Salaam is fine dining in Athens but that doesn't mean the pretension that term typically conveys. The Mediterranean cuisine delivers what you would want - hummus, baba ganoush appetizer or mezza plate combos. I typically opt for the grilled lamb chops (generous portion) or the lamb kebab. You can also get wraps if the full dinner portion, usually with grilled vegetables and a rice pilaf or french fries choice, is too much. If you are a cold tea person, the Moroccan Mint Iced Tea is a favorite for sure and it is endless. Good wine and local beers selection. A number of the waiters have been there for years and really know the place, the patrons, and the vibe. Annie's Salad is great, just wish it was included as an option for the entrees as it used to be pre-COVID. Lovely ambiance and decorations. Big room and can at times get a little loud but still feels intimate at your table in the non-standard shaped room with pillars, screens, and nooks breaking it into smaller de facto sections. read more

Restaurant Salaam - Falafal Bowl - not always on the menu - Middle Eastern Near Me - Athens, Ohio

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This place is one of Athens' best kept secrets. What looks like a small storefront opens into one of the most appealing dining establishments I've been in since getting to southeast Ohio in 2019. The ambiance is inviting, with simple but incredibly well placed decoration throughout. And the scent of grilled meat walking up to the door.... I don't even remember waiting for the table, just sitting down and tearing into pita bread. The hummus has character, the tzatziki? Finally! Enough dill! Remember that real Mediterranean olives have pits - this is important for dental work! The shawarma and gyros graced our table, and we're a memory before too long. They are fine dining, so the price is a little higher on the entrées than I normally go for, but it's worth every penny no doubt. Delicious. read more

The food is excellent and the atmosphere takes you to a comfy Mediterranean hometown place where you can feel the vibe even though you're in Athens O. Not sure why Google category is Indian, it's clearly Turkish/Mediterranean. Our server was patient with our questions about the cuisine and popped over to check on us. My new favorite place read more

9/2024 We had dinner here at homecoming weekend. Another excellent experience. Food, service & facilities are excellent. read more

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Restaurant Salaam is not only my favorite Athens restaurant, it is quite possibly one of my favorite restaurants anywhere I have visited. The food is consistently excellent (personal favorites are the ribeye and the salmon), the atmosphere is cozy and calming ( the decor has so many cool things to look at while you're dining), and the service is always wonderful. Keri and the rest of the Salaam staff are amazing, attentive and considerate. Highly recommend this restaurant! read more

sooooo great! prices are a little high, but really worth it here. for a special dinner this place has a great vibe to it and the service was absolutely amazing. we were treated like we were the only table she was serving and it really made our experience. got the coconut chicken curry which was soooo good with some of the spices on the side. meza appetizer platter is a great choice to try a bit of everything as well! read more

The BEST restaurant in Athens! Ambience, food and service- all five plus plus stars. Great menu and the staff cannot be more accommodating.

The lamb kebabs were delicious!!!!!! Best pre marathon meal that I could hope for... The service was also great.

You must try this place in Athens. One of the next restaurants in Athens. If your looking for something light I recommend the Shawarma. Very tasty and a good amount especially if you start with an appetizer. If you are looking for a fuller plate you should get the lamb kabobs! You MUST start with the special Meze platter. We had the Baba Gannoush, Muhammara, & tzatziki. All were phenomenal. read more

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The flavor of the food was quite good, though the coconut chicken curry was a bit soupy and light on the chicken. For $24, the quantity of the food should have included more food. Thankfully there was warm bread and dipping sauce served before and during the meal to help fill us up. read more

Restaurant Salaam - Coconut chicken curry - Middle Eastern Near Me - Athens, Ohio

Unbelievably the finest dining in 50 miles (at least). Amazing variety, with the friendliest staff I've come across in years (especially Keri).. This is top of my list when visiting my son at college. read more

I wish I lived here so I could visit again. Stopped in with friends and had we all had wonderful meals. The dipping sauce for the bread is amazing and the waitstaff was cheerful and always available even tho they were short staffed. The salmon was delicious as was the chicken paprikash. read more

Restaurant Salaam - Salmon Tartour - Middle Eastern Near Me - Athens, Ohio

We were really pleased with Restaurant Salaam. The atmosphere was excellent, and the food was awesome. The waitress was a delight. Just wished we lived closer. I would highly recommend this establishment to anyone looking for great dining experience. read more

My friend had talked up this place and it seems like a popular place to go in Athens. We came past 1:30 on a Friday and it wasn't super busy. Groups were eating here and there but there were still a lot of empty tables. I almost wonder when I gets packed. I didn't see students in here, mostly older adults and young adults (beyond college aged). We were seated immediately and the host gave us water. Our server was really upbeat and smiley. She checked up on us a lot and was really nice. I ordered the falafel. Not as flavorful as I would like. The falafel pieces were shaped into small patties, so they sat at the bottom of the wrap. Most of the wrap tasted like a salad. I was a little disappointed but was glad they didn't put too much sauce in it. My friend got the Thai carrot soup (a special) and the Salaam salad wrap. She didn't like her soup and felt that the wrap didn't have a dressing at all. I thought the soup was good though. My other friend got the shawarma. It was actually the most flavorful of all that we ordered. She was pleased. They give fresh bread and you can dip it into oil. I added pepper to my oil for flavor. It was good! Probably the star of the show. It was very delicious and warm. The space isn't huge. It's one big room with lots of cultural decor to make the place look more Mediterranean. I liked it! They've got two bathrooms in the back for whichever gender. It was calming with the brown color scheme. I liked that they had children's toilet covers. Cute. Ha! read more

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This beautifully designed interior had a warm welcoming feel , and our service was totally on the ball from the minute we sat down. Super authentically made soups , vegetarian dishes, salads, baba ganoogh, etc. it was all spot on. I eat middle eastern all over the world and this place stacks up to the best. read more

Restaurant Salaam - Dining room - Middle Eastern Near Me - Athens, Ohio

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Amazing food and service! Best middle eastern food in Athens! I highly recommend grilled lamb chops specifically. read more

Nice Mediterranean restaurant in Athens. Service and food was great. Their complimentary house made bread was extremely fresh (came straight out of the oven). My friend and I shared an order of the falafel and meze platter. For my entree, I ordered the flat iron steak and chose the roasted red pepper-coconut soup as my starter. Falafel was really crispy and tasty. My friend said it was one of the best falafel she has ever tried. The meze platter had a nice mix of appetizers. I especially liked the hummus and baba gannoush. The red pepper soup was a solid choice for a starter. My flat iron steak was well seasoned and the rice and veggies on the side were equally as good. As for service, our server was super nice and had the perfect amount of attentiveness. During this pandemic, their regular menu isn't available. I recommend checking out their website for their hours and menu. Let's do our part and support local businesses! read more

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I have to start with the service. It's quite rare to have service this good. You have a primary server, but the staff works collectively to make sure you have everything you need and your table is always cleared. The food is fantastic and so many amazing options for vegans! read more

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What a delicious surprise in downtown Athens! My meal was lovely, start to finish. Great atmosphere, perfect for couples on date nights (although I dined there solo and felt fine). The housemade bread is fantastic, fresh and soft, sprinkled with black and white sesame seeds. As part of my coconut chicken curry dinner, I had a choice of soup or salad. I went with the gazpacho --- very fresh with chunky chopped summer veggies, a dollop of sour cream and toasted croutons on top. The curry was fragrant and flavorful, but could have used a little more spice IMO! Still very tasty, and a huge portion size for the price. The cracker-crisp pappadum was obviously freshly made, and so addictive. Love that they have a little bookshelf of children's books to entertain young customers. read more

Everything was cooked to perfection! Delicious! Walked in on a busy Saturday night and was seated immediately. read more

Restaurant Salaam - Flatiron steak - Middle Eastern Near Me - Athens, Ohio

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An amazing, authentic Mediterranean experience! The whole vibe of the restaurant is cute and homey. The staff is amazing and everything has a local feel. The food is unreal!! I have never had Tzatziki that was so fluffy and the salad was so fresh. Will 100% return. Only thing is some entrees are a little pricey but it makes sense due to being locally sourced and big portions! read more

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Tracy is what all mediocre waitresses should strive to be. Calm, friendly demeanor. Very helpful in explaining ingredients and offering suggestions. We shared a glass of their freshly made Moroccan Mint Green Tea, which was very refreshing. You can definitely tell there's no syrups in use, just real crushed/pressed mint leaves. Bread is brought to your table that's made fresh in-house. On the thicker side, but soft throughout and a wonderful taste. We started with the Labneh appetizer. The honey drizzle paired great with the tart cheese. The pita triangles were soft and warm. Kind of a lush dish to wake the tastebuds and get the yummy juices churning. A taste of their Harira Soup was very good. I feel like lentils aren't used enough in life, and mixing them with the stewed tomatoes, it was excellent. I chose their Moroccan Lamb Wrap for my main. So, so, sooo good. OMG the North African spices left my mouth warm, not burning by any means, and enhanced the flavors of the meat. The ground lamb and beef were super tender and flavorful. The raisins, along with spices I forgot to ask about, gave the mix a slightly sweet taste. Went so well with the "sour" yogurt harissa sauce. As usual, I went with my go-to dish, Tiramisu, for dessert. Excellent! Not overly espressofied. Smooth, creamy texture. Wonderful flavor. It maybe considered a small piece for the price, but I was too deep in flavor ecstasy to care at the time. Honestly, it's legit homemade, so, really, I'd pay for it any day. I had plenty of left overs, between the Labneh and Moroccan Wrap, to take for a second meal. I did try a bite of my father's Gyro, and I was surprised. It was loaded with gyro meat, which was tender and flavorful. Their take on a tadzeki sauce was not complex, no garlic added as some do. It was so subtle, serving its purpose to enhance, not overshadow, the meat. I was impressed, so I decided to get a gyro to-go. It tasted just as good the next day. I'm honored to be Restaurant Salaam's 100th review! I'm kinda bummed it took me 35 years to visit Athens, but you can bet your left foot I'll try my dandiest to make more trips down for a meal at Restaurant Salaam. This place is the oppitomy of fresh, local, independent cooking. read more

