Fun fact: I worked at Ammatoli in Downtown for all of two weeks. 

This was long before the expansion that took the beloved Levantine Long Beach staple from a lunchtime counter service and cozy date night spot to the fine dining stature it now carries. But my time there was cut short when COVID-19 arrived, costing me the serving job I had just begun to supplement my then-meager income as a freelance journalist. 

We don’t need to get into what happened next, but obviously, it all worked out, seeing as I am, well, here now (whew). 

Not so fun fact: For whatever reason, it took me until this past Sunday to set foot back inside Chef Dima’s Ammatoli to taste her locally famed recipes again. Let me clarify that Ammatoli’s Downtown space was always gorgeous on the inside, but its latest evolution has clearly taken things to an extra level of elegance (look out for the widespread use of limestone, a nod to Dima’s home, Amman, Jordan). 

Essentially, if you were looking for a place to wear your Sunday best, this is it. 

Are you familiar with Levantine fare? Dima’s menu is Jordanian, Syrian, Lebanese, Palestinian with of course some West Coast flair (hello, zaatar avocado toast? Levantine chilaquiles??). 

I’ll stop there. If you’re a local “who brunches,” go ahead and make a reservation at Ammatoli, you’ll wish you hadn’t waited so long (like me). 

Here’s what I and two friends devoured.

Chef Dima’s Shakshouka ($24) – Farm eggs poached in a tomato stew mixed with onions, peppers, garlic and “spices.” It’s also served with Gusto’s (incredible bakery on Fourth Street) sourdough bread. (obviously my order since I’m a veggie gurl)

Mini Shawarma Wraps ($34) – Mix of chicken and beef shawarma mini wraps, pickles, tomato, sumac onion herb mix, tahini and toom. 

Mediterranean fries ($12) – French fries, olive oil dressing, garlic, chives, parsley, feta and parmesan. 

Fattoush ($18) – Romaine hearts lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, parsley, radish, extra virgin olive oil house dressing, sumac, toasted pita bread. We added grilled salmon ($10). 

I was a bit embarrassed when I finally looked up from emptying my plate of any trace of the shakshouka that was once there. What can I say? It was calling my name. 

If you’re in the area (Downtown/East Village), here are some other places you could take a stroll to (to walk off that huge brunch obviously). 

Recreational Coffee: We headed to this hip little third-waver after brunch, probably just for an excuse to sit at another place and gab for an hour. But they do have good coffee and it is a nice place to sit and catch up. 

MAKE Collectives: Editor reading this — cover your eyes. I’ll admit I’ve taken a short walk/break or two over my Downtown employment to grab a quick shot of retail therapy here (“What do you mean? I was totally wearing this sweater this morning.”) They’ve got records, home decor, vintage clothing, cards, knick-knacks, sunglasses, plants and somehow always the best sweaters (I’m wearing one right now). There are plenty more vintage shops all around MAKE Collective, though not as many as there once were. Take a look around. 

We have covered breakfast in this newsletter but not really brunch — a whole other animal. Where are you brunching this week? Where should I be going? Tell me everything.