Zaitoon Restaurant — Restaurant in Medina Province

Update Feb 2025: I came back to this place again. Yes I know. I said I would never come back but I’m here because some other people want to try the food. So I just wanted to update the review and say that the food is just as bland as it was two years ago. They have made no attempts to introduce any spices even salt. God bless them. I’m not sure how you can make food so bland and still be able to sell it and have a Google rating of 4.8. Whatever they’re doing something must be going right.

Zaitoon is a Indo/Pak restaurant serving some Arabic dishes on top of pizza and fried chicken. It has almost 7,000 reviews on Google with a rating of 4.8 so I was quite excited to try this restaurant.

Honestly, it's a bit of a confused place not sure of what it's trying to offer. Where else in the world can you order butter, chicken and lamb mandi from the same menu. You have lots and lots of choice, so five people can go in there with intend to eat something different and everybody can order something to their liking. However, this variety is probably Zaitoon's downfall. I didn't try everything, but what I tried I would say was mediocre at best.

Order Daal, chicken kabsa and laham seekh kababs. The Daal was pretty good and the chapatis were soft and just the right thickness. The chicken kabsa was utterly disappointing. The rice barely had any flavor and wasn't even seasoned properly. The chicken was dry and nothing to write home about. I ate three different Kabsa dishes in this trip and this was by far the worst. The Seekh kabobs were okay.

The place is busy and you may need to wait a bit for a table. The service is quick and ordering is straightforward. It's not a bad place to come to to get a quick bite if you don't really care much for the flavors. I know they have a lot on their menu but I just can't get myself to go there again and try something different. Price wise, we paid 93 riyals for two people for the food in pictures. You can figure out if this is too expensive, just right,...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Zaitoon Restaurant and the experience left a lasting impression. The restaurant offered a delightful spread of authentic Arabic cuisine that truly captured the essence of Middle Eastern flavors.

From the moment we entered, the warm ambiance and inviting decor set the stage for a memorable meal. A particular staff named FARAZ exemplified by their attentive service, added to the overall positive experience.

The menu showcased a diverse selection of dishes, each a testament to the culinary expertise of the chefs. The hummus was velvety and rich, the falafel perfectly crisp on the outside yet wonderfully tender inside. The kebabs were a highlight, bursting with flavor and cooked to perfection.

What stood out was the attention to detail in presentation, reflecting the restaurant's commitment to providing not just a meal but an artistic culinary experience. The freshness of the ingredients was evident in every bite, making the dining experience truly satisfying.

Overall, Zaitoon Restaurant is a gem for those seeking an authentic and delicious journey through Arabic cuisine. The combination of delectable food, welcoming atmosphere, and impeccable service makes it a standout choice for anyone craving a taste of the...

After waiting in a long queue outside the restaurant, we were told, only when we got to the till, that international cards are not accepted. There is no visible sign or notice about this, and when we politely asked about it, we were told, “The owner doesn’t want to put a board.” Sadly, the attitude of the staff echoed that same disregard. It’s clear they’re afraid to even suggest improvements, customer experience seems to come last here.

Even worse, if you’re using an international card, you’re expected to exit the internal queue and go back to the queue outside again. There’s absolutely no logic or customer courtesy in this system.

As for the food: it’s extremely overpriced for what it is. I’ve traveled extensively and experienced authentic Pakistani, Indian, and Bangladeshi cuisine. This restaurant’s food doesn’t taste Pakistani or Indian at all, it leans heavily toward Bangladeshi flavors, which is fine if that’s what you’re expecting. But don’t market something as Pakistani and deliver something else.

With better communication, some transparency, and basic hospitality, this experience could have been salvaged. But right now, it’s all hype and very little heart.

Would not recommend, especially to...