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    Al-Shami

    4.6 (47 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 7:30 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

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    AL-SHAMI ATMOSPHERE

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    Falafel Plate
    Kamal B.

    Wanted to get some good falafel and hummus, and this place gave me exactly THAT! Absolutely delicious food with great flavor. Can't beat a small restaurant with an amazing menu with fast service and at a location that just tells you the food is going to be good! If you're looking for some fast to-food banger falafel and hummus--LOOK NO FURTHER!!!

    Inside
    Rachel O.

    It was time to put Al-Shami to the ultimate test: The Takeout Test. This is when we ask the tough questions about our takeout experience: 1. Is it ready relatively quickly? - Yes! I placed my order in person, & it was ready in approximately 5-7 minutes. 2. Does it travel well? - Mostly, but I think there was some user error here. My meal was in both a styrofoam container & a plastic bag, & in my hurry & excitement to get home to eat, I squished the container a little bit. There was a little bit of lost hummus. My fault. Thankfully, the bag saved my car seat from getting schmutzy. 3. Does it reheat well? - Inconclusive! I didn't need to reheat my meal, as it was still warm by the time I got home. 4. Is it still visually pleasing, even squished into a container? - Yes! The meal itself still looked absolutely mouth-watering upon inspection in my own home. 5. Is the portion size comparable to the dine-in size? - Yes! I believe the portion sizes are identical. Al-Shami passed The Takeout Test with flying colors. My mix shawarma plate, 6-piece falafel, & extra tzatziki healed something in me today. I can't wait to come back!

    Inside, about 8 seats
    Nick C.

    Really good value here. Came at 5:30 on a Friday and food was ready so quickly. They give so much baba ghanoush for only $5. It was really tasty and creamy. I got their Shawarma Mix (lamb & chicken) for $13 and my mom got the Chicken Shawarma plate ($11). The white sauce that came with each was so tasty, I was mixing it with everything. However, the meat itself lacked some flavor and not all the pieces were tender. Although, the amount of meat and food overall that was given was generous. Friendly staff and very quick service.

    Chicken shawarma
    Talitha G.

    I have only ordered the chicken shawarma here. Usually through door dash but twice for pickup. I ask for no lettuce but I add feta cheese. To begin I have had shawarmas in a handful of places. This by far however is the BEST tasting one yet. The wrap is crispy the sauce is flavorful. There is a very nice spicy kick to it. The pickles are just right. I probably could eat it everyday. I am now addicted. I wish I could say there is a downside, but there is not one. I guess the only thing I would love to see/change is a couple of times I have tried to call the business number but never an answer. On occasion I would love to just call my order in without ordering pickup on doordash. The only other option would be to go in, order, and wait which can be time consuming and I am sure overwhelming when it is busy for the cook (who is likely the owner). Just go. 10/10 for flavor. Warning** pictures do not do it justice.

    Middle Eastern cultural decor gives the restaurant a very authentic vibe.
    Marie M.

    Al-Shami is a tiny fast food joint, however the food is HUGE on flavor! Most people order for take out but don't mind the 10-15 minutes wait for preparation. Today there was only one man working and I was surprised by how quick and organized he was. Very smooth order and check out process. I LOVED the shish tawouk (chicken kabob) plate that comes with rice, pickles, and homemade garlic sauce. The portion is perfect for one person and reasonably priced at $10. The chicken shawarma wrap with garlic sauce, pickles, and fries is also delicious. The mohammara (mashed walnuts and red peppers) dip doesn't come with any bread, but glad we took it to go to use with the pita bread we have at home. You can order a side of pita bread and ask for some olive oil, if you like. I had the best fried sweet balls years ago during my first visit to Syria, where many food vendors serve it hot and fresh from the frying pot. The sweet balls here aren't as fresh but it's enough to satisfy any cravings you might have (for those who've had them before). I will definitely return OFTEN as possible!!

    Vijay S.

    Great place for middle eastern food on Thayer street. Falafels are fresh and crispy, even with sumac. Slightly pricier than other places (7$ for 5 pieces). Chicken shawarma is pretty good too. Meat is not off a skewer. Love their use of pickled vegetables in everything. Would come back here.

    Falafel plates
    Maisune E.

    Update to my first review: Placed a next-day catering order for a total of 18 plates by 11:40AM and Abu Fahed was a one man show who made it happen perfectly on time. Everything tasted amazing and my event attendees kept raving about the hummus. We did falafel plates (which is the cheapest and tastiest you will find on Thayer) and chicken shawarma plates. I love this shop so much.

    Al Shami is always super friendly
    Alex H.

    My third review ever!! I just wanted to take the time to acknowledge how excellent my service has been at Al Shami since I started eating there two years ago. The food is so good that I always end up eating it before remembering to take a picture (oops!), but I do have a picture to illustrate how friendly these people are and why everyone in the area should visit their business!

    Falafel wrap
    Kerry M.

    Low key, primarily counter service/carry out with total dine in seating for 9 individuals. Ordered falafel wrap/platter here few times. It's consistently satisfying without having any special/remarkable feature.

    chicken Lamb Shawarma Plate
    Goretti M.

    this food was sooooo amazing!! everything was seasoned and cooked to perfection! definitely the best middle eastern food in all of providence! not to mention the customer service was hands down the best i've EVER experienced with the sweetest owner ever! 12/10 would definitely recommend!!

    Shish tawook platter
    Hael A.

