Foodie fans of Amar Mediterranean Kitchen & Bar’s authentic Lebanese fare have new favorites to savor from the family-owned Kurban Hospitality Group with the debut of Amar Sandwich Shop.
Located in the former space of its big sister restaurant that has since upgraded to more spacious digs around the corner, Amar Sandwich Shop serves as a fast-casual extension of the original’s lovable Lebanese and Mediterranean cuisine. Frequenters of the full-service restaurant will recognize Amar’s housemade dips and the crowd-pleasing za’atar sumac fries on the menu, which are joined by familiar grab-and-go staples like bowls, salads and wraps. While Amar Sandwich Shop certainly fits the bill of “fresh food fast,” it effortlessly separates itself from the legions of fast-casual bowl concepts popping up on every South Florida street corner with its emphasis on unique, authentic flavors.
When we visited during a weekday at lunch, we sampled a good chunk of the menu, including its chicken shawarma wrap, beef shawarma bowl, salad, falafel and man’oushe (a Lebanese flatbread). The shawarma wrap was my first and favorite selection from the spread, with its wellseasoned chicken, crunchy pickles and za’atar fries wrapped in a fresh-baked pita (also available on a gluten-free wrap). The wrap’s garlic toom sauce won’t do your breath any favors, but its strong (and I mean strong) garlic flavor is really what made this dish a home run.
As someone who’s grown disaffected with bowl-style concepts, I was elated to see Amar change up the formula by using its creamy hummus as a base in lieu of rice or veggies. There wasn’t a single dollop of hummus that went to waste as we slathered it over the tender slices of tahini-drizzled beef. The hummus also served as a perfect condiment for the man’oushe, a crispy flatbread generously seasoned with Mediterranean spices, and the falafel, which achieved the ideal crispy-outside-soft-inside texture that I hoped it would. The falafel and man’oushe are sure to please vegetarian diners, as will the salad bowls, like the herbaceous tabbouleh with lemon olive oil dressing.
While I expect most diners will visit Amar Sandwich Shop for a quick takeout option to refuel on the way back from the beach or along a walk down Atlantic Avenue, Amar’s rustic interior with its deep reds and warm lights also makes for an inviting space to sit down for lunch or a light dinner. But whether you’re on the go or in the mood to linger over a beer or glass of wine, Amar Sandwich Shop offers a new way to enjoy a Delray Beach dining staple.
IF YOU GO
522 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach; 561/403-2665
PARKING: Street
HOURS: Mon. – Sun., 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
PRICES: $14 – $19
WEBSITE: amarsandwichshop.com
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