We ordered two lamb gyros for pickup, one with pasta salad and one with chickpea salad. The gyros were fantastic, though the sides were a bit bland. We'll definitely be back for more gyros and to try other items on the menu. read more

I would rate 3.5 stars. Prices are great and few dishes we loved and few absolutely didn't. We loved: hummus, Babaganoush and Damascus bread. Very flavourful and tasty. The bread was soft inside, crunchy crust - delicious! Chicken kabob was also tasty (4/5). Rice was delicious! What we didn't like: Falafel was too garlicky for my taste. The worst was tabouli salad. It was soggy and full with tomatoes. Usually the main ingredient is parsley and thats what we hoped for. But parley was barely there.. big disappointment (1/5). Gyro was very oily but it was okay. Overall we would like to try more dishes. Customer service was also good, food arrived fast and they have plenty of parking up front. read more

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The food is authentic and super tasty - the owners and staff are always welcoming. It can get pretty hot inside but the outdoor eating space is well kept and clean. Their partnership with the Vino Garage next door makes for an ideal last minute night out. You can't mention NoMa by Al Amir without also praising the work they do in our community! Great all around read more

It's hard to find authentic Mediterranean, but here it is!! The hummus and eggplant / Damascus bread was a favorite of the whole table. The schwarma was very mild, tasty.... Not quite as spice filled as I have had before but still yummy and would order again. And I didn't get a photo of our pizza because they were inhaled too quickly! The handmade crusts and red sauce were some of our favorites in all of Columbia. read more

NoMa by Al Amir - Sampler appetizer and chicken schwarma - Mediterranean Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

NoMa by Al Amir is a Mediterranean spot that's got the classics you'd expect in a no frills diner experience. The simple vibe at NoMa elevates the food experience and helps further prove that the focus is on the flavor here. I tried the Protein Power Bowl with some spicy feta added and it was out of this world. The feta had almost a buffalo flavor to it that really made it shine. The food was fresh, and the value was on point. You're not over paying for anything at this spot. All in all in you want a no frills Mediterranean spot that you can pop into for a cozy lunch or dinner this is it! read more

NoMa by Al Amir - Protein Power Bowl - Mediterranean Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

I had just made it to town and needed to grab a bite before making my way to my hotel. Found NoMa on Yelp and seemed like just the thing. From the outside, NoMa has small, hole-in-the-wall vibes. Inside, it feels like a diner. I asked if I could get an order to go and they were more than willing to accommodate. There was nothing wrong with dining in but I'd been traveling all day and really wanted to get to my hotel and kick my feet up. I noticed they have a signature dish and mentioned it to my server. She highly recommended so I went ahead and ordered it with falafel. It as great and came with three ample falafels. The service was over-the-top kind, the prices are reasonable, and the food is great. What's not to love? Get to it! read more

NoMa by Al Amir - Their signature dish with falafel - Mediterranean Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Stopped by around 11am after an appt nearby. This spot has a decent amount of parking in their lot so no street parking necessary. It's a nice quaint spot and everyone in there was so nice. We walked in and were instructed to seat ourselves. Adam was our server and was amazing. I chose the build your bowl option and got rice, chicken gyro with the Al Amir salad and vegetables as my side. We also ordered the hummus with Damascus bread. Everything was so delicious. The chicken was tender and nicely seasoned. The rice was perfect and the salad and veggies were equally as yummy. The star was for sure the Damascus bread! It was so soft and just absolutely delicious. Everything is reasonably priced for the portions. They also have vegan cheese doe their pizzas but ran out the day we went so will definitely be back to try that! read more

We ordered delivery from the restaurant wall in town. The food traveled well and even the delivery driver said how delicious it smelled. We started with the appetizer sampler my favorites were the stuffed grape leaves and hummus. The grape leaves were really good and the hummus was fresh and creamy. The bread was also great as well as the baba ghanoush. For my entrée I had lamb kebab with rice and vegetables. The lamb was tender and full of flavor and I liked the grilled vegetables along with the rice. my son loved his euro and the pizza we tried was also very good. read more

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Everything I get from here is SO flavorful. Service is a little, meh. Not the most inviting, but I go for the food. My favorites right now are the chicken shawarma and the falafel wrap! So good! read more

NOMA is the best of the Al Amir locations. Can't say I've had anything that wasn't first rate, especially the traditional Mediterranean fare. Parking can sometimes be challenging but can be found if patient. The dining area is pleasant and comfortable. Service is prompt and food quality is spot on. Highly recommend for lunch especially if want to get away from the hustle and bustle and prices of downtown Main Street places. This where the NOMA locals eat! Highly recommend. read more

