Makara Mediterranean Restaurant: A Local Guide for Atlanta Diners

If you’re in Atlanta and craving grilled meats, fresh salads, and warm pita, Makara Mediterranean Restaurant is the kind of spot many locals look for when they want Mediterranean flavors without leaving the city. This guide walks through what you can typically expect from a Mediterranean restaurant like Makara in Atlanta, how it fits into the local dining scene, and how to make the most of a visit.

Where Makara Mediterranean Fits in Atlanta’s Food Scene

Atlanta has a growing number of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern restaurants, especially around:

• Buford Highway
• Midtown and Downtown
• Decatur and Emory-area neighborhoods
• Suburban corridors like Sandy Springs, Tucker, and Duluth

A restaurant like Makara Mediterranean usually appeals to:

• Office workers and students looking for a filling but not overly heavy lunch
• Families who want shareable platters and kid-friendly grilled options
• Groups who enjoy mezze (small plates) and social dining
• Health-conscious diners who prefer grilled proteins, vegetables, and olive-oil-based dishes

If you’re staying in central Atlanta, Mediterranean restaurants are often found near major corridors like Peachtree Street, Ponce de Leon Avenue, and Buford Highway, making them easy to reach by car and, in many cases, by MARTA bus or rail with a short walk.

What to Expect on the Menu

Most Atlanta Mediterranean restaurants with a name like Makara follow familiar patterns, often drawing from Turkish, Greek, Lebanese, or broader Eastern Mediterranean traditions. You can typically expect:

Core Dishes

• Kebabs and Grilled Meats
  Common options include:

  • Chicken kebab (marinated, grilled on skewers)
  • Beef or lamb kebab
  • Adana or kofta-style ground meat skewers
    These are usually served with rice, salad, and grilled vegetables.

• Gyro or Doner-style Sandwiches
  Sliced seasoned meat (often lamb and beef mix or chicken) in pita or flatbread, often with:

  • Lettuce, tomato, onion
  • Tzatziki or garlic-yogurt sauce
  • Sometimes pickles or cabbage

• Falafel and Vegetarian Plates
  Many Atlanta diners look for vegetarian-friendly options, and restaurants like Makara typically offer:

  • Falafel platters with hummus, salad, and pita
  • Vegetable plates with items like stuffed grape leaves, baba ghanoush, and tabbouleh

• Mezze (Appetizers)
  Expect staples like:

  • Hummus
  • Baba ghanoush (eggplant dip)
  • Dolma (stuffed grape leaves)
  • Labneh or tzatziki
  • Feta- or halloumi-based dishes in some places

• Salads and Sides

  • Greek or village salad with feta, olives, cucumber, and tomato
  • Tabbouleh (parsley-based salad with bulgur, tomato, lemon)
  • Rice pilaf, fries, or roasted potatoes

• Desserts
  Many Mediterranean spots in Atlanta serve:

  • Baklava (layers of pastry, nuts, and syrup)
  • Kunefe or similar cheese-filled desserts at more Turkish-leaning places
  • Simple pudding- or yogurt-based sweets

Typical Price Range in Atlanta

Pricing will vary by neighborhood, but many Mediterranean restaurants in Atlanta fall into:

*These are general Atlanta-area patterns, not specific to any one restaurant.

Atmosphere and Dining Experience

A restaurant like Makara Mediterranean in Atlanta often aims for a casual, comfortable feel:

• Seating: Mix of tables for small groups and families; sometimes a counter for quick orders.
• Service style:
  • Some operate as counter-service (order at the register, then food is brought to your table).
  • Others offer full table service, especially at dinner.
• Noise & vibe:
  • Lunchtime can be busy with office workers and locals.
  • Evenings may feel more relaxed, with groups sharing platters and appetizers.

If you’re visiting from out of town and staying near Downtown, Midtown, or Buckhead, Mediterranean restaurants are often within a short ride-share or MARTA trip, and many are used to serving a mix of tourists and locals.

How to Order if You’re New to Mediterranean Food

If you’re in Atlanta and trying Mediterranean food for the first time, a restaurant like Makara can be a good entry point. A simple game plan:

For a First-Time Visit

• Start with a combo plate
  Look for a mixed grill or sampler that includes chicken kebab, beef or lamb, rice, and salad. This gives you a good overview of flavors.

• Add one or two mezze
  Try:

  • Hummus with pita
  • Baba ghanoush
  • Stuffed grape leaves

• Choose a dessert to share
  Baklava is widely available and is an easy choice if you like nuts and sweet pastries.

