Atm Access Concourse Gourmet Deli
2264 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY, 10457
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2264 Grand Concourse
Bronx, NY, 10457 - Phone (718) 584-8204
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Marie N.
Sangria and Pino Grigio on tap for $5 .... Enough said. Love it.
(5)Deborah R.
I love this place with all of my heart. Never have I gone in without being greeted with a smile, a 'How are you?', and most importantly the intoxicating smell of of their amazing food. I visited Amir's after being out of the area for a while and was surprised to see that they did a bit of remodeling. They 'modernized' the place...the menus are now on flat screen TVs, and now there red plastic chairs where you can eat, or in my case, wait for my order. The chairs seemed pretty odd, but luckily it doesn't take long to get your food. However, the changes have made Amir's looks even smaller than it used to be which I didn't think was possible. However, I could have been imagining this. Still, I was able to find a place to sit and wait despite the size. This place is efficient, however I'm not a huge fan of the remodeling job. Alright, I won't lie...I always get the same thing when I go here: Toasted Chicken Wrap. A wrap filled with flavorful chicken, french fries, creamy garlic sauce and dill pickle (used to be pickled turnips but that also changed since my last visit). The price also went up since my last visit but I guess that's so be expected nowadays. Always soooo good though. If I didn't live so far away I would visit this place all the time. They make my tummy happy.
(4)Emily P.
This hidden gem keeps me coming from 168th more often than I should. Their falafels are perfect, and that's not even doing it justice. Perfect for grab-and-go and doesn't even get that packed at prime lunch hour. Try their French pressed coffee which is a hidden secret. If you love the falafel, grab the falafel wrap which comes with more bank for your buck.
(5)Camille T.
Wish I had found this place earlier on in my time at Columbia. It is super convenient to campus and the food is high quality at low prices. I recommend the chicken shwarma wrap and the falafel (and I'm pretty picky with my falafel). The lunch deals are great and include a side and a drink. They have great natural sodas and lemonade!
(5)Jane I.
With food trucks, carts, and hawkers all over Broadway, there's no end to the list of cheap eats for the starving student in this university-saturated area but I was out and about on a 92-degree day and the very thought of having to order and eat in the sweltering heat was making my sweat glands tingle with fear. Enter Amir's Grill. Serving up fast Middle Eastern fare like falafels, hummus, and shwarma for fair prices, this small but cheerfully decorated restaurant seemed to hit the bill. On a weekday afternoon, it was completely empty except for the two of us so we received our falafel pitas within minutes after we ordered. Amir's Grill takes pride in their organic, local sourcing for a lot of their ingredients and for our particular meal, the actual pita was provided by BakedSome.com , a husband-and-wife team in Jersey that bakes brick-oven pita pockets. That much is convincingly clear by the telltale grill marks, but I also loved the thinner and crispier texture, which added so much more flavor than the fluffy, doughy white ptas I'm used to getting without denigrating its ability to contain all of the innards. The falafels themselves were just all right - green and crunchy but slightly soft, and the ratio of falafel to salad was a little off so that a lot of my bites seemed like tahini-dressed vegetables with pita bread. Each table is supplied with a small variety of condiments and I made good use of the Sriracha bottle, which definitely helped things for this spice-lover. There's also ketchup, barbecue sauce, and regular hot sauce for all of your saucy needs. I loved the lemon water fountain and stack of cups that was made available for customers (HURRAY for not having to buy bottled water!), but for those craving more fizzy drinks, there is also a Boylan soda fountain, which is another small-batch soda production company which uses cane sugars and natural ingredients. Two other surprise perks were the beers on tap and the free wifi, which you wouldn't expect to find at an eatery like this one. While we didn't make use of either this time around, it's clear they know their college demographic. While I wouldn't go out of my way to return, it was a relatively cheap and healthy meal option which I enjoyed well enough, along with the fast and friendly service.
(3)Ziad K.
Today I stopped by and was very hungry. I ordered a large lentil and rice. I was so impressed with the taste of it that I'm going to order it every time I go there. Everyone should try it and their falafel sandwich as well. Ask for extra hour sauce
(5)Harry B.
In a short mount of time allotted for lunch - wow. DELICIOUS! Sweet potato fries and Shawarma were perfect, warm, amid a packed restaurant with over 15 people coming in from the Columbia Conference, and yet, the staff waited on me individually and were very courteous. For 8.99 and the fries and Shawarma - Delicious! :)
(5)ATG L.
I ordered 7 trays of wings and French fries for my super bowl party on Saturday 1/31. I placed the order with andre (who was very cordial and helpful) and he assured the order could be delivered by 7:45 on Sunday. I called on Sunday afternoon at 2pm to re-confirm the order - Cassandra confirmed the order and said it should be fine. I never received my order. At 9:15 I called and asked for a status update and 1 really was not provided so I cancelled my order and ordered from another (more reliable place). Highly disappointed.
(1)Juan M.
I was taking a lovely evening stroll in Morningisde Heights, looking for a place to get a simple side of rice to go with some left over Thai green curry that I had from lunch. I walked by Amir's Grill, and saw on the menu that they had an "add-on" of rice for $1... which was all I had in my pocket at the time. So I ordered the rice for $1 to go. What did I get? A condiment cup full of rice. You know, one of those teeny-tiny little plastic cups with a plastic lid that you use for ketchup and other condiments. I said to the guy who gave it to me, "Really?! That's it?" to which he replied with comic (tragic?) sincerity, "Yes, sir, that is 2 ounces of rice. Can I get you anything else?" Even if I wanted more rice, I didn't have any money (and if I did, I would have gone to Ollie's a few blocks up the street and gotten a decent dollar's worth of rice there), so I just laughed in a shaking-my-head kind of way, took my 42 grains (it was literally not more than a spoonful of rice) and left. When I arrived at my friend's apartment and showed my friends how much rice I got for $1 at Amir's, they said, "Seriously?" as they laughed in disbelief. One said that he couldn't believe that any place would actually charge money for such a small amount of food. When I said that I had I was going to post on Yelp about it, they all said, "YES, YOU SHOULD." So here it is.
(1)Bernadette E.
We went here because I have been wanting some persian food. Unfortunately, their food is not persian at all. Their shawarma & kebabs are NOT shawarma & kebabs, they are just wrapped sandwiches. I gave the food to my husband because they tasted very fake, like processed meat.
(1)Shreyas V.
I like Amir's a lot! It's a good alternative to a lot of the Halal carts around town - your falafel might be a little more expensive at Amir's, but it comes without the regret and intestinal issues that frequently accompany falafel from the carts. Their service is always absolutely stellar. I'm blown away by how nice their staff is. And they always get the food out really, really fast (heads up, though: if you get the mac and cheese on the side, it might be a bit slower). I always get the falafel sandwich and I think it's cheap and delicious, and my other friends have gotten more meat-y options and generally enjoyed them. If you order right, Amir's can be a great dinner spot - quiet, quick, cheap, and delicious.
(4)Kerrie D.
After a long day in the Columbia Barnard area getting my new freshman settled into their dormitory, we stumbled upon Amir's grill and walked right in looking for filling and reasonably priced dinner. We were not disappointed. The shwarma is delicious and the food is fresh. One huge highlight was the baba ganoush side order it with warm extra pitas and you are in for something really special!
(5)Minh H.
