I am so happy to have found a new gem in the Arlington area! The Alshami team was very welcoming and accommodating for our large party. I was recommended the mint lemonade smoothie and the lamb fatteh, and both were fantastic. The combination of the juicy and tender lamb, hint of sweetness from the pomegranate and the crispy pita made for an amazing Bite every time. We also tried the beef shawarma, which was super juicy and the fries were crisp and fried perfectly. I highly recommend giving this a try! read more

Alshami Restaurant - Lamb Fatteh - Middle Eastern Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Buffet is okay. Nothing too special. But it's enough if you're hungry. Also. Get ready to eat out of paper plates and plastic utensils!! read more

Alshami Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

I'm absolutely shocked at how horrible the treatment is at this scam of a business! They don't expect repeat customers here, so they force you to pay up front and then hassle you to leave. Even if there is nobody waiting to use one of the 10 tables there. This is one of those places people will come to once and never again. Believe the real reviews on here and not the obvious, "friends and family" entered "reviews". Besides the unhealthy egg substitute they use for the scrambled eggs, the buffet food was basic appetizer type food that was straight out of the can (hummus, fool, etc). No meat items or freshly prepared items are part of that overpriced "buffet". The owner just hovers among the tiny seating area and bothers all the tables trying to get them to leave. After we each grabbed 1 plate, whenever the owner saw us not eating (we were talking to each other), he would come over to ask us if we were finished. Not even 30 minutes after we got in, he notices us talking again and comes back to our table and yelled at us to leave, because "we want to use the table for other people". We were all just sitting there shocked. When my friend finally mentioned we weren't finished, the owner brought an employee over who was holding a tub for dirty dishes and then the owner started grabbing our plates and cups from right in front of us and slammed them into the tub that the employee was holding. He also had the nerve to yell "this is why I don't like you people here!". Racist much? Not sure why he was harrassing all of the tables and finally took it out on us. He definitely made a huge seen, to the point where the couple who came in before us and was seated at the table next to us, recorded his behavior on one of their phones and sent it to my friend who was at our table. Be forewarned, worst place in the DMV area. read more

Amazing food and incredible service! The owner, Basima, was so sweet and kind to my friend, who was trying Syrian food for the first time. We ordered a variety of appetizers, and I can't even pick a favorite because they were all so delicious. We also had Arabic coffee, which was excellent! read more

Alshami Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Awesome new spot! I've never tried Syrian food, and everything was so delicious. The lemon mint smoothie was super refreshing (it's more of a frozen beverage than a smoothie though). We started off with the Muhamarah which was excellent--the perfect combination of sweet and savory, and the flavor was unlike anything I've had before. For my entree, I ordered the chicken shawarma platter which was super super flavorful. I was expecting it to be a little bigger for $19, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. The house garlic sauce was great for dipping. Additionally, the restaurant gave us a complimentary homemade baklava which was so nice. It was good! I would order the exact same menu items again. The service was excellent. Everyone was checking in with us to ensure the meal was going well. The food also came out fast. The inside ambiance was interesting--it felt like an upscale modern hotel bar/restaurant vibe rather than a family-owned restaurant. Still, everything was delicious and everyone was super welcoming. I recommend! read more

See all

Ordered from Grubhub, but couldn't review on that platform. Arayes sandwich was amazing! Will return to try something else. Price was good value. read more

Went in today with friends for their breakfast ayce buffet, as all previous reviews had pointed out, we were surprised there aren't any meats served and everything on the buffet tables might not all homemade as they have advertised. Though 19.90 price might seem reasonable at first but in fact you left with limited food selections. The good thing was my friend did enjoy the food and to her it feels like what she had back home. I guess that all that counts. read more

Mashallah Amazing restaurant with great food! I would recommend coming here and especially on that sunday buffet read more

The food was amazing! The portion sizes were generous, and the nonalcoholic mojito with mint was incredibly refreshing and perfectly sweet. I loved everything we ate. The service was excellent, too. A big thank-you to Guadalupe for the great recommendation! The music was perfect. read more

See all

The service was terrible , the clients were waiting outside for longtime , while the tables were empty , they asked you to go to terrasse dirty place. The buffet was not worthy for $26 and to drive for 30mn and wait for 15mn outside . The restaurant was so crowded due to the bad management . I will never go back there read more

