AYWA — Restaurant in Ghent

I am truly shocked by how rudely I was treated here; never have I experienced anything alike in Ghent or elsewhere. Yesterday I picked up lunch at Aywa for the first time: a chicken plate, which came with marinated chicken, potatoes, cheese and a fruity salad. It was so good that I returned today for the halloumi plate, which like the chicken plate costs 13 euros. When it was ready, I found it only consisted of five slices of halloumi with a bit of lettuce and tomato, so I went to ask if that was right and whether they’d forgotten anything. It was an honest question. Without so much as a word, the cook grabbed the meal and threw it in the garbage. “Thank you, bye,” he said. Meanwhile, the Flemish lady at the counter gave me back 13 euros. “Wait, that was my lunch,” I said, “I was gonna eat that!" She responded: “These days you easily pay 18 euros for a spaghetti and you choose to complain about this? If I eat the halloumi I’m full for the rest of the day.” And she directed me to the door. “Thank you, bye. THANK YOU, BYE,” the cook kept repeating until I left. I would have been willing to pay for potatoes or what have you, but apparently my question had hurt their pride SO severely that they’d rather waste the...

I Genuinely LOVE Lebanese food. But this restaurant was dissapointing. My partner and I ordered the sharing plate at a price of 35 euros per person, expecting to have be served a wide variety of tasty lebanese dishes. This felt more comfortable than plowing our way through the menu and picking dishes ourselves.

Alas, we were only served seven or eight small dishes. Most of them were cold and very simple. Only two of them contained meat. Only one was very tasty, in my opinion. I'll admit I'm someone with an above average appetite, and I don't expect restaurants to serve big enough portions to the point where I feel full. Restaurants cater to people with a more average appetite, which logical. However, I do expect to be either satisfied with the portions, or to find the food very tasty. That's what you pay for, after all.

At a price of 70 euros for the food (we only ate a main course), my partner and I felt neither satisfied, nor did we find that the food was particularly tasty.

Drinks included, we paid almost 90 euros. This is PREMIUM price for any restaurant, and especially for middle eastern kitchens.

AYWA was a disspointing experience,...

As a Lebanese native, finding a restaurant abroad that feels like home is rare, but Aywa in Ghent truly captured my heart. From the moment I walked in, I was welcomed by the warm and friendly staff who made me feel right at home. The atmosphere was inviting, and the generosity and kindness of everyone there were evident from the start.

The food was absolutely outstanding — every dish was a highlight! The portions were generous, and the flavors were incredibly authentic, bringing back memories of home with every bite. I have to mention the hummus, which is prepared in a creamier style than we Lebanese are used to, but it was delicious in its own unique way.

A special mention goes to the owner, Elie, whose hospitality was exceptional. His warmth and generosity made the experience even more memorable. I would honestly come back to Ghent just to dine at Aywa again. Highly recommend this gem to anyone looking for an authentic Lebanese...