This weekend's crave was Persian cuisine! We spent the day in the northern suburbs and this place…read morewas right on our way back home. I don't think the location is ideal, but then again, I'm still getting to know Sydney and there may be more to do in the area than I know of... However, it was worth stopping by for a Persian feast! The place is not very big (although there is a second floor which I don't know if they use or not), but had no problem getting seated and ordering the food. The waiting time was a little long, but that was due to a massive order being taken for takeaway just before we got in. The chef came out halfway through to apologise to us, which was nice. We didn't mind as we were in no rush and were enjoying ourselves anyway. But then it came! The meal I was looking for, a big sharing Chelo Kabab which was very tasty and fulfilling. Particularly, I'm a big fan of the mince-meat from these restaurants. It was lovely. The waitresses were very nice and helpful too. I reckon we will pop round again if we are ever in the area

Great Persian Food!! Came all the way from San Francisco, wanted to get some Persian food and this…read moreplace was amazing!:)

Was in Willoughby and in need of coffee and so when I saw this place, I ha high hopes…read more Unfortunately, the slownes of the service, and the lack of focus on the coffee didn't really meet my expectations. That said, while paying I overheard the kitchen saying they were getting slammed, and so it could be that either someone didn't show for work, or some other reason kept this rustic cafe from being at it's best, but either way, I am unlikely to go back. One the positive side, the atmosphere in this cafe is great. While some of the chairs appear a bit rickety, they add to the rustic feel inside. The range of food also looked quite nice (though we stuck to the coffees). So.. as for the coffee, from my seat I was able to watch them being made and my expectations dropped with each minute. For me, seeing a dbl mac sitting on the bench burning as 2 babychinos are made is just sad. When it arrived it was bitter and burnt... surprised I was not. My wife also ordered a Turkish coffee which seemed very little like the thick syrupy deliciousness I have had on previous occasions. All in all, I was disappointed with my experience here, but I am pretty sure that this was a once off. At least... I hope so... Cafe Summary ------------------------ Passion for Coffee - 5/10 Coffee beans - Di Gabriel Crema (1=burnt, 10=velvet) - 4/10 Special coffees avail? - Turkish

Located on the quiet end of vict ave @corner of penshurst st, raffi may not get the same exposure…read moreas other food establishments on the retail side of chatswood. Shame really. If our breaky experience here is anything to go by, we would return to try their other offerings either @lunch or dinner. As ones who are unfamiliar with turkish armenian food, we approached this with an open mind. Turned out that it was hardly needed. You know it when you stumble on something good. Must try! Vegetarian breaky 4/5 consisted of grilled mushrooms, tossed spinach, onion, poached eggs, on feta pancake with eggplant dip. Each element was cooked without fault, ermmm the feta pancake 'might' hv been prepared beforehand (not sure), the eggplant dip was a nice surprise, smoky creamy, goes well with the pancake. A nice touch which i realized closer to finishing off the plate was that the pancake has been cut into nice little squares. All the better to soak up the egg yolks. Warm yoghurt with poached eggs garlic n mint named aptly dish from raffi's mom kitchen was enjoyable. A simple well executed dish that any loving mom would cook. 3.75/5 Best order their hot fresh mint tea (see pic on my dineline) to accompany your breaky. Give them a go peeps.

Good food, nearly perfection, good to have a quiet on Terrigal strip. Service superb.read more

Very nice middle eastern food, but the prices are quite high. The restaurant decor is quite nice…read moreand modern, lots of seating with an upstairs area. My dining guest had some complaints about the plates being dirty. Service is quite nice and friendly

I have been to el karim about 5 times and I have yet to eat in, I always have takeaway and get the…read morelamb shish. The ingredients are pretty good, they have lamb, lettuce, onion, all of the usual things you would get in a salad. I like these ingredients but only a couple I don't use, these are the jalapeño and the beetroot I am not a big fan of these two ingredients. But even though these ingredients I don't use, the food is really good quality and always taste amazing, I would recommend this restaurant.

