Al-Shami in Oxford

The food quality is Good but the quantity is very small

Went here after visiting a different Lebanese restaurant only a week before. We decided to try this one out so as not to return so quickly to the same one. A very disappointing evening out. I would avoid this place in future although i will keep my review balanced. - The restaurant itself is dated, untidy and basic. Paper table covers and a very basic unfriendly dining experience. - The first waiter was very rude, didn’t want to be there and spent much of his time huffing and puffing. - The second waiter with the moustache was much friendlier although no one came to ask how our food was, yet ask for a 10% service charge. - The food itself was warm at best, it wasn’t so bad as to complain about but it was very basic with no real taste. The food tasted like it had been re heated and for the prices you pay, not worth the money. A very strange vibe in there, it’s like walking back into a time capsule. They don’t appear to care for restaurant feel or appearance and it is in desperate need of refurbishment / revitalisation.

Underwhelming dining experience. Lamb was excellent as you might expect. Everything else was below average with no attention to detail. We enjoy lebanese red wine normally but the quality of the wine here for the price was ridiculous. The staff do their best!

As we were staying in the Jericho Hotel that is seemingly connected to this restaurant we decided, for convenience, and out of curiosity (having never tried Lebanese food before) to eat there. We both ordered the mixed grill, I also ordered a side dish of sautéed vegetables and my partner went for chips🙄. The food was good, although we were surprised to find the rice was stone cold, is this traditional in Lebanese cuisine? I also asked for a flat bread which came in a plastic bag and was also served cold. Now, when the bill arrived it was quite a shock; I had added up the cost according to the menu and £55 was what I was expecting to pay, however, at £64 I had to check it. The whisky I drank had oddly gone from £4 on the menu to £13 on the bill, 😂.. Despite this, we enjoyed the experience.

Very Tasteful, seasoned, authentic, halal Lebanese food! Well priced, great variety and made the trip to Oxford very enjoyable. Would highly recommend :)

I visited this restaurant for the first time while I was staying in the hotel on it. I ordered Chicken kebab. It had a very delicious souse. The chicken kebab was well done but still juicy. The salad was fresh also. Atmosphere was fine, wasn’t noisy.

The food was delicious and lots of options for my vegan son. Reasonably priced for the quality of the food and the head waiter was very attentive and amusing

Very nice food , friendly staff , had a lovely evening

I asked not to put herbs in my food but they give salad with herbs they don’t respect your choice and water was not cold it was hot day food doesn’t tast good it looks not fresh and the price high the chairs has some paint that stick in your clothes 😞

Hadn't been here for a few years. Pleased to be back. Food and service was as good as ever. Best to book as this is a very popular restaurant and can get busy and noisy. So not the place for a romantic meal for two!

Lovely neighbourhood restaurant - some of the best Lebanese food I've tasted. Great team too. ☺️☺️

Great service fantastic food and great value for money will definitely be back.Had set meal with starters and main all very good drinks are great value aswell.

Would give 10 stars if I could. Great food, great host

Very busy, indicative of its popularity, but accommodating to those who hadn't booked - like us! Food came piping hot and very tasty. Staff attentive and pleasant. Good value for money.

I don't normally leave reviews but had to leave this...Disgusting service, don't know where to begin but in short it was so bad had to get up and leave (never had to leave a restaraunt before).

Long-established Lebanese eatery. Excellent food and service at a reasonable price. I’d recommend the charcoal grill section of the menu: I had an excellent (and enormous!) mixed grill. The chicken—shawarma dajaj—especially good. Perfect with the Lebanese rosé, Musar Jeune. Also try the Almaza beer.

Al-Shami is a culinary gem nestled in the heart of Oxford. Boasting an enticing array of freshly made Lebanese cuisine, this charming eatery offers a delightful journey through the vibrant flavors of the Middle East. From the moment you step inside, you're greeted by the inviting aromas of freshly baked breads, tantalizing hummus, and an enticing assortment of mezzes. Each dish is a testament to the rich culinary heritage of Lebanon, meticulously prepared with the freshest ingredients and infused with authentic flavors. One of the highlights of Al-Shami is its affordability. Despite the high quality of food and service, prices remain reasonable, making it an accessible option for diners of all budgets. Whether you're dining solo, with a loved one, or with a group of friends, you can enjoy a delicious meal without breaking the bank. Overall, Al-Shami is a must-visit destination for anyone seeking an authentic Lebanese dining experience in Oxford. With its delicious food, warm hospitality, and affordable prices, it's no wonder this restaurant has become a beloved favorite among locals and visitors alike.

