Dry, bland falafel. (The lasagna got rave reviews from my dining companion.)
(3)
Donik A.
this place is amazing great food great service i go to georgia state and it is located right by the aderhold building being from an israeli backround i have a lot of expereince with this type of food and i havnet seen falalfels like these since back home, they obviosuly put a lot of time into it also the method they use with the wraps is also really intresting im so used to pitas which they also provide but ive really been addicted to the wraps. I also have to say there home made lasagna is by the far the best ive ever had.
(5)
Kip D.
There are a handful of things I look for in a restaurant, cleanliness, affordability, friendly service, and the obvious: taste. This restaurant has all four. Suffice it to say I'm applying for a job here.
(5)
James H.
A staple for many of the office workers in downtown, Downtown Gourmet serves up a variety of different options for lunch, including salads, shwarma, pizza, and sandwiches. Pretty much everything is a tasty way to spend your lunch, my preferences going to the Candler's Favorite salad (mixed greens, feta, craisins, walnuts, and raspberry vinaigrette) and the chicken shwarma on a spinach tortilla. The folks who prep your food take special requests in stride, which is a good thing because they tend to be very liberal with the dressings and sauces--my annually-renewed sense of being healthy recommends easy on the sauces and dressings, or getting them on the side. Everyone here is polite and accommodating--tasty morsels plus nice people equals four stars.
(4)
Michelle W.
The menu is a mix of Mediterranean, Indian food, and also pizza. The food could stand to be a lot better. What's keeping this place in business is the location. NOTHING is made fresh, even the bread.
(2)
Sarah H.
Delicious food and very friendly, helpful staff! Got the lamb shawarma wrap and it was jam packed full of vegetables, hummus, lettuce, and lamb. Go easy on the hot sauce as even the mild hot sauce has a kick to it. You should check this place out, you won't regret it!!
(4)
d m.
I go here often for shawarma (chicken) or make-your-own salad with chicken on it, both of which are very good. Portions are generous, especially the salads. I recently tried the samosas, and found them to be excellent, though it's true the chutneys could use some work. I like the grape leaves, and the falafel is wonderful, as is the house-made pita. Haven't tried the pizza. Service is friendly and fast, and the prices are reasonable.
(5)
Alexandra P.
I had the channa masala which was good ($5.99) and the chicken samosas (2 for $2.99 I think) which were great! The service is very friendly, attentive, and fast. I wish that their chutneys had more spice or stronger flavor. Overall good experience and I recommend it.
(4)
Evan B.
A microwave is not a gourmet cooking tool. I had read some reviews, I was on a cushy travel per-diem I was excited. I arrived and I saw falafel and a subway style assembly line, I was hoping it would be great like Garbanzos, I was wrong. I ordered my falafel as a wrap, they pulled a tortilla out of a package obviously not made freshly, and then the worst part, They took a few falafel balls out of the line and put them in the microwave! Falafel should be created fresh from a mix, not premade and certainly not microwaved. Inside my wrap I got the works, from feta, tiziki, hot sauce and many veggies. As a side I went with the dolmas (grape leaves), I like to eat and rarely leave leftovers but I had to leave on of thees behind as I truly did not enjoy it.
(1)
Bll J.
Great lunch spot downtown. The one thing that makes this place really stand out is the very friendly service. Everything I have had there has been very good. Also they take "Level Up".
(5)
Gabriel N.
Things I did not know about downtown Atlanta on a Sunday: they don't serve alcohol and almost no food places are open. As I wandered aimlessly hoping for somewhere that sold more than coffee I stumbled upon this joint. It's a small place with a generic name, but it was open on a Sunday and for that alone it got 3 stars. Checking out their menu I saw shawarmas and was instantly sold. Since Sunday's are low traffic they didn't have any chicken left, so instead I went with the lamb. It was a hefty little wrap packed with veggies, humus and a lovely array of sauces including HOT. I also picked up one of their homemade baklava to try. The baklava didn't wow me, but the wrapped filled me the hell up. All in all this is a cool little place which helped me out in a pinch. I'd definitely give them another go during the week.
(4)
Michael B.
This little gem sits between a bunch of empty 1st floor store fronts on Peachtree Street right across from The Equitable Building. You'd never know it was open except for the fact that I think they have a new LED "OPEN" sign in the window now. The seating is simple -- 2 per table. Don't bring a large group if you don't mind sitting at different tables. I gather this place is more for people on the go than for sitting down, but what seating there is is comfortable and not cramped. You cannot beat this place for an $8 Mediterranean lunch. $8 will get you a fresh made gyro/shawarma with chicken or lamb, a side item and a drink. The gyro wraps/pita pockets are put together on the spot with a wide choice of toppings. I've had both the chicken and the lamb, and I'm torn. The lamb has that awesome gyro meat flavor, but the chicken is a nice and spicier alternative -- the owner says 10-12 spices -- too many to count. Toppings for the shawarma include tomatoes, hummus, baba ghanoush, onions with mint/olive oil, feta cheese, garlic "special sauce," cucumber sauce, etc. There's salad toppings too but you'll be steered towards the stuff specifically made for the shawarma. Follow along -- it's all good. Side dishes include hummus, baba ghanoush, grape leaf wraps, falafel, etc. There's also pizza, salads and other sandwiches for lunch, or you can come early and enjoy a small breakfast menu. It's a family affair -- as I'm typing this review, the owner is sharing photographs of massive shawarma (the spits of lamb for the gyros) from a vacation in Israel. The patrons with whom he's speaking are raving about the food they had the last time and trying to decide how to change things up with their shawarma this time. I'd be doing the same tomorrow for lunch if I hadn't been here twice already this week. It's that cheap, simple and good.
(4)
Steve B.
This place sits right on Peachtree. It is a cozy spot you may want to pick up something quick while on your lunch break or happen to be in the area. By far, their pizza by the slice is the cheapest in town. I was pretty shocked at the prices for that especially it with it being downtown. Doesn't mean the pizza was great. I didn't have pizza or pasta, I had the lamb gyro wrap. That was average. Lot of things seemed fairly reasonable price for a small mom and pop spot. IT definitely may be thorough if you have a hotel in the area, need something by delivery while soberin' up. Average: B, B-
(3)
Bobbin W.
My boyfriend loves me most when I have Mediterranean breath. Nothing screams "kiss me" more than ground chickpeas, hummus, onion-infused Israeli salad and tzatziki sauce. Since this is his Birthday weekend, I thought I'd kick it off right by having a falafel wrap for lunch. Downtown Gourmet's version is the best I've had downtown, with the mushy chickpea matter purposely broken apart and slopped across a bed of hummus and tomatoes on a fresh spinach tortilla. The man who fixed my meal made the falafel fresh, so I stood there a long time staring at the fryer while many people passed me in line, but it was clearly worth the idle salivation. More than his prezzies and Birthday brunch, I'm sure my boyfriend will appreciate falafel kisses most of all.
(4)
Eldon T.
Love this place! Lamb Shawarmas rule! Get there early at lunchtime..
(4)
Shica B.
I like this place. Noticed it one day on my way back to work from a stroll and made mental note to check it out. A co-worker asked me to lunch the next day, so we went over. They had a special posted outdoors to get lasagne, salad and a drink for $6.50. The portion is HUGE. We were quite pleased, I was able to stretch the meal for 2 servings. I noticed that they have a bunch of different platters on the wall if you have a little office luncheon or need to feed a small crowd. They are very reasonable ($27 for most) and feed 10-12.
(4)
Paul K.
I randomly had lunch at this little gem a while ago and wanted to spread the good word. It's not very often you walk into a small unassuming place and walk out overly impressed and satisfyingly full. I can't say enough great things, but I'll give it a try. For starters, it's nice to walk into a restaurant and be greeted with a friendly hello. What a novel concept. So many dining establishments underestimate the importance of customer service. In addition to the greeting, the guy behind the counter also gave me a quick rundown of the daily specials and even hooked me up with a sample of the meat lasagna. Not too shabby for a joint specializing in Mediterranean. But I really wanted to try a chicken gyro since the fresh grilled smell of it was making my mouth water. I ordered that along with a small Greek salad, hummus and pita. Now, I've had some good gyro's in my day but there was something about this one in particular. The chicken was tender, the veggies were fresh, so was the sauce. Honestly, it reminded me of something you'd find in Israel. I tried to get the answer from a funny older guy (owner I think) behind the counter but he wouldn't divulge the secret. I think there was a dash of cinnamon in the meat, but not entirely sure. Whatever it was, i was hooked. In addition it's nice to get a Greek salad that's fresh and doesn't skimp on the kalamata olives or the Feta cheese. Even better, everything was under $8 bucks. Without getting long-winded here I'm obviously a new fan. I know there's some Roll-up place around the corner trying to do the same thing, but for my money, I'll take the Mom & Pop place anytime. It's fresher. It feels more genuine. And most of all the food was tasty. I went back to work feeling fat and happy! I'll definitely be coming back to this little hidden hideaway. Yeah, I see you Falafel and Lamb Shawarma sitting over there. I've got my eye on you next.
(5)
Thomas S.
This is a brand-new little Shawarma/Gyro place located inside the Candler Building downtown (next to the Equitable Building). I work at GP and so it is extremely convenient for me. While the name of the place doesn't exactly tell you what they offer, a quick look at the menu in the window gives a brief overview of the salads and pita sandwiches being served. Let me just say I am no Shawarma expert. I just had to go to wikipedia to look up the description and what makes them different from a Gyro or Doner Kebab. The first thing I noticed was how clean this place was, everything inside is brand-spankin' new. The staff, which appears to be family (I apologize if it's not), were hurrying around to serve the customers and prepare the food. Skipping a salad I ordered the Lamb Shawarma to-go from the older gentleman slicing the lamb off of the skewer. When asked if I wanted baba ghanoush or Hummus in the pita, he quickly offered tastes of both with slices of pita. The baba ghanoush please, I've never had it. After that, I put my full faith and trust in the Shawarma specialist, if you will, with regard to future toppings and condiments. They offer a combo with either a side of soup or hummus. At the register the younger fella told me they had only been open about 5 days and while it showed in their organization, it didnt affect my experience a bit. The pita was very good for its type, and quite filling for the price. Full-flavored lamb and a little hint of spice before hitting the baba ghanoush. I did not enjoy the soup much but will order the hummus next time I go. I hope they make it in-house, as I intend to find out. While there are many other places to get a Gyro/Shawarma/Kebab in the area I have not had any others but was satisfied with my quick lunch.
(3)
M L.
Great lunch spot in downtown- I had the falafel pita & the boyfriend ordered a lamb gyro pita. Both were really good. They put lots of great garnishes on them: hummus, Baba Ghanoush (grilled/smoked eggplant spread) or both, a spicy sauce, lettuce/ tomato/cucumber/onion/etc. I loved their Baba Ghanoush but ordered it as a side w/pita chips so that I could really enjoy it. The stuffed grape leaves (dolmades) were good, but VERY oily and heavier than expected. 2 lunch combos (pita sandwich, side and fountain drink) totaled less than $15. Also: FREE DELIVERY in the metro area make it an even better value.
(4)
Gary B.
Ate here for lunch today after reading some of the positive reviews. Found it to be clean as noted in earlier reviews, pretty efficient service. Menu offers chicken, lamb or falafel gyros with a variety of fresh toppings including hummus of baba ghou. The Gyros are $4.99 and are served on variety of bread selections, a lot of fresh food for the money. I ordered the lamb gyro and my companion the chicken. Each had a nice mixture of spices blended with fresh veggies. Probably the best Gyro I've had in the downtown area around GSU. They also offer pizza by the slice and I believe made to order sandwiches. Plus had lasanga which looked good. Fountain soft drinks or ice tea is $1.35 or you can get a combo with a side and drink for an extra $2.40. Good friendly service, I'm not a big gyro fan but will come back here again for lunch.
(4)
kara s.
Lasagna? More like Lasagna SOUP. I came here on a recommendation. I might try them again for gyro or shwarma, but never lasagna. Blech....
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : No
Kate T.
Dry, bland falafel. (The lasagna got rave reviews from my dining companion.)
(3)Donik A.
this place is amazing great food great service i go to georgia state and it is located right by the aderhold building being from an israeli backround i have a lot of expereince with this type of food and i havnet seen falalfels like these since back home, they obviosuly put a lot of time into it also the method they use with the wraps is also really intresting im so used to pitas which they also provide but ive really been addicted to the wraps. I also have to say there home made lasagna is by the far the best ive ever had.
(5)Kip D.
There are a handful of things I look for in a restaurant, cleanliness, affordability, friendly service, and the obvious: taste. This restaurant has all four. Suffice it to say I'm applying for a job here.
(5)James H.
A staple for many of the office workers in downtown, Downtown Gourmet serves up a variety of different options for lunch, including salads, shwarma, pizza, and sandwiches. Pretty much everything is a tasty way to spend your lunch, my preferences going to the Candler's Favorite salad (mixed greens, feta, craisins, walnuts, and raspberry vinaigrette) and the chicken shwarma on a spinach tortilla. The folks who prep your food take special requests in stride, which is a good thing because they tend to be very liberal with the dressings and sauces--my annually-renewed sense of being healthy recommends easy on the sauces and dressings, or getting them on the side. Everyone here is polite and accommodating--tasty morsels plus nice people equals four stars.
(4)Michelle W.
The menu is a mix of Mediterranean, Indian food, and also pizza. The food could stand to be a lot better. What's keeping this place in business is the location. NOTHING is made fresh, even the bread.
(2)Sarah H.
Delicious food and very friendly, helpful staff! Got the lamb shawarma wrap and it was jam packed full of vegetables, hummus, lettuce, and lamb. Go easy on the hot sauce as even the mild hot sauce has a kick to it. You should check this place out, you won't regret it!!
(4)d m.
I go here often for shawarma (chicken) or make-your-own salad with chicken on it, both of which are very good. Portions are generous, especially the salads. I recently tried the samosas, and found them to be excellent, though it's true the chutneys could use some work. I like the grape leaves, and the falafel is wonderful, as is the house-made pita. Haven't tried the pizza. Service is friendly and fast, and the prices are reasonable.
(5)Alexandra P.
I had the channa masala which was good ($5.99) and the chicken samosas (2 for $2.99 I think) which were great! The service is very friendly, attentive, and fast. I wish that their chutneys had more spice or stronger flavor. Overall good experience and I recommend it.
(4)Evan B.
A microwave is not a gourmet cooking tool. I had read some reviews, I was on a cushy travel per-diem I was excited. I arrived and I saw falafel and a subway style assembly line, I was hoping it would be great like Garbanzos, I was wrong. I ordered my falafel as a wrap, they pulled a tortilla out of a package obviously not made freshly, and then the worst part, They took a few falafel balls out of the line and put them in the microwave! Falafel should be created fresh from a mix, not premade and certainly not microwaved. Inside my wrap I got the works, from feta, tiziki, hot sauce and many veggies. As a side I went with the dolmas (grape leaves), I like to eat and rarely leave leftovers but I had to leave on of thees behind as I truly did not enjoy it.
(1)Bll J.
Great lunch spot downtown. The one thing that makes this place really stand out is the very friendly service. Everything I have had there has been very good. Also they take "Level Up".
(5)Gabriel N.
Things I did not know about downtown Atlanta on a Sunday: they don't serve alcohol and almost no food places are open. As I wandered aimlessly hoping for somewhere that sold more than coffee I stumbled upon this joint. It's a small place with a generic name, but it was open on a Sunday and for that alone it got 3 stars. Checking out their menu I saw shawarmas and was instantly sold. Since Sunday's are low traffic they didn't have any chicken left, so instead I went with the lamb. It was a hefty little wrap packed with veggies, humus and a lovely array of sauces including HOT. I also picked up one of their homemade baklava to try. The baklava didn't wow me, but the wrapped filled me the hell up. All in all this is a cool little place which helped me out in a pinch. I'd definitely give them another go during the week.
(4)Michael B.
This little gem sits between a bunch of empty 1st floor store fronts on Peachtree Street right across from The Equitable Building. You'd never know it was open except for the fact that I think they have a new LED "OPEN" sign in the window now. The seating is simple -- 2 per table. Don't bring a large group if you don't mind sitting at different tables. I gather this place is more for people on the go than for sitting down, but what seating there is is comfortable and not cramped. You cannot beat this place for an $8 Mediterranean lunch. $8 will get you a fresh made gyro/shawarma with chicken or lamb, a side item and a drink. The gyro wraps/pita pockets are put together on the spot with a wide choice of toppings. I've had both the chicken and the lamb, and I'm torn. The lamb has that awesome gyro meat flavor, but the chicken is a nice and spicier alternative -- the owner says 10-12 spices -- too many to count. Toppings for the shawarma include tomatoes, hummus, baba ghanoush, onions with mint/olive oil, feta cheese, garlic "special sauce," cucumber sauce, etc. There's salad toppings too but you'll be steered towards the stuff specifically made for the shawarma. Follow along -- it's all good. Side dishes include hummus, baba ghanoush, grape leaf wraps, falafel, etc. There's also pizza, salads and other sandwiches for lunch, or you can come early and enjoy a small breakfast menu. It's a family affair -- as I'm typing this review, the owner is sharing photographs of massive shawarma (the spits of lamb for the gyros) from a vacation in Israel. The patrons with whom he's speaking are raving about the food they had the last time and trying to decide how to change things up with their shawarma this time. I'd be doing the same tomorrow for lunch if I hadn't been here twice already this week. It's that cheap, simple and good.
(4)Steve B.
This place sits right on Peachtree. It is a cozy spot you may want to pick up something quick while on your lunch break or happen to be in the area. By far, their pizza by the slice is the cheapest in town. I was pretty shocked at the prices for that especially it with it being downtown. Doesn't mean the pizza was great. I didn't have pizza or pasta, I had the lamb gyro wrap. That was average. Lot of things seemed fairly reasonable price for a small mom and pop spot. IT definitely may be thorough if you have a hotel in the area, need something by delivery while soberin' up. Average: B, B-
(3)Bobbin W.
My boyfriend loves me most when I have Mediterranean breath. Nothing screams "kiss me" more than ground chickpeas, hummus, onion-infused Israeli salad and tzatziki sauce. Since this is his Birthday weekend, I thought I'd kick it off right by having a falafel wrap for lunch. Downtown Gourmet's version is the best I've had downtown, with the mushy chickpea matter purposely broken apart and slopped across a bed of hummus and tomatoes on a fresh spinach tortilla. The man who fixed my meal made the falafel fresh, so I stood there a long time staring at the fryer while many people passed me in line, but it was clearly worth the idle salivation. More than his prezzies and Birthday brunch, I'm sure my boyfriend will appreciate falafel kisses most of all.
(4)Eldon T.
Love this place! Lamb Shawarmas rule! Get there early at lunchtime..
(4)Shica B.
I like this place. Noticed it one day on my way back to work from a stroll and made mental note to check it out. A co-worker asked me to lunch the next day, so we went over. They had a special posted outdoors to get lasagne, salad and a drink for $6.50. The portion is HUGE. We were quite pleased, I was able to stretch the meal for 2 servings. I noticed that they have a bunch of different platters on the wall if you have a little office luncheon or need to feed a small crowd. They are very reasonable ($27 for most) and feed 10-12.
(4)Paul K.