We came for brunch, which runs from 11 AM to 2 PM. When we arrived, an older man--who seemed to be the owner--opened the door and asked if we had a reservation. We said no, because the day before we had called and were told that no reservations were needed. After a short moment, he let us in. It's a buffet-style brunch where you pay first before getting your food. We paid and started to get some items. When my husband went to get some hummus, the owner said something to him in Arabic, asking if we were planning to leave. That comment felt very uncomfortable and unnecessary, especially since we had already paid. It gave the impression that he didn't want us to go back for more food, even though it's supposed to be a buffet. The food itself was okay, but the service and attitude from the owner made the experience unpleasant. We left disappointed and won't be coming back. read more

Amazing food, service, and overall great ambiance, thought price point was great, my fav was Kibbeh n Muhammara

Shockingly Hostile Experience - Avoid at All Costs I have never written a negative review before, but what happened at Alshami Restaurant in Arlington, VA was truly unacceptable. The restaurant offers a self-serve Syrian breakfast buffet, but it was extremely overcrowded and poorly managed, with long waits and limited seating. My party waited about 20 minutes to be seated, and after only 30 minutes of eating, an older man who appeared to be the owner approached us multiple times asking if we were leaving--making us feel rushed and very uncomfortable. Ironically, despite it being a buffet, the owner clearly doesn't want people to enjoy it. He stood there hawkishly watching every plate and table, creating an atmosphere of stress instead of hospitality. While we were still eating (and had just gotten some sweets), the owner aggressively began yanking plates and cups from our table, even though we were clearly still using them. When we questioned his behavior, he became hostile and caused a disruptive scene in front of other guests. Things escalated when he attempted to swing or slap me after I calmly stated that we had paid for our meal and deserved to finish in peace. When I demanded a refund, he refused. We left immediately, deeply disturbed--not only by his aggression, but also by his shocking remark: "This is why I don't like Arabs in my restaurant." Keep in mind, this is a Syrian restaurant, which made the comment even more appalling. I strongly advise everyone to avoid this restaurant entirely. No one deserves to be treated this way. Please check other reviews on Google and Yelp--there appear to be multiple reports of similar behavior. This establishment needs to be held accountable for its unprofessional, discriminatory, and abusive conduct. read more

Tried Alshami Restaurant in Arlington and loved it! I ordered the okra with lamb and it was full of flavor, tender, and authentic. Great spot for real Syrian food -- definitely coming back! read more

Alshami Restaurant - Lamb Bamya - Middle Eastern Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

AMAZING AUTHENTIC Syrian food. Home made food by the owner wife. It just reminds me of my mother food!!

Great family style Middle Eastern Mediterranean restaurant. I really prefer places like this to chain restaurants. I came here with my family on the way back from Ballston and everybody enjoyed the food. read more

First-time visit for a birthday lunch. The service was very warm and attentive. Our server explained that Syrian food was more entree-oriented than the Lebanese food I was more familiar with. With that explanation, I opted for an entree. They cooked the okra and lamb entree for me to order with no meat or dairy and the omnivore agreed it was as delicious as her chicken shawarma sandwich. The tomato-based okra stew was served with a mound of rice and pita bread and my friend thought her sandwich had potato with the chicken, so it was a carb laden meal. This is a not a fast-food operation, but a real restaurant with attractive table settings many lovely plants and a mirrored wall that makes the room seem more spacious. The food came out quickly, but there were only a few diners and takeout orders while we had our late lunch. The warm baklava with fruit was a generous end to a nice birthday lunch. Here's hoping the restaurant succeeds! read more

If you like aurhentic Lebanese- Syrian-Mediterranean food and want to enjoy a local family-owned restaurant, please check out Al Shami Restaurant on Wilson Blvd, next to the Animal Hospital. The owners have been in business there for 20 years and recently rebranded back to a family-oriented restaurant. (No more bar/alcohol and no argilah/water pipes.) Madame Basima, the matriarch and head chef, has a menu full of all the most delectable Syrian family recipes. We went for a late Saturday lunch starting with muhammarah, a sweet and spicy dip of pounded roast red pepper, pomegranate molasses, olive oil and walnuts. Then we had chicken shwarma over a fresh fattoush salad and a special occasion dish we missed from our life in Jordan: ouzi-- fragrant spiced rice, lamb and peas/fava beans baked inside a filo dough package, served with minted yogurt and salad on the side. Truly a nostalgic meal made sweeter with Madame Basimah's homemade baklava at the end. All her flavors are fresh, delicate and light, perfect for these hot days and nights. And beloved Lebanese singer Fairouz is playing in the background. Modern decor insude and there is outdoor seating in front and back for when the weather is less brutal. We'll be back often! Sorry we demolished the muhammarah before taking a photo. read more

