Was excited to try this place as I happened to be across the street at UMass Medical Center for work and decided to stop in for lunch. Interior decor is very nice & I was seated quickly, although not sure the young lady who seated me was actually working at the time as she was dressed in workout clothes(?) She was seated and eating by the time I left... Ordered the stuffed grape leaves for an appetizer and mixed grill for lunch. Both were good but not great and the portions for the mixed grill were disappointing. Would recommend if you're looking for a light lunch but not so much if you're really hungry. read more

El Basha Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

See all

I hate to leave a 2 star review, but I think it is warranted. First off, the food is great. But service and atmosphere are lacking. When I first walked in near the bar, I was hit with a smell similar to that of a hair salon or hair being chemically treated. Really bad first impression. It was extremely unpleasant, but thankfully undetectable in the dining room. The food: I really enjoyed our marinated artichoke, baba ghanoush,Lebanese sausage, and kabob mixed grill. The flavor was great, meat was well prepared. However the kabob mixed grill says it is served "with grilled vegetables". Mine only came with onions. I had been assuming I would be served an assortment of vegetables so that was disappointing. The service leaves much to be desired. There was one waitress servicing the whole dining room and she was a whirlwind. It was not relaxing to be served by her. She took our food away before we were done and spilled water on my husband's food (no apology). Just very brisk in manner probably due to being the only person serving. Additionally my husband found a hair in his food. I am assuming this location is resting on the laurels of the other locations. Very disappointing since the food is good. read more

Food was ok but pricey! $30 for appetizer platter. They double charged my card for my check and someone else's! They said the wifi went down so they ran it a 2nd time. Very sad excuse, I've been in the restaurant business for over 25 years and I never had that happen. Still not resolved with the merchant so I called the bank. Unless you have extra $$ to pay for someone else's dinner I suggest cash only payment if you do go here. I know I will go elsewhere. read more

Went here for a quick lunch day with my wife and was initially apprehensive due to the lower rating. I'm thoroughly confused with why on earth the ratings aren't way better. I rarely write reviews but both my wife and I truly enjoyed the space, wait staff and most of all the food. We shared a huge platter which included six separate appetizers, all of which were great. We especially like the baba ganoush and the flavor/texture of the hummus. We were both stuffed and still took home two containers of leftovers. We've decided we will be doing a weekly take-out from El Basha and encourage anyone who enjoys true middle eastern flavors to give this place a shot! read more

Simply put, the best Arabic food I have had. Plus, sit down table service take was great with lovely decor. The kibbe balls burst with flavor! I found the prices slightly high, but still reasonable compared to other nicer dining location. I highly recommend it. read more

The best Mediterranean food to be found in Worcester County! Had not been for quite a while as I moved 45 minutes away in "The Hills of Northern Worcester County " , but well worth the drive. It was New Year's Eve Day so I get they were busy, but...... do your order on line, I wanted to but was unsure on availability time as they shut down in the middle of the afternoon. So I called in and had a very nice young lady answer the phone to let me know that it's a hard shutdown, no to go orders as well . Ok no problem, I'll take your order right now..here begins the error. Probably very busy and neglects to include the large appetizer platter in the order. I show up at 5:30 for my New Year's Eve takeout and the total bill seemed light , missed the app platter and started an issue that required the manager to clear up with the kitchen. He appeared disturbed with me, no yelling or finger pointing just cold after that. All the food was excellent, next time strictly an on line order. Manager wished me Happy New Year etc but it was not sincere . I provided 5 star because I realize things happen, sharpen up the girls attitude for more sincerity. I will return! read more

