We had been meaning to come here for months and finally did!!! It was even better than I thought it would be. It was very busy inside when we arrived but we were seated quickly. We were told the kitchen was slammed and our food would take a while, but that also came out quickly! We split the mezze platter, fried feta in filo pastry, fried zucchini strips, and gyro platter. Everything was fantastic. Mezze platter: hummus, baba, tabbulee, onion, artichokes w/tahini, stuffed grape leaves, pita. Everything on this platter was good. I especially loved the hummus, onion, and artichokes. Fried feta in filo pastry: olives, horseradish dip. Super tasty. The filo pastry had such a nice texture to it. Fried zucchini strips: horseradish dip, red sauce. Also amazing!! The zucchini strips were super crunchy. Very good in the horseradish dip. Gyro platter: grilled gyro slices, tzatziki, Amel's side salad, rice pilaf, and pita. The meat was super flavorful. Can't wait to go back! read more

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The food was really good. The service was subpar. Arrived right at open knowing what I planned on ordering. Got the assorted kabob. Salad with goat cheese was amazing, lamb great, filet mignon dry and over cooked (as expected when different meats on a skewer). My issue was the waitress focused so much on seemingly a personal friend/regular that it took me 15 minutes to get my check. Then once my card was taken it took 15 more as they stopped to chat with the other customer and left my card on their table for the duration. Will order again but probably just takeout. read more

Amel's Restaurant - Mediterranean Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Great lamb salad so fresh and delicious fresh bread great butter and pita went on Saturday before the Pens game!

Food is decent. Nice atmosphere. Nice location. Service is good and the people are friendly. But EXPENSIVE AF. Like really expensive. There are a ton of other choices out there for the same quality but half the price. read more

Nice local restaurant. They have a good size patio and very good service. I loved their lamb burger! Their homemade hummus is also tasty.

We are from out of town and were in search of a Mediterranean restaurant, but this was so much more! Extensive menu including steaks and seafood, along with the various other Mediterranean dishes such as kabob. I ordered the Aladdin's Sea Pasta, which was essentially a frutti di mare pasta. It was delicious and a good size helping of sea food. Beef stroganoff with filet was top notch too. Service was very friendly. Would come again! read more

Amel's Restaurant - Aladdins Pasta - Mediterranean Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

We are so happy we decided to do date night at Amel's! We have driven by it many times and have talked about going but after 3 years of living 5 minutes from this restaurant, we made it and it did not disappoint!! The food and service was excellent! We were seated right away and greeted promptly. We put in our drink order and appetizer and then scanned the menu. When the waiter came back we asked what the most popular dishes were since we have never been and she had so many recommendations, it made it so hard to choose! We both got a pasta dish and they were amazing! The seafood was so fresh and the shrimp were massive! I highly recommend Aladdin's sea pasta! We will definitely be back and I can't wait to bring my parents when they are in town, I know they'd love it. read more

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I wish I could give this place 3 1/2 stars. I love the inside, it's very warm and inviting. The service is friendly. The food, while some items are very good, others are just okay. Earlier this week I tried the lamb Jasmine, French onion soup, the mezze platter, and spanakopita. The mezze platter was good and fresh. The French onion soup was delicious, but overly salty, and I like salt. The spanakopita was good but the spinach seemed stringy and thick. The lamb jasmine was just ok. Disappointed by the desserts since they don't seem to be made in house. I will continue to recommend this place to friends because it is solid, but I won't necessarily be running back myself. read more

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Food is always delicious! Super cute restaurant. Very nice for date night! I've never had bad service there either!

Great food better service. We love everything about this place. The staff is very friendly and the ambiance is quaint. Perfect local neighborhood spot for a tasty dinner, no fuss, no snobby attitudes. read more

Service was excellent. Haven't been here in many years. The alcoholic beverages were very good. We had baba ganoosh which could have been better. Dry with bland taste. The grape leaves were excellent. I had a lamb sampler which had hummus (dry and needed salt). Rice and lamb shishkabob delicious salad with traditional lemon mint dressing also delicious. Would I come back yes I would. The ambiance was loud and boisterous. So definitely a family oriented place. read more

Great food went for dinner two days in row Amel's Salad with lamb and the next day same dish with filet minion. Service was excellent I enjoy stopping when I'm in town,very consistent. read more

Food is great. Service is always good. Make a reservation because the place gets packed.

