Been here twice after seeing a review on tik tok - so good I get the chicken shawarma platter - nice and garlicy First time I got fries as my side they were perfectly crispy This time I got rice super good and fragrant And the fresh veggies on the side are always a nice addition It's crazy tho every time I go in the place is empty! This place needs more attention cause the food is so good Staff is always friendly too read more

Damaskino - Mediterranean Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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Halal Food in Sunni Islam - Conditions (Translated and Organized) In Sunni Islamic jurisprudence, "halal food" refers to food that is permissible according to the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad . It must meet several conditions related to the nature of the food, its preparation, slaughtering process, and consumption. 1) Lawful Nature of the Food Itself The basic rule is that all foods are permissible unless there is clear evidence of prohibition. Forbidden foods include: * Pork and its derivatives * Carnivorous animals (such as lions, wolves, dogs) * Animals declared impure or harmful * Animals explicitly prohibited in Islamic texts (e.g., domesticated donkeys in most cases) 2) Conditions of Islamic Slaughter (Dhabihah) For meat to be halal, the animal must be slaughtered correctly: * The slaughterer must be a Muslim or, according to many Sunni scholars, from the People of the Book (Ahl al-Kitab) * The name of Allah must be mentioned at the time of slaughter ("Bismillah") * The windpipe, esophagus, and main blood vessels in the neck must be cut * A sharp instrument must be used to minimize suffering * Blood must be fully drained from the body * The animal must be alive before slaughter 3) Purity and Absence of Impurity (Najasa) Food must be free from any religious impurity, such as: * Flowing blood * Urine and excrement * Contamination from impure substances or unclean surfaces * Contact with alcohol if considered ritually impure or prohibited in consumption 4) No Mixing with Haram Ingredients Even if the base food is halal, it becomes haram if mixed with prohibited substances: * Alcohol or intoxicants used as food ingredients * Pork-based gelatin or enzymes * Fats or oils derived from forbidden animals * Any additive derived from impure or prohibited sources 5) Lawful Means of Acquisition and Preparation The food must be obtained through lawful means: * Honest trade and lawful purchase * No theft or usurpation * No use of unlawful wealth such as interest (riba), bribery, or fraud 6) Utensils and Cooking Equipment * Utensils must be clean and free from najasa (impurity) * If previously contaminated, they must be properly purified according to Islamic rules * Utensils of People of the Book are generally permissible if clean 7) Intention and Consumption Ethics * Food should not be used to harm oneself or others * Excessive waste (israf) is prohibited * It must not be used directly for sinful purposes Summary In Sunni Islam, halal food is not only about the type of meat. It is a complete system involving: * lawful ingredients * proper slaughtering * purity from impurities * lawful earning and preparation * ethical consumption read more

I was excited to find Mediterranean open on a weeknight nearby my hotel. They were still open despite their DoorDash being closed for the night, so I headed over. This spot is in a run down strip mall, with people hanging out in front of the laundromat a few doors down. There was only a couple of people left inside the restaurant. I ordered the falafel platter and selected hummus and fattoush for the 2 sides, plus an order of grape leaves. The person who took my order was friendly. I then proceeded to their bathroom. The women's bathroom was unclean. Not in a 'someone messed up this bathroom' kind of way, but in a neglect sort of way. Dust and dirt on the hand soap bottle. Black grime marks all around the light switch. If I had ordered from DoorDash, I would not have known about this, but I did see. The only employees working that I could see were men, and it was too late to cancel. At the hotel, I didn't eat any of the raw items, but I did eat the heated items: falafel and pita- which were very good. I also ate some of the vegetarian grape leaves, because they started off warm, but then some were kind of cold so I didn't eat those. I couldn't decide if they just had not been heated properly or were not chilled properly. read more

