GOLDEN GRILL ( Syrian & Lebanese) cuisine Fresno — Restaurant in Fresno

My 1 star rating is based on the final part of my review.

I brought my family to the Golden Grill after attending church this past Sunday. My wife advised me her work had ordered food from this place and it was delicious, so I figured we would give it a shot.

Upon arrival there wasn’t anyone in the restaurant. The ambiance was really neat as the walls are painted black and there is a sense of luxury in the restaurant. One of the workers greeted us and was very friendly and advised we could sit anywhere we please.

I personally have a love for Mediterranean/Lebanese style food as they have similarities so I figured I would order a chicken kebab plate. We also ordered a half order of Sambousek and a half order of Borek. The best way I could describe these appetizers are that they are equivalent to a Lebanese version of empanadas. If you choose to patron this restaurant after my review, I highly recommend ordering the Borek. It is stuffed with cheese and it was absolutely delicious. The chicken was decent, if it wasn’t so charred, it would have been better as I believe it caused the chicken to be drier than most places serve. The garlic sauce was not impressive and that’s tzatziki sauce was decent. The hummus was also nothing to write home about. The Fatoush salad had no flavor.

This is where my review goes bad. I was utilizing the restroom and after exiting the stall, I observed one of the employees washing his foot in the sink. I’m well aware that this is what people of the Islamic faith do prior to praying. He looked back at me and apologized for taking up the sink, he then dried his foot, put on his sock and shoe and proceeded to wash his other foot in the sink. He then dried his foot with paper towels, put his sock and shoe on and left the restroom.

For one, even though this is normal in the Islamic faith, there are other avenues one could choose to wash up before praying. I have Muslim friends who have alternative methods to avoid washing their feet in the sink prior to prayer. Second…..he did not wash his hands after washing his feet, touching his socks, and putting on his shoes. He proceeded to walk to the back, put on some black gloves, and started preparing food.

For those who think this is okay……you still have to wash your hands prior to putting on gloves and handling food.

I doubt that this review will cause management to do anything that could possibly give me the confidence to return.

But if you choose to still eat here after this review…..you can expect fair pricing for this type of a meal.

RESPONSE TO OWNER: How shameful that you automatically resort to saying I have a phobia to Islamic faith. After washing my hands, I walked out and observed your worker walk straight back to the kitchen area, put on black gloves, and started preparing food preparing food. There was no delay where he could have washed his hands. Even though I do not share the same beliefs as you, it doesn’t mean I think anything less of your people. That’s a bad excuse on your part as a restaurant owner of not accepting responsibility for the unsanitary practice of that one employee. I encourage you to do better and have a conversation with that employee. He was the only one who fits this description in the restaurant at the time: between 20-30 years old, thin, minimal...

I used to love this place even had given them 5 stars now i have to change my review because in one week they served me spoiled food and I had food poisoning and had to go to hospital, I told them this and instead of making it right they poisoned me again. The food used to be fresh and tasted good the next day as well. I was promised a free plate for second order but never received it, infact they charged me extra and the food was disgusting, the bulgar was hard and spoiled the chicken was like plastic (MY DOG WOULDNT EVEN TOUCH IT) since they opened up second location they got far worse.

When i complained about the food they told me i have to eat it same day which i never did that I would put it in fridge and ate next day but now I can see the change. ZERO CUSTOMER APPRECIATION, POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND INSTEAD OF MAKING IT RIGHT AS I WENT THERE 2/3 TIMES A WEEK AND NOW NO MORE. I think we have to go teach them how to make real Lebanese food because they use Curry which is Indian spices they dont use anything Lebanese except for garnish on cold sides.

The part that shocked me is when I tried to place an order at this location due to caller ID they sent me directly to voicemail so I ordered from new location and man those wives are all shaytan (evil/devil) they are rude and disrespectful and I am Lebanese and if they r treating me like this they will do it to anyone.

I really loved their food til they got greedy and cheap. So I will not return so I wont end up in hospital again

Look at difference, first pic was before second location second picture after second...

We are from the Bay Area and we have a favorite Mediterranean spot in there but we now moved here at Fresno. There's only few choices in here and decided to try Golden Grill. We felt in love with this restaurant. That's right, the restaurant itself because it's not the only food we love but also the people who works there. They are very nice and friendly and it's my first time I felt special going in a restaurant. The food is really really reall good! I am not a Mediterranean but I can tell that they have the legitimate taste from Mediterranean that makes me coming back almost every week. Even we're broke, we cannot stop ourselves from eating their food. They even surpassed our favorite restaurant in the Bay.

We tried other Mediterranean restaurant here because we have no choice knowing it's Monday and Golden Grill is closed and we are craving. I am surprised how Golden Grill is way better from that restaurant and surprisingly that restaurant has a lot of good reviews and looks popular but their food is not good. It is not real Mediterranean food but it is more likely Americanized food. Anyways, Golden Grill is the best for me so far and always the 1st option if we want to go eat food outside. I really recommend Golden Grill for anyone who likes to eat real taste of Mediterranean food! Garlic sauce is bomb too! I just wish they have grilled veggies as side dish because it really goes well with the...