Fast, friendly, and straightforward authentic Mediterranean food. Such a quaint Cola gem with consistent food quality and authentic options! Wonderful for a quick lunch with coworkers or if you're looking to try something new! Oh, good portions too by the way! read more

This spot is adorable, with a very homey vibe. The staff were friendly and the food came out quickly! The Damascus bread was heaven sent and incredibly soft. My fiancé had a build your own bowl which she enjoyed! I had the gyro pizza which was fire!! I'm too full to give yall every little detail, so just go and check it out lol! Highly recommended read more

NoMa by Al Amir - Damascus Bread w/humus and a Build your own Bowl. - Mediterranean Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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Your local millennial is here to say: "I'm so old I remember when Al Amir was at the end of main street". Back in the years 2015-2017 I would say Al Amir was probably my favorite restaurant in all of Columbia. They had their own take on chicken parm that was so tasty...then they moved. They've been on my Columbia bucket list for years to go back to...so how did it do? Pros: - Food is so flavorful. Everything just has great flavor. - Chicken melts in your mouth as soon as you bite into it. - Perfectly seasoned thick cut fries - A menu that offers a lot. You can go from gyros to pizza in one sitting. - Price. This place will not break the budget. An appetizer and two main courses came in around $30. - Hot. Everything was hot and fresh. Cons: - Inside is a smidge dingy. For an appetizer we got spicy feta dip with pita bread. This was absolutely delicious. The pita bread was really warm and when you smear the dip on it you really start to question why you haven't came by sooner. For the main I got a chicken shawarma with fries. That absolutely hit the spot. Again, kicking myself for not coming back sooner. My wife got the Damascus Hummus. She said it was phenomenal and hit the spot. So yeah, I am disappointed I waited so long to have Al Amir again. I've drove by it for years at this point and it always gets in the back of my head to go. I will be going back immediately and will be thinking of that chicken shawarma and spicy feta dip waaaaaayyy too long. read more

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This place hit the spot. From the sampler platter to the Gyro pizza, it was delicious. We were craving Mediterranean food and it did not disappoint. The star of the show was the Gyro pizza for me. Great price at $11.95 with a generous portion. read more

NoMa by Al Amir - Sampler - Mediterranean Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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Great wings! Good people and food. Found this place looking for some real chicken! I will be back.

Stopped in for lunch today. The Damascus bread with hummus as an appetizer hit the spot while we waiting for the food. We had pizza, a falafel wrap, and a bowl. All of the entrees were excellent as usual. Our family is vegetarian and there were other options available for us to eat of we wanted. The service was prompt and the entire staff was friendly regardless of who was helping us. We will stop by again next time we're in town! read more

This restaurant was Syrian, and appeared to have a mix of locals to that region as well as locals to SC. I ordered with the idea of eating in, but they handed me a takeout order to my mild surprise. Even the people eating in had their food in disposable containers, which is less than ideal. However, the food itself had merit. I got a combination hummus platter. I am surprised by how runny my hummus with foul was; it was more like a masabacha with a lot of whole chickpeas. The other time I've had similar texture for this sort of dish was at a Syrian restaurant as well, so maybe that's typical? I prefer my hummus creamy. Having said that, it was still good. The cucumbers mixed in were less ideal and add a weird flavor to the whole thing. On the other hand, their freshly heated bread with sesame seeds was mouthwatering, and I appreciated the option for a choice of salads. So even though there were a few things that weren't quite to my liking, it was quality food and with lots of labeled vegetarian/vegan options, can work for a lot of people. read more

NoMa by Al Amir - Damascus Hummus with foul - Mediterranean Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

We went here for Sunday brunch and loved the food. The service was great - our waitress was very friendly. Make sure you get the falafel, olives, cheese pie, and hot tea. Everything was made fresh and was flavorful! read more

Let's start with... ..don't miss out on the Damascus Bread!! Everything we ordered was amazing, the bread, the Feta spicy dip, Chicken, beef.. highly recommend. Place was very clean, service was hospitable, friendly and quick. Make room for the pistachio based dessert; so good! If we're in Colombia again, we'll definitely pass by. read more

