Aviva by Kameel Downtown — Restaurant in Atlanta

Have eaten at this chef's place multiple times and while the food is good and most employees here are very kind, I always hope I don't see Kameel because I have had nothing but negative interactions with him. The first negative interaction was years ago when I turned down a soup sample while waiting in line and he responded with genuine personal offense. But no interaction has been worse than the most recent, when I ran into him as I was heading back to my office with fast food in tow for a late night's work. With no amount of humor, he bluntly commented, "this stuff is going to kill you with all the MSG" with one of the most disgusted looks I have ever received from another human being. I just laughed and actually had to process what had just happened afterwards because the idea that anyone would ever seriously comment such a thing was unbelievable. What's funny is I would consider his restaurant as an option if it didn't close at 3:00PM. So sorry that the options available in Peachtree Center at 6:00 PM don't include his healthy, all-natural recipes. Guess I should have been a more responsible adult and packed a nice nutritionally dense, calorically efficient, organic, GMO-free sack lunch. Gosh, what was I thinking? The good news for him is that his nasty attitude killed any appetite I had. Mission accomplished. Please Kameel, continue your moral food crusades, for only you can save us. I hope you heckle every person in your business's vicinity who dares go to a place that serves fried food, nay--every person that you EVER see do such a thing, oh THE ABJECT HORROR! In all seriousness, sometimes people eat fast food; it's not an indication of anyone's moral character (or health even), but given Kameel's disgust, he sure seems to...

I went to a wedding up in Tennessee in October, and on the way I decided that I should stop by Atlanta for what has been in their top restaurants for a long time now. You gotta find street or garage parking and then walk to an underground food court underneath a giant business building of some sort.

This place has a following, and for good reason. A mega line was out the door, but they kept it moving like a conveyor belt. All while offering free samples of the lentil soup to everyone. All while a man in the kitchen was yelling at everyone welcome in and thanks for coming back to the people he recognized. There was a good vibe.

We got two platters, one chicken shawarma and one salmon. The chicken looked like it was gonna be dry and need sauce, it wasn't. It was juicy and spiced to the nines. So good. Very earthly with a little kick. The salmon, dear Lord, the salmon was on another level. It was sauced with an almost-sweet chili sauce sauce, and it was tossed with many different types of peppers. Very, very good.

Sides. Falafel, was lovely. Great falafel with a nice crisp. Creamed spinach, wow! I've never had such creamy spinach, I was astounded. Sweet potatoes, so sweet. So unctuous. I liked it. And finally the mmjadara. This was a lentil dish with caramelized onions. This was the most unexpectedly delightful side I've had all year. I'm not kidding. If you're even an hour away from the ATL, stop here just to try this.

Overall, yes, this place is worth the hype and the already five stars it has. I don't even know why I'm reviewing it. It doesn't need my help. I'll give it a sixth star....

It’s customary for me to want to review local restaurants and give my first impressions, but I’m going to break my pattern. I’ve been coming to Aviva by Kameel, at the downtown Atlanta location, for DragonCon for almost two decades. The proprietor, Kameel Srouji, is an institution and the absolute definition of hospitality. He greets everyone with a warm smile and a “Hello my friend!” with a sincerity that lifts your soul.

The lines are long, but for good reason. It’s worth the wait. For today’s visit Kameel greeted us with his quintessential salutations, as well as a bag of Godiva truffles and bowls of his mother’s lentil soup made vegan with olive oil, no animal products, for those of us waiting in the aforementioned long line. Even waiting in line is a treat here.

Kameel is a vegan chef, but certainly doesn’t lack in delicious protein options that are generously portioned and made with love. If it’s your first time, try the Rosemary Chicken. It’s always a favorite and will change your life. Also, don’t miss the walnut baklava. It’s also vegan, no honey, but if you didn’t know, you wouldn’t know the difference. It’s both light and delicate while still being toothsome with a satisfying bite.

This restaurant is honestly not only one of my favorite parts of the convention, but my year. Thank you Kameel for creating an oasis where all are welcome, well fed, and loved...