Decent food. Came here when I was visiting my friend near Columbia, who wanted to meet at the place. The cashier seemed pleasant enough, but nothing really stood out too much about the food for me to say anything. I wasn't sure what kind of restaurant I was eating at. I would come here again, but I think I would definitely check out other restaurants too.
(3)Pam K.
Ever since I started working around Columbia University, I've been taking more notice of the businesses around the neighborhood, with Amir's being one of them. What had caught my eye about this place was the fact that they were always offering lunch and dinner specials, particularly their half off on wings. After reading some of the reviews on yelp, I was a little reluctant to try Amir's - I mean, can their food really be that good if they're always having specials every moment of every day? I didn't think I was ever going to try eat at Amir's, but one day after work, I was so hungry that I just decided "fuck it" and went for it. I decided to get their ten piece chicken wings with a side of falafel. While I was waiting for my order, I saw that they served Ommegang Witte on tap. Immediately, I knew I would be partial to this little place, since Ommegang Witte is one of my favorite beers of all time. The cashier was also really nice and really chill, and I found out that they do deliver beer if you ordered it. Wow, what a way to win me over! Since it was kind of late at night, from what I could see, there were only a few people working, so I expected that it would take some time for my food to come out. The cashier told me that I could sit down and he would bring my order to me, so I sat down and waited. After about ten minutes, I got my food and went home. When I got home, I opened my order to find my falafel, chicken wings, and pita bread (I think it was) wrapped in aluminum foil. After a few bites of my food, I could see why Amir's got the reviews it did on yelp. Their chicken wings (I got buffalo wings) were okay, with the sauce being unevenly distributed over each piece. Also, I think they gave me a broken piece of chicken and counted that towards my count of ten. Normally, I would be a bit peeved at that, but who really orders that many chicken wings at night unless you were drunk? But anyway, the wings were alright overall, I've definitely had some better ones elsewhere. When I opened my falafel, I was a bit concerned. My falafel was entirely black on the outside. I don't know if that's a normal thing or not, since all the falafel I've had was brown on the outside. Although I was a little reluctant to eat it, I ate it anyway because I survived college falafel so how bad could this be, right? Spoiler: it wasn't that bad, but it wasn't great either. I'm sure that if I got the falafel at some other time, and not late at night, it would probably have been better. Overall, not bad. Nothing really to say, since it might have just been a late night fluke.
(3)J C.
Finally, an affordable eatery in Morningside Heights. I tried their falafel wrap and for $6.80, it was quite large and filling. Although I was surprised by the pickles, it was definitely tasty. I still prefer Mamouns in the West Village but this is a good alternative. Will definitely go again.
(4)Paul S.
Good, reasonable middle eastern food. Falafel. Hummus. Cane sugar fountain drinks. Friendly help. I would go back.
(5)Amanda D.
I am not a big fan of vegetarian food but I was with a friend that wanted to try this place. I ordered a kobe beef burger medium rare; the burger came served on a pita and tasted like falafel. The burger was prepared well done. My friend enjoyed her food and mentioned that the place had very good food to her liking. The service was fine. The place is kind of like a fast food setup; you order at a counter then the food is brought out to you. A fairly god experience and I may have rated higher if I was a true fan of this kind of food. I would come here again.
(3)Lia K.
Lunch, Lunch, Lunch.. What should I have for lunch...? Today, it will be Amir's Grill. I looked at their lunch menu, the usual Mediterranean fare for reasonable price. I ordered from their lunch menu: a Shwarma with 1 small side (Babaganush) and a Boylans fountain drink. The chicken in the Shwarma was nicely grilled and flavorful. The ratio of chicken to veggies was just right with crispy lettuce and juicy tomatoes. I usually like my babaganush to have a bit more texture to it than Amir's version, but it was tasty. I was surprised to find Boylans served at Amir's but appreciated it very much. I found their food to be fresh, well proportioned and reasonably priced (lunch special menu). Their chalkboard advertises the local farmers and ingredients served at Amir's. Amir's Grill cook with fairly local and organic ingredients. SCORE! Big score! I was caught a bit off guard when their hot sauce option was Sriacha instead of Harissa. Still not really sure what to make of that... but their food is very filling and good!
(3)Johnathan B.
Got there because I yearned for a shawarma like I had back home, had very high hopes with a name like that. Had the lunch deal which was a great price, and the service was wonderful! Overall you'd think it's a 5 star place, but: The hummus wasn't that good at all, and it was served cold(?!) As if from a readymade box. The pitta bread I got the shawarma in hardly managed to withstand the weight of the chicken and eventually cracked and spilled. The chicken itself was missing a shawarma taste, it tasted just like a grilled chicken sandwich. I understand that most Americans don't know how a shawarma is supposed to taste like, but that was a chicken sandwich, a insult to all shawarmas I have had before.
(3)Nassim N.
Great affordable lunch deals! Everything comes with a side a soda. Everything less than $10! Also great service! Love Michael! I always make sure to leave him a $5 tip. :)
(5)Marlena K.
Went to Amirs for a quick one hour lunch break! Was happy to know that the meats, soda, and falafel were all organic, they even have a list of there suppliers! They have great lunch specials were you can get an order and a side for around 7 dollars for Falafel, pita encrusted mac n cheese and a soda with unlimited refills I would definitely return, its an okay place nothing special! Ingredients are fresh! Pita is soft! All around great place to grab some lunch and go! Staff is friendly! Small place!
(3)Daniel W.
Inexpensive good options for hungry vegetarians on the UWS. Don't expect too much from this place and you won't be disappointed. 3.5 stars is more accurate but I'm rounding up for Amirs. Mujadara plate with free tahini and many other choices. Great deal on side of cucumber. Needs Harissa!!!
(4)Dylan M.
Kobe beef grass burger is great!
(5)Samantha W.
I love everything about Amir's Grill. Delivery is always fast and orders are made to perfection. I honestly can say, I am in love with practically everything on the menu especially the baklava, falafel and babagonoush sandwiches, fries and hummus. You will not be disappointed and left extremely satisfied.
(5)Patrice H.
I order delivery from Amir's about once a week. It's my tried & true go to place for a decent meal. It's open late, and seems to use decent ingredients. A major plus. The delivery times vary, but lately have been really good. I wouldn't say that Amir's falafel is the best I've ever had. I had it once, and then decided to go with their chicken - which I feel is their strong point. I wish they had amazing falafel. If they did I'd probably eat here more than once a week. A little pickled cabbage, better tahini, and shredded carrots never hurt anyone. Life would be sweet if an Oasis like falafel joint existed on the UWS. I keep home Amir's will magically transform its falafel game. This really is your best bet for decent delivery food near CU.
(3)Allegria F.
My boyfriend and I thought this place would be our new go-to spot, since we live only a block away...how disappointing tonight was (Wednesday, October 1st, around 10:30pm). First, we waited for 20-30 minutes for two falafels and a burger. There was no one else in the restaurant. There was some kind of commotion going on in the kitchen. When we finally got our food, the burger was so overdone as to be rock-hard. No one had asked us how we wanted it cooked, and I had forgotten to specify medium-rare. Still, we ended up not being able to eat it. It's nice to have a locally-sourced falafel place on your block, but with bad service, overcooked burgers, and long wait times for simple sandwiches when restaurant is empty, I think I will have to find somewhere else. I really really wanted to like this place.
(2)Star s.