My Mom, toddler daughter, and I had a girl's lunch out here on Saturday. We arrived at noon and had the place to our selves for at least 1/2 an hour. Fortunately by the time we left 4 more groups had arrived. We chose the El "PuPu" Platter consisting of 6 hot appetizers for $30. Score! Mom and I hate commiting to one meal when there are so many things we love here. We also never know what my wee veggie lovin' tot will be in the mood for so it was a safe bet. We chose: hommus blahme (hommus with ground meat in the center -we get it EVERYTIME) falafel (delicious and covered in a tangy tahini sauce) fassoulia (white bean salad w/ herbs and light dressing) kibbee balls (bulgar wheat balls filled with cooked ground meat, onions and pine nuts) Lebanese sausage (lil sausages w. grilled onions and peppers) and balilah (sp?) (chickpeas, diced tom. and onions w/ light dressing) fresh pita pieces (always good for sopping up -well-- anything) Everything came out on a huge round platter where the individual items each had their own well. It really did look like a pu-pu platter set up. In the center was a nice salad of red onions, tomato hunks, and fresh lettuce. Everything was tasty and satisfying. I had never tried the falafel from here and was kicking myself for not having ordered it sooner. The only item that we didn't care for was the Lebanese sausage. Although I am sure that they are lovingly homemade - the texture was grainy to my American palate -- and I couldn't finish them. The meal was a success -- the toddler stayed in her seat, Mom paid (thx Ma!) and I left there with enough take out containers to give the impression that we hadn't just spent 45 min. eatting inside. All in all a healthy and satisfying lunch at an establishment that we have been frequenting for at least 8 years. The dining area could use a tiny bit of sprucing (some water damage by the windows peaked our curiosity) but our waitress was polite and timely. We will be back soon for more falafel! read more

After proposing to my then-girlfriend, I decided to have my family and her family waiting somewhere to surprise her and to celebrate together. El-Basha was a great place for that. They dedicated an entire room of their restaurant for the event. I was able to go beforehand and meet with the owner (very nice guy) and sample some of the food. He was very cooperative and helpful, especially with the dietary restrictions we had. We loved the dinner and everything went smoothly. Given this, El-Basha has been a special place for us. We have recently gone there on Valentine's Day and it was great. The food is always amazing and delicious and the staff now feel like family. I strongly recommend the kofta. read more

I was craving grapeleaves like you couldn't imagine. We have all been there..like a junkie needing a fix. My dining companion and I drove to their new location in Westborough only to find that they weren't open for lunch on Saturdays. This would not stop us, and we hopped in the car and flew down Route 9 to find their Worcester location. Parking was easy as they had a lot in the rear, and we were on our way to filling the void in our bellies. I couldn't tell if the decoration was for real or meant to be funny. With clouds painted on the ceiling and gold and crystal fixtures on the wall, I thought of my middle eastern friends and wondered if they would laugh or feel at home. OK- I knew for a fact they would laugh, but I didn't let it affect my palate. We wanted to get a good crossection of the cuisine, so we ordered alot. Of course, we ordered grapeleaves as part of our appetizer and as an entree. Had hummus, babaganoush, a type of Egyptian cheese that I could have done without and the most amazing Lebanese sausage. The sausage was intense with a flavor we couldn't pin down- and couldn't stop raving about. A side of yogurt cooled our tongues down from the intense heat and flavor we were experiencing. The babaganoush was outstanding and had bits of eggplant skin throughout it to add a contrast to its creamy texture. The hummus was hummus. Not good and not bad. Average. The grapeleaves were flavorful, but certainly could have used more lamb. For our meal, we shared kibbe- a favorite lamb dish of mine which was delish. A middle eastern meat loaf if you will- packed with flavor and served with rice. For dessert we tried the baklava which was slightly dry for my liking. I am not sure what happened to the rice when they were making the rice pudding, but it had formed large balls of paste. The sweetness of the concoction seemed dead on, but I couldn't get past the consistency. While our waitress got a large tip, the service was terrible. This of course wasn't her fault as she was working the entire restaurant. i am not sure if someone called out or if the managers intentionally put one server on, but I felt terrible for the poor thing. She did the best she could, and we tried to be patient, but it certainly was a topic of conversation that occupied most of our dining experience. Lunch came to around $40 with plenty leftover for dinner. A great bargain. read more

