great food , great service and a very nice location .hummus was "out of this world delicious ".
(5)Abhijit T.
Awesome food after a good cog railway experience. Great kebabs and chicken shwarma sandwich was really tasty. Sage tea was out of this world. Turkish coffee was strong and earthy. Highly recommended.
(4)Joseph D.
Perfect. Eat here if your in Manitou. Slightly more refined flavors than expected. Hummus, pita, gyro, was so good.
(5)Adam K.
Amazing Mediterranean food in all of Colorado! I haven't had food this good since visiting Germany! An absolute must!
(5)Greg W.
Outstanding! Falafel and Baklavah off the charts. Definitely coming back.
(5)Michael D.
Great gyros and very friendly staff. Great prices as well. Would recommend to anyone exploring downtown manitou springs.
(5)Julian Q.
By far the best felafel I have ever had and you must try the sage tea. I usually am leery of restaurants in touristy areas, but this was a terrific lunch. Friendliest server I've run across in a while, he was also welcoming committee and local tour guide, suggesting off the beaten path attractions and even drawing us maps.
(5)Tom D.
Excellent falafel and fries, hot and fresh. The accompanying humus and garnishes were very good too. Service was prompt and friendly.
(4)Rish K.
Holy moly food is great. Had the veggie platter and falafel sandwich mean with hot sage black tea. Excellent taste, service, ambiance. Great value as well.
(5)Denise W.
First of all- DELICIOUS!!! Second of all MAX is amazing and loves his job and is VERY helpful. The whole experience was divine. Our vacation began here and we will return again and again. The food is too not h if your craving perfectly balanced Mediterranean cuisine in a trendy setting and served up by awesome peeps. Love your spot and you guys!!!
(5)Esra M.
I was very surprised to find a cafe/ restaurant with actual authentic oriental food in the area as we were in Colorado only for the weekend but friend brought us to this place. The chicken plate I ordered was delicious and the hummus was pretty good. I also liked the salad - fresh and without dressing because that way you could enjoy all the spices and herbs of the pita bread and the chicken.
(4)Dennis G.
This place was really great. Right in the heart of Manitou Springs, i's a fun place to eat out on their outside tables and take in the scenery. The food was amazing and very reasonably priced (like most things in the Springs, surprisingly...) My gf and I shared the kabob sampler, the chicken dajaj salad, and an order of falafel. Very tasty! My favorite was the falafel - crispy outside, hot and soft inside...delicious!. The salad was very tasty and refreshing. Fast and friendly staff, amazing food, and great location - what's not to love!
(5)Mandy M.
The food was amazing and the wait staff was friendly. I will definitely be going back and would definitely recommend it to others!
(5)Christopher B.
The service was good and fast. Sage tea is authentic and the lamb sandwich was delicious with an amazing sauce on it . 5 stars easily.
(5)Rachel H.
The Sahara Café, despite its unassuming décor, is a treasure. Their menu is full of mouth-watering Mediterranean sandwiches and salads and mixed plates that managed to make us feel full but not bloated, especially as their portion size is a tad on the small side. I enjoyed my tabouleh salad which came piled with grilled chicken, though there was more lettuce and less couscous than I had expected. I wasn't fortunate enough to score a bite of my husband's gyro, but it looked fantastic and the pita was beautifully soft. Bonus points for a great location that got plenty of sun on a beautiful day.
(4)JacknAlex E.
It was truely wonderful service and food very pleased never eaten this type of food but I enjoyed it all
(5)Deb G.
I was hungry for kebabs and this place delivered! Had to try it all, so I had the kebab sampler. Everything on the plate was delicious, from the kebabs & grilled veggies and salad, to the warm, wonderful pita bread dipped in hummus with olive oil. OMG! Can't wait to go back. Atmosphere is very relaxed and cozy and on a warm day in May, they had the AC on. Alright! Their tea, hot or iced, with honey and cinnamon will also delight the palate. You can even buy a bag of the tea ingredients and make it at home yourself. You'll need a loose tea pot, but you can pick up one of those in great colors and styles at the kitchen shop on the other end of Manitou! Check them out.... you won't regret it.
