Sahara Middle Eastern Eatery
By Steve “Mo” Fye
Food Critic/ Copy Editor
Sahara has a broad menu of tasty offerings to please nearly every palate. From pita sandwiches to giant combo plates, there are dishes from all over the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Some are familiar fare, such as the Greek Gyro, while others are more exotic, including the Mezza Family Platter which is traditional Middle Eastern collection of dishes usually shared as a group.
Those lucky enough to have dined in an East Coast Middle Eastern café will find this place familiar. The friendly counterman’s New York accent was a good omen of delicious food to follow.
The Beef and Lamb Shawarmah combo platter was gigantic and easily enough for two. The beef and lamb were marinated in a savory sauce and seared perfectly, then served over turmeric basmati rice and topped with sommaq (sumac) and tahini sauce. The dish also came with Fattoush Salad; small slices of pita used like croutons with fresh greens, tomatoes and onions, topped with a wonderful vinaigrette and more sommaq and mint. Sahara’s hummous was smooth and creamy, not gritty like some, and came garnished with some of the wonderful house-made pickled beets. The platter also included a large falafel and a house-made dolma as well as a pita.
The Chicken Tika platter was wonderful as well. It was listed on the wall menu as Special Spicy Chicken and lived up to that name. Several large chunks of marinated chicken were dusted with a spicy herb mix and grilled on a skewer until slightly charred. It was similar to Cajun Blackened Chicken but with some more exotic flavors. The garlic sauce was savory and wonderful. The platter also featured the same sides and garnishes as the rest of the platters, including the flavorful basmati rice, redolent of turmeric and delicious all on its own.
The Chicken Shawarmah was lovely; spiced and marinated and seared until crispy on the outside and tender and moist on the inside. All of the meats and the falafel are available as sandwiches, wrapped in a pita and cooked in a Panini press. The Sahara Burger looked very interesting and is slated for the next visit. It is a ground lamb and beef patty, charbroiled and served in a pita with Fattoush salad and tahini.
Try to save room for one of Sahara’s beautiful desserts or try one of the savory pastries. The Mediterranean Spinach Sfeefa was perhaps a bit under filled, but was a lovely creation, a triangle of soft, tender bread with savory spinach inside.
The menu continues with a number of vegetarian dishes as well. The Lentil soup sounds delicious and the Middle Eastern Potato salad is also on the list of things to try.
The restaurant is by no means fancy, but is a pleasant space, decorated with murals from the Arabian Nights and, inexplicably, small rugs that look Navajo. The flat screen in the corner plays oddly catchy Arabic pop videos.
Sahara Middle Eastern Eatery is a family-run restaurant owned by the same folks who have the New York Deli Mart on Yale Boulevard near Central Avenue. The family also operates a satellite Sahara and a New York Deli Mart in the UNM SUB. Sahara is located across from UNM’s Johnson Field, between Princeton and Columbia at 2622-A Central Avenue SE. The eatery is open 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and Noon to 7:30 p.m. Sundays. Saharamiddleeasterneatery.com, (505)255-5400. Dine in, Take out or catering available.