Cafe Rakka — Restaurant in Hendersonville

Let's get the most important thing out of the way first... The food is excellent. The combination of tender well cooked proteins and bold Mediterranean flavors are excellent. Everything is fresh and flavorful and worth your patronage. The hummus, tzatziki, tikka, biryani, etc are all excellent with the right amount of robust spices and fresh herbs to balance the dishes.

Where the restaurant fell flat is in its service... I decided to take some friends visiting from out of town to what I told them was the best Mediterranean food around... We arrived at 7:05 with a party of 10. At first the gentleman at the counter stated that they could not seat us because we were a 'large' party and we needed to call them at least 30 minutes in advance for them to prepare. After another 5 minutes of him explaining that this was a cafe and not a full restaurant he finally said we could be served if we agreed to sit at separate tables... So 10 people ordering the same amount of food at 7pm is ok as long as we don't sit together... Apparently how we were seated puts an additional strain on the kitchen (though I suspect it was more the additional service required of the wait staff that really bothered him an hour before closing). So we sat and ate and were just about done when 8pm hit. We were then reminded that they closed at 8 and the door was locked so we would need to get someone to let us out... Then a minute later we were asked if the dishes were ready to be taken, then a minute later we were asked if we needed boxes, then a minute later the chairs for all the tables around us we're placed on the tabletops in a manner that was at this point quite obviously to rush us out. All of this with very serious faces and very little desire to serve a customer (who was there to earn the cafe more business with new customers). During the whole meal we had to ask for plates, water, silverware, sauce... No one ever came to check on us and see how we were doing until 8pm... And that was in an effort to get us to leave.

I must say i was very disappointed in the service... I will never understand hiring service personnel who are clearly bothered to serve others... This young man and his young lady friend clearly had places to go and that was more important than my family's dinner. Lesson learned is I will likely not come back with guests... And honestly will only come when I have a strong appetite for amazing Mediterranean food but will likely take it to go... I almost gave the review 2 stars but to be honest the staff in the kitchen deserves 5 and it would be wrong to penalize them for poor customer service when their job was done excellently.

In summary :

Food = 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Service = 2...

Vibe I so wanted to love this place. But I’ll be honest—when I saw that Guy Fieri had featured Café Rakka, I got a little nervous. I know it sounds harsh, but for me, that kind of spotlight often marks a turning point. Sometimes success and a rush of attention can shift the soul of a place.

That said, the story behind Café Rakka is incredibly compelling. The book The Road from Raqqa—which is proudly featured at the restaurant—tells the powerful, true story of owner and chef Riyad Alkasem. It chronicles his journey from Syria to Tennessee, the hardships he faced as an immigrant, and how he channeled that experience into building Café Rakka. It’s a story of resilience, identity, and cultural pride—and it made me want so much to love this place.

The vibe inside is simple and low-key: order at the counter, grab a seat, and they’ll bring your food out. We noticed lots of takeout going out the door. No-frills, but charming.

Service Service was friendly, though just a bit offbeat. Not rude in the least—just not particularly warm or welcoming either. The interaction felt a bit transactional, which was surprising considering the heartfelt roots of the restaurant.

Eats/Drinks We ordered the Chicken on the Sajj Rice Bowl and the Falafel Arabi Sandwich, with Red Tea to drink, and finished with the Ma’amoul Cookies.

The Chicken on the Sajj had great potential but fell a little short—dry chicken, flavors that didn’t quite come together, and pita that was just okay. The pickled turnips, though, were excellent—tangy, vibrant, and easily the most memorable part of the dish.

The Falafel Sandwich had good falafel and more of those pickled turnips (seriously, they’re a highlight), but the pita was dry and made the sandwich difficult to eat. The tahini didn’t quite tie things together.

On the bright side, the Red Tea was warm, spiced, and not too sweet—really enjoyable (though my friend did question just how caffeine-free it actually was). The Ma’amoul Cookies, though, were hands-down the star of the meal: buttery, delicate, with a perfectly balanced date filling. A must-try.

The Bottom Line Between the inspiring backstory and the national attention, I walked in truly hoping this would be a home run. And while there were some bright spots, the overall experience just didn’t deliver the kind of magic I was hoping for. Still, I admire the heart and heritage behind Café Rakka, and I’d love to see it evolve and thrive. I’m not sure I’ll be back right away—but I’m...

During my visit, I observed two employees at the register displaying rude and unprofessional demeanor. It's puzzling that they hadn't been terminated, unless they have a familial connection to the owners.

I ordered a Chicken Shawarma Wrap with a side of hummus, and a Portobello & Cheese Sandwich with a side of hummus to go, but we ended up dining in. Regrettably, our order took 45 minutes to come out, while two tables that arrived after us received their orders before us. When my friend inquired about our order, the cashier/server rudely responded, 'We can't make it come out any faster.'

We had specifically requested the Chicken Shawarma without spice, but to our dismay, the hummus we received had spice in it, making it inedible for my friend. After only two bites, my friend requested a spice-free version. The employee's response was once again rude, stating that since she had eaten half of it, she would need to purchase another one. I have attached a picture showing the two bites taken.

Feeling disheartened by the situation, we made the decision to leave. As I made my way to the restroom, I overheard the waitress discussing our situation with another staff member and a customer. This unprofessional and rude behavior has left us with no intention of returning. While the food was okay, the overall experience was not worth the trouble.

Oh, I have come across many other reviews similar to mine. I would recommend not wasting your time driving to this place and instead exploring the much better Mediterranean restaurants...