Fresh User Reviews for Lebanese in Sydney

9.8 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  10     

I was recommended this place by a couple of friends, and from now won't visit any other Lebanese restaurant. I had ordered a mix plate and was worth the $20, with large portions, service was excellent and friendly. I definitely recommend this place to anybody wanting a nice night out.

May 30, 2012

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  8     

I dined here on a Saturday night and enjoyed my time here immensely, and would definitely recommend it to others seeking yummy authentic Lebanese food and a fun lively atmosphere.

Our waitress was very welcoming and showed us to a large table near the front window, and was able to answer any questions we had, we enjoyed attentive but not over the top service which was nice for a change.

The food was the star attraction of course with the lamb shawarma having a fuller flavor than many I have had before, the mansaf dejaj had a very nice tenderized pulled chicken topping which I really enjoyed having never had the dish before. And we enjoyed the belly dancing show (if you’re up for some fun: joining in is encouraged!)

All in all a great night out for my anniversary, with a more unusual treat at the end of champagne and shisha out the front under their cozy heaters. I’m really glad I tried it despite mixed reviews online and thought I’d share my experience of a little of Lebanon in Newtown that I really enjoyed.

May 30, 2012

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  6      Service  9      Value  9     

I love this restaurant for attentive and very friendly service as well as wholesome and delicious lebanese food. My teenage boys love it!

May 29, 2012

9 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  10      Value  8     

This has become my favourite restaurant. Every dish I have had has been both delicious and an experience in itself. The staff are so friendly, warm and can not do enough to make you enjoy yourself. The cocktails are brilliant, the wine list is good and all compliment the food perfectly. Everyone should try this gem!

May 28, 2012

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  9     

We dined here a few nights ago using a cudo voucher and were both pleasantly surprised. We both had mixed mains, tea and turkish delight. Everything was fresh and beautifully cooked. There was so much food for what we had paid and we didn't get treated like second class citizens like other places do when you use a voucher. We will definitely be back!

May 28, 2012

7 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  5      Service  6      Value  8     

My favourite place for charcoal chicken. That's all I can say.

May 27, 2012

6.8 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  5      Service  6      Value  9     

This place makes great charcoal chickens but it's a little bit over-rated. Didn't have such a great run. Chicken was bit too charcoal for my liking, it was all I could taste besides the garlic sauce. But beside that, the food is not bad and reasonable price if you're getting take away.

May 27, 2012

9.8 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  9     

5 of us ate there for lunch. The food is among the best Lebanese food any of us have eaten, with two of us having eaten many times in the Lebanese restaurants in Cleveland St, Surry Hills,in the 1980's, and another two eating similar food travelling around Jordan and Egypt.

The new chef prepares everything fresh on the premises. The set menus are a great option if, like we found, the menu is overwhelming. We ordered 4 set menus for 5 people and there was still too much food, though it was all delicious.

The service is spot on, interested and caring, and always there well before we needed to ask. They even brought out a chocolate slice with a candle on when the waiter found out it was my sister's birthday.

Vegetarians are well catered for and the waiter was very particular in pointing out what food I should avoid (dairy and wheat intolerance).

This place is highly recommended and we will definitely be back!

May 27, 2012

9 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Drinks  8      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  10     

What a hidden gem this restaurant is. Had the pleasure of dining here on Thursday night after purchasing a voucher off one of the internet sites and so pleased I did.

The food was alot better cooked and presented than alot of restaurants I have been to in the City. A chef that actually knows what a semi rear steak is, such a pleasure to eat. As for the desserts well the senses both visual and taste were sent into overload. Many thanks for a meal to remember will be returning again and maybe even on a night when there is a floorshow on.

May 26, 2012

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  10     

The mix plate was generous and very fresh and delicious. The staff were busy but attentive, and was a nice touch when they brought out nice hot cinnamon tea for everyone in the restaurant.

May 26, 2012

9 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  7      Service  9      Value  10     

The best Lebanese cuisine for miles. The decor is in need of a touch-up but the yummy food more than makes up for it.

We've been again and their hummus, babaganoush, falafel, tabbouleh, and garlic chicken skewers are totally delicious, value supreme!

