Aviva by Kameel Downtown

"For a long time (and based on my recent search it still is), Aviva by Kameel was the top restaurant on TripAdvisor in Atlanta. Which is bewildering to me, as this casual Middle Eastern restaurant seems to only serve office workers in downtown Atlanta. However, as a former office worker in downtown Atlanta, Aviva by Kameel was my favorite place for lunch; and now with another location in Midtown, there is no reason Aviva by Kameel shouldn't be on your list! Run by Kameel - an Israeli man from Nazareth - and his Palestinian wife, Aviva by Kameel serves delicious food. The plates of hummus, baba ghanous, tabouleh, felafel, and meats are heavenly. I personally think the mujedera is the star of the show. Mujedera is a Middle Eastern dish with lentils and caramelized onions. While most mujedera I have eaten in the Middle East (while delicious) lean as a drier dish, Kameel's is different. The lentils are more stewed and rich, creating a thick, delicious spiced stew. While the location in Midtown is much closer to places of interest for an Atlanta visitor, the downtown spot is the original. Kameel is always there handing out samples of soup and sometimes dessert. He will always greet you "Hello, my friend, I love you!" This is as close to the Middle East as you'll get in the United States. "