Excellent service!! Ramzi was so helpful in recommending and helping with our food choices as this was our first visit. Staff in general is so nice, honest and fun!! The food was outstanding!! I highly recommend this lovely restaurant. The atmosphere is so nice as well. We will be back. Thank you to all the staff for our warm welcome!! read more

I love Makarios! I've been eating here for years. Service is, for the most part, always good, and the food is consistently delicious! I've honestly never had a dish here that I didn't like. My favorites include the Zesty Ghallaba (chicken or salmon), the Shish Tawook with Lemon Oregano and the Spinach Salad with Grilled Chicken. The ambiance is perfect for date night or a nice dinner by yourself. On average, for two people, expect to spend between $45-$55 on authentic Mediterranean cuisine that's been a staple in the city for years. Give them a try. You won't be disappointed! Pro Tip: Their salad dressing is available for purchase. Get you a bottle for the house! read more

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The falafel platter was delicious and I loved the almond rice. The salad was also quite good. I liked the decor in the restaurant as well! The fresh squeezed orange juice was delicious. The only thing was that the food did take a while to come out. read more

Makarios - Middle Eastern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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Nice atmosphere, quick service and top quality food. We were visiting from out of town and found this gem for a great meal. The sampler platter had a great variety of the common choices and they were all delicious. read more

Makarios - Sampler Plate for Two - Middle Eastern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

I was very happy with my choices at Makarios. I ordered a side of grilled veggies that turned out to be a huge portion that tasted delicious. The side of hummus was large and smooth, and the chicken shawarma wrap I got had a nice garlic flavor and it was stuffed with chicken. I felt like I got a good amount of food for the money and it was all very tasty. I'd highly recommend this place when in Birmingham. read more

Makarios - Look at this huge side of veggies!!!! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

I've heard wonderful things about this restaurant, and finally had an opportunity to try. The first order of business was to learn the correct pronunciation of its name. Our waiter told us it is pronounced mark-carry-os (my best phonetic spelling). Our party of three went for a late lunch on Friday. The restaurant was winding down from the lunch crowd so parking and getting a table was not an issue. The aroma of herbs and spices on grilled meats will make your senses dance in delight. For our meal we ordered the Sampler Plate for Two. It is a huge amount of food, and enough to feed a party of four. It would take a bit of effort to list all the items on the Sampler, but instead you should see my picture and consult the menu. Needless to say, the Sampler gives you the opportunity to try most of the menu. My favorite items were the Hummus, Baba Ghanooj, Chicken Shawarma, Shish Tawook Chicken, and the Shish Kafta (ground meat with herbs and spices grilled on skewer). Delicious. I was very pleased with food, setvice, and ambiance. This definitely is one of the best Mediterranean restaurants in Birmingham, and a must try. read more

Makarios - Sampler Plate for 2, Amazing! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Was passing through Birmingham and wanted to find a Middle Eastern lunch spot. Thanks to Yelp guiding us to Makarios located by the UAB campus. The food was very tasty. Started with a Greek salad and then moved to grilled Kafka kabob with rice and a garlic yogurt dipping sauce. My friend had the Chicken Ghallaba (stew) with rice. The rice was fat and fluffy with vermicelli init. Our server was pleasant and fast. The restaurant was very busy with lots of to-go orders. It's a small restaurant on a busy corner downtown. Plenty of parking behind the restaurant. Lots of cool stained glass Turkish hanging lamps. read more

I travel for work all over the United States and this place is easily in my top 3 favorite restaurants to visit. Authentic and great food and friendly service. Music and decorations are very Arabic and has a warm ambiance. read more

Makarios - Middle Eastern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

So delicious! Portions are huge and everything is so flavorful and amazing at great prices. I will go here every time I'm in town. The veggie meza (especially the mojadara!), veggie ghalaba, and lentil soup are incredible. I ordered takeout and it was ready within 20 min and served with plenty of pita bread. read more

This place is really good. You can get a beef steak kabob for around 10 bucks. When I went there it was around 8 bucks.