The outside of Amel's may not look like much but this place is a diamond in the ruff! They have outside seating which is always a plus that's where I sat so I only briefly looked inside. It seemed nice inside and not what you'd expect. It's not a big place so a reservation would be best. We called ahead only about an hour on a Saturday night and were able to get a table outside. It's located in a shopping plaza so parking is not an issue. The menu is a combination of Mediterranean and Italian food...two of my favorites! They have a variety of options all at a reasonable cost. Portions are big as well. Hummus appetizer was a large portion and very tasty. Side salad had a good amount of feta which I love! For my entree I had the pasta Athena with salmon. I didn't care for the salmon. Salmon is my favorite fish and this was very fishy. It did not taste fresh at all. I would never get the salmon again but the pasta was great so I get that with shrimp or just by itself again. My fiancé had the crab cakes and they were full of crab! I'd get those again. All in all if you're skeptical of this place don't be! It's a great restaurant in the south hills and I'm sure I'll be back. read more

Amel's Restaurant - Side salad - Mediterranean Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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We had great service and our food was so good. We went on a Saturday night and with how busy it was we still didn't wait to long. We will be back again and again. read more

Amel's is the neighborhood treasure we all need. It is cozy environment and the food is delicious. You can satisfy your desire for all kinds of Mediterranean food, including Italian, and have a solid leftover portion for lunch the next day. Takeout is a great option and they are very accurate with the timing estimates, which is appreciated. They have two well staffed bars and plenty of booth and table seating, and you're treated like a valued customer whether you're just coming in for a drink and appetizer or having a multi course meal. If you haven't been to Amel's go now! read more

This is a yummy and cozy neighborhood joint. We started with the artichoke/beet salad and it was delicious. Their gazpacho was the best either of us has had. We had the lamb skewer and gyro platter, so good. We topped it off with the chocolate mousse pie and tiramisu cake and we were both so happy. Our server was lovely too. Can't wait to go back and try more entrees! read more

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Food is expensive for the serving size but just OK. service was good being only 3 tables were active. Probably would choose another middle Eastern restaurant next time. Also, not a good location. read more

A true hidden gem. Go a few times a month. The BEST crab soup I've ever had. "Amels" salad is awesome with dry blue. All the seafood is fresh and super tasty!! Awesome filet too! Never had a bad meal here. Good drinks. Amazing service and they are super friendly(ask for Meredith). Only thing I hate is the parking. read more

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Great neighborhood mainstay for authentic Mediterranean food! Very reasonable prices and good service.

Food is good. Giving 4 stars because of service. Waiter was awful. No personality. Doesn't even speak to you. Puts your food down and never comes back. Had to send my food back since my steak was not properly cooked. He dropped it off and never said a word or even asked if it was better. Had him twice now. Same story. No eye contact. No talking. Never comes bank to check on you. If u go back I will ask not have him it sit in the bar area. He must be related to someone to still be there read more

Ordered over $50 worth of food TO GO and it was a mess. Spinach dip chips all burnt . Way too hard to eat . Veggie pita was soggy. Salad had a lot of hard ends and definitely was not a "mixed greens" salad. My chicken on salad was hard and burnt . I called and let Cody know he said you want to come back down? I said it's 8:00pm this was my dinner and I'm home for the night. He said well come in tomorrow or whenever ask for me or Mike you will have a credit . So the next night a friend ordered and picked up for us. She asked for Cody he was too busy and had to pay for the entire meal. 2 pasta dinners close to $50 as well...and waited 20 minutes past quoted time... ...too bad a friend visited from out of town and she wanted to try Amels said it looked good ...not this time and I just won't return read more

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This place has been an "oldie but goodie" staple in the South hills for decades for a reason. The menu rarely evolves, but the food is consistently good with a range of more "authentic" Mediterranean options as well as norm-core Italianish options for the less epicurious members of a dining party. I recommend the kabobs, in all varieties. read more

I hadn't had Amel's in years as I moved. There are a lot more Mediterranean choices in California where I live but Amel's is still the best.