Amir's has really stepped up their game. This used to be a restaurant that I ignored (nothing on the menu was outstanding) but a few months ago, I popped in for a quick falafel sandwich and have been a regular customer since. What a remarkable change for the better! The falafel is so fresh/cripsy, the pita is the perfect thickness and texture and the toppings lived up to my expectations. And the mac & cheese is some of best around. You're unlikely to find a better falafel lunch place in Morningside Heights and possibly the entire UWS.
(4)Lesley C.
I came here for a falafel wrap and it was good! The food was solid, especially with the sauce and combined hummus. Combined with the fact that the service was super fast and it was cheap, I'll definitely be going here again!
(3)Michelle H.
This is our favorite take out and delivery place, but eating there in-person is enjoyable too. I would say I order about once a week. The falafel is so tasty. I usually get a side order of falafel and a fattoush salad. The lentil soup and falafel wrap are also top notch. Love this place for a relatively healthy, inexpensive, quick, and delicious meal.
(5)Alexis J.
I really want to like this place but it's very hit or miss. The first time I went I got a falafel, it was good but not great. The second time I went with my bf, I got a shwarma sandwich and he got a toasted chicken wrap. We also ordered baklava and fresh beignets. My sandwich (by sandwich, they mean in a pita) was good but not great and the pita was extremely flimsy. I ended up having to get a fork and knife halfway through and cut it up into small pieces because it was just falling apart everywhere. My bf's was also not terribly crazy abotu his wrap. First of all, it was unclear to us that the listed ingredients (French fries, garlic sauce and pickles) were inside the wrap and didn't come on the side. All these ingredients mixed together tasted good but also kind of weird. The baklava was pretty good but it was unclear on the menu and on grub hub, how many pieces of baklava we were getting. For the record, when your order Baklava you get one piece, though it's a fairly good sized piece, enough to split. The highlight of this meal by far were the beignets. For those who don't know, these are squares of delicious, doughy, wonderfulness that come in a bag full of powdered sugar (literally a bag of sugar). They are amazingly amazing and though I wasn't crazy about the rest of the meal, I would go back to Amir's again just for the beignets.
(3)Dana E.
Good food for a quick lunch. Don't know why all the comments about bad service, there aren't waitress here only 1 or 2 cashiers, which were extremely nice. I had the majadara with a salad and it was good.
(4)Ranee C.
It's my first time at Amir's Grill so I can't comment on historic changes the other reviewers have done. Decor - Fantastic. Bright, colorful, appetizing. Board - This was the first thing I saw. And I immediately gave a +1 to this place. It tells you exactly where they source their meat selections. To me, it is important that a place sources well, preferably local farms. Menu - A tiny bit confusing, good range of selections. Service - Great! Maybe I went at a time when there isn't many people, but service was superb for the price I ended up paying. Speed - There were only a few people in the store, but my food came out within 5 minutes which surprised me. Food - I had Moujjadara and seasonal veggies. Moujjadara was something new to me. Coming from an Asian background, it suits my taste and beyond. It was prepared well. Perfect temperature. The lentils and rice were a tiny bit mushier than I hoped, but I am not complaining. Their seasonal veggies was grilled cauliflower prepared in a reduced tomato sauce. I absolutely love it when a place cook from scratch and I believe they did. The sauce was a little less saturated than I expect from a reduce, but still taste great! The cauliflower was done nicely. Overall, I really liked the place and I can see myself going back very often. It's a very nice grab-and-go place at a very reasonable price point.
(4)Chris B.
I am rounding up from a 3.5. I like the ambience place of this place a lot. They have good beers and sodas on tap and the staff are very nice. But 2 or 3-stars for the falafel and shwarma, which is frankly kind of bland. Better if you get it with feta. I think they need to work on the sauce. The chicken wings are quite good, though I prefer the buffalo wings to their house style. By far best thing on the menu are the Mediterranean style sliders. Beef best. Sides are good but again not great. I really wish this place was great.
(4)Elizabeth G.
I visited this place a few times. I tried their falafel pita pockets which are decent like your average falafel shop fare, but not outstanding. I also tried their hummus and shawarma platter - chicken on one occasion and beef on another, which I found tasty and enjoyable. The chicken was slightly crispy and smoky on the outside, yet still a but juicy inside. Their beef was very good as well. It's a bit of a heavy combination with the hummus, but definitely a solid meal. I am a fan of their moujjadara lentil dish - just the right amount of spicy and not overbearing. I found their line of desserts pretty good - such as their... bird's nest, is it called? Anyway, shredded wheat with honey and filled with chopped pistachios.
(3)Isabel S.
Good place to make a fast and cheap snack. Fair enough.
(4)John M.
Amir's is pretty decent. Very limited menu. Their chicken shawarma's have formed a staple part of my diet.
(4)Annie R.
They recently re-conceptualized their menu and have organic meats, natural sodas, craft/local beers, etc. They probably had to do that to compete with nearby Maoz, and it was a great idea! The food is really good & fresh, great beer selection ($4 too!) and quick delivery. We love coming here and are happy with the changes. One thing - the "white meat chicken," which I think is the charbroiled - isn't really all that white meat, it's kind of less dark than the shwarma. They might wanna look into that.
(4)Noviembre P.
Fast service. Nice environment. Reasonable priced. Limited menu
(3)Mar T.
I've been coming to Amir's on and off for over ten years. It's a great spot for a quick, inexpensive, delicious bite! I'll be back!
(4)Stephanie R.
"Meh. I've experienced better." Thank you Yelp, that is the perfect way to describe this place! The atmosphere makes it appear that the food will be much better than it actually is. For the price, I would expect a really good shwarma sandwich but mine was dry and needed tons of tahini sauce to improve it.
(2)A.S. G.
The way I see it, there are two routes one can go with falafel in this city: Cheap and "good enough," or expensive and worth the money. Amir's, you're not allowed to mix and match. Appreciating that they're both downtown, but they're the best bases for comparison: Taïm in W. Village and SoHo is slow and overpriced, but absolutely amazing falafel. Not just great falafel itself, but fresh pita and vegetables. Mamoun's in both E. and W. Village, cheaps out a little on the vegetables, but you get your food in like 30 seconds, and it costs $3. Amir's: You cannot charge $7, take 15 minutes, and use inferior ingredients. Choose one path or the other. Don't tell me it can't be done. You have a large contingent of poor Columbia students who could give you volume business if you want to do it on the cheap.
(2)LoongYi T.
Came here for a quick lunch on a close friend's recommendation. I had the chicken shawarma lunch sandwich , a Mac and cheese side, and a small root beer soda. Chicken shawarma sandwich: Wasn't impressed with this. The chicken was very dry and tasteless. The texture of the meat resembled more of salad croutons than chicken. Comes with lots of vegetables and a very thin wheat pita pocket. If you pick the sandwich up, the contents rip out of the pocket. Mac & cheese: The cashier recommended this side over my initial choice of the side falafels. Decent portion size, but bland and not baked well. Seemed like part of the macaroni was baked and part of it wasn't. Not sure if this was by design or by accident. If it was by accident, they should have put more cheese to get a better bake crust. Overall, this was ok. The root beer they had from the soda fountain was really good. I didn't catch what brand of soda it was. It must have been an small independent soda company. Ok lunch place but it wasn't "call home" status.
(3)Katherine C.