I came here a few times, each time having the "Azeeme" option. That basically translates to a full Lebanese lunch experience. Being Middle Eastern myself, I have very high standards for this kind of cuisine. But this was fantastic. For lunch, you pay 15 dollars per person, and you get the full experience, with two cold courses, and two hot. First you get hummus and baba ghanouj- very good. Then, Fatoush, which is a seasoned salad with pita chips in it. That was PHENOMENAL. My favorite! The third course is Grape Leaves with meat, and Kibbe meat balls. You get one of each. Remember, you're getting the full experience, so it's not that you are getting a ton of food for every course, but rather a good amount, to try the variety- quality, not quantity. But honestly? I was very full by the end! Last course is mixed grill- chicken kabobs, sirloin kabobs, and kofta. You get two chicken kabobs, one sirloin, and one large kofta, to each person. There is also a large amount of rice, and grilled onions, peppers, and tomato. We had leftovers. It was so delicious. We ordered the baklava for dessert. Go there. You won't be disappointed. read more

See all

This family alone has set my taste standards for middle eastern food for life. I have YET to find a better Lebanese, or Middle Eastern restaurant that can even compare to their perfection. Even with the little things, it's just all done right. Tabouli, grape leaves, labneh, kibbi balls, fatoush...everything is seriously amazing. Everytime my mother and I go on a girl-date, this is our place. I mean, it's fantastic that they remember us after all the years of hitting up both Worcester locations (and I liked going to Westboro just to smile at Eli) It's really just a small-business functioning restaurant since the two worcester locations are run by brothers and I think it's their son that runs the Westborough one...I promise you won't be disappointed. This family has it down just perfectly. Oh...and if you didn't know, the Westborough location is BYOB. Luckily, there's a liquor store next door with a bottle of wine with your name on it. :) read more

You cannot absolutely get any better for Middle Eastern cuisine than El Basha!! I have loved this restaurant from the first time I timidly went in with my boss over...gosh it has to be about 15 years now. The hummus is perfect, the baba ghanouj is to absolutely to die for! Chicken saiid and the vegetable saiid are the best I've ever had. The tabouli and the fatouch are mouth watering as is the grape leaves and lentils and rice. PLEASE try the chicken shawarma sandwich for lunch and your mouth will have gone to heaven before you. No other Middle Eastern restaurant comes close. read more

Chicken shawarma sandwich was good and juicy. The chicken was very soft and tender but overall I felt that the sandwich is lacking some flavor. But still very good Lamb Kabob lunch meal was good. I was not sure of how they cook their lamb, so I ordered it medium. I think it would be better if it's medium rare. The lunch meal comes with 5 or 6 pieces of lamb chunks served on top of a bed of rice. For some reason, I really love the flavor of their rice. It is also served with grilled tomato, bell pepper and onion. There's only 2 or 3 slices on bell pepper and some of the onions were burnt. But overall, pretty good! I do have to say for even a lunch special, the lamb kabob was pretty expensive. The lunch special is $12 and the shawarma sandwich is $6. read more

This was place was great! The setting was clean and authentic middle eastern. The food was amazing! I would definitely recommend the hummus to start. We got lunch, falafel sandwiches, chicken shawarma and chicken kabobs. Everything was fresh tasting and came out quickly. Our server was really nice and attentive to all our needs. I will definitely be going back to try dinner! read more

El Basha Restaurant - The hummus - Middle Eastern Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

Have to write a nice review for this place. I have been there three times and they have always satisfied my craving for good middle eastern. I usually do the pre-fix menu and order a bottle of wine. The kibbi is to die for. Last time I was there I ordered a bottle of wine for ~30 and they were out so they ended up giving me a 38$ bottle for the 30$ price. The service was great and the waiter was attentive and gave all sorts of help full hints. Highly recommend. read more

El-Basha has the best authentic Middle Eastern food in New England. It is as good as your grandma's cooking. I eat at El-Basha for lunch multiple times a week because of how good the food is here. Every single item on this menu is really good and would reccommend the Mezza Platters. This is a great restaurant for big groups of people and they also do a great job catering. read more

See all

One of the best chicken shawrma place. I would say each of their dish has a unique taste and I love that about this place.