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We came at like 8:30pm on a Monday and I was very surprised that the restaurant was empty!! But the workers were super friendly, and maybe because it was later in the night, we were immediately served some lentil soup on the house. It was super creamy and hearty, and just really good! I got the chicken shawarma platter and I was decently surprised with just how big the servings are. I basically got two times more shawarma than I expected. The fries were so good and crispy. And I love the fresh and pickled veggies for some lightness. The chicken shawarma itself was on the drier side. We did get white sauce, but it's so thick that it doesn't really help. I saw that the chicken shawarma as an individual item on the menu came with pomegranate sauce, so kinda wishing it came with the platter too. A friend ordered the muhammara and that might have been my favorite of the night. It was a lot sweeter than I expected, which I loved. read more

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4 stars to the food and service. Friendly, simple, and authentic. Made fresh garlic sauce for me and had complimentary black tea to finish on the way out. True hole in the wall, place could use some renovating. Once that's done place would be popping. Location slightly in ghetto area, sorry to be blunt. read more

Damaskino - Beef lamb kabobs platter. - Mediterranean Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

So a couple of days ago, the owner of Damaskino Mediterranean Grill shared an ad on the Scoop. We live in Mandarin, and honestly there aren't many Middle Eastern food around here. My husband and kids absolutely love middle eastern food so we decided to give this place a shot today. ​We ordered the beef shawarma and the lamb kofta plate, and wow, they did not disappoint! My 8-year-old completely crushed the entire shawarma, and my 13-year-old was obsessed with the lamb and rice. Plus, the hummus was so creamy and delicious. My 1 year old loved the rice ​It's a super cute, family-owned spot. The mom was working the register--such a sweet lady--and she's there working right alongside her husband and three boys. Such a beautiful family, and everyone was incredibly kind. We are definitely going back! Damaskino read more

Delish. The best in the Arlington area of Jacksonville. A medium sized business, run by family. You can tell it's family, Mediterranean style. Big vertical turning spit to cook chicken, lamb & beef. Delightful flavors of saffron rice, I had grape leaves as one of my sides, the other was a fresh & flavorful salad of cucumber, tomato & green leafy ? It was all gooood! Ambience, walk-in was 11am and empty. But watching the hustle of getting another huge spit of meat in the heat, it took 2 people. Thanks for the wonderful food read more

Not a nice looking restaurant. Needs cleaning and painting. Sat a 2 different tables and both were sticky. Can't wipe it off with Napkins. Gave them a 3 for food because my wife thought hers was a 4 and if I am generous I give mine a 2. I recommend against the chicken Schwarma wrap. Very greasy and least favorite chicken Schwarma I have ever had. I did not finish. Will grab something else to eat for dinner. Continuous smell of someone smoking, but did not see. It may be because several people were standing outside smoking. My wife liked her food, but if I took her there as my choice she would not go. She chose it off Yelp, so she would eat dirt off the floor, but again she enjoyed her food. read more

Have had lunch here twice. It's a-hole in the wall with the best shawarma and lentil soup around. The soup is really superb, the meat incredibly well spiced if a little dry, the sides of grape leaves and salad were excellent. We have also had the falafel and it's great. This is family run, not fancy, fair prices for the quality and quantity of food, excellent friendly service, and again.....amazing food. We will come here every time we are on this side of JAX. read more

Keep coming back at least once a week for the best shawarmas and dips in town, I just wish they would open a closer location to where I live. The quality of the food is the same every single time I come. The place is unpretentious, and it feels more li a whole in the wall. As for the service, they can be slow at times but for the quality of the food I really don't care lol read more

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I've been looking for a Mediterranean restaurant for a while, and I noticed this one had a lot of positive reviews. To take our minds off work, my friend and I got together for lunch. Although the façade and interior don't seem very up-kept, don't let it fool you. The meal, family, and service were excellent. The lentil soup that was served to us was complimentary and was warm and flavorful. I chose the Kifta Platter as my entrée, which included two skewers with rice and two options for side appetizers. I ordered the grape leaves and hummus as sides. Amazing and tasty Kifta that had been cooked to perfection. The spice on the rice was fantastic, and it was extremely good. The grape leaves were tangy and delicious. We both enjoyed the food and service and looking forward to visit again! read more

