al Badawi

“So delicious! The taboon was amazing. So fresh! Ordered the pistachio cheese flatbread and ouzi lamb. Both were excellent. The Ouzi rice was well seasoned and super flavorful and lamb was falling is the bone tender. Finished with the tahini booza and Arabian coffee. Very satisfying!”

“Amazing meats and vegetarian options. I like how the menu has evolved over the years to have lighter options - perfect for lunch with family and friends. Huge +1 to the Hummus shawarma bowl, loved it. Place has also been renovated to have more natural light and seating. Definitely will come back more often!”

“DELICIOUS food and excellent service. enjoyed everything we ordered: the lamb was tender and fell off the bone, with nicely spiced rice; a generous portion of tasty meat with our hummus shawarma; and a classic rendition of muhammara. no wonder this place is always full! will definitely be coming back.”

“I came here on a Sunday afternoon after seeing a bunch of Middle Eastern restaurants in this area. This will have great ratings online. And a few people actually recommended it. The only issue is that I drifted off from ordering exactly what they told me to order and made a few mistakes. I will start off by saying that the bread service that’s complementary is amazing. As soon as we walked in, we were greeted with bread and water at the table. Also came with olive oil and other spices. That was really good. The only issue is that this is my first time and I’m not familiar with Middle Eastern cuisine. So I ordered a spinach pie, a ground beef pie, and a salad to start off with. All three of those issues were terrible in my experience the ground beef had no flavor whatsoever. The spinach literally tasted like lemon and lime juice. And the salad was $18. All it was was bell peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, with pita chips, drizzled in a pomegranate sauce. If I would’ve known that, my entrée came with a side salad I would’ve never ordered a bowl of bell peppers. In terms of the service it was only good when the bride came out and the water was served. No one came around as how our food was. No one asked if if it was our first time there. No one gave recommendations. There was one dish that stood out to me, which was the grilled chicken platter. It came on a bit of rice. The flavors were amazing. The char of the chicken was outstanding. I understand why people would say that this is a great restaurant. But it’s only great Al Badawi is a place where the experience can vary significantly depending on what you order. The menu is extensive, but it lacks focus, and not every dish reflects the same level of execution. It feels like there are clear standouts that the restaurant is known for, and others that don’t quite live up to that reputation. Unfortunately, we missed the mark with our initial selections. The first three dishes we ordered, including the ground beef pie and spinach pie, were underwhelming to the point where we only took a few bites before leaving them behind. In hindsight, it felt like a misstep in ordering, but also one where some guidance from the server could have made a big difference. A few recommendations or insight into what the kitchen does best would have helped steer the experience in a better direction. That said, not everything fell short. The chicken and rice platter was excellent and gave a glimpse into why this place has built such a strong following. Portions are generous across the board, and pricing remains reasonable, especially considering the shareable nature of the dishes. The fact that it is BYOB is another major plus. Looking back, skipping the hummus platter with multiple accompaniments was likely a mistake, as it seems to be one of the more talked-about items on the menu. It is something I would return specifically to try. One noticeable gap in the experience was the lack of follow-up from the staff after dishes were left mostly untouched. A quick check-in or offer to adjust the order would have gone a long way in turning things around. Al Badawi clearly has strong dishes and a loyal following, but the inconsistency in the menu and lack of guidance can make the experience hit or miss. For now, I would rate it 3 out of 5 stars, with the expectation that a more informed second visit could tell a different story.”

“The location is nice, near the water. We walked then came to the restaurant to eat and walked back. The inside is beautiful, especially the tree. The atmosphere is more for friends/family. If you’re going with small group (less than 4) can be a bit hard to hear each other, it was for us. There were many big parties and they seemed drunk / had drinks? Not sure if the restaurant served them or they brought their own. Seems odd to me because it’s supposed to be halal. The portions are big but too big for 1 person, prices are reflected for this. My fiancée did not like the chicken (-1 star). It was too big to cut up in that plate and the taste was very off. I ordered the mix grill and LOVED the lamb chop (only 1). The rest of the meat was okay, a bit chewy, etc.”