Met up with my cousin to go for dinner and she highly recommended this be our destination. I was skeptical, I've never gone out for this type of food, but I do enjoy hummus so figured sure lets go. We take our seats in a super nice open dining area that looks out across the road to the fancy bridge they have finally finished building across the river. There's not many people here, which at 930 on a Saturday can be expected. To start we got the hummus. It came with pita bread, but they also brought us vegetables. It was a nice large bowl of cherry tomatoes and onions (neither of which I enjoy) with sliced cucumbers and green peppers. The hummus was delicious. We asked for more veggies and we got a bowl with cucumbers and peppers, the waiter said we could pick which more veggies we'd like. We also got a cheese mint spread. Which I didn't expect to be good on the veggies but I was very wrong and happily surprised. My cousin got the beef shawarma. The tzatziki dressing was delicious and the meat perfectly cooked and practically melted in your mouth. The produce was all super fresh and tasted vibrant. I got the grape leaves with rice. I've never had grape leaves before. This was a dance of flavors in my mouth and extremely delicious. My bf got a pumpkin object that escapes me currently. Again the flavors were fresh and light. The service we had was also wonderful. He was extremely attentive and made sure we had a good experience. If you want good food and a great atmosphere I highly recommend going. I know I'll be going back. read more

I recently visited the Belmont Street location with a large group for lunch. They were very attentive and accommodating for our party of a dozen or so. I highly recommend the fattoush salad, veggie grape leaves. I generally order the falafel plate as a dinner since I am a vegetarian and I find the pumpkin kibbee to be a little heavy for me. About a month ago, I ordered a falafel sandwich to go and the falafel were not as wonderful as I had remembered. They were a bit dry, and all the sauce was pooled towards one end of the pita, leaving one end soggy and the other dry. Perhaps it was an off-day. It won't stop me from returning! For dinner, I prefer the Park St. location. read more

Excellent quality food. Kibbee dinner and Israeli salad, grape leaves all fantastic. Appetizer always get hummus with warm ground lamb, unbelievable. read more

Went with another couple. First off, save room for the Baclava. Two of us had the mixed grille which was the chicken, beef and another meat that I can't remember the name of. Came with grilled vegetables and rice pilaf. Outstanding. The other two got the Port Saiid with chicken. It also came with rice. While also very good the chicken is cut into very small pieces and were overdone a bit. We tried the beers and the wives had the sangria. Very good, but $12.50 for a glass of sangria? The Sangria wasn't that good. The Syrian bread was perfect, as well as the "El salad". We recommend and would certainly go back. I did not get the waitresses name unfortunately as I would have liked to mention her professionalism. Did I mention the Baclava? It was a mouthful of heaven. read more

Stop using onions as a filler to your meals , your meals are pricey and should come with more than just cheaply costing onions. If I order a kabob meal with veggies as a side the last thing I want to open up is a bowl of straight up onions. And this is not even the first time. Ughhh I like your food but the cheapness has got to stop read more

El Basha Restaurant - Here's an idea EL Basha , why don't you start adding more Real vegetables to your meals instead of onions as a "filler" nothing is worse !! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

I ordered take out over the phone so I can't really comment on service except to say that my food was ready in the 15 minutes it took me to walk to the restaurant and that the people working there are really nice. The place also looked really nice especially the patio. The stars on this review are all about the food and honestly, it was slightly below average Mediterranean food. I've definitely had much better but at the same time it wasn't bad food either. The flavoring was decent but my real issue came with the chicken. 3/4 of the chicken was hard and not very good. I definitely will not be coming back here tho because the prices are way to expensive for the quality of food. read more

Overpriced. I could make better steak kabobs at home, the kafta tasted off - almost foul, the kibbeh was oily, the fatoosh wasn't fresh and the hummus and babaganoush portions were skimpy. The dining room was dirty too. We won't be back. read more