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I usually don't do reviews but after this plate of food tonight it would be an injustice not to!! I came in around 9:30 (they close at 10 mind you) and ordered the 2 meat shawarma platter and it came out in under 10 minutes and it was HOT and fresh. The hummus is next level with the warm pita, the rice alone I could eat a tray of by itself and the meat is seasoned to perfection!!! It literally could not get any better. 12/10 will definitely be adding this to my take out rotation read more

I love this spot. I always order to go. You can call ahead and the food is always spectacular! This is one of my favorite things to get when I'm feeding a friend who is sick or just had a baby. Huge portions. read more

Fantastic food tucked into a location I'm not sure I'd stop at if I wasn't comfortable just about anywhere. Don't let the restaurant give you the wrong impression, you'll enjoy superb flavor served by a welcoming and informative staff that aims to please. I will be back again and again. read more

Damaskino - Mix Shawarma Platter - Mediterranean Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

Food fresh and good!! The lamb kabob with yellow rice and hummus YUM! I order the platter and still took some home Togo! So the amount was big. read more

Damaskino - Lamb Kabab Platter - Mediterranean Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

Amazing food! Very sweet owner, highly recommend for an authentic experience - like eating in Damascus

Amazing and authentic food, And very fresh! Amazing customer service! Would highly recommend!! read more

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Very good Mediterranean food. We had the weekend brunch as a take out, they let you fill a container with everything you want. The choices were abundant. The shawarma was very good, within the top 5 in Jax. Read my other review for who i think has the best. read more

The food was amazing and very good. Service was good as well. We surprised them with a larger party and they were very accommodating.

Food was awesome, the place is a little frugal to say the least. It could use some refreshments to the decor. Service is the greatest opportunity I see here. They forgot about the grape leaves we had ordered and when we asked for a box for our leftovers, it never arrived. read more

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This place is truly a hidden gem! We ordered takeout for our New Years Eve dinner from this treat. The customer service was on point and the food was even better. We ordered the lamb chops with hummus and a salad, the mixed kabob platter with hummus and a salad, falafel and 2 different desserts. Everything including the rice was well seasoned and cooked to perfection. The lamb chops were a little smaller than we hoped considering the price but they tasted amazing. The kabobs were perfect. I'm not sure what the desserts were. One was like baklava but it had cheese in it. The other had walnuts, cinnamon and apples I think...closer to an empanada. This one wasn't too sweet. The baklava and cheese was probably sweeter because it had the sugar glaze over it. We will be coming back to this place again. read more

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Don't judge a book by the cover. The food is excellent. We came here because of the reviews and it did not disappoint! read more

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Damaskino might fall into the "hole-in-the-wall" restaurant category...it's not much to look at from the outside, nor is the small strip mall it's in. The inside feels a bit like a diner, but it's all about the food here, not the looks. An older couple, presumably the owners, kindly let us in a few minutes before they were scheduled to open for lunch. We ordered a Lamb Kabob Platter and Mixed Shawarma Platter. We tried to order some different sides, but may have had a simple language misunderstanding. The dishes were a little slow coming out, but that was perfectly understandable because we were let in before the kitchen was fully up and running. Both dishes came out hot, and were very generous (10" plates piled high). We're light eaters and got three meals from each platter! We hope to go back and try some other dishes another time! For those interested, no one was masked, staff or customers. read more

Damaskino - Mixed Shawarma Platter with hummus and salad sides. - Mediterranean Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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This place is delicious! The Muhammara is amazing and so is everything else. Can't say it's in the best location but they did recently renovate the interior so dining in is possible again. Not the cleanest spot. That's the only thing that keeps me from coming more often. I feel like I have to psych myself out to go there. That said, seriously delicious. I think they need more patrons to make it and step it up a notch. read more

The best shawarma in Jax!! Hands down. Really nice crew. Highly recommend. Recommend their platters too.