The first thing you'll notice about El Karim restaurant in Roseville, Sydney, Australia, is the…read moretantalizing scents. Lebanese aromas of hommos, falafel and grilled eggplant waft through the air, beckoning visitors in to the restaurant that is wall-to-wall packed with people on weekend nights. The cozy, one-room eatery has a convivial vibe, with lots of happy chatter amid the delicious smells. There's also some sparse patio seating, as well as a little bar area near the entrance. Make a reservation on weekend nights to get a seat right away. When I went there a couple weeks ago, it was only about a 10-minute wait, but I watched as parties continuously walked in all night to get their fix of the tasty offerings this restaurant features. It was easy to see why this restaurant, which underwent renovations this year, has been going strong since 1976. I was greeted immediately by owner/chef Fadi Constantine, from Beirut, who had a giant smile and mingled with tables throughout the space. The BYO menu (you can bring wine only) is full of dozens of shared plate entrées and larger mains, and I'd recommend ordering a bunch of smaller plates to try for the whole table. I could get a whole new order next time I go -- everything I had was delicious, and there were so many more mouthwatering dishes I can't wait to try next time. I started with the hommos ($7 AUD), which came with a thick stack of pita bread and was the perfect thick and creamy consistency. The bread was soft, not soggy, and the starter was really filling. The falafel ($12) was another classic and stellar choice, drizzled with tahini and served with pickles. The patties were thick and moist. I loved the generous topping, and everything went well together. Haloumi is always a must-have in Australia, so I was delighted there was a haloumi dish that came with another one of my faves, kalamata olives ($14). Wrap the haloumi in pita, and it's heavenly, or eat it on your own, which I loved. An order of batata kezbarah ($12), diced potatoes with spices, lemon and garlic, perfectly rounded out the meal. The dish was filling, and I loved the Lebanese spices that covered the potatoes. Pair your meal with a speciality cocktail, beer, cider or glass of wine -- again, there are dozens to choose from. Besides the menu that was a knockout with everything that was ordered, the service was swift, attentive and friendly. You really feel valued and at home in the restaurant, which made for such a fantastic experience.

What's not to like? Fresh food, spiced & cooked to perfection, warm friendly staff & Falafel to die…read morefor. Only open for 5 months - definitely a must visit for those who know their Lebanese street food.

Excelent restaurant, everything was delicious and fresh. We has the mix plate that has a little bit…read moreof everything + falafel + baba ganoush

Excellent Lebanese restaurant in the busy Crow's Nest district. There's plenty of competition and…read moreyou should check this out. Attractive with bouncy acoustics. Food served promptly. Brought out dish of olives and dip and bread right away. Had a fantastic fatoosh salad comprised of cabbage, radishes, tomatoes, peppers and crunchy bits of bread in a vinaigrette that tastes of pomegranate. Absolutely delicious. Husband and I both ordered plates (chicken and lamb) with multiple sides of tabouli, a felafel, lebneh, hummus, and yummy smoky baba ganoush. We also ordered a side of jasmine rice. It was actually too much food. Highly recommend.

Location, location, location... and this doesn't have it…read more This restaurant is tucked away below, under and around the back of a retail complex in Castlecrag that also happens to be at the end of the street my mum lives in. Over the last 20 years I've seen 4 or 5 different restaurants come and go, and I feel for them because they can be the best places in the world, but nobody knows they're there and there's no foot traffic. The kit-out at Cyrus is terrific, it's cozy and classy all at once, transporting you right back to Persia (assuming that you've, y'know, been there before. Or hell, maybe you've just seen Aladdin about a hundred times). The menu is heavy on delicious, spiced lamb and beef shish kebabs, great mounds of fragrant rice, char-grilled chilli, minted yoghurts, and lots of eggplant dishes. I wasn't a giant fan of the pickled vegetables for entree - quite vinegary - but that probably says more about my palate than the dish itself. The lamb kebab was unreal, confirming my suspicions that I am indeed a Meat Man. Always was, always will be. Take that statement as you will.

Well this place looks the part but that's about it. Being a person who doesn't eat meat, there is…read morebugger all to eat on the menu. Started with garlic yogurt, nice and creamy but no garlic, and a salad with a very strange lemon dressing. Next we had a fish kebab, very dry and tasteless, with only plain boiled rice. The vegetable casserole was ok but there wasn't much of it. It looked like an accompaniment to a meat dish. We couldn't have the Persian dessert, as they didn't have any that night, or coffee because no one could make it. Maybe it's better on a Saturday night, but I won't be back to find out.

This place is hit and miss. Who I presume to be the owner is rude, and only cares about how little…read morehe can give you for how much money. Best to go at night time.

Bought a chicken pide from here but they should have renamed it Turkish bread with a hint of…read morechicken flakes. There is only a little bit of chicken in the middle of the bread. Chicken pieces are very tiny and dry and hard. Bread is doughy and a bit hard too.

Fantastic local restaurant run by two wonderful ladies. We go every week for really authentic…read morefantastic Greek food. Our kids love it. Really convenient for a pre or post cinema meal with the Orpheum next door.