NoMa by Al Amir - Damascus Bread, Tabouli Salad - Side Salad, Pascha chicken, Pasha Beef, Kafta - Mediterranean Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Love the new location on N. Main. Got the Build your own bowl two days in a row. The chicken was flavorful, delectable, and juicy. The service was fast and prompt and the young lady was very pleasant and helpful. Regular restaurant decor, nothing to rave about. Give this place a try if you're in Columbia SC looking for Mediterranean food. Sorry for no pics. I was hungry and demolished it. read more

5 stars!!! This is truly a hole in the wall in Columbia! The food was authentic and incredible! The falafel was the best I've ever had, so moist and crisp on the outside! The lamb shawarma and chicken kabobs were fantastic as well as the grape leaves, Damascus bread and hummus! Highly recommend getting the sampler plate so you can try all the apps! The service was also very nice and the owner was there and was super friendly! Incredible place! read more

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One of the most underrated restaurants in Columbia. It's a treasure. Get the Damascus hummus. Also the pizza is a total sleeper.

I wanted to love this place as I heard good things and saw that they had good reviews however... the food was a miss for me. I ordered the lamb shawarma with saffron rice and chick pea salad. The lamb shawarma was decently flavored but was a bit stringy for my liking but what really missed the mark here was the rice... it was wet... but not mushy cooked wet. It was wet as in there might have been quite a bit of water on the plate or something. So, this threw me off and it was consistent throughout the plate and the food came out fresh but it wasn't really hot but luke warm. However, I really enjoyed the chick pea salad, which the waiter recommended when I asked if any chick peas came with the entree (it comes with a side salad) however you have to ask for chick pea salad if you're going for dinner because it's only on the lunch menu. The waiter that helped me out was amazing, she was attentive, and checked on me and as soon as my food was ready she brought it to my table. I really just wished that the food was slightly better. read more

NoMa by Al Amir - Lamb Shawarma and Chickpeas Salad - Mediterranean Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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Incredible, a must try in Columbia. The food was delicious. * Appetizer sampler - it's perfect, extra creamy olive oil drenched hummus and baba ganoush. the BEST tahini sauce I've ever tasted, nutty, creamy, not a hint of bitterness. Crispy falafel and vegetarian stuffed grape leaves. * Damascus bread - WOW, fluffy on the inside, crispy on the outside, topped with toasted sesame and nigela seeds. Don't miss it. * Damascus pizza - silky fried eggplant and homemade sauce, even better dipped in the tahini sauce from the appetizer sampler ;) * Vegan delight - warm bean salad with a giant loaf of dreamy cloudlike Damascus bread * Fattoush salad - fresh, herbal, refreshing just as it should be * Rice - indulgent saffron flavor in every bite * Baklava - at 2 for $6 how could you resist grabbing a couple on the way out, you won't regret giving into that impulse Vegan GF cauliflower crust and vegan cheese are available. But a word of warning, it's hard to watch others enjoy Damascus bread if your GF, my GF daughter was heartbroken. Tons of vegan options so if you are veg prepare to be spoiled for choice. Beyond the great food, this place has a cozy no frills atmosphere that will make you feel right at home. The staff and even the regular patrons were wonderful, they make you feel like family here. The owner gifted me a box of imported zatar that I can't wait to cook with it. Honestly, I may make the hour plus drive to Columbia again soon just to come back to this restaurant. Thank you Noma by Al Amir! read more

Always have great food and great service. Hot sauce is amazing here. Gyros are great here. read more

NoMa by Al Amir - Lamb Gyro - Mediterranean Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Service was very attentive and welcoming. Once in the restaurant was very cozy, and quiet. We went on a Saturday afternoon, not crowded at all. There seems to be additional seating on a back porch area. We ordered the bbq chicken pizza and the lamb. The pizza was full of flavor. The lamb was absolutely delicious read more

NoMa by Al Amir - Front of restaurant - Mediterranean Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Incredible authentic middle Eastern/arabic food. They make the falafels moist and delicious, which is rare. Hummus and other fillings are fresh and flavorful and the Damascus bread is delicious and something I've never had before. We will be coming here again and again read more

NoMa by Al Amir - Mediterranean Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

The food is always good here. It can get pretty crowded at lunchtime. Parking can be a problem but it's worth it.