I'm not crazy about their chicken fingers but they have great mac and cheese, hummus, and seasonal vegetables.
(3)Janet L.
oh no... what happened? three times now my falafels were burnt and they were very greasy. the lunch deal is great but i will pass...
(2)Whitney R.
I've never had a bad experience at Amir's, so it's hard for me to connect with all the negative reviews for this establishment. Amir's is my go-to place for take-away lunch near Columbia. I always order a falafel or shwarma in a whole wheat wrap. It's less than $7, is really large and filling, always tastes great, and is ready super quickly. I noticed that they now serve beer and wine on tap for those who wish to hang around. I think they'll have to do a little work on their decor before that becomes an appealing option, though. My only complaint: I noticed that the till always adds the tax incorrectly to the total bill, which gives them an extra few cents with every transaction. I'm hoping that money goes toward tipping the staff, and I'm going to ignore the possibility that Amir's might be crooked in their business practices... At least I they haven't poisoned me like the nearby halal cart (see: yelp.com/biz/hoodas-hala… ).
(4)Jen E.
The food here is great and so if you are looking for good mac & cheese, falafel, etc. I would definitely suggest going. HOWEVER, I would definitely not go there if you are hoping to have a good customer service experience. There is one gentleman that works the cash register that is downright rude, argues with customers, and then talks about them to other Amir's employees right in front of you. Real nice. If you are looking for good food and decent people who work at the establishment, lucky for you there are TONS of other restaurants in the neighborhood. Don't waste your time here.
(2)Aliya C.
loved the pita mac n cheese! open late and great beer selection!
(5)Finlay L.
This place is fine for the basics. Their falafel is really crispy, sometimes almost too much so, but if you're craving the fried crunchy taste it hits the spot. In the Columbia neighborhood there's almost no such thing as a cheap meal, so the $3.50 falafel pita is a bargain. But definitely stick to the simple stuff. The salad I had a while back was so tangy it upset my stomach. Today I tried "The Moroccan," a plate of couscous with vegetable stew. It managed to be both tasteless and bad-tasting at the same time, not to mention kind of soggy. And, unlike the sandwiches, it was *not* cheap. Since it came with pita and salad, and I got it with falafel, I luckily didn't leave hungry, but I won't stray from the straight and narrow path again.
(2)Sheryl L.
We ordered the falafel with babaganoush on the side as well as the shawarma chicken with hummus on the side. Both dishes came with their special soda. The food was good, especially the chicken. I was a little disappointed that the falafel was so greasy, but what to expect from deep fried food. I thought it fun to try a new brand of soda, but turns out I prefer the typical big names of coke and Pepsi. Too bad.
(3)Post N.
Over the years I walked by this tiny cafe Amir's. I purchased a pita a few years ago and was not impressed. Recently Amir's has gone through a rebirth. The decor has been updated and the menu has nice new additions. While with a friend I noticed they had beignets and French pressed coffee. We tried both items and were very pleased. Yes the beignets came in a brown paper bag and yes it was messy but they were tasty and fun. I went back again and tried their regular coffee and the small version of the beignets and enjoyed my visit. The service was very helpful and the place is cute.
(4)Howard H.
This place has been here for 30 plus years. Decent falafel but Jerusalem on 104 is better.
(3)M G.
This had promise, but Amir's failed to include the pita bread with my Amir's platter. My fault for not checking my order before I left. The sides I got were decent, yet hard to enjoy without pita bread. If you do find yourself here, I'd recommend the Moujjadara and Seasonal Veggies.
(2)Saira K.
This is good if you don't have time to get to another (better) Middle Eastern place. The meat is very dry, and the falafel leaves much to be desired. I like their mujadarrah - which, to a South Asian, is similar to daal chawal - lentils and rice topped with fried onions - but they usually give you way too much rice and not much lentils.
(3)Robert W.
New management, a new menu and a revamped interior make Amir's a completely different restaurant than the one reviewed here earlier. The chicken shawarma is moist, crispy and flavorful on its own as a side, and fresh-tasting and well-seasoned (just the right amount of citrus) in a pita sandwich. The hummus is likewise very good. The beer tap (new) must be the best within a mile of the CU campus (it features Empire, Ommegang and Brooklyn Brewery), and the Boylan's soda fountain is ingenious. Alas, the falafel varies between being too dry and too oily. The service goes above and beyond, helping to make Amir's a new, extremely welcome presence on Morningside.
(4)Arthur Z.
This is tough. I went to Columbia University to do some site seeing with people who visited New York and got bored and hungry so wandered off campus to go find something to eat and explore. With limited time I came across this little interesting joint. The presentation sure is nice, and the cashier sure was helpful. Now the problem is whether the food was very good, and to that I answer it was ok. It was reasonably priced, and you get a fair share, I got some sort of meal with a fresh cane sugar fountain soda which was also alright. I can't blame them as I'm not that big of a soda fan. Anyhow back to the food, sure I don't often dine on the food offered, which is one of the reasons why I tried it, but the chicken left something to be desired as did the lentils with...I forgot. The problem I'd say with this place is lack of flavor, I'm sure there are other restaurants that serve this type of food, what type I don't know but I have a feeling they'd be more flavorful.
(3)LUVtoEat A.
I am so surprised to see so many bad reviews. I just had lunch with 3 friends today and everyone loved their food so much we were talking about going back there tomorrow. I am trying to think why some people would give it a negative review. The food was very fresh. The staff was super nice. The service was fast and polite. Much better than Maoz down the street where, although the food is good, they give you an attitude for everything. This is real, not chain food like Maoz. I was glad to see the place packed. Happy to see that they are doing a good business.
(5)Alex E.
I order from here often because: 1-They are ALWAYS (~15 orders) on time 2-They have very nice delivery guys who understand slightly unusual intercom/access instructions. Now, the food - A Mixed bag : The hummus is disgusting, really god awful. I don't understand at all how it could be so bad. Salads: fresh, crisp, light natural dressing - the best bang for your buck of all options if you like big salads- very large portion. Nowhere better to order a large salad for less than 10$. Except they Recently reduced the price (5$) and serving size (its still bigger than any salad you could order for 5$) but id happily order 2 now for a huge veggie meal. Pita: always eh, dried out. Sides: great - the lentils/beans/rice dishes are really delicious, not greasy, and not available at other comparable places. Big portions too. They recently added a roast corn kernels - yum! "Vegetable of the day" - not bad. "Salt potatoes" - awesome! cole slaw - fresh and tangy. The Shwarma sandwiches are perfectly fine - but until they get decent hummus and condiments think of this as a cheap friendly vegetarian place - -- Also - they added simple roast chicken - 6$ for a leg+thigh, pita and 1side is an amazing deal and the chicken is so well prepared, not fatty or salty, claims to be free range/organic. i just dont think there are many places to order a simple roast chicken leg, maybe at a diner but then youre paying like 15$ for a half chicken and it's usually not as tasty. This place is a gem if you know what to order. It happens not to do the traditional Mideast fare better than the halal carts- but theveggie sides are better than at most vegetarian places and the roast chicken is great if you want a simple healthy meal
(4)Table For Tw O.
