Lebanese flavour
Traditional Lebanese cooking is a recurring strength, with one returning guest saying the food recalled traditional Lebanese cuisine.
Wanis Lounge & Restaurant
Al Garhoud
Wanis Lounge & Restaurant is a Lebanese restaurant and lounge in Al Garhoud, with a relaxed evening setting, shisha and live entertainment mentioned in reviews. Guests come for dishes such as mutabal and mixed grill, while major football screenings have also made the lounge a memorable place to watch a match.
Reputation Score
4.2
★★★★☆
380 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Mutabal
Mutabal stands out for its smooth texture, warm pita pairing and ability to turn a simple shawarma visit into a fuller meal.
Mixed grill
The mixed grill platter has been praised as a substantial choice, with garlic sauce mentioned alongside it in an earlier review.
Shisha
Shisha is one of the lounge’s clearest draws, with several reviews pairing it with Lebanese food and a comfortable evening atmosphere.
Warm welcome
Recent reviews often describe the team as welcoming and attentive, including a family who said staff checked on them constantly.
Match nights
Football screenings can create an unusually lively experience; one couple found the World Cup atmosphere exceptional during a dramatic Morocco match.
What to Eat at Wanis Lounge & 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 Wanis Lounge & 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.
These items at Wanis Lounge & Restaurant got the most positive mentions in user reviews. Check them out!
Food 4
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Mixed grill platter Net +3
“The restaurant/lounge offers an excellent Lebanese menu with plenty of choices for every preference, and we had previously enjoyed a wonderful mixed grill platter.”
Positive 3Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The restaurant/lounge offers an excellent Lebanese menu with plenty of choices for every preference, and we had previously enjoyed a wonderful mixed grill platter.”June 2026
“I love the mix grill and mutabal . Highly recommended.”January 2026
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Moutabal Net +2
“Came in for shawarma. Stayed for Moutabal. Almost walked out because of the noise. Half the restaurant looked like a construction site—hammering, clatter, and that faint smell of paint. Not exactly the vibe you want with dinner. But then came the food. Moutabal? Pure velvet. Pita warm and comforting. Meat, juicy and deeply spiced.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Came in for shawarma. Stayed for Moutabal. Almost walked out because of the noise. Half the restaurant looked like a construction site—hammering, clatter, and that faint smell of paint. Not exactly the vibe you want with dinner. But then came the food. Moutabal? Pure velvet. Pita warm and comforting. Meat, juicy and deeply spiced.”August 2025
“I love the mix grill and mutabal . Highly recommended.”January 2026
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Fatoosh salad Net +1
“Their standout dishes include the refreshing Fatoosh salad, good selection of wines, and the flavorful mixed grill platter with garlic sauce.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Their standout dishes include the refreshing Fatoosh salad, good selection of wines, and the flavorful mixed grill platter with garlic sauce.”September 2024
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Tikka Net +1
“Very delicious food. Specially the tikka is in a totally different level. Service could be a bit better but the atmosphere is great. Will visit again.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Very delicious food. Specially the tikka is in a totally different level. Service could be a bit better but the atmosphere is great. Will visit again.”January 2026
Tips for a Better Visit
Check screenings. If you are coming for football, ask ahead about the screening schedule; the World Cup matches were a major part of one visit.
Check noise. For a conversation-focused meal, check the music level before settling in, as one diner found it too loud.
Ask renovations. Before visiting, ask whether renovation work has finished; one review mentioned hammering, clatter and paint smells in the dining area.
Confirm availability. If you want a specific mixed-grill item or drink, confirm it is available first; one group found several choices out of stock.
Request space. Families or larger groups should request a suitable table when booking or arriving, after one family of six was initially given a small table.
Plan the visit
Practical details
13 51st St - beside Le Meridien
Al Garhoud, Dubai
| Mon | 11:00 AM – 3:00 AM |
| Tue | 11:00 AM – 3:00 AM |
| Wed | 11:00 AM – 3:00 AM |
| Thu | 11:00 AM – 3:00 AM |
| Fri | 11:00 AM – 3:00 AM |
| Sat | 11:00 AM – 3:00 AM |
| Sun | 11:00 AM – 3:00 AM |
Common Concerns
Inconsistent service
Service reviews vary sharply: some guests report attentive care, while others describe forgotten orders, delays and weak management visibility.
Food temperature
A few reviews report meals arriving cold, so timing and kitchen consistency may not always match the stronger food feedback.
Loud music
Music can be intrusive for diners who want a quieter conversation, with one guest specifically describing it as too loud.
Renovation noise
During one visit, hammering, clatter and a paint smell affected the meal, suggesting renovation conditions were not always comfortable.
Availability gaps
One group reported several unavailable items, including lamb chops in the mixed grill and drinks, alongside a forgotten order.
DXB
LOCAL
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The Bottom Line
Wanis Lounge & Restaurant is a Lebanese dining and shisha spot in Al Garhoud, with an evening lounge atmosphere and a menu that reviewers describe as authentic and flavourful. Mutabal, mixed grill and shisha are the most dependable reasons to consider it, while football fans may also want to ask about match screenings; one World Cup visit became especially memorable because of the energetic crowd and attentive hospitality. The food feedback is strongest around the mutabal, warm pita, juicy meat and mixed grill platter with garlic sauce.
A few guests also mention Fatoosh salad and a broad Mediterranean menu. The setting suits a relaxed meal or shisha session, and the restaurant is noted as being near the airport, which can make it convenient before or after a flight. Consistency is the main caveat.
Some diners report excellent, attentive service, but others describe forgotten items, cold food and poor management response. Music has also been too loud for some guests, while one earlier visit took place amid construction noise and a paint smell. Check current item availability before ordering, especially if you have your heart set on a particular mixed-grill component or drink.
Families should request a larger table in advance.