Bab el hara

Not more than three stars. I visited this restaurant during the holy month of ramadan and it was their buffee month. Food was not bad but it was disorganized. I was sitting in a big table with few folks on the other side and I was surprised that some of the people sitting were asking me to get up and find another table! Well. The whole restaurant was set as big tables all attached to each other and I had to get up and find me another spot. It was really uncomfortable situation when you’re fasting waiting to breakfast and some folks pretend they are fasting asking you to get the hell out of their table because your not part of the family. I don’t think I will be back. Three stars only for the food and zero stars for the service and table setting.

So, the name of the restaurant was taken from a very popular middle eastern show — Bab el hara– i.e. during the time Syria was under British/​French Occupation. When I first heard about this restaurant I was in high hopes that the restaurant would be themed as the show, or have the waiters dressed in costumes, or something that I can be WOWed into, but no. It has a big door like the one on the show and then when you go inside it’s blah. nothing spectacular. They are a buffet restaurant with a limited variety of middle eastern food. Today was my first time that I tried it and I’m not sure I’ll be coming back.
The restaurant was cramped and the buffet didn’t seem like it was enough to feed all of its customers. Worst part is, they did not refill the buffet once foods ran out. Essentially, I didn’t even get to try all of their selection… I was out of luck. Rather I did get to try their rice, meat, salad and hummus… and there were ok. The lamb meat was delicious nonetheless… but they ran out of it too…
The desert was served to us and it was not buffet style … they gave us ONE peice of honey glazed cake and one piece of nut filled pie… both were tiny. Next, we were served with our coffee and or tea. I give the restaurant two stars. I think if they spruce it up, add in the effects of the actual show, make sure they refill their buffet and have more selection for drinks and desserts they’ll be fine.