Syrian dishes
Reviews highlight authentic Syrian flavours, including a particularly well-received Lamb Mandi.
Al Bait Al Shami Restaurant
Al Garhoud
Al Bait Al Shami is a relaxed Syrian restaurant in Al Garhoud, with traditional Arabic dishes served in a spacious, lively setting. Customers come for mezze and grills such as muhammara and kebab Halabi, as well as shisha and the fountain-centred atmosphere.
Reputation Score
4.2
★★★★☆
6,758 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Fountain setting
The courtyard and fountain create a distinctive Damascene-home feel, with open-air seating mentioned by customers.
Family space
The non-smoking upper floor includes a kids play area that customers say is free for diners.
House treats
Some diners received complimentary desserts, including knafeh, watermelon or other sweets after the meal.
Large groups
The spacious layout and large seating capacity work well for family meals and bigger gatherings.
Valet parking
Free valet parking is available, which is useful because several reviews describe parking as congested or difficult.
What to Eat at Al Bait Al Shami Restaurant How we choose these items We use AI to find praise and criticism of specific foods and drinks in a selection of Google reviews. For Al Bait Al Shami Restaurant, this list is based on 50 reviews, not every review of the restaurant. The score is positive reviews minus negative reviews. For example, two positive reviews and one negative review give +1. Each review counts once per item; neutral comments do not change the score. A zero score is not a positive recommendation. “Only neutral feedback” means there are no positive or negative votes. “Mixed feedback” means equal numbers of positive and negative votes. The quotes are examples of what people said, not every comment we counted. We use different reviews where we can. We normally show up to 10 foods and 5 drinks with non-negative scores. Items with the same score stay together. If a tied group would go past the limit, that group and the lower non-negative scores go into Honorable mentions. If an overflowing positive top tie would leave the list empty, we show up to 10 items from that tie and keep the rest in Honorable mentions. Foods and drinks with a negative score are under What to Avoid. Use this as a guide to what reviewers liked, not a guarantee that you will like it too.
Foods and drinks mentioned in reviews of Al Bait Al Shami Restaurant, ranked by positive reviews minus negative reviews. Zero-score items have no net positive feedback; their labels distinguish neutral-only from mixed feedback.
Food 4
-
Humus Net +2
“great hummus..”
Positive 2Negative 0Neutral 1
Review excerpts
“great hummus..”November 2025
-
Lamb mandi Net +2
“The Lamb Mandi was delicious, perfectly cooked, and full of flavor.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The Lamb Mandi was delicious, perfectly cooked, and full of flavor.”June 2026
“Hands down !! This is the best mandi I’ve had. Delicious mandi, excellent quality, and amazing taste. Every bite was pure satisfaction. Highly recommended!””January 2026
-
Mixed grill Net +2
“It features a wide menu of Syrian dishes, rich in flavor and made with fresh ingredients, including popular items like mixed grills, kebabs, and mezze.”
Positive 2Negative 0Neutral 1
Review excerpts
“It features a wide menu of Syrian dishes, rich in flavor and made with fresh ingredients, including popular items like mixed grills, kebabs, and mezze.”September 2024
“We ordered lentil soup, mixed grill and chicken shawarma. All was perfect 👌”November 2025
-
Mohammara Net +2
“The food is out of this world. Took my visitors there and they loved the food. Please order for Mohammara and Kebab Halabi.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food is out of this world. Took my visitors there and they loved the food. Please order for Mohammara and Kebab Halabi.”June 2026
“Their bait al shami hummus & syrian muhammara is so good & I haven’t found it anywhere else.”March 2023
Honorable mentions (19)
-
Arayes Net +1
“Ordered: Arayes Spicy potato Fattoush Hommous bil lahmeh *Desserts are not as expected but the food is terrific. 👌👌”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Ordered: Arayes Spicy potato Fattoush Hommous bil lahmeh *Desserts are not as expected but the food is terrific. 👌👌”January 2023
-
Bait al shami hummus Net +1
“Their bait al shami hummus & syrian muhammara is so good & I haven’t found it anywhere else.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Their bait al shami hummus & syrian muhammara is so good & I haven’t found it anywhere else.”March 2023
-
Breakfast set menu Net +1
“Food was so good tried the breakfast set menu which 40 AED per person and 70 AED with shisha.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Food was so good tried the breakfast set menu which 40 AED per person and 70 AED with shisha.”June 2023
-
Chicken shawarma Net +1
