Overall it was a great experience. I appreciated quality and portion size of the dishes, the service, and ample seating. It is located in a large plaza with plenty of seating. The prices are fair. I highly recommend getting the dinner over the platters for the add-ons. It is a popular restaurant as well. We came pretty early for dinner on Saturday and it was packed by the time we left. Highly recommend read more

Sahara Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Skillman, New Jersey

Never disappoints! Kibbe is delicious as is the foul (iykyk). Traditional Middle Eastern decor can't be beat. A go to when close by.

It was recommended by some friends of mine. Located in the same parking lot as the movie we just went to. Service was so welcoming . Menu had lots of offerings and the prices were so reasonable. Cute decor. Lebanese traditional dress and many Arabic tchotchkes. Nice music too. Nice crowd. I ordered the baba Ganoush and my friend ordered the kofta. It came with a salad and mini mezze. (Which ended up having hummus, tahini, Baba Ganoush and tabouli salad. ) I also tried a hot cups of Sage tea. It was very interesting. The scent was interesting and suitable with my dish. I'm glad I tried it. I enjoyed my time here the food was delicious. I would come back. Great service! read more

Sahara Restaurant - Sage House Tea, Baba Ghanoug , mezze Tabouleh Hummus - Middle Eastern Near Me - Skillman, New Jersey

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Not often that I write a review so far south of a 4 or 5 star. This meal wasn't worth my time to write it. Perhaps my taste and roof expectations are so different from those that love this establishment The menu certainly sounds very tasty and offers lots of options, including combination options for those who are not sure what some of these are or taste like. However we were very underwhelmed by the dish presentations We started off with the meat pie and spanakopita, however, to our surprise, it was very little filling and more dough than anything... and frankly, I don't want to eat bread for my meal. We decided to share a traditional combo platter instead of putting it on rice, had the onion, tomato pepper vegetable mix, which had new tomatoes, and frankly was very again underwhelming on flavor and on looks . With all the Mediterranean places that we do go to this was quite unfortunately lackluster . read more

Sahara Restaurant - Traditional Combination Platter - Middle Eastern Near Me - Skillman, New Jersey

My family has been coming here for years. This place used to be five stars. Now it is 3.5. This is a casual restaurant with basic booth seating and festive decor. The menu is excellent, prices are fair but the execution and service are not up to par. Very little meat on each platter. I recommend the soups, lamb shish kabob, babaganoush and round kibbe. The kofta was overcooked and rubbery. The poor quality pita ruined the enjoyment of the various mezze. And the giggly young server was on her phone and never came to check on us. I would not go out of your way to go there, but would stop if you are in the area and like the dishes I mentioned. Skip dessert. read more

Good place for a nice Mediterranean spread of food. Ideal for dine in given the cuisine. Have tried a take away but the food became soggy but sure it's the packaging and not the preparation. read more

First time, and we'll be back! The apps were awesome (hummus and an eggplant dish with fresh pita). The portions were generous. And the meal was tasty. read more

The grape leaves are so good that they make every other grape leaves seem like they come from a cold rocky different planet.

The positives: same shopping center as Montgomery Movies, so conducive distance. Easy parking. The hummus, tabouleh & baba ghanoug / pita was fresh & tasty. Best part of dinner. ......BUT lighting is awful. A glare right over the tables. Pls reconsider lighting. Food is UNDERWHELMING. Chicken kabobs dry, rice - tasteless. (Says "seasoned" rice?) Waitstaff sweet but more training needed. Asked to open wine & was handed a corkscrew. Much prefer other Greek restaurants. Sahara (not related) in Manville much better. Being in this local strip mall brings them much local repeaters. But I'd rather go next door to Ya Ya noodle. read more

Amazing food amazing , I was a bartender at rocky hill for many years. Never knew about this place. 11 years later I randomly came in with my dad , we are both part Armenian and the food is some of the best I ever had , creamy hummus, tabouleh very nice lots of parsley ,nice flavor, the meat grape leaves remind me of what my grandma used to make. Spinach pie was enjoyable and man the lamb gyro wraps with the yogurt sauce so good . I will be coming back Ahmet was a wonderful host! I am so sorry I just found out about this place !!! They have an amazing dessert section we didn't get too, we were way too full but next time and the man the prices are amazingly reasonable! I enjoyed the decor as well read more

I work near this restaurant. I recommend it anytime someone asks what I'm eating. The falafel gourmet sandwich as well as the chicken shawarma are tasty, delicious and plenty of food for lunch for under $10. If you need lunch and dinner, order a large sandwich and you have enough for two people or lunch and dinner. The platter for $20 is worth it as well. The food is always fresh and Ahmed and his brother are very friendly. Great place to sit and eat. The restaurant is quiet and has middle eastern decor that is awesome. Next time you're in the Skillman area stop in and get something to eat. Tell Ahmed Andrew said Hi! read more

I love the food, beverage, people, AND atmosphere! The staff is always so sweet! Everything is so damn good here!