The girlfriend visited this place with a few friends just to grab some of the beignets and absolutely loved them - Hot, fluffy puffs of amazingness. Too bad they were out when she brought me by Amir's again last night. Not to fear though, I was immediately pleased with the availability of the Boylan Bottling Co's sodas at the soda fountain. The food is all reasonably priced, and I really enjoyed the falafel - very fresh, crispy on the outside, and well-seasoned within. The pita, on the other hand, was a bit dry and tasteless. The girlfriend ordered some kind of chicken wrap, and noticed, like other yelpers, that the "white meat chicken" wasn't all white meat. The lentils and rice with onions came in a pretty big portion, and while a little on the bland side, we felt good about getting a fairly healthy, quick, reasonably priced lunch. Everything was freshly made. Will be back again to try some of their other dishes.
(3)Caitlin R.
Meh. I had the Veggie sandwich, which was supposed to be good for the price point. I read on Serious Eats that the Veggie was $3.50, but it was actually $4.85. If it had been $3.50, I would have been more willing to grab this again sometime in the future when I was looking for something quick and cheap. However, for almost $5 I'm not interested in mushy, greasy vegetables, pretty bland flavor, and canned beets. I normally love canned beets, but it was really bad that they were by far the most flavorful part of the sandwich. Yelp reviews said there were various great hot sauces on the tables - there were two, and they were both really bland as well. They seemed old. I probably won't go back. If I did, I would perhaps try a platter, and steer very clear from the Veggie.
(2)Jacqui K.
I'm surprised to see so many poor reviews for this place. This has recently become my go to place for when I'm craving healthy, fast, and fresh delivery. Sure, it's not gourmet, but if you're in the mood for some hummus or a simple salad, you really can't go wrong with Amir's. And, their iced coffee is also a pleasant surprise; I prefer it to starbuck's or even Oren's!
(4)Joy D.
Used to be good, now it sucks. Used to get delicious, fresh salads with crispy falafel balls. Now the salads are horrible -- wilted, small, watery, with tomatoes that aren't even ripe. Like, green and bitter and hard. Sick. Apparently now it's called "Amir's Grill" and they serve chicken wings. WTF.
(1)Leaf W.
Meh indeed. I mean, don't get me wrong, no one was rude, nothing was dirty (except for the top of my soda, so I was like "Can you rinse this for me?" and the guy said "Ok" and his boss says "Just grab another" And I was like "I want this one rinsed" and so it was rinsed off) They answered my questions, it was not expensive, it was edible.the soda was $1.25 And that's why two stars. There did not appear to be a restroom. I would go back if I were hungry again, but more likely I would walk ten blocks up to Veg Out over who's food I drool.
(2)Teraneh J.
I'm surprised by all the negative reviews... maybe I went on a good day... I was quite satisfied with my falafel sandwich. Not the best I've had, but definitely not the worst. The baba ganooush was quite good. And the portion size here was excellent! I was stuffed before I even finished all my food. I also like how they provide water pitchers and plastic cups. I would visit Amir's Falafel again.
(4)Emma T.
My biggest complaint about Amir's is that I didn't know about it for the first year and a half I lived here. Their grilled chicken wrap is phenomenal and has the perfect combination of garlic, chicken, and deliciousness. I have never had any service that was less than prompt and friendly. The decor is welcoming and they have Boylan sodas (my favorite) to drink. It's a little pricey but not for the neighborhood. I would not recommend the fries but be sure to get the hot begniets as they are cheap and delicious as well. I got the wrap thinking I would save half for dinner but it was so good I ate it all and was back the next day.
(5)Diamond L.
Had the best lunch here today. I've never been here before, and the girl at the counter was happy to walk me through the lunch options. I decided on the pita crusted chicken tenders with a yummy bbq sauce. I also had Mac and cheese,which was good but I could have used more cheese. I love that they offer natural, cane-sugared sodas. The place was clean, friendly, and everything in the restaraunt smelled great! If I move to NYC, this will be my go-to spot.
(5)Hermany N.
Quite cheap sandwiches, healthy. But it tastes sooooo bad, especially when i had a hummus there for the first time. The sauce tastes nasty BTW, worse than the things in food cart. Not going there again.
(2)Peter N.
The food is good and for being so close to campus, the prices are pretty good. Rotisserie chicken is usually a can't miss order, but sometimes it can be a bit dry.
(4)Pria P.
Not sure why all the hate for Amir's- I just tried it for the first time the other day, and I have to say it supersedes Maoz in my opinion. The lentil/protein combo entree is really good and healthy- lentils and rice, with grilled chicken atop a fresh salad. $9. It's one of the better options for a cheap, hearty lunch near Columbia.
(4)Elbee M.
This place just sucks, and I eat here sometimes too...
(1)Laura S.
I can't speak for most of their options, but the veggie wraps here are quite good. They always come out quickly and they are reasonably priced. Also, I love that they have a bunch of different hot sauces out on the tables.
(3)Dmitry R.
To begin....I give it one star for it's cleanliness. That's best thing I could say about this place.. A little background on me...I tend to go out a lot and always eager to try different places and different food. As far as Felafel's go...I been to several places and carts...LOL..I have tasted some very good and some not so good. I was in the area..and decided to give this place a try since it looked very clean. The first thing that turned me off slightly was the price...but I guess in that area...its understandable. I like my Falafel with everything on it. What I got was a Pita with large chunks of tomatoes and other vegetables...the sauce was watered down and had no taste. All this can be forgiven if the Falafel was good. The Falafel was cold...and overly crisp which makes me think it was sitting there for awhile. I would think running a Falafel place, you would try to make the food to order...it's a Falafel after all and only takes a couple of minutes to make it fresh...what I had was not fresh at all. If you like Falafel or middle eastern food...this is not the place.
(1)Alice G.
Amir's really sucks. People are fond of it, because it's the closest falafel place to Columbia, but the falafels are always cold. Also, while their hummus is decent, their baba ganoush tastes stale. Plus, when they sell leek and potato soup, it would help if there were actual leeks in it. I'm not asking too much for the price. Just honest information about soup ingredients. Really, Amir's is not good, unless you like your falafel cold, and you might do better with the falafel cart on Broadway. Jerusalem Falafel (btw 103 and 104) is much better. Plus, they will give you free hummus and act friendly. I even prefer Maoz.
(1)Mustafa H.
Solid Middle Eastern food. Had a major redesign recently and the quality of their food has improved remarkably while staying very affordable. The new beer selection is nice, too, at just $4 a beer.
(4)Hassan A.
Heres a review of the only combination at Amirs Felafel that i go for. Felafel platter with hummus and french fries. Of all the hummus places i have tried in the city, Amirs hummus is most consistently fresh. although french fires are better known to go with ketchup rather than hummus, but over here i always order fries with hummus cuz its so good. highly recommended, fellas.
(4)Gray B.
I've been here three times now and only on the last visit did they really make me mad. I ordered a burrito with chicken but when I got back to my apartment, I discovered that the burrito had no chicken at all. As far as I'm concerned, Amir owes me $2.50. In the past I've tried the beef and chicken sandwiches and the chicken is slightly better in my opinion but they're both just mediocre. The fries can be good if you eat them immediately, as they can get too soggy when doing takeout.
(2)Aaron L.
