When I travel, whether for work or personal, I like to find really good food. I unexpectedly stumbled on an amazing restaurant in Long Beach, CA, offering the best Levantine cuisine I have eaten outside the Middle East. 

What is Levantine cuisine? The Levant is approximately the region including modern day Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, and Jordan and Levantine cuisine can represent a singular region or the wider region. This region has been home to a variety of cultures throughout history and has produced the uniquely broad yet specific Levantine cuisine, the specialty of Ammatoli. 

Ammatoli combines the words “Amma” and “toli”. “Amma” is taken from the word Amman, the capital city of Jordan, and “toli” derives from the Latin word for hills. Amman is renowned for the seven hills upon which the city was built, and they are still visible in the city’s topography today. Stepping into Ammatoli is like stepping into the capital city. Chef Dima has artfully selected every element of Ammatoli. Significant limestone use for building in Jordan inspired the  use of the stone embedded in the walls and covering the bar. Impeccable Syrian furniture items from Chef Dima’s family are complimented by her own collection of antiquities built from her international travels. The result is a warm and welcoming atmosphere that feels like a Middle Eastern home as much as a restaurant. 

Chef Dima was raised in Amman, Jordan, hence her restaurant’s name. Dima’s Palestinian father hails from Jerusalem and her mother from Damascus, Syria. This upbringing, along with a love for travel, has enabled Chef Dima to create a cuisine which embodies the Levant rather than a singular region. After moving to California and struggling to find a Levantine restaurant which reminded her of her life in Jordan, Dima created Ammatoli. The restaurant utilizes fresh ingredients, farm-raised all-natural and halal meats which are prepared following the traditional recipes of Chef Dima’s family and the food is amazing! 

Sip on Ammatoli’s Mint Lemonade which is as refreshing as it is tasty. Opt for the Three Way Mezza to enjoy a sampling of appetizers. I chose the hummus, falafel, and pickles and olives which pairs delightfully with the house made pita bread. I chose the Spicy Garlic Lemon Chicken which was delicious and had just enough spice for a slight tingling sensation but not so much to blow my palate. I loved the food and the atmosphere so much I returned for a second meal where I ordered the Mint Lemonade and Palestinian Msakhan. Both meals were incredibly satisfying and enjoyable. 

Chef Dima chose Long Beach as the location for her restaurant because she wanted to be a bridge between Los Angeles and Orange County. Dima is quoted as saying: “I wanted a place where all communities and families are able to meet in the middle, be it for Ramadan or Eid al-Adha or birthdays or graduations. It’s also become a place for others to learn about my culture and home, my food, and my people.” 

Ammatoli is a MUST if you find yourself in Long Beach or nearby!