Nuba in Yaletown — Restaurant in Vancouver

I wish I can begin without giving one star!! I arrived there at 9:05 pm on Saturday night, July 13th, after checking their business hours on the website. To my surprise, they had already closed. I saw a staff outside collecting chairs. Very politely I approached her asking if they were still open?? Her first response, “we ran out so we closed”. Really??? I then told her that I had checked the website before I left my house and that said they were open until 10pm. Her 2nd response completely different from the first one “we were not busy as people have gone somewhere, so the manager called and told to close”. Upon hearing this, I became a little upset and said that this is not how a business is run. She said well kitchen is closed now. I asked to see the owner or the manager. I was told that the owner doesn’t live in this city, and manager wasn’t there either. She then said she is following instructions which I agreed to. I asked her to connect me to the manager then and to which she said that she can’t bother them. By this time, I started to talk a little louder for apparent reasons. She then pointed her fingers toward me saying that I am being very disrespectful and I shouldn’t raise my voice on her. I told her that I was very polite in the beginning and being upset, I am raising my voice which is very normal for human beings. She again said “do not raise your voice on me”, to which I responded that I am not upset on her neither I am raising my voice on her. As she told me that she was only following instructions from her manager, being the only supervisor at the location that time, she is the middle person between a guest and higher management, so she must listen to my concerns and must forward it to the management. You can’t complain about a guest being upset and raise their voice if you don’t follow the basic business ethics. That’s not how a food business is run. Busy or not busy, you need to stick to your business hours. Don’t be cheap trying to save a few dollars on labour cost by closing early when there are no customers. Also, she gave me 2 different reasons for closing early. First she said they ran out of everything and later she said they weren’t busy and people have gone out somewhere. Meaning there is lies somewhere. Her name I forgot. It was like Gazem or something similar. I am not mad at her for closing early coz she must have just followed the instructions. I am mad at her for the 2 different statements and pointing her fingers telling me not to raise my voice in a border line threatening way. A note to the owner and manager: learn the basic ethics to...

The food was good and service attentive, however I have to leave a negative review because they just don't handle dietary restrictions seriously.

My wife is celiac, which we indicated while we were ordering, so the server offered cucumbers/romaine for dipping which was great. However the server who took our order also asked if I still wanted the pita myself (I'm not celiac) which just shows that they don't really understand celiac disease. You can't dip pita into a sharing plate of dips with someone celiac. Anyway, no big deal I declined the pita.

Meal comes out, with pita and no cucumbers/romaine. Clearly they don't take dietary restrictions very seriously, that's not a thing you should be making a mistake on so however they are communicating dietary restrictions does not work. It was a different server who brought the pita out, so I informed him my wife was celiac and we needed the cucumber/romaine not pita. He asked if I wanted to keep the pita for myself. Again, yeah I'd love to but that's not how celiac works.

Anyway, the servers were apologetic and kind, but with a disease like this being apologetic and kind doesn't count for anything you have to not make mistakes. If we are going to eat out at a place that does not operate a dedicated gluten-free kitchen then we are taking a risk of cross contamination. That's a risk we accepted, and the menu does of course note "*GF: This dish does not contain gluten, however our kitchen is not gluten free. Cross-contamination may occur, please inform your server of any allergies."

But if the staff doesn't even know how celiac works, then it's sort of a fake accomodation to inform servers and say there's a risk of cross contamination. It doesn't seem that it's a risk, but rather a certainty so just be honest and amend the description to "This dish does not contain gluten, but we cross contiminate everything so do not eat here if you are celiac." because that's clearly how...

🌟 Amazing Lebanese Food at Nuba in Yaletown! 🌟

If you’re looking for delicious, healthy, and flavorful Lebanese food, Nuba in Yaletown is a must-visit! Everything from the food to the atmosphere and service was top-notch.

🍽️ The Food (5/5)

We tried a few dishes, and honestly, every single one was a hit! ✅ Najib’s Special (Crispy Cauliflower) – Hands down the BEST dish of the night! Perfectly crispy on the outside, soft inside, and packed with flavor. The dip made it even better! ✅ Chicken Skewers – So juicy and tender, paired with creamy hummus and pickled veggies. Loved the balance of flavors! ✅ Makanek (Lebanese Sausages) – These little sausages were packed with spices and had a slightly sweet glaze. Super tasty with the yogurt sauce! Everything tasted fresh, well-seasoned, and not overly greasy. You can really tell they use quality ingredients.

🏡 The Atmosphere (4.5/5)

The vibe here is warm and inviting, with a nice blend of modern and Middle Eastern decor. It’s a bit on the cozy side, so it can get busy, but that just adds to the energy. Highly recommend making a reservation, especially for dinner!

💁‍♀️ The Service (5/5)

The staff was super friendly and helpful! They gave great recommendations and checked in just the right amount. The food came out at a good pace, and we never felt rushed.

💰 Worth the Price? (4.5/5)

Prices are a little on the higher side, but considering the fresh ingredients and overall experience, it’s totally worth it. Plus, they have tons of vegan options, which is a big plus!

📌 Final Thoughts – Highly Recommend!

Whether you’re a fan of Lebanese cuisine or just want to try something new, Nuba in Yaletown won’t disappoint. The crispy cauliflower and chicken skewers are absolute must-tries!

🔥 Rating: 5/5 🔥 📍 Location: Yaletown, Vancouver 📅 Make a reservation if you’re coming for dinner!

Would 100% come...