Lamb shashlik
The lamb shashlik has been described as exceptionally tender, with one diner saying it melted in the mouth.
Nairi Armenian Cuisine
Nad Al Sheba
Nairi Armenian Cuisine is an Armenian restaurant in Nad Al Sheba, centred on traditional dishes and a relaxed dining atmosphere. Reviews particularly point to the lamb shashlik and dolma, with breakfast favourites such as syrniki also receiving attention.
Reputation Score
4.5
★★★★★
187 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Dolma
Dolma is a strong choice for both dine-in and delivery; reviewers describe it as soft, flavourful and well cooked.
Armenian flavour
Several diners found the food authentic and full of flavour, including Armenian-Mediterranean dishes and grilled meats.
Generous portions
A dinner review specifically noted that portions are big, making the restaurant more practical for a filling meal.
Cozy setting
Reviews mention a warm, comfortable atmosphere, with indoor and outdoor seating and, on some visits, live music.
Free parking
One visitor reported plenty of free parking, which is useful when meeting friends or visiting for dinner.
Breakfast favourites
Syrniki and hot drinks were singled out alongside soup as a particularly enjoyable breakfast combination.
What to Eat at Nairi Armenian Cuisine 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 Nairi Armenian Cuisine, 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 Nairi Armenian Cuisine, ranked by positive reviews minus negative reviews. Zero-score items have no net positive feedback; their labels distinguish neutral-only from mixed feedback.
Food 10
-
Dolma Net +3
“The food at Nairi Armenian Restaurant is excellent — especially the dolma and kebab, both were delicious, well-seasoned, and cooked perfectly. Authentic Armenian flavors, fresh and hearty.”
Positive 3Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food at Nairi Armenian Restaurant is excellent — especially the dolma and kebab, both were delicious, well-seasoned, and cooked perfectly. Authentic Armenian flavors, fresh and hearty.”July 2025
“I ordered food from Nairi restaurant several times for home delivery, everything was delicious, especially the dolma. I will definitely order from them again.”December 2025
-
Syrniki Net +2
“Amazing soup spas, best syrniki i ever had and I was server by wonderful Lachin who was very helpful and kind. Recommend”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Amazing soup spas, best syrniki i ever had and I was server by wonderful Lachin who was very helpful and kind. Recommend”June 2026
“Borch red soup, sirniki & hot drinks was so delicious.”April 2026
-
Baby potato Net +1
“Baby potato cooked perfectly.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Baby potato cooked perfectly.”June 2025
-
Borch red soup Net +1
“Borch red soup, sirniki & hot drinks was so delicious.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Borch red soup, sirniki & hot drinks was so delicious.”April 2026
-
Chef araik’s kebabs Net +1
“The place feels like home, Chef Araik’s kebabs and grilled meat are unbeatable, every single item on the menu that we tried was a huge hit!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The place feels like home, Chef Araik’s kebabs and grilled meat are unbeatable, every single item on the menu that we tried was a huge hit!”January 2026
-
Kufta Net +1
“I tried the Salad Olivier and Kufta, both were absolutely amazing! The Olivier was creamy and fresh, and the Kufta was rich, juicy, and full of flavor.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I tried the Salad Olivier and Kufta, both were absolutely amazing! The Olivier was creamy and fresh, and the Kufta was rich, juicy, and full of flavor.”June 2025
-
Mangal salad Net +1
“And mangal salad was amazing.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“And mangal salad was amazing.”June 2025
-
Salad olivier Net +1
“I tried the Salad Olivier and Kufta, both were absolutely amazing! The Olivier was creamy and fresh, and the Kufta was rich, juicy, and full of flavor.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I tried the Salad Olivier and Kufta, both were absolutely amazing! The Olivier was creamy and fresh, and the Kufta was rich, juicy, and full of flavor.”June 2025
-
Shashlik Net +1
“The shashlik was tasty and well cooked.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The shashlik was tasty and well cooked.”October 2024
-
Lamb shashlik Net 0
Mixed feedback
“And to be honest this was best shaslik i ever eat!!!! Lamb shashlik was super soft melting in the mouth.”
Positive 1Negative 1
Review excerpts
“And to be honest this was best shaslik i ever eat!!!! Lamb shashlik was super soft melting in the mouth.”June 2025
What to Avoid (1)
Food 1
-
Salmon Net −1
“Service was good The kebab was amazing but the salmon was in the middle frozen.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Service was good The kebab was amazing but the salmon was in the middle frozen.”January 2025
Tips for a Better Visit
Check prices. Confirm drink prices before ordering, especially fresh juice and bottled water, because reviewers reported discrepancies or unexpectedly high charges.
Allow time. Build in extra time for your meal: one review reported a longer-than-expected wait even when the restaurant was quiet.
Ask questions. If you are unfamiliar with the menu, ask the server for guidance before choosing; diners have found that helpful.
Bring water. If bottled water pricing matters to you, check the size and price first; one reviewer advised bringing water along.
Ask about cooling. For an outdoor breakfast in hot weather, ask about available cooling before settling in, as one reviewer said the outside AC was unavailable.
Use parking. Drivers may find free parking available, according to a visitor who also mentioned an outdoor sitting area.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Azizi Riviera 36
Al Merkadh - Nad Al Sheba 1, Dubai
| Mon | 9:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Tue | 9:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Wed | 9:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Thu | 9:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Fri | 9:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Sat | 9:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Sun | 9:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
Common Concerns
Slow service
One diner waited longer than expected for food even though the restaurant was not crowded.
Price concerns
A reviewer was charged 18 AED for each 330 ml Perrier and considered it excessive for the setting.
Menu mismatch
One reviewer said a pomegranate juice listed at 22 AED was charged at 36 AED at payment.
Inconsistent food
Food quality is not uniformly praised: one diner found the lamb shashlik awful despite describing the service as polite.
Serious complaint
One reviewer reported racist comments toward a Black companion and said staff did not intervene.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
18 AED per piece
perriers of 330 ml each
“They did not ask big or small bottles, they brought 2 perriers of 330 ml each which was charged 18 AED per piece”Google review · June 2026
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Nairi Armenian Cuisine is a Nad Al Sheba restaurant for Armenian dishes in a warm, relaxed setting. The clearest reasons to visit are the lamb shashlik, dolma and kebab: reviews describe the shashlik as soft enough to melt in the mouth, while the dolma is praised both in the dining room and for home delivery. Breakfast is another option, with syrniki, soup and hot drinks mentioned positively.
The setting generally comes across as cozy and welcoming, with outdoor seating, free parking reported by one visitor and occasional live music. Portions have also been described as big, so this can work for an unhurried lunch or dinner rather than just a quick bite. Staff service is often called attentive and friendly, though the experience is not completely consistent.
Plan with a little patience because one diner reported slow food service even when the restaurant was not crowded. Pricing deserves a quick check too: a reviewer was charged 18 AED per 330 ml Perrier, while another reported a pomegranate juice listed at 22 AED but charged at 36 AED. There is also a serious review alleging racist comments toward a Black guest, with no staff intervention.
That complaint is important to consider alongside the otherwise positive feedback.