Excellent food and service. I ordered takeout, and it was just being wrapped up when I arrived. We had the chicken shawarma platter, falafel platter, grape leaves, hummus, baba ghanouj, muhammara, and tabouleh. Couldn't be happier with the freshness and delicious flavors of every single item. The man and woman behind the counter were friendly and quick. I'm really looking forward to making this a go-to spot for lunch and dinner. read more

Unbelievably good!!! I hit the jackpot finding this place!!! You won't even see the restaurant from the street. It's tucked behind other buildings in a small plaza. First of all, the food is so fresh you can see it being made right in front of you. When you first walk in, you'll see the juicy meats rotating directly behind the counter. Talk about Shawarma at it's finest! I initially wanted to get an order to go but because it was my first time here I decided to stay. I ordered the mixed meat shawarma platter and grape leaves. I started to dig in and it was so delicious I had to be mindful of pacing myself before I choked! The meats had the PERFECT flavor some charred taste but weren't tough or anything. Hummus was good. The salad was fresh. Grape leaves full of flavor (and vegan friendly!) Everything was quite an experience! I was not expecting much, it was a quick stop after all but oh my goodness what a find! THIS is the ideal place to try Mediterranean food. Great prices, quick, and absolutely tasty! The restaurant is super duper casual. And I mean casual. Not sure if it was just because it was a certain time of the day because they had a larger portion of the restaurant closed off. For instance: I ordered my food, sat down, and within a few minutes the food was right in front of me. I asked for water and instead of getting a glass of water, the person behind the counter walked up to the fridge across from me and handed me a bottled water lol. So sweet, I literally could've reached over. Even when I finished my meal, I tried to look for the line in the receipt for the tip so I can tip but I literally only paid for my food. Works for me! Highly recommended!!! Support this business! They know how to make quality food!!! read more

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Yet another hidden gem of the city! Yes, this family operated shindig isn't in the best location, but their food was delicious! From the shawarmas to katayef for dessert, flavors were on point. We came late on a Saturday with a party of 9 and had the place completely to ourselves. There's a TV in the area, but it was off during our stay. This place is behind the LaNopalera on Atlantic Blvd past Regency Square. The owners were extremely amiable and proud of the products their serve (rightfully so!) Tip- they delivery through Bite Squad Tip 2 - if paying by card, tell them ahead of time if you need to add tip as there is no way to add it after they have run it. Next visit, will try their lamb chops! read more

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The other day we went to Damaskino on Atlantic Blvd JAX for middle eastern food. It is a small, very plain, ordinary place that needs a cleaning. There is a small dining room that is anything but fancy. You go for the food not the atmosphere. The food is really delicious authentic middle eastern. My wife had the Lamb Kabob platter with an additional skewer of lamb. The lamb was tender and grilled perfectly. The rice was perfectly seasoned and her two sides were Fattoosh and Baba Ghanouj. Both were great. I had the Falafel platter with a tasty pita, and tahini sauce. My two sides were Hummus and Tabouleh. Very tasty. I would of like more bulgur wheat in my Tabouleh. We will definitely return. I am looking forward to sample the Shawarma. It is a limited menu but they get it right. read more

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Great service and even better food! The place was enjoyable and empty surprisingly. Food is the best Mediterranean food I have had in a while. read more

Damaskino - Kifta platter - Mediterranean Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

Food was delicious! Service was good! My family really enjoyed our meal and will return.

Absolutely loved this place My wife and I ate here after a long day at the zoo with our 18-month old daughter. She was exhausted, so we got take-out. In short, it was incredible. We had chicken shawarma wraps and also got the falafel platter. Even after driving to our hotel, check-in, and getting settled, the food was still mostly non soggy, and flavors were absolutely on point. We were served at a quaint, authentic little family-style middle-eastern restaurant that was entirely unassuming from the outside. Smells were delicious, and the woman serving us was polite and efficient. Would definitely recommend this place. Don't let the outside fool you, it's worth the trip! read more

Truly delicious and authentic middle eastern food. The location is a little rundown, but if you want amazing food, don't judge the book by its cover! read more

Best Mediterranean food around! The flavors of everything combined is unmatched! Very friendly staff also read more

