Maroush Shawarma & Grill — Restaurant in Alafaya

THIS REVIEW COMES WITH 4 VERY IMFORMATIVE EDIT AFTER "OWNER" REPLY. PLEASE READ!!!! What a shame because I really wanted to like this place. When we walked in the buffet was all dismantled and the tables were up but all the metal server bins were on the floor, along with a bunch of trash, which was water bottles and plastic that the bottles came in. No problem, we weren't there for the buffet anyhow but it was still shocking and off putting to walk in to that. So we went to order, it was 1 PM, we had a craving for healthy grilled meat, and given the name of the restaurant we figured we hit the jackpot. When we approached the counter we were told that the grill wasn't even on and it would be a 45 minute or so wait. They offered us to either wait or just order shawarma. Don't get me wrong, the cashier was super nice but we came ro eat....I understand perhaps maybe the time change had an effect but either way it was 1PM and the restaurant opened at 10, why wasn't the grill on at a business who operates as such? We left without eating, and only a bad taste in our mouth. Food looked delicious, too bad we couldn't try! It's also very gross and unsanitary that they don't put any liners like parchment paper in the bread baskets. How are you all cleaning those?

Edit #4 Yes I am perfectly fine the question is, are you ok? ? I don't like to be called a liar either, especially when I'm not the one lying!!!! Or constantly trying to change my story when noticed perhaps that should have not been said, as in your case. To everyone reading this review. Whoever keeps replying keeps changing what they say to defend themselves and changed up the super rude and very unprofessional comments when I once again point out as truth. If you've noticed, my review was just like any other review that someone would write. It wasn't rude nor offensive, it was an innocent review which stated facts, hence the point of a review. The replier however, decided to get super offended, turn it into a huge fight, and go back and forth with me for days now and still call themselves professional. Who runs a business and makes it a point to constantly check the reviews and reply with nonconstructive negativity immediately? Originally they said the reason the buffet bins were in a pile on the floor was because they prefer to wash them in the morning when their staff is fresh, to me that says dirty things are left overnight. They obviously realized oops on that one and are now trying to retract that one and call me a liar. Lmao thank God for screenshots. She has also changed the story about the grill, the time keeps changing to benefit her defense. The trash on the floor was A HALF CASE OF ZEPHYRHILLS undranked water with empty bottles around it as well, and next that was was huge pile of dismantled buffet bins that you say are "just" the dispensers. I don't work there to know the logistics. All I see, and everyone else as well sees, are things that food goes is, no matter the circumstance surrounding it is on the FLOOR, I can explain exactly as I'm looking at the photos. Regardless, nothing food related, whether just the dispenser or not should be on the floor, and you can't get upset over how that is preceived. Maybe if you weren't arguing with customers on reviews you'd have time to clean up the trash, sanitize and wash the same day and pick things up off the floor and turn the grill on, on time. Anyhow since this has turned in to a bit of entertainment for the Orlando area, I will keep the suspense going as I'm sure all reading is curious. Photos of the stuff on floor and conversation screenshot, especially the ones about leaving dirty things until the morning soon to come. I did however send 2 screenshots now, so you can see the discrepancy with the grill and also the change of the stuff on the floor, now it's just one water bottle.👌🤣🤣 Also to prove I do have all screenshots of conversation thus far, so you probably want to stop while you are ahead. Imagine readers, all this over an honest, non offensive...

I had an awful experience at Maroush Shawarma and Grill yesterday. From the moment I stepped in, the woman at the front was incredibly rude. When I tried ordering a chicken shawarma, she told me it would take 30 minutes—but then hinted that the wait time depended on how many I ordered. It honestly felt like if I just wanted one sandwich, they weren’t even interested in taking my order.

I asked politely if they could put the garlic sauce on the side so I could add it myself. I didn’t mention that I’m lactose intolerant—because frankly, I shouldn’t have to. I just wanted the flexibility to control how much went on my sandwich. When my food finally came, the sauce wasn’t on the side as I’d asked. Still, I figured I’d just eat it without any sauce and let it slide.

But three bites in, I realized they had put garlic sauce inside the sandwich anyway. I went back to the counter to let them know, and things escalated quickly. The guy who seemed to be the owner acted like I was making it up. He called over the same rude worker from earlier, and she blatantly lied, claiming that I had asked for extra garlic sauce. I told them I had asked twice for it on the side, but the owner didn’t care. All he said was, "Well, she said you asked for it," dismissing my complaint entirely.

At that point, I was beyond frustrated. When I asked for a refund, the owner begrudgingly offered to remake my order, as if that was going to fix the situation. Sure enough, a few hours later, the garlic sauce they slipped into my sandwich sent me straight to the bathroom—I was right, it had dairy in it. This whole mess could have been avoided if they had just listened to my simple request.

This place is unprofessional, doesn’t care about customers, and lies when confronted about their mistakes. The customer service here is honestly the worst I’ve experienced. You’d get better treatment at McDonald’s. Save yourself the trouble and...

Today we visited [ Maroush ], and I must say, it was an exceptional experience from start to finish! The atmosphere was warm and inviting, beautifully decorated with elegant Arabic touches that made me feel like I had stepped into the heart of the Middle East.

The food was absolutely incredible. From the moment the appetizers arrived—freshly baked pita bread, creamy hummus, and perfectly seasoned falafel—I knew I was in for a treat. The main course did not disappoint either. The lamb kebabs were tender and juicy, while the chicken shawarma was packed with rich, aromatic spices. The rice was fluffy and flavorful, complementing each dish perfectly.

To top it all off, the service was outstanding. The staff was friendly, attentive, and happy to recommend dishes based on my preferences. They even offered baklava for dessert, which was the perfect way to end the meal.

If you’re looking for authentic Arabic cuisine with top-notch service and a wonderful ambiance, [ Maroush ] is the place to be. I will definitely be returning soon!

New experience: ) Today I had the chance to try the grilled fish at Maroush, and it was absolutely outstanding. The fish arrived perfectly charred, with a smoky, golden-brown crust that gave way to tender, juicy meat inside. The spices were balanced and aromatic, enhancing the natural flavor of the fish without overwhelming it.

Served on a bed of fragrant rice with lemon wedges on the side, every bite was rich, fresh, and deeply satisfying. The portion was generous, ideal for sharing, and paired beautifully with the fresh bread and dips Maroush is known for.

This dish captures the essence of authentic Arabic cuisine — rustic, flavorful, and cooked with real care. If you visit Maroush, I highly recommend trying their grilled fish. It’s a meal that leaves a...