Magnificent brasserie with chic decor.

Very welcoming restaurant and very good food with a lot of variety of choice. I highly recommend it.

A simple but welcoming restaurant. We had dinner at this restaurant. Excellent food, we took advice from the owner who chose good dishes for us. Advised.

Most of the hot dishes were served luke-warm, the pitta bread was cold. The chilli peppers were well passed their sell by date, and were sent back to the kitchen. Disappointing experience overall.

Amazing food good value, great service

Great food, really friendly staff, amazing service, had a lovely evening for a special occasion!

So delicious, hidden gem. The owner was so lovely and the food was delicious - value was great. Rustic interior and great atmosphere - lots of people clearly enjoy it. Very authentic

Lovely decor and nice staff but the food was lacklustre and mostly stale

Quite simply delicious. Wonderful atmosphere. Lovely staff. Someone having a birthday next to us had a cake, lights switched off, everyone singing and lots of laughs. Just wonderful! Will be back soon.

Lovely neighbourhood restaurant, great food and attentive staff

I had the pleasure of dining at this gem of a Lebanese restaurant, which surpassed our expectations. The ambiance radiated an incredibly positive energy, making every moment inside a joyous experience. Above all, the gentle and attentive service provided by Adam, our young waiter, was both impeccable and personal, adding a touch of elegance to our night and making it truly unforgettable.

Good food nice atmosphere. I like it and recommend for anyone want to try real middle east food in a quiet place

What an incredible place! The service was fabulous, food was INCREDIBLE, and wine was excellent!! Ahmed was the best server and singer and dancer for my sisters birthday. Will definitely be coming back!!

I love the special vegetables! And the customer service!

Early 2023. I love this restaurant, its my favorite of all. Mimo the owner is a lovely man, we have known him for years, and the staff are very polite. 😁 I wish we still lived in Jericho. 😢

My new favourite restaurant in oxford - the food is so delicious, fresh, & reasonably priced. Also great for vegetarian food - loved the okra, fava beans, fatoush, vine leaves, & baklava. Strongly recommend for families/friends/couples

Great place. Nice staff; even better food. Great for conference dinners!

Amazing and authentic food. We ordered tea afterwards. The place is very cozy and family friendly. Staff are very nice too.

It's a great place.. great food.. many veg options as well which I was not expecting..

They charged £5 for service that never been done.

Lamb shanks were burnt and dry. Okra was fibery and almost inedible. Shawarma was alright but dry. The waiter was confused about which food is what. There are way better restaurants in Oxford, don't waste your time with this one.

Really amazing food and really nice staff , very nice interior and efficient service. Food was great and the alcohol was very good

Al Shami is without doubt a hidden gem in Jericho, serving the best Lebanese food in Oxford. Best visited with a large group to fully appreciate the array of mezze dishes on offer, the staff are charming and the food delicious. Tonight I attended a party here and brought my six month old along as a surprise extra guest. The staff could not have been kinder, providing us with a highchair and special food for the little one. Ahmed in particular was charming,playing with and entertaining the baby while Mum ate flatbread! Very family friendly, really warm atmosphere and always always the best food. 5 stars!

An excellent restaurant. We had a selection of mezze and it was all delicious. Staff very welcoming and friendly. Very reasonably priced

this place is really nice!! the waiter especially, such good customer service😁😁food was very yum!! not the best lebanese ever but very decent and tasty!!

Very delicious food with a relaxed and family-friendly setting. Our server Manar was excellent and advised us on what he would order, and it didn’t disappoint. Highly recommend.

Amazing food and friendly staff, will definitely be back!

I cannot speak highly enough of this family run restaurant. As an Arab woman myself, it’s the most authentic food I’ve had since coming to the UK. Everything from the music to the food to the decor! The meals were well portioned and the staff went out of their way to not only explain anything we needed but also to provide belly laughs for the whole night. This is quite literally the first review I’ve ever left and I must say that I cannot be more pleased to have discovered this restaurant and the incredible people who work here. Alf Alf shukr!

Such warm and friendly hosts Fabulous food

If I could give it more than 5 stars I would! Food was delicious & authentic, service was the warmest I’ve experienced in all of the U.K, let alone Oxford!

I loved this place. Hands down best service and most friendly people I’ve met in a long time. Food was brilliant and I genuinely came away feeling a million times better and fuller!!!

Fabulous dining experience We had a selection of meze with such a variety of taste and all wonderful. Really appreciated the owner’s suggestion to try different dishes. Had excellent personal service , and enjoyable chats. Definitely be back , thank you so much

Very charming, with friendly, enthusiastic staff and delicious food! Would absolutely recommend.

Prices are very exaggerated. The amount of food is very small, and even the bread they provide is not enough. If you order one loaf of bread, it will be charged to you in the bill.

excellent food and friendly service at a birthday celebration. lovely separate room with ornate ceiling decoration with enough space for 30 people

The food is amazing but the staff is quite rude. We had some vegetarian friends that had a hard time trying to understand how the vegetarian options would come as part of the group deal. If your group has vegetarian peioky, it's not worthy. Otherwise, it serves great food.

This was my first experience with Lebanese food. Was with my son and his girlfriend who is vegetarian. The food was superb. Served family platter style and a wide variety. I think my favourite was the chicken skewers and the cauliflower. The staff was friendly and engaged through out the evening. There was a real family feel with many regulars who the wait staff new by name. Great experience and food. We had the large family platter for 3 of us… that being said, one was a very hungry 20 something male who likes his protein. We finished it off quite well. If my son was not with us, it would have serve 4 normally hungry people.

Really nice food, thankfully not too busy so a nice atmosphere

Great food, fantastic service from Ahmed, atmosphere and space. We particularly liked the Cauliflower meze. Recommended!

Amazing food and great atmosphere. Many thanks to Ahmad who was helpful while ordering with a cheerful attitude!

Amazing food. The host was extremely friendly, and showed us an example of great hospitality

We visited Oxford for the day and had an amazing lunch at this beautiful Restaurant. The food was stunning and the service was great. Definitely coming back.

This is the perfect restaurant if you have a larger group of people who want to eat excellent food in a pleasant atmosphere in central Oxford. After a conference we went there with a group of 24 people, and the beautifully decorated back room provided the perfect surroundings for dining together. The food was excellent, as always, and the staff - notably Ahmed - extremely nice and helpful.

We’ve been coming to Al-Shami for many years. It seldom disappoints- good food, good service, powerful Lebanese wines and very fair price. Ahmed served us this evening and was outstandingly cheerful and attentive.

Such a special meal. Ahmed was fantastic and the food was perfect. Would fully recommend.

The Food is a masterpiece, I ate and love they shishtaouk and the sambousek melted in my tongue! Brilliant customer service and i will come back soon!! Recommend!

Everything was absolutely delicious, would definitely eat here again.

Poor service, food is not tasty at all, and very small portions too. Though the atmosphere is fine. Needs lots of improvement

We had an excellent mezze for lunch shared amongst friends. Delicious lebanese! Friendly owners. Decent price too.

This review is from 30th years ago when I was studying in Oxford. Al shami was my favourite restaurant so delighted to know it’s still open They used to bring a big plate of fresh, chilled, tasty vegetables and pickles and a knife to cut, share and eat. I hope they still do this. It set up the meal, every time

Lovely meal for the family when visiting Oxford. We hadn’t visited the city for about a decade and were keen to introduce the kids to this place. Ate with local friends and got a selection of mezze which were wonderfully tasty and filled us all up. Like many local eateries we’ve visited since the pandemic, it was sadly more empty than it had been before. I really hope the recent negative reviews haven’t put people off as they don’t reflect our experience. The waiters were attentive, the food was delicious and the price very reasonable.

We stayed here and the indoor environment was quite clean. The counter at the water heater power outage was also very quick to help with the problem at night. The overall experience was ok.

The food was good, but it is not priced at the amount listed on their website. The waiters were also not very friendly or hospitable.

Hidden away, it is a family friendly middle Eastern restaurant with a very representative selection of dishes from Lebanon, Syria and Armenia. We had a family platter, which was a good easy option not to have to worry about choosing from the menu and to still have very good selection.

I start to order and this time was 3 times first time the forgot the bread and this time the forgot the salad

The service really bad! Waiter don’t even acknowledge you ! Cheap food! Cheap wine! Come all the way from Wokingham what a disappointment ! Don’t go there

We arrived at the restaurant on a Friday night at 9pm and were told the kitchen would've closed soon but we were still in time. From that moment onwards we had to rush through ordering, eating and paying, receiving the bill and being asked "cash or card?" while we were still half way through our dinner. We never even got anything to drink! The food was nice, but the service was quite rude.

Best mezzes in Oxford. Top quality, amazing proper Lebanese food

Ordered Al-Shami family meal for takeaway and it was absolutely delicious. The whole family enjoyed it, and there was plenty of food (7 of us shared the family meal for 4-5). We are not experts in Lebanese food, so it was great to try a number of different things. Probably the best meal I ate during a week in Oxford.

Delicious Beirut hummus.. very good kibbeh.. excellent mixed grill.. medium loose potatoes and grape leaves. excellent service.

I was really looking forward to eating here as I’d heard great things, but in the end it was a disappointing, expensive meal. The food was uninspired and basic. The Batata Harra looked old and was lacking any spice or flavour. The lamb chops were under seasoned, over cooked and had no marinade or real flavour. Just basic unmarinated chops cooked on a grill. When we entered the waiter at the bar didn’t acknowledge us or say hello which was a bit odd. However the owner was friendly and showed us to our table in the back room, which must be said, is a beautiful room with mosaics from Damascus. We ordered the large mixed platter and meze which was £80 for 5 people alongside a few more kebabs and cold meze starters. The bill added an extra £70 worth of food on top from these extras, and considering the large platter stated it could feed 5 people, the portion sizes were small. Overall, the food was bang average. Not prepared with much love or passion, from the garnishes to the garlic sauce on the kebabs, it was all a rather sad affair to be honest. Unseasoned, lacking punch or flavour so often associated with Middle Eastern food. We were still chatting around 9:50pm, and this being a Friday night, didn’t seem particularly late. But several times the waiters hushed and rushed us to say we needed to be out by 10pm, and even at one point came in and turned the lights out, as we were still sat in the room! That has to be a restaurant first for me. Overall the service was inattentive, and I sensed they felt unbothered by us being there and wanted us paid up and gone, despite the fact we were polite and two of our group are regulars who know the owner. The bill was over £200 for 7 people to have a mixed platter, 2 kebabs, some cold meze starters and 4 beers and a bottle of wine. Expensive in my opinion and thoroughly not worth it. They added on £6.50 of soft drinks that we didn’t have, but we were so tired by the end of the evening that we left without kicking up a fuss. It’s a shame. A place like this could be brilliant if a bit more enthusiasm, inspiration and love was put into the food. Similarly, the service was inattentive and uninterested and (briefly) turning the lights off on us was the cherry on top. If you want an amazing Middle Eastern restaurant within 30 minutes of here, head to Lebanese House in Newbury. Absolutely delicious food make with passion and love and brilliant, attentive service

ANTS crawling on tables and chairs was a major issue for our family. However I was actually more annoyed by the staff not apologising or acknowledging it was a fundamental issue, they actually confirmed it was a common problem at the venue. The issues with our meal started on arrival - staff clearly bored, couldn’t be bothered to say hello or take even take a drinks order. This place is TIRED and needs a complete overhaul. Sad times - I remember this used to be a lovely place. I will NOT go back and could not recommend anyone to visit.

It is.what it is. A Lebanese restaurant. JUST s little sad .

We were looking forward to a return visit after many years, but we were disappointed. We have been accustomed to much better from Lebanese restaurants. Regret to say the food was uninspiring, and did not appear to have been freshly prepared.

Really good food, especially the shawarmas. Lamb was amazing. Could have had a more up to date menu (says that it was 2021). Portions could be a little larger as well. But really recommend. Good music as well.

Excellent excellent food. A joy.