“We ordered lentil soup, mixed grill and chicken shawarma. All was perfect 👌”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We ordered lentil soup, mixed grill and chicken shawarma. All was perfect 👌”November 2025
-
Clay pot of meat and cheese Net +1
“We started off light and then ordered the clay pot of meat and cheese. It was mouthwatering. The moment you unravel the bread covering clay pot, the aroma of spices and the cooked juices of the meat waft out.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We started off light and then ordered the clay pot of meat and cheese. It was mouthwatering. The moment you unravel the bread covering clay pot, the aroma of spices and the cooked juices of the meat waft out.”June 2024
-
Fattoush Net +1
“Ordered: Arayes Spicy potato Fattoush Hommous bil lahmeh *Desserts are not as expected but the food is terrific. 👌👌”
Positive 1Negative 0Neutral 1
Review excerpts
“Ordered: Arayes Spicy potato Fattoush Hommous bil lahmeh *Desserts are not as expected but the food is terrific. 👌👌”January 2023
-
Hommous bil lahmeh Net +1
“Ordered: Arayes Spicy potato Fattoush Hommous bil lahmeh *Desserts are not as expected but the food is terrific. 👌👌”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Ordered: Arayes Spicy potato Fattoush Hommous bil lahmeh *Desserts are not as expected but the food is terrific. 👌👌”January 2023
-
Juicy watermelon Net +1
“One of the things we like it that they offer is free watermelon where others don’t do it.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“One of the things we like it that they offer is free watermelon where others don’t do it.”August 2024
-
Kebab halabi Net +1
“The food is out of this world. Took my visitors there and they loved the food. Please order for Mohammara and Kebab Halabi.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food is out of this world. Took my visitors there and they loved the food. Please order for Mohammara and Kebab Halabi.”June 2026
-
Knafeh Net +1
“They served complementary Knafeh at the end of the meal, sealing this dinner with a sweet end.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“They served complementary Knafeh at the end of the meal, sealing this dinner with a sweet end.”June 2024
-
Kubbah Net +1
“I like kubbah it was nice, UM Ali is delicious and the tea was amazing !”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I like kubbah it was nice, UM Ali is delicious and the tea was amazing !”July 2021
-
Lemon mint Net +1
“Sirian food... Really good and tasty, we were 4 and we ordered 1kg meat + some starters, the food was delicious 😋 but was too much, also they brought dessert... Lemon mint was excellent. Sisha was also good”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Sirian food... Really good and tasty, we were 4 and we ordered 1kg meat + some starters, the food was delicious 😋 but was too much, also they brought dessert... Lemon mint was excellent. Sisha was also good”February 2025
-
Meat kabab Net +1
“the meat kabab was really tasty..”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“the meat kabab was really tasty..”November 2025
-
Mixed bbq plater Net +1
“The mixed BBQ plater is just great and the catering is perfect and well manned by the seniors who roam around the table most of the time.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The mixed BBQ plater is just great and the catering is perfect and well manned by the seniors who roam around the table most of the time.”November 2022
-
Rice cake topped with vanilla ice cream dessert Net +1
“I don't know what all we order but they were extremely delicious. From our soap to our main dish and some fiery plating, then our wholesome rice cake topped with vanilla ice cream dessert to the tea and coffee.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I don't know what all we order but they were extremely delicious. From our soap to our main dish and some fiery plating, then our wholesome rice cake topped with vanilla ice cream dessert to the tea and coffee.”February 2025
-
Spicy potato Net +1
“Ordered: Arayes Spicy potato Fattoush Hommous bil lahmeh *Desserts are not as expected but the food is terrific. 👌👌”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Ordered: Arayes Spicy potato Fattoush Hommous bil lahmeh *Desserts are not as expected but the food is terrific. 👌👌”January 2023
-
Tawood Net +1
“The best grills and best tawood I have had here.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The best grills and best tawood I have had here.”December 2024
-
Um ali Net +1
“I like kubbah it was nice, UM Ali is delicious and the tea was amazing !”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I like kubbah it was nice, UM Ali is delicious and the tea was amazing !”July 2021
-
Falafel Net 0
Only neutral feedback
“Some of the items you may like to have include falafel, mix gril, Fattoush salad, shisha etc. They provide watermelon for free sometimes.”
Positive 0Negative 0Neutral 1
Drinks 2
-
Syrian tea Net +1
“A good place for Sisha and a special Syrian tea after the supper, makes yourself relaxed after such an amazing evening.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“A good place for Sisha and a special Syrian tea after the supper, makes yourself relaxed after such an amazing evening.”October 2022
-
Black tea with mint Net 0
Only neutral feedback
“The shock was that the normal black tea with mint was for one cup 18 aed”
Positive 0Negative 0Neutral 1
What to Avoid (2)
Food 1
-
Cheese kunafa Net −1
“However, when my wife and I tried the cheese kunafa, we were disappointed. It didn’t taste fresh and seemed like it was reheated in a microwave, which affected the flavor. Unfortunately, it didn’t sit well with me and even caused some discomfort.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“However, when my wife and I tried the cheese kunafa, we were disappointed. It didn’t taste fresh and seemed like it was reheated in a microwave, which affected the flavor. Unfortunately, it didn’t sit well with me and even caused some discomfort.”November 2024
Drinks 1
-
Mint tea Net −1
“We had repeatedly requested the mint tea to be less sweet but it was still too sweet.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“We had repeatedly requested the mint tea to be less sweet but it was still too sweet.”January 2019
Tips for a Better Visit
Choose upstairs. If you do not smoke, request the non-smoking upper floor; the ground floor allows shisha and cigarettes.
Book smoking. For a smoking table, book ahead; one review says non-smoking seating is easier to find on arrival.
Use valet. Use the free valet if driving, particularly at busy times when the surrounding parking can be congested.
Ask for watermelon. Ask whether complimentary watermelon is available after your meal; several customers mention it as a house extra.
Try mandi. Lamb Mandi received especially strong feedback, while one mixed-grill visit found some lamb pieces chewy.
Expect bustle. Visit for the lively Syrian atmosphere rather than quiet conversation; Ramadan and evening visits can be especially energetic.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Opp. Tayer Motors - Sheikh Rashid Rd
Al Garhoud, Dubai
| Mon | 9:00 AM – 2:00 AM |
| Tue | 9:00 AM – 2:00 AM |
| Wed | 9:00 AM – 2:00 AM |
| Thu | 9:00 AM – 2:00 AM |
| Fri | 9:00 AM – 2:00 AM |
| Sat | 9:00 AM – 2:00 AM |
| Sun | 9:00 AM – 2:00 AM |
Common Concerns
Smoking noise
The ground-floor smoking area can be smoky and the lively atmosphere can make conversation difficult.
Service inconsistency
Service is praised by some diners but criticised by others for slow responses, poor communication and inconsistent management.
Chewy grills
One meal review found the lamb chops hard and chewy and the lamb tikka underwhelming.
Higher pricing
Some customers felt the pricing was higher than expected compared with similar restaurants.
Parking congestion
Parking can become difficult or congested, especially at busy times, despite the valet option.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
40 AED per person
breakfast set menu
“Food was so good tried the breakfast set menu which 40 AED per person and 70 AED with shisha”Google review · June 2023
70 AED with shisha
breakfast set menu with shisha
“Food was so good tried the breakfast set menu which 40 AED per person and 70 AED with shisha”Google review · June 2023
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Al Bait Al Shami is a spacious Syrian restaurant in Al Garhoud built around traditional Arabic dining rather than a quiet, minimalist meal. You can order mezze, grills, mandi and sweets, with Lamb Mandi, hummus, muhammara and kebab dishes receiving especially useful mentions. Shisha is also part of the experience, and the fountain-centred setting gives the restaurant a distinctive Damascene character.
The atmosphere is lively and often smoky downstairs, with shisha and cigarettes permitted there. The upper floor is non-smoking and includes a free kids play area, making it more practical for families. Large tables and generous portions also suit groups, although the noise may make conversation difficult.
Service is uneven in the reviews. Many diners describe welcoming staff and quick, attentive service, but others report slow service, confusing reservation communication and uncomfortable management interactions. Food quality is similarly mixed: several visitors praise the Syrian flavours and mandi, while one found the mixed grill’s lamb chops and tikka chewy.
Driving can be awkward when the area is busy, so valet parking is worth using. If you want a smoking table, book ahead; non-smokers should request the upper floor. Ask about complimentary watermelon or dessert, both mentioned by returning diners.