For a Quick Lunch

If you work or study in Atlanta and need a fast, filling lunch:

• Order a gyro wrap or chicken shawarma wrap with a side (fries, salad, or rice).
• Ask if they have a lunch special—many Mediterranean restaurants in the city offer slightly smaller portions at a lower price midday.

For Vegetarian Diners

Restaurants like Makara typically have multiple vegetarian options, which is useful in group settings:

• Falafel wrap or platter
• Hummus plate with extra veggies
• Tabbouleh, Greek salad, or roasted vegetable sides

When you order, you can ask directly which dishes are vegetarian-friendly or can be made without meat-based broths or toppings.

Practical Tips for Atlanta Locals and Visitors

Reservations and Wait Times

• Many Mediterranean restaurants in Atlanta are casual enough for walk-ins, especially at lunch.
• For larger groups (6 or more) or weekend dinners, it’s often wise to call ahead to:
  • Check wait times
  • Ask if they accept or recommend reservations
• If you’re attending a nearby event (concert, game, or show), plan for pre- or post-event crowds, especially if the restaurant is close to major venues like:
  • State Farm Arena
  • Mercedes-Benz Stadium
  • Fox Theatre

Parking and Transit

Depending on where the restaurant is located in Atlanta, expect one of the following situations:

• Strip centers or standalone buildings (common along Buford Highway, Roswell Road, and other commercial stretches):

  • Usually offer surface parking lots
  • May share parking with other businesses in the plaza

• Intown neighborhoods (such as Midtown, Inman Park, or Old Fourth Ward):

  • Parking might be a mix of street parking, small lots, or nearby decks
  • Watch for time limits and pay-to-park signs

If you’re using MARTA:

• Use the rail to reach major hubs like Midtown, Arts Center, Lindbergh Center, or Brookhaven/Oglethorpe, then transfer to a bus or ride-share for the short remaining distance.
• Many Mediterranean restaurants cluster near major bus routes along Buford Highway and other arterial roads.

Dietary and Cultural Considerations

Mediterranean restaurants in Atlanta often cater to a range of dietary preferences:

• Halal options:
  Some establishments serving Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine in Atlanta offer halal meats. If this is important to you, call ahead and ask directly whether their menu is halal-certified or which items qualify.

• Pork-free menus:
  Many Turkish- or Middle Eastern-leaning restaurants are pork-free, relying more on lamb, beef, and chicken.

• Gluten-conscious diners:

  • Many items like kebabs, salads, and grilled vegetables are naturally lower in gluten ingredients.
  • Pita bread and certain desserts will contain gluten.
    If you avoid gluten, ask about substitutions (extra salad instead of bread, for example).

• Dairy-conscious diners:
  Tzatziki, yogurt sauces, and cheese-based dishes are common. Ask if they can serve sauces on the side or recommend dairy-light options.

Taking Food To-Go or Ordering for Groups

Takeout and Delivery

In Atlanta, a Mediterranean restaurant like Makara will often support:

• Call-in takeout orders
• In-person to-go orders
• In many cases, third-party delivery services that operate widely across the metro area

For busy weeknights or office lunches:

• Call ahead to ask about prep time during peak hours (typically 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. and 6–8 p.m.).
• Consider ordering a few larger platters instead of many individual meals for easier sharing.

Catering-Style Options

Atlanta offices and event planners frequently use Mediterranean spots for catering because:

• Platters of kebabs, rice, salads, hummus, and pita scale well to larger groups.
• It accommodates mixed diets (meat-eaters, vegetarians, lighter eaters).

If you’re planning:

• An office lunch near Downtown, Midtown, or Buckhead
• A family gathering or small event in the suburbs

Ask if they offer:

• Per-person catering packages
• Half-pan or full-pan trays of popular dishes
• Disposable serving utensils and plates, if needed

How to Verify Current Details

Restaurant hours, menus, and policies in Atlanta can change over time. To make sure you have the most accurate information for a restaurant like Makara Mediterranean:

• Call the restaurant directly to confirm:
  • Current hours
  • Dine-in, takeout, and delivery options
  • Any dietary concerns (halal, vegetarian, allergies)
• If you’re driving from farther out in the metro area (for example, Marietta, Stone Mountain, College Park, or Alpharetta), confirming hours before you set out can help you avoid surprises.

Dining at a Mediterranean restaurant such as Makara in Atlanta usually means grilled meats, fresh salads, and shareable small plates in a casual setting. Whether you live in the city or are visiting for a few days, it can be a practical, flavorful option for lunch, dinner, or group gatherings across the metro area.