Baba Nahm

Wonderful little spot for a Mediterranean/Lebanese dish. Nice seating on the sidewalk. Lots of other places were packed full, but Baba had seats available, some cold beers and ciders in the cooler, and delicious food provided in less than 10 minutes. If you have other things to do/see in town, Couldn't ask for more.

Antisemitic, Jew-hating establishment. They have recently and boldly made their views known. Plus, their only good item are their Israeli fries, but they recently crossed out the big, bad, scary word "Israel" while still making money off of Israeli food and spices. SHAME!

We were starved while staycating in DT Asheville on the nicest day of the year when we decided to eat at this super-healthy restaurant.
We were invited by the tree-lined street tables and general chill vibe. It was the kind of busy less than bustling where you pinch and ask yourself if it's for real. So disclaimer - my review here could be colored through rose-colored, hungry glasses.

Anyway let's get to it. With our expectations and the fact it was inviting - we went in to order - & realized we had become people who can't see to read a lot of items in a series on a wall menu anymore. And we also realized that we must have, for whatever reason- misunderstood how to order. I should have photographed the menu, but it was slightly confusing. It would be less so to a regular- which we plan on being now that we know how good it is.

I had the meatballs with a hummus bowl. There were 3 beef & lamb meatballs spiced so perfectly I found myself involuntarily ummming. The hummus had the right flavor with the minced olives, shredded pickled beets, and other salad ingredients ( lettuce tom red onion and cucumber.) It all had a great flavor profile mixed up. I dipped my meatballs in the hummus and felt like I'd died and gone to heaven. The one thing I would change is to order the hummus on the side because I don't care for my lettuce already stirred around & covered in it.

I can honestly say it was the most enjoyable meal I've had in months. Aside from this, the selection of beverages available were beyond the pale for a QSR type of restaurant. They have, for lack of a better term - taste. (Haha - see what I did there?)

They had a curated seasonal beer assortment, selections of wine in small bottles, and of course the dry cider I ordered spared no detail at being as healthy as an alcoholic beverage could be. (See photos. Also I thought it was great they carried non-alcoholic regional fruit soda.

So whether you go for the outing/scenery, just a beverage to sip and people-watch for the afternoon, or just for a functional lunch/early dinner, I'd definitely not snooze on this one. It will make you feel light but still fed. And it is a nice break from SA diet with options to break out of a beverage rut too.

Soooo not sure who the chef is but this is a very American Middle Eastern food restaurant. I was excited to get some Arab food here. It was alas disappointed. Would not try again. One and done!

This was pretty good, and the folks running the show were really friendly. I wouldn't say it was "can't-miss!" but I'd say if you're needing something quick and healthy in downtown Asheville, it's a good spot to try.

For whatever reason, I found it a little complicated to put everything together when ordering. I ended up sort of defering to the staff to help me put together something good, and ended up with a shawarma bowl that was OK. It basically amounted to a large bowl of several classic mediterranean ingredients all together, and everything was fresh. The shawarma and sauces weren't super flavorful, but again it was pretty good.

One thing that stood out is the fantastic location downtown, especially on a sun-drenched autumn afternoon.

Check 'em out for a quick lunch, and I appreciated chatting with the folks here during my brief stay!

Ordered the Chicken Shawarma Fattoush Salad: the chicken shawarma, chopped romaine, creamy tahini dressing, tomato, cucumber, sumac onions, pickled slaw, cumin carrot, feta, tabouli, pita chips, dolma, crispy chickpeas, and fresh za'atar created a very tasty mix. Service was quick, and the ambiance had a takeout vibe with seating available outside.

So happy I got lunch here during my short trip to beautiful Asheville. I have had plenty of Shawarma, but none had as much packed into a wrap as this one...perfectly cooked chicken, hummus, salad, I don't even know what else, but it was packed full and delicious! The Waynesville lavender lemon soda was one of the best sodas I have ever had. My friends each got falafel bowls and were very pleased. Quick service and reasonable prices, you won't be disappointed!

Sooo good! Falafel is sometimes a hit or miss for me but this was definitely a hit! You can tell everything is super fresh. Service is friendly and fast.

We met up for drinks and had plans to eat at a popular eatery in town, however, their wait was too long so we strolled around town to see what else interested all four of us - including two vegans -when we happened upon Baba Nahm just before they closed. The staff could not have been more welcoming and eager to explain their menu to us where you choose one style then a few ingredients. The food was fresh and preparation flavorful. There is a small indoor sitting area but the sidewalk tables were a draw for us. We'll definitely return.

I got dolmades, and while I didn't really like them, but presentation on point and most people really liked them. I'm just not a huge fan of vinegar based foods.