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We enjoyed pulling up out back of Salaam's to pick up our Valentine's supper. They walked out promptly at the time it was ordered. We waited until the servers returned inside to pick up our order. (ZERO CONTACT) What a delightful treat- from the Pomme d'amor soup, to the French Bistro Salad, to the Brazilian Moqueca and a Rum Chocolate Mousse to wrap our Valentine's Delight We SO enjoyed the meal. We'll drive the hour to enjoy a meal at Salaam's again read more

When the doors opened at 5:30 pm on a Saturday, we were among groups of people who had been waiting to get in. The first thing we saw were framed recognitions on the wall of this Mediterranean focused restaurant. That was a very good sign. Then we noticed the cozy feel. Bold earthy colors for the curtains, rugs, tablecloths and walls. We were seated in a small dining spot looking out into the bigger dining space. Nice, but increasing loud with lively customers. As for the food.....It met every expectation. We started off with a small sized baba dish that was enough for 4. Yes their bread is good, but not really feeling the red pepper sauce. I guess it is a matter of personal taste. The lamb dishes were tender and cooked to order. Well seasoned with morrocan flavors. The chops were better than the kabob. Nice meaty Australian lamb chops. The jasmine rice was a nice compliment, but the side vegetables had way too many large onion chunks. The curry dishes were not sutle, instead bursting in flavor and taste. Slightly sauteed tofu could be added. Either way was good. Entrees include an option of salad or soup. You can't go wrong with either. The salads were made with fresh ingredients and interesting homemade tasting dressings. Very good. We enjoyed our meal even more when we saw the prices!!! It could easily cost 25% more in Columbus for the same. Our server did a good job considering the place filled up fast with other customers. By time we left the place was packed, with people waiting for tables. read more

Restaurant Salaam - Middle Eastern Near Me - Athens, Ohio

We love Salaam- the service, decor, ambiance, and of course, the delicious food!! Highly recommend! We also love the semi-outdoor seating area! read more

Restaurant Salaam - Semi-outdoor seating! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Athens, Ohio

So good! Gluten free menu! Hummus and Anne's salad amazing! Coconut curry chicken was great! Hubby had the flat iron steak and it was cooked to perfection! Restaurant was adorable and staff was very sweet to our children! read more

Restaurant Salaam - Coconut curry - Middle Eastern Near Me - Athens, Ohio

The food is always so tasty! The staff is incredibly kind and helpful. One of my favorite spots in Athens.

Great atmosphere in Athens! I feel like I'm in a much bigger city. The aromas when you walk in the door build the anticipation of deliciously flavorful meal. The Hilaries salad with goat cheese and raisins is delightful. I had the lamb kofte for dinner - lamb meatball stew. When in Athens, try Salaam! Theres a metered city parking garage about 2 blocks away. read more

Restaurant Salaam - Lamb kofte. Amazing. I added goat cheese to mix with the stewed tomatoes. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Athens, Ohio

Restaurant Salaam is a stand out experience in the Athens and SE Ohio Region! The food and was incredible and the atmosphere in the restaurant was amazing. 10/10 recommend! My friends and I loved the Wraps and desserts. read more

Absolutely delicious! Fantastic service and contactless pick up available too. The Flat Iron Steak & The Lamb were so good as well as the Homemade Bread! Will definitely be coming here again. read more

Excellent middle eastern inspired food. All dishes are gourmet and there is a wide variety of non meat dishes. You will not be disappointed. read more

Restaurant Salaam is a warm, inviting welcoming place in Athens, Ohio, the colorful decor, welcoming staff and service and then their menu transforms you to the Middle East and the Mediterranean. After a busy day helping with the Ohio Brew week events around town, it was nice to drop in, be welcomed, seated right away, we started with an appetizer of baba gannoush, which was served right away with fresh warm bread, was great way to start our meal. Then on to the main dish it was hard to decide, but my friend and I who met going to OU are alike and we decided on the same dish, a special that evening beet risotto with chicken and grilled asparagus, the risotto was delicious and bright pink quite a fun change to an evening meal the chicken was fresh and the grilled asparagus was so flavorful with the risotto and chicken, the best meal I've had this summer so far - thank you Restaurant Salaam for a great time during recent Athens visit. read more

Restaurant Salaam - Beet risotto with asparagus & chicken, delicious & Saturday night special - Middle Eastern Near Me - Athens, Ohio

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Amazing food, service, ambience. It was an unexpected, rejuvenating experience. Our group had hummus, salmon, Belgian beef stew, chicken tortellini, lamb chops, and steak. Every single dish was delicious. The salmon was beyond that even. The bread, the Moroccan mint tea, everything was just lovely. And our server Keri could not have been nicer or more welcoming. Makes us want to return to Athens just to eat there again. read more

Great food .. a Athens Ohio gem!! And it's not a chain restaurant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When I'm visiting Athens. OH, Restaurant Salaam is one of my two favorite local places for dinner. Always excellent service and the food is delicious! They have a varied menu and, based on feedback from colleagues, everything is great. But the Turkish Rub Lamb Chops are my favorite and is consistently what i order. I customize it and have them cook it a bit more to medium just so the lamb gets more of a crisp tasty crust. Also got some Papadum - crisp spiced flour wafers with light coriander chutney - to share. These along with Turkish Coffee are highly recommended. I've probably had the lamb chops a dozen times by now. Thatsalotta Lamb - Yum! read more

Restaurant Salaam - Papadum - crisp light spice flour wafers with coriander chutney. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Athens, Ohio

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Great experience. A quick date night turned into a great experience. I recommend the lamb chops.

Me and my friends love eating at salaam because of all the great vegan and vegetarian options as well as the atmosphere. The prices are a little higher than what you would find at other restaurants in Athens but the restaurant itself is also a lot nicer than most in the area. I gave it 4 stars though because more often than not, the service at this place is pretty slow. It seems like they are a little bit understaffed at most times. However their Sunday morning brunch is amazing as well as their bottomless mimosas. read more

Restaurant Salaam - Middle Eastern Near Me - Athens, Ohio

A little pricey for being a step up from the Union street Diner The chicken paprikash was a little different from what I'm used to at the New Era in Akron but it was good - very filling I asked for ice tea - because the don't serve Coke and no Coke Life in Athens The server said something about some kind of tea which didn't sound good and said if I didn't like I could change at no cost - so I tried it - reminded me of the garden hose water on a hot summer day when I was a kid - it was drinkable - I had several refills - I think she was trying to get rid of it - maybe. Over all it was good - but no Coke We got in sat down ate and got out - now the real feat of magic was to find our car... Luckily I marked it's location with my phone read more

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Salaam is one of my favorite restaurants! I go there often for date nights with my husband or for birthday dinners with my girlfriends. The atmosphere is cozy and the food is delicious. The taverna eggplant appetizer is AMAZING - fried eggplant with flake salt, honey and fresh rosemary. The falafel is also great. For entrees, I often get the grilled chicken and beet salad with goat cheese. It's a perfectly balanced salad with so many great flavors. I also love the Chicken Bisteeya and Coconut Chicken Curry. The specials menu always offers lots of delicious options. Last night I had the Palak Paneer special and it was FABULOSO!!!! It had delicious fresh spinach and the cheese was fantastic. I would definitely order this again if it shows up on the specials menu in the future! We had a surprise birthday party for my Mom there last night, and the staff was SO HELPFUL and the party was a great success! I can't believe I almost forgot to mention the BREAD. The house bread is my very favorite bread in the WORLD!! It's chewy and delicious inside with a golden, beautiful crust flecked with seeds. I would seriously marry it if I weren't already married. read more

Restaurant Salaam - Palak Paneer special. YUM!!!! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Athens, Ohio

I was vacationing in Athens for the week. While traveling I like trying out local non chain restaurants. Salaam did not disappoint. My server Basha was extremely nice, informative, and accommodating of my lack of experience with this genre of food. The bread they leave on the table has a nice seasoning and tastes fresh. I ordered the flavored ice tea, 1/2 order of hummous, Coconut Curry chicken, cup of Harrira soup, and Lady Fingers for dessert. The flavors were excellent, the portions were hardy, and the service as well as the ambiance were great. This is not a low priced processed food restaurant. You get what you pay for, fresh good food. When you go ask for Basha. I will be back. read more

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