    Great middle eastern spot, good portions and affordable, amazing service and always on time. authentic flavor

    Falafel with sauce

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    1 year ago

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    3 months ago

    Delicious! Hot, fresh and large portions. So sad when I try to order and they are closed!!

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    2 years ago

    Very hard to talk to someone when you call. If there's a mistake they don't make any effort to fix the problem.

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    This place was amazing! The mix of flavors and textures blew my taste buds! Give them a chance!

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Food is quick and delicious. Only complaint is that meat portions could be a little larger.

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    2 years ago

    This is my favorite restaurant on Thayer. The chicken plate is so good and I can eat it every week.

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    4 years ago

    Great falafel wraps. Very tasty with fresh fixings. Low key but great value. Highly recommend.

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    4 years ago

    One of the best chicken shawarmas I've ever had. Run don't walk!!!! Owners are really nice too.

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    This was my first visit to Fleur and it absolutely lived up to the high praise from my friend who…read morerecommended it! From the moment we arrived, the staff was welcoming and I was especially impressed by the number of gluten-free options available. The chef even personally suggested a few dishes for us to try! We started with seasonal cocktails and warm gluten-free bread, which set the tone for a great meal. The standout was the gluten-free barbecue chicken flat bread pizza. It was incredibly tangy, flavorful and honestly one of the best GF pizzas I've had. We also shared a delicious chicken entrée and both dishes came with generous portions. We were so full that we couldn't finish half of our plates and didn't have room left for dessert... next time! We're already looking forward to returning soon. Highly recommend!

    I went to Fleur Providence while I was home for the holidays. The restaurant is beautiful! It's…read morelocated in the Omni Hotel which has such an elegant feel/vibe. We were immediately greeted when we entered and seated. We went during the middle of the day so we're actually the only ones in the restaurant which felt very special honestly. For drinks my fiancé ordered an Irish coffee which was perfectly made and not too sweet and I ordered an expresso martini which I really enjoyed. For starters I ordered oysters which tasted so crisp and refreshing! I loved the garnishes as well! The mignonette was a delicious, with tons of flavor. It was tangy, citrusy and sweet while the horseradish + hot sauce carried a powerful kick. I truly loved the flavor profile! For our meals he ordered the clam chowder which was pretty yummy and the steak and eggs which was pretty decent he enjoyed the potatoes most. I kept my New England vibe going pretty strong and ordered a lobster roll with a side of fries. I will say I wasn't the biggest fan one the unfortunately. The fries were very crunchy almost like cooked in old oil and the lobster roll was a little too buttery for my liking. Our waiter was excellent and really made sure to check on us several times throughout our meal. Given, the overall ambiance and the delicious oysters and drinks I'd say this would be a nice restaurant to stop by for afternoon drinks or maybe even dinner. We were looking forward to trying the crab cakes but only available during dinner time.

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    figidini

    figidini

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    $$

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    The first thing you notice is the oven…read more Not the tables. Not the bar. The oven. It sits in the back of the room glowing like a furnace that keeps the whole place alive. Every few minutes the door opens and a wave of heat rolls out. The pozza maker leans in with a peel. Wood crackles. A pizza disappears into the fire. The room organizes itself around that rhythm. Figidini is small. Smaller than you expect when you first walk in. Wood everywhere. Low light over the bar and the tables. The kitchen sits in full view just a few feet from where people are eating. You can see the entire operation. Flour on the prep counter. Dough stretching across the board. The oven door opening and closing again and again. It feels less like a dining room and more like you've been invited to sit just outside the kitchen while the night moves around you. Cozy is the obvious word. Quiet is not. The room is loud. Very loud. Concrete floors. Tile. Wood. Glass. Hard surfaces everywhere. Sound doesn't fade here. It ricochets. Conversations bounce off the walls and stack on top of each other until the whole room hums. Then the bartender starts shaking a drink. The metal tins crash together like someone using a jackhammer. The sound cuts straight through the room. At certain points you find yourself leaning across the table and yelling just to finish a sentence. Service moves through that noise with quiet efficiency. Orders taken. Food delivered. Plates cleared. No hovering. No conversation. Just the steady rhythm of the room continuing around you. Then the pizza arrives. Whole. No slices. Just a pair of scissors sitting on the plate beside it. The crust rises high around the edge, blistered and spotted from the oven. Puffy and inflated like bread that caught the perfect blast of heat. When you press into it the rim compresses easily. Chewy on the outside. Tender inside. The center stays thin and soft the way a wood fired pie should. This one is their tomato pie, which means the tomatoes carry the whole flavor of the pizza. No blanket of mozzarella covering things up. Just crushed tomatoes spread across the dough with sliced garlic, herbs, olive oil, and a little grated cheese working quietly underneath. The sauce is bright and fresh. Slightly sweet. Tomato first, then garlic, then olive oil settling into everything. Each slice bends when you lift it. The rim holds. Exactly what you expect from a fast bake in a very hot oven. Simple food. Done carefully. And done well. There is also a slightly precious edge to everything and that might not sit well with everyone. Figidini is the kind of place where a five dollar eight ounce bottle of Coke arrives at the table next to a tiny glass holding two oversized ice cubes that already take up most of the space before the soda even touches it. Small room. Warm light. Loud energy. A little over curated. But the oven keeps burning. Another pie goes in. Another one comes out. And once the scissors hit the table and the first slice makes it to your plate, most of the rest of it fades into the background. Because at the center of all that noise and dim light and careful presentation is a simple idea executed very well. A wood fired tomato pie that tastes exactly the way it should.

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