El Basha Restaurant — Restaurant in Sudbury

I have eaten here before when it was 4-5 stars. It was a while ago so details are fuzzy. This time however I had great expectations but the "over promise" expectations were "under delivered. After receiving water for every one, Pronto, immediately after we sat down, no-one showed up for drinks or menus for a while. Finally we spotted a lady who was standing idling bear the bar and we had to call her over for menus and drinks. Sweet but could barely understand or speak English which made ordering and asking menu questions difficult. My starter Babaganoush was delicious although it served 4 people easily. Had I ordered it, as I originally planned, just for myself, I would have eaten it for days....reference tge communication issues earlier. My main course Schwarma with rice and veggies I expected, "deconstructed" for lack of a better term, on the plate so you could mix parts, thus flavors, as you wish. Instead I received one bowl, a heavy full to the brim one, with mushy rice and veggies, slices of meat etc. all on top of each other topped off with a white sauce. Rather than enjoying the parts as described above, it was a mouthful of mushy stuff overpowered by the sauce. Maybe this is the way it is supposed to be but I did not enjoy it. It was so overpowering that after a few spoonfuls, I had enough. The Khebab my friend chose was on the plate separate as expected allowing him to pic and choose as well as mix and match. Would I recommend this restaurant? Yes give it a try, my one experience may have been a fluke. But beware of the above potential issues you may encounter, and judge...

The decor was a very pleasent surprise for a strip mall restaurant. I knew it was going to be expensive walking in because they thoughtfully post a menu which looked great and/but I love middle eastern food.

Unfortunately that was where the joy ended. The menu certainly reads middle eastern but unless I've been eating the wrong stuff for years, the food here is barely middle eastern. It might be considered Mediterranean but the flavors, herbs and slices, and even the presentation seemed more Italian than even Greek, let alone Lebanese.

It was not a terrible experience. The food was good though more than a bit overpriced. It just was not what I was expecting based on the menu.

Perhpas I am wrong and do not know middle eastern food, but I spent considerable time in the middle east, have sought high and low for decent middle eastern food in New England, and have discovered a few gems. This one definately does not go on my list and I would not eat here again. If the fare here is middle eastern I have been confused for many decades.

Three stars because the food, decor, and service were okay but not as I expected and certainly not...

My sister recommended El Basha, and from the moment we stepped inside, we felt like we were being welcomed into someone’s beautifully curated home. The décor is rich and elegant, yet still warm and comfortable—every detail thoughtfully chosen to create an atmosphere that invites you to settle in and stay awhile.

We were greeted immediately with genuine, friendly smiles, and the service throughout was top-notch—attentive, informed, and perfectly paced.

As for the food, it was nothing short of exceptional. The Homos B’lahme was creamy and luxurious, with tender, spiced beef on top that added depth and heartiness to every bite. But the standout of the night was the Beef Stroganoff special—a masterful dish of perfectly cooked beef, earthy mushrooms, and delicate vermicelli, all coated in a sauce so rich and nuanced it felt like silk on the tongue. Every bite was balanced, bold, and deeply satisfying.

El Basha isn’t just a dinner out—it’s the kind of dining experience that lingers in your memory. We’re already planning...