Damascus restaurant — Restaurant in Preston

Damascus – A Taste of Levantine Soul

Dining at Damascus is not just a meal; it’s a journey into the heart of Levantine hospitality and culinary heritage. Nestled in a warm, inviting atmosphere that evokes the charm of ancient souks and stone courtyards, Damascus offers a feast not only for the palate but also for the soul.

The experience began with a trio of traditional appetizers—each a testament to simplicity elevated through skill and tradition. The baba ganoush was silky and smoky, its flavor deepened by fire-roasted eggplant and a whisper of tahini. The vine leaves stuffed with vegetarian rice were delicate yet flavorful, infused with herbs and a touch of lemon that lingered pleasantly on the tongue. The hummus was velvety, rich, and pure—a perfect harmony of chickpeas, garlic, and olive oil that reminded me why this humble dish is a classic.

Next came falafel, golden and crisp on the outside, soft and herbaceous within. Each bite was a burst of freshness, complemented beautifully by a side of tangy tahini sauce.

The main courses were a celebration of the region’s depth and diversity. The mandi and kabsa, each prepared with long-grained rice and spiced with subtle complexity, delivered comfort and richness. The mandi’s tender lamb melted effortlessly, while the kabsa’s aromatic profile stood out with its saffron and dried fruits.

Then came the showstoppers from the grill: a perfectly grilled sea bass, moist and flaky, kissed with lemon and a touch of sumac, and a succulent grilled chicken, its marinade seared into every bite with bold, warm spices and a smoky finish.

The meal concluded with a pot of tea, gently brewed and fragrant—an ideal end to a generous and soul-satisfying spread.

At Damascus, every dish tells a story, and every story tastes like home. It’s a place where tradition meets excellence, and where guests leave not just full,...

We recently tried damascus and were impressed by the food overall. The flavours were rich and authentic remindinh us very much of Syria. The chicken was especially well-prepared, soft, tender, well marinated and delicious.

The kabsa was tasty too but the rice could definitely be improved. Instead of the fragrant Arab flavoured basmati rice you’d expect, it tasted more like fajita-style Mexican rice which took away from the authenticity a little. Still, the overall flavours were excellent and very enjoyable.

Where the experience really fell short was in the service. Our server, a young lady, skipped out on bringing most of the sides that were included with the meal although she acknowledged they’d be brought out when we ordered our food. When we asked about them, she insisted multiple times that they weren’t part of the order and at one instance, that we wouldn’t like it: until we showed her the menu. These sides are traditional, and we love having them with our meals, so it was disappointing that she refused to bring them at first.

To make matters worse, when we ordered takeaway, we didn’t receive what we had paid for. Instead of getting two shawarmas as ordered, we were only given one of the larger ones priced double, which left us feeling shortchanged. Overall, the food itself was excellent and full of flavour. But the service issues, especially being denied sides that are part of the traditional experience really impacted our visit. With more attentive and accurate service, this could easily become a go-to spot for fantastic...

I may not always leave a review but this time I couldn’t wait to leave one. I haven’t enjoyed a meal like I did today for a long time. Our family of three are travelling and had an hour to kill in Preston. We went in for an early lunch… not with a lot of expectations… but it was amazing in Damascus. The young lady was so friendly and sweet to us all. They gave us some starters and I really enjoyed the sauces and dips. And humus. I like Syrian food but today, I loved it. My child, who is not easy to please when it comes to food enjoyed the meal too and had nothing bad to say about anything. We ordered Mandi Lamb for two and a lamb kofte wrap. The portions were huge and we quickly realised that we shouldn’t have ordered so much. When we order these things where we live, we never feel full. Had we not been travelling, we would have packed some of it to take home. However, as we were travelling, we decided to finish it while there. It is a shame that I had to let go of that wonderful garlic sauce. 😭 It was all so tasty, so fresh, so clean. I want to appreciate you all especially the lady that served us. Bless you! No pictures, we were too busy enjoying the food. I hope we can make another visit...