Great portions but the food was overall tasteless. Service was subpar. I let the gentlemen at the register know that I was first time dining at the establishment yet he was dismissive and unwilling to help. Was hoping the food would make up for it but it did not. Also they packed the cheese sticks I ordered in a container with a hole in it. Needless to say I did not appreciate that at all. Will not be returning read more

Makarios - Cheese sticks - Middle Eastern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Visited here while on my work trip. Our party consisted of 4. We were seated immediately for lunch. We ordered 3 lamb Shawarma Plates and one Gyro Plate which included veggies and rice. The food was delicious, lamb was tender, the portions were enough for everyone to share with someone else. Will be sure to visit again. read more

Makarios is a late night fav when I want something more than french fries. My friend and I stopped by after the pride parade and it was business as usual. We were greeted and seated smoothly and placed our orders pretty quickly since we know the menu well. My shawarma sandwich hit the spot, I'm a fan of pickles and they added a tangy, crispy element I liked. The hummus always hits; thick and creamy with soft pita bread. I left full and satisfied once again! read more

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Hanging out in Birmingham, AL on business for a few weeks and it's lunch time! How good can the Mediterranean be in Alabama of all places? Well, let's fine out! Atmosphere/Appearance: Set right on the corner of 20th Street South and 10th Avenue is this gem. It's well presented and looks super inviting. There is parking for a few cars in the front, but if I can remember there are more spots in the back or else, just park on the street since this is pretty close to downtown. Once inside the restaurant is pretty chill. There's LOTS of artwork hung up all over the place with plenty of straight up & down wooden booths to sit in. Once you walk in you can actually walk right up to a counter to place your order or you can choose table service of course. It was pretty chill in here the time that we came. Service: Service was just fine. Nothing crazy and he made sure that I had everything that I needed. Food: For my entree I went with the Shish Combo which comes with a shish kabob made of beef, shish tawook made of chicken and one kafta which is ground lamb, parsley and onion then served with a salad. Of course there's rice on the side. Everything was delicious, juicy, loaded with flavor and it felt authentic. The lamb was a lil' dry, but that was my only complaint. I loved the food here and it was SUPER filling for sure. Value: Back when I visited this combo was $28.59, but now it's $30.00. Not bad at all. Like I said, the food was filling so you could get more than one meal out of it and it was absolutely worth it. I'd certainly pay this place a return visit if I'm in the area. You should too! read more

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Food- The falafel is absolutely well seasoned. A delicious crispy exterior. A soft pillowy savory interior. To accompany their falafel is a small dish filled with hummus. Silky and creamy; just amazing. I had their gyro as well. The tzatziki is refreshing and tasty. Service- adequate. Ambiance- Tasteful. No negative perception of establishment. Really good food at a fair price. read more

Makarios - Falafel and gyro - Middle Eastern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Everything to lovvvve here. I wish I could take this store back with me!! The portion, price, the flavor. Ahhhhmazing. Highly recommend the hommous with lamb & falafel plate. It wasn't noted on door dash, but both did come with pita. So many great menu options. read more

Great flavor and portion size. Cooked well. Well run. Some items missing from the Uber Eats menu which has caused some issues read more

Pretty decent little spot to eat. Fast service and good food. This was my first time trying Mediterranean food so I really have nothing to compare to read more

Makarios - Lentil soup - Middle Eastern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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You just lost a long time customer. The quality of this place has being declining over the past few years, but I stuck with you guys. The last straw occurred tonight after one of your employees was very rude to me over the phone. He was very smug and even hung up on me. He has no people skills at all. You guys have too much competition in town to be treating your customers badly. Too bad me and my family will be dining with the competition moving forward. read more

We stopped here for lunch as we saw it on our way to dinner the previous night. We were seated quickly. I got the ghallaba sandwich with lamb. It was so good! It looked a bit small when it arrived, but it was filling and very yummy. I'd 10/10 get this again! The restaurant itself was nice! Colorful and lots of fun images to look at. Service was quick. Food was extremely good. read more

Makarios - Lamb Ghallaba Sandwich with fries - Middle Eastern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

We had a great time for one of my best friends birthday dinner, for him and his boo. Good atmosphere and the food was good! I had a loaded gyro potato, which was great! One of my favorite things to eat. For the size of our party, we had a great server. He was fast and remembered everyone's orders, no problem! This was my first time going, which is crazy in all of the years it's been there and that I've lived here, but I will go again. read more

Makarios - Gyro potato - Middle Eastern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Authentic food from Yemen. Made from scratch and will eat again. The hummus is excellent and gyros are good.

