665570 Sun Nov 08 09:52:35 -0800 2009 7 10 Florida 0 5165059 The best middle eastern in Tampa? Sahara is certainly a contender, and for the price the quality excellent. The sweet Lebanese family that runs this little place on Busch (in a bleak strip mall with a Big Lots) recently renovated the restaurant side of the space, with pleasant warm wood and booths. Even the iced tea is excellent. The gyros are great, with seasoned skin on fries and a little fresh side salad. Cost: $6.50. The kofta wrap is even better, with the rich, mint-flecked beef surrounded by creamy melted hummus. I wasn't as thrilled with the falafel, which lacks the crispiness i usually look for. But the baked goods are great--- spinach and cheese pies are wonderfully proportioned and balanced, with a light pillowy dough. Only 99 cents. wow. The deli/bakery/grocery is lovely, with all kinds of flatbreads, sweets, and savory pies, not to mention the deli case filled with all manner of freshly prepared food. The family is sweet and attentive, but they may need your help keeping the orders straight. I have visited 6 times in the last two weeks. It is that good. Sun Nov 08 09:52:35 -0800 2009 13633 andy huse 1 5165263 Sami's Bakery's millet flax bread is amazing. Sun Nov 08 12:06:31 -0800 2009 5165059 1122774 Scott D. 1 5165301 ---- biting my bottom lip..... Sun Nov 08 12:39:24 -0800 2009 5165059 10783 Mild Bill 1 5165632 I used to eat at Sami's often when I lived over in Tampa. I saw a new Sami's storefront open farther towards Busch Gardens on Busch blvd. Are they moving their restaurant into the new storefront? Sun Nov 08 15:32:55 -0800 2009 5165059 152043 TampaAurora 1 5166572 Andy -better than Oasis & Byblos? You have my attention :) Also there's a new place opening up on Memorial near the airport kinda, I believe it's going to be called cypress (or cedar, i forget) lebanese Mon Nov 09 05:44:44 -0800 2009 5165059 1115783 askdrtodd 1 5167095 Sahara has been around for about 15 years, but this recent renovation makes them more of a sit-down restaurant. I had shopped there before many moons ago but never ate there. The millet flax bread is amazing, with 32% of daily fiber in one flatbread, and it crisps up nicely when warmed in the oven and eats like a chip. I ate at Byblos and thought it was good, but Sahara has several plusses: the rock bottom prices, the grocery/deli, and the lack of belly dancers. The smaller Byblos near campus is a great addition to the area is nice, but the flavors, value, and selection can't compare to Sahara. Never tried Oasis. Mon Nov 09 09:13:47 -0800 2009 5165059 13633 andy huse 2 5167245 Agreed on the value statement vs. Byblos, you should definitely check out Oasis though, my co-worker is from Lebanon and he practically lives at Oasis. The chicken and rice is particularly good (it's a special one day a week but I forget which one) and also the eggplant/tomato dish is quite yummy. Mon Nov 09 10:00:28 -0800 2009 5167095 1115783 askdrtodd 3 5169165 sounds great--- i'm there! sahara does the simpler things but often does them well. the baked goods are impossible to ignore. the pillowy spinach and feta pies, along with the open faces meat pies, are worth the visit alone. Mon Nov 09 21:17:14 -0800 2009 5167245 13633 andy huse