(4)Amy M.
I've been a loyal customer here for many years now. The owner, Sam, is always friendly and the wait staff is generally great. I've spent time in the Middle East and always look for quality food in the States from that area. Sahara absolutely delivers. It's clear that Sam has some amazing recipes from home (Jordan) that he shares through Sahara Cafe. I'm particularly fond of the amazing falafel - made from scratch and consistently delicious. The baba ganoush is my other favorite menu item. I don't eat meat personally but a number of my friends fell in love with the chicken schwarma. Yes, there is another Middle Eastern restaurant in Manitou that is okay, but Sahara just blows the competition out of the water. I save the best for last in regards to the sage tea. I have ordered it both hot and cold and it's amazing either way. There's no need to add sugar or anything - sweet with the subtle taste of sage. The value is great for the amount of food you get. Sahara has vegetarian and gluten-free options as well.
(5)Laura H.
Extremely friendly staff, they provided the right amount of attention: not overbearing but not absent either. The menu has a lot of choices to pick from, and not just the usual Mediterranean options. I had the meat platter with a side of pita and it was all delicious! The pita was still warm from the oven and the meat was shredded perfectly to pick up with the pita. The cost was exactly what I would expect to pay, no surprises. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants affordable, authentic Mediterranean.
(5)Gloria K.
Delicious food! Had the veggie plate and added chicken - it was perfect. The best hummus and pita I've ever had!
(5)Josh R.
Consistently delicious. Great place for vegetarian diners and anyone looking for unique lunch or dinner flavors in the area. You don't need to touch a meat item on the menu to have a near ideal experience - which involves Dolmas (grape leaves) and Falafel. The falafel sandwich is so good that it's confusing - dense yet moist and full of flavor, with bright pickled turnips and other fresh crunchy garnish, on a warm pita, rolled tight. I daresay it's even improved in texture and flavor since I've been going there, which seemed hard to do. The dolmas are also some of the best I've had -all of their sides are worth ordering, like the babganoush, if you have an adventurous palate. They also have very tasty baklava and other sweet treats including homemade ice cream. The staff is very friendly and seem to know they are in an environment where deliciousness happens, and care about bringing you that flavorful experience. The owner is usually there working, cooking, and taking care of guests. Story of niceness that has nothing to do with shoving food in my mouth for pleasure and survival: One time (in 2012) I came by the place at 9:05 - they were closed - but the owner, who was getting in his car down the street, saw my attempt and opened up - he didn't know if I was going for myself - or going to procure info for 4 other hungry people (which I was). A very nice move and that was appreciated all that time ago. Great place and glad it's in Manitou, especially right now - I'm hungry.
(4)Mike R.
So me and my mom came to this place just as they were about to close. As they were cleaning up we asked the young gentleman working there if we could grab a bite to eat even though they were almost closed. We was extremely nice and told us "of course". The staff here were amazing and fun to talk to. My mom ordered Falafel and I ordered chicken kabobs. This was some of the best middle-eastern food I have ever eaten in my life. The head chef then came out and even asked how we like it. The Sahara Cafe is an an example of how every restaurant should be run. If you visit Colorado Springs this restaurant should be the first place you go to!!!
(5)John S.
There are many places to grab a bite while strolling through Manitou Springs, but with it's affordable prices, great food, and fantastic service this little hidden gem is worth a stop. You won't be disappointed. Food: Great! The Sahara Sandwich was delicious. The portions for my wife's plate were generous, and the drinks were large and tasty too. (Which you need in Colorado.... Stay hydrated...) Service: Great! Our waiter, Max, was a lot of fun to talk with. Don't forget to ask for him to sign your togo cup. Price: Affordable! In Manitou? Yes, my friend, in Manitou. Two adults and one child's food came to less than $30 (with drinks).
(5)Stacy R.