If this was what food was really like in Lebanon, Hezbollah would have died off of rampant dysentery before plotting their first attack. Thankfully, real Lebanese cooking is much better than Amir's... wait... Middle Eastern paramilitary organizations aside, I enjoy Lebanese food and falafel is one of the few vegetarian dishes I can swear by -- possibly because it's fried -- preferably in the oily fats of a dead animal. Now, I've had amazing falafel before in the city and in Israel. I've had good falafel. I've had bad falafel. I used to live in Arizona after all and there isn't much in the way of "good" Middle Eastern food there. Amir's, however, is a new category of awful: a smell of charred herb-like-chemicals, burned outsides, grainy innards that feature the texture of doughnuts, and a general lack of taste. Am I going to bother reviewing the hummus? The shwarma? Naw. It's called "Amir's Falafel." Their namesake should be their best product, and the reason the restaurant stays in business. And if it weren't for naive Columbia students, this place would be out of business and replaced by a better falafel restaurant. Or a Starbucks. Oh, and to counter Rich U's accusation and (dare I say) personal attack upon myself of being a: 'sweater-over-an-untucked-shirt wearing, pseudo-beard rocking, glasses-they-don't-really-need using, x-game watching, "app" utilizing, Ahmadinejad enabling, kayaking ecotourist, self-absorbed, overly pierced and tattooed, hyper tweeting, overprivileged, moral relativist 20 something (or soon to be) Columbia students who regularly rip this place...' I tuck my shirts in, my beard just grows in thin which isn't my fault, I wear contacts, don't watch the x-games, use apps because they make life easier, prefer to enable Iranian citizens, haven't kayaked since being in the Virgin Islands 4 years ago, guilty, never pierced nor tattooed, think twitter is a fad, came from humble roots, morally decent 28yo Manhattan School of Music graduate. If you like Amir's "balls" so much, why don'tcha just go suck on them.
(1)Rich U.
Far be it from me to argue with all the sweater-over-an-untucked-shirt wearing, pseudo-beard rocking, glasses-they-don't-really-need using, x-game watching, "app" utilizing, Ahmadinejad enabling, kayaking ecotourist, self-absorbed, overly pierced and tattooed, hyper tweeting, overprivileged, moral relativist 20 something (or soon to be) Columbia students who regularly rip this place - BUT: Amir's falafel balls are PERFECT and consistent! They are MUCH better than the vastly overrated and too dry Mamoun's (NYU crowd) and Sido's (located nearby). Seriously, I've never had falafel so perfectly done - crispy/moist on the outside and flavorful/tender inside. Great flavor and a great bargain. I love their Shawarma sandwich too. Service is competent and efficient - never gruff. Still, no love for Amir's from the career protesters who make up Lion Nation. I'm perplexed. Perplexed, but not ill-equipped to accurately critique authentic and tasty Middle Eastern/Lebanese food. I HAVE SPOKEN!!
(4)Hideki K.
Back in grad school, I used to frequent Amir's. I liked their falafels, lamb, and baklavas / semolina desserts. I haven't been there in over 4 years, so can't comment as to how good or bad it is now.
(3)P P.
I'm a new customer and will continue to choose Amir's Grill as a reliable delivery choice. Foremost, they consistently deliver quickly. Having recent dietary restrictions I am thrilled with their menu--fresh with a variety of healthy combination choices. The selection of items is not vast but how you can put it together is. The food preparation is excellent. You can taste all of the food is without additives, its definitely fresh and the preparation is quality. I had a problem with one delivery, got on the phone and it was immediately fixed. This is terrific service. The portions are big and the menu allows portion control--you do not have to spend a lot to have enough or pay for more food than you want. The lentils & rice are excellent, the babaganush as well, salad fresh & quality ingredients and I especially liked the tabbouleh because enjoyable tabbouleh that stands on its own is hard to come by. The whole wheat pita is a bit dry but the sauces and dishes make that a non-issue; its whole wheat which is dry generally. In short, if you want well prepared food quickly, this is a reliable source. If you prefer "natural flavors" you may not appreciate this menu.
(4)Sharp H.
People get off on bitching about Amir's - it's like a rite of passage for newcomers to Columbia to talk about how they don't like it, as if it shows their big-city bona fides. But honestly... it's pretty good. It's a small place best suited for a quick lunch. When I go, I typically get the chicken shawarma or hummus platter. The service could be better but it's always accurate and I've never had a problem waiting, even though there's often a good number of people in there for lunch. It'd be a lot more convenient if they took credit cards, but there's an ATM in the place. Probably the worst thing about it is that if you in to sit down on a cold day, there's going to be a huge blast of cold air every time someone comes in. Also it's unclear what exactly you're supposed to do with your tray after you're done eating. But these are minor points. Really you could probably get a comparable lunch on the go from a halal food cart, so there's nothing really drawing you here, but it's not a place worth avoiding.
(3)Tovah S.
I haven't written a review on yelp in almost a year, but I signed on specifically to write this review. And my review is: Yuck. Falafel shouldn't taste like donuts.
(1)Noodles M.
What an effing dump. The food was ok. I still say Hummus Place is da bombdiggity. In fact a new Hummus Place opened on Broadway not too long ago on 101st street I think. Yum. Getting back to Amir's. The "staff" is usually one Lebanese guy who doesn't cook an effing thing. 2 Mexicans are right behind him cooking their a**es off. The kitchen was dirty. The place looked like a refurbished pizza joint. Nothing struck me as even closely linking this place to Lebanon with the exception to the music. That was the best part. Heard some great Lebanese singers like: Fairouz and George Wassouf. But I have my iTunes and iPhone for music.
(1)Irene W.
after 5, they have the dinner deal: a falafel, side, and drink costs about 8 bucks. you can also choose to have chicken or beef, with a side and drink which will cost 10 bucks. my falafel was alright, although there were some that were so hard, i had trouble biting into it. the sauce was slightly spicy, the portions were just the right amount. it filled me up FAST! i ordered a side of babaganoush (or you can choose fries), and i had tons left over and an entire extra pita bread. it's nothing i would absolutely crave but it's not bad if you're super hungry and in the area. there's much better food in nyc and the upper west side than this.
(2)Antonia D.
I'm a huge falafel person, but given the prices and the college neighborhood I wasn't expecting the quality of the food to be life changing. I mean, where else can you get 6 falafels and a full pita for $4.00? The counter guy was sweet and took time to explain the menu options to me since it was my first time there. I'll go back if I'm in the neighborhood and looking for a really cheap, full meal. A-OK.
(3)Sienna K.
I've been putting off writing my scathing review of Amir's, but seeing as how this place was shut down yesterday by the Department of Health, now seems like a good time as any to do some ranting. Amir's is a take-out Lebanese restaurant that is neither good nor cheap. I've always suspected that the only reason this sad excuse of a Middle Eastern store remained in business was because it had smartly placed itself next to a college campus. After all, who needs to work on quality when your customers are notriously known to have undiscerning palates, voracious appetittes, and a disdain for responsbile spending? And although the food at Amir's isn't expensive, it isn't cheap either, especially considering the disturbingly low quality of the dishes. The falafel at Amir's is $4.99. Granted, it's one of the cheaper food options in the neighborhood, it's still pretty pricey for a falafel. While the price at Amir's is comparable to Maoz down on 72nd (also $4.99), it's double the costs of the dish at Mamoun's. And despite being twice as expensive, the falafel at Amir's is utterly disappointing. The pita bread is always too stale and breaks apart far too easily. The falafel balls are pre-cooked and microwaved to order, causing them to be soggy, mushy, and flavorless. The vegetables inside are drained of color and are limp. But the worst part about this already awful falafel sandwhich is that instead of the delicious yogurt sauce, Amir's soaks the insides of the dish with way too much Tahini. And while I like Tahini as much as the next person, its effects on the sandwhich is that it makes it messier (the falalfel always falls apart into a sloppy mess), heavier, and greasier. The shawarma here is just as bad. Not only are the pita too fragile and tasteless, the vegetables still wilting, but the meat here is way too tough and dry. Last time I ordered the beef shawarma, I watched as the guy in the kitchen took up the pre-sliced chunks of meat, throw them into the microwave, and then chucked them into the pita sandwhich. And indeed, when I took a bite, the meat was so dry, it was almost like jerky. The service is rude and the place is cold and unappealing. But on top of that, Amir's also apparently had 77 health code violations. Some specific crimes includ roach infestations in the food storage area and evidence of fly infestation. Is it wrong for me wish that Amir's never comes back? I don't care what they put in its place, as long as it's not Amir's. Heck, put in a White Castle and it'll still be better than the roach infested craphole that is Amir's.