We like small plate dinners so got a variety of cold and hot mezes. I would say all were made in a factory/prepackaged, aka not made in the kitchen and so not fresh. One dish was simply a tiny iceberg salad with dried chilli flakes on top. Avoid the pickles at all costs. I feel a bit swindled. I wouldn't go back or recommend/recommend to avoid.

What to say , as always the best Lebanese food and best atmosphere. Staff very friendly , food delicious 😋 we enjoyed our mouth watering meal and we will be back .⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We were in Oxford the other day and were excited to try this place since we're also from Sham. We just wanted to have some tea and head back home. However the waiter was very rude when he heard us speaking Arabic and told us they're closed, way before their stated closing time. Will never come back again. I think this place should change its name since Shami people are kind and welcoming.

Horrible, horrible service… they completely ruined my birthday. My husband made sure we will get a nice table, he prepared flowers and cake for me. First of all, they opened a bouquet which no one asked them to do. Our food didn’t come all at the same time and portion size…. Less than a baby can eat. So after eating half our food which arrived first we still were hungry, no one collected our empty plates and cutlery which we neatly put together and at the edge of the table. After second part of our food arrived, still plates were not collected and we had to take our dirty plates and cutlery from a pile of dishes on our table to eat. Frying oil was apparently never changed as I never had sooo bad French fries. Anyway, we were eating only because we were very hungry. No one asked how is our meal or if we need anything else at all….. We ended up leaving taking our cake with us as our mood was complete Ruined. Never ever we will come back.

My whole family loves this restaurant, the best in oxford as we are concerned, and 100% better than the city centre lebanese. More authentic, many more dishes to choose from, all with subtle but amazing flavours. We always have to have a table of mixed hot and cold starters, to taste the whole range of deliciousness. Go here…

Not amazing, not terrible. Well positioned, good menu offerings, fairly priced

Wonderful Lebanese food in Oxford. Authentic taste.

I went today with my wife and my three boys around 4:00pm, nice and quiet, the food was great, fresh and delicious. Highly recommended. Food prices far cheaper compared to other restaurants in Oxford. We were there few days ago, the food was great.

The food is lovely. We have tried a lot on the menu and all is very well cooked and tasty. The ambience of the restaurant is lacking. You would go to this restaurant for good food as opposed to an ‘evening out’.

The tables were covered with paper, the room was noisy and there was not much space between the tables. The food was mediocre at best, some of the vegetables came from the tin. Would never go here again.

Delicious affordable Lebanese food. Great vibrant atmosphere when full of people talking happily.

Terrible food, the ambience is comfortable but except for wines nothing great here. We tried the hummus which wasn't fresh at all and had to send back another starter as well as it stinked of being cooked in old oil.

Where do I start? This was honestly such an enlightening experience. I was not particularly well aquatinted with Lebanese cuisine before tonight, so this was a charming first impression. The staff were decent, hard working, friendly and honest (followers of my previous reviews will understand the importance we place on honesty *cough cough* Heat Africa *cough cough*). The food was utterly dilatable; the bread in particular is a strong contender for the eighth wonder of the world. My friends and I will doubtlessly be back again, the irreducible charm of the place possesses a gravity which draws you in and, momentarily, distracts you from all the discontents of modern day life. God bless you Al Shami, hasta la vista!

Definitely a local restaurant -- I felt that most of the other diners were known to the staff, but that made for a nice atmosphere. Unfortunately my first choice entree was unavailable but the Lebanese meatballs and cauliflower starter were excellent! Loved the traditionally decorated tables and floor! Would definitely go back again!

Nice find. Food really good. Staff friendly and well intentioned but youngest guy not as alert as needs to be. Made a few mistakes. Like laying table with two forks and bringing wrong drinks

Nice inside decoration, open and spacious environment. Staff are nice. We tried family menu for 2/3 people. This was enough for 3 or 4 people. We did takeaway the leftovers. Good delicious food. Crockett was crispy and delicious. The bill was £45 + soft drinks+service charge. Seems little bit expensive but we are happy. I recommend. Food is halal.

Lovely hidden gem and first ever Lebanese restaurant outside of London so steeped in history. Food was nice but some dishes arrived luke warm. Service slow but we were a table of 12 and I think most suited for smaller tables. The hospitality we recieved was great and made up for the minor details.