I had a hard time rating The Sahara Cafe. On one hand, the Sahara Salad that I ordered was DELICIOUS. The pickled turnips were just scrumptious with the other veggies and I felt the meat was well-seasoned. But on the other hand, the hummus was bland and the smoothie I had tasted like powder mix--super artificial and overly sweet. The interior is nothing special but it is clean and the servers were very friendly. Overall, if you're in Manitou Springs and feeling a little peckish, I'd still recommend a visit to this restaurant. We didn't get a chance to try their coffee (blasphemy, right?)... If it's super amazing then I will post an update to this review.
(3)David C.
My wife and I have come here 7- 8 times over the last couple years and have found it to be a unique and flavorful take on the traditional shwarma/falafel eatery. I believe they describe their style as more Jordinian than anything else, which seems most notable in it's use of spices and pickled veggies. Even the pita are lightly coated with robust seasonings and rarely even need hummus or anything else for flavor. Pickled beats and banana peppers are not something I have alot of experience with and I could see being off-putting to pickier diners, but they are sliced thinly and distributed lightly enough as to support the taste of the chicken/lamb/falafel without overwhelming it. In addition to sandwiches, salads, and meat platters, the shop offers a variety of coffee, tea, and ice cream if you're not in the mood for an entire meal. Atmosphere is mellow like most places in manitou, with big windows and some beautiful authentic lighting fixtures.
(5)Julie C.
My niece told me about this place so I decided to check it out. Upon walking in, it is not a fancy place, but it is clean and the people are friendly. It's the food that was the real winner. I got the beef schwarma and dolma. It was incredible. If I lived in the are, I would eat there almost every day. It is that good. The baklava was just ok. I would not order that again.
(4)Mike C.
They have a great vegan gluten free chicken sandwich that my kids with allergies can have. Chicken plate was very flavorful. Service was above average. Great prices. Will definitely come back.
(4)Nicole K.
New to the area, my friend took me to this little gem. Simple in appearance but it's over the top for its friendliness and service. The Sage Tea is a must on any visit. Our meals of the kabob sampler and falafel balls were prefect for sharing. Definitely will be going back to this happy oasis.
(4)D D.
This place is just one of my favorites in manitou. Food is delicious and fresh every time. Portions are generous, price is right, employees are very friendly. And now they deliver!!! Love sahara cafe!!
(5)Johnny C.
I usually go for chicken pita sandwiches at Middle Eastern restaurants but not at this place, their beef shawarma is amazing. I've never tasted beef shawarma this good anywhere else. Tabouleh was also great, they put a lot of green onions in it which is unique and works really well. The interior is bland but the food is not. Service was attentive although it did take a while to cook the food which I hope is a testament to its freshness.
(5)Lori L.
Having never tried Middle Eastern food I was very nervous, but thought hey I am on vacation, why not?! Best decision I made all week!! It was fabulous!! You do not come here for the decor, you come here for the food and service. From the moment I walked in Robin was there to answer any questions I had (which was a lot!) and check on us. He recommended the chicken kabob and I was glad I listened. The chicken was cooked perfectly and was bursting with flavor. My husband ordered the Sahara gyro which had lamb, chicken, and beef with veggies and a yogurt spread. It was delicious too!! To complete a great lunch we ordered the baklava.. Having made baklava and tried it at numerous places I can truly say this is the best I have ever had. It had crushed pistachios on top!!!! I came back after shopping and ordered 4 more to take back to the hotel and home to Texas!! Don't let the simple interior of this place fool you, this is some of the best food I have ever had. The people here are extremely friendly and helpful. They even gave us complimentary hot tea to go with the baklava!! Wish they would open one of these in East Texas!!
(5)Faten T.
We were just walking on the street then we found this restaurant. It doesn't look fancy at all, however we just took a try which was more than great. We ordered chicken shawarma that is sooooo delicious !! And if you think you eat hummus before , when you go there you will understand the really taste of hummus. Even the baklava which was kind of dry , it made with a honey not just syrup made by sugar and water.
(4)Brian A.
Awesome shwarma and the baba and hummus are great. My wife had the chicken kebab and it was amazing. The baklava was great too. You need to come check the place out.
(5)Dustin B.
I love this place, great place to eat. Great prices and I LOVE MANITOU. Definitely stop in and check this place out.
(5)Susi H.