Absolutely love this place. The baba with Damascus bread is one of my faves. My daughter always gets the baked pasta with Alfredo. The shawarma chicken is perfection. Everyone that works there is so nice. Very low key and welcoming. read more

Food is always fresh and their Hummus is the best . Could use a little ambiance on outside patio tho

Gyro was excellent- ample amount of lamb and tasty. Ordered online and picked up a designated time. Friendly service and food was ready. read more

I love this place. Simple Mediterranean food packed with flavor. I typically get the Shawarma Chicken with the rice and veggies, and the Mediterranean Salad with the Mediterranean House dressing, which by the way is my favorite dressing of all time! They really should bottle for sale! This was my first time getting the small pizza which was pretty fulfilling and plentiful as a small pizza; I had leftovers for lunch the next day. I ordered the Lebanese Pizza without Artichokes. I desired pineapples on the pizza (yes I'm that person), however, it's not offered as a topping. Fair enough. The inside is nice, service is typically well, you get your food in good timing, and the patio is perfect. They offer music and even live music sometimes which is a nice touch. Parking can get full especially if they're packed. A must dine especially if you want simple, good, straight to the point middle-eastern style cuisine. read more

NoMa by Al Amir - Lebanese Pizza without Artichokes - Mediterranean Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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I ordered the salmon, hummus and mixed veggies. I wish I had tried the pizza. The salmon was ok, seasoned but not tasty. Excellent service, the server recommended her favorites and the hummus was delicious. Nice atmosphere. Quiet and peaceful. If I visit again I will definitely try the pizza. read more

I'm 57 years old. So when I say the Al Amir Special pizza is my favorite pizza I don't mean favorite local pizza, or favorite small business pizza, or favorite lunch pizza. It is my favorite pizza over the last 57 years. read more

The food is top notch, the service is attentive but casual. It's almost always bustling and lively. I don't much notice what all is going on around me, the prices are more than fair and did I say the food is excellent? Try the Damascus bread you won't regret it. read more

This was my first experience with this restaurant. We ate lunch. We ordered 2 Tabbouleh salads and were looking forward to it. Sadly it arrived at the table at least a day old and should have never been served! I would rather a kitchen tell me they are sorry they can't fix a dish than serve a yucky old discolored salad. The server knew it and didn't remove off our bill or offer a substitute :/ a missed opportunity to make it right. all the other dishes were delicious and we did order 2 extra dips with pita bread to take home which were delicious at home. I would come back to give a second chance because the oven baked bread was delicious, but I would not order a dish with cucumbers,tomatoes, or parsley unless I first checked with the server that they could be prepared fresh for me. read more

NoMa by Al Amir - Soggy old Tabbouleh salad - Mediterranean Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Food and service were great. Spicy feta on Damascus bread and pizza. Will return to try everything on the menu!

we had a great experience. loved the food and service. Brought my two young kids and they really enjoyed the food too

We've ordered takeout from here several times and it's usually good and reliable. However, the chicken shawarma dishes we ordered on Friday, 11/17, left us both feeling queasy and unwell. As soon as I opened the styrofoam clamshells and saw the meals I knew something was "off." The food looked very different than the other 10 times we've ordered the same entrees. The presentation is usually quite nice - until last night. The chicken was greasy, stringy, and tasted "old" like it had been sitting in the back of a fridge for a week. The salad also was not fresh - it reminded me of salad leftovers from a catered lunch platter that had been sitting out for hours. The lettuce leaves were wilted and pale, tomatoes were mushy, and other ingredients were skimpy - i.e. one olive, one small cucumber slice, and a small banana pepper. I'm disappointed. Food is so expensive and take out meals are a treat. To get home from work after a long day and dig into food that looked and tasted like someone else's leftovers was very frustrating. After our experience last night we aren't willing to try Al Amir again. It's not worth it. read more

Food was good, but seemed like a couple bucks more than it should be per serving size in Columbia. I had some time to kill and this seemed like a good place to do it. The windows were well tinted and I wasn't quite sure if they were open when I pulled up. I walked in and it seemed like it was an old fast food place. I kind of got the impression that it would have been a little nicer from the other yelp reviews. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to order from the cashier, so I walked up to her, but she asked if I wanted to take a seat, so I did. The server was super friendly, gave me my menu and got me a drink quickly. The menu was pretty diverse with lots of options. But like I said a few bucks more than I'd expect. $15-17 for most kebobs and platters, all which came with a salad of your choosing. Not overly expensive, but I have a few spots in Charlotte where I can get larger portions for less money. I ended up getting the lamb kebobs, a slice of cheesecake and a water and it was like $25 with tax, $30 after tip. It was good, but not $30 good IMO. I'll come back next time I am in the area, I'd like to try the pizza. read more