Sarai

Atmospheric Arabic spot on the Jumeirah Beach Residence Walk 28 Reviews

1

© ITP Images

 

• 
• Picture 1 of 2
• 

Located on a corner of The Walk, this Syrian restaurant churns out authentic fare and in a traditional interior – staff wear traditional clothing and fez caps, while the ceiling is embellished with Arabic script overlooking vintage lighting fixtures. The menu serves up items rarely found elsewhere, and it’s also surprising to find the price of the dishes is relatively lower than what you’d expect from restaurants in the same area. Dishes such as kebbeh, kebab, yougatly, karabige and even brain, prove filling and provide value-for-money. We’d recommend finishing off your meal with a relaxing mint tea. Ultimately, Sarai is a reasonably priced restaurant that walks the tightrope between providing ambiance and affordability and comes out a winner.

By Time Out Dubai staff
Time Out Dubai, 22 March 2012

• Previous reviews
  • 23 March,2011- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 24 March,2010- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 09 November,2009- reviewed by Daisy Carrington

• Share | |
• E-mail:
• 
• Print:
• 

Time Out reviews restaurants anonymously and pays for meals. Of course, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or independence of user reviews.

User reviews:

Posted by: Sally on 05 Jul ' 12 at 17:16

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Amazing, one fo the best arabic restaurants in town, with a different menu, and yummmi food... Highly recommended, i wish they would deliver :(

Posted by: Ana on 01 Dec ' 11 at 18:14

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Sadly Sarai did not meet our expectations. Small plates and mediocre food. When we arrived we were told that there was at least a 20 minute wait to get seated, despite several empty tables outside and half of the restaurant inside being empty. We were finally seated in a reserved area, but no one else claimed these reserved tables for the next 1.5 hrs. Dishes were small, we got 1 appetizer, 2 salads and 2 mains for the two of us and still left unsatisfied. The lamb chops were bland, and both salads had too much lemon juice. Minced lamb with tomato sauce was actually nice. Overall not a good experience which leaves one wondering just why did Sarai made it to an "award winner" list.

Posted by: Yacoub Bassiso on 28 Nov ' 11 at 16:38

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Me and My wife love Chef Orfali and love Halabi dishes, we ordered a selection of starters and they were definitely more than our expectations. The Hummus bil Mhammara, Yalanji, and Eatch where rich and delicious, the curve started declining after we ordered our Mixed Grill and Kabab Halabi plates, they were just another grilled meat platter. But overall we loved the restaurant and we'd go back again.

Posted by: Vic on 01 Aug ' 11 at 04:40

• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

I love it. Great food and service! For my one of the best restaurants at the JBR Walk

Posted by: email on 31 May ' 11 at 09:32

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Posted by: S on 29 Apr ' 11 at 14:55

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

Food is overrated.

Posted by: hussam alemam on 03 Apr ' 11 at 12:54

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Posted by: hussam alemam on 03 Apr ' 11 at 12:54

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Posted by: hussam alemam on 03 Apr ' 11 at 12:52

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Posted by: hussam alemam on 03 Apr ' 11 at 12:52

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Posted by: Mohammad Haddad on 29 Mar ' 11 at 19:18

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Romantic
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Simply the best and great service, a true culinary travel !!

Posted by: Pierre Haddad on 18 Mar ' 11 at 21:24

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

never seizes to amaze me, with all the restaurants in JBR, this one never loses its prestige and uniqueness... a must

Posted by: Abdullah Mohammad on 24 Dec ' 10 at 06:40

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Yesterday I was there with my son and the food was terrible, we ordered the special and it was really bad so I spoke to the manger and he did not apologize or at least seem concern I will never go their >>>>Dubai deserve much more

Posted by: LK on 30 Oct ' 10 at 17:45

• Best for: Business lunch

No alcohol license. OK for a business lunch.

If Dubai wants to be a truly global city, and not just a regional hub, then it needs to liberalize its alcohol laws even further. There's no good reason why an alcohol license should be restricted to restaurants affiliated with some big hotel.

Posted by: Ben on 28 Oct ' 10 at 10:32

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Good food, service, location, and excellent pricing. You'll definitely be taking a doggy bag home

Posted by: Rodolfo Dantes on 13 Sep ' 10 at 20:47

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Romantic
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

The most friendly middle east service in the golf, the food its superb the decord its a litle bit disney world; but let's be honesty, its verry good vallue for money.

Posted by: Sally on 06 Sep ' 10 at 17:43

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Romantic
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

One of the Best resturants in town :))))
love the Syrian food :)
have heard before that syrian food is the best and yeah now I know why sooo yummy!

Posted by: Lena on 01 Sep ' 10 at 10:58

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Best Arabic food in town! Hands down!
a bit pricier than some other places, but definitely worth every penny. Friendly staff, unique menu items that you will not find anywhere else.
In nicer weather (maybe in the winter) they have a nice outside seating area.

Posted by: al3neida on 14 Apr ' 10 at 08:18

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Amazing-- Like the Food especially Saj Kebba

OMG- Just can't forget the taste..

Posted by: harvy mendoza on 26 Mar ' 10 at 00:29

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Romantic
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Posted by: martin on 23 Mar ' 10 at 22:31

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Posted by: Mohammad Alshomary on 23 Mar ' 10 at 22:28

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Posted by: sako on 23 Mar ' 10 at 22:22

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Romantic
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Posted by: billy on 17 Mar ' 10 at 16:08

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

went for lunch here. Average food compared to other arab placec - you're paying for the decor which is a little 'theme bar' for my taste. Long story short - waiter accidentally spilt beetroot juice all over my friend's expensive suede bag. The manager didn't apologise and refused to cover the dry cleaning bill - instead insisted that we leave the bag there and they would clean it! We declined... mainly becuase weI don't know may restaurants that operate a successful side-line in specilaist leather cleaning. Very negative, inflexible approach. And they don't provide local water - forced to buy expensive imported Italian water - minor point but annoying when you\re just stopping for a quick bite.

Posted by: jane on 08 Mar ' 10 at 16:06

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Business lunch
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

The best food in the whole GCC at a price that you can afford. The ambience of the restaurant is great and they have gone to so much detail with the decor. A must if you love this type of food!!

Posted by: Hussam Alemam on 03 Mar ' 10 at 21:08

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

every one realy you will find differnt tast Middle Eastern food

Posted by: Pierre Haddad on 03 Mar ' 10 at 08:42

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

An excellent sampler for Middle Eastern Cuisine with Lebanese appetizers, Turkish Kebabs, and Allepian spices. A real treat to the taste buds

Posted by: Rashida Badlawala on 08 Dec ' 09 at 15:38

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Romantic
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes