Arabesque — Restaurant in Boulder

Wow, I can see how she gets great reviews, because her food is lovely and such a cute place, but also see how she gets some low reviews based on her treatment of select customers. We experienced first hand being treated terribly. However, she was warm and chatty with others, but we couldn’t exactly tell what we “did wrong”. She gave us the silent treatment from the second we walked in. My husband wonders if she was rude because he walked straight to the restroom. I was reading the menu, but she did not acknowledge me I guess until she was certain we were going to stay? I work food service and even when we are crazy busy, we try to say hello when people walk in the door. It’s not clear in this restaurant what the method for ordering is. It seems a customer is to come in and sit down and she will come to you. But there is no helpful “please be seated sign”. She seems to get annoyed when folks don’t intuitively confirm to her method. She told some other customers, “look at the menu, but DON’T TOUCH ANYTHING, and then go sit down”.

When we went to order, of course she is talking to us across the room from her kitchen… my husband goes to tell her “we will split the Sampler plate and a soup”. But he only got out the first half before she barks “there’s no splitting food”. She had no patience and told us she did not serve $8 per customer meals and if we wanted to split a meal we were welcome to go next door to the delicious pizza place.

A few weeks ago, we peaked our head in after hours because we didn’t realize it closed at 3 and she warmly invited us in to look at the menu. We declined, but I was looking forward to coming back to such a beautiful space.

The food was good. I ordered tiramisu for dessert. Was trying to be kind and patronly in the midst of be treated tersely.

And yet, after being treated like we were inconveniencing her, I’m not motivated to...

To start I am ashamed it has taken me so long to write this review. I have been going to Arabesque for the past 8 years now, and selfishly I don't want it to become too popular! When anyone comes to visit, I always bring them here first. When you eat here, it is as if you are eating in the chef and owner Menal's home. The door opens and a warm, savory air hits your face and you know you are about to experience flavors that are unlike anything you will have ever had.

If it is your first time here is what you do:

start with: her soup of the day (doesn't matter what it is, it will be the best you have tasted) and an arabic coffee or chai (the best chai in town)

for your meal: the mid-east sampler with chicken (if sharing ask for an extra piece of bread)

to go: get a baklava to go. BEST I HAVE EVER HAD

Then come back for breakfast and have the lox bagel (again best I have had) and the quiche. Everything on the menu is delicious. I have read reviews about how the service is sometimes delayed, and I want to personally say that the culture of this restaurant will always encourage us to take our time, enjoy life, and sip on a coffee with a smile. If you are rushed, come to her place another time. It is best enjoyed with a positive attitude and an taste for...

If I could give Arabesque zeros star I would. I have never in my life been treated so poorly by anyone - let alone a business owner. The owner is so unbelievably rude that I sincerely question her mental health.

My sister tried to "surprise" me by going inside to pay our bill while I dined outside. She, as a waiter in a past life, paid with a credit card but intended to tip in cash. Before she could come outside, while I WAS STILL EATING, the owner came to my table and yelled at me for being "cheap" because we didn't tip. I was confused because I didn't see the bill or even know it had been paid... I explained that she must be wrong - OF COURSE we were going to tip, we weren't done yet. She went on to comment on how "fat" and "cheap" we are, and to "go back to where we came from." She then continued to insult our clothes and our appearance. I was so upset by the way we were treated that I walked away shaking... as I heard her tell random strangers walking by that we didn't tip. I honestly feel that her behavior was abusive.

I fully support independent restaurants - my husband is a chef, both he and I have worked in restaurants for many, many years. However, this woman does NOT deserve your business.

Plus - the food is...