El Basha Restaurant - Azeeme; hummus, babaganoush, fatoosh - Middle Eastern Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

See all

Best tabouli outside of my own family's kitchen - certainly the best I've had at a restaurant. The shenkleesh is absolutely amazing. And the kibbee is made differently than I grew up with, a bit oily (not as bad as other reviews say), but still very good. Grape leaves vary depending on region and who makes them, but I thought these were very good as well. The only negative I had was the hummus, which I thought was grainy and bland. I went twice in two days, definitely worth a try. read more

El Basha Restaurant - all of the things - Middle Eastern Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

There should be a 6th star rating, because El Basha is the single most satisfying eating and drinking experience Worcester county has to offer ( and beyond ) You feel like family when you're here. As an avid steak eater I always stay away from filets. I always considered them lacking flavor, that was until I had a filet from El Basha. Perfect cooked and seasoned, I woke up thinking about it. As much of a steak eater as I am, the lamb will blow you away. Take any entry and pair it with any side or starter meal. The traditional Mediterranean options will keep you coming back to try new things. Incredibly fresh and well prepared, there isn't a dish not worth trying. On several occasions the owner would walk to every table asking how their meal is and offering a friendly word. Classic traditional Lebanese fare mixed with modern unsuspecting dishes, I could eat here every day. Well done read more

Had a wonderful dinner for close to 30 people on Saturday night. Food and service were outstanding. Many thanks to Andrew and our wonderful waitress. Their flexibility and professionalism was very much appreciated! Would absolutely recommend to any and all! read more

My friend and I ate here last weekend. Laurie (or Lori?), our server, delivered terrific service. I ordered the pumpkin kibbee; vegetarian kibbee baked with spinach, onion, and chic peas, served with a side salad--it was delicious. For desert my friend and I split the rice pudding. This is a dream restaurant for any vegetarian. read more

We stopped here for lunch today and ordered the beef stroganoff and sirloin kebabs after seeing it on the Phantom Gourmet. Both dishes were delicious! Our new waitress provided excellent service. Worth the stop! read more

Ordered take out 2/10/21. Just as good as I remember it, and it has been years since we've eaten at this location. The "el" salad was terrific and the chicken Port Saiid was flavorful, with the rice pilaf. Will be putting this back in our rotation and when we are ready to dine in, it will be at the top of the list. read more

Belmont st my favorite. Since covid. We get take out at least one a month. Staff is great. Food great

Haven't been here in quite sometime, glad we reconnected with the fassoulia and moussaka side dishes. They were awesome! Falafel hummus sandwich was ok. read more

I love middle eastern food and I am well versed in it. This place had good reviews which encouraged me to go there with a friend. The decor is dismal and illustrates the ancient remains of great civilization. My friend and I started our meal with the Falafel appetizer. We got 3 pieces which were broken over a salad that was dominated by iceberg lettuce. It was very salty and did not taste fresh at all. We ordered the mixed grill and chicken shuwarma plates. The quality of the meat was horrendous and we were constantly questioning the source of the kebab meat since it was obvious that the chef was trying to cover the meat's real taste by over spicing it with Cumin. Also, fluffing up the order with an "out of the bag" iceberg salad does not justify $18 (or $17) for a chicken Shuwarma plate. The shuwarma sandwich at Bahnan's Bakery tastes much better, has more chicken and is only $7. Our waitress was somewhat of tentative but not hospitable at all. She only came to fill our water at the end of the meal, though we needed a refill when we receive the entrees. Overall, the food was very salty and because of this, I am sure that the chef does not taste the food before it goes out. I believe that the owners have taken the reputation, developed over the years, for granted. I do not recommend going this restaurant at all, the food is not great, the setting is depressing, and the food is awful and overpriced. read more