I have been to this restaurant many times now. It used to be just Middle Eastern however they now have a huge seafood menu. We have gotten multiple entrees off the menu and it is all delicious! The restaurant is old but cozy and romantic. Weekends are super busy - you really need a reservation unless you go early or late. read more

Went for a family birthday dinner. Service was excellent, Steve was very attentive and was very quick to get what we wanted. Almost everyone really liked their food. Gyro meat was a little dry according to a few. Atmosphere was very nice. read more

I stopped here with my family for my sister's birthday. This was my first time eating here and it was pretty good. They have a cute outdoor seating area that's great when the weather is cooperating. I ordered the shrimp and chicken kabob, and the shrimp was some of the best I've ever tasted. You get so much food with your meal that you're probably going to be full before you get to enjoy your entree (but that's not really a bad thing in my opinion). The grape leaves and hummus are very good as well. This is a great little spot if you're craving some middle eastern food. read more

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Food was so good! We ordered take out and will definitely be ordering again. Ordered was filled in a timely manner

Amazing and underrated mediterranean cuisine. The atmosphere is lovely and intimate with dim lighting and moody colors, and the staff make you feel like a regular after just one visit. Try the fried feta in filo! read more

Went here with a group or 11 for a birthday dinner. We made reservations weeks in advance. Our table was ready well before our dinner time. They were very accommodating to 4 toddlers/baby. We had two servers. The lady who was newer (said she was there less than 6 months) was LOVELY. Funny, kind, attentive, helpful. The other guy was lackluster and wasn't very nice or attentive. He always seemed like you were bothering him. I'm always put off by places with large menus as there is no way for them to execute many dishes well if there's too many. My brother asked about their gyro meat if it was freshly shaven or frozen. Much to our displeasure it's frozen as they have a small kitchen/storage space. Anyways, I had a salad which was very good. Filet wasn't super flavorful but it was edible and good enough. The fried zucchini was excellent. Kids meals were generous portions. Most of the other meals seemed pre made or frozen. My friends filet was overdone when he asked for medium rare but he refused to make a stir or send it back (partially his fault). Very accommodating to a large group with a few messy children and also celebrating a birthday with dessert brought in not by them -- which we appreciated. I wouldn't be dying to come back here but also wouldn't be opposed. Nothing was horrible but nothing was overly remarkable either. The most lasting impression I have is the lovely new server who helped us. Thank you! read more

Very disappointed meal and experience. The flavors in the dishes were not good. Definitely not authentic Middle Eastern. The wait staff was also rude and took a long time to get drinks and order. Did not bring silver ware or plate setting for one of the guests when asked my multiple times. The only thing that tasted ok was the salad. Will not return here ever again. read more

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Great food, friendly service, homey atmosphere. We ordered the humus platter appetizer and it was delish, with a variety of seasoned humuses (humii?) Our main courses were the chicken shishka bob and the lamb shishka bob -- both very good, although a little pricey. Great service and excellent sangria topped off a fine meal and dining experience. read more

Loved it. The she-crab bisque was chock full of crab. If everything else stunk they'd still get a 3 on the bisque alone. I also had a fish kebab that was terrific. I look forward to exploring their menu. read more

Is this a bar? Is this italian? Is it middle eastern? You got it. It's all 3. So first off, I've lived in the Middle East and am married into a middle eastern family. I know the food well, so here we go: I'm surprised at the 5 star reviews. I'm wondering if I ordered the wrong things. The menu is huge. There's just so much to choose from. Do NOT choose the chicken kabob. Because that's all your getting. Chicken. On a kabob. No seasoning. On top of rice with also, no seasoning. It comes with a "lemon soy" sauce. And no it is not good. It is weird. They did take it off my check so that was kind. The chicken shawarma is plain and also unseasoned. Nothing to brag about but it's also not the worst. The French fries don't have salt. However: Their salads are really good. I was super impressed with their fresh salads, all delicious. I had the Moroccan couscous, it was ok. It was very watery and lacking potato or pumpkin, but it had a good flavor. The lamb was tender and had a nice taste. Perhaps I need to come back on a weekend and see if Amel's can change my mind. read more

The food was good!! The service was good. But they refused to switch us from a booth to a table. It was extremely tight and not very comfortable while we were eating. I won't be back anytime soon but I will eventually go back. read more

