Alomda Lounge — Restaurant in Mississauga

Are you getting a bit tired of the plethora of middle East restaurants that have popped up on what seems to be every second corner?

My own experience with most of them has been generally positive - tasty fare, reasonable prices, and fast service.

But after a while, they start to feel like MacDonald's or Popeye's or Mr. Sub - convenient, fast, reasonable, but very 'run of the mill'.

So, when my wife's birthday was coming up, I wanted to take her out for a birthday dinner, and wanted to find a restaurant that was a bit different, both in food style as well as setting.

A friend of mine and I had previously gone to Al-Omda Lounge at lunchtime, and had a great meal at a very reasonable price. So I decided to take my wife there for her birthday dinner.

We both ended up being VERY GLAD with that decision.

First, the setting for dinner was REALLY quite different than at lunch. The place was quite busy, and very lively - more like a social club than a restaurant. Lots of people sitting at tables, playing dominos or cards.

And - something I haven't seen in the GTA for decades - both men and women sipping on pots of tea and sucking away at hookahs! No tobacco or other (not so legal) stuff - just various scented herbs! Smelled good!!

As well as individual tables, there were semi-private booths, occupied by groups of friends, or families with young kids - all having a good time!

So, you say "That's great, but what about the food?". Well, I'm glad you asked!

My wife ordered lamb chops, which were beautifully prepared on a grill, with a side of nicely flavoured rice, and a freshly baked pita.

I had a plate of falafel that were perfectly prepared - crispy exterior, and soft inside. These came with homemade hummus and pickled radish and peppers.

We both shared a 'middle east pizza' (called manakish) - freshly made, with taste and flavour you won't find at any Domino's or Pizza Pizza.

After our meal, we shared a small pot of tea. This was the only slightly disappointing item that we had. The pot was REALLY small (enough for 2-3 cups total), but the price was REALLY big - about nine bucks. And that was the reason I rated the food at four stars instead of five.

But overall this is a five star restaurant in my opinion.

And I don't think we'll wait for another special occasion...

I have been a patron of Al-Omda Lounge, one of the first Shisha lounges I frequented, for over a decade. Initially, I was captivated by its authentic Middle Eastern ambiance and the quality of its shisha. Unfortunately, my recent experiences have been markedly different, leading to my disappointment.

In the past couple of years, I've observed a noticeable deterioration in their service. The staff's attitude has shifted to being inattentive and, at times, outright rude, which starkly contrasts with the welcoming environment I once cherished. Moreover, the quality of the shisha has significantly declined. Not only does the shisha last for a mere 30 minutes, but the equipment's cleanliness and maintenance are now questionable. It's evident that the shishas are old and overused.

Hoping for an improved experience, I visited their new location at Cawthra and Lakeshore. Regrettably, the issues persisted. It appeared that the shisha equipment was simply transferred from their Dundas and Ridgeway locations, rather than investing in new pieces. This lack of attention to equipment quality and customer satisfaction is a major concern.

In contrast, my recent visits to Mazaj in Mississauga have been delightful. The staff there is exceptional, contributing to a warm and inviting atmosphere. The shisha is of superior quality, lasting up to two hours, and the equipment is noticeably cleaner and well-maintained.

Recently, I returned to Al-Omda, longing for the Middle Eastern vibe I once enjoyed. Unfortunately, even after providing feedback about an unsatisfactory shisha, the response was dismissive and unprofessional. Specifically, the staff's handling of the shisha was concerning. The server removed the shisha head, shook it, and then blew directly into it before declaring it fine. This action, aside from failing to improve the quality of the shisha, was unhygienic and not in line with the standards one would expect in a food and beverage establishment.

In conclusion, Al-Omda Lounge has regrettably lost the charm and quality it once had. For those seeking a quality shisha experience, I now recommend Mazaj as a superior alternative. It's disheartening to witness such a decline in a place I once held in...

I honestly wouldn't be surprised if half the reviews giving this place 5 stars are fake or family friends.

Food Rating: Garbage, I ordered the zinger and he pretty much got the frozen packaged chicken and deep fried it for me.

Shisha Rating: if you dont know anything about shisha you will like this place. The shisha boy all he knows he is bringing down the shisha then you set it up yourself and adjust it yourself. The guy who setup the shisha has got to be the cheapest person ever. Not only that but 5 min and my shisha was leaking smoke from the bottom(the actual apparatus is cheap and cracked)

Environment & Staff: Very depressing setup, if you are there to socialize and have a goodtime its not the place this place is for those who want to miserably cry over a breakup and depress themselves even more. Owner is Egyptian and every staff barely speaks English / Arabic. Couldn't communicate what I wanted. We wanted to get tap water but the owner appears to have instructed the employees to only serve bottled so he can get more money. The place is so neglected that they have an Argentinian flag still up from the last world cup

Overall this place isn't worth your money, we ended up paying close to 200 for worst experience of our lives you can find better places than that. The staff do not accept any criticism, you can even see their types of response in the reviews below. "hidden charges with shisha" and they respond "no there are no hidden charges" when there are clear hidden charges!

EDIT: when things come out with passion and heart it seems like it took a lot of time but it didn't. That's something you as an owner should understand. Business to Business man you are in the wrong business

EDIT: Again yes related to Hanan because we were there, so you get two reviews from 2 customers you managed to piss off. You look nothing but unprofessional in the eyes of other potential customers looking up reviews and seeing your attitude. You reached out to me on facebook which is a creepy thing to do and I ignored it. Still 1 star and ill advise every friend I have to stay away from your...