Alshami Restaurant - Ouzi at the bottom. What was left of the muhammara dip. Spicy olives. Chicken shwarma over fattoush salad up top. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Thank you soooo much for coming back! A Bluemont gem. Muhammara and Eggplant Fatteh is unbelievable. And Baklava can't be better than this. Looking forward to trying your menu weekly. read more

Authentic Syrian food taste like home food. I always love to order Muhammara.. the best in VA for sure. I love the Fattah and Ouzi. The Kibbeh is also delicious. I love the atmosphere. For someone who stays late working on projects, this place feels safe. The owner is always cheerful. read more

I went to Alshami for the first time with a few friends last week. It was a Sunday night and very quiet. We went a little late for a Sunday, and only for some light food, so I can't speak to drinks and a larger meal. I'll just say that the food we had, like the hummus with beef shawarma and the babaganoush, were delicious! I'm looking forward to going back for a full meal sometime soon. read more

The restaurant has undergone a refreshing transformation, now bearing a new name, formerly known as Layalina. The service was attentive and warm. I noticed some nice improvements to the interior design. For my meal, I opted for the lamb dish featuring tomatoes, okra, and, of course, tender lamb. It was a truly flavorful experience, with the spices perfectly complementing each other. Overall, it was a delightful meal, and I look forward to returning. read more

Prompted by a rave review in Arlington magazine of this recently opened Syrian restaurant, my family and I enjoyed an outstanding, reasonably priced meal at Al-Shami. Served in a polished setting with comfortable seating, we feasted on Syrian cheese rolls and kibbeh appetizers and beautifully presented, generous mains of fattoush salad, beef schwarma and lamb fatteh. We left with heavily laden to go containers. Service was friendly and attentive. read more

We went to Alshami on a Thursday evening and were the only customers there. Service was prompt and friendly and we ordered the Muhammara dip, which came with a generous portion of pita bread, a chicken shawarma sandwich, a kofta sandwich, and a portion of fries. Food was very good, the sandwiches were so large that we took half of each home for our lunch the next day, and the order of fries was large, crisp, and very tasty. The sandwiches were reasonable priced at $11.95 each. read more

Came back a week later to try their other dishes. Service was not the same. Server didn't initially know the special of the day and when we asked for a description, didn't know the dish. My husband ordered a Classic dish which was supposed to include rice, pita bread and salad, per the menu. We asked the server about the missing salad and it was provided without any apologies for the oversight. Food was okay but the service made the experience less pleasant. read more

excellent authentic food and relaxing vibes. very good timely service . highly recommended read more

Excellent food and service. I loved the Hummus and the Falafel! The owner is a sweetheart and was so welcoming and friendly! Ms Mitchell was very helpful and brought our food out fast. I can't wait to go back and try the dessert options! I recommend this spot to everyone! read more

Dined there last night - it was quite busy and the food was excellent. We frequented Layalina when it was in that location and the menu is a bit different but still great, and with a lot of vegetarian options (the falafel was delicious!). A great addition to the neighborhood and we'll be going back often. read more

The Layalina staff is back at Alshami Restaurant which opened this week. Same delicious food and great service.

A local FB page recommended this spot and we were not disappointed! The food was delicious! The muhamara was so good and made me a roasted red pepper fan to the ultimate. The delightful lemonade infused with mint was also a winner as were our dishes, chicken shawarma, m'saka, and the green bean lubie. While they were out of the Ouzi which I really wanted to try, it gives us just one more reason to go back and we will! The foul, falafel and that fabulous muhamara are on the "next time" list! Service was so special, the owner and her friend helping her out both came by to make sure all was well, and we had a lovely baklava (best EVER, not as overly-sweet as most are). It is a simple, clean, beautiful space with chairs at the bar, booths and tables available for virtually any accommodation. read more

unprofessional management the old man has bad attitude makes u feel uncomfortable food honestly was good but the owner should-mot be running the business read more