We have eaten at the Belmont Street El Basha 4 times and the last 3 have enjoyed the complete dinner (Azeeme). Our most recent visit was Saturday night 8/23/14, and our dinner was quite good. The fattoush was really fresh and flavorful, kibbeh and grape leaves were good also although the "garnish" on the plate was bland shreds of iceberg lettuce. The hummus/baba ganoush dips were standard. As others have mentioned, the pita tends to be a little dry but OK for scooping the dips. The star of the meal was the lentil soup; mixed grill was also very good - tender meat and well spiced. We had baklava for dessert and it was standard also. Interestingly, the last time we dined, the dessert was on the house according to our server because we had ordered the complete dinner; this time it was not gratis. We do have some experience with Middle Eastern cuisine and this seems to be a bit above the middle of the pack, not the best but certainly a good meal. They have a few Lebanese selections on the wine list that are tasty also. read more

We've been to El Basha several times and always enjoyed the experience except for our last visit. We decided to return and were pleased that our one negative experience was an aberration. We had dinner on New years Eve which can be tricky for some places but everything was top notch from the App (grape leaves), salads and entrees. The portions were very generous and tasty. The service was excellent and the decor/atmosphere very nice as usual. read more

Awesome dinner here last night! My boyfriend and I were originally heading to Shrewsbury Street for dinner, but took a u-turn to give El Basha a try. I hadn't been in at least a year, and wanted something on the fresher and healthier side. We sat in the bar area, and were immediately offered waters and pita bread while we looked over the menu. Our bartender/server was super friendly and knowledgeable and helped us make great choices. I usually order hummus or grape leaves, but decided to try the Foul Moudamass. It was absolutely delicious and surprisingly filling. The fava beans had perfect spices, and the toppings were as fresh as can be. The fellow patron at the bar thought it looked really good and ordered one for himself, too! My boyfriend got the vegetarian grape leaves and rice pilaf. He really enjoyed them, as well. Our visit was long overdue, but our next trip will definitely be soon! Can't wait to try the Westborough location with the BYOB and the patio. Thanks for a perfect meal on a Saturday night! read more

El Basha Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

My grape leaves good once I squeezed lemon on them. My shawarma was horrible! It was like I got someone's dried out leftover chicken that they then sprinkled with tahini and spices. The pita bread was like store bought that was starting to go stale. Just no love in the food. I asked for tea and received hot water and a Lipton tea bag- seriously?! Good waitstaff though. Don't waste your money. Not worth it. read more

I had only gone to El Basha years ago and gotten the kebab, which was good. Recently, a close relative had about 2 weeks to live. She loved El Basha. So I made sure she got it twice a week. Her preference was the Fattoush. I'd get the grilled chicken added and share it with her. It was great! I loved it. And it really gave her something to look forward to. Thanks!! D read more

This was always a family favorite of ours. I'd take my kids at least 2-3 month. Since Covid began, they have increased prices exorbitantly!! The price increase isn't a small bump, but rather 30-50% on most items!! They also add that to take out as well as delivery and they only use the most expensive deliver service. They give no options for delivery that allow for a realistic price. The other El Basha restaurant's prices are still in line w typical COVID related increases. This restaurant (Belmont St) will not survive by gauging their customer base for the same food. Sad to see them go. read more

Anyone who considers this even DECENT Middle Eastern fare simply does not know anything about it. Take this advice from someone who is of Middle East descent. I know good hummus, baba ghanoush, kibbeh, pita, etc etc. The only thing remotely decent here was the salad. The food: Hummus was lumpy- LUMPY! Baba ghanoush was super oily but I suppose it wasn't awful tasting. Fried kibbeh...bland and somehow not even crispy despite being fried. Dolma had a really odd, unpleasant taste. Pitas were not real. They were some cheap flimsy borderline cracker kind. All meats were dry and overcooked. And by the way, the lady who appeared to manage and/or own the place had a thick Boston accent. She certainly had no Middle Eastern background. Case in point: baba ghanoush was pronounced "baba ga-nudge." Gross. People, THIS IS NOT REAL MIDDLE EASTERN FOOD. read more