(1)Acacia G.
I'm never going back here again. The only good thing I can say about it is that it's cheap and looks clean. However, the falafel is ridiculously over-salted, which makes me wonder what other nasty tastes it's covering up. The tahini is drab and flavorless. I respect Amir's as a small business, but when I'm in the mood for falafel, I will happily spend twice as much and walk twice as far to go to Maoz. This was gross.
(1)Shamus K.
Mediocre at best. Avoid. It's not fresh. I've gotten sick here. Enough said.
(1)Amanda A.
I shouldn't do anything without asking Yelpers first. Lesson 1: I stopped by Amir's because it was close to school/my place of employment. I wanted falafel. Didn't think it would be that complicated. Instead, the falafel in my sandwich was dry and swimming in sauce. The pita was dry too. The decent baklava didn't make up for this bad culinary experience or the inevitable gastronomical consequences. I wish I had read the bad reviews and warnings of health code violations first. Here's hoping I've learned my lesson. If you're in the mood for a quick falafel pita in Morningside Heights/SW Harlem, try Cafe Au Lait on Broadway b/w 121st and 122nd. I am crazy in love with their avocado/hummus sammie. Their pita isn't great, but the filling rocks.
(1)Jim G.
Clean, friendly, fresh, and they support Columbia University Athletics. This place is great and if you need a boost try the coffee.
(4)Jon K.
The fact that I was overjoyed when I saw someone write that this place had been shut down the department of health is probably enough of a review, but I'll continue. The food here is god awful. They overfry their falafel to rock hard flavorless crap, they overcharge you for it, and yet they stayed in business because there isn't real competition. Their hummus and baba ghanoush is flavorless and has terrible texture. I'm sorry I ever went there once, and I feel bad for every undergrad who's made that unfortunate mistake. I hope(if they haven't already) that they never reopen. Maybe one of my four or five least favorite restaurants in the city.
(1)Claudia T.
So surprised that the reviews for Amir's are so low on yelp! I've been here a couple times for lunch with friends after class. I usually get the falafel combo and it always comes out with just the right amount of crunch and flavor. The fries are always hot and perfectly cooked. Arguably at the level of many falafel places in Israel, and better than many falafel places in this city (i.e Maoz, Pita Joe's etc) However, the last time I went with my SO, he was pretty underwhelmed by the chicken shawarma. All in all, a decent place run by nice people and pretty fairly priced good food (even without the Columbia student discount).
(4)Robbie K.
I got the chicken shwarama...it was decent. They had one bottle of good hot sauce but the rest of the hot sauce bottles were random Mexican brands. I also got the hummus, which was decent but a little runny. The pitas provided for dipping were clearly grocery-store bought. I'll give Amir's another chance b/c I love this type of food, but the execution here is pretty low quality.
(2)Sultan A.
Their chicken and beef shawerma is really good. My favorite dish is "The Works" with added chicken or beef. You get some salad and from protein in your system. I've been there quiet a few times and I still like it.
(5)Tommy C.
One of the guys who works here has the loveliest sad eyes and is clearly a dyed-in-the-wool romantic. He cut my red onion into a heart shape the other day. So sweet!
(4)Sarah G.
I actually think the falafel here is rather good. I can only speak for the hummus falafel pita and grape leaves. Grape leaves (dolmas) I can do without, but the falafel was never over-dried or over-spiced. Very quick and place seems clean but they were CLOSED BY THE HEALTH INSPECTOR for about 2 weeks. I'm a bit ruined since then, I can't decide whether to go back or not. There's nowhere else nearby to get falafel this far UWS. Pitas are cheap, but anything else gets pricier. Only counter space and a couple booths, but not really too much room inside, more a take and go place.
(4)Rachel D.
Amir's is my favorite place to get a quick, cheap, tasty lunch near campus. the staff maintain a friendly and calm demeanor at all times. I'm a huge fan of the baba ganoush platter. consistent quality, speedy service, add some hot sauce, you're good to go. update: I felt I should mention that I used to get the beef shawarma, but once it was kind of stringy & gristly. Yuck. But i continue to strongly endorse the baba ganoush.
(3)Srini V.
It is a well known fact that, when in school, "fine dining" standards are suitably lowered to match "earnings", that largely originate from student loans. Here is an extract ripped out of the weekly record of expenses for a Columbia University graduate student who shall remain unnamed for the purposes of this review. Rent, books, entertainment, etc. are not shown. ________________________________ | | | Week of March 9, 1998 | | | | Food: | | Hamilton Deli * 5 $25 | | Koronet Pizzeria * 2 $12 | | Amir's Falafel * 2 $15 | | V & T * 1 $20 | | Ollie's * 1 $15 | | University Market * 2 $40 | | | | Drinks: | | Yogi's * 2 $20 | | West End * 2 $30 | \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/Â\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ Amir's Falafel is a reliable pit stop in the typical CU student's weekly journey through the mediocre Morningside Heights collection of restaurants. The fare is Lebanese and the space is appropriately basic for the university setting. Expect some traffic during lunch time and dinner, but not as much as in some other eateries in the neighborhood. I am generally happy with the falafel+hummus platter. The hummus managed to get high praise from a Middle Eastern food connoisseur with exacting standards, on a recent visit. The falafel is a tad dry and the tahini sauce just passes muster. The dessert choices may be viewed in the showcase by the counter. The baklava is above-average while the bird's nest with pistachios is less desirable. Amir's is good value for money. And an excellent fast-food choice as you wait for your term papers to be printed at Kinko's, or when you are in need of a quick eat-in lunch or dinner in the area.
(3)Harry H.
Waltzed into this place not knowing what to expect. Got the falafel for lunch takeout but wasn't thrilled with it. Service was very rude, especially considering they were the worse side communication-wise. Definitely wouldn't return unless I somehow had to. Allegedly it's a cabbie hangout, per A Cook's Tour.
(2)Shannon D.
All things considered this place is pretty good for the price and area. Enjoyed falafel and tabouleh here on more than one occasion and it was clean and i found seating. Will stop in again
(4)Rachel K.
