Big H Shawarma & Poutine — Restaurant in Ottawa

I wish I could rate this establishment ZERO stars, Big H, and the H must stand for HORRIBLE. I work at one of the businesses next door and thought it would be a convenient place to go eat during my 30 minute break, I was DEAD WRONG. Went in to order a chicken shawarma trio after viewing the menu on their official website, price was listed 12.99$ for a large trio, went in at the counter and was charged 14.99$...1st RED FLAG. The younger woman who took my order seemed flustered that she had to take my order and serve the customers dining-in at the same time. She had an insanely annoying tone of voice and I started to regret my decision to give this place my business, 2nd RED FLAG. It took them almost 25 minutes to get my food, and this women apologized to me 3 times as I was waiting, she must of realized it shouldn't have taken that long for such a small order. Note, the interior of this place is insanely run down, and looks like a construction zone...quite fitting for the majority of customers that are trades workers who just want to drink beer with their buddies. As I got back to my workplace with 1 minute to spare of my 30-minute break, I began to eat the shawarma which tasted like cardboard and sugar,...since when was there a "sweet sauce" in a shawarma recipe, that is not what I meant by "all-dressed", 3rd RED FLAG. Big Horrible does not have the right to innovate the shawarma sandwich, especially when this place has changed owners 3 times in the last 3 years - according to the surrounding businesses...(one of the current co-owners "Achraf Houmani" was an OTTAWA POLICE INFORMANT, (A GOOD NEIGHBOURHOOD SNITCH) 4th RED FLAG. All in all, I ended up tossing the shawarma sandwich in the trash after 2 bites because the chicken was absolute garbage. I actually went vegan for 2 weeks straight after this experience, imagine making a customer change their diet after traumatizing them with a simple shawarma trio. At the time, I lost the appetite for the garlic potatoes right after tossing the sandwich, only decent part of the meal was the canned drink...Wasted my time, money, and appetite on this place. I dread having to go to work everyday passing by this dump of a "restaurant". Furthermore, There is a side door to this dump where the kitchen is located, almost every single worker smokes cigarettes in-between orders...AND DO NOT WEAR MASKS INSIDE THE KITCHEN, I also can't imagine these employees washing their hands for more than 5 seconds without soap 5th RED FLAG....A lot of the reviews for this dump seem to be friends and families of the owners and not actual customers 6th RED FLAG, very typical of the sort of place these people come from. I WILL NEVER SUPPORT THIS DUMP EVER AGAIN AND WILL TRY TO WARN THE CUSTOMERS WALKING IN AND OUT OF THIS DUMP ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE HERE, HOPEFULLY THEY THEY GET THEIR BUSINESS AND LIQUOR LICENSES REVOKED FOR MALPRACTICE AND VIOLATING EVERY ASPECT OF RUNNING A...

I had a small chicken trio shawarma sandwich. I liked the crispiness of the pita. It was perfectly done compared to many other places where they just put the sandwich in a press for 30 seconds. There was also a slight unusual or exotic flavour that I’ve never tasted and I decided I liked it. The potatoes however, were a fail. They’re basically cubed french fries. There was no evidence that they were tossed with finesse, and with herbs and seasonings and a little bit of oil in a large bowl the way I always see them done elsewhere. Very plain and relying on the garlic sauce for flavor. The garlic sauce is good, and the serving size on the potatoes was impressive. But then the price for the trio is 20 bucks, which is ranging close to the price of a platter. I should point out that unlike other shawarma stores, you cannot see them preparing the food where they typically ask you what you want on it and you can pick and choose and ask how much you get. My friend wanted to go there because he said he read good reviews of the poutine, but in the end, he said the poutine was average. And the store is also quite out of the way, although that doesn’t bother me. I might go back if I’m in the area, but I don’t usually get out that way so...

I dont understand the 5 star this place has. I came in, and got a shawarama for takeout, because of the good reviews i was expecting to have a great meal. When the lady came out with a paper bag, (the same size most every shawarma place puts them in), i noticed the bag had my shawarma in it. But no shawarwma sticking out the top of the bag, thick, and probably 1/3 -1/4 of it sticking out like everywhere else. The bag was actually folded 1/4 the way down. haha. I looked at it and took it, and noticed it felt like nothing maybe 1/8th of a pound. weird. I didnt complain and waited until i got home, but i knew i'd be disappointed. Well, my thoughts were true, and it was the smallest shawarma i've ever seen. it was about 4 bites big. for $11.20 (after $1.00 tip), and asking for extra onion and pickles. The paper bag, i could fold over 1/4 of the bag from the top, and was just funny they charged me this much, i took pictures. It was about 2 Bic lighters tall, and 1.5 thick. So, Their regular shawarama is the equivalent of about a two bite browny. but for 3x the price that quantity should be. Shame on you Big H....