Zenobia

7.5 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  6     

I am glad that I went to try Zenobia out for myself because some of the comments are just a little on the harsh side. The restaurant didn't exactly blow my mind but it was a fun night with friends, eating away.

The Banquet is a fraction on the small side for the $40 you pay, basically your just paying for a lot of bread and dip. They could do with giving you a few different types of Lebanese delicacies but all the food is well presented and tastes very nice. The lamb skewer was a bit dry but the chicken skewers fell apart in my mouth and had a unique flavour. The Turkish Delight and Baklava rocked my world.

The service was great....it slowed up a little right at the end and we had to ask for a bottle of water about three times but other than that they were friendly and did their jobs very professionally. The restaurant was full capacity too.

Zenobia is quite decked out, we sat outside but I would have loved to of sat on one of those cushions inside. The belly dancers make great fun and you can purchase a Hubbly Bubbly for $18 which brought much joy amongst my friends and I.

All in all I would say try it out, if only once.

Apr 08, 2007 

6.8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  9      Service  3      Value  7     

I attended a birthday dinner here on a Saturday night. The atmosphere was great with the belly dancers entertaining and friendly. Disappointing was the fact that our party of 10 was split into two distinctly separate groups and could not mingle with all who attended. For a set price of $40 each the food was in abundance, but found that towards the end of the night the service became non-existent. Although the set menu included tea and coffee we had to ask the wait staff 4 times for coffee.

Around 10.30pm we found the reason for the poor service when we noticed the staffs were packing up the tables around us. It was a real pity, the food was tasty and more than sufficient, but the end of the night ruined the whole experience for us. I may attend again for the food, but not with a large group of people.

Mar 28, 2007 

2.5 Not Recommended

Food  3      Ambience  3      Service  1      Value  3     

The service is horrible at this place. Waiters do not communicate with each other. We had to wait for around 40 mins, even after we had ordered, only for another waiter to tell us we could not order just desserts at 11pm on a Saturday night.

We only could have a full meal and then dessert. Never heard of this rule...and the first waiter could have told us from the start instead of seating us, taking our order and wasting our time. No respect for patrons. Only after money. Do not go unless you plans on spending big.

Mar 12, 2007 

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

The food is amazing and the menu keeps changing, the banquet is huge with dish after dish being brought out. The staff are friendly and attentive and its definitely value for money. A great place to go out with a group of friends, or a quiet dinner for two. The best Lebanese food I've ever tasted, nothing in Sydney really compares.

Feb 28, 2007 

4 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  4      Service  5      Value  2     

I am extremely disappointed with the night out we had at Zenobia.

I can honestly say that coming from a Lebanese background, I have tasked much better and much cheaper. For $40 per head you given food that even by just viewing it you know the food is not worth $40 per head. There are not enough staff serving. There is not a great deal of room around the tables you sit at and the sweets are merely bought from another place. The music is so loud that if you are going out to catch up with friends, forget about it.

I did not appreciate the fact that Hubbly Bubbly and normal cigarette smoking is allowed near where you are eating food i.e. at the table you are sitting at and surrounding tables. I thought State law was ruled in favour of no smoking near where food consumption is occuring and if this is the case the a clear breach of law is occuring and the restaurant owners should be ashamed of themselves. There are a majority of people who actually do not smoke in this world.

Feb 25, 2007 

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  9     

By Far one of the Best Venues in Sydney! authentic and hospitable... rare in service nowdays!

Entertainment was spectacular, food above average, service double thumbs up! I recommend this place to only people who want good food and a good time.

Feb 23, 2007 

6.8 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  8      Service  6      Value  6     

We have been to Zenobia on two recent occasions and enjoyed both. Our first experience mid-week and we were pleased to have a new non-Italian option in Leichhardt and the second on a busy Saturday with friends. The food is fresh and tasty, however, the portions are not main sized but suitable for sharing. We did not order the banquet which I think was wise as it seemed over priced. However, I do like this restaurant and will be back!

Feb 01, 2007 

6.5 Recommended

Food  6      Ambience  6      Service  7      Value  7     

We dined at Zenobia two nights ago to try one of the only non-Italian restaurants on Norton Street. We enjoyed our meal, particularly commenting on the freshness of the food.

Between two people, we ordered a Zenobia Salad (an interesting tomato based dish, more like a dip than a salad, with Haloumi and olives as the predominant notes); a serve of lamb sambusi (pastry parcels, filled with minced lamb, which were deliciously free of too much oil, tasty, and possibly the best example of this dish I have had); lamb cutlets (a little bland, served with Lebanese chilli bread) and tabouli with bread (a light, bright tabouli, heavy on fresh, tasty tomato, light on cracked wheat). The only dish that disappointed slightly was the lamb cutlets, which could have done with some more spice on the lamb itself.

We also had two homemade lemon drinks, which were delightfully fragrant, and took our own bottle of wine. The whole meal came to $45, which I think represented good value, when you consider that it included the drinks and corkage, plus more healthy, fresh food than we could eat. We did comment that ordering the $40 per head banquet would have been bad value for us, considering how small the bill was, and the fact that we were full at the conclusion of our meal.

The service was warm and friendly, though when asked for recommendations of house specialities, the waitress only recommended choosing dishes for yourself, or the banquet. I also think naming the dishes MAINS on the menu, when they are generally all sharing plates, is probably a misnomer.

My partner was delighted to be able to smoke at the outdoor balcony table; and based on the whole experience, I would return to Zenobia the next time I was after Lebanese food.

Dec 29, 2006 

6 Average

Food  3      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  5     

I think 49 dollars for a meal that's shared between the whole table is a rip. Otherwise it was fun to watch n get urself a belly dancer that can do more than just sway.

Dec 13, 2006 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  9     

Beautiful night - great food, wonderful atmosphere, excellent and friendly service. Will be coming again and will be bringing friends!

Dec 10, 2006