Tucked away in a non-descript strip mall in Skillman is a middle-eastern gem called Sahara serving incredibly fresh and authentic cuisine that begs overindulgence and a return visit. On a random Thursday we were treated to a wonderful spiced barley soup called Sharbet Frikeh and a generous helping of Hummus, Baba Ganouj and a delectable serving of beef stuffed grape leaves all leading to a lightly spiced Chicken Shawarma as a main. Dessert unfortunately, would have to wait for another day. Strip malls in New Jersey are strangely mercurial places as you are just as likely to be the recipient of bad Chinese take-out as you are to be transported on a ribbon of spice to Ankara, Beirut or Cairo... all between a quick pit stop in Walgreens. Forget the location, Sahara is a warm, inviting and delicious destination. An easy five stars. read more

So delicious! We usually do take out and every time the food is prepared and ready to go. We have never been disappointed.

The restaurant has a nice, private, quiet feeling to it, making the meal feel more intimate. The decorations add to the overall and create a more comfortable atmosphere. The food is excellent with perhaps the freshest baba ganoush I've ever had. The kebabs I ordered were delightfully crispy on the exterior and moist on the interior. Generously sized baklava and bottomless refills on my drink was an added bonus. The service was quick, polite, and quality. read more

We visited this restaurant many times and enjoyed the quality of the food. Our last visit was a huge disappointment. We always order the same dishes, so comparing Apples to Apples here. The meat was overcooked and dry, and the rice was undercooked. The hummus and tabuley were good, but the baba ganush needed more lemon. Sahara restaurant. Sahara, Whatever the reason, please fix it. We miss the food the way it used to be. read more

We had falafel, chicken, halloumi, and hummus. Portions are fair, kids basically licked their plates.

Excellent food! The veggie platter is awesome and comes with plenty of pita, falafel, hummus, tabouleh, and baba ganoush. It was all really delicious! We have ordered from here once a week since discovering it. Everything is always really fresh and authentic. Really like their side sauces too - cucumber yogurt one is a nice complement to the falafel and the red spicy one is so flavorful and a nice mild spice to it! Definitely recommend read more

Splendid meal in this unassuming place - the chicken kebab and lamb were mesmerizing! Great value for your money too and very homey/friendly place that has been around for a long time. Highly recommended. read more

Everything tastes fresh and homemade! Great hummus and baba. Love the aubergine salad- very smoky. The thyme bread is delicious and I love the thin pitas. The shepherd salad also is full of spice and the grape leaves are unique and lemony. Yum!! read more

Definitely a solid four. Food was well seasoned and cooked well. Portion was a bit small for the price. Hummus, taboulli, definitely very good. So on balance a solid meal for middle eastern food and a quick in and out for a mid week dinner with a business colleague. read more

Sahara Restaurant - These tasty treated are included if you order the dinner version of their platters. All delicious - Middle Eastern Near Me - Skillman, New Jersey

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Really good traditional food! The flavor is amazing love the grape leaves! We had the hummus with meat really great also the baba ganoush the only thing we didn't really love was the baklaw didn't feel to fresh! read more

My new go to. Wow Not only is the good sensational but the prices are amazing too We got the meat stuffed grape leaves, chicken with couscous, kibbe, baklava, and kenafe Wow Wow! read more

Sahara Restaurant - Kenafe - Middle Eastern Near Me - Skillman, New Jersey

Love this place. The staff is always on point. Tarik goes the extra mile. Come here enough and you start to feel like family. Take the time and sample the entire menu as there are some real Gems here. They have a fantastic home-made hot pepper mash that is always a crowd pleaser. They can be super busy at dinner so try them at lunch first for a more intimate experience. read more

The food is excellent! Flavorful and delicious. The service is friendly and helpful, not overbearing like in some other places.

I used to go here periodically but I bet I hadn't been in at least 5 years , probably more. They've really spiffed up the look and the service has improved.I can remember it looking like a diner and at times , rather surly service.Good work! I went for dinner on a Saturday night.I had a combination dinner of assorted kebabs and hummus and baba ghonush .I liked everything , although I have to point out I think the lamb kebab is a little overcooked.My wife had a kefta platter.Also good .It's a real treat to get baba ghonush and their baba is nicely smoky.We had an interesting dessert,Kunafah , that I'd never had before.It's a sweet cheese dessert with nuts and some rose water. Portions are generous and we did take some food home.By the way unless I'm mistaken, this is not a Mediterranean restaurant ,it's Lebanese. read more

Sahara Restaurant - Dessert - Middle Eastern Near Me - Skillman, New Jersey

Oh my God, all the sandwiches that they have are delicious even though sometimes I do wish they would come with the french fries.

UPDATE: STILL the best hummus and baba ghanoush around. Still my favorite Mediterranean restaurant. Still great service and atmosphere. We come here often and get take out and it's always excellent! I bring my vegetarian, vegan and carnivore friends and family alike. Fantastic. I've been coming here for years and stop in regularly for take out. The best hummus and Baba ghanoush anywhere. We stop in to get some to go all the time. Great service, great atmosphere and easy walking down to Montgomery Cinemas. Highly recommended. read more

We felt the need for some Middle Eastern food and Sahara is our go to restaurant. The order today was for take out. We ordered a falafel sandwich, beef shawarma and a chicken shawarma. Everything was fine, except the tzatziki sauce was barely there. If you order from them, be sure to ask for extra sauce. The portions are about adequate and the tomatoes and cucumbers are very fresh. This would be a five star review if the portion size was increased and there was more sauce. read more

Really good Middle Eastern food!! Love their hummus and banaganoush. The salad with chicken/lamb/shrimp is really good for low carb people on diets especially. read more

Haven't been here in a very long time. New owners, over 14 years, now, have kept some of the old and new culinary delights. I had a fond memory of their babbaganu, roasted eggplant with a hint of smokiness, I was not disappointed. In fact they had enhanced the recipe. Also had the lamb kebob and chicken schwama, both were very good. Can't wait to go back! read more

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As a former Middle East resident I have had to adapt my taste buds to the American interpretation of Middle East cuisine, and assumed Sahara would be the same pseudo American/Arab mishmosh I usually get. As soon as I saw the delicate tissue wrapping of the shawarma, the long thin profile, the drizzle of garlic sauce, the thin floppy pickles, I knew this was it. Authentic Delicious Middle Eastern Food. The first bite of shawarma brought a smile and a brief welling of tears to my eyes. I was brought back to my late night village visits to the local shawarma shop after a long day. Only 500fils accompanied by a handful of french fries. The chef here should truly be proud of his craft, and of bringing the real flavours of Arabia to New Jersey. A truly heart warming and delicious experience! read more

Stopped in here for late lunch before the storm with mom. What a great idea, the chicken kebab gourmet sandwich without green peppers was so good, chicken was tender and not over charred. Mom got the veggie classics of falafel hummus and baba ganoush. Fabulous and staff was very friendly! Totally recommend checking it out! read more

Sahara Restaurant - Chicken kebab sandwich - Middle Eastern Near Me - Skillman, New Jersey

Growing up in Central Jersey, I'd always drive by this restaurant, but never bothered to walk in there. Last night, that all changed. My best friend and I went as we were in the mood for Middle Eastern food. Once we walked in, the decor and atmosphere felt like we were in a Middle Eastern country. From there on, our waiter Feras served us some fine Middle Eastern treats. Started off with a middle eastern style empanadas (forgot the name) but was very DELISH! Something about pine nuts makes it flavorful. For the main course, I ordered the Sahara Meat Combo (with rice and tabbouleh). Flavorful and just right. Wish the hot sauce could've been hotter!! For dessert we had a cheesy candy like cake. It made my night! Oh, get the yogurt drink....you won't be sorry! Not bad for my first time. I look forward to trying more DELISH Middle Eastern treats!! :) read more

Sahara Restaurant - Sahara Meat Combo....it was just right! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Skillman, New Jersey

unassuming middle eastern food in Montgomery. i love everything about this place. delicious food good service and a reasonable price. this place is well worth the visit read more

Great food Great Service. The owner treats her staff with so much care and respect. As well as her customers. We always go there after a movie. read more

Very good and tasty. Didn't know why I never came earlier. Maybe because this place is hidden way on the other side corner of my local Shoprite. I never drive past that way when I do my groceries (my bad!) I came with my dw for dinner and ordered the 2 mixed meats (Sahara and Traditional Combo). Both were good with good amounts of meat but I prefer the Sahara cause it also has the gyro my fav). These comes in either a platter or dinner plate. The dinner plate comes with 3 sauces and different rice and platter only comes with one. Price-wise very affordable $15-22. Service was prompt and friendly (thank you Sophia!). Another bonus is byob and there is a beer and wine shop in the same strip mall. We will be back! read more

Kind of place (small spot in a strip mall) that you wouldn't walk into without advice from a hip daughter or foodie friend ... but this is the real deal. Portions are very substantial ... babaghanoush is outstanding ... lamb entrees were excellent ... even the rice was unique and delicious. We ordered out ... but the place was filled and very interesting decor. read more

Sahara is in a strip mall and very unassuming but boy! They have the best hummus, gyro and chicken kabob! So delicious!

A local favorite for many reasons: The food (of course) is authentic Middle Eastern fare by those who know how to cook it (more on that in a bit)!! Everything on the menu is delicious, but my favorite (keep in mind, I'm not a vegetarian) is the choose-your-own vegetarian platter. It's a choice of four of their vegetarian offerings. My go to: baba ghanoug, green beans (with the most amazing caramelized onions), mujaaddara and tabouleh (how do they get it sooo goood??). The Turkish coffee is fantastic and they have the most delicious lemonade because they have a secret ingredient (I'll never tell!). And then there's the baklava. There are different types, but I'm a baklava traditionalist - walnuts for me. This baklava is the absolute best I've ever had, including when I had it in the Middle East and also in Paris. If you're too full, take a piece home. The staff - owned and run by a local family who started out in the Middle East! They are warm, gracious people who run their restaurant like pros, because they are. They also give back to the community!! The ambiance - after a make over a while ago, Sahara is as much a feast for the eyes as the mouth and belly!! Park your camel and head in for some great food! read more

Sahara Restaurant - Veggie combo! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Skillman, New Jersey