Damaskino - Chicken Kabab Platter - Mediterranean Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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Meh. I've experience better is what constitutes as a 2 star rating. I came here on a Friday during lunch because off all the high ratings. I couldn't park in the parking right in front of the restaurant because some guy, possibly a worker had his car door wide open. I waited but then parked farther away. I ordered my Kifta platter to go. The cashier overcharged and they forgot my pita bread. When I called, the owner said to come back and we'll fix this. I got cold pita bread and he allowed me to get a fruit juice out of the fridge instead of correctly the charge error. I'm fine with that. The food was good. I enjoyed it but I'm going to stick to Yafa Grill instead. read more

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What a great find! Behind La Napolera Is a strip mall that has this modest real deal Syrian establishment . Damaskino, in Greek means of Damascus - in other words guys, this is Syrian food. Super delicious food, excellent prices, and a bold flavor that will keep you thinking about this place long after you have left. The proprietor, Fadi, works the grill and guys, the food is legit. All I can say is, just look at the pictures. I take good pictures, but the pics don't do the flavor justice. It's fantastic. If you go- and let's be honest, you should because this place is the truth- try the chicken Shawarma platter. If it is t one of the best you have ever had , I will quit writing Yelp reviews. Great food, better people! read more

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At first we were looking forward to trying a new Mediterranean restaurant. We ordered a falafel wrap and red lentil soup. We arrived shortly after and our food was ready. Instead of giving us our order that was clearly ready, they made a new batch that was clearly rushed and done sloppy. They looked through so many different pitas before making the new wrap, they didn't toast it, and the filling for the wrap was very slim in comparison of what was already prepared. Thought I wasn't familiar when I've been eating this type of food for a long time. read more

Fantastic food. Friendly service. Clean and comfortable dining room. Less than perfect neighborhood True foodies will travel to great lengths to find good food. Well this is one of those hole in the wall, hard to find, sketchy on the outside locations. You will question your choice until you have tried the food because it is fantastic. The chef and his family are from Syria and he cooks using his family recipes, delicious lamb, chicken, beef and schwarma. Of course no middle eastern restaurant would be complete without appetizers of hummus, baba Ganouj and huhammara. I had dinner for six, so we tried a number of dishes: Lamb Platter - fantastic, maybe the best dish of the night. Lamb Chops - really rye catching dish, it was even with or a close second for best dish. Chicken Kabob - another excellent choice with the spice rub making this dish excellent. Chicken Schwarma - for me, this dish was a bit dry, but the flavors were good. Beef Schwarma - not dry, really good Hummus - for me the hummus lacked some spice, but texture wise it was right on. Huhammara - sadly this was a fish i wanted to try, but they were out of it on my visit. The chef/server/cashier was very busy, but when things slowed down he was friendly and loved speaking about his dishes. I would like to go back and dine in as this is a restaurant you could go back to try the entire menu. read more

By far 5 stars Shawerma. This is very authentic. When you step in the store and take the first bite of the chicken shawerma, you immediately feel you are back in one of the streets in Damascus. The taste is delicious. Simple and authentic. Chicken, garlic sauce, pickles, and pomegranate molasses (dibs rimman) The beef shawerma is excellent too. Definitely coming back whenever visiting jax To me, 2nd best in US so far read more

New Favorite Middle Eastern food in Jacksonville, Hands down. Great value, fresh tasty food. I tried to cover their offerings with a mixed shwarma plate, an appetizer combo, plus an order of kibbe. It ranged from very good to excellent. The beef and chicken shwarma were both very good, nicely seasoned, and on top home seasoned rice. The entree was a solid anchor for the rest of the meal... Kibbe. Best I've ever had. Most kibbe, even good kibbe have a cooked/frozen/reheated texture to them. These tasted fresh, and the spices still permeated the entire (large) football shape treat. Tabbouleh.... Spot on... Good fresh flavors, just enough hint of mint. Above all, this was today's tabbouleh, or yesterday's at most. That's the essential for salad. Ditto for fattoush. Crisp ingredients, simple dressing, pita flakes, not croutons Hummus, Baba Gannous both very good.. Muhammara was a new, welcome discovery. Roasted red peppers and walnuts make this romesco like sip. One of the meals standouts My only quibble was that the pita was not setved warm. It's obviously kitchen made, and excellent quality I'm happy to have found this spot, think you will also enjoy read more

Damaskino - Mediterranean Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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