(I'm assuming this restaurant is the same as the location in Morningside Heights) I probably would have ignored this place entirely, as it gets lost next to the construction at Havana Central, but I was recommended to the eatery by a fellow classmate. Feeling the need to change it up from NY pizza and bagels, I went for the Shawarma Beef sandwich, which included beef, lettuce, tomato, and tahini sauce in pita bread. If the pita had actually stuck together more, the sandwich might have been more enjoyable. The taste wasn't bad, but I tired of it quickly. I wish I had more to say, but the meal in general was less than impressive - especially for a $6 sandwich.
(3)Sue F.
Amir's... you break my heart! I just moved here and thought that you would be this great, non-chain, inexpensive go-to place for falafel, and then I realized that you put bread crumbs or some kind of filler into your falafel mix, in order to bulk it out. Is that why the pita is $3.50? The result is just bland, dry falafel.
(2)S. O.
Makes a great falafel, and fast! This place is predominantly for take-out. There are tables but it's a no-frills type of place. Sometimes they'll close before posted closing hours and sit at the counter shrugging at me like they can't imagine why I would want to come in.
(4)Skyler M.
I dig the hummus pita pocket. Can't say much about anything else. The hummus is way too lemon-y on its own, but perfect for a decently-priced, filling sandwich.
(3)mike d.
There are some big haters here. And I haven't had their falafel more than once so i can't speak to it. But the shish kebab sandwich is absolutely delicious. You can feel safe ordering that.
(4)andrew S.
Stopped in here for some Falafel. I was pleasantly surprised - the falafel was pretty good, with some spicy flavor built in, so I was not too disappointed by the lack of hot-sauce selection (most is bottled mexican stuff, though they did have a watery house sauce). The whole-wheat pita was generously stuffed with falafel, fresh lettuce and tomato - quite a feat given the blizzard conditions this week. I think it may have been the best $3.50 I have ever spent! I can't comment on the rest of the menu as all I had was the falafel, but the man behind the counter was super friendly and kind and I would be happy to return there. I am sure there are other great falafel places in NYC but anyone who starts comparing these places to the middle east is setting themselves up for disappointment. Also, the decor was very clean, somewhat more "artistically" appointed than one might expect for a falafel place - the tables are made from cast-resin around stones, very cool, and the light fixtures are colorful mosaic-style.
(3)Suzanne H.
I really am surprised by the terrible reviews Amir's has! I think they're great! I use them as a catering service and they always deliver the food on time and delicious. We used it for a student function and of 125 students I didn't hear any complaints only compliments. I'm using them again this year, let's see if they're as good as I remember!
(4)Sir W.
I am kind of surprised how poor the reviews are for Amir's. Don't get me wrong, it's definitely an average falafel place, but at a price of $3.50 near Columbia, I don't have too much to complain about. The tahini sauce was fine, pickles and vegetables were fine. The falafel was kind of greasy with less taste than you might expect, but still a decent falafel. Most people are exaggerating on these reviews. I have been to some of the best falafel shops in NYC (Mamoun's, Maoz etc.) and Amir's is a nice, cheap alternative if you live in the Morningside Heights neighborhood.
(3)Stella K.
I used to grab a quick bite here fairly often between classes, and I don't think falafel was ever bad. Admittedly I'm not a falafel fan to begin with but for the price, it was always a good and satisfying lunch, especially compared to other options in the area.
(3)Jill K.
The worst middle eastern food to ever enter my mouth. I'll never eat here again, and here's why: *The service was slow, and frankly, rude. *My lamb schwarma wrap truly tasted like vomit. *The sketchy New-York-in-the-80s meets soup kitchen vibe is a turn-off. Think broken booths, messy floors, and a suspiciously greasy counter. *It costs a lot to eat this bad: Everything, from my Diet Snapple to the wrap, was priced $3 extra. LAME!
(1)Natalie B.
Overpriced for the quality. I got the falafel platter, which was supposed to be a large salad with a falafel sandwich. Falafel was dry, salad was limp (if you can call it salad) and pita was store bought and cold.
(1)Kevin O.
Update! The main entrees/sandwiches are still pretty bad here, however I do have to recommend their pastries. Also, their homemade iced tea is pretty good if you like unsweetened iced tea. At $1.35 it's also a bit cheaper than buying a bottle of something here or elsewhere.
(2)G. Michael G.
Nastiness on a plate. I tried several things there: two types of wraps (mine and a friend's), their hummus and some sweets. The only thing that was really any good was the baklava which would be hard to mess up. Even it wasn't spectacular, it was just okay. I went once and won't be going again!
(1)Ben C.
Amir's is the place to grab a quick and tasty falafel pita/plate. Like someone else pointed out, the decor is no frills and that goes for the food too. Simple, but good! Prices are reasonable too. Just about everything on the menu (except the platters) is in the $4-9 range. I consider this a great value, especially compared to nearby take-out options.
(3)Maria V.
Back when I was a student at Columbia I heard Amir's mentioned a lot as cheap digs for your chickpea dosage. Years after college, I'm back in the neighborhood and in need of a quick bite. I was quite disappointed! Though I'm not Lebanese, I'm Greek, so I do have SOME idea what good falafel and hommus tastes like. This was awfully runny cheap tahini and the pita pockets were slapped together. A mess to eat and a bit overpriced considering it was hommus in a store-bought pita pocket with iceberg lettuce and styrofoam-esque tomatoes. Come on now.
(2)Mike W.
I've heard it posited before that the quality of your classic take-outs like pizza and Chinese tend to fall across a normal distribution. This means that the majority of time when you order them, they will taste good and be exactly what you expect with few outliers in either direction. I would add the Mediterranean mainstays to that classification, such as your falafel, hummus, fatoush and the like. My experience at Amir's would confirm this. Good falafel pita, with a plus for spiciness and a minus for too many tomatoes. Above-par lentil soup, though it's not much to look at. Inexpensive, but I've had inexpensive...er. We're sitting right atop of the curve here: getting the job done sans fanfare.
(3)T R.
I was looking for an inexpensive place where I could sit down and eat with a friend up near Columbia, and this was just about the only thing I could find. My cousin said she used to eat here all the time but then heard it was "scary" and stopped going; I found it distinctly not "scary," just an average small food joint (fairly clean, fairly busy, fairly priced). My beef shawarma wrap was $7 and it was big enough for me to save half for a midnight snack...not the best tahini sauce I've ever had, but I'll definitely go back when I'm craving this particular mix of flavors in this area. Also, I think they deliver...
(3)Jacob W.
Tasty falafel, fresh greens, and great service make this shop a weekly stop on my trips to Columbia. It is great for lunch or a light dinner. Simple, affordable, and good. If you want a sit-down, multi-course Lebanese dinner... maybe you should look for the appropriate restaurant instead of complaining about this great little falafel joint.
(5)Brad T.
This is fast food done right! The quick and tasty middle eastern sandwiches, platters and fresh pastries are not to be missed. This is a family owned place and the owners really take pride in their business which has served the Morningside Heights community for years. Not to be missed - the shwarma sandwiches, birds nest pastries and Lebanese coffee, and a deliciously smokey babaghanoush which is out of this world.
(5)Felix H.
Come for the tastey sandwiches at good prices. Unless you want to get their homemade tea, grab your drink elsewhere along Broadway--it's marked up a bit here. Minus a point for overpriced (albeit well-made) desserts.
(4)Chinku G.
Food quality is poor. Service may be instantaneous, prices are low, but you're really getting just a bad imitation of what baba ganoush, falafel and all the delicious stuff is meant to be...
(3)