Sufra Restaurant — Restaurant in Amman

We had the pleasure of visiting this Jordanian restaurant twice last week. Elegant, leafy courtyard on the outside, beautifully decorated space on the inside. The first night was a Saturday, and there was a lively crowd. The first waiter found us a seat in the courtyard, and then a second waiter saw us and told us we needed to limit our stay to an hour because they were busy.

The food was incredible. Not a bad dish. Perfect hummus with aubergine, chicken livers, chicken with sumac. Our waiter was pleasant and attentive, and made us feel welcome. Because we weren’t familiar with Jordanian food. The red wine was a bit coarse, heavy in tannins and not the best compliment to our food. Still drinkable. We enjoyed the experience, and didn’t mind that it was more expensive than the average Amman restaurant.

We came back two nights later. The second waiter (who limited our time to an hour) hosted us, but insisted we sit alone, indoors, near the bread oven, on a hot day, and not on the terrace because there were no seats. (There seemed to be seats). We reviewed the menu, and were impressed that it had changed, implying the ingredients were fresh and the chef thoughtful. We asked for recommendations, and the waiter seemed taken aback, then gave us some food ideas.

The trouble really began when we asked for a white wine suggestion. He named a Jordanian wine, and I agreed. He brought out a bottle, and the wine was red. We told him we asked for a white wine. He became visibly annoyed, and carried it off in a huff. Twenty minutes pass without food. He brings out Chardonnay, and pours it, apologizing. We rarely see him for the rest of our evening. He’s schmoozing well heeled locals. He ignores us when we wave for him. Food still delicious. I’d heard the knaffeh was great, so after much effort, we get his attention. I order the pastry. It doesn’t come for 35 minutes, and only when we ask for the bill. Altogether killed the mood of the evening.

I was shocked by the difference in service over the two nights. Maybe he was having a bad night. Maybe the wine mistake embarrassed or angered him. I’m heavily tattooed, so perhaps he thought I wasn’t classy enough for his regulars. Whatever it was, the burden of having to figure out what drove his decision to give unkind service should not have been ours to carry. It was not consistent with the overall warm treatment I received from every other Jordanian met during our vacation. Perhaps the time limit he gave when he wasn’t serving us the first night was foreshadowing.

Can I recommend this place? Perhaps, but your service may depend on your luck. We won’t get back to Jordan soon, but I wish this restaurant and both waiters well, and hope the restaurant works out...

"Come for the food, stay for the warm oven corner and icy attitude."

Visited Sufra on recommendation, charming setting, nice ambiance. We didn’t have a reservation (tourists, imagine that!), and were met at the door by a very "enthusiastic" gatekeeper (would love to mention his name but forget it), who seemed personally offended by our presence. He informed us with great seriousness that everything was fully booked (despite several empty tables in plain view). Mind you, this was a couple of hours before sunset, an off-peak time for most restaurants.

After some back-and-forth, we were told to “try again at 9, maybe something can be done, but no promises.” (Such suspense!)

While my wife took the baby inside to use the washroom, she noticed the entire dining hall was completely empty, yes empty, not a single soul! She asked someone if they could help as we are tourists and need a quick bite before heading back to the hotel, only then did they unwillingly offer us a table. But not inside. No, we were seated outside, next to the bread oven, in direct sun and the glass window only adding to the greenhouse effect making the sun unbearable! Basically sweating through late lunch / early dinner like we were being punished for not having a reservation.

Meanwhile, the large dining hall inside remained empty for the entire hour we were there. And the main terrace below, while livelier, still had plenty of empty tables too while we sat there in the sun by the oven heat. After all, nothing says "welcome" than sweating through dinner.

We sat, we ate, we noticed more empty tables all around, including the bustling terrace, where somehow “full” still meant 4-5 visibly empty spots.

And the gentleman at the gate? Never looked at us again. Not when I passed him while having a drink. Not when we left. No greeting, no goodbye, no eye contact, just the air of someone doing us a monumental favour by letting us pay for dinner. Just pure indifference. A classic lesson in un-hospitality.

Food? Above average. Service? Slow, like a sleepy Friday. Attitude at the door? Impeccably cold. Keep it up!

If you're lucky, you might get a table. If you're really lucky, you might get a smile. But don’t bet on it.

I would not go there no matter how good the food is, simply because the staff, especially the "welcome guy" who is supposed to be the most pleasant, was so dismissive and...

I've read many contrasting reviews here, so I'd like to give my honest contribution.

The location of the restaurant itself is beautiful, a villa, nice and cosy inside and outside.

The welcoming was ok, almost similar to the Jordanian standards, but of all the place and restaurants I've been into, this is the less welcoming, more like western style, and not the best one.

As soon as I was seated, the waiter brought me a big bottle of water and left it on the table even if I said that I didn't need water.

The dishes I tried: sautéed spinach with onion: despite the description, the spinach were served refrigerator cold (the staff confirmed that it was a cold dish). They were definitely oversalted and the crispy onions above were almost all burned, giving a bitter taste if eaten. Mansaf, the lamb cooked in yoghurt sauce, sprinkled with roasted almond (I went there to try this): I can't compare with other Mansaf, but I liked it. It came warm (even the yoghurt cream as side), the lamb was very tender, the rice abundant even if overcooked. Not very tasty without the yoghurt sauce, but overall I think that the dish was ok.

I had a glass of red wine (decent), the bread was served warm but not the best I had, it seemed to me not completely cooked.

I wanted to try another lamb dish and I asked for an half portion, but that was not possible (they said me to come another time and, to say this to a traveler, mean simply "no").

The service was quite cold and fast, but in the way like they were expecting you to leave your table as soon as possible.

I asked for the bill, were I could see that they have charged me for the water but, as I make them noticed, they correct it with no problem.

Meanwhile, when I was waiting to pay, another waiter (or the manager) approached me asking if I could sit in another table: I said I was waiting to pay, and he let me stay on my table (the whole dinner didn't take more then 40/45 minute).

In conclusion: if you accept that the welcoming and the service could be dismissive and impersonal, and you don't have better alternative, I think that is ok to...