May 24, 2012

5.8 Average

Food  9      Ambience  4      Service  5      Value  5     

I agree with several comments below. Small portions. Very Pricey for Fairfield. Chicken is lovely though, mixed platter is like any other. We had to pay for sauce which was weird. If you want good Lebanese I advise somewhere else in green acre! Best in the west I say.

May 22, 2012

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  8     

“Arax always provides a warm, family friendly space to enjoy the best Lebanese food in Sydney. We always leave thoroughly satisfied. Run by an amazing family, dedicated to providing truly fresh food and authentic cuisine. I can’t recommend this restaurant enough.“

May 22, 2012

3.3 Below Average

Food  4      Ambience  4      Service  1      Value  4     

I was at the Dulwich Hill store I agree what a rude woman, I do not understand how this store makes business with this rude woman I was there many years ago and she was there and got the same attitude as I received yesterday, cannot understand why she is still there I will not return to the store ever, hope the manager read this comment.

May 21, 2012

7.8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  5      Service  8      Value  9     

We went here on a voucher deal trying something different, this place was fantastic! a true 'authentic' casual kind of place.

Here's why: Main reason - the food was simply excellent. Its the sort of Lebanese food you would get off the street in cafes or casual restaurants in Lebanon. Unpretentious, generous servings, good hummus and dips, good skewer/kebabs. Superb turkish delight! we also fondly enjoyed the entree of pickled cucumber and odd purple looking veges served with basil leaves.

At first sight you think "this is just salty and weird and why would I want to eat this" but upon combining the flavours together you get delightful, fresh and surprisingly pleasing bites. The food really is the highlight. And the service should get mention as well, lovely people who were quiet but very accommodating with 0 hassle for our requests.

Only downside to the place is that in Sydney the atmosphere of this place (casual old school, can look like a cafeteria or something) is not suited for those who like their atmosphere.

Great choice for authentic Lebanese, true to its roots.

May 20, 2012

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  8     

Went to Sammy's for lunch on a wet sunday at Coogee, very quiet. The quality of the food was excellent, the portions were a little bit smaller than some places on Cleveland St, especially the small serve of tabouli. Prices are much the same as Cleveland St.

I will definitely return to this place, hoping they ditch the tv and stick to music.

May 20, 2012

5.8 Average

Food  8      Ambience  6      Service  2      Value  7     

Two of us had lunch there. We ordered a mixed meat platter between two of us and 2 fruit shakes which didn't arrive (but should have) before the food did. After more than 20 minutes were then told that "the person who makes them hasn't turned up for work today" and had to settle for some bottled apple juice. Was unimpressed by the clueless service but food was still very good and reasonably priced.

May 19, 2012

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  9     

Had the great good fortune to enjoy dinner at El Phoenician tonight, and was moved by the amazing quality of the food and service to submit a review. As part of a corporate dinner in the private function room we had the banquet for about 30 people.

The food was plentiful and fresh, served up in spades, and the service, provided mainly by the amazing Joclyne was second to none. Friendly, attentive, knowledgeable on the restaurant and the food, and with an almost intuitive sense of what the diners needed, from drinks to more food!

From the greeting at the door, to the incredible dessert, this place is truly five star. A huge thank you to the chefs, the staff, and of course the incomparable Joclyne! Definitely a restaurant to merit multiple returns!

May 15, 2012

2.6 Not Recommended

Food  5      Drinks  2      Ambience  2      Service  1      Value  3     

On the whole our experience tonight can only be described as disappointing. The buffet meal was average, and we had to ask to have certain items refilled and for plates, our drinks order came out incorrect 3 times.

The website advertised the Hawaiian Show which included a fire show, what we were actually presented with was an amateur performance and there was no fire show in sight.

When it came to paying our bill, we were struck with a 3% surcharge for using eftpos, not a credit card, direct debit. When this was questioned we were met with the most inflexible member of staff who insisted that the 3% surcharge stands. In our opinion, this is akin to robbery and a neat little business strategy for clearing at least $300 extra a night in surcharge fees.

After this experience, we won't be returning.

Response from Management:
Hi There, sorry about this experience, we will speak to the staff who did this.
thanks, David

May 13, 2012

7.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  6      Service  6      Value  10     

Food is great, but serving sizes can sometimes vary between visits. Tasty chicken rolls which always hit the spot! Service is efficient and friendly.
Value is unbeatable. Another gold star for the West!

May 13, 2012