I'm giving this business a low mark because they got my called in order wrong. I ordered hummus and taboli,and they gave us a hummus and taboli 'wrap'. I ordered fatoosh - warmed feta drizzled with honey (2) - didn't get those. We were disappointed because we were traveling down to Camden and bought this for pick up to eat later. We called for refunds on all the incorrect items and the refund process on the debit card wouldn't process. We didn't get our $$ back and this didn't need to be this complicated. I actually spoke to the person to give them the order and they still got it wrong. read more

Makarios has the BEST food. If you like Mediterranean style foods, you need to make a trip to Makarios. My personal favorite is their Hummus with chicken. Freshly made hummus topped with seasoned chicken served with pita bread and olive oil is fire. Thank you Makarios for the most delectable Hummus and chicken. This dish is awesome. There are many wonderful tasty dishes on their menu. You really should make time to stop by and get some freshly made excellent tasting food. Your tummy will be happy. read more

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First time- had grilled veggies as an appetizer - very good but no dressing/ dipping sauce, then ordered the chicken kabob along with the sauteed mushrooms ( DELICIOUS ) and hummus, both of which went very well with the appetizer and the chicken. All dishes served rapidly and with courtesy. This fed two adults with a take home box! Will definitely put this on our repeat list! read more

This was my first time trying Indian food and this place was recommended by a friend. The place is small and we sat ourselves after going to the counter. The service was great, our food and drinks came quick. The food was really good especially the grilled vegetables. I wasn't trying to be venturous since it was my first time here so I settled on chicken ghallaba. It was good, seasoned, and a safe option to start. The meat pies were good as well, it was seasoned beef wrapped in dough and baked. read more

Makarios - Ghallaba w/chicken and vegetables - Middle Eastern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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This is my second time ordering from Makario's for my husband's birthday. He has a love for lamb chops like nothing I have seen before. When I ordered lamb chops for delivery last year, he literally sucked the bones DRY. He was commenting on how good they were for days afterward, so I had to get him the lamb chops again this year (2/2/22). Unfortunately, this year, delivery was not available in my area, so I scheduled a pickup. I was able to place my order from the Yelp app, which was SUPER convenient. I got him the 5 lamb chops, and for myself, I ordered the garlic and almond rice ghallaba. Because they close early on Wednesdays, I had to pick up dinner earlier than expected, which I did not mind. The place is tucked on the corner of 20th Street and 10th Avenue South. There is a good amount of parking around the side and back of the building. When I went in, the guy was bringing out my food so he could bag it up.. He let me know that since I did not specify, he prepared the lamb chops medium and was willing to put them back on the grill if I was not happy with medium. I let him know it was fine and headed out with my plates. I took the food back home and waited until dinner time. When dinner time arrived, I found an online article showing me how to reheat lamb chops properly. I followed those instructions and served it on our nice China. The birthday boy was so happy and enjoyed every single bite. I tasted a small piece of one of his lamb chops and let me tell you - the flavors were BURSTING off the meat! The meat was very tender and flavorful and sooooo good! I did enjoy my ghallaba very much. I had beef added to my dish and it was so delicious. We will definitely be going back to Makario's for other Mediterranean dishes (because we do not mind the 20 minute commute for it). Well worth the time and money!! read more

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Makarios is a hole-in-the-wall restaurant, but you will have a hard time finding better hummus anywhere else on planet Earth! It is some seriously good stuff! I like most things on their menu, but the chicken Ghallaba is pretty special. (Be sure to order it with fries and hummus so you can dip). YUM-MY!!!! read more

Phenomenal food! First off, when you walked in, the smells had your taste buds dancing for the exploration you were about to embark on. The flavors and spices made you want more. I was there with a coworker and we started with the lamb schwarma hummus and falafel. Both were awesome. The lamb was tender and flavorful, the hummus smooth, creamy and had a nice spice (not heat or hot) flavors to it. The falafel was nice and fluffy on the inside and like little clouds of chickpea and mint. I had the garlic and almond chicken ghallaba and it did not disappoint. There was enough for at least 2 people. I was nice and zesty. I couldn't stop eating it. My coworker had the shish combo and the meats had a perfect grill char to them and were so tender. The chicken was juicy, the lamb tender and juicy and the beef as well. Grilled vegetables and rice rounded it out and were excellent in their own right. The staff were very helpful and friendly. They would answer questions about dishes and help guide you. Definitely will put this one in rotation. No alcohol but I wasn't there to drink but to experience good food and that's exactly what I got. read more

Makarios - Almond & Garlic chicken ghallaba - Middle Eastern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Have loved Makarios for years, and don't get the opportunity to eat there as often since we moved out of the neighborhood so when we were in the vicinity headed home tonight my husband suggested takeout. It was a 30 minute wait after placing the order but understandable as it is a Friday night. Very disappointed to get home and discover I didn't have the sandwich I ordered, especially after paying $36 dollars after tax and tip for two wraps and an order of hummus. I know food costs are high but very frustrating to pay so much and not even get what you want. Also, when we picked up and gave our name the counter service tore our order receipt off the bag before handing it to us: I suspect they knew it didn't match the contents. Won't be going back any time soon read more