A favorite restaurant of my late mom's in the neighbors I grew up in, I hadn't been there in years, so a visiting friend was the perfect excuse to go. Amel's served as my introduction to Mideastern cuisine. So I made sure to order all those items. Their homemade hummus, baba ganouche, stuffed grape leaves and eggplant with lamb were amazing. Our wait staff was the best and even offered to take the cost of a dinner off the bill because it was substandard. I hope it doesn't take another 8 years before I go back. read more

This is my 3rd time eating here. I don't know why I just now decided to post but I hope to make up for it. The hospitality here is very warm and accomodating. The food is tasty and its always been reasonably timely. I've never eaten anything I didn't like here. As a bonus, they have always used olive oil to prepare my meals per my request. For some of us who are afflicted with having to be cautious what we eat, it is important to know where we can eat out without feeling like the servers and cooks hate us. At other places, they may be unable or unwilling to accomodate. That's, of course, fine. We can go somewhere else. This place, though, I trust. You will find quite a wide range of prices on the menu which for some may be desirable: higher end dishes and more frugal meals for others depending on your need; and the desserts look amazing, though I've never eaten them. I got the french onion soup (I forgot to get a picture of it). I order that as often as I can but this is the first time eating it here. It was very tasty and unique from other places I've had french onion which pleasantly surprised me. The atmosphere is friendly but not what I'd call relaxed. It has a more lively feel. Still, 5 stars! We shall be back. read more

Went there for the first time. Large menu with many offerings. Had he pasta with grilled chicken , spinach , feta, and pine nuts. Was delicious. Service was great too. Heard a lot about this place and glad I went. The bar was really crowded too. Will definitely go back again read more

Had reservations for a family birthday dinner scheduled . Get to the restaurant on the day of the reservation to find a sign on the door saying restaurant" closed no water " OK. Not in the restaurant's control however, they never even bothered to call and inform anyone that they were closed. We stood in the parking lot trying to figure out where to get something to eat!! Giving the restaurant another go, I spoke to the owner personally to express our disappointment and he just smirked and said " well I wasn't sure if we were gonna be open or not , so all I can say is I was here, but closed. Hahahaaaa.. Not professional in any way shape or form. He basically could not care and was cocky to say the least. You try and support your local business. During all the craziness and that was the slap in the face for trying to support Amel's?!!! Tried to give an opportunity for at least an apology! NOPE, not even a sorry we were wrong. Just a smart ass get over it attitude. Mind You that we/family/friends have gone there for years despite the food going downhill and prices still going up... To top it off, that day we did stay for dinner despite the owner and his ignorance, and again, it was a total let down as well. Food very undercooked... rare filet (ordered medium) cold mashed potatoes x 2, over boiled green beans (no flavor), hard as a rock pita bread and kids burger meal (ordered well done) came out med rare. A bill totaling over 100.00 for crappy food and an arrogant owner, never again, and believe me, nasty news travels fast around town. read more

We've been eating at Amel's for about 7 years or so. To be blunt I've never really had a bad meal at Amel's. I'm biased in the fact that it's my favorite restaurant. I won't hide that. I've enjoyed many items off of their special menu which changes weekly. They usually have very solid appetizers, and excellent specials. Whether you like seafood, beef and the occasional pork dish it usually appears on the special menu. One dish that stands out usually appears around the Fall season is the Orecchiette with chicken, cranberry and sage in a cream sauce. Incredibly rich, but so good. One of my favorite items is the Filet with shrimp. Always cooked perfectly and the shrimp are of a nice size. Another standout for me is the Lamb Jasmine. Lamb scaloppine sautéed in a tomato sauce with artichokes, spinach and fresh tomatoes with a dash of feta cheese. Can't beat it. The downside is sometimes the wait on a Friday or a Saturday can be a bit long. Amel's has a nice bar offering bottled craft beers plus your standards. They often also have a lot of seasonal beers and a large wine selection. One thing I do not care for at Amel's is their gyro. It doesn't come off of a vertical rotisserie that I'm aware of. It's good, but there are better. Order from the special menu or standard menu unless you absolutely have to have a gyro. read more

Amel's Restaurant - Lamb Jasmine. The sauce can vary in consistency, but is usually very good! - Mediterranean Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania