The pita and hummus bread is amazing. I had the falafels and they were savory and moist. There is nothing worse than a dry falafel. Fast service and staff is friendly. read more

I don't eat out much these days for so many reasons, but somehow find myself at Tamar at least once a week. Every single thing I've eaten is outrageously delicious. I generally avoid eating chicken as my best friend and I have dubbed it a "nervous bird" but I'd happily eat this anxious poultry every day til I die. It's somehow both tender and filled with crispy bits, the sauce is addictive, and the sides are fresh and delicious. My 6 and 8 year old gals love everything as well; last time my eldest rubbed the pita on her face and said it tasted "like a tasty fluffy blanket." 5+ stars for anywhere I can get a delicious meal, eat in a beautiful garden, and rub bread on my face without judgement. Tamar, I love you. read more

First, I agree with Anna M's review. The host with the dyed blonde hair is not customer focused at all. I ordered the Lamb Kofta and when I went to pick it up I asked for spicy sauce. He said "It is the green sauce on your plate." Ok....nothing spicier? "No." Well then may I have some jalapeños to place in the pita? "No. There are jalapeños in the sauce." Any other restaurant would have added a few. Please note the two photos. They show dead flowers left on the table. Quite inappropriate for a restaurant. They also show how tiny the meat portion is. In my view that makes it very overpriced for the product. On top of that they expect a tip when finished ordering even when the client orders at the register, picks up their own meal, and cleans their own table. In my opinion after the service received they did not earn a tip. read more

Tamar - This is the floral arrangement on our table. It should have been removed a week ago. Shows a lack of attention to detail. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Place was cute, and food was mostly decent. It was really expensive for what you get, as the salad's lettuce wasn't great & side vegetables were scarce. Not pictured was some pita bread & hummus, which was good. The falafel tasted great but could have used real utensils for how hard they were. Service was good, casual order at register and sit. Connected to a coffee shop as well. read more

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$34 for the chicken shawarma plate with extra chicken The chicken is not fresh it's old and tastes bland it only tastes good when you eat it with the sauce Not a good Mediterranean food place read more

Tamar - Chicken shawarma plate - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I was craving a falafel and discovered this place right there in the funk zone . It was everything I wanted and more, the food was fresh and they share a space with a coffee and tea spot read more

Loved it. A little cold at night there with big open windows. Great setiing, nice servers . Flavors of food was excellent. Cheese dip, pita and sweet potatoes my favorite. Casual setting. read more

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fabulous front of house. when i was having difficulty trying to amend an order, sophie absolutely stepped up. she is awesome. food arrived and was delicious. cant wait to eat there again. well it was door dash so no idea of the ambiance. great experience. read more

Spectacular food. We got the chicken shawarma plate (rice was just okay), crispy Japanese sweet potatoes and the whipped cheese. Excellent! Some of the best food I've eaten! Good not stop oohing about how good it was. Definitely coming back! read more

Yum!! This place is HEAVEN. I got the lamb kofta plate and for $26 you get a TON of food which I wasn't expecting. The lamb was juicy and perfectly spiced, the hummus and salad was fresh, the pita bread also fresh-- basically every bite was exploding with flavor. Plus they give you 3 extra little sauces to satisfy your need for variety. Love it so much, will be back- thank you!! read more

Tamar - lamb kofta plate - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

This place is a must-visit! The food is absolutely delicious--freshly baked pita, the Dip Trip, and the chicken shawarma plate were all incredible. Though it seemed like a lot of food for two, we savored every last bite. The service is quick, indoor and outdoor seating available. Conveniently, parking is available in the nearby back lot. read more

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I came to Dart coffee a while back and noticed this place. It was closed that time but I knew I wanted to come back to try it. Finally got a chance to! I ordered a chicken shawarma pita. The pita bread was nice a fluffy and the pita sandwich was a good size! It had great flavor. We were trying to figure out what spices were used that tasted unique and came up with cloves, cardamom and turmeric. Not sure if that was it but the sauce tasted very flavorful. It's a nicely decorated co-space and the staff was friendly. Would recommend for a nice bite to eat! It's also located in a nice part of SB off the main State St. read more

One of our favorite places in Santa Barbara. Pitas are freshly made and fantastic. Baba Ganoush, chicken schwarma, lamb kofta, falafel, fattoush salad, torshi pickles, amba tahini, zhoug are all awesome. Hummus is too tahini-heavy for my taste, but I assume that's a matter of style. Friendly folks at the counter. Ambience is very basic and fairly noisy; there are a few picnic-style tables outside which are quieter and more pleasant. read more

Had a great healthy dinner here last night. The food was so good! We had the lamb pita sandwich, chicken shawarma salad, and the falafel salad. Everyone enjoyed their meal. Cute place - we will definitely be back! read more

I came to the Funk zone to do a tasting and pick up a wine shipment and literally around the corner is this place. I read the reviews so I decided to go here instead of going up to the food hall and getting my normal Khao Soi from the Thai place inside. I got the lamb Kathe Peetah sandwich based off of several reviews I read. One review I did Reed mention that there was too much cabbage in the chicken Shawarma pita sandwich and that's exactly how I would describe this sandwich. As you can see from my picture, there is very little lamb sausage. The entire thing was stuffed full of cabbage, which was very good, but absolutely not worth $20 for a half of a pita sandwich, stuffed with cabbage and very little meat. In fact, there was so much cabbage that even though I knew I was eating protein with the meat, I could not taste it because the cabbage mix overpowers every other taste. While this sandwich has good flavor, it definitely does not leave you feeling like you ever want to go back to the place and try something different. Their menu is super small, which is OK, but since the sandwiches seem to be made the same, I don't think I will ever try this place again. I will say that there were two people in front of me on the sandwich came out pretty much a few minutes after I ordered so that was nice but still, not worth $20, not even by a longshot! I live in Oxnard and it literally left me feeling unsatisfied and like I still wanted to go eat somewhere that would make me happy in Santa Barbara, even though I shouldn't. The space is very aesthetically appealing and seems very cool, hip, and trendy. I wonder if the plates would be better, getting them with rice.? Anyway, I feel like the food deserves a two and everything else deserves maybe a 3.5 to 4. There's just nothing that stands out as something massively overwhelming to the point where anything deserves more than a 3.5 review. Sadly! read more

Tamar - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Excellent hummus and pita and falafel!!!! The owner I think his name is Logan is soooo friendly!! Super cute inside! Cheers!

This place is a hidden gem! For a fast, casual restaurant, the food was incredible. We ordered the chicken schwarma and the falafel salad. I was so impressed by the quality and freshness of ingredients in both dishes. I also loved being able to try the chicken with different sauces and the unique hummus flavor. Highly recommend if you're looking for healthy, quick food on a budget. read more

Tamar - Falafel salad - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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This is delicious, fresh, well-prepared Mediterranean food. It is up there with the best I've had in California. The chicken shawarma was unexpectedly juicy (and it's almost always dry), superb hummus made from scratch, pickled vegetables not overpowered by vinegar, light and toasty, fluffy pita...and more. Casual environment co-existing with a very good coffee bar. read more

Located in the Funk Zone. Super colorful and open space. My bf had the chicken sandwich (gyro) and I had the lamb kofta sandwich, and we shared their special-- which was japanese sweet potatoes. OMG, so delicious. A definite must try. The pita was divine, the sauce, the side of pickles it came with, the flavors-- chef's kiss. read more

Tamar - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Great food! Ordered family meal and it was a hit, the chicken and rice were delicious and fresh! Will be returning.

The one who prepared the food did a good job and probably knows Mediterranean cooking. But the ones that cooks the food and prepare, the plates does not have much of Mediterranean experience, lots of the art of a sandwich is about the proportions, you can put a thin piece of meat ( kofta ) and add tons of salad, it looks good, but this is not how Mediterranean is cook. It definitely need a thick piece ( specially when you charge 18$ for sandwich ) of meat and less salad, the bread, baba ghanosh is excellent, the rest of the dips are below average. The place has a great potential needs to work on some details. read more

Obsessed. Every bite was perfection. The spices, the flavors, the presentation...just, wow. Make sure to take your tray across the street and enjoy it in the garden. Bonus: it's dog friendly, too! read more

Great food! Beautifully presented, plenty of flavor and big portions. We had the chicken shawarma plate and added a side order of lamb and it made a great lunch for two. read more

Relaxed vibe, good service, inventive decor. Excellent food. So many dishes prepared & presented with delightful seasonings & marinades. Reasonable prices, generous servings. Middle eastern cuisine interpreted by a gifted chef. read more

We chose Tamar this week for family dinner and all gave it a thumbs up! Even our finicky eater. The chicken shawarma combos included rice, slaw, chicken and pickled veggies. Also fresh pita and large sides of hummus that lasted into the next day. I ordered the lamb pita sandwich. It was messy but filling and great flavor. We also ordered the falafel plate...they were freshly made and not dry like some places. We carried out but it was ready soon after we called it in. read more

I love Chef Logan for blessing Santa Barbara with this place. In NY I would get falafel from this place in SoHo and I swore it was the best Falafel ever until I had Tamar's! The chicken shawarma sandwich and the lamb kofta plate are my go-to's. The Zhoug.....SO good!!! read more

Delicious fresh and great service! Probably one of the best Mediterranean dishes I've had in the US. Get the chicken shawarma plate. Im not a fan of hummus but theirs is so creamy and good. The chicken, salad, pita bread and Torshi were so delicious and even the sauces on this side were perfect. I would eat here over and over if I lived here. Cool place HIGHLY recommend read more

An Absolutely Fantastic Experience at TOMAR in the Funk Zone! TOMAR in Santa Barbara's Funk Zone is an absolute gem. Not only is it in a super cool, vibrant location, but the food itself is on another level. The portions are hugewhich is rare these days and the value is incredible. I had lunch there, and my meal was so generous that I took half of it home, finished the rest for dinner, and still had enough left for lunch the next day! I ordered the falafel plate, and honestly, this might be the best Middle Eastern food I've ever had in my life. Everything was unbelievably fresh and flavorful: the pickled cabbage, creamy hummus, perfectly crispy falafel, and the softest, freshest pita I've ever tasted. I'm gluten-free, and their pita didn't bother my stomach at all which felt like a small miracle. The turmeric rice with tahini and turmeric sauce was rich, fragrant, and absolutely delicious. And dessert? Their tahini ice cream with caramelized pecans and strawberry compote was out of this world. A perfect sweet finish. TOMAR is officially one of my new favorite spots in Santa Barbara. If you're in the Funk Zone, this place is an absolute must. read more

Came in for lunch on a Monday and they were out of a lot items that we really were looking forward to trying since we are from out of town. However, the biggest issue I had was the host's attitude problem/lack of hospitality and care for us as the customer just to simply order I felt like he didn't not only want to be there but hated it or just had an issue with my race or nationality idk I really felt that way. That in itself makes me never want to go back even tho the food was good it's extremely overpriced for no reason. I really wish they had some rice or some in my opinion. But It's mainly the service and attitude problem that really turned me off. Just plain rude for no reason. Don't work at a personable place if you have no personality. Major turn off. The food again was decent not bad I liked the flavors in everything we got. Unique. The chicken platter, side of Japanese sweet potatoes and side of lamb, but I personally don't think it's worth over 45 bucks for all that & with no drink too. read more

Tamar - $45+ chicken platter side of lamb Missing : sweet potato - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

The food was spectacular, and the ambiance was absolutely amazing. The restaurant was clean and beautifully decorated, creating a very aesthetic environment. The customer service was outstanding; the cashier helped us choose some great dishes. We tried the yogurt dip along with two fresh sandwiches, which tasted incredible. Conveniently located nearby was Darts Coffee, so it was nice to grab a coffee or some matcha to enjoy with our meal. I wanted to keep this place a secret for myself, but I believe everyone deserves to experience it. 10/10 read more

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This has quickly become my absolute favorite spot in Santa Barbara. I find myself here at least once a week. My partner and I always share the Chicken or Lamb Plate (both are incredible) and love trying a new hummus or spread each visit. The kitchen at Tamar runs like a five-star restaurant, everything is beautifully organized, and every dish arrives perfectly plated and full of flavor. I actually cheated the other night and picked up all the salads and sides for a dinner party, then made my own main course... people were blown away. It's truly become a staple in our home. The staff are warm, knowledgeable, and clearly proud of what they do. P.S. Don't skip the cookies. They're divine. read more

Fresh ingredients with a lot of tang. Food: I appreciated the option for a fresh, healthy meal at Tamar. I had the salad with falafel. It was fresh and high quality, although there was a bit too much tang for me. Would have used a bit more balance with maybe less intense dressing. I felt the same when trying my friend's shawarma plate. Vibe: Very (very) cute almost cafeteria style place shared with Dash coffee. Great decor, good sound (good acoustics not clangy or loud) which made a nice place to chat with friends. read more

Wow. Best Middle Eastern food ever and I have been to all them in Glendale. Buya. Seriously.

Came here randomly on a Wednesday after having it on my list for a while. I ordered the Dip trio for $20 and was pleasantly surprised by the large portions of the flavorful spreads (Babaganoush, hummus, whipped farm cheese). The fresh pita bread was a big plus. Service was great. In addition we got in & out quickly. I plan to go back soon for more spreads and will likely check out more menu items. My favorite thing about this business is how flavorful the food was. Looking forward to the next visit. read more

The most delicious chicken shawarma I have ever eaten! Tamar is officially on my list to eat again when in Santa Barbara read more

Tamar - Chicken Shawarma Sandwich - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Yummy food! Chicken is tender and the trio dip is the way to go if you want to try everything. You MUST get their strawberry lemonade- one of the best I've had!! Yum! :) read more

The absolute best every time. We love getting takeout once a week and I always get an extra side of chicken.

Highest recommendations!! They serve the absolute best food. I've only had the falafel plate because it's so good, I never order anything else. They serve generous portions so you can easily split the plate and buy an extra pita for $2. The pita is hot, puffy, and moist... pure heaven when loaded up with their delicious hummus. GO!! read more

Great food. Great atmosphere. Good portions but the meat was not enough. Would go again for sure

On our way back from dropping our daughter at UCSB, we stopped by. The ambiance was fun and the menu looked great. We ordered quite a few items. The service was great. The food was delicious. I would definitely go back. read more