I randomly had lunch at this little gem a while ago and wanted to spread the good word. It's not very often you walk into a small unassuming place and walk out overly impressed and satisfyingly full. I can't say enough great things, but I'll give it a try. For starters, it's nice to walk into a restaurant and be greeted with a friendly hello. What a novel concept. So many dining establishments underestimate the importance of customer service. In addition to the greeting, the guy behind the counter also gave me a quick rundown of the daily specials and even hooked me up with a sample of the meat lasagna. Not too shabby for a joint specializing in Mediterranean. But I really wanted to try a chicken gyro since the fresh grilled smell of it was making my mouth water. I ordered that along with a small Greek salad, hummus and pita. Now, I've had some good gyro's in my day but there was something about this one in particular. The chicken was tender, the veggies were fresh, so was the sauce. Honestly, it reminded me of something you'd find in Israel. I tried to get the answer from a funny older guy (owner I think) behind the counter but he wouldn't divulge the secret. I think there was a dash of cinnamon in the meat, but not entirely sure. Whatever it was, i was hooked. In addition it's nice to get a Greek salad that's fresh and doesn't skimp on the kalamata olives or the Feta cheese. Even better, everything was under $8 bucks. Without getting long-winded here I'm obviously a new fan. I know there's some Roll-up place around the corner trying to do the same thing, but for my money, I'll take the Mom & Pop place anytime. It's fresher. It feels more genuine. And most of all the food was tasty. I went back to work feeling fat and happy! I'll definitely be coming back to this little hidden hideaway. Yeah, I see you Falafel and Lamb Shawarma sitting over there. I've got my eye on you next.
(5)Thomas S.
This is a brand-new little Shawarma/Gyro place located inside the Candler Building downtown (next to the Equitable Building). I work at GP and so it is extremely convenient for me. While the name of the place doesn't exactly tell you what they offer, a quick look at the menu in the window gives a brief overview of the salads and pita sandwiches being served. Let me just say I am no Shawarma expert. I just had to go to wikipedia to look up the description and what makes them different from a Gyro or Doner Kebab. The first thing I noticed was how clean this place was, everything inside is brand-spankin' new. The staff, which appears to be family (I apologize if it's not), were hurrying around to serve the customers and prepare the food. Skipping a salad I ordered the Lamb Shawarma to-go from the older gentleman slicing the lamb off of the skewer. When asked if I wanted baba ghanoush or Hummus in the pita, he quickly offered tastes of both with slices of pita. The baba ghanoush please, I've never had it. After that, I put my full faith and trust in the Shawarma specialist, if you will, with regard to future toppings and condiments. They offer a combo with either a side of soup or hummus. At the register the younger fella told me they had only been open about 5 days and while it showed in their organization, it didnt affect my experience a bit. The pita was very good for its type, and quite filling for the price. Full-flavored lamb and a little hint of spice before hitting the baba ghanoush. I did not enjoy the soup much but will order the hummus next time I go. I hope they make it in-house, as I intend to find out. While there are many other places to get a Gyro/Shawarma/Kebab in the area I have not had any others but was satisfied with my quick lunch.
(3)M L.
Great lunch spot in downtown- I had the falafel pita & the boyfriend ordered a lamb gyro pita. Both were really good. They put lots of great garnishes on them: hummus, Baba Ghanoush (grilled/smoked eggplant spread) or both, a spicy sauce, lettuce/ tomato/cucumber/onion/etc. I loved their Baba Ghanoush but ordered it as a side w/pita chips so that I could really enjoy it. The stuffed grape leaves (dolmades) were good, but VERY oily and heavier than expected. 2 lunch combos (pita sandwich, side and fountain drink) totaled less than $15. Also: FREE DELIVERY in the metro area make it an even better value.
(4)Gary B.
Ate here for lunch today after reading some of the positive reviews. Found it to be clean as noted in earlier reviews, pretty efficient service. Menu offers chicken, lamb or falafel gyros with a variety of fresh toppings including hummus of baba ghou. The Gyros are $4.99 and are served on variety of bread selections, a lot of fresh food for the money. I ordered the lamb gyro and my companion the chicken. Each had a nice mixture of spices blended with fresh veggies. Probably the best Gyro I've had in the downtown area around GSU. They also offer pizza by the slice and I believe made to order sandwiches. Plus had lasanga which looked good. Fountain soft drinks or ice tea is $1.35 or you can get a combo with a side and drink for an extra $2.40. Good friendly service, I'm not a big gyro fan but will come back here again for lunch.
(4)kara s.
Lasagna? More like Lasagna SOUP. I came here on a recommendation. I might try them again for gyro or shwarma, but never lasagna. Blech....
(2)