Al Aseel

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  7      Service  8      Value  10     

This is without doubt the best Middle Eastern eatery yet one wouldn’t expect it if you were to judge it by its decor or location. Once you get over those factors, you’re in for a treat and a half. The food here is as good as it gets. Whether it be the shish tawook, mixed grill plates, homous, babaganoush, fatoush, etc. This place absolutely rocks and at literally no cost, seriously one can have a feed here for like $20-$25 a head max and that’s including drinks. And that’s just not taking it easy by any stretch of the imagination; you will have 2nds and 3rds at that sort of cost.

Jan 30, 2008 

8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  8     

I love their mixed kebab plate - the meat is tender and the babaghanoush is fantastic. We come here every couple of weeks as the food is so fresh and always cooked perfectly. They also make great kibbeh and felafel.

Jan 14, 2008 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  10     

Best Sharwarma I have ever had in Sydney. Perfect marinade and the Tahini Sauce is just sublime. Actually everything here is outstanding, the fatoush salad is another personal favourite.

Jan 10, 2008 

7.8 Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  5      Service  6      Value  10     

We come to this place regularly even though we live in the northern beaches, it's worth the travel.. I always thought mums Mediterranean home cooking was the best but this place definitely is up there!..

Ghe food is clean and fresh.. being a vegetarian, the tabbouleh and fatoush are my fave and so delicious.. non of that Aussie interpretation on good yummy food. Definitely try this place! homos, babaghanoush are all yummy too!

Dec 28, 2007 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  10     

We eat here regularly and it's always yum. The food is always 11/10, service can be a bit slow at times but that's probably because they're always packed. You know a good Lebanese restaurant when most of the patrons are Lebanese too!

Nov 21, 2007 

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

"Aseel" meaning Pure and Original, this place readily lives up to its name with a huge array of fresh and homemade Lebanese delights. A small shopfront hidden in the backwaters of Greenacre, the restaurant within is suprisingly large and upbeat, crammed with families and tables full of friends enjoying the sunday afternoon over a fine meal indeed.

For me, the test of authentic Lebanese fair is the Felafel. (Which actually supposed to sound more like Faleh-fell) These were creamy while also light on the inside, with aromas of coriander and garlic, with a dark ebony, crisp outer shell. They were perfect. The baba ganouj was smokier than ever, with diced tomato and the greenest olive oil puddle in the center.

The lamb and chicken skewers were succulent and bursting with juicy flavour, the samboussek (little "kisses" of pastry filled with minced lamb) steaming hot and dipped in hummous was a fantastic start to what was one of the best Lebanese meals I have had in Sydney. Waitstaff were efficient and yes, they had "proper chefs" in the back. Too stuffed for dessert, we waddle out of Al Aseel planning our next visit.

Nov 20, 2007 

3.8 Below Average

Food  8      Ambience  1      Service  2      Value  4     

Although a large group 17 including children, the service was non existence, the noise level had to be experienced to be believed. The food came out a small plate at a time which made sharing difficult. To add insult to injury, no itemised account given, and because of desparation to leave to escape the loud and airless place, didn't do anything about it. The food was pretty good, but not excellent.

Oct 23, 2007 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  6      Service  8      Value  10     

Officially my favourite restaurant in Sydney. Al Aseel has never failed to deliver excellent food every time I have visited.

The service is friendly, efficient and helpful. The ambience may not be the best. Don't expect a plush outfitting, it's a practical cafe-like feel, I don't think that is a problem in the slightest once you start eating, which is as soon as you sit down and are greeted with free pickles (which are delicious) and copius amount of bread. This is something all restaurants could learn from, especially some of the stingy city restaurants whose idea of a bread portions is one bread roll.

Try the hummus, baba ganoush and fatoush and be sure to try a mixed meat platter or some kofte or even the fish in tahini sauce which is absolutely sensational. Be sure to ask for the garlic sauce too. It's potent but fantastic. I really can't fault this restaurant, it's first rate. I am glad, in a way that it's out in Greenacre, a fair drive from my house. It makes for a special treat every time we visit.

Oct 20, 2007 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  10     

Most Lebanese restaurants serve food that can be vaguely described as 'being of Middle Eastern appearance' - this, however, is the real deal. 'Al Aseel' which loosely translates as 'the original/genuine', is indeed just that. I can't see how anyone can criticise this restaurant. Lebanese food done to perfection. Been a patron since it opened and during several different owners. The original owners were terrific, but the current operators have performed wonders, quite simply the best, popular/traditional Lebanese food in Australia.

Forget Ablas of Melbourne, the former Cadmus at the Toaster or any other pretenders ! I stopped dining at AL Aseel for a while (during the middle, dark years of ownership) and it took an Anglo Australian friend (who happens to be a respected Sydney food critic, writes for the SMH and other popular food guides) to bring me back!

I am a Lebanese Australia, my mother is a sensational cook but I still prefer to dine at Aseel! I also know a former Aseel chef who claims the kitchen is cleaned fastidiously remains spotless at all times. Bon Appetite Habib!

Sep 13, 2007 

8 Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  6      Service  8      Value  8     

Went here today (Sept 2007) with a group of about 10 people for a Lebanese "breakfast". It was the best quality Lebanese food I have eaten. The meats were perfectly done and tender, not over-cooked and tough like a lot of places, the dips were the real deal and were in excess, the falafel was fresh and crunchy.

The place itself reminds be a bit like my old university cafeteria, so the ambience pretty much doesn't exist. But it's pleasant enough and very clean. Strangely enough the cutlery doesn't include a knife so it was a bit difficult eating some of the dishes just with a fork only. I can't comment properly on the value as my father in law paid, but judging by the menu, it's very good value.

Sep 09, 2007