Shish kabob plate & a chicken combo plate. Wonderful flavors and we loved the garlic dip. Sheesh. Overall incredible flavor in the meats. Mmm! Pita could be served warm... chicken could've been cooked a few mins less. read more

Makarios - Shish Combo For 1 Chicken Combo - Middle Eastern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

If you're looking for a spot near campus with amazing vegetarian options, Makarios Bar & Grill is a hidden gem! From the outside, it's pretty unassuming, but once you're inside, you're greeted by a cozy, welcoming space filled with warm lighting and lots of beautiful decor. I've been here multiple times, and everything I've ordered has been great. Their menu clearly marks vegetarian options, making it super easy to find something delicious. My go-to order is the falafel wrap or a cup of their lentil soup--both are so full of flavor and perfectly satisfying for under $10 each. They also have a great selection of vegetarian platters and appetizers, which I highly recommend, even if you're usually a meat-eater. The hummus with fresh pita, grape leaves, and baba ghanouj are must-tries, and their salads are always fresh and flavorful. While it's a great spot for a quick lunch (lots of tasty sandwiches!), I think Makarios truly shines at dinnertime, when you can order multiple small plates and share. And unexpected but it's also a surprisingly great coffee stop in the afternoon when most cafes are closed. Their Turkish coffee and baklava are the perfect midday treat. Makarios is a solid downtown option for anyone who's craving flavorful, comforting food. read more

Drove two hours just to go there. We got the sampler platter as we always do for a broad taste of everything. I like the baba ganooj, but my wife prefers the hummus. Everything was very fresh and tasty. read more

Food was excellent. Check your order if picking up. They did miss some of the items we ordered. Otherwise, the portions were generous and the quality was excellent. read more

I have lived in Birmingham, AL for over 35 years. I grew up in Long Island, NY. The Greek places where I grew up were "Over the top" great. There was a taste I could not find elsewhere; Until Today!!! What drove me to try Makarios was the recent Greek Festival that just finished. The food was tasty. Then my wife and I passed by Makarios the other day driving to five points and she said, "I hear good things about that place. We should try it sometime." Let's break it down: Atmosphere: Clean, old, dated, and extremely comfortable. It was like a New York place was carried to Birmingham. I instantly loved the feel. Service: Good but a little slow. It did not detract from the experience. Price/Value: Excellent and completely fare. The Food: My Gyro was outstanding. I had an order of fries with it and those were some of the best French fries in Birmingham. You can tell, they change their oil every day. My son had a lamb plate and salad. He is gluten free and loved everything on his plate. He could not even come close to finishing it. We brought a Gyro home for my wife who said it was excellent, so it was not just me. Menu: Lots and lots of dishes. All with pictures just like New York. The next time we will get a loaded Baked Potato with Gyro meat. I love that kind of stuff. Lots of deserts also but I was way too full to consider it. This is the kind of place that I want to go to for comfort food. There are lots of Greek dining in Birmingham. This place is a gem. Just my two cents. Eat, Drink, and be Healthy. read more

The food tastes great with huge portions. We ordered the sampler for two - we could have split it four ways. I'm a big fan of mezze platters and all of the components tasted homemade and flavorful. The ambiance is not notable but the staff was friendly. Service was a bit slow to take our order (we were told it would be when we sat down - looked like a waiting staff shortage) but once the order was placed the kitchen got it out in a reasonable amount of time. The food is tasty enough that the little extra wait was worth it. read more

Makarios - Sample platter for two with an extra side of grilled veggies- everything tasted great. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Their service was great. Inside was really nice and I liked the decor and there was ample seating. The food was just ok however. I ordered the lamb gyro with fries. read more

I love the food... the tabbouli and grape leaves were amazing. Normally Makarios would be 5 stars from me but the service was really bad tonight. I'm hoping this was just a one-off time but my tea glass was empty for the last hour of my meal. We didn't seem to have one waiter, which normally wouldn't bother me, but we had to tell 3 different people how to split up the checks for our group. I'll be back but I hope to have a better experience next time! read more

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When called about the extremely high bill, manager said "sometimes we add tips to the bill because our waiters work for 4 dollars an hour". We in fact tipped them in addition to the bill not knowing the tip was already added. Makes us wonder if their waiters work illegally/under the table. Definitely will not be going back there. read more

Food was spectacular! The Baba was flavorful and the texture was just right. Got the Shish combo with salad. Everything on my plate was hands down delicious! Tons of flavor and spices. I will definitely be back asap! Highly recommend it to Mediterranean read more