I stumbled into Sahara on accident a few weeks back, looking for a coffee shop open around 6pm. All other places nearby were closed, so we made into Sahara. My friend had Turkish coffee, and I just got a cappuccino. My friend liked his coffee so much, he ordered a second cup. While we chatted, the waitress left the menu on the table and we kept looking at all that delicious options...but we were expected somewhere else for dinner, so we sadly did not eat there. Fast forward a few weeks, and I was back in Manitou with another friend, for dinner, and we decided to try out Sahara. I am glad we did. The food was really tasty and the flavors were full, bold and authentic. I ordered a Shawarma sandwich and it was delicious. It was served on pita bread, and had lamb, chicken and beef, banana peppers, tahini and tzatziki sauces some tomatoes and cucumbers. It was very filling, and as close in flavor as the food I ate in Turkey. My friend ordered the sample platter which included two falafels (huge) some hummus, dolma, what looked to be Shawarma meat and some banana peppers, and some fresh salad as well. She was also happy with her meal. Both food and service were good. The staff was welcoming and nice, but not overbearing, even though we were the only customers in the house. My only pet peeve was the look of the place. It looks ATROCIOUS. The only thing I'd save in there are the adorable lanterns hanging in the windows and throughout the restaurant. Everything else needs a new life...BADLY! Walls and ceilings need to be painted (they are dingy and dirty), the paneling dates the place to no end, there is virtually no art on the walls (very small scale images on huge light colored walls do nothing decor-wise) and the bathroom is a box-like paneled enclosure behind the bar. This place is in DIRE need of a decor-makeover! It's a near eastern-mediterranean cafe' for god sake! Get some nice warm colors on the walls, some nice fabrics draping from the ceiling (or something to hide those hideous popcorn laden things), get some nice tables and chairs and give the place a nice scrub down and this restaurant will get five stars in my book! It's still a good restaurant but def not one I'd like to show off to out-of-towners, the atmosphere is just too run down and feels dingy and grimy.
(4)Joe H.
Great service and good food was not disappointed!
(5)Pamela P.
This looks like a little hole in the wall but the food and service were awesome. I think the hummus was the best I have ever had. I got the chicken kabob which had a really good flavor. My son got the gyros which he said were very good as well.
(4)Suze A.
I'm a huge fan of fattoush salads, so I jumped at the chance to grab a quick lunch before our arcade trip. The place wasn't very busy (it was a Wednesday afternoon), and we were seating and served quickly. My food was delisious, as was my husbands (he got the lamb gyro). They offered us to-go cups for our coffee, but instead gave me a fresh cup to go, which was really nice. My salad had pickled turnips on it, which I've never had on a fattoush before, but they added to the taste, and I was very pleased.
(4)Ernie M.
Great place for luncht!! All was perfect. Service was immediate and excellent.
(3)Nydia t.
Great service, great food!
(4)Pam S.
We had the hummus and baba plate and everything was so fresh and delicious. The check shawarma sandwich was outstanding. Would go back again and again
(4)Stephen B.
My favorite color is green. My favorite number is 24. My favorite restaurant in CO is now The Sahara Cafe. I've reviewed a good number of restaurants on Yelp, and so far this one is my only 5 star rating. I would have never expected to have such an awesome experience at this place, but these guys did it. This quiet, hole in the wall restaurant was an afterthought during my family's trip to Manitou Springs for the afternoon. We found this place while looking around after playing at the arcade about a block away. We were the only customers there for a while. The service was friendly and fast. I got a cup of coffee and the beef shawarma. It was perfect. Simply the best shawarma I've ever had, and probably one of the best entrees I've ever had. The melody of seasonings was balanced perfectly, and laced across each ingredient to give each bite the same great taste. The coffee was superb; I hope they never change the coffee they serve. Also, my wife liked her chicken kabob a lot. I can't hardly wait until I can eat here again. Bravo.
(5)Allison S.
I liked the house tea. Would have gotten 5 stars but the guy working was SO on top of his job it almost felt like was at the table with us but I kinda feel that's a silly problem.
(4)Rob S.
Great food at great prices. Best food we have had in Manitou so far.
(5)Maria E.
feels like this place is past its prime. Their shish kebabs used to be amazing, but the last time I tried it, it could no longer compete with other similar themed places in Brooklyn. Humus did not taste home made.
(4)Vineet S.
The food is great but the quantity is a bit less. The service was good. I tried the chicken plate and the chicken tasted great.
(3)Kelly S.
Great place! My colleagues and I don't do chain restaurants when we travel, but look for the one of a kind places. We arrived here due to other Yelp reviews and we're not disappointed. We arrived at about six PM on a Wednesday evening and, other than the beautiful and unique Turkish lamps, there was nothing impressive about the place, and it was empty - we wondered. We need not have been worried! There was a single young man working the entire place because it was a slow night, but he was the chef and we were pleased. Every single item the four if us ordered was excellent. The seasoning on the kabobs was incredible Abe the baba ganoush was absolutely to die for. The chef was a gregarious guy and described, in detail, his methods for preparation of the various entrees. Before we left, the place was full and we certainly knew why by then. The desserts were lacking. What is typically an wonderful finisher, the baklava was dry, crumbly, and odd in texture. Although, the flavor was decent. This place is worth a stop!
(4)Edin B.
very delicious food! I love this place, best food you will find in Manitou and the Ice cream is awesome too! Check me out on Facebook facebook.com/SLBCS
(5)Kai L.
Great service, good prices and Amazing food.... I would give it 100 stars if I could....
(5)Josh C A.
The staff is plenty nice. The food and general decor is not. I felt confused and a bit worried about what I was eating.
(1)Sibby S.
Ambiance: This place just opened as "The Sahara Cafe". This place was formerly "The Nile Cafe", and had the ominous distinction of being the worst reviewed Middle Eastern restaurant in El Paso County on Yelp (see those reviews). The decor and atmosphere is unchanged from the previous owners (Nile Cafe). Still folding tables with bench seating that is way too far away from the table (you need to sit on the edge of the bench to reach your food on the table). Needs some fluffing up in the interior design department! Service: Gal was friendly, but totally inept. She kept apologizing for not knowing the price of food, not knowing where extra napkins were located, not knowing how to work the register, etc. (I guess the help is still trying to work out the "bugs".) Rather slow and inattentive too. Food: OK, it's better than it's former occupant, but not much better. Ordered the shwarma, which was just ok. I've had better at places like Arabica Cafe, Mediterranean Cafe and Taste of Jerusalem. Passable but unremarkable hummus. Food is on par with Pita Pit, not terrible, but not all that great either. Overall, better than Nile Cafe (which isn't that much of a accomplishment), but still a sub-par dining experience from the dining area, the service and the food. Won't be back, as there are many, many better options for Mid-Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine in Manitou/Colorado Springs.
(2)Joseph B.
Back in the states from a two year stint in Saudi Arabia, and I've been missing the food. On vacation in Colorado Springs visiting friends, and little did we know we would happen upon the Sahara Cafe during a leisurely stroll in Manitou Springs. On an impulse and an overwhelming sense of nostalgia for the wonderful times spent in Saudi, we took a chance to have lunch at the Sahara Cafe, since the ambience is minimal. Baba ghanoush was awesome-could easily be the best I've tasted. Falafel was very good...flavorful and juicy. I've had one too many dry, bland falafels, and theirs was very good. Saudi shwarmas are quite unique, and I had grown accustomed to the taste; however, the Sahara Cafe's shwarmas were awesome...loved the flavor. The manager was very nice and super accommodating of the kids. I hope the ambience will develop over time, but the food was really good. The hand made lamps from Turkey are quite a treat, and with the help of Tony, I was able to surreptitiously purchase one as a Christmas present for the wife without her realizing it. I am sure it will look gorgeous on our nightstand. I also learned they have a hookah bar, "The Blew Hookah," but alas, we are leaving tomorrow and are unable to check it out. Apparently they have over 100 flavors, but Double Apple has still got to be the best.
(4)Bees B.
Not your traditional coffee house, but the coffee was great. My dad had his first latte and loved it (white mocha raspberry). The server had a great personality. They serve food, too. We had the baklava-yummy!
(5)Grant W.
Late night food from the middle east...can't go wrong. I was happy as can be to find out they are open till midnight...especially in the Manitou area. I will be visiting this more often when I have more time. Great food, great service, and local made desserts are a bonus!
(4)Matt T.
Great shawarmas (gyros), I usually get the beef and lamb ones. Really like the baklava. They also make a really good grilled cheese for the kids.
(5)Keith I.
I live in Manitou Springs & this is one of my favorites. The Gyros/Shawarma sandwiches are one of the best deals in town. I have unofficially declared Sahara to have the best fries in town. The Manager, Sam (?), is incredibly attentive. My cup of hot or cold sage tea is never empty & sometimes he will even pour a cup for me while I wait for a to-go order. The inside is fine... Nothing spectacular, but I go for the incredible food anyways. Make sure you check out the cool lamps they have hanging from the ceiling. I have had most of the stuff on the menu now & it is all excellent with generous serving sizes. If only they had beer...
(4)Colorado N.
This place is in the heart of Manitou Springs. The menu is diverse and the inside is comfortable. My only complaint is that the menu is an exact duplicate of the Heart of Jerusalem down the street, the only difference is the name changes. Being a frequent visitor of the HOJ, I could tell right away this place is a copycat. The sage tea and baklava are nothing like the HOJ's, neither is any of the food. Save yourself a trip and go to the best Middle Eastern Restaurant in Colorado, the Heart of Jerusalem Cafe.
(1)Joe H.
Very affordable food that's more than satisfactory. For the quality I'd expect it to cost a lot more $$.
(5)Peter L.
Great and inexpensive. We stopped after riding the cog railroad up Pike's Peak and had an excellent light lunch. Nice people, nice place. We liked the atmosphere--unpretentious and homey. Loved the lights.
(4)Drew Y.
Delicious! Cheap! Awesome service! Great falafel
(5)Donald L.
My wife and I had lunch here. She had the falafel and I had the chicken shawarma both were great. We both felt that the tabouli needed more bulgar and parsley.
(4)alex g.
wow being a frequent customer to most middle eastern cafes in colorado springs and manitou i will say sahara is the best friendly staff fast service and great food i tried their foul(fava beans plate) which was great and my partner tried their buffalo kobab with safran rice and everything was great. we had to come back for momoul with date and baklava we will back sahara thank you guys
(5)Laura G.
The best beef shawarma. Great hummus. Tasty falafel. I got the sampler plate and loved it all. My husband got the beef shawarma and wants to go back for more tomorrow. I ordered the pistachio mamoul for dessert, and the server brought it out with little cup of hot sage tea. Perfect end to an awesome meal. The service was friendly and efficient. The only thing keeping me from giving it five stars is the bright diner lighting.
(4)Harry S.
The food is good here. I would definitely recommend the falafel and coffee. Nothing wonderful about the sandwiches. I tried the chicken shawarma but the chicken is basically frozen chicken cooked with shawarma spices. They don't have the true rotating shawarma broiler. The same is true for the beef. Not a bad place after a day of hiking at pike's peak or going on the COG rail
(4)Bethany M.
This place was pretty good but I like Heart of Jerusalem a few blocks up the road better (just seems a little fresher). I got the chicken plate and the chicken was a little dry and chopped into tiny pieces. The hummus was pretty good but not as flavorful as HOJ. The pita bread and falafal were very good. The atmosphere was ok. Service was very good and fast.
(3)Jeff S.
We split the sampler plate and the falafal plate. Hummus was very good. Falafal was good. Spices on the meat were great. First time I've ever had banana peppers with the cucumber sauce and it was a great combination. Really enjoyed the food and the prices were very low. Our son had the chicken strips/onion rings and both were very good.
(5)Sameen A.
Absolutely loved the food and the service! the owner is friendly and very accomodating. Me and my husband visited Colorado Springs in February and in the 2 day trip we visited this cafe twice. Good and fresh food and very delicious tea!
(4)