Shawarma Damascus — Restaurant in Ontario

Very Happy. Would Recommend.

My wife had this food at a work event in December and raved about it so I wanted to try it. I had intended to order 2 platters (chicken and lamb or beef) for three of us but when I saw the price of $16.99 or so I thought why not just order the meal for 4 people at $43+tax.

It came with a large tray (10" x 13") of rice, potatoes, and meat, the same sized tray with salad, pickles, pickled turnip, tabbouleh salad, one tub of garlic sauce, one of housemade garlic salad dressing, one of hummus, 4 pita breads. It was intended to serve 4. The attached photo shows how much was left after 3 adults ate lunch. We will easily get two more meals from it.

The service was very friendly, portions large, and restaurant clean. There was a steady flow of customers (mostly repeat customers) when we went on a Saturday at about 1:20pm.

Pricing is about $9-10 for a small wrap, $12 for a large one. Platters are about $16.99-18.99. Meals for 4 are $43-46. Plus tax for all.

I have eaten at three or four places that do shawarma in Kingston and I think I prefer this one (although El Mina in Bath road is also good with friendly service).

Plusses -Food is excellent -Place is clean -Prices are fair -Service is friendly. -Portions are large (huge plus) -Salad dressing has a lot of garlic and nice flavor -The rice was very well seasoned. I prefer it over Shawarma Palace in Ottawa (my favorite place there). I prefer the rice over every other shawarma place I've been to. I don't normally like rice (spent a lot of time living in Asia) but this I will eat. -The potatoes were better seasoned than most other shawarma places that just dry the chunks of potato and drop it in the tray. These ones had a red seasoning on them -There was just enough seasoning with the salad -Garlic sauce was excellent. That is a key thing for me.

Negatives -Hummus is not as good as other places. It is a bit more course and didn't have a lot of flavor--very mild. Then again, my primary purpose of the shawarma is not hummus. -More expensive than El Mina by a few dollars per serving -Pickled turnip was not as sour as other places I've tried so only has a mild flavor. Some people prefer the more mild flavor which I think is what most people in Kingston would prefer -They were out of lamb. However, we are also in the middle of a pandemic so a lot of things have been scaled back -The sides were limited compared to other places such as Shawarma Palace downtown Ottawa (e.g., I didn't see grape leaf wrapped items, beef tongue marinated in lemon).

Overall Assessment Excellent. I loved the food, it was great value for money, and since this is nearest my home (I live in the country), it will probably become my go to place...

lacking value and quality compared to the past.

We've frequently ordered from the Dalton Shawarma Damascus and it's always been exceptional in the past; definitely the go to place for Middle Eastern takeout in Kingston...always very friendly service.

This time did not live up to our expectations. Prices have gone up and quality was down. A little more than a year ago (google photos don't give approximate dates) the price of large mixed shawarma plate/platter was $16.99. Now it's $21.99. Our platter had wayyy more rice filler and less meat that usual. I know this because my partner and I always share the platter. Fewer pieces of beef and the beef was dry and overwhelmingly salty. The potatoes were flavorless deep fried homefries like you'd be disappointed to even get on a breakfast plate; if you've had shawarma from Ottawa or Toronto where the accompanying garlic potatoes are awesome, you'd be let down.

The platters/plates are supposed to come with pita as the first photo under the menu on the fb page states. Mine came with none. When I asked for pita, I was given one pita. I asked for another since it was a large plate and I assumed since the menu states it comes with pita a small would come with one and a large 2. In our past orders over the last few years we've received 2 pitas with a large platter. Well, they would not budge with giving a 2nd pita with a large platter, but they did graciously offer to sell me a bag of 6 pitas....because, ya, 6 more for a total of 7 pitas is what I needed. So kind of them. You raised your price $5, are filling the platter with more rice and less meat, and refuse to budge on a single pita. fine.

I will go back to Shawarma Damascus because they've been great in the past. This particular experience was a letdown and disappointing and of course I'm willing to give them another chance, probably another couple chances, but in the end if you're a repeat customer like me, I'll now branch out to give other new places a chance and since the price is up by $5 and the quality is just so so, the lack of value will make me eat at Shawarma Damascus much less. Will they care?...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at a local Middle Eastern restaurant that specializes in shawarma, and I must say, it was an exceptional experience.

The shawarma was nothing short of fantastic. The meat was perfectly seasoned and cooked to perfection, offering a rich blend of spices that was both flavorful and aromatic. The chicken shawarma was tender and juicy, with a nice char from the grill that added a smoky depth to the taste. The lamb shawarma, on the other hand, was equally delightful, with a slightly more robust and earthy flavor.

What truly set this shawarma apart was the freshness of the ingredients. The pita bread was soft and warm, providing the perfect vessel for the generous portions of meat. The accompanying vegetables—crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, and crunchy cucumbers—added a refreshing contrast to the savory meat. The tangy tahini sauce and garlicky toum complemented the shawarma beautifully, enhancing each bite with creamy, zesty goodness.

The portion sizes were generous, and the service was prompt and friendly. The ambiance of the restaurant was welcoming, with a vibrant yet cozy decor that added to the overall dining experience.

Overall, this was some of the best shawarma I have ever tasted. Whether you're a shawarma aficionado or trying it for the first time, this place is definitely worth a visit. I look forward to returning and trying more of their...